Finally,

13-12-2027

The day is here, What a wonderful day it was for an outdoor wedding: cold, but not terribly so. The december sun peeked out occasionally, made the day occasionally warm. A pleasant breeze from the north rustled in the surrounding shrubs, cooling the guests and family members as they took their seats on either side of the walk leading to the mandap. Sweet strains of classical Music drifted through the crowd. I couldn't believe getting married in this atmosphere. It felt surreal.

The playground off to the right of my room was empty, although a few children standing around the rows of chairs eyed it with a desire to play. Obviously, they would Much rather be jumping and climbing, instead of being fussed over by their Mothers and aunts, having their dresses and hair bows adjusted.

Flowers and lights fluttered around the railing and banisters, a festive mixture of red ,gold and beige. To the left of the ground, were rows of cars glittering in the sun.

It was an winter wedding in the late morning. The sea had faced the breathtaking sunrise. At the end of each seated aisle, rose scented candles hung from naked tree branches. Spread down the aisle was red petals, as far as the eyes could see, slightly moist so they wouldn't crack when you stepped on them. We'd have a small group of close family and friends dressed in traditional attire to match the theme. On either side of the aisle, they sat in golden chairs set up for them on the ground. And infront of them stood high the glorius mandap.
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"Okay, okay you need to breath... Can you do the hair for me??" Neha , my bridesmaid #2 asked. She was excited for sure. Her boo is getting married.

Only ten minutes remained before my wedding began;I was nervous just like the first time I went on a date with him.

"I can breathe," I said to her, "I just need my grandmother's necklace to calm down.

Jeeva looked at me wide-eyed eating a piece of cake, "Uh.... bout that."

(Thirty seconds later)

"What do you mean you can't find my necklace! I can't get married without it. It's my lucky charm. No way."

"Look," Diya, --bridesmaid number one, and the one for which I am getting married to the one I love -- said, "Everyone's here and has a program. It's about to start. I see Dev waiting at the mandap and he's just as nervous as you. Do you really want to not marry the love of your life over a necklace?"

I shook my head in negative.

"Good, because if you don't marry him, I know plenty of women who would."

I walked out with all tensed up face and
at the exit my father hugged me, said
"I'm proud of you" and then walked me to my groom.

Dev's parents had met him and mom the day after the final to finalize the alliance. They weren't at fault . They believed I would have a great future with Naveen. And I was too pissed off to speak to them about him but I revealed how bossy he was and his demands and the sangeet incident and to my surprise Mr.douchebag just accepted them with pride. Though my parents hesitated to get me married or more clearly to accept me as their daughter after running away shoving shame over to their faces , they agreed to it later. How long could they be upset with their first princess.

I heard the priest coming out and asking everyone to stand to bless me.

It was my turn!

All eyes would soon be on me. The flower girl lined the path with rose petals as the music started. My father escorted me down the aisle, which seemed longer than before.

My sister and Diya walked infront of me not blocking my way,holding nilavilakku* on their hands. My father became my strength; without him I would faint. The guests looked at me, taking pictures of me waving at me, smiling - one thing was for sure, though... no one made a sound.

Up ahead I saw him, Dev. My future husband, the love of my life, my everything. He sat down, hands fidgetting the end of his kurta and his eyes on me. If I wasn't mistaken I could have sworn tears filled his eyes.

Down the aisle, I came. I could not believe how beautiful I was.
|^was I really trying to praise myself^|

I saw myself on the bodysize mirror placed on both sides of the mandap. I wore a pastel peach kancheevaram wedding saree. Rhinestones and golden beads were sewn on my blouse. Wearing simple makeup and minimal jewellery. I held a golden plate with fruits and silk mundu*.

My dad held my left arm and smiled at me as we reached the bottom step. There awaiting me was the priest and my husband-to-be. Dev was stunning. He wore a pastel peach, silk kurta ,with embroidered collars and a white mundu -matching my saree.

The Music faded.

My father help me sit beside Dev and smiled. As a couple, Dev and I sat in the mandap with the priest beside us chanting mantras which I could never translate.

Before my father walked away, he patted Dev on the shoulder. That was his way of welcoming him into the family. Sitting next to my love felt overwhelming.

Was this really happening? Will I soon be Mrs. Padikkal? I heard the coordinator speak to the guests, "You can now be seated". My friends and family followed his request.

Mine and Dev's first family and best friends stood behind us on the stage. The priest continued chanting mantras while I ran my eyes through the guests around. The priest asked us to greet the guests and then apply chandanam*(sandal paste) on the partners forehead. We did as told.

I saw Dev's dad passing the mangalsutra to Dev as instructed. I looked at Devs hands to see whether they were shivering. It never did even when he faced the world's best bowlers. Never when he was out to field. But it did now. The mangalsutra trembled in his hands, I couldn't help but chuckle at his actions. He was gulping his saliva and had fast breaths. I closed my eyes and he tied the knot with his sister's help.

I opened my eyes.

Finally!

Here comes Mrs. Dev Padikkal!

I blushed under his gaze and before taking his hands from my neck and holding my hands. I'm blushing and blushing. I looked down smiling and he passed me a smile looking front .

"Dev, sindoor." I heard his mother. I looked at Dev . He took the sindoor in his fingers and looked at me. I closed my eyes as I felt him put sindoor in my forehead.

I am married now. Unknown to me, a tear skipped down silently.

"Are you okay?"

I replied him with a nod. He squeezed my hand and mouthed to get up.
We got up slowly, it's so tough to get up being tied around by a 5 meter fabric. Urghhhhhhh.

Everyone were talking to each other and then I saw he forwarding his hands to me.

"Forever mrs.devdutt?" He asked looking at my eyes.

Holding his hand tight ,I replied,
"FOREVER MRS.DEVDUTT!"

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Ufff!! Here ends the journey of about four months.

♥️HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY♥️
*in advance*