Chapter 3

• My father told my mom and aunty to get me ready for the marriage ceremony. I came out with both of them.
• Aunty called Rahul and Rohit, they both came.
• Aunty looked at Rahul and said " Rahul go inside, your dad needs to talk to you." he just nodded and went inside, then she instructed Rohit, " Rohit beta go and tell people that your dad is much better now, so the ceremony will resume within an hour. And just apologize for the delay. Just make sure that everything is under control. Take good care of our guests."
• "But mom ??? "
• "Do as I say, son, there will be a wedding for Rahul today." He looked confused but he went to do what aunty told him to do.
• "Let us go, Pooja, we will get our daughter get ready for marriage." Said aunty to my mom and my mom smiled.
• Aunty took us to the room which was assigned to the bride. Her wedding dress was hanging there as it was from the groom's side and it was delivered to this room.
• My mom opened the dress cover to take it out. It was a beautiful lehenga in wine colour with very beautiful and intricate designs. It was a very elegant and sophisticated dress.
• Aunty looked at me with lots of love and said, " beta I know every girl thinks about her marriage and she has her own list of likes and dislikes. You did not get to choose anything in this marriage or do anything as per your taste or liking. I am sorry for that, but I am glad that you are going to be our daughter-in-law. We have always loved you like our own and I swear we will get everything of your choice sweetheart."
• I just smiled and just then the makeup artist came and she started doing her job. My mom was looking at me adoringly. Sunita aunty left us to get ready as she had to see to her guests. My mom asked if I was ok, with the way the matter took turns. I just nodded and smiled......
• It took 30 mins to get my make up done and to get dressed. Aunty came back with some very heavy traditional jewellery. It was very pretty and went perfectly with my lehnga( wedding dress).
• She made me wear them and kissed my forehead and said, " you are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen...... God bless you."
• I looked at my self, I could not believe it. I was looking very beautiful. My mom was getting very emotional and she had happy tears in her eyes, she hugged me. Someone knocked at the door. Mom opened it and my father was there to take me to Mandap( marriage altar).
• When he looked at me he just kept on looking at me and said, " I am so blessed to have such a beautiful and loveliest daughter. You are my princess. Let's go your Prince is waiting for you… Beta, Rahul is a very good person he will keep you happy and Ram and Sunita will take care of you."
• I just smiled and hugged my parents again.
• My dad and mom started leading me towards the Mandap (Altar). I was walking towards Rahul. My heart was beating like a drum. I just had a crush on him, but I never even thought that I would ever get married to him. He never even looked at me. It seemed he didn't even know that I existed.
• I didn't know if what I was doing was correct or not.
• What if he hates me for doing this? What if he was still in love with Leena? What if he never accepts me as his wife?
• We never even talked to each other. What would I talk to him about?.
• We almost reached the stage where we were supposed to go for Jai Mala (exchanging garlands). I was looking downwards all the time. But as soon as I reached the tiny steps near the stage I looked up, my eyes collided with him, he was looking extremely handsome in his off white sherwani and deep red turban. He offered me his hand, I was a bit shy, but I caught his hand and he helped me to climb those steps to be on stage.
• It was a strange feeling as he was still holding my hand. Everybody was looking very happy, but he was upset, I can understand his state of mind as he was in love with someone else and was supposed to get married to her, but was getting married to me instead. The girl, whom he always avoided like plague.
• What was I doing? What should I expect from him or this marriage?
• I was just a substitute bride for him. I had felt only for him but he didn't...
• Everyone applauded as we were standing in front of each other. Aunty brought a big platter with orchid flower garlands. She asked me to pick up one and then she turned towards Rahul, he also picked another one. Pandit ji ( priest) told me to put the garland in the groom's neck, I shyly did that, our families started clapping and teasing us. I was blushing like a rose and then he put the garland in my neck. His friends were teasing us and he was glaring at them and all his relatives were there on the stage. I was missing my friends. They didn't even know that I was getting married at this moment.