An Accidental Bride!

Chapter 1- Rads, The To-Be Bride!

I frantically tried to smoothen the folds of my saree in the front!

If I were to concentrate on that, then my pallu on my shoulder gave way and would slip off! 

Aaaaargh!

This saree draping thing was such a pain!

And I hate cotton Sarees!
Makes me look plump!
Well... more amply rounded to be exact!

You see, I am already a well endowed kinda gal, and on top of it, the cotton saree that I chose to adorn today, was giving me a couple of more unwanted inches around my girth!

This was a conscious decision...
To wear a cotton Saree, today, that is! 

I could hear my parents scurrying around the house trying to put their last minute finishing touches to the already dusted living room, the clean foyer, the immaculately laid out table with mom's best chinaware from La Opala! 

The kitchen emanated different aromas of Indian sweets and savories;

There were two of each being made ...
Gulab Jamoon, deep fried, pillowy soft milk fudge balls in a thick, saffron-cardamom laced syrup — my absolute favorite and kesari or halwa with ghee almost dripping in glorious amber droplets when lifted from a spoon! 

How do I know?!

Well.... I sneaked into the kitchen, earlier today, before my saree draping fiasco, and both went through my seal
of approval!

One person who let out her bated sigh of relief was my mother.
She was ecstatic that I approved of it!

You see, I am the in-house food critique besides being a self proclaimed chef, and an on-the-way-to-becoming a food scientist and a musician and yes!

I am only 21!! 

Legal age to be wedded in India!

And today is my bride seeking/seeing ceremony and yes....

I am that bride....

Only difference ....

I don't want to be seen or seeked! 

I hated and hate the whole ritual! 

Get this.... The to-be groom galavants into the girls home, sees the bride as though she is some sort of a commodity, up for grabs, he inspects her, her family, her material worth, her talents and more, while the girl demurely waits for the much awaited acceptance —- Yes! 

What utter nonsense! 

My case was going to be different, or so I consoled myself!

Well... I was to blame for today's agenda!

I was wary of all the guys that hung around me, admired me, tried to talk and date me...

Oh!
Did I mention I was pretty?

Yes!
Pretty and kinda plump ... but sweetly plump!

Hey!
I can't put myself down now, can I? 
I gotta be my own cheerleader, my own advocate! 

Ok... without much digressing... yes!
Where was I? 

Oh yes!
I agreed to this whole girl seeking/seeing charade ...

Since I wasn't much into the dating game nor did the society I lived in, approved of it;

Thanks to scores of constant 'Aunty alerts' around me!
And I really wanted a well settled guy, not the struggling types;