Popcorn

Epilogue

A year later

Delhi

Luxirant long hair braided with jasmines, eyes kohl-lined, lips darkened red, decked in a heavy embrodied red saree, adorned with intricately designed gold ornamenents, the mirror in the room reflected a beautiful bride. A bride who had turned frenzy. A woman who was set to embark a new journey in the next few hours. A girl who had to formalise her priorities and responsiblities.

"I feel like running away." Rachna fretted adjusting the heavy stoned veil for the nth time. No, she was happy. The day she had been eagerly waiting for over an year had atlast arrived with excitement and happiness along with the uninvited guest called pre-wedding jitters.

"Rachu Di, for god sake it's your wedding." Ayushi shouted at her cousin tired with her cousin's friskiness.

"Di, relax ....you're going to marry the person who you love. Why are you fretting?" Aditi tried to calm her cousin. Rachna and Ayushi shared a look and coughed making Aditi roll her eyes at them.

"Rachu Di, see love changes people!" Ayushi commented.

"Yes Ayu, and makes them to keep secrets from their sisters." Rachna continued faking a glare at her first cousin who dismissed it in air.

After a year of their succesful relationship, Rakshan and Aditi had disclosed their relationship to their families a week before the marriage, taking them by surprise. The Arya's were flabbergasted as they had expected Rakshan would opt for an arranged marriage, provided his hectic work life and no history of girls in his life. Nevertheless, they were happy for their boy. While the Verma's had a major heart attack and to this date they couldn't come in terms with the fact that their Aditi was in love.

Aditi passed a silent prayer to the Almighty to rescue her from the jibbing of her sisters who were behind her back for the past one week. On cue, Rachna's phone rang as Ayushi held it to her on speaker.

"Rachu, lets run away!" Harshan shouted from the other side of the phone. Rachna let out a contented sigh. There was someone else who was anxious like her.

"Jeeju! Not you to." Aditi and Ayushi screamed making Rachna shut her ears.

"Is the phone on speaker?" Harshan questioned.

"Yes!" Rachna nonchalantly replied.

"We will give you fifteen minutes by then finish your call." Aditi and Ayushi exited the room giving the couple privacy. Swiping off the speaker mode, Rachna began rattling in the phone holding it close to her ears.

"Harsh, I can't do this. I am going to become the financial officer within next few weeks. With the newly added responsibilities, what if I fail in my duties as a wife and daughter-in-law. What if I become a bad wife. Harsh, I feel like running away and hide behind you." Rachna screeched.

"Rachu, first take calm breaths." Harshan advised to his to be paranoid wife. Taking few breaths, Rachna exhaled a loud breath making Harshan chuckle.

"I think I can do this, Harsh."

"Exactly you can do this. We're together in this. We can make this work. Now beautiful stop panicking and lets get married soon."

"Hmmm... See you soon. Love you!"

"Love you too!" Harshan placed a kiss on top of his phone and disconnected the call.

******

Holding Rachna's soft hands in his, Harshan took the first step of the seven rounds across the sacred fire promising each other life-long companionship, loyalty and unconditional love. While the other two souls standing opposite to each other with the holy fire between them, met each other's eyes and smiled.