A Big Fat Indian Wedding

Chapter 1

Waking up early on a Sunday felt like not respecting a Sunday, at least to a certain dark haired, Indian-origin beauty living a lavish life on the uptown streets of Manhattan. But she had to, owing up to her responsibilities back in India.

The job as an editor of the number one celebrity gossip magazine was hard to keep up with, and she had her down days to be honest, but she had to fly back home to attend the wedding of her only sister. They were related to each other by blood, and if it weren't so, Millie would have loved to bail on such an event. But she couldn't. She had to be there, even if it was last minute.

"Ma, I have a plane to catch." She was muttering into her phone while doing a great job of multitasking the luggage trolley and a styrofoam cup loaded with caffeine. "Will you stop talking?"

Weddings gave Millie paranoia because she never thought of herself as the kind who would want to spend the rest of her life with the same person. No, she wasn't a wild animal, although she did party a lot, she just liked change in her life more than she could ever love just one person.

"Fine. Fine." Millie heard her mother ceasing her lecture about being late and hang up instead.

Yes, Millie lied. She didn't have a deal with a big label company to sign and that's why she was a month late to her own sisters wedding. She was just lazy. And jittery.

She didn't want to be there when her sister was going to be at her worst. Well, Millie thought pre wedding jitters brought out the worst in a person and a lot of people do agree with that.

Within ten minutes of arriving at the departure zone and checking in her luggage, thanks to the online boarding pass facility these days, Millie was sitting in the waiting area eyeing that book store from afar.

The wedding was in a fortnight and everyone she knew and was related to, was in her hometown celebrating her sisters soon-to-start a new life. Millie kind of hated herself for being selfish but it just happened that a lie came out of her mouth when she was speaking to her mother on the phone.

Come on, the lie wasn't hurting anybody. At least not until Dahlia knew. Dahlia, as in the bride to be. Or Millie's sister.

"Boarding flight to Mumbai." The announcement filled the waiting area and several passengers got up to get in the line for the exit. "Repeat, boarding flight to Mumbai."

Oh, what the heck. Millie needed a book, just like a crying baby needs to be fed by his mother, because they both need to calm down.

For a split second, she agreed she could easily make a run to the shop and buy a book, any one for that matter, and get back in line; which she did. Only thing, she sprinted on the way back and slipped so as to collide with something, or someone, and spilling that something's coffee all over herself.

Oh, dear. Is god out and about punishing her for something?

"I'm so sorry." The male said, holding his empty cup without the lid.

Why didn't he have a lid in the first place?

"Seriously, don't bother." It was Millie's karma, coming back to get her for the lie and come late for her own sisters wedding.

"Here." He offered a napkin and that's when she saw his clothes were spotless. Okay, this definitely was karma's evil work.

"Last call for flight to Mumbai." On came another announcement and again, she dashed towards her aisle. She shall never learn, running again?

But she didn't fall down this time. Only boarded her flight peacefully.

"Can I get a glass a water, please?" She found herself talking to her flight attendant soon as she was inside and while the other passengers were settling down.

"Here you go." Oh, that felt much better, Millie thought, gulping down in one flow.

"Thanks."

Off she was to her seat, strapping herself, because she never really got over her fear of flying even after all these years of shuffling between New York and Mumbai. She'll get there someday, she always motivated herself.

"Flight, ready to take off." The speakers put off and she closed her eyes because for once, on that day, it was quiet and un-disturbing. What followed was a well practiced instruction display by the same flight attendant while Millie wished for her slumber to take over.

Once she'd land, it would all start again; the real frenzy of a big fat Indian wedding.

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