The Ensuing Dream

Uncomfortable

Jaanu

This is literally burning me inside. Lakshman just came to me and asked if I am still in love with his brother. Forget love, he is the person I despise the most in this world right now.

I get downstairs to the clear Verandah and inhale the fresh air. It's funny how everything changes . I remember coming here with my mother. Now years have passed and here I am with my second marriage.

I am startled by my mama tapping my shoulder

' Hey there ' he says smiling.
' Hi mama' I say.
' What's up with the gloominess' he pipes in
' Oh it's nothing' I say
' It's just that the durga pooja is about to start, and you are here all by yourself' he says
' Yes yes, you are right' I say

Then we head to the pooja mandap which is being set inside the main hall. Most of my family members are present except for a few guests who are outsiders because this is a pooja just for the two families who are about to become one.

Ranjit mama goes of and sits in the staircase over the southern side of the mandap. My dad sees me and calls me to sit besides him .

I sit beside him and watch. Then Jay turns up really late.

Wonderfull

Didn't anyone tell him about this. Sigh. He comes and sits across him next to his dad. I feel extremely weird at his gaze. I mean he has made it absolutely obvious that he has a huge crush on me.

I don't know why am I feeling this way . I am supposed to marry him and feel his gaze lifelong. It's just really uncomfortable. Maybe I haven't really......

'  Let the bride and groom sit beside each other'  the poojari announces, shaking me off my trance
I go and sit in a rised platform ,  he follows as a lost puppy. I stare at him for a few seconds.

Yeah this guy does look like a Greek god.

He just chuckles at my reaction and continues to stare at the poojari. Ok now I Don't think that guy is that handsome. Whatever , my eyes wander off to my younger sister. What is she doing?

She seems to be really into plucking all of the looms of her saree. I can never understand what is going on inside her mind. She is a bundle of raw emotions. I've never felt a connection with her as an elder sister. Maybe it could be of the age gap

I feel that she has developed a proper relationship with our Ranjit mama. I feel that Jayu feels much more than what mama feels for her. Mama is legitimately flirting with one of the neighbours who had come to help with the arrangements , completely ignoring Jayu. That might have triggered her.

This pooja ended with us exchanging a garland in the name of another sacred bonding the exact name of which I don't really remember.

Jay

Today was kind of exciting for me. We had what was known as the GANDHARVA SANGAMA or what was known as the minor engagement with only our immediate familes involved. I felt my body go numb when I sat next to her.

Gosh.. her scent is excruciating. I took a deep breath and stared at the front. She looked extremely pretty in that green saree. I couldn't take my eyes of her in the beginning, age would've thought of me as a creep. Anyways I couldn't meet her doe eyes staring at me. I felt that we actually got married when we exchanged the garlands .

I sit in the small sit out next to my room . I see two people sitting a bit away.

I recognise them as the same two people who came today morning. Lakshman and Akhila

I go up to them and greet them. They look at me startled .

' Uh I didn't think that you would be interested in talking to any of us ' says the guy

' Why would that be' I say

' All because no one else in this house is. ' his wife pipes in

' After all that has happened between my brother and your fiance , I don't think you should be talking to us as well' the guy says gloomily.

' What are you even talking about, Why would I be angry with my fiance's ex husband's family members . Even so I wouldn't mind even if your brother attends this marriage, if everyone is comfortable.'  I say

' You wouldn't be talking this way , if you had known about Nikhil' says his wife