Adrika
One out, five more to go! You know functions! That Indian wedding. Usually, our weddings start with Roka Ceremony and after that, there are a series of events/ rituals that will happen till the wedding. Most of the families start the preparations a month or two prior to the fixed wedding date. But in my case, it is not! I can't help but feel everything is rushed. And the only good thing about this whole wedding is that my grandparents are back.
They both are not happy with the way the wedding is being rushed. But nonetheless, they are not against it. They just feel I'm still little.
My soon-to-be Athayya is calling every two hours to "talk to me." from yesterday. And the most important thing is tomorrow is my engagement ceremony.
Yesterday, my mom and soon-to-be MIL, asked me to come for shopping with which I outright rejected. I gave them both the liberty to choose whatever they wanted, as I know they will be "the best" one for their daughter. But they didn't go out shopping, instead, my mom arranged one of our guesthouses, to be used as a dressing room. They both invited the three top designers with their best designs which are not yet available to everybody. The dresses they brought are not only for me but also for Arjun.
Everyone who is working for the events is made to sign the NDA's and they are sworn to secrecy about my identity.
Only for tomorrow, my mother adjusted for the lehenga which is already on the market, because there is no time to make a dress. And both my mom and soon-to-be MIL demanded new dresses for all the events except for the day of the wedding. As we South Indian wear pattu sarees for the all the events on the wedding day.
"Ammu, what do you want to eat for dinner?" My grandma asked.
"Nanaamma, I want to eat whatever you will cook. You know I eat everything." I said, massaging my grandma's feet.
"I'll do your favorites, Brinjal masala, and jeera rice." She said patting my head.
"Nanaamma, what about me?" My brother asked her pouting. He is also massaging the feet but he is doing it for my grandpa. She always melts if anyone of pouts.
"Tell me Aadhi, em tinali undi neeku?" She asked. (What do you want to eat?)
"I want tomato dal. The cook doesn't know to make dal, nanaamma. It's been four months since I last ate dal." He said.
No one can make dal better than my grandma.
"Oh! I'll do whatever my grandbabies want. And I'll teach Aishwarya how to make authentic dal. So can eat dal every day after you both are married." She said teasingly.
And that's enough to change our mood.
"There is still time for his wedding. Why don't you teach me how to make Brinjal masala, Nanaamma." I said.
"More than Aishwarya, now Adrika has to learn cooking, because you know in Rudramaneni's house No outsider will enter into the kitchen. You know that right, Ammu?" My nanaamma said.
"Yeah! But I will not do anything. If I want to eat something I'll order it or come here." I said.
I will only for my loved ones!
"You will cook when the time comes, Ammu. Till then I will not say anything." She said.
"Don't tell them I know cooking. Or else they will use me as their personal chef." I said, wiping my hands with the cloth beside me.
"I don't understand what your problem is?" My nanaamma voiced her opinion.
"Nanaamma, have you seen how many members are there in the family. Do you think I'll be able to cook for all of them? Do you think my job at his home is to please everyone's stomach?" I questioned her.
"Yes Ammu, you don't have to cook for them. If they want another helping hand, they can hire someone. It's not like they are deprived of money." My grandpa gave his share in the conversation. Both my dad and granddad are the same. Ever the silent one.
"Don't encourage her. Listen Ammu, it's okay not to follow everything your husband says to you. But it's important to please Athaya because that's where a man's heart lies, at his mother's. So, you should never outright reject her suggestions. If she says there are certain traditions in their home, you should try to follow them or you should make her understand your reasoning in disagreeing with her. We know, you are not the one with a big mouth, but you have to be careful." My nanaamma said.
After listening to her words I started imagining how my fife will after the marriage. It's not about my love for Arjun anymore. It's only about me.
~
Next day...
My mom and grandma woke me up early in the morning as the muhurtham is at 9 O'clock. That means I have to be ready by 8 AM.
Everything that's happening around me is a blur.
My family paid no heed to make my engagement double extravagant. They never asked me about the decorations and all. They did what they thought is best. And I think from now on my life will always be ruled by someone.
"ADS!" My brother shouted. He was looking so handsome in his Sherwani, but I'll never admit it to him.
"Yes," I replied. Everyone left us alone after they dolled me up for the ring ceremony. So we both are having our sister-brother time.
"Sorry baby!" He said.
"Why? Why are you sorry?" I asked really confused why he is saying sorry.
"I'm sorry that you have to grow up at a tender age. I'm sorry that you have to marry this early. I'm sorry I'm not there when the world was harsh to you. And I'm sorry for the days that will not be around you when you will need me." He said with tears in his eyes.
"Don't! If you talk like this now ill cry and my whole look will be damaged. Do you want your sister to be ugly beside her to-be-fiance?" I said hugging tightly.
"Adrika," he called, making to look at his face, "I know you are not comfortable to talk about that with Arjun now. But please share everything with him when you are comfortable if you think he deserves to know." He said, to which I nodded.
"I will, Annaya."
My mother called us to the garden where my ring ceremony is taking place. Everything looks like, it is out of some fairytale. And I do believe in fairytales. But my attention is not on my surroundings, it is on the person with home I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
After grooms Ganapathi puja, we exchanged the rings!
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