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Chapter 76

Tara's POV

I was sitting inside, all decked up. I looked very beautiful. And I couldn't stop smiling. But I saw my parents - they were happy but also sad.

And that made me doubt. I should feel sad about moving out, leaving my parents and all that, but right now I'm very excited to meet Adi there, to see his reaction and to sit next to him.

Aditi came back with the garland. She said that I have to walk out in 5 minutes. I told her about my confusion. As a typical best friend/sister, she knew exactly what to say.

"Ipo nee feel pannala nu feel panriya"

I chuckled and nodded

"Appa amma ku theriyum di. You can never control your excitement. Cafeteria la puthu sweet menu varuthu nu night full ah thoongama atha pathiye yosichitu iruntha nee.  Sweet keh apdi, Apo Adi ku laam sollave vendam"

I smacked her lightly

"Inga paaru, they're sad because their daughter is growing up. And nee illama oru routine ku adjust panna avungaluku time edukum. But that doesn't mean you should be here crying. Nee happy ah jolly ah iru. And its not like you're moving to different city. Rendu street thalli thaana iruka. Innum konja naal la unna visit panren nu solitu Adi samachatha sapda varuvanga paaru"

I agree. My parents - atleast appa will do that for sure. You can always count on your bestfriend to make you feel better.

....

Amma, Aditi and my cousins were busy around the room. They were taking out a lot of things. I was just sitting there scrolling through my phone. Amma snatched it from me. Only then I looked up at the entrance.

Nenachen.

It was that nosy athai I hate. From the look on her face I could tell that she was mentally calculating how much jewelry I was wearing. She noticed I was glaring at her. She cleared her throat and said

"Makeup athigama iruku di seri paniko"

Aditi heard that.

"Aunty hiiii. Unga marriage photo na paathiruken. Nalla moonja urr nu vechitu iruntheengale. Fake candid ah illa unmaile uncle mela gaand ah"

Oh man, I started to laugh after seeing the look on her face. It was priceless

"Periyavungaluku mariyathai eh illa" she murmured and left

"Avunga wedding photo naane paathathu ila, unaku epdi theriyum"  I asked Aditi

"Guess thaan. She's not happy with how her wedding happened. Athaan nee sandhoshama relaxed ah irukathu pudikala"

That's probably true.

And the grandeur of a wedding doesn't depend the amount of make up or the weight of jewels on a bride. The true beauty lies in how wide and true her smile is.

....

"Tara va polam" Amma came in with a huge smile. I missed that a lot. She was very stressed with the wedding prep and to add to that, she had to deal with all those annoying relatives.

I took a deep breath and held amma's hand.

Aditi walked behind us. I was very very excited. I tried so hard to control myself from screaming happily. I loved every second of it.

I was thinking about everything at this point - leaving my parents, waking up with Adi everyday, not having the whole bed to myself, calling amma on the phone instead of tapping her shoulder for a doubt, being a visitor at my own house, having kids, balancing work and home.

With that chaos in my mind, I walked out.

.....

All the heads turned towards me.
I was feeling a little shy from all the sudden attention.

I was looking for him. For his eyes. They would calm me down anywhere and anytime.

I looked at him as I walked up to the mandapam. His eyes were watery. And that made my eyes tear up too. I sat down and amma started to tell me what to do and the iyer said a few phrases that I had to repeat. I was trying to look at him but amma kept asking me to pay attention to the iyer.

He was right beside me, yet I couldn't see him. I was a little annoyed. I think he noticed that. I heard a small chuckle. I could feel his eyes on me. Every time I tried to turn I could only see his garland or his collar before amma asks me to concentrate. Once I did everything, I finally turned to him. My handsome purushan. Or purushan- to be.

....

I saw his eyes. The eyes that hold so much love and affection for me. We didn't have to say anything. We just knew that both of us will do everything to make the other one happy. Feeling secure in a relationship is truly a gift. I'm glad that Adi is mine. And he will be mine forever.

"Getti melam getti melam"

And then in less than a few minutes, a yellow thread hung around my neck. My mind was blank at that point. I didn't know what to do or what to feel but then I down at it. I felt his lips on my forehead. Now the happiness flowed. I let out an excited squeal. I was about to clap my hands but I put them on my lap quickly. I forgot that tons of people were watching us. He noticed all my reactions. I looked up at him. We both laughed.

.....

Our friends started to tease us. I was blushing so badly, but atleast there was makeup to cover it up. But Adi was red like a tomato.

They had to lift me up because I couldn't stand properly while laughing so hard at him.

After what felt like forever, all the rituals were done. We finally got to eat. But this time, I didn't clap my hands at the gulab jamun or get excited about icecream.

I was just looking at him.

I couldn't take my eyes off the tall, sometimes dumb, but very handsome man.

....

As a teen, I always thought about what my husband would look like or how he will treat me or how we will spend our time together. I have had lots of crushes too but Ive never been able to put a face to what my life partner would look like.

And now, I'm sitting next to that man. My husband. It's the most liberating feeling in the world. To finally be with the person you've waited your whole life for.

...

Everything he does makes me think that I'm dreaming. Because how can someone hold so much love for me?

He has flaws. He's not perfect. Yet there's not a thing I would change about him. I love him for who he was, who he is and who he will be. As time passes, we'll grow and learn lot. And we'll do it together.

"Enna ma paakura. Sapdu. Romba tired ah irukum la. Evlo gulab jamun venalum kelu. Ithu namma kalyanam" he said and winked at me.

"Namma kalyanam" I repeated and smiled at him.

He smiled back.

....

- That growing together type of love.

"மாலை சூடிய காலை கதிரின் மேலே
சத்தியம் சத்தியம் இது சத்தியமே"

"Maalai soodiya kaalai kathirin melae
Sathiyam sathiyam idhu sathiyamae"