Prem Vivah

• Apsara •

Sarita was helping her daughter wearing their traditional Nauvari Saree...she was making the pleats from the lower waist, whilst Naina was wondering how people in old generations used to wear sarees daily. She can't even feel comfortable in just a few minutes.

"Aai, kitna time aur?" Naina groaned as she couldn't understand why draping a saree was taking her mother so much time.

"Itni jaldi hai toh change kar ke kuch bhi pehen kar aa jao bahar." Sarita taunted her in a stern voice and put the safety pin between her lips while aligning the pleats in her fingers. She neatly bundled them and tucked them into her lower waist.

"Mujhe nahi pata tha itna mushkil hai yeh traditional saree pehen na," Naina said annoyingly, lowering her gaze to see her mother professionally draping the saree.

It took the duo a good amount of time to make Naina ready in a Marathi style. Sarita carefully put the safety pin on the blouse, making the pallu look beautiful, and Naina looked at herself in the mirror, unable to believe that she was draped exquisitely in a Dark Purple Nauvari saree shaded with Orange...the grace her outfit acquired, the way her figure seemed shapely curved within the folds of the saree, the way pleats looked extremely pleasing to her eye she tweaked her moist lower lip between her white teeth, smiling at her mother for making her look so much like an Elegant Woman.

"Kitni sundar lag rahi hai meri gudiya." Sarita kissed her daughter's temple while beaming.

"Aap par jo gayi hoon," Naina said in a soft voice, staring at her mother in the mirror.

"Mujhse bhi zyada sundar ho tum." Sarita looked at her grown-up daughter with flecks of liquid in her glossy eyes, and Naina quickly turned back to look at her mother.

"Kay zhala aai?" She asked her in a panicked tone.

(Kya Hua Aai?)

"Kai nai, tumhe aaj is saree me dekh kar mere mann me yeh khayal aa raha hai jab tum dulhan banogi toh kitni khubsurat lagogi." Sarita expressed her excitement regarding her daughter's wedding, and Naina lovingly smiled at the mushy lady.

"Sab aap hi ka toh diya hua hai mujhe meri pyari aai...yeh aankhein, yeh lambe baal, yeh choti si nose, jaisi aap dikhti thi apne zamane me. Aaj aapki beti dikh rahi hai is zamane me, isliye toh hum sab jante hai Baba aapke deewane kyu hai abhi tak." Naina replied to her with a teasing smile, making her mother pull her nose playfully.

"Badmaash, chalo ab jaldi ready ho jao mujhe kuch kaam hai main aati hoon," Sarita said softly, and Naina nodded, giving her a gentle smile.

The moment Naina turned back to adore herself in the mirror, the image of decking up as a bride formed in her mind, her creamy white skin becoming pinkish at the imagination. She instinctively lifted her hand to touch her face which glowed at the mere thought of getting an opportunity to wear a ravishing royally blue saree with golden jewelry enhancing her beauty. The traditional Marathi look with a slight touch of Nazakat will complete her appearance for the wedding.

Naina pushed aside her irrelevant thoughts and began to wear the elegant ornaments. She effortlessly slide glass bangles into her mehendi-wale-haath and clasped the dori of a heavy golden necklace, which rested on her front chest. Naina didn't want to apply a thick coating of foundation or pink blush, her fair skin was naturally gleaming. She just applied red lip balm, a thin line of black kohl, ethnic large fancy jhumkas, new sets of anklets, a golden waist chain, toe rings like her mother, and now only one accessory was left to wear. She gently picked up the Maharashtrian traditional Nathni in her soft hand and pressed it meticulously into her pierced nose. Naina was content with her makeup and hair, which were settled on her lower back. The curled tendrils outlined her gorgeous face, and she held a long breath to gaze at her mother's reflection in her beauty.