Borrowed But Mine: An Arylie FF

Borrowed But Mine: Chapter 54, Sangeet

A/N: Alright! This being Sangeet, there are several songs linked. The YT videos maybe a choreography that I felt might be how the characters may have danced. Elif Khan is the dancer in those videos and I really thought she was so graceful and beautiful!

Also, on another note, the updates are slower because of illnesses and just general busy-ness. Forgive me, because I cannot promise when the next update will be, especially now that this last soldier of the household is ready to succumb to this nasty virus.

So, hopefully, maybe sometime this weekend. Thanks for your patience!

Love, M

Chapter 54

The next morning.....

Imlie watched from upstairs as Veer and Malhaar stood at the doorway to the Singhania Mansion, with Aliya and Manjeera, Aneesh and Aneesh's mother welcoming the Rathore family.

Simantpujan. She smiled to herself, another conversation with Aaji, in another time. 

When my grandmother was little.

Wait! Your grandmother, meaning, panji-aaji's mother. Imlie computed quickly in her head.

Yes, your great-great grandmother. Did you know she was married off as a little girl?

What? Imlie's eyes rounded. How little?

Ummm, let's see, I believe she was only 8.

Noo!!! 12 year old Imlie cupped her hands over her mouth in horror. So she was younger than I was?

That's right! Aaji's eyes twinkled at her grand-daughter's distress.

Was the groom also eight?

No he was older. More like 20.

Mhanje......(meaning...) he was what 12 years older?

Hmm, back in those days that's how things worked. 

So anyway, back then, the boy used to be from a far off village. There were no buses or trains.

Only bullock carts. I know.

That's right. No big marriage halls. Weddings happened in the front yard of the bride's house. Food was cooked in the backyard.

Imlie smiled and put both fists under her chin, listening with rapt interest.

Then the groom and his family arrived for the wedding the night before. And when the arrived at the village periphery, the bride's family would welcome them and lead them in by hand.

Ohhhhkay...

Now these days because there are marriage halls so readily available, this simant pujan happens at the threshold of the wedding hall.

Imlie giggled. Can you imagine, Imp? Dadda going to the outskirts of Delhi to welcome Aryan.

Their wedding and post wedding rituals were going to be on the grounds of the Singhania mansion. She'd leave this house later in the afternoon and the Rathore's were hosting an intimate dinner at their home.