Vaidehi | ✎

[13]

I watched as the chunky headpiece, maangtika, is put on my head followed by the veil. The bright red bangles jingled in Suman's hand as she put them on for me. I twisted my arm feeling the weight.
"You look stunning." She sighed, admiring her handy work in my reflection in the mirror as she rested her hands on my shoulder. "Red is your colour, Rajkumari."

I smiled. The colour of Suhaag is my colour, how iconic.
"Thank you-" before I can complete, a loud knock on my door interrupts us. Suman opens the door and the last person I expected walks in. I watch from the mirror reflection as Suman bows her head down in greeting to the Queen of Mewar, my mother in law to be.

I rise up from my seat near the dressing table and turn toward her.
Meerabai is smiling softly, her warm gaze directed at me. She holds a silver plate in her hand which is covered by a red silk cloth.
"Aap!" I comment surprised, immediately going to touch her feet to take blessings. She sets the plate on the side table as she holds me up by my shoulders and pulls me back up.

"Hayee..." She coos, "You look beautiful. My god. My son definitely lucked out." She says, making the gesture to remove nazar. I smile, hearing Raghavendra's name my mind involuntarily recalls last night. I fell asleep in his arms after talking for hours last night. I don't remember anything after that because the next I knew it was morning and Suman was waking me up. But Raghavendra wasn't there and I haven't seen him since morning.

Meerabai pats my head. "I have brought something for you...." she starts, pushing the silk cloth she reveals two heavy bangles and picks them up. She lifts my arm and puts them on both of my wrists. "These are our customary bangles. Its not gold as you must have already realised. They are made of brass but the special feature about them is the gemstone here..." she points to the two blue gemstones in each bangle, "they are auspicious and have been passed on since the past five generations. It symbolises the new bride and its a symbol of protection and happiness for the new married couple." She explains.

The bangles are heavy despite the brass, I am guessing it's because of the gemstones.
"They are very beautiful, maharani ji-"

"No uh...its about time you started calling me maa, you are going to be my daughter in law in less than a few hours afterall."

A smile breaks across my face and I nod. "Sure....maa." I test the word. Its feels weird to say it to anyone except my mother, but I guess I need to get used to it.
There is another sudden knock on my door. Without waiting for Suman to attend the door, my mother and Radhika walk inside. My mother coming here was actually a surprise to me. Since I haven't been replying or reading any of the letters she has written to me, I didn't know Pitaji had sent her an invite to attend the wedding. But when she showed up here today, it's safe to say I haven't been happier to see anyone. I hadn't realised how much I had missed her until the moment she held me in her arms and softly whispered my name.

But guess what the catch is, she is here as Devyani's old friend. Since my parents and the lovely Devyani decided we are better off not introducing my mother as my mother as that will just cause widespread rumours and gossip, my mother is here under an alias. How terribly sad is that.

However, Raghavendra and his family were introduced to her in the right way and he had already managed to charm my mother if what Radhika has told me is true.

"Meera ji!" My mother chirps at the queen. Meerabai, smiles at her politely. "I was just here to give her the customary bangles....I hope I wasn't distrubing you guys..."

My mother shakes her head, "Ofcourse not. Please have a seat. We were just here to check in, it's almost time for Vaidehi to go downstairs." Maa explains.