The Unwanted Bride

9 - Married

Typed: 08/12/2023
Chapter 9: Married

Author's POV:

It was expected from the bride's side to escalate the wedding procedure but not the groom's. Yug's parents were not necessarily cooperative but eager to accept any date to bring their daughter-in-law home. If Khushi's parents had the slightest pure intention to marry her off, they would have asked for a reason behind the Verma's urgency. But since they couldn't care less, it didn't matter.

Her father was just content that he was fulfilling his duties as a father correctly this time. Marrying her off to a man who ticks off all the required boxes a parent would want for their child. Financially stable, handsome, has a property of his own, has a small company and his personality. His personality is what her father admires and treasures.

When Khushi's father met him a few weeks ago to see his house and a quick overview of his company, he'd figured one thing out: he would keep my Khushi happy. He was exactly what she was and needed; respect and to be understood.

It's not that Mr Gupta doesn't love Khushi. He does. She's his warrior, his firstborn, his only born from his deceased wife. She's proven everyone wrong by standing tall after everything. She's become a voice—if not for herself but for others. He respects her.

He fails to show his love for her. Worried she'd dissolve and squeeze into his arms, leaving her independence behind. The independence she's worked hard for. Despite trying hard, he's always miserably failed to show the slightest affection for her too. His parents were never appreciative towards him, so how does he learn? And for the sake of his marriage, he stays numb to anything his wife says to Khushi. Silent to keep peace.

Peace that he hasn't realised has become an incurable disease for Khushi. Because of his lack of affection, she now seeks validation. Validation from a man she's to be married to.

Yug was responsible, gentlemanly and charismatic when he met her father for the first time and touched his feet. His innocent face and his six-foot frame shook with mirth seeing his would-be father-in-law and mother-in-law at his office on a Monday morning. He had touched their feet, asked them to take a seat and brought them chai. He'd specially made the chai, not anyone else, but Yug.

He had shown them around, keeping their introduction subtle, his employees didn't need to know much about his private life. While her stepmother was impressed with the small yet lavishing company, her father was more in awe of his personality and authoritative yet polite nature. He'd left the office that day, drove them to his house and showed them around. At the end of the meeting, all three couldn't wait for the wedding.

A wedding that takes place today.

~

There are two types of anxiety that people feel. The anxiety that consumes your body in yearning and then there's the one that makes you jumpy. Khushi left jumpy.

She sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. She looked so bright and elegant. This was the most makeup she's ever had on her face. The foundation had absorbed into her skin, making her bridal makeup look more natural than when it was first applied. The blush on her skin was relatively more than what she anticipated but Neha and Jiya reminded her, "you're the bride."

Her eyeshadow was smoky but not the party-kind of smoking. It was like a refined and graceful smoke of the right colours that complimented her skin, making her weak eyes captivating.

Staring at herself, she scanned every piece of jewellery she was wearing. It was more than she wanted, her mother had said, "we can't marry our daughter off with just three jewellery." It was the first time her stepmother had used a phrase that closely linked her as her child.