The Sun & the Stars Aligned

Tara Sharma

Life is quite unpredictable, and you never know what is coming next. Just when you believe everything is unfolding as per the plan, life takes unexpected turns, and offers numerous surprises when you least anticipate them.  So, no matter how much we plan and prepare, it's better to go with the flow; fix what you can, and adapt what you can't.

Likewise, I never imagined I'd end up walking into the wedding altar with a stranger, all thanks to my Nani's efforts. They've been pushing me to find a life partner, but I've been too busy sorting out my life since high school to even think about dating. Sure, there were a few crushes, but nothing serious ever blossomed.

Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard the sound of hooves and lively chatter. Intrigued, I rose from my seat near the groom to catch a glimpse of what was happening. The man on the horse spotted me, halted, and dismounted. I strained to see his face, but it was a bit tricky. As he approached me step by step, my heart began to race.

I walked closer to him, and he had this thing called a "sehra" covering his face. I wanted to take it off, but then someone's hand stopped me. I touched the hand and found out it was my Nani.

"Wake up, Taru. It's already 7 in the morning, beta," said Nani, gently stroking my face.

"Just five more minutes, Nani. I swear, I won't sleep any longer," I replied, pulling the duvet over my face.

"Okay! Don't say I didn't try to wake you up." Nani paused. "As for Ishani's Ganpati Pooja, your Nanu and I will go on our own. You enjoy your sleep." Nani declared, giving up after trying to rouse me for a good 10 minutes.

"Ganpati Pooja," I mumbled in my sleep, suddenly remembering that it was the day Ishani's wedding celebrations began. Here I am, still half-asleep, completely forgetting and running late for the pooja.

As soon as the realization struck, I jumped out of bed and hugged Nani from behind. "Nani, how can you abandon your favorite child and go without me? But if you and Nanu are in the mood for some quality time alone, it's cool. You guys go, and I'll catch up with you later. Privacy is all yours," I teased her, and a rosy blush appeared on her face.

"Stop it. It's not like that. You're getting cheeky, huh? I'll remind you of this when you're married and craving some privacy," she teased me back.

"I'm not tying the knot anytime soon, my lovely lady, so you're stuck with me for eternity," I declared, planting a quick kiss on her cheeks. Grabbing the towel, I rushed to the bathroom, and her laughter lingered in the air as she left the room.

Hey, I'm Tara Sharma, and this is how my mornings typically unfold. Nani is my daily wake-up call, and I start the day with a morning kiss for her. 

However, today was a bit different—the dream. I don't usually have these kinds of dreams. Maybe Ishani, my lifelong childhood best friend who is getting married next week, has somehow influenced my mind. It's probably making me a bit delusional. 

We did everything together, from attending school and college to participating in competitions, to working for NGOs. By the way, Ishani runs her own Women's Welfare NGO, and besides managing events, I spend a good amount of time helping her there. We've shared most of our lives, from extended sleepovers to weeks-long trips. We've always had each other's backs, regardless of the situation. She's more like the sister I never had. It wouldn't be wrong to say that she might not even consider marriage if I'm not around. HAHA!!

Anyway, let's set aside the dream and concentrate on the task at hand. Being the owner of my own event management company, and with Ishani being the bride, I'm overseeing all the wedding festivities.