𝑰𝑺𝑯𝑸 𝑺𝑯𝑼𝑭𝑰𝒀𝑨𝑵𝑨

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑀𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑀𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 2
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

"Mina, yeh dupatta mujhse nahi hoga," I say, grabbing the dupatta and tossing it to the ground. Mina rushes over and puts it back on my head.

"Hold on, bobby pin," she says, fishing through the drawers for one.

*Knock knock*

Mina and I exchange terrified looks. I hastily cover my face with the dupatta. Mina moves to open the door.

"Pooja, tune mukh kyu dhaka hai?" Rani Aunty, Mina's mother, comes near me.

"Mami, woh hamare ghar ki tradition hai na," Mina says, grabbing Rani Aunty's hand before she can touch my dupatta. I struggle under it.

"Oh, yesa hai. Pooja beta, sab aagaye hai. Jab ham awaaz dein tu Mina ke saath aana," she says as she leaves. I take my deepest breath ever.

"Mina, I'm so anxious-what if I make a mistake?" I say, feeling the anxiety rise within me. Mina sits next to me and consoles me.

"Don't worry, mein aur Aman Bhai honge waha par. I guess Aman ne Raj aur Payal ko bhi keh diya hoga," she reassures me.

Taking off my dupatta, I turn to face Mina. "Kya?"

"Not Raj. Last time he blamed me for eating his ice cream. I mean, I ate it, but he shouldn't have blamed me in front of everyone," I complain. Mina shakes her head and gives me a light slap on the forehead.

"Tum dono ki nok-jhok abhi side mein rakho, ok?" she says. I grin a little and nod, but there's anxiety beneath my smile.

"I'm not afraid of Aunty, it's Dadu. Mahadev save us and give Pooja di buddhi. Phasa diya ham sabko," I say, feeling the weight of the situation.

"Take a deep breath, Nisu," Mina instructs. I follow her lead, breathing deeply and slowly.

"Pooja di ko aane do, chodungi nahi unhe," I say, slamming my hands on the table as I get up from my chair, red in the face.

"Relax, relax, relax," Mina says, pulling me back to the chair.

"Pooja Beta," Badi Maa calls.

I quickly put on the dupatta and sit quietly. Badi Maa walks into the room. I feel her presence behind me, and my heart begins to beat faster as her footsteps grow closer.

"Kinni badi hogayi meri pyaari beti," she says, touching my head. I immediately feel horrible for her. When she discovers the truth, how will she respond?

"Aaj agar Radhika didi hoti na toh teri rishta ke baat par mujhse bhi jyada khush hoti," she continues. The moment I hear my mother's name, my heart tightens. My mother, who left this world when I was 11.

"Teri shaadi ke saath saath ham Nisha ke bhi baat karte the," she says, placing a kala tika on my neck and giving me a head kiss. Tears well up in my eyes, but I quickly wipe them away before they fall.

Badi Maa grabs my hands and leads me downstairs. Through the thin fabric of my dupatta, I see our elders and a few men sitting across the hall. There aren't many, but there are enough to unnerve me. Our uncle, Dadu, the women of our family, and the groom's side are all present.

I look at each person individually. Aayein, is Pooja really getting married to an old man?

"Dadaji, apke bete nahi dekh rahe," Dadu asks.

"Woh aate honge," a man from the groom's side responds. Me, Mina, Aman Bhai, and our other cousins gather together, discussing what to do next.

"Yaar, kuch soch," Mina says, biting her fingernails. I can't think of anything; my brain feels like it's moving in slow motion.