The Ogre's Proposal (COMPLETED)

Chapter 25

Early Update again...
✨✨✨

ANIKA
✨

I took a look at all the jewellery and the bridal clothes kept in front of me. They looked exquisite, beautiful yet extremely expensive. Ahaana indeed put her best efforts in designing a beautiful wedding outfit for me. Traditional and beautiful.
My eyes filled with tears as I recalled how last time all my siblings were there to get me ready for the ceremony. Today although Miranda and Simi were here, Shailaja along with her entire team were here I still felt extremely emotional.

A few months ago when I did not even know the real meaning of a marriage, when marriage was just a fancy term for me to dress up and deck up like a doll I had everyone around me but today when this marriage means so much more than just a bond...I feel so lonely. A drop of tear slipped out of my eye and I wiped it off quickly.

I could see Miranda, Simi and Shailaja discussing and struggling to check what goes where making me chuckle. Neither of them had any idea of traditional Sikh jewellery as both of them spent most of their lives here in New York. Ahaana did a fine job. She got exactly what I requested. Not only did get me some extremely traditional jewellery of course not gold...I can't afford any but then they looked beautiful. Gold or not...I'm going to treasure them for my lifetime.

The jewellery collection had a Matha Patti (Jewellery circling forehead), Choker necklace, haathphool (floral jewellery connecting the ring to a bracelet with chains), Pazeb (thick bridal anklets), Baaliyan (earrings), Laung te Latkan Nath (nose stud along with a floral motif ring along with the chain), Jugni (heavy gold pendant with small bells to it along with a chain), Kangan (thick pair of bangles). They all looked beautiful but then when my eyes fell on the red Choodha and Kaleerein which are the most important part of a Sikh bridal attire my eyes welled up again.

I blinked through my tears trying not to be emotional. This is a happy day for us. I would gain a loving daughter, a secure home for my unborn child and annoying yet a caring husband. If ever Meet tries to return, he would never even know that I was pregnant due to what he did that night. My baby will always be mine and mine only. I slowly caressed my belly when Simi asked 'Anika??? All ok??? You need anything??? Juice... food??? Junior is hungry???' she asked and I smiled shaking my head.

'Look !!! You don't need to follow anything ok...I know you need to fast and all that but you are a special case. Junior can eat whatever he wants okay??? So feel free to tell us and Shailaja will get you whatever you want!!!' Simi said when Shailaja spoke up

'Yes Mam!!! I...I may not understand this complicated jewellery thing but I certainly understand Indian food!!!' she said making me giggle. I smiled and slowly started helping them with what goes where and they helped me getting ready. Once I was ready my eyes again went to the Choodha and Kaleerein. Last time Titu made me wear it as I did not have a maternal uncle. This time probably I will have to wear it like any other jewellery when I heard a voice from behind my back

'Excuse me!!! That's my department!!!' and I turned around to see Linda and Richard standing there. I was shocked to see Linda in traditional Lehenga Choli whereas Richard wore a kurta pajama had his head covered with a small handkerchief. I was speechless when Richard said 'I have always considered you like a daughter since you came home Anika!!! I may not be your paternal uncle but today Linda and I would officially want to claim that position in your life. Would you let us do that child?' he asked so warmly that I couldn't help but throw my arms around Richard and burst into tears. I had always seen a father figure in him and today he indeed made me extremely emotional by his kind gesture.

After Simi and Miranda asked me to not cry more as they teased my makeup was wash away, I wiped my tears. Linda wiped my tears and kissed my forehead. Richard slowly made me wear the Choodha and tied the Kaleerein to those bangles as well post which I asked Miranda and Simi to sit down quietly. They both wondered what I was doing when I told them that as part of the rituals I'm supposed to shake my hands and move over all the unmarried friends around me to see whom the Kaleerein would fall upon. When Simi raised her eyebrow asking 'And what if it falls on us' and I smiled saying 'It signifies...you are next in line to get married!!!' and her eyes widened as she jumped from there and stood up saying 'No thank you!!!' but I pushed her down the chair forcefully and tried shaking the Kaleerein rigorously on both their heads when a piece fell on Miranda's head and she squealed in excitement but then a small chunk also fell into Simi's lap making her jump like it was some lizard that fell upon her when she tried to hand it over to Miranda but I shook my head saying