A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 3 - Middle Ground

Nandini's POV:

I could feel my heart beat pacing up fast and I was feeling very nervous. "Don't worry Nandini, it's ok even if you don't get it" she said patting my back. "I was a fool to reject it in the first place" I said. Hearing Aryaman's name from him made me freak out. "I'm sorry Navya, you had to go through all this because of me" I genuinely want to thank her but couldn't do enough for her. "Don't be formal" she said. "Hey Nandini, come in. This is Neha's house. Her father is little strict, so please don't mind if he deny" Karthik said straight on my face and half of my confidence instantly died.

We entered into a room which seemed to be like a waiting hall for the guests. And from there Karthik took us to an office room. "Good morning uncle" he wished and I was about to speak but the elderly man interrupted. "How many times I might have asked you to call me mamayya. We're a family Karthik" he said in his deep voice. He reminded me of my strict school principal, who yells for everything and on everyone. Karthik's description of him is so apt and to the point. "Sorry mamayya! She is the wedding planner we met earlier" he said pointing towards me. "Hello sir, I'm Nandini Reddy, wedding planner and event manager" I said introducing myself. "But Karthik, Neha and you said that you were still looking for a wedding planner. So, I already hired one" he said not even looking at me.

"Mamayya, the one you hired is a middle aged man. He doesn't even understand what we are saying" Thank god at least we got to know that Karthik is still interested to hire me. "Karthik, he already worked with us for few events. He gives his best" he said ending the conversation and is all set to leave the room. "But sir, don't you think you should give a chance to others also! There are so many young talents who needs recognition" I said. "This isn't a business but my daughter's marriage" he said. "Ok, please tell me how can we prove that we are better than the one whom you have already hired!?" Navya looked shocked when I said that. Even I found my statement so overconfident.

"This isn't a competition and I don't have time for all this" he was about to go but Karthik stopped him. "Mamayya, please that wedding planner isn't understanding a thing about our culture. She is experienced in it" Karthik said. "What were your earlier projects?" his uncle asked. "This is a new venture we have started but earlier I had a record of 44 weddings. We have dealt with high profile weddings, ecofriendly and zero waste weddings too" I said. "So you are new to this field too" he asked. "Sorry miss, we cannot trust you and put my reputation in your hands. Many VIPs, VVIPs will be coming to my daughter's wedding. You might not handle a wedding with 2 to 3000 people" he said.

"2 to 3000 people! I thought it was a wedding but you're talking about a political party meeting" I said. Who calls them all to a wedding when he himself mentioned it as a lifetime memory for his daughter. "This is supposed to be a lifetime memory for both groom and bride. But with all these guests it will be a party meeting" I said again. "Please mamayya, let the guest list be short and finite" Karthik asked in a pleasing way. I knew that it is not my cup of tea now. Just then Neha, the bride came there. "Dad, he messed up my dress again" she came there like a tigress. "See, this is the problem with him. He exactly fulfills whatever you need, but nothing we ask for" Karthik stated his disappointment.

"Nandini! Is that you?" she washed me like she knew me for so long. I smiled back at her hesitantly. "I had once rejected this but I had to come back because this is the only one event in my calender for now. I would go back if you reject. But why do I still feel that even you need me too?" I asked him. "So, you think you can meet the expectations of my children but what about us?" his voice lowered. "Sir, I promise that I won't let you down" I tried my best and Neha took her dad aside. Karthik also followed them. "Is this going to work?" I asked Navya who was quite surprised at my new acquired confidence.

Navya didn't answer but Neha and Karthik are back with their father. "I'm not yet fully confident of your capabilities, but I'm ready to hire you just because alludu garu (son-in-law) recommended your work" he said. I was surprised to hear him. Karthik was trying to convince him since I came here and at last he is saying that his son-in-law convinced him. Is he talking about Karthik! "Thank you sir, thank you so much" Navya thanked before me sensing that I was lost somewhere. "Don't be too happy too soon, one mistake and you'll be out" he said strictly. Me and Navya nodded like the two lost children at school. He left from there.

"Karthik and Neha, thank you so much guys" I can't thank them enough. "It's not a big deal Nandini. We have a problem yet" Karthik said. "We've just got a green signal from your father-in-law. What is the name of this new problem now!" Navya asked. "It's my father-in-law now!" Neha said and continued, "Karthik's parents want our wedding in Kerala" Neha said. "Venue and traditions should be decided before itself na" Navya asked. "Yes, they've initially accepted that wedding will be as per our Telugu rituals but my dad kinda messed up everything. After the engagement, seeing the crowd and all, they now want to shift the venue. Dad doesn't even want to listen to them" Neha stated.

This is really a big problem which is caused due to miscommunication. "How about we find a middle ground to both of them!" I asked them. "Sounds like a good idea but how will we find a middle ground?" Neha asked. "What if your dad still hold on to the same guest list eben if the venue is in Kerala?" I asked her. "This can really happen because your dad is too keen to invite everyone" Navya added. "How about a destination wedding?" I asked them. "Brilliant idea but mamayya will not accept, we already tried" Karthik said with his face dropped. "I wish dad agree with this idea. Destination wedding will trim the guest list" Neha said to Karthik. "I know a venue in Andhra which resembles Kerala" I said.

"But how will we convince my dad!" Neha asked. So that means my actual job will start from here. So, this is my life and I have to live with it. "Can we have a look at your engagement pictures?" Navya asked out of the blue. "Why do you think we need them now?" I didn't understand why she asked for it. Neha and Karthik also looked at each other and Neha asked someone to get them. Navya strolled through the pictures in their album and I followed her. The album looked heavy and is quite exhaustive to see it entirely. "No doubt the guest list is going to be huge now" she said. "Is this why you asked for it?" I whispered to her but she excused both of us and took me aside. "I've checked the entire album, neither Aryaman nor his family were there. Maybe they are not such close" Navya said. I completely forgot about him.

I was trying to find a middle ground between both bride and groom families but my life is always on extreme edges and there's nothing in between.