Miss Shetty and Mr Gupta

~Chapter 19~

~Meera's engagement~

Isha's POV

Two days flew by in a flurry of brainstorming sessions. Rishi and I were huddled in my courtyard, brows furrowed in concentration, as we strategized the best way to break Meera Akka's relationship news to Anandi Aunty and Gautam uncle.

"What if we write a letter?" Rishi suggested, his voice laced with uncertainty.

I swatted him playfully on the back of the head. "Seriously, Rishi? A letter? That'll backfire spectacularly! You, topper of all people, coming up with such lame ideas?"

We were at a loss, our attempts to help proving more comical than constructive. Just then, a commotion erupted from inside the house. Curious, we both rushed into the hall.

To our surprise, Anandi Aunty and Gautam Uncle stood there, beaming, alongside a sheepish-looking Meera Akka. A large box of sweets was in their hands , a silent announcement of joyous news.

"We fixed Meera's wedding!" Anandi Aunty declared, her voice overflowing with excitement.

My eyes flew to Meera Akka, who offered a small, triumphant smile. It seemed she had taken our advice about talking to her parents head-on, and it had worked!

Rishi and I erupted in cheers, engulfing Meera Akka in a tight hug. "Congratulations, Meera!" we chorused, our voices thick with joy.

Ever the enthusiastic one, I couldn't contain my excitement. "So, does this mean manna into pelli sandadi modhalu ayindha ?" (translation: so does this mean that the wedding bells have rung in our house?)  I practically squealed.

Anandi Aunty chuckled, pinching my cheek. "Actually, Isha," she revealed, "it's already begun!"

My dad's curiosity piqued. "When's the engagement ceremony, Gautam?" he inquired.

Gautam Uncle boomed, his voice filled with warmth. "We'll be finalizing the dates this weekend. And of course, we want all of you there at our house for the discussion."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" my mom and I exclaimed in unison.

As the news sunk in, a wave of happiness washed over me. Not only had Meera Akka found love, but our families were coming together to celebrate this beautiful new chapter in her life. The prospect of wedding planning filled me with a giddy anticipation. With Meera Akka at the helm and our combined creativity, this was bound to be a wedding to remember! 

time skip to engagement day ⌛

The air crackled with excitement as I bustled around the venue, orchestrating the final touches for Meera Akka's engagement ceremony. Flowers were my current focus. "Here, here!" I instructed the decorator, gesturing towards a bunch of red roses. "Place them over there, in a heart shape! And for the backdrop, I want a cascade of light pink roses." My hands flew, arranging and rearranging until the floral design mirrored the blossoming love story we were about to celebrate.

Another decorator caught my eye. "And that archway," I directed, pointing. "It needs a little something extra. Move it a bit to the left, and..." I trailed off, sketching the design in the air with my fingers. Understanding dawned on the decorator's face, and he nodded, expertly repositioning the archway according to my vision.

Satisfied with the progress, I hurried towards the bride's room. Peeking inside, I found Meera Akka perched on a chair, looking radiant even without a trace of makeup. "Hey there, sleepyhead!" I teased. "It's ten o'clock, and the ceremony starts in an hour! We need you glammed up, stat!"

Bustling the makeup artist into action, I ensured Meera Akka was well on her way to becoming a picture-perfect bride. Then, I ushered her towards the garden, to take the photoshoot. We even snuck in a few selfies together, the joy shimmering in our eyes.

With a mental checklist running through my head, I dialled Rishi's number. He was the designated caterer wrangler today. His phone was perpetually engaged. Just as frustration threatened to boil over, he finally answered.

"Rishi!" I barked into the phone, barely containing my exasperation. "Where are you? A million things need to be done – the caterers, checking the arrangements..."

His reply was reassuring. "Chill, Ish," he chuckled. "I've got it under control. Akarsh Bava has a surprise planned for Meera, and I'm helping him out. Oh, and the caterers are all sorted."

With a sigh of relief, I made my way to the dining hall to confirm his words. Everything was indeed in order. "Sounds like you have it covered," I conceded, a hint of pride in my voice.

"By the way, where are you and Akarsh bro ?" I queried, curiosity piqued.

"In his room," came the reply.

Intrigued, I made my way towards Akarsh bro's room. A faint melody drifted out from under the door. Knocking twice, I pushed it open to reveal a sight that sent a smile across my face.