Let's Fall Together

14. Is the hottie coming with you?

I was supposed to attend a wedding.

And not just any wedding, A traditional Indian wedding.

Apparently my mother had a cousin in Mumbai, whom I'd never met obviously, and that cousin had a daughter, again whose name I didn't know, and she was getting married.

And my mother dearest wanted me to attend that wedding just because I was closer to the venue. Yesterday when I called her after I saw her text, she went all bossy on me.

"You are going and it's final. "

"But I don't even know the bride's name, how can I just-" she cut me off.

"Payal. Her name is Payal. Will you go now? "

"I would have, if it was in Mumbai. Ratnagiri is no way close to mumbai. It'll take me half a day to reach there. "

"Don't you worry about the transport. I have it all planned out. "

Woah what.

"I don't even have the good clothes with me! " I had whined. She had simply shushed me up.

And on the breakfast table, Vaidehi aunty said the same thing.

Because apparently, my mother's 'I have it all planned out' meant I wasn't the only one going. I was tagging along with Vaidehi aunty, who was a long lost cousin of the groom's mother.

This was India for you, every fourth person in the room would be related to another in some way or the other.

Just great.

"But I don't have appropriate clothes for the occasion. I hadn't packed any lehengas with me. " I tried to reason with Vaidehi aunty. There was no way I was going to an Indian wedding underdressed.

It would be a crime to do so.

"About that, we are going shopping in the evening. Come early today. " she gleamed at me.

Dammit they had a full proof plan.

"But I'll not get any leave yet, I just joined remember? "

"Talk to your boss, it's only three days. And if he doesn't agree, I'll talk to him. ", she said sealing the deal.

Three days?

Yes, it was an Indian wedding afterall. There was Mehendi, Sangeet, Haldi and every other function before the actual wedding.

"Come on, Rivaah. We're leaving. " It was Kartik who interrupted. I mentally thanked him for it.

I bid aunty goodbye and walked out of there as quickly as possible. My mother and Vaidehi aunty had orchestred this whole wedding thing, I had no way out now.

When Kartik brought the car out, I sat inside in silence, my mind reeling with possible escape plans.

Should I tell them my leg hurt very much and that I couldn't go?

Which reminded me, after I'd stepped on that broken glass two days prior, Kartik had offered to drop me office in the morning. Not offered exactly, his exact words were,

"You'll go to the office limping and come back on a wheelchair. You are a walking disaster, it's better if I drop you there. "

And that day, he had even walked with me through the backdoor. Though he had waited in the elevator for 10 minutes and entered the office after me, just so nobody could figure out that we came together.

My leg was better now, but since he'd asked, I might as well go with him for today.

"Mom is forcing me to come as well. " Kartik broke the silence.