MANGO MILKSHAKE

Chapter 10

"At least 300 killed in India's deadliest train crash in decades." The first thing I read online on the day of my  own wedding. Sometimes I feel like all the bad things happen because of me, simply due to my existence in this world. It's been three days since I've suffered from overwhelming attention given by different people. Some are giving advice about married life, some are giving seemingly fake blessings and a huge amount of people handing me gifts here and there. A marriage in december has to be one of my most unexpected nightmares. Making someone wake up at six, wear a saree without any sweater and sit in front of uncountable people should be against human rights. I stared at the window panel and the spider nets around it. Apparently, none of my cousins had noticed this one small spider while decorating rooms with flowers, balloons and confetti. I must be thankful that they wasted their entire christmas vacation to make all the arrangements. Jiya and Sadia has been continuously helping me out with shopping and choosing appropriate clothes. Aziz helped my father to keep all the financial information double checked. Other youngsters are in charge of decorations, music and  laughter. And me? I'm just a silent spectator to deafening chaos. Yaseen has tried. Almost too much. He apologized, regretted, yearned for things he had no control over. We've discussed our families, siblings, education and everything that came forward while talking. It took me another month of insightful thinking to realise that Yaseen doesn't have any psychological need for marriage and he'd in fact he'd treat me as a friend if I wish for it. I was caught up in an abyss of reverie dressed up as a traditional bride with maroon banarasi saree and gold ornaments that my mother has saved for me over the years since I was born. My dreamland shattered once my younger cousins and Azad barged into my room screaming  "Groom is there! People are there!"

"What should I do?" I asked "welcome them with a back flip?"

"Maybe you should start doing bharatnatyam in front of the groom's father." Azad said in a sarcastic tone. He just can't be normal for once, either who else would be wearing  hoodie and shorts in his own sister's marriage.  Everyone else looks decent except for him. Jiya and Sadia must be having it tough with all those lehengas without any proper cold insulating clothes. Boys are simple creature, all of them are coated with thick layer of clothes. Some elderly people are even wearing bright shawls with shiny sequins.

"I've never married before, gotta admit I'm a true novice." I shrugged.

"What a coincidence! neither are any of us." Izaz gasped dramatically which made everyone laugh.

"I think you have to wait until one of our mothers comes hurriedly asking about if you're ready or not." Jiya said.

"That would Amina aunty I guess. She always acts like she keeps it all together when the world is falling apart." Shafi chuckled.

"Cautious guys. There's an impostor among us." Aziz side eyed Junaid.

"I'm not a snitch." Junaid huffed.

The conversation went from aunts to uncles and  how uncles are being insufferable once again. Shafi's father has left the house angrily cause someone has misunderstood him as a caterer. Jiya's father had an argument with Azad. Azad had given him five desserts instead of six which has made him think that Azad doesn't like him. So according to the ancient rules, now Azad will have to plead with a box of sweets by going all the way to uncle's house. I'm feeling sorry for Azad for the first time in a while.
A lot of funny things were happening outside my room but I missed it all because I couldn't be seen goofing around in my own marriage. What a waste! These simple absences made me realise that things won't be the same anymore.  This is my last day of being this version of me. My cousins will no longer see me as a rebellion against conventional society and it's normalisation towards each and every female that has been born in this world. From tomorrow there will be a woman who's curved and forced to fit in the same social construction that she has hated for years. I rubbed my upper arms with discomfort which went unnoticed by everyone except Aziz.