The Royal Deal

25.

And suddenly, you know:
It's time to start something
new and trust the magic of
new beginnings.
- Meister Eckhart

*****

Two months later.
Late evening.
New Delhi.

Shaina Singhania.

"It's done. You can open your eyes."

My makeup artist spoke and I did as I was told but she was standing between me and the mirror refraining me from looking at my final look.

"Should we make you wear your remaining jewellery?" She asked me and I looked at the clock. Half an hour more to go.

"Yes." I whispered. She quietly obliged and I just sat there while she put on my necklace set and the other girl made me wear my earrings.

I lowered my eyes to my henna clad hands, I just wore my ring in my left hand and a heavy hand harness (haath phool) in my right one. My bangles were covered in red cloths as per rituals, but I had many in both of my hands.

My focus was shifted back to the girl who was making me wear the nose ring, ever so gently she locked it's hook. I was certain that there's nothing more to add to my bridal look anymore.

"Done." She said and the other girl placed my five inches sandals which were silver in colour embedded in white crystals on the single strap it had to hold it on my feet.

I quietly lifted my heavy lehenga up baring my feet which were covered in henna at the soles and toes while I had the same anklets as dad gifted me and I wear them on important occasions. Even my feet look so pretty to look at today, especially in those anklets. I quickly put my feet in the sandals and put my lehenga down.

"Ma'am, you shouldn't wear heels, your lehenga is quite heavy. How will you handle the weight around your waist and heels together?" Asked the girl who made me wear the nose ring and I toyed with my ring not saying anything.

"Aap ghunghat uda dijiye." I told her and she nodded stiffly before she moved somewhere in the room allotted to me before she reappeared with my veil. (Please, adjust my veil.)

I deem heels to my confidence and I need it today. A lot of confidence and courage to go through a marriage I never wanted.

"Done." She said once she was done pinning my veil on my head over my hair bun neatly made and I nodded in gratitude.

"Both of you were a great help." I told them and they smiled widely.
"Congratulations once again." They said, I nodded in acknowledgement

"Do you like the look?" The girl standing in front of me moved and I took a look at myself. My lips parted in surprise at how beautiful I looked, when I said that I might fall in love with this version of myself— the bride of Yuvraaj Singh Shekhawat— I did not lie.

The girl who stared back at me was so pretty, so admirable that no way in the hell or on Earth I thought I'll look in the mirror and be spellbound by what I see. It's not like I don't like what I see in the mirror, I absolutely love the woman I wake up to be. I love the woman who attends the high end events but I love this one a little more.