"Aunty,make it as five pleats!!That'll make this traditional wear more sexy looking!",Kaviya tells my mom,who is tying my saree.I giggle in excitement as I get dressed for my engagement.My mom shoots her a frowning look for using that language.'Sexy' is a prohibited word in such orthodox families in India.
"Ready?Its getting late.",my dad knocks the door of my room.
"Almost,uncle.",Kaviya screams back.She helps me with my chain as I struggle to hook it.
"There we go,my little princess!!!!",she squeals,dramatically appearing in front of me.I smile at her and move forward to take a closer look at myself in the mirror.The multi-coloured saree suited my slightly darker than wheatish complexion and jewels matched the saree's trend perfectly.I smile at myself,my salon-made hair,the gorgeous outfit and my gleeful face.I see a totally different woman staring back at me.One who is happy,satisfied,hopeful and with all her insecurities buried dead.This woman feels blessed,I look at my reflection and let the warmth of the moment embrace me.
"Come on,Shruthi.We are running late.",my mom screams from near the door disturbing my cinematic moment in front of the mirror.I take one last deep and calming breath and then leave.
The hall isin't too huge but large enough to accompany all our guests.My heart leaps with joy as I see the engagement board with says Avinash with Shruthi.Kaviya hugs me from the back as she sees me glaring at the board with immense joy.
"I'm so happy for you,baby.",she whispers in my ears,hiking my pleasure.I squeeze her hands in response and we walk inside together.I find that all of Avinash's family have already arrived.He,handsomely dressed, stands amdist the crowd of his relatives and cousins who seem to be enjoying the important day of this man.Before I could take a proper look at him than a glimpse from the corner of my eyes,his mom grabs my face in between her hands,squeezing the flesh out of my cheeks and making my mouth go like a fish's.I try to smile through the pressure created and escape further destruction of my makeup by hugging her.
"You look beautiful,dear.",she whispers in my ears and I smile,slightly shy.I compliment her on her outfit,a bright blue silk saree with a peacock designed pallu.Finally after attending and getting introduced to a ton of his relatives and mine,I get to take a closer look at my to-be fiance.His kurta and pyjama made him look extra cute and I stare at him,admiring his gorgeousness and digesting the fact that this man is going to be mine forever.I never would have believed that I'd get this lucky.
"Hey!!",he smiles at me as he walks closer and I wave back.
"Pretty!!",he exclaims,making my skin shiver.
"Bet I can't hold a candle in front of you."
We barely spend a couple of minutes talking before which we get interrupted by the arriving guests and the priest.The ritual was about to begin.In less than half an hour,both our families are told to sit facing each other on the stage.Our guests keep arriving,some wave hands and others smile before taking their seats.The priest continues to say his mantras and I steal glances at Avinash every now and then amidst the smoke.Then,we exchange the huge tray fulled with fruits,savories,dress and jewellery that we had bought for the other family.I had selected a red coloured kurta and a cream coloured pyjama for Avinash which I thought would compliment his complexion.Since both our families shopped for everything together,he decided to get a saree for me in the same shade.We both are asked to change into the new dress given to us and we soon head towards the room provided for us.Avinash's cousin and Kaviya accompany me and both our parents attend to the guests and continue with the procedure for the remaining rituals.
To my surprise,I did look cute in the bright red which I was not very sure if it was the right colour choice.Since Avinash insisted,I went for it.But ofcourse,he was not wrong.The jewellery set which is an antique one matched perfectly with the saree.I take a lavish moment to look at myself and then head out.Avinash is already out there waiting for me on the stage.He looks up at me and smiles,making me bend down in shyness.I am told to sit next to him.I pull my pallu to the front and place myself as close to him as possible, our legs grazing each others.The priest then declared the date for my wedding which we decided to keep on August 16,officially making Avinash as my fiance.The rituals and mantras are never-ending,making my stomach growl in hunger.The engagement's excitement almost died down in my starvation.I look at Avinash who throws his head back and takes a moment to calm his muscles.
After attending and introducing all our guests,posing for pictures with a tiresome face,faking smiles at unknown people,getting blessings from the elders in our family,shaking hands and hugging friends and family,we FINALLY get to eat.
"I can't really say how much I was looking forward to this.",I say between a bite of my fourth chappati.
"I know right.This is such a big day for us.I'm so happy,you know...",he looks at me with his eyes filled with magical joy.
"Ehh...ya it is.But...I meant the food.I was starving!!",I don't even bother to make up for the stupid moment and continue with the tasty fried rice.He laughs at my silliness and taps my head.
After I satisfy my tummy with a yummy dinner,I go around hunting for Kaviya.I haven't seen her around for so long.It didn't take me long to spot her in a corner of the hall,sleeping with her head supported by the wall.
"Kaviya.",I gently touch her knees and she jerks ever so slightly.Her eyes look tired and stressed.
"Did you eat?",I ask and she shakes her head,still half asleep.I rush inside and bring her a plate full of various mouth watering dishes.I wake her up from the tiny nap she decided to take again in my absense.Avinash appears seeing me feed food for an almost faint looking Kaviya firing me a tons of questions all at once.
"No no...its nothing,Avinash.She is just too tired.She has been hip hoping doing all the work since morning."
After eating,she soon regains some of her strength and sits up to drink a bottle of water which I hand her.
"Couldn't you go and eat something.Starving yourself like this....Its not good,Kaviya.",I shout at her.
"So many guests and all that.Not my fault.",she stubbornly defends herself.She is right though.Wherever she goes,it so happens that everyone get so involved in talking to her that she barely keeps track of the time.Besides,she has always been the popular and lovable little girl in our family and I bet she attracted everyone from Avinash's family too in this ceremony.I help her to the room and we both get changed to a more comfortable dress.
My parents are talking to Avinash's mother on general stuffs.My eyes soon look around for my fiance and my to-be father-in-law and spot them having a talk,a father-son one,I guess.I cherish every single moment of the most eventful and happiest day in my life.Taking a moment to thank my lucky stars for giving me these amazing people in my life,I hug Kaviya from the side in my unexplainable joy.It feels like a dream yet it is real,it feels impossible yet its happening and above all, it feels blissful and magical yet its not in heaven but down on earth.A drop of tear crawls down my cheeks,melting the frozen sorrow I hid in me for so long and paving a path of freedom of living my life without the dominance of anyone.For all this while,I felt like a bird with a broken wing which pained me to see other birds like me fly high.But now,my wing is fixed and I am destined to fly as far,as high and as long as I desire to.
And throughout my journey,Avinash will stay by me and so will I through his journey,I take a silent vow in me.
YOU ARE READING
Storm of throes
General FictionSruthi Sreevardhan,the twenty-two year old engineering graduate is now in the verge of fighting against her parents after a long-long time cause they are trying to push her into the worst of her nightmares-marriage.Twenty-two and marriage doesn't s...
