A Beautiful Mess

Chapter 27

Though I wasn't a very romantic person never in my wildest dream had I imagined my wedding to be a registered one without my Appa and Gam presence.

I never a wanted a lavish wedding but a simple temple wedding would have been just fine. But here I was standing outside the registration office in my white and pink sari, feeling lost. This was as good as eloping only if it was half as romantic. The person I was about to marry thought I was more of a responsibility and burden than a life partner o his better half. What was I doing?

Arya and Ashk were on their way to sign as witnesses.

A car arrived and out came Arya, Ashk, Lekha and Danish. Zarine and Zain arrived behind on a bike.

I was overwhelmed.

“Oh my God, what are you guys doing here?” I asked.

“You thought we'd miss your wedding?” Lekha asked and we hugged for a long time.

Vidyut came forward and hugged me.

“Josh is a decent guy, I’m sure he'll look after you,” he said.

“Thank you so much, Vid, for not judging me,” I said wiping my tears.

I've started crying a lot maybe coz of hormones or the pills I wasn't taking.

“Where is D’costa?” Vidyut asked.

“I’m here,” he said and we all turned to face him.

Everyone seemed pretty distant towards Josh and no one even bothered to acknowledge his presence.

I broke the silence and awkwardness,

“What took you so long?” I asked.

“I'd gone to get these.” He said removed some jewellery boxes.

I looked at him with a confused face.

“What's all this?” I asked.

“I met a kind lady in the jewellery shop and she assisted me with these, have a look,” he said and handed me the boxes.

Lekha and Zar helped me.

I opened the first box and was taken aback, it had the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen with rose colored diamond embellished. He bought me a ring, I looked at him and he just smiled goofily.

“It's beautiful,” I said.

“I’m glad you liked it,” he said.

I opened the second box and two tiny toe rings shone brightly.

“You bought me metti?” I asked smiling brightly in this hell of a situation.

“Yes, as I mentioned that kind lady guided me with Tamilian customs and said it was important for a Tamil bride to wear these after being married,” he said.

Lekha, Zar and the guys looked at him in awe. So did I.

The third box, biggest of the lot rested in my hand. I opened it and tears rolled down my eyes.

“It's just like my Mom's,” I said.

Zarine and Lekha hugged me and went on to the same with Josh.

He bought me a thali, it’s like a mangalsutra for Tamilian brides and very auspicious.

Josh came forward and held my hand.

“Let's do this,” He said.

He led the way and I followed.

******

I went in as Kalsi Venkiteshwaram and here I stood before Lord Ganesh as Kalsi Josh D’costa. So it wasn't a temple wedding, he tied thali around my neck before the gods and applied sindooram (vermillion) on my forehead.

Everyone soon warmed towards Josh and we had our lunch together. Gradually the atmosphere lightened but we still had to tell Appa. We drove to Appa's residence. As the doorbell rung my heart was literally in my mouth. Josh held my hand and tightened his grip as Appa opened the door.

He stood looking at us for sometime before he could react.

“What's all this?” He asked.

“We...we got married Appa,” I said.

As soon as the words left my mouth, he swinged his hand to slap me right across my face; I was inches away from the impact when Josh caught Appa's hand midway.

“How dare you?” He yelled.

“Sir, please,” Josh begged.

“You think we're in the 21st century hence you can do whatever you want, you bloody outcast, you corrupted my daughter and tricked her into marrying you didn't you? You Spineless pig!!”He yelled at Josh.

“Dad,” I said.

“That's my husband you're talking to!” I said.

He looked taken aback.

“Its fine,” Josh said trying to calm me down.

“I understand you must hate me sir, but we had to do it, we umm we are expecting a baby together.” He said.

He took a few steps back and was absolutely pale.

“Appa,” I said looking at his state.

He stopped me from coming near him.

“Don’t you call me your Appa!” he said.

“You're a disgrace, you've ashamed me and your mother, how could you do this and have the audacity to come and stand right in front of me, you disgust me Kalsi, and you're going to regret this and ruin your entire life not that it matters to me now, you can do whatever you want to but do not call me your Dad!”

 With that be banged the door on our faces.

I wiped my tears and headed towards a new life. A life which was more of a compromise than any other thing and I couldn't look back. It was the best for both jujubee and I.

*******

Picture of  Kalsi's  thali,