A Twisted Tale

A Happy Ending?

Meera's POV

I stood watching through the window as little kids ran around gleefully. I remembered the time Mark, Claire and I did the same. We were young and had absolutely no idea as to how challenging the world would turn out to be. I smiled at the memory but soon the smile was replaced by a frown.

It's been ten months and I didn't hear from Mark. He missed out on Martha's grand opening of the animal shelter. He wasn't here for his thirty first birthday. He wasn't here when Charles stepped down and put him in charge of the business. He wasn't here when Derek got engaged to Liana. He wasn't there to congratulate Claire on starting her fashion label. And he sure won't be here for my wedding.

Deep down I knew that all I had to do was make one phone call and he would come back. But I didn't want to do exactly what he hoped of me. "If she really wants things to resolve between us, then she should handle her mistake like an adult and apologize for her behavior." Those words that Mark told Val kept ringing in my ears. I wanted to desperately call him up because it felt like a part of me was missing. But I wanted Mark to truly realize his mistake to settle our difference. While I was wallowing in my sadness, I felt a pair of arms hold me by the waist and whirl me around. I smiled at Val and said "Hey there Mr. Moretti." He smiled back and said "Don't go there especially when we're getting married in less than twenty four hours, soon to be Mrs. Moretti." I sighed and hugged him tightly. "You're right, I should enjoy the moment. After all, I'm the bride and you've agreed to marry according to Indian tradition. I love you Val. Thank you for being this understanding." He kissed me soundly on my lips and said "I love you too darling. Now, I better leave or your aunt will kick me out. I didn't know you Indians were this religious lot! She practically told me that she would castrate me if I came anywhere near you once you're made a bride. I don't even know what that means. Aren't you a bride already?" I laughed at his confusion and said "In my culture, the bride has to do a small ritual involving the goddess Lakshmi and then she's officially the bride. Once that ritual is complete, she can't step out unless it's to the wedding venue." "This is undoubtedly a new experience for me. Especially the clothes. Also, thank you for arranging these many translators. My relatives would literally die of boredom if they can't get a word across to your people! After all, us Italians are known for having large families! Mine barely know what personal space means so they're all over your aunt asking her about the culture here." I smiled at him and we talked for a few more minutes before he left me alone to get ready for a family gathering in the evening.

Val confessed that he loved me and proposed to me on the same day which was a month after Mark left to Denmark. Despite saying yes, I told him that I wasn't ready for marriage just yet. In the meanwhile, his family threw a huge party and invited all my family members from India. Charles and Piero were over the moon. Martha too cried out of happiness but Claire gave me a hard time for almost a week before she came around.

My family back in India were never out of the picture. Despite spending all my life in London, I visited India often. My cousins, my mum and Dad's siblings shared a cordial relationship with me. So when they were informed of the impeding wedding, they were all very excited. I personally got their travel arrangements made so that nobody would miss out on this occasion. I asked Charles to hire as many translators as possible because no one knew Italian from my family. And not everyone from Val's family knew English. So to keep them all in the loop, we needed all the help we could get.

The artists were busy getting my hands and feet decorated with henna. My uncle and Aunt were busy conversing with Val's dad about the schedule for tomorrow. Though I was happy about getting married, I was also sad that Mark wasn't here to stand by me. Martha and Charles had already been given the task of getting the venue ready and they were on it. Claire was responsible for my wedding attire and appropriate jewellery for tomorrow. She was accompanied by my cousin for the task. I was both excited and equally nervous about getting married.