The Time Train

Chapter 1

It is the wedding of the century; the eldest son of Merchant Industries is getting married to the daughter of Gupta Traders. It was the only thing anyone in Surat could talk of for a month! Why wouldn't they, after all it was the grandest celebration for the city in over a decade. 

The venue, the one and only Shalimar was decorated like the bride herself. Carpets imported from Kashmir covered every inch of the floor, Chandeliers from Agra lit the hall like Diwali, curtains made custom from the weavers in Punjab and Daffodils placed in every corner of the hall; they were after all the brides favorite. The guest list included all her father's business associates and employees. Weddings were as much a social gathering as they were a celebration.

Looking down from her balcony, Sanchi did not feel the happiness her surroundings exuded. If stories were to be believed, this should be the happiest day of her life ,however it certainly didn't feel that way. She hadn't met her Prince Charming and fallen in love, only to have her happily ever after. Her story was a little unconventional.

Sanchi had grown up in a big family surrounded by uncles, aunts and cousins. She was the 3rd eldest cousin and the only one to express an interest in pursuing academics. They had a family business and pretty much everyone in the family had the entrepreneurial gene, all except her.  When she turned 18, she attended the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay for studying Physics. Due to her excellent academic performance and her passion for the subject, Sanchi's parents let her finish her bachelor's degree before planning her marriage. Both her elder cousins were married and now it was her turn. It was the way of the world, for one must get settled in life at an appropriate age. She had been successful in evading the proposals for a while, using her education as a shield. She wanted to pursue further education even after marriage and not a lot of families were happy with it. And then, Aakash's proposal came around; Aakash was a mechanical engineer who had specialized in Automotive Engineering, and his family had no qualms about Sanchi pursuing her academic goals. Sanchi no longer had a valid reason to refuse. 

If only she was like her friends for whom finding a rich husband was their sole ambition in life. Yes, she would've been ecstatic if she was like the others. Her friends had made sure to express just how jealous they were of her and how lucky she had been to find a catch like Aakash. Well, that part she felt was mostly true. She didn't know Aakash at all but her parents loved him and described him as a perfect gentleman. Now that she thought about it, he was easy on the eyes, and his eyes, yes there was something about them, something innocent.

That would have to be enough for now. She had always been a hopeless romantic at heart, but knew, that sometimes, fairy-tale romances were just that – pure fiction.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------On the other side of town, Aakash was in the workshop laying under a car with a wrench in his hands and grease on his face. A high-pitched noise breaks his concentration and he slides from under the car to find his sister blaring that atrocity of a whistle right above his head.

Aakash: What in the name of God is wrong with you! Stop that awful noise!

Aditi: Well I'll stop when you get out of this monstrosity and into your wedding clothes. Haven't you seen the time; we have to leave with the baarat in an hour!

This made Aakash stand and snap out of his thoughts. Ofcourse it was 5 already! He must've missed the alarm again! He rushes past Aditi to find his parents frantically running around trying to get things in order.