Once Upon a University Campus

Rehearsal

"I can't breathe" Annika still clutching the end of the ornate dupatta in one hand and a tiny frill on the elaborate dress on the other, for she was scared she did trip on the flowing edge of the dress.

"¼ centimeter" the junior designer who was doubling up as the fitter barked instructions at her assistant.

The assistant ever so slightly adjusted loosened something on the back of Annika's dress.

"How is it ma'am?" the junior designer asked Annika with a smile on her face.

Annika widen her eyes "No.. I still can't breathe." The junior designer still had the smile on her face. Annika could not decipher what it was. Was the designer, a petite young woman, too pissed with her ? or was it just that she wore this smile all the time.

"¼ centimeter more please" the junior designer firmly instructed her assistant.

"Make it like 2 centimeters" Annika grumbled all the while trying to breathe. "How do people manage to wear such tight clothes."

"Ma'am, if the dress if not well fitted, it looks very bad in photos and videos. Honestly speaking most brides cannot get it tight enough." The junior designer continued to smile. The assistant has relaxed it by 2 centimeters and Annika's lungs found its way back.

"What is happening ?" The designer stopped by. "Holy hell! Why is it so loose?" she screamed and Annika almost jumped out of panic.

"I have been trying to convince Ma'am. But she wants it loose Ritu." The assistant designer explained to her boss while the older woman glared back at her assistant.

Annika found it weird that the assistant was addressing her boss by her first name. The older woman was definitely old enough to be the younger woman's mother. This did not happen in Annika's world, where the older woman would be the younger woman's aunty ji, madam ji or something else on the lines. But this was not her world. She remained a spectator because of her connection to Shivaay. These were the things she could never understand but she was smart enough to let it be.

"Oh! Darling, you are so funny" The boss lady said sweetly but the fire in her eyes made it clear that she was used to having her way. Now she went behind Annika's back and whispered something to the assistant and the assistant must have hastily complied. Annika could only feel the garment tighten around her chest constricting her again. But this time, before Annika could complain, the boss lady squealed.

"Now.. this is a beautiful fit. It accentuates your curves and you look the best bride in the whole world."

"But.." Annika tried to protest. But her protest fell on deaf ears. The boss lady ordered the dresses be taken to the seamstress to be finished. Once done, Annika was scheduled for photo shoot. Mean time, more dresses were presented and the same exercise repeated. While as a bride she had a fitter and the designer at her disposal, the rest of the family were working on their fitting as well. Daadi, Jhanvi, Pinky, Shakti, Om, Rudy as a part of the groom's family and Sumo, Saahil as a part of Annika's family were all holed up in various rooms of Oberoi Mansion trying on their dresses, testing the patience of the fitters, seamstresses.

Annika could not believe there were so many dresses to be tried, several for each of the ceremonies. By now, she had forgotten the number of pre wedding and post wedding ceremonies and events. In any case, she was just asked to show up, everything else was the wedding planner's headache.

"Reception outfit please" The boss lady instructed and walked out of the room. The team had Annika dressed in the required outfit, a maroon dress with gold embroidery and a long train. Matching necklace with uncut diamonds and rubies and a pair of matching high heeled pumps were procured. Annika tried the pumps on but it was very obvious that she could barely stand in them, let alone walk. A short heeled replacement was quickly procured. A chubby guy from the wedding planning team peeped in, to hurry up the designer's team. The photo video team and the groom were waiting for the bride. The team went on a tizzy. If they could carry her, they would have done that in a heartbeat. Since that was not acceptable to the bride, they helped in other ways, one carried the train, one held rim of the dress on the right, yet another on the left. In no time Annika found herself standing next to Shivaay.