Warrior

27

The day is finally here.

I'm getting married - again.

Although the day has felt slightly strange, it also feels all too familiar. The day started with me waking up to the sound of muffled music. When I finally finished washing up and showering, I headed down for breakfast and found my house to be a chaotic zoo with people running this way and that. In the middle of breakfast, Buaji arrived, and the first thing she did was smother me with hugs and kisses, happy that her Sanka Devi was getting married again.

She sounds exactly like Amma, just crazier.

In fact, both sister in-laws got absorbed into wedding details - not to mention into the Raizada factor. I finish up my breakfast as quick as possible and not a second after I'm done, I'm whipped away by Payal to get my nails done. After that whole shing-ding, I'm whisked right back to the house to start getting ready for my wedding.

Payal had helped Amma find a really good makeup artist, who I'm sure Amma paid handsomely given that its for a wedding that was planned so quickly.

I mean woman must be booked!

But I'm sure as soon as she heard what it's for - especially who's future wife it's for - she dropped everything.

Hours pass by and finally, I'm all decked up in my bridal wear, adorned with jewelry, covered in makeup, and draped with my dupatta over my head, concealing my bun.

"Oh my gosh Di, you look absolutely stunning," Payal squealed besides me.

She charged at me with a hug, squeezing the shit out of me.

"Geez Payal, are you trying to put my arms in casts," I scowled.

She instantly pulled away. "Sorry! Sorry! Don't wanna break you on your big day!"

Crazy girl.

"I'll go let Amma know," and she leaves, along with the makeup artist, leaving me alone.

I simply sit there quietly, looking at myself in the mirror. A memory instantly plays before my eyes, and instead of looking at my present reflection, I see the reflection of me in my bridal wear from two years ago. I see the girl who is slightly anxious; excited yet worried of what was to come.

Excited, because she had always looked forward to one day getting married. Worried, because she wondered if she would be able to do it right.

Oh how stupid she was to be worried for all of the wrong reasons.

Blinking away, I snap out of the memory. My real reflection looks back at me now. That anxious girl that had excitement and worry was gone, replaced by an expressionless one, who wasn't thinking nor feeling a thing.

No excitement.

No worries.

Nothing.

The door to my room opens and I hear people coming in. Amma, Payal, and Buaji come in, along with some other people I give no shits for. Amma looks at me in amazement and tears, and soon I'm in her arms, the woman crying.

Again, I see memories flashing before my eyes, Amma doing something similar to this, two years ago.

It's suddenly as if I'm a robot. Though I'm responding to everyone speaking to me, I'm also unaware of what's going on. All I can see is the parallels from two years ago, reflecting what was happening in the present. When Buaji embraces me and blesses me, I see her doing it from two years ago. When Payal lights up with delight and excitement, I see the girl from two years ago behaving the same way. When I'm taken downstairs and Babuji looks at me in amazement and pride, shedding a few tears, I see the actions of the same man from two years ago instead.