SHAADI | ✔️

CHAPTER 3

                                                   DEAR SHANNU
Shanti's P.O.V.

I quickly descended the stairs to avoid the awkwardness. I heard Adi chuckling behind me. I tried to pretend to not notice the blush and butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

"Adi beta, if you don't mind, can you two ride the bike while Abhi and I will take the car?" dada told him.

"No problem dada, we'll ride the bike."

"Here bro!" Abhi threw the keys towards Adi, which he caught effortlessly. Damn!

"You've got a nice reflex, bro!"

"Thank you, if it was not for my reflexes," he was cut off by the ringtone of his phone. Sighing, he picked it up.

"Excuse me for a second."

He came back after some time with panic written all over his face.

"What happened? I asked him with curiosity.

"Ah...the mangalsutra (a necklace worn by a Hindu woman to signify that she is married) is missing."

"The what?! I guess the universe is against our marriage," I sighed.

"Di! Don't worry, it's actually w-with me," Abhi replied, increasing the rate of suspicions of today's events.

"Why is it with you?" I practically yelled at him.

"Well...Hmmm...You know that if dada would by chance be late to your marriage, he'll blame it for his lifetime, so..."

I don't really know how to react to that. Every incident that occurred today reminded me of the absence of his presence. Not knowing what to reply,  I marched towards the bike. I could hear some whispers but I was busy with my musings. Soon after that, Aditya came running and started the bike.

"Come on  little princess, let's ride this royal baby like royals."

His words cheered me up. That's when I got the answers to my thoughts.

"Mr.Unromantic Romeo, can't you at least speed up a bit? You do know that we are already late for our own wedding?"

"Well, Ms. Shanti, if you still want to marry me, we have a lifetime," he replied. I'm sure he must have smirked at his own reply.

"lekin aaj phir kabhi nahi aaega" (but today will never come again.)

He didn't reply, but if I'm not hallucinating, I did see his dimples appearing on his cheeks in the rear view mirror. We reached the venue just 5 minutes before 5:00 clock. We both rushed inside. Everyone was staring at us with curiosity and confusion. Ignoring their questioning glances, Adi took my hand and walked towards the mandapa. He asked the priest to continue. Everything seemed to be rushed, and in a blink of an eye, the Kumar & Kumari in front of our names changed to Shri & Shrimati. I didn't miss the happy glint in dada's eyes.

"You know Adi today seemed surreal," I whispered to him.

"There's a difference Shanti, that it's actually real."

A smile crept on my face.

"Aap ro kyu rahe ho babuji?" (Why are you crying?)

"ye khushee ke aansoo hain" (these are the tears of joy.)

"ya dukh bhi?" (Or grief?)

"nahin, yeh mere dil ki muskaan ke kaaran hai jo mere samne baitha hai." (No, it is the smile of my heart that is sitting in front of me.)