"Janaki bhabhi, I didn't like that girl whom you choose for our Ajju to be honest but you see I'm being quiet and agreeing wholeheartedly. Shed isn't that fairer like my Preeta and Priya" Dharani Bua said crunching her nose.

Well if you're thinking who they all are then let me introduce you all Dharani Bua is my dad's only sister and Preeta and Priya  are her daughters. Bua's husband died long ago and my Dadi stays with her as she's alone when her daughters are at work and busy. She has a son too who cut all ties with us as he married a girl against her wish but shebwas eventually okay with it but he didn't want to be back with us I guess.

" I know Dharani but Ajju liked her and moreover she is Athira's sister. Athira is a sophisticated lady." Maa blurted and I was so close to snap at everyone but Jagan jiju held my hand and took me to the walk in garden from the dining.

" You okay bro?" He asked me and I nodded in reply. Ofcourse I'm not but I don't want to create a chaos knowing the wedding is tomorrow. " Just ignore whatever they say , okay......for your own peace " he patted my shoulder and walked off saying that. I sat there for a while.

Yes , tomorrow is our wedding. There's a strange unexplicable feeling. I texted her but she didn't bother to reply , busy maybe.

" Ajju , there's some luggage of Akshara in your room. You can set it for her, if you wish " Arya stated in a hurry. Yeah hurry to reach saloon. Dumb Arya.

Indeed there is three bags and a box of Akshara. Its better if she arranges it, if I do it'll be like invading her privacy. I kept it all in the walk-in-closet. Heavy it was , she don't seem the person who uses much clothes and accessories but her bags were damn heavy to be lifted. Wedding shopping maybe.

I stared at the chaos my family is creating with a smile.

There's no traditionally followed customs for us. We'll have a morning wedding and a reception in the evening. Today we've Sangeet separately. NY family had been to Akshara's home yesterday for  the mehndi . We are strictly prohibited to meet each other. 

Sangeet  was a chaos as Rudra was the incharge . I can barely breath now. " Ajju, you slept beta? " it's Maa at the door . I hurried to open the door even though it wasn't locked.
" Maa, you know you can come inside without knocking." I opened the door and made her sit on the bed. " I know  but everything will change. I don't want my son to think you lost your privacy " she said whilst caressing my hair. " There's nothing as such Maa" I said keeping my head on her lap and she caressed my hair.

Damn. Peace is mother.

I don't know when I slept,  I woke up to Arya's tantrums. Its morning and it's my wedding today. Who said boys don't get wedding jitters ? Ask me .

At the dining,  I saw no one . The whole family is representing a Circus with clowns walking and running around. 

" Ajju , go have your breakfast and then get ready." Maa shouted from the hall seeing me standing and zoning out.

I didn't see my bride yet and here Dev is facetiming his bride. I hope the Saree I liked fornher suits her and she also likes it. We are having a morning wedding,  the exact time or muhurat is 10:15 am for Dev and 11:00 am for me . I have to be patient.

I texted my old friends and colleagues,  some will attend the reception.

" Dev bhai , it's time and Badi Maa said Ajju bhai to tag along " Rudra said panting and tired like  he's taking care of everything, and by everything I mean going around girls and clinging to them.

Bhabhi looked beautiful in a red saree. They took vows and dang it was over.

I was made sit in front of the sacred fire and there came my bride in a pink saree , she's looking ethereal and enchanting. I can always feel her nervousness. She sat next to me and didn't even spare me a glance. I held her hand and she stiffened at my touch. I didn't leave her hand till it was time for me to tie the  wedding chain.

After thousands of photo sections, awkward glances , blushing and teasing by noon it was time for brides sent off ( Vidaai).

Mahadev uncle and his brother just patted their head , his daughters .Their mother held their hands and only hugged Athira bhabhi  even their chachi . Her Bua hugged Akshara . But what astonished me was neither Akshara nor Bhabhi dropped a single tear.

We drove to our home , some rituals will be conducted at my home.  In the car, both the sisters sat looking out of the windowsand we both brothers were clearly clueless.  Dev asked
" Athira and Akshara , are you guys okay ?" Bhabhi blurted "Yeah,  we're." And my wife nodded. The rest of the ride was awfully silent.

At home , we had certain rituals and after that they were sent to a room for resting.  Dev and I walked into my room. 

It's exactly been two weeks to my exams and since then the family hasn't left any stones unturned to put me in awkward situations. Since the jewelry and dresses arrived from Arjun's house, my chachi , Mrs Shardha Madhav Varma has been bugging me. I don't  understand her to be honest. The only thing I'm damn sure about is that I'm slowly turning into a furniture.

Maya Bua has been here since then. She never left my side, to be honest I feel connected to her more than anyone. She's a strong lady. She made her name without a man. If only I was her daughter,  I'd never had been this pathetic.

Not wanting to disappointment  myself, I  looked at the Sangeet ceremony, everyone's dancing happily , everything's as per my sister's wish. Not that I'm complaining, it was already decided and no one asked for my opinion.

How to express our opinion without being asked ? I don't know so I kept quiet. The way they raised me , to be quiet and reserved.

After the Sangeet, Di and I were sent to my room as they don't want the brides to look worn out. I'm already tired, I have to wear saree tomorrow plus Amma has already sent a lot of half wrapped Saree to Arjun's home today morning.

I have sent my books too. I was lately thinking about Arjun more. Since the engagement day , I have started to fall for him but whenever he comes near to me or talks to me I become nervous and then like everytime everything ends in chaos.

Di and Jiju talks to each other daily but I'm too shy to ring him. Neither he called nor texted. I didn't too. We have a lifetime to talk right.

Tomorrow morning is our wedding, we've to reach the Venue by 8 am. Sleep is too far to be embracing me. I'm being emotional now not because I'm leaving my parents behind, there's no such beautiful memory to hold on with my parents. I'm attached to  this room , my personal space. I'll miss this .

The haldi gave me a yellowish glow and my mehendi turned out to be not so red just some orangish. Chachi said it's because of my fate. Is there anything as such? She could've been a bit considerate to me.

Well my dad has one elder brother, one younger brother and one younger sister. Mr. Mahesh Varma , my father's elder brother,  is no more now , he was in the Army and sacrificed his life to the country,  he wasn't married. Then comes Mr Madhav Varma , younger brother of papa, retired Army Officer,  his wife Shardha and his two sons , who are also in the Army.  Then at last Maya Bua professor in Cambridge University.

Papa's family always served in Indian Army ,likewise papa too wished his sons would serve the  country but turned out God had other plans as we both were girls. And we were treated as liabilities. Instead of giving us wings they made us insecure, the Me today is because of them.

I'm least interested to dig my wounds. I have better things to do. “ Sleep chutki , its a big day tomorrow” Di said patting my back. “ I can't di ,I'm pretty nervous “ I stated my thoughts.
“ Akshara , look every girl has to go through this , atleast we're marrying the love of our life. Sleep now “ Di explained and I couldn't tell her otherwise. 

Arjun isn't the love of life, it doesn't mean I loved someone. I've not talked to boys in my whole life not even my cousins so love for a boy is impossible. I'm just nervous. I lay down, sleep so far.

The morning came soon than I expected like I just closed my eyes and boom it's morning. I woke up to see didi sleeping peacefully,  she deserves the world. I freshened up and went downstairs to only see my family standing with the whole house on their head.

A fish market is far better. There's people everywhere, things scattered , photographers roaming around with cameras in their hands, Chacha ji and Papa on some serious discussions and the ladies ,please font ask.

“ Akshara, come and have food,standing their won't help your stomach to be full “ Chachi spat. Can I hit her head ? “ Upma is kept in the casserole, serve yourself “ She went off like I asked for her help.

Upma , no please. Call me a picky eater. I wandered into the kitchen and made a Chai for me. Lets skip the Upma, I had some biscuits. I can't believe it's my marriage and I'm uninterested as the time is running.

What would Arjun be doing? Sleeping obviously, it's just 5 am. “ Don't like Upma ,Chutki "  Bua asked me and I nodded. “I'll make something for you then “ Bua said and I nodded my head again in negative. “  It's's okay Bua,  ain't hungry"

“ Chutki , what are you doing in the kitchen? A bride shouldn't be here. Go to your room now” Amma ordered as she glared. “ She was just having a cup of tea, bhabhi” Bua reasoned and Maa ignored her skillfully.

I walked off to my room and sat on the bed. Di is awake and has showered too. I too showered and dressed up. Ready for the big day , wait the wedding dresses will be put on  once we reach the Venue.

I'm feeling like a robot doing everything my master says.

Once we reached the Venue,  didi and I were surrounded by couple of girls who were helping us get ready. My wedding dress is a pink Kancheepuram saree , alot of make up , Jasmine flowers adorning my head and a flat sandal. I'm looking good.

Now why we opted for Saree is that as we're South Indians and Arya didi was highly eager to have a South Indian wedding. Arjun and jiju will wear dhoti and shirt while me and didi , saree.

The customs are changed a bit according to the time, first Jiju and didi will tie the knot then us. By afternoon we'll reach Malhotra mansion and have a reception there. I'm already worn out by yesterday's programs. 

I could only watch my sister's wedding through the window as I'm bride as well. I saw Arjun and he looked amazing.

A while later I was called upon and as I sat by the agnikundh for the rituals my heart was thumping so loud that I feared for a second that I might pass out.

Arjun made wear the  wedding chain and garland and we competed the vows.

We sat together for some more minutes and then called for  photoshoot. Rudra bhaiya never let a chance to tease me and I bowed my head down to not laugh or look at Arjun. By the time, photoshoot got over , lunch was served. It was a feast with kheer.

At Vidai , neither my sister nor I cried , strange right. Papa and Chacha just put their hands on our head , Amma hugged didi and held both of my hands and she had tears brimming out of her eyes. Chachi just held both of our hands and wished good luck. Bua hugged didi and told her look after her , didi is bit careless towards her health. Then Bua hugged me so tight and whispered into my ear “ Never forget, you're a Varma and never let anyone belittle you. I'll be always waiting for you at my doorstep." I couldn't say anything as I bid her bye and walked along with didi to get into the car awaiting for us.

In the car,Jiju asked us if we are fine , didi replied while I just nodded. I'm still confused at how my life changed all of a sudden .

One thing that I'm sure now is that , Arjun will stand by me.

I leaned against the window of the room that me and my sister were sharing at Arjun's home,  the home is big and can be called as A Mansion,  nice garden and extravagant lounge and hall.

I stared out of the window enjoying the garden's view from the room , di slept as soon as she hit the bed. 

I envy her talent of sleeping as soon as closing the eyes. 

Both the brothers looked dashing in red suit eagerly waiting for their wives. Soon the ladies arrived one in peach floral gown taking away her  husband's breath and one in plain white gown making her husband breath hitch.  Akshara and Arjun ,Athira and Dev all of them sat together.  The ceremony started off in its full vibe. One by one the guests made their ways to the newly weds.

"You okay ,Akshara?" Arjun asked his wife to which she nodded her head nervously. 

The program ended and the brides were taken to their respective rooms leaving the grooms with the men.  "Ajju bhai and Dev bhai, it's's time, you guys are told to go to your respective brides by Badi Ma." a Priya uttered in a single breath.

"Priya baby, you're late. Both the bhai's are eagerly waiting to rush to their rooms for..." Rudra was cutoff by Shyamlal Malhotra ,his father " hat gad,he bacche jao ,sab so jao" he said dispersing the crowd only to see Priya, Preetha ,Arya and Rudra asking money from Dev and Arjun .

Arjun just stared at the whole room which represented a garden,  his wife nowhere  to be seen.

Akshara stepped into the room and stood rooted watching Arjun nervously " You can change first ,Akshara"  Arjun uttered to kill the silence. Wasn't she  wearing a gown ? And now a  saree?
Arjun's  thoughts were broken hearing a faint  sound"  I changed now onky ." Akshara said with her heads hung down and fingers feddling with her saree's pallu.  " I hope you are not comfortable in it,  change into something comfortable." Arjun  said and she nodded looking at him with a full blown smile. 

A while later,  she came back in a plain salwar . Arjun  was already half asleep." Arjun"  Akshara called her husband and he woke up with a jolt  and rushed into the bathroom. "  Which side?"  He asked his wife who stood staring at the dark sky. She  turned to face him and just shrugged.

"I usually sleep on the left side of the bed,  which side would you prefer? " he asked again. "Right maybe." She said and walked to the right side of the bed and Arjun started to throw away all the flowers spread on the bed.

Even though tired as hell she couldn't sleep a bit but her husband let peacefully next to her.  Akshara remove the comforter from her and walked to the couch,  sat with her legs dangling and head on arm rest and stared at the sky yet slewp far away.

The moon shone bright and the stars twinkled while she stared at them. They knew her story and the moon whispered  to the stars

" The universe is writing a magical story for her"

Author's note:

And here they're married. Long chapter