Forever Connected

Chinkankari

Flashback ends

It was perfect.

A perfect way to have her dadi there for her wedding. A perfect way to fulfill her promise.

The only problem? It was a creamy beige. Aisha wanted a red lehenga because her logic was simple, you only get to wear a red lehenga once and it's the regal look that makes you the bride.

"Didi, can we get this in red?" She asked hopefully.

"Unfortunately not a new one but if we're quick we can get this dyed and then re-embelished!" Aashi responded excitedly, a smile on her face.

"It's beautiful beta, try it on" Rachna kept a hand on Aisha's shoulder, with a smile Aisha nodded and stood up to try it on.

A trial assistant brought the lehenga into the trial room and asked Aisha to call her for help. She stood there, admiring the piece. It had similar working to her dadi's saree, the work done in panelling similar to the one done in vertical lines on the saree.

She put the heavy piece on herself and couldn't help but tear up at the view.

She promised to help me select it. Why'd she break it so quickly? Aisha thought.

With a sublte knock on the door Aisha went to open the latch.
Aashi joined with a smile adoring her face.
She held Aisha's hands in hers and nodded, tears sheening her eyes too. "Maine unhi ki saree dekh kar banaya hai. It's from a new collection, Saraswati." She explained. Saraswati, thier grandmother's name. They came together in a hug and stood there for a while, both controlling tears. Their dadi was an incredible woman and even though they were really young when they lost her, she will be forever engraved in the girls' minds. An empowered woman who stood by her family through anything.

"You'll look just like her" Aashi cupped her cheek in one hand. Aisha has heard it her entire life that she looked like her dadi but right now it felt like the greatest honor ever.

Together both of them went out of the room. Niya and Ruhi immediately stood up from their seats, eyes filling up with tears.
"It's perfect." Niya said with welled up eyes, taking her hand in hers.
Ruhi silently, hugged Aisha. Badi Maa and Rachna came up to her together and waved a note above her head making her chuckle.

"Let's get back to work!" Aisha yelled out, trying not to sob out loud. She couldn't help but feel empty because her own mother wasn't there. She wondered that even if she did calm her, would she come? It's not a public affair so she doubted it.

"Looks like it fits perfectly except for little alterations so lets move to colour" Aashi said and moved out the room to get swatches.

Wiping her tears, Aisha went back to change. She took a quick picture of the lehenga, she knew everyone else had too but still for measure, she took one.

Quickly changing out of the heavy piece and back into her simple cotton kurti she couldn't help but wonder how she'd carry it all night.

After coming out, she got a call from Aadvik.
"Hey" he said, his voice husky.
"Hey, we're done with the wedding lehenga but the rest are still left so you can come now." She explained. Aisha didn't want him to see the wedding lehenga before hand but the rest for the rest of the functions she'd choose them with him.

"I'll be there in 30." He told her and she cut the call because Aashi was calling her.

They went through hundreds of different red tones ranging from deeps to lights but she chose a beautiful red, deep while also being bright.

They went back to trying on diffrent outfits for the funtions. As she came out wearing a contender for the mehendi, Aadvik came into the view. She smiled as she saw him, he gave her a small smile and nod before moving to the elder woman and touching their feet.
Aadvik walked over to Aisha and gave her a small peck on the lips. She ran backwards and twirled with a grin.
"How is it!?" She asked excitedly, making him laugh.