Starlight

Chapter 7: Wedding

The days passed by in a blur and it was my wedding day. Mr. Singhania didn't even talk to me after that day and I knew that we're not compatible.

I was dressed in a pink lehenga and although the lehenga was extremely beautiful, there was one thing missing from my look and that was my happiness. All of it would've not happened if my dad wasn't dying. It even hurts to say or think about it.

How can I leave my father in this condition?
My heart ached at his sight but it's his wish.

"You look so beautiful" His mom cupped my cheeks as she draped me in jewelry . All sorts of necklaces, kangan, earrings, waistband, maang teeka.

I smiled at her. She carefully placed the dupatta on my head as she secured it with clips. She put a nazar teeka behind my ear then with a kiss to my forehead, she left.

We were done with the varmala ritual in the morning.

Tears brimmed in my eyes as I recalled what had happened.

He forwarded his hands as he helped me up on the stage but so as did not look at me. His friends hooted as my hand touched his. I lowered my eyes.

Some people brought the varmala and gave one to each of us.

"Whoever puts the varmala in first, ghar mein 25 saal usi ki chalegi" Pandit ji said. Everyone laughed and I had no idea what to do.

Mr Singhania cleared his throat as he slowly went down on his knees in front of me and my eyes widened. His friends said 'Chalni to teri waise bhi nahi hai'

I blushed and quickly put the varmala on him. He did the same.

After some time, someone came to take me to the altar and I walked carefully so as to not fall in this heavy lehenga and big heels. I tried to put on a happy smile.

At my sight, he stood up on his side of the mandap and watched as I stepped on it and sat down beside the fire. The priest chanted mantra's and we took 7 fere's hand in hand, my dupatta tied with his.

The priest asked him to put the vermillion in my partition. My eyes lowered and tears started dropping on my lehenga as I realized the wedding coming to an end. The woman, his mausi, hid my face behind a cloth as he filled the partition.

A lot of the vermillion fell on my nose and as I raised my hand to wipe it, she held it and said "Sindoor ka girna shagun hota hai. It means that your husband" She looked at him "will have eternal love for you. It marks your bond"

It was the first time during the whole wedding that his eyes met mine and he held the stare longer than we've ever had, but it was me who looked away as the tears threatened to fall again.

He'll never love me. Not if he finds out what I did.

The wedding ended when he put the mangalsutra around my neck.

I was taken to the empty room as they made me threw fistfuls of rice behind me as I walked out of it. The moment I stepped out and saw the car outside the venue, I was shocked to find out that I wasn't crying.

My step mother hugged me then my sister then my close relatives, Mr Singhania stood by my side as we touched everyone's feet and took their blessings for a new life, new beginning.

My tears came out when I saw my dad and then I didn't stop. I wasn't ready to leave him and he ordered me to go but I didn't pull away from the hug neither did I stop crying. He then asked Mr Singhania to just take me now.

I felt his hands on my shoulders as he pulled me away. I wanted to fight but I didn't and let him take me to his car and shut the door. I didn't look back at them.