The wedding was a grand event. Anupama felt as though she was in the midst of a fairy tale. From Anupama's side of the family just twenty people attended the function. She had lost her mother when she was a year old, and so she had not had much contact with her maternal relatives; only her uncle attended the ceremony.
As a child, Satish's mother had taken care of Anupama, but she too had died within a few years. Sarita had disliked her stepdaughter from the very beginning. The grand scale on which the marriage was being celebrated depressed her further.
Anupama's stepsisters, too, were taken aback by such opulence. Satish, on the other hand, could hardly contain his happiness and gratitude. He thought that the goddess herself had come down to earth in the guise of Sunaina. Almost all of Anupama's friends from the hostel were present at the wedding, as she was very popular with them.
Sumithra was constantly by her side, and the day before the wedding, she had asked her mischievously, 'Mahashweta, do you want to talk to your Pundarika? If you have any message, your companion will go and deliver it.' And both of them had burst out laughing.
Anupama's father had bought her an artificial silk sari, for that was all he could afford. Sunaina had been very particular about the way her future
daughter-in-law decked herself. She had showered her with many expensive saris and ornaments.
While Anupama was trying on a diamond necklace, she overheard Vasumathi whisper, 'Oh, this is only ten per cent of Sunaina's jewels.'
This had suitably impressed all the women present.
But Anupama said to herself, 'To me the greatest jewel is my Anand. The rest only weigh me down.'
Though Anand wanted to talk to Anupama, he was unable to do so because of the crowd around them. When they were finally alone, he found that she still remained silent. 'Anu, why aren't you talking to me? The day you came to sell tickets, you were talking so freely.'
Overcome by shyness, Anupama did not lift her head.
'Anu, I am giving you my heart today, please keep it safe.'
Anupama smiled and dimples appeared on her cheeks.