My uncles and my father had called for extra security and given the job of making sure that I don't run away, to Aryan, my cousin!
As I sat in my room my face clasped to my knee, still sobbing, i could hear my Badi Maa begging for forgiveness "I am so sorry dear, I don't know what got into me that moment, and I just blurted it all out, I am so sorry she said as she folded her hands"
When my mom replied in an indifferent state, "Bhabhi, it would be better if you left us alone, isn't it enough that you ruined her life! Anyway thanks so you, we have a wedding to prepare for!"
My aunt replied sobbingly, "I know what an endearing task this is, just let me help you once, after this wedding is done, you can choose not to even take a look at me, but please"
My mother conceded, I lay there emotionless now that my tears had dried up, besides I hated crying. My other aunts arrived as well, all of them stood as they felt sorry for me. In no time were the measurements being taken to alter the wedding dress accordingly, calls to the tailors and jewelers were continuous.
Amidst all this, I finally pulled my self together and managed to make one call.
"You did what! What the fuck is wrong with you! The hell man, just get out of there!' Manu cried from the other line from some part in Chennai
"It's not that easy Manu, besides it will be such a let down for my family"
"I don't get why you think about things from everyone's perspective, Even in this Era you are thinking about reputation and all! Like honestly, teri life hindi serial banchuki hai! Just get outta there yeah!"
"It's not that fucking easy Manu, Arjun's jiju-, I mean Arjun's family and my family are involved in a major merger of one of the product lines and this alliance was what was holding it together, after Meeta and Arjun's wedding announcement, the stock prices skyrocketed coz that's how the fucking market works and if this breaks they'll drastically go down, coz again that's how the fucking thing works!"
"woah, woah calm down, oh god you've got so much pressure, and what about your company? How will you manage that, did you even think about it"
"yes Manu, that's the only thing I have been thinking about, See I've just decided that I'll do all the things that I do, including prioritizing my Company over everything else, and late night parties except, I'll just be moving houses! Besides I don't see any other way of looking at this situation!"
"I'M COMING THERE, FIRST PLANE OUT OF HERE WILL CARRY ME!"
"I cant reach Abhi, could you inform him and ask him to come as well, I really need you guys"
Right now, the only thing holding me together was work and the thought of meeting abhimanyu and manasvi!
I suddenly felt my phone vibrate and a number flashed on my phone, kartik, I picked it up, "holy shit, woman, where are you, I'm coming to your house right now, I just found out. Listen it'll be perfectly alright, besides I know Arjun, he is a great guy, I know that you are totally against this marriage thing but I think we need to adapt with the situations!"
"come home kartik, I'm waiting!"
That night was a quiet one, I slept next to my mom, like a baby, as both of us sobbed assuring each other that everything would be fine. Next morning kartik and manu arrived, Abhi couldn't make it and called me trying to console me, It was somehow only him who would calm me down. Manu gave me a can of beer which I gulped before any one could figure out and yes she bought cigarettes as well, which I did need badly! We used incessant deodarant and mouth fresheners to get rid of any other trouble and proceeded for the tedious mehndi and haldi ceremony.
By the evening the mood of the house had become rather cheerful as I got dressed as a bride.
Manu handed me a bottle of pepper spray, "listen, today is your wedding night so if he tries to do anything just use this". I nodded, I hadn't thought about that, at all! I bid my house and my room a tearful goodbye!