Bitter Reality

Marriage-I

Life has many phases in it some are bad some are great,

some become ordeals and some become dreams. True enough you never come to know in advance in which phase of life you are entering without facing it.

Naina's POV

It was already four o clock in the morning when I returned home. I was so scared throughout the ride that I was constantly playing with the hem of my shawl when suddenly Kabir placed his left hand on my hands and said, "Naina, it is going to be okay. You are with me Safe! Why are so nervous?"

"It is just I have never done this and you know..." I trailed off technically I myself didn't know why I was so nervous all of a sudden.

"Relax, take deep breaths and let it go. If perchance something does happen I am there for you by your side always. You think too much, you need to stop worrying all the time." He said further softly without removing his hand from its place stopping the car right at the back of my house.

I looked at him wide-eyed when he said, he will be there by my side always.

"I will always be there for you Naina even if you are upset with me or we are fighting. No matter what happens I am here to stay." He said closing the gap between us and kissed my forehead gently.

When his soft lips touched my forehead I instinctively closed my eyes. His words and actions soothed my all tense nerves. I became relaxed and let myself enjoy this moment with him without overthinking all of this.

I smiled as I reminisced these sweet moments with him and made my way towards my room. Thankfully my absence was unnoticed Kia was sleeping peacefully in my room instead of me. Silently I changed my clothes and get into my quilt at another side of the bed to catch my beauty sleep.

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I didn't remember but I was dreaming about something and it was a beautiful dream until Kia started shaking me like a mad woman. I opened my eyes to see Kia who was sitting on the bed with her hands were crossed against her chest. I rubbed my eyes and cursed her for waking me up so early in the morning.

"You are getting Married TODAY Naina, how can you sleep? And not to forget there might be something which you must be dying to tell me!" she said giving me now-you-tell-me-look which meant I cannot escape now.

I yawned a little before sitting up straight adjusting the pillow behind my back, "Okay, I am telling you".

"Well, we went to a park where his mom and dad first met. Also, his dad proposed her mother in that very park. He wanted me there so that we can also kind of start our relationship from that area Only" I said feeling happy again and unknowingly my hands went to my neck which is now adorned by the pendant that Kabir gave me last night.

"That is so romantic and so sweet. You don't listen to me Naina but I am telling you Kabir is different. He is sweet, intelligent, handsome, witty and..." Before she could say further her eyes fell on my pendant and she immediately understood that Kabir gave me

"Holy crap Naina this pendant is so beautiful, I am so happy for you. Finally, you have a man in your life who genuinely cares about you!" she squealed in happiness and hugged me squeezing the life out me that I was choking for breath.

After few minutes of strangling me, she finally let me go and instructed me to come down soon. I nodded and went to the washroom to do my morning business.

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Before I even knew it was already three in the afternoon. From the past two hours, we were all talking randomly. In fact, for the first time in my life, I wanted this time to freeze and let our conversations flow freely without any time constraints but it is real life, sadly enough but it doesn't work like this. We gossiped for about 2 hours and now it was time for all the ladies to go to the parlor.

By 8 pm, I was all ready. Everything was done normally. If you are thinking that being a bride I let my face caked by make-up then it is a big no. Nothing was over. In fact, I kept it more naturally. My hands were full of red bangles and my neck was all full of jewelry. I wore a pink color lehenga which was from Kabir's side. It was too heavy but the way it was designed, I had never seen anything as beautiful as this Lehenga was. The minute details of flowers which designer took care were beyond imagination. My lips were painted in a baby pink color lip gloss which for a change I liked and it was going well with my nude makeup.

I was in the bridal room with Kia beside. She looked beautiful as usual in a black color saree and she kept her hair down. Even she hated make-up. In certain things, I feel sometimes we are lost, sisters. As I observed her every move I don't know why but it felt like Kia wants to say something but is not able to. So I took this opportunity to ask her.

"Hey, everything is good right?" I asked her very calmly even though I was anything but calm.

She became a little alert by my question and quickly said " yeah everything is fine. Why do you ask?"

"I don't know but I felt like you are hiding something from me". I said and suddenly she became really uncomfortable as if I have caught her red-handed!

She recovered quickly and gave me her dazzling smile which unfortunately didn't reach her eyes giving my hands a little squeeze, "yup everything is good mom" she said sarcastically and I rolled my eyes at her this remark.

"You know that I am there for you no matter what right? " I asked her in a very serious tone and before she could reply somebody came inside the bridal room. It was my brother. He looked too good in his three-piece suit which he paired it with a white crisp color shirt.

"Hey, munchkin. You look breathtakingly beautiful, mom was right! " he said and hugged me tightly. Kia left the room to give us a little privacy.

"Well, you look good yourself. You are trying to attract all the attention which I deserve today" I said faking anger and pouting like a little kid.

"Ooho nobody can take this day away from you today baby sister," he said seriously.

"Bhai, I was just kidding yaar!" I said rolling my eyes and he chuckled.

"Well, what brings you here?" I asked curiously.

"I completely forgot I was here to take you to mandap(dais). Everybody has already arrived. Everyone is waiting for you" he said cursing himself under his breath.

I froze when his words registered in my head and couldn't Move. I mean until now I was fine, I knew it from the beginning of all of it that today I marrying Kabir but now I wanted to do only one thing I just wanted to run. I was nervous like hell and clearly didn't want to be here at this point. I was having a panic attack...