Bitter Reality

Marriage-II

Naina's POV

There are moments in your life when everything around you goes blank and at that moment you are paralyzed to even think or feel anything. This is exactly when happened with me.

I was under this delusion until now that everything that was happening in my life was just a dream nothing else but when my brother's words registered into my mind I became numb. It was happening for real, I am in real getting married to someone else today right at this moment. I looked at my brother as my eyes brimmed with tears, how did I end up here? How did I let this happen? Everything that happened in the past one month flashed right in front of my eyes, reality hit me hard at that point, I begin to shake wildly so much that I wasn't even able to stand on my own and searched for some support to lean on, luckily my brother comforted me and I had a nervous breakdown.

"Naina, shshhh baby, it's okay. I am right here." My brother cooed as my tears fall unabashedly from my eyes.

"I....I....I c-aa-n't do this," I uttered and failed miserably at it. My words fumbled and I stammered horribly.

"What is wrong Naina? What is it? Did Kabir say anything to you? Did Mom say anything to you?" My brother panicked seeing me like this and was about to call someone from outside when I reached for the hem of his coat to stop him.

"Don't go anywhere please," I said softly and he surrendered immediately, embracing me in his arms rocking me to and fro like his own child.

It took me around 20 minutes to straighten up, to finally be able to breathe and confront this fact to myself that today indeed I am getting married to Kabir and there is nothing I can do about it.

"Drink this." My brother said handing me a glass of water which I gulped instantly too embarrassed to look into his eyes.

"We need to leave Naina. Everybody is waiting for you. You are alright?" Bhai asked me this impending question but the concern was evident in his voice.

I smiled meekly at him and just nodded thinking that it is a moment when I have to face all my fears that too with a shy smile playing on my lips.

Everybody's attention turned to me as I entered the lawn the cool air played with my hot cheeks and I felt a little self-conscious. I kept my eyes on the ground, my cheeks and nose were red due to all the crying I did 30 minutes ago, my eyes were red and the camera light was sharp enough to blind me, so it was safe to look at the ground instead of at the crowd.

As graciously as it was possible for me to handle myself steadily, I was escorted towards the mandap(dais) area where everybody was gathered and then Sanaya came to my side smiling at me, very gently she took my hand and helped me settle down in front of the 'havan kund'. I was so unaware of the surroundings that I didn't even care to look at anybody except Sanaya. She Looked beautifully in her simple grey color lehenga and she kept her hair down with loose curves flaunting her length of hair.

I was so nervous that I was just not able to concentrate on what exactly was happening. The priest was busy chanting the mantras and I on the other hands was fidgeting with my bangles. Suddenly out of nowhere somebody took my hand in his and gave it a little squeeze. At the mere touch, I recognized who it was. I looked at his side from the corner of my eyes, he pretended to concentrate on the mantras but I knew he was looking at me from the corner of his eyes. His sweet gesture softened my heart and me for a change I smiled genuinely for the first time since I came here. My trance was broken by the priest who announced it was time to take 7 rounds around the sacred fire which would bind us for another 7 births together like one.

After taking seven round circles we both were announced husband-wife! Just one thing was left that Kabir has to put red color sindoor(vermilion) in the middle of my forehead. I had seen this happen so many times in movies, serials, wedding but when it happened to me it felt strangely surreal. It felt as if now I am not alone anymore, I would always have someone to talk to about everything. I don't have to look for someone else when I have Kabir by my side, my thoughts contradicted my mind's situation which was constantly nudging me.

Every ritual was over the way it was supposed to be and now it was time for me to go to Kabir's house for my welcome. Which means it was time for me to leave everything behind and start a new phase of my life with new hopes, dreams, aspirations, and positivity.

Out of nowhere my mother hugged me and started crying inconsolably, I don't know whether she was genuinely sad or it was just in the heat of the moment, whatever it was I hugged her back.

"I am going to miss you a lot beta," she said crying in my arms.

"Mom I am going to miss you too but please don't cry. I am starting a new life right? Please" I just couldn't help but console her.

My mom left me soon and then my father hugged me and said," take care beta and be a good wife and also be a good daughter in law". He was not crying but I could sense that at the end his voice cracked. He was controlling himself. A part of me broke seeing my father so vulnerable which made me cry from inside but at that moment I cannot do this and fall apart like this.

Then my brother hugged me and this was it for me I just couldn't take it anymore. Even the thought of not seeing him every day was like death for me. I broke in his arms and I knew he was crying too. I hugged him as tight as it was possible for me and he also did the same. We both cried and I didn't want him to let me go but I have to leave now. The most difficult part for me was to leave my brother. I was not at all bothered about my parents. I never felt that kind of connection with them but when it comes to my brother I just cannot even think of leaving him.

"I am going to miss you a lot munchkin," he said that made me run to his arms again and I hugged him crying very hard. I never thought leaving someone will be this much tough that too for a girl like me. Trust me if you would have asked me that whether I will cry at my own wedding then I would have laughed at your face but today I realized that circumstances changed everything.

"I am going to miss you a lot more than you could have ever imagined Bhai " I said sobbing in his arms when his grip on me loosened and he said," if you ever tried to hurt her Kabir then I will not even give you a single chance to even explain" his tone was very authoritative that me shudder.

"I will not do any such thing Bhai. From today onwards she is my responsibility. I will try my level best to do as much as I can" Kabir said in a very soft tone.

Kabir held my hand and opened the car door for me. I turned back and for the last time gave a final wave to my family then I went inside the car.

As we descended towards his house, I realized that this phase of my life was over now. I don't know how successful I will be in playing this part that would time only tell but for now, I prepared myself mentally for letting those things go which at one point of time pinched me, disturbed me. It was time for me to bury the hatchet...