Falling in love after Marriage

Chapter 28

Prabhu's POV

Are you Happy?

Yes! Of course.

Are you excited?

Very much for the new beginning!

Are you nervous?

More than you could imagine.

Don't get confused. I am speaking to my mirror reflection. No, I didn't go crazy; just nervously excited for my wedding.

Tomorrow is my wedding. The morning I went with Akash to groom myself. I must look very good as this is going to be my big day. As we didn't do engagement separately, we planned for it today. There are lots of rituals in Tamil weddings. And those will create more good memories for us.

I sighed dreamily. I have two hours to get ready for going to the temple, which is generously more than enough. Vidhu and Janu are really working hard for my marriage. I was a little mad at them for ignoring Nandhini in the cafe. They must have said at least 'hi', just for formality. But I have been seeing them roaming here and there to get the best from everything. They have beautifully decorated the home.

My anger had already vanished just a sting of pain from their inappropriate behaviour. After all, they're my family. I love them so much. But I feel like there is some distance between us. Maybe it's because of I spending more time with Nandhini. I should spend some time with my parents after coming back from... You know what I am trying to tell right... after I came back from my honeymoon. I got 10 days 'off' from my office. Four days will go in these rituals. We could have six days on our own. We planned to spend our honeymoon in Wayanad, Kerala, as there is no enough time travelling to long distanced places. This whole marriage thing feels soooo strange but in a good way.

I am very happy to get an affectionate woman who thinks my family like her own family. We will mostly speak about our family's future. She is so jovial. I don't know how we didn't speak earlier. I just knew her name. I have seen her roaming with her friends during her vacations. She is a good addition to our family. I believe she will help me to raise our family more efficiently and effectively.

I got ready and saw my family members roaming all over the home to get something or to check something. I joined my uncles on the sofa. They started teasing me telling not to be too innocent after marriage. I simply nodded to stop further teasing. My amma is beautiful in rose silk saree and Banu athai is wearing green silk saree which compliment her skin tone very nicely. Then I noticed my little sister in saree. She looks like a woman. I mean she had grown well. She is too beautiful in her green with pink bordered saree.

Then I noticed 'her' missing. I waited for a few more minutes, but I couldn't find her. My appa and mama were looking dashing in their white silk dhoti and solid coloured shirts. I asked my appa about her whereabouts and got to know that she already went to 'mandapam' on the request of Nandhini's thatha. What would she be wearing? Salwar? Lehenga choli? Saree? Probably Saree! Damn! She increased my curiosity. Have I mentioned about my outfit? I am in a white shirt and khaki pant. That always suits me well. And anyway I have to change my dress after reaching mandapam as I should be wearing the dress presented by Nandhini's parents during the engagement.

We went to the temple to perform puja. After doing the special prayers to God, we all started to mandapam as we have to reach there before the auspicious time gets over. The photographer is taking snaps now and then. And a cameraman is shooting video of the ceremony. This is the most embarrassing part actually because I have to sit in flowers decorated topless-car and go slowly all the way to mandapam along with my family and relatives who would be walking alongside the car.

This is the most embarrassing part actually, because I have to sit in flowers decorated topless car and go slowly all the way to mandapam along with my family and relatives who would be walking alongside to the car

It was so funny and embarrassing. Finally, we reached the mandapam. Ladies from Nandhini's family took aarthi for us one by one. And I gave them a gift as it is a tradition to give a gift to the person taking aarthi. The mandapam had been filled with our relatives. They are talking and laughing with each other. A sight to see!

I was guided to the stage. My family, Murugan mama family and other few elders came to sit with us. Now the bride's family is sitting one side of the stage and my family on the other side of the stage. Nandhini is not here. Maybe she is getting ready. I smiled and joined my hands to greet elders.

I searched for Janu but I couldn't spot her. As usual, one of the uncles from Nandhini's family asked to get her to the stage. I managed to make Akash sit next to me. I have been whispering my nervous and the strange nagging at my head to him. He is being a good friend trying to calm my nerves.

Akash nudged me and muttered she is coming. I looked at the direction he is looking and stunned beyond my expectation. Janu is so gorgeous in saree. I have seen her many times in saree yet I couldn't peel my eyes off her. She is smiling so beautifully. Then she looked at my eyes and smiled. Akash elbowed me to got me back to the earth and I realized Nandhini coming along with Janu, looking beautiful in her magenta coloured saree. I cursed myself for not noticing her presence earlier and smiled at her. I absentmindedly let out a sigh and puzzled why I am reacting like this.

Nandhini was seated opposite to me and Janu joined next to Vidhu behind me. Just then I realized something off. Nandhini and Janu came side by side, smiling at each other. Thank God. You solved my main problem. If they had conflict among them after marriage, it would have been a big headache for me. Now they seemed to be solved their conflicts.

Then the priest asked our family to exchange dresses and our parents did. We are asked to wear dresses given to us. While turning to get to the room allotted for the groom, I saw Janu seriously talking to Vidhu in low voice. She noticed me and smiled at me like always, I winked at her and signalled her dress is nice. She narrowed her eyes and glared at me with a smile. My grin grew bigger and I walked past her to change my dress. Now I felt like a big burden lifted from my shoulders. My family will be normal as always from now on.

After going back to the stage, I was asked to sit on the sofa placed in the centre along with Nandhini. Nandhini is wearing a pinkish orange saree which suit her well.

Then the lagna pathrikai (content in Wedding invitation) had been read aloud by the priest. Our family exchanged the plates with fruits, betel leaves and nuts to close the engagement. Nandhini didn't speak anything but smiled at me. It felt different from usual like she is now smiling from her heart. I got a warm feel from that smile. Then we exchanged garlands.

All the family members descended from the stage, leaving us to be there. A little girl from Nandhini's family was standing next to her and Vidhu is next to me. Then our friends and relatives started to give us gifts. I saw Akash, his friend Ajay, I remember meeting him at that cafe and also Nandhini's best friend, Sanjeev was roaming here and there helping the family members with some works. I noticed the stealthy glances between Vidhu and Ajay who have been looking at each other many times and they held eye contact for longer than the normal gaze. God! Could it be? She has grown up. I smiled lovingly at my sister with a realising smile. I have to talk to Janu about this later. She will spill it to me if I fake anger about Vidhu's behaviour.

Then Nandhini and I introduced each other to our friends, colleagues and families. The videos and photos had been taken while we posed on the stage. Then we took a bunch of family photos and some photos of me and Nandhini alone in different poses. After two hours, we got seated and shared a few memories regarding the family members.

Then we fed each other for photos and ate the delicious food. Even though I love my amma's cooking, I always had great feelings about my mama's catering. The food is amazingly tasty and had a hint of homemade food. Vidhu and Janu ate along with us.

I am so excited for tomorrow. My status of being single is going to change. Lots of emotions are playing in my mind, yet I feel responsible for her. I have to take good care of her. She is leaving her family with who she had been lived all these years, just for me. I have to give her affection and care more than what she got from her parents. That will surely make her happy. I smiled inwardly not able to get sleep. I know she will be awake now just like me. What she would be thinking now?

My mind kept on roaming around random things that might happen after our marriage. I closed my eyes tried to get some sleep.

I woke up as my amma shook me up. I wanted to sleep some more but the fact of my wedding strikes me and I sat up immediately. I smiled at my amma, wished her good morning and pulled her to rest my head on her stomach. She stroked my hair while telling me to freshen up for Nalangu.

I brushed and finished my morning routines and went out to see everything ready for nalangu. Few close relatives were there to perform the rituals. Banu athai asked everyone whether they kept nalangu to take aarthi which completes nalangu. At the same time, Vidhu and Janu entered the room. They were already got ready. Janu is looking gracefully gorgeous in her green silk saree. I have to accumulate all my every remaining sense to avert my gaze away from her. This is not right Prabhu! What the hell are you doing? You are going to get married to Nandhini in less than an hour. You should not behave like this! Control your heart!

I saw Vidhu smiling at me and coming near me to do the ritual. She is too pretty in her blue silk saree. They both were wearing the same design saree in a different colour and the jewels added their beauty more. After Vidhu, Janu came near me but Banu athai stopped her and took aarthi completing the Nalangu. I am disappointed with my athai for stopping her but kept my face normal. Then I wore a brown shirt and grey pant because like yesterday, they will give us the wedding dress after performing some puja.

Then I wore a brown shirt and grey pant because like yesterday, they will give us the wedding dress after performing some puja. I went and sat down and admired the fantabulous floral decorations.

Nandhini came in a nice white coloured designer saree. I noticed Nandhini is in her bubbly self. I asked 'are you okay?' in a very low voice just audible for her. She saw me with surprise and nodded with a big smile. I replied to her with a smile. By the time, the priest gave us our wedding dress and asked us to get changed.

I came back in white silk dhoti and shirt and continued the rituals and did as the priest instructed me

Then I saw Nandhini coming along with Banu athai and one of her relative. She looks so beautiful in her red coloured wedding saree.

But before she could reach the stairs, Sanjeev stopped her. She looked at him with confusion like everyone else in the Mandapam. He turned towards our friends and family.

"I am really sorry for saying this. I couldn't allow Nandhini to get married to Prabhu."

What the hell?

The whole crowd started gossiping. Nandhini's parents descended from stage went near Sanjeev. Nandhini is red with anger.

"Why are creating a scene at last minute, Sanjeev? What the hell is wrong with you?"

She burst out. But he smiled sweetly and held her shoulders despite Nandhini struggled to get out of his hold. I stood up to get down and beat some senses into that bastard's head. But what he said shocked everyone.

"I couldn't let the mother of my baby marry someone else."

He smirked. I expected Nandhini to slap him or at least shout at him for blaming her in such a low way. But I saw her paled at him mentioning she is pregnant. Is that mean he is telling the truth.

No! No! No! No!

Anger seeped into my every nerve.

"You did it intentionally, didn't you?"

Nandhini almost whispered the sentence to him with tears rolling down her cheeks, but unfortunately, I heard it very clearly.

So that's true. She had slept with him. And faked everything with me.

Her care...

Her smile...

Her words...

Everything is fake!

But why me?

I felt like someone is continuously stabbing my heart. A tear rolled down my cheek.

I liked her...

I trusted her...

I accepted her to become a part of my perfect family...

But in return, SHE BETRAYED ME!

A sad smirk crept on my lips with realization. All my dreams about my future with her were crashed like sand castle hit with a huge wave of a tide. What am I supposed to do now?