The other woman to my soulmate

'Thinking' "Talking" "Talking"monologue 'I don't know why I came here .' She thought to herself as she eyed the magnificent hall infront of her. The front door of the hall was decorated with bright orange marigold garlands. A beautiful intricate rangoli kolam was drawn on the right corner of the doorway. A group of beautiful and slender girls were giggling loudly as they lighted the small oil lamps and placed them on top of the kolam. Their kohl lined eyes looked at the group of men coyly while the said group of men smirked as they leaned against the pillar and conversed while watching the girls. A group of children ran past her, laughing with joy as they carried small packets of sweets in their hands. Everyone, every single one of them was happy except for her. " Miss, are you going to go inside ?" A voice asked, causing Shannaya to turn around. A beautiful girl holding the tray of flowers, arched her eyebrows at Shannanya. She quickly masked her emotions, forcing a smile on her lips, and walked into the hall. As soon as she stepped inside she was hauled by Rita, who was blabbering non-stop. Rita dragged her literally to the front row gossiping about how Mamaji and Mamiji were wearing matching costumes and how mamiji insulted her for wearing a yellow saree. However,Rita's blabber was not heard by her. Shannanya felt her heart breaking in half. In front of her, just a few meters away, the groom was sitting happily at the altar, beaming at the guests. The tears swelled in her eyes as she watched him waving at a few guests. Shannanya's brows scrunched up together as she felt her tears swelling in her eyes. She felt an immense pain in her forehead, causing her to turn her head slightly. Rita grinned at her with an amused expression. It turned out, she was brought back to reality when Rita flicked her forehead . "Hello to earth my friend," Rita said, waving her mehendi cover palm infront of Shannaya's face with a bright grin. "Rita , I am sorry . I was just admiring the decorations ," Shannanya said in a thick voice, trying to mask her emotions. Fortunately for her, Rita was clueless as usual. The girl didn't take notice of Shannanya's wavering voice. Instead, she scanned Shannanya and made before giving her a pouty look. "It's OK but I have to ask you this .Wear did you buy your lengha ? It's absolutely gorgeous. Even the bride one is not great when compared to yours." Rita gushed as she stared at the dress with longing and envy. Shannanya smiled and opened her mouth when a rude voice rang out. "I would like to know as well why you are dressed in such attire when it's my sister who is the bride, " a snide voice interrupted their conversation. They both turned to the source of the voice to discover a beautiful young lady looking at them with an unreadable expression. Shannanya cleared her throat and gave the woman a small smile. The woman merely arched her right eyebrows as she pursed her lips together, looking irritatedly at Shannanya.Just when she was about to answer, a chirpy voice boomed. "Poppet". He screamed out loud and engulfed her in a bear hug. Shannanya's eyes widened as a small bubble of laughter escaped her red lips as Prem spun her around with a bright smile. " Alright let me down you oaf!" Shannnaya said in a breathless tone as her smile widened with laughter and the corners of her eyes crinckled. Rita grinned as she watched Prem and Shannaya while the other woman's face changed. Shannanya panted and smacked Prem's head before laughing, hugging loudly and hugging the manchild tightly. She kissed his cheek swiftly and Prem let out a triumphant sound. He placed his hand on Shannanya's shoulders and swiftly turned her around to face the angry gray eyes that were staring at them unbashedly, " Nisha, this is a poppet and Poppet,this is Bhabhi's sister, Nisha." Prem said with a broad grin showing his pearly teeth. Prem opened his mouth to say something when he was called out by his uncle. The man grinned and swiftly kissed Shannanya's cheek and ran away with Rita in tow. Shannanya exhaled her breath and gave the woman in front of her a small smile, extending her right hand towards the woman. "Hi, it is a pleasure to meet you, Nisha .I am Sannaya." She said, looking at Nisha . Nisha raised her eyebrows as she stared at Shanannya's hand. She let out a small hump sound before looking at Shannanya with thinly veiled disgust. "I would love to say the same, but given the circumstances, it's the contrary. Why are you dressed as though it's your marriage ? Not to mention these kisses in front of all these guests!?You know that this is an orthodox Indian family, yet you parade around with this unacceptable behavior. What would our family and friends say? Society will look down on us." Nisha said with fury dancing in her eyes as she crossed her hands under her chest. Shannanya's face changed. She retracted her hands and wringed them together as she looked at Nisha with an impassive face. " I did not know that your sister was wearing the same outfit. If I had changed earlier, I would have changed it. I am raised well. I know my boundaries, but I do not need to classify my relationship with Prem with you or anyone else.You are just Rajesh Saab's sister-in-law. Have a good day." Shannanya said in a robotic voice, causing Nisha to look gobsmacked. Without giving Nisha a chance to retort back, Shannanya turned her heels and stormed away towards the front row at the groom's side. She gave a small nod to a pair of husband and wife who looked surprised to see her. Shannanya then took a seat next to them and observed the altar. Rajesh was wearing a cream colored sherwani with maroon pants and a salwar. The man's face shined with happiness as he beamed at the guest while simultaneously performing the puja with the priest. Her cheek turned slightly damp. Her eyes were brimming with tears. Shannanya swiftly wiped her cheek when the woman next to her cleared her throat. She swallowed her saliva and took the tissue offered by the woman. The woman gave her a kind smile and pat her arm slightly before turning away while Shannanya wiped her eyes. 'Only you think you deserve him ,everyone else. Everyone seems to think otherwise.' Her mind chimed, causing her to frown. ' I longed to be there. I thought seeing him before the wedding in this outfit might change his feelings towards me', her heart said while her mind cackled. 'Really honey. You know this is not Bollywood .He made up his mind. Look at him. Does he look like he ever thought you sitting next to him?' her mind questioned her again. 'Is it wrong for me to harbour feelings for him? I love him ' her heart asked as her eyes shed some tears. 'In reality, honey, he does not even like you' her mind said in a pitying sound, causing her heart to clench. By the time her monologue came into a halt, the wedding music had begun. Shannanya glanced up and saw Rajesh tying the mangalsutra to his bride. Her body turned stiff as her eyes glued up watching Rajesh smiling widely as he placed the sindoor on his wife's forehead. She felt shameful for having thoughts of disrupting his wedding. The woman sitting next to her placed her hand on Shannanya's shoulder and smiled gently. " Are you going to wish the newlyweds dear ?" she asked Shannanya, who wiped her tears and nodded. The man and woman nodded their heads and then walked away. A huge line had already formed with people smiling widely and holding gifts as they waited for their turn to wish the newlyweds.She sighed and got up and walked towards the line. The line began to move slowly and when she was just a few guests behind, she saw Nisha standing next to the bride looking at her with a weary expression. Shannanya's heart began rumouring loudly as she walked towards the couple. Rajesh's eyes looked at her with warmth as he grinned brightly at her. "Shannanya, you look beautiful." Rajesh smiled at her, causing her to blush. " You should not say those words, Rajesh sir, especially with such a gorgeous woman next to you." Shannanya said as she smiled and nodded at the woman standing next to him. Rajesh let out a hearty chuckle and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. Shannanya closed her eyes and hugged him back, inhaling his scent as if it was the last time she was allowed to do it. After that, she has no rights to him. Their throats cleared, causing them to step away. Nisha gave her an irritated look as she whispered to her sister, who patted her shoulder. Prem walked towards them and slung his arm to Shannanya's shoulder. " Poppet, where is your present for bhaiya and bhabhi?" Prem asked with a bright grin, causing Rajesh to shake his head while Shannanya pushed his arms away and smiled at him. " Prem, that is not proper," Rajesh said when Shannanya smiled and cleared her throat. " It's OK Rajesh sir, Prem's right but the present is not for you but for your Mrs ." Shannanya said with a soft smile, while Rajesh blinked, giving her a surprised smile. Sannaya held her hand and slid out a gold ring she was wearing. She placed it in the bride's palm, gazing at her softly. The bride had a puzzled look till she noticed the same ring on her husband's finger. She gasped and looked at Sannaya with a surprised face. " This belongs to you. I took this, falling for the simplicity of the ring. Rajesh Sir told me what it was, but unfortunately, my childish behavior got ahead of me and I took it without his permission ...Now I realize that this belongs to you. I am sorry for tainting it .Please accept it." Shannanya said with a chocked voice as she held the bride's hand tightly and looked at her with shiny eyes. " I am honoured to accept it." Mrs Rajesh said with a sweet smile as she grasped Shannanya's hand tightly. Prem then dragged Shannanya to stand next to Rajesh as they posed for a group photo. Shannanya exhaled her breath as she turned her eyes slightly and watched Rajesh smiling widely with his arm around his wife's shoulder. Once they finished taking the photo, Shannanya smiled at the bride, who nodded back. She gently kissed Prem's cheek and then walked down the altar. She spotted Rajesh and Prem's uncle Kailash, who smiled widely and beckoned her towards him. Shannanya walked towards the man and bent down slightly, taking his blessings. She then turned towards another man, Mamaji, who was Kailash's uncle's relative and took his blessings. " I am so happy that you managed to come to Rajesh's wedding, my dear, " Kailash said, causing Shannanya to smile softly. " I wouldn't have missed it for the world, Kailash mama," Shannanya said, causing Kailash to chuckle heartily, while Mamaji gave her a slightly pitying smile. Shannanya's eyes widened slightly when a large woman walked towards them with a broad smile. The smile turned nasty as the woman spotted Shannanya. " Ah! Brother, my inlaws want to meet you to discuss the rituals," The woman simpered and gave Shannanya a nasty smile, causing her to purse her lips. Kailash, on the other hand, held Shannanya's hand and brought her forward. He smiled at the man and the woman and introduced Shannanya to Rajesh's in-laws. " Brother, there isn't any need to introduce strays that Rajesh picked up. We have many more important things to discuss." the woman said, causing the couple to furrow their eyebrows while Kailash mama looked shocked at the woman's behaviour. " There's no need for you to behave so ghastly ! Shannanya came to Rajesh's wedding because I invited her," Mamaji said, causing the woman who was his wife to raise her eyebrows. She turned around and gave Shannanya a pitying and mocking smile while Rajesh's in-laws dragged Kailash away to talk with some important people. However, Rajesh's mother-in-law turned her head and gave Shannanya a last scrutinizing look before turning away. "Rajesh never wanted you to come. Remember a stray cannot be a pet!" the woman said in a mocking tone. "I agree with Mamiji, but do remember that somebody else's pet cannot be claimed as yours too." Shannanya said, causing Mamiji to narrow her eyes at Shannanya. She gripped the girl's arms and spit at her when Shannanya was about to walk off. " Crawl back to the slum you came from!, " Mamiji said and spit on her face before walking away. As soon as she reached back to the front she turned and saw her love one last time. She shed a tear of love for him . She vowed not to cross in his life any longer. She walked away thinking no one noticed, but yet grey eyes filled her path. Little did she know she would still see Rajesh very soon. But for now, she has sat inside her car and drove towards the temple to sit in front of Durga devi and pour her tears out. A week later, she received a letter from a prestigious company across the continent. Shannanya packed her bags and left the country and her love behind. Footnote:- Rangoli Kolam : traditional decorative art that is drawn using rice flour as per age-old conventions. It is also drawn using white stone powder, chalk or chalk powder, often along with natural or synthetic colored powders. Lengha : A traditional Indian outfit worn by a woman consists of a blouse, long skirt and a shawl Salwar: A shawl worn by a man usually for a wedding Sherwani: A traditional outfit worn by men for festivities and weddings Saree: A traditional Indian outfit worn by a woman. Mangalsutra: A long neckpiece tied by the husband to the wife's neck as a symbol of marriage. Worn by a married woman. Sindoor: A red powder applied on a woman's forehead. To signify that the woman is married. Durga devi: A Hindu goddess Mama: A way to address a maternal uncle or generally any elderly man Bhabhi: Sister in law Bhaiya: Brother Saab: sir