The Wrong Bride

The Real Fake Wedding

Maria stopped crying, obviously shocked. She asked, " really?

Really Elly? You will do it for me?"

"I'm saying I will do anything that will solve your problem. But I'm not sure how I will dress up as a bride in your place. Surely your mom and dad will find out", I said.

"Oh, Elly thank you so much, you cannot imagine how grateful I am", she said hugging me.

"I couldn't watch you cry like that, but don't ever say we're through," I said hugging her back.

"I won't I promise", Maria said.

"Okay now we need a plan to sneak you in my place, call Eddy we will need his help, and we will need two wedding dresses exactly the same design and we'll need the same make up, same veil and.....", and she went on and on talking to herself.

Seeing as she was not talking to me, I went inside my room on the pretext of calling Eddy. I closed my bedroom door and lied on the bed. Honestly in a rush I have said that I will do it, but I'm scared. What if I get caught? We don't look that much alike. Okay for the rest of the world and even to Mr. Costas as he has not met her formally yet. But her family? Especially her mother, would she not find out?

And if we are really caught then it will be me who is caught in their hands as Maria will not be there for taking half the brunt. And what about Mr. Costas, what will happen if he finds out?

Well now what's done is done. I'm doing it and we'll see how it goes. Although I'm a little scared, but this bride swapping seems thrilling too.

On that thought I called Eddy and told him about my decision.

"What! Elly are you crazy? First Maria now you? Do you even realize that marrying someone else's husband is not only morally wrong but also illegal?", he yelled.

"And what if you got caught huh", he continued, "that Damianos doesn't seem like a man who would laugh it off and let it go, he would not leave you alone if this happens".

"I know all this and why are you yelling at me? We will think of a good plan. Listen Eddy Maria is our friend we cannot leave her alone in this and you have to help me", I said to Eddy.

After a long conversation with Eddy I finally convinced him to help us and went to tell Maria about it.

I went to her room. She was on the phone. Her game mode was on, she raised her forefinger on me gesturing "one minute", and went on to continue her talk.

After she was done, she said that she was fixing an appointment with her makeup artist, she was an old friend and was ready to give us the same makeover and same hair. Which would help us to look alike.

"I was on the phone with Eddy. He will help us but he is very angry for some reason. I mean he is not even included directly, why is he overreacting so much?" I said, lying down on Maria's bed after plopping her pillows into a comfortable position.

"Well! Don't you know? Eddy likes you", Maria said.

"No, he doesn't, what are you talking about?", I said hearing the unexpected.

"I've known since the first year in college. I have noticed the way he looks at you sometimes. But he is too nerdish to talk to you about it", she said.

"That's ridiculous, I have never noticed it".

"Whatever, just because you won't believe it doesn't change the fact", she said dismissing it amongst more important matters.

Just then Eddy also came in, he was wearing a shirt as usual, white color which was hugging his broad shoulders and complemented his dark blonde hairs. Blue jeans and black shoes. He was wearing his usual black framed glasses. It's the first time I have ever noticed, I mean really notice how he looks. He is definitely handsome. Many girls would want to be with him. He is a good guy also.

But I have never thought of him like that. I like him. He is a very good friend. I would never want to lose his friendship. But I don't think I can love him in that way ever.

He came inside Maria's bedroom, and looked straight at me and said in an angry tone, " So you have finally decided that you are marrying that Costas".

"I'm not actually marrying him", I said.

"What's left, you'll be wearing white, you'll be reciting the vows", he said in an annoyed tone.

"Yes, but she won't be registering her marriage, the registration will happen next day at the registrar's office. I will be back by the evening", Maria interrupted.

"Yes, but it will be she who's getting married", he said exasperated.

"So what? She'll be saying a few vows, these things don't mean anything Eddy, I have seen many vow taking couples ending their marriage within the first year. I don't even believe in these things. And stop talking like that, do you want to change her mind about the wedding again?", She said.

"I'll try if it stops her", he said decidedly.

"Hey hey guys don't start a fight now, Eddy I'm not changing my mind", I declared.

"But what if he catches you, Maria will be saved because of her parents but who will save you?", he asked worried.

"She won't get caught. We will wear the same dress and same makeup. We already look alike. No one will notice"

"Really and what about her eyes? Will no one notice that as well?", he asked.

"Contact lenses silly. She will be wearing brown contact lenses. And stop panicking, instead of helping", she admonished him.

He huffed and said, “fine what's the plan".

#*#*#*

It was the day of the wedding. I have already taken a day off from my aunt. Maria's wedding is scheduled to be at 11:00 and her interview will be at 11:30.

It was 7:00 in the morning, Maria has already moved out and currently living with her parents. Eddy has moved in. I quickly got up from the bed, did my morning routine. And got dressed in the bridesmaid dress. It was a light green dress which was a little Ill-fitting but never mind I won't be wearing it anyway. I took my bag and stuffed a hoody and baggy jeans into it, a proper convenience for the time of escape.

I came out of my room. Eddy has just woken up and was carrying a mug of coffee in his hand. He won't be attending the wedding as he will be the driver to drive Maria to and from the interview and finally help me escape later.

"All ready?", he asked.

"Yes, how do I look?", I asked turning around to show him the full dress.

"You always look pretty but this dress is not giving you much justice", he confessed laughing lightly.

"Never mind I'll be taking it off any way", I said.

"Hey, be careful okay. Keep your phone close if anyone start suspecting anything", he advised.

"I will thanks bye." I continued, "And remember, Maria's interview clothes are on my bed as she will be changing here. Tell her that."

"Will do, bye".

"Bye Eddy".

I took a cab and went to the hotel where Maria was getting married. It was a five-star hotel. It was beautiful and very lavish. I entered the lobby and went straight towards the lift as I knew which room Maria was staying. I went to the room and knocked. It was opened by Mrs. Petrakis, Maria's mother.

"Oh, hello Eleanor, how are you? It's good that you're here now. Maria's been fussing about you since morning", she said smiling.

"I'm fine Mrs. Petrakis, and I know she has called me fifty times", I said.

She laughed, "fine then you two take care, I'm going to have a look at the preparation downstairs. It's already 8:30, the guests will start coming at 10:00", after saying that she left.

I liked Mrs. Petrakis. She is a fine, elegant lady. And very sweet to talk to.

And after she had left, I closed the door and went to see Maria. Maria was sitting in front of a dressing mirror in her inner garments and was getting her hair done. A lady which I gather her hair and makeup artist friend was bent on her, two clips held between her lips. She saw me and smiled but didn't stop her work. After Maria saw me, she turned and got up.

"Elly where have you been it's 8:30 already. When will you start getting dressed and your makeup, oh it's already so late", she said panicking.

"Don't panic I'll get dressed in no time. Tell me where's the dress. I'll get dressed while you are getting your makeup done. Then she can do mine", I said trying to assure her.

"The dress is hanging by the wardrobe door. And yes, I forgot, Elly this is Stephanie my old friend and the best makeup artist. And Stephanie this is Elly, my best friend", she said introducing.

This time Stephanie took out the pins from her mouth and said, "Hello".

"Hi, so uh do you know our situation", I said awkwardly.

"I do and I totally understand, extreme time demands for extreme measures. But no time for chit chat just wear the dress and then I'll do your hair and makeup too",

she said and went back to her work.

Then I turned towards the wardrobe door, there were two dresses covered inside a plastic, one of them had written Elly on it so I gathered this was for me. So, I took it, and opened the cover. I laid it on the bed.

It took my breath away. I was there for the selection of the dress, but it looked so much more beautiful today. It was an off white, off shoulders dress. It had small beads on the upper region in the shape of flowers. The lower region had multiple layers. the cloth was of satin which was covered with multiple layers of lacy cloth which had embroidery of flowers.

Along with that two satin hand gloves were also there.

"The shoes and jewellery are inside the wardrobe", Maria said from behind.

I opened the wardrobe door, there was a shoe box and a velvet box. I opened the shoe box. The shoes were very beautiful, delicate looking. It was also off white with golden borders.

Then I opened the velvet box. Inside it was a beautiful pearl and diamond necklace with two pearl earrings.

God all these things must have cost her a fortune.

"Maria how much have you spent on these? This must be so expensive. And you had to pay for everything twice", I asked in awe.

"Don't worry about that. Just wear it. And besides you can keep it for your own wedding someday. I'm sure Eddy will appreciate it", she said winking.

"Shut up Marie. There is nothing between me and Eddy. And it won't be ever", I said.

"As you say my dear", she said grinning.

I put on the dress, my hair and makeup were done. For my hair I had a low bun look with few tendrils in the front left loose. I then put on the necklace and turned around. Then I looked at myself in the mirror.

I looked so new, so different. There was a ray of light coming from the window which was falling on my face and my face was radiating. I looked ...beautiful. I wish my mom would be here to see me today. Suddenly I wanted to cry, my eyes got filled with tears. Today for some reason I feel very alone. I wish my mom and dad would be here. They would have been so happy. I remember my father whenever I was sick or looked bad, he would kiss my forehead and say, "There is not a single woman who is more beautiful than you, not even your mother", and my mother would huff from behind and smile.

But I controlled my tears. This is not the day to get emotional. Hell, it's not even my own wedding. Silly me.

'Wow you look beautiful", said Stephanie from behind. "If I be honest", she said in a low voice, "you look even better than Maria. You have that look of innocence on your face".

She continued, "Now the only thing left is the contact lenses".

I put the contact lenses. Just then there was a knock on the door then Maria came out of the bathroom where she was until now.

She said, "hurry Elly take the veil and go inside the bathroom it must be my father as it is already 10:45. Go hurry".

I went inside the bathroom. From the bathroom door I can hear the conversation. The person on the door was indeed Mr. Petrakis, Maria's father.

"Is my princess ready?"

"How do I look daddy?"

"You look beautiful my darling. I hope you are not upset that I didn't let you meet the groom before the wedding, it's our custom. But I know that Damianos is a very nice and caring man. He would love you. But still if you ever, I mean ever find him ill-treating you then just tell me. Okay?". He paused. "I have become a little emotional today".

"Oh daddy", Maria's voice sniffing.

"Now don't waste time or your mother will come upstairs. We must get going it's ten minutes to eleven".

"Yes, dad just give me one minute, I'll just come back from the washroom".

Then the washroom door opened and Maria came inside. "Okay wear the veil and go outside. It's almost eleven", she said.

"Okay, wish me luck". I put on the translucent veil and came out of the bathroom with my heart in my hand. Mr. Petrakis was standing there. Although we were wearing the same dress but I dreaded lest he notice me.

"Fine, now that you're ready let's go", was all he said and we started walking.

While going downstairs in the elevator, Mr. Petrakis said, "why are you not saying anything?". My heart lurched. But then he said. "Oh, what am I talking, you must be nervous. As you call it 'butterflies in the stomach'. I know, I know. But no need to be nervous, your daddy is always here. Aren't I?"

He squeezed my hands gently. I said, "yes". Trying to keep my speaking minimum as he might catch my voice. Rest of the journey to the hall was quiet. I was guessing that Mr. Petrakis was also getting emotional.

As we reached the hall before opening the door he asked me, "Ready?"

I nodded. Then he opened the door.

#*#*#*