Chapter Sixteen

Oh how quickly the days have gone by....

No seriously, how quickly the days have gone by.

Just the other day, all the dates were fixed for each event. Then just like that, we had the engagement party... and hickey #2 on my neck. Then we had my haldi and his haldi separately, and then the mehendi.

And now, tonight was the night. The night.

The wedding.

Guests poured into our home and people ran all over the place. I was tugged this way and that way, people helping me get ready for my big day. Amma, Babuji, and Buaji were yelling here and there, trying to get everything perfect for the ceremony tonight.

While everyone grinned with joy, I was emotional out of my mind. Parts of me were scared, sad, excited, and so many other emotions, bouncing around. I was sad to leave my home and my family, yet excited to start this new part of my life, that too with Arnav.

I can't explain why but... there's just something about him.

That's really the only way I can explain it. And because of that, I truly do realize now that I'm in love with him - even if he is my boss and I barely know him.

The ceremony would begin at 9, the guests already arriving since 8. And while I sat alone in my mostly empty room, since a majority of my belongings had already been shifted to Raizada mansion, I felt mostly sad. I didn't want to leave my room, my home, my crazy mom, my loving dad, and my sidekick Buaji.

What will I do without them?

The door to my room opened, revealing an already crying Amma and Buaji. Amma came dashing in and gave me a hug and I had to force myself from crying or else Payal would beat me up for messing up her masterpiece.

"Oh my sweet baby girl is getting married," she cried.

"You've only realized that now," I frowned through my tears.

"No!"

She cried harder, making it harder for me to resist.

"Oh stop it you two," Buaji exclaimed. "You're gonna make me cry!"

We looked at her, then at each other, and held our arms out to her. She joined our hug, turning it into a group hug.

"Khushi," Amma sniffed.

"Hmm?"

"Promise me you won't be childish around them.'

"Amma!"

Buaji pulled back. "She has a good point Sanka devi."

"Not you too Buaji!"

"She's right," Amma defended, and I simply frowned.

"And be nice to him, Khushi, your life is about to change."

I frowned again.

"Who wouldn't want to be nice to him," Buaji said. "With that fine face and fine body, why I-"

"Buaji, you're talking about my husband!"

This woman!

Amma and Buaji smirked. "Your husband?"

Um... I really did say that, didn't I?

The two giggled like two little girls and I rolled my eyes and sat on the bed. When they stopped acting like half their age, they sat down beside me, putting me in between.

Amma caressed my cheek. "Khushi, your life is truly about to change. Especially after tonight."

"Mm hmm," Buaji agreed. "The suhag raat changes everything."

Did she just-? "Buaji!"

"What, it's true," she said innocently.

"She has a point," Amma said.

I cannot be hearing this.

"Let me tell you Sanka devi, on my suhag raat, I was so nervous and so scared and I had no idea about the pleasure I was going to get-"

"Oh my gosh, stop talking," I squealed.

Buaji grinned rougishly. My goodness, this woman!

"She has a point Khushi. I mean on my suhag raat I-"

"I so don't want to hear your tale of nervousness."

"What nervousness, I was excited!"

I looked at her wide eyed and so did Buaji. "Say what," the two of echoed.

Amma giggled. "The truth is, when I met your father, there was this... vibe between us."

Mama say what?

"I mean... we clicked. It may sound gross to you but sometime after we met, we were put together to talk and get comfortable with each other. Next thing I know I've got a hickey in my neck."

"What," i exclaimed.

"Wow, like mother like daughter," Buaji frowned.

Amma frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Buaji, I am going to kill you!!

"I-"

Dhak-dhak! Dhak-dhak!
Dhak-dhak! Dhak-dhak!

He's here.

"The groom and his family are here," some shrieked in the hallway.

I knew it.

Amma sighed. "Well... time to go Khushi."

My emotions took hold of me again. "Do we have to?"

Tears pooled into her eyes once more and she hugged me again. Buaji couldn't control herself this time and cried, the three if us holding each other as we smiled through our tears.

*~*

Dhak-dhak! Dhak-dhak!

With each step we took towards the mandap, my heart grew wilder and wilder. It wanted him badly, and so did I.

Arriving to our crazily decorated backyard, all set up for the wedding, guests turned their attention on me.

Eep!

Can I run and hide like a scared little mouse instead?

Dhak-dhak-dhak!

My heart is acting strange.

Dhak-dhak-dhak!

Is it cause I'm nervous. Or is it because...?

Up ahead, standing at the mandap by the pyre, was none other than my husband to be, the man who even without knowing him well, I had fallen in love with.

Dhakdhakdhakdhakdhakdhakdhak!

Arnav. My gosh, he looks so handsome in his sherwani, and so... so perfect.

Standing at his side, the two of us gazed at each other. In that moment, everyone else in the room disappeared. There was only an echo in the room, of chanting and prayer. All I could understand was that the two of us sat down together, did what we were told to by the voice, then made our pheras. As I followed behind him, I couldn't help but to gaze at him. In a matter of moments, I would be his and he would be mine. He would lead me from here on out and I would lead him from here on out, working as a team.

Once we made our seven vows, we stood in front of each other. Someone handed Arnav the little pot of sindoor, and just like that, he filled my parting. The sound of clapping erupted around us, but I paid no attention to it.

I was no longer a single woman, but a married one. I would no longer be living with the family I grew up with and was raised by, but with my new family. I was no longer just Khushi Kumari Gupta, but the wife of Arnav Singh Raizada.

I am Khushi Singh Raizada.