Part – 1: Marriage day

The room was very brightly lit. The walls were painted in gay colours. Festoons were everywhere around. The open window brought in the strong winter breeze, cool... nay chilling...

Women were running around the room, some shouting, some murmuring. Some just walked around gossiping about the fair the Malhotras' had laid out for the most important day in their daughter's life. One woman was talking about the grandeur of the hotel Jaypee Vasant Continental in South Delhi. Some other was telling her companion how the Malhotras were stingy by not having had the function at the Intercontinental or the Taj.

Vandana loomed around and tried to shoo the ladies away. It was time now; she had to get Savita dressed. She began by requesting Mrs. Laxmi Narain to take her legion of gossiping, high-heeled, friends to the next room. The suite was after all meant for Savita alone and not for these gossip mongering women. Mrs. Narain gave a snort as if to say she did not like being shooed away, especially when her best friend's daughter was yet to be dressed up. She could help after all. But Vandana would have none of it, and her stern gaze and sharp looks were enough to tell Mrs. Narain that she would be better of chatting with her friends in the next room rather than take on the wrath of Vandana. She knew Vandana well now, and 8 years of knowing her, had taught her enough about Vandana to know not to dismiss her authority. She stomped off, whispering something in the ear of one of the women. Vandana turned to face the room.

Savita sat staring blankly at the window. Her Mehendi was darkish brown in her hand after having washed the paste off. She gave a furtive look at her palm, and stopped to admire the intricate design of the Mehendi. Vandana was indeed very good at it. She was an exceptionally creative person. On the palm of her hands she had fashioned a peacock. The feathers of the peacock were on her arms. The task was arduous and took more than 3 hours to make, with all the 'naach-gaana' happening in the background. Savita suddenly realised that her Mehendi was a deep brown; A colour of the Mehendi, which bodes well for the bride-to-be. The sign of a new beginning and a great life ahead. A very auspicious sign according to Hindu belief.

She wondered what it would be like, married life. Would she be up to it after all? Vandana suddenly disturbed her reverie. "Madam"... "Tayyar nahin honi hai tujhey. Daikh kaisey baithi hai, jaisey Dulhan tu nahin, main hoon". Savita shook herself out of her thoughts and came back to the bright confines of the plush suite in the Hotel. Her eyes caught the look on Vandana's face. She did seem to be a bit flustered after all, what with all the running around she had been doing for the last two days. She decided to just do what Vandana asked her to. She got up from the bed, as Vandana got her the dress for the evening. A beautiful pink sari, embroidered with real diamonds, flown specially to India from South Africa by one of her father's friends. The sari was an original Ritu Kumar creation, custom made to her taste. The pallu of the sari was rich with silver embroidery. Vandana helped her as she undressed from her present attire. She glanced into the mirror as she took off her blouse. She checked herself up. She wasn't bad at all for a 29 year old. She did have a great body. Her stomach slightly out of shape but not bad. The front curving in as it ought to be. The hips well rounded would give any woman a run for her money, and her bosom, well just a bit heavy on her frame. But what the heck it looked good. She was proud of her body, and as she kept staring, Vandana suddenly started giggling. "Oye, abhi dekh key koi phayda nahin. Jab kar sakti thi toh kuch nahin kiya tune figure maintain karney ke liye. Abhi toh sab jijajee hi dekhengey. And anyway, men like well endowed women". Savita playfully rapped Vandana on her back, in mock anger, and trying to chastise her said, "Oye sharam kar, apney jijajee ke baarey main kaisi baatein karti hai" Vandana held up the matching light pink blouse behind her as she said "Chal pehenley abhi. Ekdum Sexy banaaongi tujhey. Jijajee bhi dang ho jaengey" Savita again chastised her friend, with mock anger "Chup kar. Chal blouse pehna chup chap". As she hooked the clips in place, Vandana adjusted her shoulders to make them even. She proceeded to wrap the sari around Savita. She left the pallu draping down the left for now. She still had to make her wear her various ornaments, and do the make-up on her.

Forty minutes later, Savita looked at herself in the mirror. She looked extravagant yet simple in the pink and silver attire. The platinum ornaments on her neck glittering in the light of the room. Had she been in the sun right now, she would surely be blinding people she felt. Indeed so much was the silver, platinum and diamond along every inch of her visible self that it almost became a source of light by its own to the room. She adjusted the big long platinum necklace round her neck, to make it come in symmetry to the rest of the decor. As she gave Vandana a questioning look her niece, her elder cousin's daughter came knocking at the door. "Bhuaji, baraat pohoonchney waali hai. Mummy ney aapko Tayyar rehney ko kahaa"

Savita smiled at her cute niece. She ruffled her hair and pulled her cheeks. She let go of her and turned to speak to Vandana. "Oye, kaisi lag rahi hoon." Vandana, just gave a wide grin and said "Bilkul Dulhan ki tarah"; A comment which struck Savita as more of a sarcasm than appreciation. A scorpion trait thought she, though she very well knew that Vandana was a Taurean. Vandana, then grinned again and said, "Tu yaheen aaraam kar thodi der. Jab baraat aa jaaegi toh main aati hoon wapas tujhey leney." "Thik hai", muttered Savita as she proceeded towards the window side of the bed. She preferred to have the window open rather than have the A/C on. An open window meant being able to enjoy fresh air and the cool breeze. She stared into the South Delhi skyline. From the 9th floor of the Jaypee Vasant Continental she had a bird's eye-view of the buildings around her. There were some really tall buildings nearby. Her eyes fell on the road leading to the Hotel. No sign yet of the baraat. She left the window and sat on the edge of the bed staring blankly again at the skyline.

*****************************************************************************************************