Natasha's POV .
I woke up to a beautiful morning, feeling the dry henna on my hands. As I examined them, grateful they hadn't smudged, I heard a familiar knock on the door.
"Yes?" I called out.
"Can I come in, beta?" my chachi's voice came through.
"Yes, yes," I replied, sitting up in bed. Glancing back at the bed, I noticed some traces of dried henna still there.
Chachi entered with a smile that seemed forced. Knowing the strained relationship I had with most of my extended family, her smile didn't surprise me. Placing a bottle of mustard oil beside me, she instructed me to use it to darken the color of my mehndi.
"Your dress and jewelry will be here soon," she added, caressing my head gently before leaving the room.
I followed her advice, heading to the bathroom to remove the henna with mustard oil. The process left a beautiful orange hue on my skin, and the fragrance was comforting. After a refreshing bath, I emerged from the bathroom in my bathrobe.
My eyes widened at the sight of the lehenga before me.
"Oh my god! It looks incredibly expensive," I murmured to myself, approaching it cautiously. The intricate design, adorned with stones and diamonds, spoke of its luxury. As I examined it, I noticed a small note attached.
"Good morning, my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. I'm your mom," the note began. My heart swelled at the term 'mom.'
"This dress is my personal choice, and I hope you like it. If not, please feel free to tell us. We love you dearly; you are like our own daughter. Please don't worry about the price; it's nothing compared to you. We are very eager to see you :) See you soon, my dear."
A smile spread across my face as I read the note. "Thank you," I whispered in joy, feeling overwhelmed with love and gratitude.
As I opened the jewelry box, my eyes widened at the sight before me. Inside lay a stunning gold necklace design and undoubtedly expensive. The weight of it alone hinted at its value, and I could only imagine the cost, likely in the range of lakhs.
"OMG, how rich they are?" I mumbled to myself in disbelief
as I examined the exquisite piece before me.
It was just one piece of jewelry. I couldn't help but wonder how the rest of the collection looked.
I was about to wear my lehenga when someone knocked on my door again. Quickly changing into a casual dress, I opened the door to find an unfamiliar middle-aged lady standing there with a smile, holding a bag.
"Yes?" I said, puzzled.
"Ma'am, I'm your makeup artist," she said, smiling.
"No, I'm sorry, I don't need a makeup artist. I hate heavy makeup, sorry," I replied.
"But ma'am, I was hired to do your makeup specially, and our products are branded; they cause no damage to your skin. We take full guarantee of it," she explained. I hesitated but eventually agreed, not wanting her to incur a loss. I let her into my room, and she began to do my makeup.
"Please do something natural and simple; I don't want it heavy," I requested, to which she agreed.
After what felt like a long time, she finished, and I examined myself in the mirror. It was kind of good, but I couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort at having to wear makeup
"It's good, thank you," I said, forcing a smile.
"It's our job to make our customers happy, ma'am," she replied with a smile.
As I grabbed my purse, I asked, "How much?"
"I've already been paid, ma'am," she replied, causing me to frown.
"By whom?" I asked.
"The Malhotra family," she said, further confusing me.
"Malhotra family?" I muttered, my confusion deepening.
"Yes, ma'am, the family where you are getting married," she clarified, dispelling my confusion.
"Oh, so they are the Malhotras," I mumbled.
"Sorry?" she asked, not having heard me clearly, but I shook my head.
"No, nothing. How much did they pay you?" I asked.
"1 lakh," she replied casually while packing her stuff.
"WHAT!? 1 LAKH!?" My eyes widened in shock.
"Yes, ma'am, 1 lakh," she confirmed.
"What do you mean 1 lakh? It's just a normal makeup. What's so special?" I asked, feeling frustrated.
"Ma'am, the products are very expensive and branded. They are not even made in India," she explained.
"Oh my! If I had known that before, I would never have had my makeup done," I said, frustrated with the unexpected expense.
"It's okay, ma'am. Please calm down. It's my job, and it's our fixed rate," she reassured me, to which I reluctantly nodded, not wanting to argue anymore.
She smiled. "I'll take my leave now," she said, and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I admired myself in the mirror, feeling beautiful in my lehnga and jewelry. It was a surreal moment. Just as I was about to leave my room, Mami opened the door. I turned to her, and her genuine smile made me smile back.
"Thank you, Mami," I said gratefully as she applied kajal behind my ear.
"Now, let's go. The car is ready, and the groom's family has already reached the hall. Let's go now," she said, leading me out.
Struggling with the weight of the dress and heels, I finally settled in the car. To my surprise, a whole car was allocated just for me, solely because of my lehnga. My bangles added to the weight, but they were beautiful.
As we drove to the hall, I marveled at the opulence. When we arrived, the sight of the decorations left me speechless, and everyone around was equally amazed.
Once again, I was mesmerized by the grandeur of the event, feeling like royalty as I stepped out of the car.
The venue was transformed into a breathtaking spectacle of beauty and elegance, adorned with a lavish display of roses and flickering candles. The delicate fragrance of the roses enveloped the air, adding to the enchanting ambiance. Everywhere we looked, there were rose petals strewn across the floor, creating a pathway of romance and charm. It was a sight to behold, a scene straight out of a fairytale, where every detail was meticulously crafted to create an atmosphere of pure magic and splendor. The combination of roses and candles cast a soft, warm glow, illuminating the surroundings with an ethereal light, making it impossible not to be captivated by the sheer magnificence of it all.
As I scanned the hall, my attention was drawn to a particular family, and my eyes locked onto a man whose attire instantly sparked recognition. It was the same individual who had visited our home that fateful day-a realization that left me momentarily stunned. Could it be that he had come to discuss marriage back then? The thought raced through my mind, catching me off guard with its implications.
As our eyes met across the hall, an inexplicable sensation surged within me, stirring a flutter of anticipation in my stomach. My heart quickened its pace, seemingly resonating with an unfamiliar rhythm. It was a sensation unlike any I had experienced before-a subtle yet undeniable connection that left me intrigued and captivated in its wake.
As I observed him from a distance, clad in a resplendent sherwani that matched the hue of my own attire, I couldn't deny his charm. His presence exuded a certain allure, and I couldn't help but acknowledge his striking appearance.
Yet, amidst the admiration, a sobering reality lingered-I didn't even know his name. The thought of getting engaged to him on this very day added a layer of complexity to the emotions swirling within me.
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Siddharth's POV
As our gazes intertwined, time seemed to stand still, and amidst the bustling crowd, her eyes shone like beacons of light, drawing me in with their mesmerizing allure. In that moment,all I could perceive was her radiant presence, evoking a symphony of butterflies within me. She was more than just beautiful; she was my angel, illuminating the room with her grace and charm.
As our families exchanged greetings, my mother's words of anticipation filled the air, "We were waiting for you all, especially for our soon-to-be daughter-in-law." Her smile was warm as she walked towards Natasha, who reciprocated with equal warmth.
Natasha's smile, radiant and genuine, captivated my attention, leaving me momentarily spellbound. Watching her, I found myself entranced, lost in the beauty of her expression.
Amidst the joyful commotion, my mother embraced Natasha warmly, "We're so glad you're here, dear." Natasha's smile widened at the affectionate gesture.
With gentle guidance from our family members, Natasha navigated towards me, her graceful steps belied by the weight of her intricate lehnga and the challenge of her elevated heels.
Caught in a reverie, I was jolted back to reality by a playful nudge from my father, his knowing smile coaxing a bashful grin from me. "Come on, son," he whispered teasingly, "Don't keep the bride waiting."
As Natasha settled beside me on the specially designated couch for the bride and groom, our eyes met briefly, igniting a silent exchange of shared anticipation and unspoken promises.
As guests began to trickle in, extending their warm wishes to us as if we were already a married couple, I couldn't contain my happiness knowing that soon I would be united with the love of my life.
Amidst the cheerful chatter, I noticed Natasha's weary expression, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Concerned, I leaned in close and whispered,
"Tired?" My voice barely above a whisper, accompanied by a gentle smile.
"A little," came her soft reply,
her words like a soothing melody that stirred something deep within me. In that moment, her voice felt like a balm to my soul, evoking a flutter of butterflies in my stomach.
"This dress is very heavy along with these bangles and my necklace," she complained softly. I couldn't help but chuckle at her adorable complaints.
"It will be a little heavy, my dear. If you feel more uncomfortable, just tell me. I'll do something about it, okay?" I reassured her, gently brushing the strands of hair out of her face and tucking them behind her ear.
She nods with a soft smile, which was exactly what I wanted to see - her smile. However, we were interrupted by my idiot cousins.
"Bhabhiii!" They both rushed towards me and sat beside her, making some distance to avoid making her feel uncomfortable.
I rolled my eyes at their interruption and muttered under my breath, "Idiots," while looking away.
"Hello," Natasha greeted softly with a smile, catching my attention. She was so polite.
"Bhabhi,aapke mehndi ka colour to bohut dark h. Muje lagta h koi aapse bohut pyaar krta h," Rohit teased, looking at me and then back at her as he grabbed her hand.
"Bhabhi, your mehndi's color is very dark. I guess someone loves you very much,"
Natasha chuckled softly. "Aap logo ko aisa kyu lagta h?," she asked.
"Why do you think so?,"
"Kyuki, meri pyaari bhabhi, aisa bola jata h ki jb kisi ke mehndi ka rang gehra h,iska mtlb unka pati unse bohut pyaar krta h," Ayush replied, smirking at me. I looked away, muttering, "Kamine Sale,"
"Because, my dear bhabhi, it is said that when someone's mehndi's color is dark, that means her husband loves her very much,"
"These bastards."
Natasha laughed softly, capturing my attention again, and I was forced to turn my head towards her once more.
As the hour passed, the engagement ceremony began, and everyone was ready with their mobile phones to record, while cameras were also capturing the moment. The photographers were busy taking pictures as Natasha and I stood up for the ring exchange.
One family member stood by each of us, holding the box containing the rings. My mom stood by my side, holding the ring box, while Natasha's dad stood by her side, holding the box of rings.
The engagement ceremony finally begins, marked by a hushed anticipation in the room. The ambiance is filled with a blend of excitement and nervousness as everyone awaits the exchange of rings, a symbolic gesture marking the union of two souls.
With trembling hands and a racing heart, I extended my hand, offering her the ring and silently hoping she would accept it, sealing our bond in that moment of shared anticipation.
Feeling her soft hand gently interlock with mine felt like completing a perfect puzzle, as if our hands were meant to come together in that exact moment.
As I gently slid the ring onto her ring finger, a wave of applause filled the room. A smile naturally crept onto my lips as I watched the ring settle perfectly on her finger. Looking at her hand adorned with the ring, I couldn't help but smile, and her returning smile warmed my heart even more.
As she extended her hand towards me, I couldn't help but notice how delicate it looked compared to mine, which brought a smile to my face. With a slight nervousness evident in her movements, she gently slid the ring onto my finger, and in that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy wash over me. It was as if all the happiness in the world had converged into that one moment.
The room erupted into cheers and applause as our engagement became official. With a smile shared between us, we turned to face the crowd, feeling the love and support radiating from our family and friends.
As the evening progressed, we all enjoyed a delicious meal, engaging in light conversation and even participating in a couple photoshoot. Despite the festivities, I couldn't shake the feeling that Natasha wasn't entirely herself. However, I chose not to press her for answers, not wanting to add to her nerves.
With the conclusion of our engagement ceremony, we were now officially a couple. Natasha was my fiancรฉe, and I was her fiancรฉ. As we bid farewell to our guests and retreated for the night, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the journey ahead with the woman I loved by my side.
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