Saanjh was looking at her Mehndi and her chooda (Bangles Punjabi girls wear on ocassion of their wedding and wear it upto a certain period of time) wondering what's happening...

She was looking out of the window which was all decorated with white orchids...she could see the beach was throwing it's water to the shores...(Goa beaches are beautiful she thought)...

Saanjh was having a destination wedding at her ex father in law's beach facing villa in Goa as daadi had wished this to be done and had also written the beach house on Saanjh's name as her wedding gift from her loving daadi'

Suddenly she felt a hug from behind and it was Ria... Saanjh's childhood friend ... Saanjh quickly hugged Ria

' That Mehndi chooda looks stunning' Ria winked at Saanjh...
Saanjh just broke the hug and went standing by the window staring blankly at the waves hitting the shores...

Ria kept a hand on Saanjh's shoulder turning her around and said
' I thought you'll be happy'

Saanjh blankly said - 'I didn't even see him.'

Ria was shocked.. Ria was like ...'come let's meet him ...his family has reached and they are having refreshments in backyard...'

Saanjh blankly sat down saying ' What's the use Ria ...this is just a compromise..a pleasing wedding to make daadi leave peacefully...'

She just dragged Ria quickly to the other room which had a nurse sitting by the side and daadi lying on the bed.... Ria was perplexed and looked at Saanjh...
Saanjh just closed the door and took Ria back to her room

She breathed heavily and said ' I know she's dying...but she should go peacefully ' and she brokedown like a baby...

Ria hugged her tightly...made her sit on a nearby iron chair...she saw a bottle of water kept nearby...she poured it into a glass kept next to it and handed it to Saanjh and asked her to calm down...

Saanjh leaned back on the chair and said ' life is such a gamble' and gave a laugh...

Ria said...' Relax... The guy's family looks pretty decent...there was no typical jumping dancing around...just a bunch of people who arrived in a car...no ghoda (horse) baraat (wedding cart)
They respect your opinion Saanjh...

Saanjh didn't utter a word...
Ria quickly tried to make Saanjh's mood lighter by saying

' Hey you know what the guy looked quite hotttt...he's 6'2 something...sexy bod...u gal..' she teased Saanjh...

Saanjh burst into laughter saying ' you are a sample...by the way you saw him?'

To which Ria said 'nope...just saw his back ...your dad made him wear huuuuuuge sehra'

she laughed (sehra is a floral headgear that covers a groom's face as it's believed inauspicious for groom and bride to look at each other till wedding rituals get over)

Ria just held Saanjh's hands and said 'Come on now get ready..I wanna show my jiju (brother in law) that my Saanjh is no less a bomb...

just that this 5.5 will need a tiny little ladder to reach your shoulders' she winked and they both burst into laughter...

Authors POV-
Even during the toughest situation in life if you have a true friend by your side to share your sorrows and happiness.. life's biggest hurdles can be overcome

At the mandap (Alter):

The panditji (priest) said jay mala ka waqt hogaya he kanya ko bulao ( it's time to exchange garlands get the bride)

Saanjh was all decked up in a maroon skirt and blouse with a golden embroidered with maroon mixed dupatta covering her chest and waist and a seperate odhni on head( dupatta on head) with heavy jardosi work...

Her skirt itself weighed around 8 kgs all thanks to Janvi's designer who decked her up like a doll...( A pretty expensive heavy doll who can't even move without help)

She slowly took steps to the stage with all the heavy jewellery and clothes but while stepping onto the mandap she stepped on her own skirt and lost balance.

But quickly she could feel a strong hand on her waist that helped her stand stable which protected her from falling down.

She held his biceps for her balance and was soon on her feet back...'Strong arms those are...' she thought to herself...

She tried to understand what had happened and she could see a man gigantic tall atleast 6.2 with the sehra covered who helped her...

She felt a shiver in her body...as his hand was on her waist touching her soft skin and his other hand in her hands.

She quickly stood straight and he asked

'U ok?'

She just nodded her head with a yes to reply his query ...but she didn't concentrate much post that as she was still in her own thoughts...

Those hands were no more on her waist but she still felt them... She felt silly thinking she's behaving like a teenager.

A male touch after 4 years she thought...but she quickly stopped her thoughts cursing herself 'Whats wrong with you woman..you don't even know him...this man is a complete stranger!!!'

Wedding rituals began, garlands were exchanged and soon the pheras (7 vows at the Hindu wedding) , sindoor (filling vermilion with red colored holy powder by groom symbolising marriage).

Saanjh was during everything like a robot...She wasn't realising what was happening to her...she was blank..she didn't know what would her future be like...whom is she getting married too...

She even cursed her ego when Jahnvi and Deepali came to show her the guy's photograph she said...she doesn't care...

'Oh God...I so wish I had seen it at once ' she thought to herself. Her hands were kept in his hands during the kanyadan ritual (father giving away his daughter to the groom).

Her sweaty palms felt a rough touch she was familiar to then she didn't think much over it as she was already having various things running on her mind with respect to this marriage and worrying about her life.

It's only when the panditji asked groom to tie mangalsutra ( nuptial chain) onto her neck he came closer to her and his hands touched her neck and shoulders and his hot breath brushed by her ears....

She felt a strong touch when his fingers touched her neck while he was adjusting the mangalsutra hook onto her neck that left shivers in her body...

She almost didn't breathe till he was done.

Everyone congratulated each other and they took blessings of everyone.
Finally Saanjh with her 'husband' went to Daadi's room seeking her blessings...

Daadi held both of their hands in her shivering hands and smiled while happy tears flowed from her eyes'
Saanjh felt she was happy...and that satisfaction in her eyes made Saanjh feel all this is worth seeing this lady's smile.

This lady who fought with her grandson to get me a divorce and get out of that meaningless relationship.

Who announced to the world that only iam important to her and she doesn't want to see her grandson.

She was the one who pushed Saanjh everyday to get back to work face the world...she fed her like a mother when her own mother who gave birth to her( Deepali)was crying at her daughter's fate. Saanjh the strong women today was alive, brave and strong all due to Daadi.

But...

How badly she wished that they knew she wasn't in her cancer last stage and could save her from the fast approaching demon called death...

Saanjh touched Daadi's feet with love. He just followed Saanjh's actions. Minutes later they came down she hugged her parents and ex inlaws.

Everyone bid her a goodbye with teary eyes and stepped towards the imported SUV which was unlike any married couple's car wasn't decorated at all.

It was jet black shiny, she somehow was happy thinking lesser the drama peaceful the journey!!!.

This man also seems to be pretty less on the dramatic side...'Good lesser drama lesser emotions to handle' she thought to herself.

She looked around for him but Shraddha sitting in the front seat asked her to hop in saying

' Sit Saanjh...he got a call from Australian counterpart, he's on it...he'll join us soon!!!'

'Hes working on his wedding day too???' Widening her big beautiful black eyes she thought to herself...

'Anyways good for me' she thought as she was very tired with all the early morning getting up rituals and it was pretty much late in night and she was very sleepy.

She thought on catching up some sleep in the car itself.

She carefully stepped inside it and waved a bye to her family.

The other side of the car door opened and he was about to sit next to her when an elderly voice asked him to hide in face till they reach the Malhotra's guest house in Goa and they do a Graha Pravesh (house warming).

This seemed to be a ritual Malhotra's followed in their family since generations. He just nodded his head. Saanjh found it a bit strange that she's married this man and hasn't got an opportunity yet to look at his face.

The Next moment she thought ' Oh comeon...im sure he's not that handsome that ll loose my head.. I know why this marriage took place... '

She rested her neck onto the car seat extended support to relax her shoulder that was begging for rest when she suddenly felt a weight next to her seat and she knew he's next to her.

She didn't want to start the conversation as she was very tired and slowly drifted to sleep which was broken with a sudden break and she quickly opened her eyes while Shraddha called her out staying ' Get up Saanjh we are home'.

She got down from the car to see a lavish mansion with a private pool and beautiful garden. The house was all decked up with pink roses and carnations. She slowly took her steps carefully towards the villa.