18. MARRIAGE

I missed my best buddy, Ankit. He was out of town to attend a marriage ceremony of his male cousin. I enjoyed my day with Nisha. We had our lunch together. It was so pleasing to have our lunch together in a marriage hall. Her presence made my family complete. I sat opposite to my mom. On one side of my mom, it was my sister and, on another side, it was Nisha. Their trio perfectly symbolized a mother, daughter, and a daughter-in-law. She perfectly matched the skin color of my mom. I blushed thinking about their trio combination. My mom noticed and got it in a second and she said sarcastically.

 “There’s still time.”

I was astonished at how she read my mind. After completing our lunch. My mother locked Nisha along with my sister and two beauticians. She was special for my family and so my mom kept Nisha with her and rest of our family members in other rooms. My heart filled with happiness and a surprise smile spread on my face with joy when my mom locked her. My mom pleased me when she gave such a foremost priority to her. The future of our family was in Nisha’s hand. I missed her, but unable to enter a room full of ladies. Being male is so difficult. We can’t even enter in our mom’s room. So, I managed all other required stuff and waited for her to come out. I left the hall and got engaged with arrangements.

 It was around seven in evening, when I entered the hall after completing all stuff and arrangements. My jaw dropped and eyes enlarged when I saw Nisha sat beside my sister. She was in a blue Lehenga (A gown type bridal dress), beautifully crafted and frosted with stones which took my breath away. Her hair was usually a mess, but that day, her black hair shined under the light with a gentle touch of white flowers encircling her bun, which she had made with her long hair. She had pulled and tied half of her hair back into a bun, just to free her face, but locks fall into her eyes, which she kept tucking them behind her ears. She winged her clear eyes with wide and sharp lines of eye-liners, which reflected my future. I escaped a few breaths when I gazed at her alluring eyes. Her glossy lips formed a thirst within me to bite her once and taste the most intoxicating part. A shining gold nose-ring, big as a bangle, passed her pointed nose and passed piercing my heart too. Her round and rosy cheeks glimmered and brightened my world. A round necklace covered her neck. She relaxed her leg on a high heel. Her nails painted with blue lacquer, blue as the sky. For a time being, it confused me, whether it was my sister or Nisha, who sat as a bride. I didn’t know, my girl was so beautiful until she rocked my world with a glamourous beauty she possessed, which was oblivious to me for seven long years. Her heart-melting look formed a desire to marry her on spot. She gave a glimpse of how beautiful she will be on her wedding. My mind honored her with a crown of elegance. My Dilpari symbolized the princess of my kingdom. I wanted time to stop and allow me to sit in front of her by fixing my eyes on her, gazing at her until my heart drowns in an ocean of her beauty.

But my sister topped the list. She looked magnificent. She was as beautiful as heaven.

I couldn’t gaze at Nisha for a long time because I went out for some urgent stuff. When I came back, I saw her in a new dress. My healing smile lost way to my face. I asked her with a low spirit about her change. She clarified, doctor had advised not to be in heavy dress for a long time. My eyes squeezed and lips joined to show a forceful smile with grief hidden within it. My heart was not filled with her sight completely. So, I still gaze at her in the album which I have in my wardrobe. I had many incomplete desires which would only get fulfilled if I see her in that look once more. I missed her pretty look, but thank god we had a cameraman to capture those moments. Thanks to mom because she had appointed one to capture everything. 

 The marriage happened with joy, and we performed every ritual very well. Kartik came at night. All three of us enjoyed a lot. Our bond of love among us became strong again. We had our dinner late at night and enjoyed the famous dish ‘Biriyani’. Kartik licked his finger as he never had got a chance to eat biriyani at a party. I thanked god, he didn’t eat his fingers too. I fed with my bare hands to Nisha and she too fed me with love. Together we made a beautiful memory.

For a few days, I cried, missing my sister. Whenever I missed her, I called Nisha, and she used to comfort me with compassion. Her sympathy was the need of hour. By confronting me with pleasure, we again came closer to each other. Once again, we enjoyed living a happy life. Not as before but at least it was worthwhile for me. From that onwards, I devoted my entire life to her. I sacrificed everything, which snatched her smile away. Maintaining the most beautiful smile of my Dilpari on her face became my purpose of life.

 I framed my mind as she will be my only achievement in my damn world, which I wanted to take pride in. She became the most important person in my life once again and the most prestigious thing to survive. She became the salt of my life, without her my life would be tasteless.

I changed myself, my mind, my thoughts, everything. “I won’t bring tears anymore” I committed to myself. A new me incarnated after I apologized, whose key of life was in his lover’s hand.

We visited malls and restaurants for lunch. Every single place which we craved during our school life, we visited and made lots of wonderful memories. I tried as much as possible to heal her wounds. I wrote her name on every single breath I took. Everything was for her and her happiness. I had dedicated her my entire life.

Whenever things came on track, it didn’t last for a long time. My life followed an unknown principle blindly. It got proved when Ankit called and told me something which stung my mind. It was unexpected to me. After dealing with lots of difficulties, we had set all well and then a new hurdle. Life was not allowing me to live in peace.