"Hurry up, Colette, we don't want to be behind schedule!" Renuka, already dressed smartly,  cautioned the makeup artist and stylist who was attending to Sanyukta as she dressed for the reception. Colette was applying a final coat of pearly varnish on her fingernails when Sanyukta glanced at herself in the mirror and was amazed to see the transformation the stylist had achieved. Her dark circles had vanished behind the carefully applied patina of the concealer. The foundation spread generously over her upper body simulated a radiant glow. 

Her eye makeup was dramatic, making her eyebrows and lashes look hypnotically black. The matte berry lip colour helped accentuate her otherwise unwilling smile. She wore no jewellery except for a ring and a Bismark bracelet. The teal green gown hugged her shapely body perfectly and her hair fell in soft curls down her back. A simple floral headband added a prom girl touch. It was ironic that though she was adorning herself, she had no desire to play the part of the newly married Shekhawat bahu. In fact both Vishad and Sanyukta had requested Harsh to keep things simple to reflect their hitherto undisclosed marriage.

Sanyukta spritzed herself with a docile floral perfume and slipped into carefully chosen evening shoes. Her background as a physical therapist had helped her nail a perfect pair that looked formal enough yet did not compromise on comfort. She knew she had a long evening ahead, and that she would have to dance with Vishad and the other men from his family- it was de rigueur among the circle the Shekhawats moved in. Not that she looked forward to matching her step with Vishad, but she was certainly nervous at the prospect of having to dance with Randhir. She took a deep breath as she stepped outside the room, bracing herself for the challenge of enacting the happy bride.

The sight of the brilliantly decorated and illuminated lawn filled with guests made her feel queasy, like she was participating in a deception. She could see drinks and snacks being passed around among guests seated around the venue. A few children sprinted between the ornately laid out circular tables. As they spotted her, people either waved out or smiled at Sanyukta. She managed to keep a smile on her lips, Renuka had  insisted on it. Anju, dressed in a satin beige saree, stepped forward and hugged her daughter.

"You look lovely, my dear! I wanted to see you in a bridal saree but guess you will be more comfortable in this rather than being weighed down with gold and brocade!" Anju smiled warmly and used her phone to take a few pictures  with her daughter.

"How are you feeling now, Ma?" Sanyukta peered at Anju to look for any obvious sign of malaise. If there were any Anju kept them cleverly hidden behind a veneer of her happy smile. To Sanyukta's pleasant surprise her mother had gotten her hair done and had touched up her lips with apricot gloss. Her eyes were lined thinly with brown eye pencil. Around her neck was a double string of pearls and pea-sized ruby beads held together with gold wire and the pearl drop earrings on her earlobes enhanced her appeal. On her wrists were a pair of ruby eternity bangles. Every piece of jewellery she was wearing was hand crafted and antique. Sanyukta recognised it, Anju had inherited it from her own grandmother.

"Ma, can I say something? You've never looked so beautiful before! All you need is a some ratan aboli in your hair to look like a bride yourself! I am totally envious! Tell me, you dressed up for him, didn't you?" Sanyukta grinned, giving her mother an affectionate squeeze.

"Hush, child! Don't be silly, why would I dress up for him? And widows don't wear flowers in their hair. Just that I never bothered to dress up at my own wedding, so I thought I'll compensate by making up at my daughter's." Anju replied quickly, embarrassed by her daughter's suggestion. Sanyukta was not entirely wrong. Anju had been careful about improving her appearance, though not to draw Harsh's attention but in order to fit better among the class of guests she knew she would be amongst at the reception. She did not want to appear outclassed and give Renuka an opportunity to disapprove of her get-up.

Anju noticed the Shekhawats approaching them. Harsh, Vishad and Parth looked handsome in their black tuxedos. Vidushi, dressed in a cherry red and gold gown, had a matching circlet of roses in her hair. Renuka wore a russet gold tissue ensemble and looked clearly in charge of the event. She stepped forward confidently and greeted Anju who dared not move her eyes away from Renuka's face as she felt Harsh's eyes admiring her, unnoticed by his wife. 

"Must say you look different today Anju!" Renuka remarked unwittingly. If their history had been different she would have paid Anju a real compliment but even she had to acknowledge silently that Anju looked stunning. Renuka herself sported heirloom diamonds but she was always well-dressed unlike Anju who, because of her understated look, stood out between the two of them. 

"Shall we?" Harsh said, leading all of them toward the waiting guests. Sanyukta was relieved that Randhir was not there yet though she knew that she had to encounter him in the course of the evening. Sanyukta and Vishad were cheered through and led around the venue amid a shower of confetti before being directed to the cake table. Sanyukta's eyes fell on a tuxedo clad Randhir standing there. Her breath hitched as she noticed his hand around the slender waist of Nicole, who looked a perfect companion to him in a well-cut blue gown. Randhir's face was a mask but the cheerful smile on Nicole's Campari red tinted lips betrayed their recently established equation. The senior Shekhawat scion was openly flaunting his future significant other in public, and the hint was enough for everyone to put two and two together.

Sanyukta tried hard to breathe normally as she joined Vishad in the cutting of their wedding cake. Parth popped open a bottle of champagne and after the cake and wine ritual Vishad led Sanyukta to the dance floor. She gave him her right hand mechanically and let her left hand rest on his shoulder. They danced to "Unchained Melody" rendered by the Righteous Brothers. The song was a first dance cliché but the DJ played it because the couple had not chosen any favourite number of their own. 

Just when it was becoming unbearable for Sanyukta to pretend to be the happy bride Harsh cut in and took her arm while Vishad led Anju on the dance floor, as etiquette demanded. The song playing was a Konkani mando called "Tambde Roza".

Harsh held  Sanyukta close with the affection of a father who was giving his daughter away. Sanyukta was touched by his paternal warmth and her feet began moving more enthusiastically. 

"This cheerful smile is the only cosmetic you are going to need, my dear! Hold on to it forever!" He said as he led her to a waiting Randhir, and stepped over to dance with Anju, taking over from Vishad who took his aunt Renuka's arm. 

Sanyukta fought with her emotions as Randhir looked into her eyes probing for the answer he was still searching. Randhir was a natural dancer and she simply let him lead her without a thought.

Your complexion is of red roses,

And even more beautiful are your eyes.

To see your eyes,

Brahmin boys arrive

Their hair parted in dashing style

They cast side glances furtively at you

Those lovely embraces of yours,

Come up before my eyes.

"You finally got what you really wanted! Hope that suffices!" He finally spoke.

"I am happy for you for likewise! Nicole and you look perfect together!" Sanyukta responded. It was, after all, the reason behind her charade.  

"She is my mother's choice and as you know my mother won't settle for anyone but the best!" He was stating the obvious. Telling the hidden truth would be more inconvenient.

"Are you happy with your mother's choice?" The question just slipped out. She never meant to ask him that. She did not know if she handle the response.

"Since when did my happiness become your business?" His eyes glowered. Fortunately Parth cut in and took Sanyukta's arm while Randhir switched over to dance with Vidushi.

How beautiful is your face.

It is really like a star of heaven!

How can I then let go,

This jewel from my bosom?

Taking you into my arms,

I give thanks.

"This could be our song, Anju!" Harsh whispered and Anju snapped out of her reverie. She had been carried away for the brief moments that she was dancing in his arms where she fitted perfectly. Premonition told her that these moments would never replay again.

"Fool's paradise, nothing else! You should dance with your wife now!" Anju replied and escaped before he could see her misty eyes, thus making way for Renuka.

"You look like a star-struck teenager. I hope you had your fill dancing with her!" Renuka taunted her husband as she attempted to dance as closely to him as possible, trying to reclaim her stake for the benefit of Anju's eyes.

"Don't forget it was your idea to host a western style reception. I was only following tradition, as you demanded. And you cannot deny that it is in Anju's genes to draw the attention of influential rich men, as you have yourself stated umpteem number of times!" Harsh's barb was enough to provoke Renuka.

"So it is as I suspected. Maybe she is already playing a willing mistress to you without my knowledge. That is surely in her genes too, which explains why her daughter trapped your nephew to continue in her mother's footsteps." Renuka bristled.

"Ever the insecure jealous wife, are you not? You know very well that Vishad married Sanyukta of his own free will. Begin to accept that she is your bahu now.  And my dear, if you step aside willingly I shall not hesitate to ask Anju to marry me. But I respect her more than you can imagine to carry on a shameless affair with her!" A couple of drinks inside him had armed Harsh to fire that salvo. Not that he cared about Renuka's reaction, he was not going to let her continue berating Anju and Sanyukta for no fault of theirs. Renuka was white with rage but she knew better than to make a scene. She continued dancing with her husband.

Soon other couples joined in. The photographers and videographer made sure they covered Sanyukta and Vishad, Renuka and Harsh, Vidushi and Parth and Nicole and Randhir dancing closely with their respective partners. 

Among the familiar faces Sanyukta spotted Nafisa with her husband and Arvind and Suniti Kasbekar, who had driven down from Karwar. Curiosity was writ large on the couple's faces and Sanyukta excused herself from the dance floor to avoid encountering them. She was saved in the nick of time as Harsh took over the mike to raise a toast to the newly-weds. As the host of the occasion he welcomed everyone formally and expressed the hope that they were having a great time.

"Vishad is a son to us rather than a nephew. We wish him the very best for his career growth and commend him on his decision to settle down as a family man with Sanyukta, the girl of his choice. Renuka and I warmly welcome Sanyukta into our family and hope that she, just like Vidushi, soon slips into the role of our daughter instead of a daughter-in-law. May I now call upon my son Randhir to say a few word in honour of the newly-weds!" Harsh closed his short speech and handed over the mike to his elder son.

There was a pause of a few seconds before Randhir held the mike close to his lips. Sanyukta's heart was aflutter as she could sense confidence emanating from his presence, though his expression belied no emotion.

"Thank you, Dad! Good Evening, all! I join my father in welcoming everyone. Those who have seen us boys grow up together are aware of the intense rivalry Vishad & I shared as children. Being close age wise we competed over everything- over school grades, sports, toys and bikes, and later as teens, even over the girls we dated. It may sound ironic but I am actually grateful to Vishad today for giving me a perspective of competition in the real world, spurring me on to achieve the best. Had he not decided to get himself hitched  I would not have been encouraged to ask out Nicole, the exquisite girl you see by my side today. I am happy for Sanyukta and Vishad and hope all of us get what we really need in our lives!" Randhir handed the mike over to Parth.

Sanyukta, who was glancing skyward to avoid looking at Randhir, sighted a star falling out of the sky just as Randhir spoke his last line, and impulsively expressed a wish while keeping her fingers crossed.

The very next moment she smiled to herself sadly. There is no such thing as a wish-granting falling star, she told herself, those are just bits of astral rock and dust burning up as they streak through the earth's atmosphere. As much as she tried to avoid looking at them, for the better part of the evening she could see Randhir dance cheek to cheek with Nicole who looked like she was fully under his spell. Each moment passed like an eon and Sanyukta wished it had been a dream she was sleeping through instead of reality.