It's been a day since her roka and her mother asked her to resign from the job. The bomb was yet to explode.

They were not from her hometown but Chandigarh and she couldn't work anymore because of the distance. She did cry a lot because she couldn't do anything at the moment but still.

She did give notice at her workplace. They asked her to work for 1 month more which was exactly when her engagement was finalized.

She was scared. Scared, to be a part of a family she didn't even know till now existed. Scared of a lot of things, scared of the future she was going to have with him.

Kimaya

My father did participate a little in the venue thing but he doesn't really seem interested in all these stuffs.

I sometimes feel what I would have done in my life to get such a great family and not to forget him. Just forget it. I don't want to talk about it.

I came after the busy day at the office to find my mother in a heavy dress.

"What is this?" I asked her.

"Your in-laws send your engagement dress. Isn't it gorgeous?" She said showing me the heavy dress as I sighed.

"It's beautiful. I need a nap. I am super tired", I told her.

"It's 6", she said pointing at the clock.

"Give me food I am starving. Then I would go to bed", I told her as she nodded pulling my cheeks softly.

And that's how time sped up.

I was sitting in the venue with the makeup artist doing wonders on my face. I didn't expect myself to look this good. The dress did look great and I was done with my work as well.

I was finally going to stay at home and chill.

And finally, the veil was kept on my head, a very traditional family.

I heard the veil is not a thing in the 21st century but here we go.

They specially told Mumma to keep a veil on my head because the elders don't like their daughter-in-law without a veil.

I yawned and the door was knocked softly while she made me wear the bangles.

The door opened and my mother-in-law entered inside with a bright smile on her face.

"You look beautiful, bacha", She said as I smiled.

"Umm, you don't have to wear any other jewelry. We will get you ready", she said asking the woman to stop making me wear the bangles.

"Come", She said holding my hands and took me outside.

There were a lot of unknown ladies there giving me a bright smile as I walked slowly because of the heavy dress,

I don't know what was going on.

They tucked the veil on my head. Then some applied little dots of henna on my already henna-covered hands. Some made me wear the earrings and necklace and all in all, got me ready.

My mother-in-law did my aarti and put a black kohl dot behind my ear as my mother did.

I was then taken to the main hall where the engagement was going to take place with this slow music playing in the background.

Slow steps not because I was forced to do that but because I was nervous and umm... shy. I don't know how to explain my feelings in words.

When I finally reached the stage and was going to climb up the stairs a hand came into my view. I looked up to find him offering his hand to me which was quite overwhelming I would say.

I sighed taking a deep breath before keeping my hand in his and raised my dress a little bit from my other hand so I could climb up without any problem.

Of course, he was a great help in all this stuff and I am thankful he was there. Otherwise handling such a heavy dress is not my piece of cake. And on top of it, it is covering my body so much I feel so burdened wearing it.

The Kundan necklace his mother made me wear was another case to feel burdened as well.

I was made to sit in his left by his relatives.

Shivani was beside me all the time to take care of my requirements.

Soon the ring ceremony was to take place. I looked around to find my parents in a corner arguing about god know what.

"Shivani", I called her as she nodded bowing to my level.

"Call them", I whispered in her ears as she looked at their side before walking to them.

As soon as she reached them and said something they looked at me. I nodded at them asking them to come up.

My father was not really the best-looking man. That's what addiction does to you. He was my father at the end of the day.

Maybe he was not really confident about his looks that's why he started doubting my mother. But that is not really a reason he should do something horrible like that.

They reached up and my father came to me.

I stood up at once.

"Your mother is behaving like her illiterate self. Don't blame me if I leave midway", He said in my ear as I looked at him pleadingly.

"Papa, it's not a random person's engagement. It's your daughter's engagement. Don't behave like this. What will people think? Can't you guys behave like a normal couple once in your life", I whispered in his ears as he glared at me.

"Tell her to not behave the way she is doing", He gritted.

"Don't talk to each other both of you", I whispered to both of them as they glared at each other.

"By the way, the guy seems good"; Papa said looking at him who was talking to his cousins I guess. I nodded looking at my grandmother who kissed my forehead.

"You look beautiful", She said as I smiled.
"I didn't know I could look beautiful till this day", I told her as she smiled.

"Alright let's do the engagement", His mother said as the rings were presented. It took us so long to choose a ring for him.

And finally, it was done. It was something I loved at first glance.

I put my hands in his when he asked for it. His hands were so warm while mine was cold. He looked into my eyes before putting the ring in my ring finger.

I remember I never used to wear a ring on my left hand's ring finger because that place was for my engagement ring. My husband's first gift to me or more like his first mark on me, you can't just blame me for that. I have seen men treating their wives as their maids and believe me it's awful.

My house is one example of such a situation.

I was too lost in my thoughts when I felt my sister holding my shoulder and I realized I need to put the ring as well. I nodded before looking at him and then took his left hand in mine. I finally put the ring where it was meant to be kept.

And all I heard was clapping and hooting from the background.

Relatives were coming and going. I mean his side of course. There were so many people for god sake.

I sighed looking at Shivani who frowned raising her eyebrows at me.

I couldn't find my parents anywhere and this is the time when it suddenly hits me that in a matter of few months I need to be familiar with such circumstances.

There would be times when I won't see them for months.

A sudden shiver ran down my spine as Shivani reached me.

"You okay?" She asked as I looked at her.

"I need to use the washroom", I told her in a hushed way as she nodded before helping me stand up.

The majority of pictures were taken as she helped me got down the stage while I managed my long dress, my head bowed down as I walked to the washroom. I found some of my friends who smiled at me reaching to hug me.

"We thought somebody said she would marry in her early 30s", My classmate cum brother Angad said as I smiled at him.
"Excuse me guys", I told them when it got harder for me to control.

"You want me to come inside", Shivani asked as I shook my head. The whole washroom was empty. I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

I didn't look like myself at the moment. I didn't look like the daughter of Kunal and Ashwini Maan. I was looking like the daughter-in-law of the Ahlawat family, to be the wife of Randhir Ahlawat.

This heavy jewelry, this is not me. This might be the dream of many but it is certainly not something I asked for.

It seemed like the time was moving very quickly as tears streamed down my eyes. It was not supposed to be like this.

I thought as I held the cabinet to stop the sob ready to come out of my throat.

I heard the door opening which took me by surprise. I bowed my head to cover my face and wipe my tears.

I looked up only to gasp with surprise. He looked at me for a second then at my hands which were holding the cabinet for support. I turned to face him.

"What do you think you are doing?" He asked in his usual rough voice.

Why is he always so rude to me?

"You shouldn't be in the ladies' washroom", I told him turning my back to him but again my face was visible from the mirror.

"Well, you will not tell me where I need to be. You just getting up and coming here cry your eyes out. What do you want me to think about it?" He asked as I turned to face him.

"What do you think I am?" I asked him wiping my face.

"Excuse me", He asked.

"Well Excuse me Mr. Ahlawat. I am not some roadside girl you are going to command upon. What do you think you are? Can you ever understand my pain? You yourself do have a sister in what you call a joint family. Ask her how she would feel while leaving her parents behind and marrying somebody who just wants her to be a maid for his family", I told him pointing at his chest. He raised his eyebrows at me.

"Now you are crossing your limits. Nobody talks to me that way", he said narrowing his eyes at me.

"That's the reason why you became like this", I told him turning my back to him again, and my head bowed down trying to control my emotions.

"Became like what? Would you like to elaborate", He said more like warned.

"Arrogant, self-centered, mannerless, and rude human being", I seethed at him.

"And what makes you think like that", He asked as I looked up at him wiping my tears.

"That's how every man is", I told him as he raised his eyebrows.

"I don't know which man you are talking about but your colorful words made me think again about this relationship", He said as I closed my eyes.

"Do whatever you want to do? If you can't understand my tears and shout at me even when you know I am sad, I cannot expect better from you", I told him as he sighed before pulling me in front of me so that I can face him.

He pulled out his handkerchief and gently wiped my face.

"We will talk about it tomorrow. I am in Delhi only. This situation and place are not right for fighting", He told me as I sighed.

"I am not fighting. I just..." He put his finger on my lips stopping me from saying more.

"Let's go", He said holding my hands and pulling me out.

And that's how the function ended with our cousins and friends dancing around us enjoying them.

He just nodded at me as he took his leave and then our family's celebration started.

My both side cousins were dancing like crazy as my mother fed me properly. They were dancing like it was the last time they would dance.

I smiled at them as they pulled me to dance with them.

I enjoyed myself at last with everybody. I really enjoyed my day this way.