♡Roshni's POV♡

Today is the day.

Today is the day when I and Gaurav will get married.

These two months have passed too quickly for my liking. Each day was hectic with wedding preparations and we hardly got time for meeting or chat. But even if we talked, it was mostly regarding the wedding functions and nothing much. Plus, he has work commitments. His business needed him nearly 12-13 hours a day and he even worked on Sunday, so we hardly met a handful times during this period.

I wasn't disappointed with the lack of communication. I was just upset with myself for expecting from him. I knew, this is just an arrangement and nothing more. I cannot expect normal couple things from him, we are just friends.

And he can't always roam around me. He has work, his family and friends. I am just a roommate.

I am so stupid. Just because he took me out for an entire day for food tasting and knowing my preferences. It doesn't mean that he will spend all the days similarly. He isn't my lover.

But friends are supposed to talk daily. Hangout a few times in a week. Right?

Stop Roshni, you are again expecting time and attention. Wasn't one lesson enough for you? When boyfriend never cared then why will a casual friend care?

I lower my gaze to see the engagement ring around my ring finger. It is a peacock feather ring with a 'G' engraved into the feather.

Two days back, in the morning we had mehandi (henna) function then we exchanged ring in the late evening.

He fulfilled his promise to ask my parents to allow me to wear a princess gown as he wanted to wear a tuxedo. The menu in every function had 60% of my selected dishes.

He was fulfilling his each promise, but why do I still feel the emptiness?

No, I am just overthinking. Who does so much in today's time? He is doing and I am being a greedy person by expecting more.

I am such a selfish and greedy person.

I look at myself in the mirror, all dolled up in a red lehenga, gold jewelery and make-up. Ready to get married.

I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and stop overthinking. My mind is running with 1700 thoughts per minute. And I will turn insane if I continued anymore.

Thank God, the door of the green room opens and my friends Candy and Jerry enter. I smile at them through the mirror, but they don't acknowledge and walk towards the right side of the room to grab a large towel.

Then Jay and Durga enter the room, smiling at me. Durga praises my look to which I smile and thank her.

Candy comes to stand beside me, while Jay goes to help Jerry for holding the ends of the towel. I remain confused with their act and before I can react, the view of the door is blocked with the towel.

Durga clears my silent confusion, "Gaurav wants to talk with you. But the bride and groom can't see each other till the sacred time of the marriage. So, a towel wall will prevent you from seeing him and vice versa."

"But what does he want to talk about? And now? Just half an hour prior to our marriage."

Before Durga can answer, I hear his voice, "It's important, Roshni. Otherwise I wouldn't have come now."

"What is it?"

Durga nods at the other side of the towel to him as she is standing at the middle, eyeing us together. She gives me a set of papers and I frown in confusion.

He informs, "This is the application form for the marriage certificate with an agreement of mutual understanding. We are getting married on papers before we do it in the traditional way."

My eyes widen in surprise and he explains, "Our relation is an arrangement, so how can you trust me for following the vows of the traditional marriage?"

My heart skips a beat at his words, but he adds before I can react, "I know, you are somewhere insure and no amount of assurance in words or actions will kill it. So, I am giving you the assurance in the legal way. If anything happens or you are hurt through me then these papers will help you to stay secured and demand your rights."

I lower my gaze to avoid Durga's eyes, but she assures, "None of us are judging you, Roshni. We completely understand your fears and insecurities. If I had been at your place, I would feel the same."

"Jay and Durga are my witnesses, while Surithi and Jinal are yours. I have already signed the papers, you can read and sign them."

I glance at the papers, briefly reading it as my brain processes his words. He knows, I am insecure and he is giving me the assurance to kill them.

But isn't it wrong for always giving me the benefits and not worrying for himself. Even he was betrayed, someone broke his heart and trust. It's equally difficult for him to include me in his life and not fear for me hurting him. I mean, how much does he know me? How can he trust me without knowing much about me?

I am not so selfish to just think of my benefits and not give him anything in return. If I deserve the assurance, so does he.

I glance at Candy, who is intently staring at me as if reading my thoughts. She gives me a nod of approval with a smile. I turn to face Jerry and she rolls her eyes, but nods in approval as well. And I am sure if Navu would have been here then even she would have approved for the same.

"Can I add a point?"

He answers, "Yes, there is an empty space, you can write whatever you wish."

Durga gives me a pen and I turn to walk back to the dressing table to write the point with my signatures. Then I return to my original spot and give the papers back to Durga to read.

"If the wife is found guilty for hurting her husband or performing any activities, which can harm the marriage or cause problems between him and his family then he has every right to punish her and she has to accept without any objection."

Durga faces at the other side and Gaurav instructs, "Close your eyes, Roshni and everyone please leave us alone for a moment."

None of them object and follow the instructions, even Jerry didn't say a word. I close my eyes before the towel wall is removed and hear the door being closed. Then I feel his hand over my shoulder, turning me to face him, but I know his eyes are closed as well.

"You don't have to worry about me, Roshni."

"Even you didn't have to worry about me, I am not a kid and can take care of myself. But I am not stopping you, so even you shouldn't stop me."

He chuckles at words and asks, "Are you nervous for the marriage?"

"A little."

"Honestly even I am, but not for the marriage. I am nervous about those commitments, which I made to you. I want to fulfill them and not disappoint or make you regret your decision. I don't want to hurt you."

I move my hand to find his other and hold in a firm grip before assuring him, "You won't hurt me. In this relationship, we are friends and friends don't react without understanding the situation. The efforts will be equal and we will handle whatever happens in the future. I am not a liability, I am capable enough to be an asset in your life."

"Well, as Your Majesty commands."

I chuckle at his words and a knock on the door interrupts our moment, followed by Jay's voice, "Sourav is looking for you, Gaurav. It's time for starting the rituals."

"I am coming."

Then he whispers to me, "I will see you soon, Your Majesty."

I squeeze his hand in response, which I was holding and we slowly part away, while I turn around. He calls them back inside and leaves with Jay and Durga, while I wait with my friends.

#

I lift my eyes as the priest chants some mantra and he takes the Mangalsutra from Mahek before meeting my gaze. He smiles at me, making me smile as well and locks the ends of it after wrapping around my neck. Next he fills the partition of my hair with kumkum (vermilion powder) after Navu shifts the Mangteeka to the side.

We continue to stare at each other as the priest announces us as Husband and Wife.

He whispers, "Welcome to my life officially."

I smile and then Candy helps me to stand as we take blessings of everyone present in the venue, while holding hands.

We are husband and wife now.

#

I sit on Gaurav's bed after completing every damn ritual and wanting to sleep till eternity.

We are done with every ritual for the day. The reception was pretty much simple, we were introduced to each other's family and everyone wished us for the marriage with blessing for a happy life ahead.

Then bidaai (farewell) was something, I don't even want to recall. My father didn't say a word and just patted my head before going to stand near Sujay. My mother, instead of asking him to take care of me, she asked me to take care of him and his family. Lastly my sister said a bye with a casual hug.

How emotional farewell of the bride, isn't it?

I sigh in defeat at my family's behavior and shake my head to push away the memory. I have learned to live alone then why should I hurt myself with their behavior now.

I stand to move towards my luggage, placed in the corner of the room and grab the bag to remove my nightwear. From last 6 days, I am wearing heavy clothes, applying heavy make-up and wearing heavy jewelery. I am sick and tired of them.

I place the bag on the bed, which is thankfully empty because Jay and Durga were in-charge of decorating the room. But they knew, we are just going to sleep, so Jay got beer bottles from that money, which he and Gaurav are drinking now to relax after a hectic day.

I walk towards the dressing table and begin to remove my jewelery, but my earring's chain is attached to my hair with pins. Usually I had Candy or Navu to help at my place, but now how do I remove them?

I jump at the knock on the door before hearing Durga's voice, "Roshni, do you need help with undressing?"

She is an angel on the God's green, but slowly polluting planet earth for offering this type of help.

I unlock the door and allow to enter before giving her a hug, "Thank you, I was almost doing to pull my hairs with the earrings chain."

She giggles as I pull away and lock the door back. She helps me with removing the jewelery, hair accessories, make-up and dupatta, which is pinned to my lehenga. She leaves the room, while informing to make green tea and I quickly change into my tracksuit before leaving the room.

I sit on the dining chair across him and Jay as they are drinking beer. Durga brings green tea for us and takes a seat beside me when he passes me my phone.

"It was constantly ringing with notifications."

I take my phone and see many messages of relatives to wish for a happy married life with my three musketeers asking if I reached home safely. I reply to them first and notice Jerry has sent a voice message.

There is a large bottle of spicy pepper spray in your each bag, so use it mercilessly if your namesake husband turns pervert and tries to touch you....

I choke on my green tea at her words and almost drop my phone before pressing the back key numerous times to stop the recording.

Jerry is mad.

I didn't dare to lift my gaze and apologize, "Sorry about her."

But to my surprise the trio start laughing and my phone is taken away by him to play the recording again till the end.

There is a large bottle of spicy pepper spray in your each bag, so use it mercilessly if your namesake husband turns pervert and tries to touch you. There is a knife in your vanity case, cricket bat in the daily clothes bag and ropes in the occasional clothes bag. Don't worry if you hurt him more than intended, I have enough money to appoint a good criminal lawyer.

My eyes widen in shock as they continue to laugh and I wonder, when did she keep these things in my bags?

Jay comments, "So, the perverted husband don't you dare to touch your wife. She is fully guarded."

I don't lift my gaze and Durga wraps her arm around my shoulder before assuring, "Awwww it's alright, Roshni. Don't be embarrassed. She loves you and we knew that since the Roka night."

I face Gaurav, who is grinning and gives me a reassuring nod before taking a sip from his beer bottle. I relax and take my phone back to scold Jerry through message, while drinking my green tea.

"They are staying here for the night. So, you and Durga can share the guest room, while I and Jay will sleep in my room."

I face him to reply, but Durga interrupts, "With due respect to your space guys, but tomorrow morning Roshni will make her first sweet in your kitchen. And that sweet will be taken to the temple. So, your mother will come early for the preparations and she has keys. If she entered before anyone of us woke up then...."

She trailed off, staring at me and I state after facing him, "We can share the room, it's fine."

He nods and stands to walk towards his room, while I complete my tea. I wish the couple good night and make my way inside.

I shut the room door and find a comforter on the floor with a pillow. I turn around and find him keeping his phone to charge. He smiles at me, while passing to sleep on the comforter, but I stop him.

"We can share the bed, you don't need to sleep on the floor. I don't mind."

"Of course you don't mind. I know, you are secretly eyeing my gorgeous body, sexy abs and want to take advantage of the sensitive situation."

I raise my eyebrows at his dramatic comment and he covers his chest with his hands, feigning a worried look. And I decide to play along.

I take a step ahead, making him take a step back in fake fear and we continue till his leg touches the bed. I push him on the bed and lean to hold his t-shirt, making him pat my hand gently to show that he is hitting me.

He pleads dramatically, "Please leave me alone, Your Majesty. I have a young unmarried sister. What will people think if they know her elder brother was raped? Who will marry that innocent girl? Show some mercy to me, show some mercy."

"No one will know what will happened behind the closed doors. I will cover your mouth with a cloth, so your friends will not hear your screams of pain and no one will be able to save you from me."

He feign a crying and pleading face that makes me burst out laughing, while falling on the bed beside him.

"Are you sure about sharing the bed or feeling pity on me?"

"I am sure."

He nods and I take the right side of the bed, while he takes the left. I request him to keep a small light on and he obeys with a frown, but didn't say anything.

I have developed a fear of darkness over a few years, but that's nothing to discuss. A small light is enough to calm my nervous and allow me to sleep.

SO, NO NEED TO DISCUSS MY FEARS.

Soon the tiredness from the day forces me to sleep and not allow my brain to think anymore.

#

We reach at the temple with the sweets that I cooked in the morning and offer to the priest with Gaurav for performing the ritual. A small portion was kept in front of the idol on a separate plate, while chanting mantra and rest was given back to us.

Then we ate a little before giving a spoonful to his parents and siblings. Jay and Durga didn't accompany us as Jay got an office emergency.

"Finally all the rituals of the marriage has ended."

I press my lips to not giggle as his mother pulls his ears and scolds, "Don't make fun of the rituals. They are an important part of our life."

He gives her an apologetic look, while wrapping an arm around her shoulder. He presses a kiss to her forehead and she kisses his cheek in return, while Sourav nudges me.

"Look Roshni, you married a Momma's boy. Instead of flirting with you, he is getting pampered by his mother."

He glares at his elder brother and warns, "No need to fill my wife's ears against me and I am not like you to leave Mom after marriage. I will love my mother till eternity."

And Sourav teases, "Of course, Momma's boy."

Gaurav opens his mouth to reply, but Mahek jumps in-between the brothers and gives her husband a hard look. He responds with an apologetic look and removes an envelope from his jeans pocket. Then faces me, while offering the envelope to me.

"A small wedding gift for you and my stupid brother."

I hesitate before accepting as I am not used to receiving gifts and Mahek informs with excitement, while wrapping an arm around my shoulder, "These are honeymoon tickets to Goa."

I almost drop the envelope and face Gaurav, who panics for a second, but quickly composes himself and smiles at his grinning brother.

His father assures, "And no need to worry about work. I and Sourav will manage for a week."

A week!

But living in his home or a hotel room won't make a difference and I can use this vacation to relax after the whole marriage drama.

I face Sourav with a smile, "Thank you."

I face Gaurav, who raises his eyebrows and I give a short nod before Mahek hugs me with a grin.

After marriage, I have realized one thing that we are not going to be normal friends because we would be doing a few COUPLE THINGS.

************

That's all for now.....will update next part as soon as possible.....hope you liked this part, do give your reviews...till then Keep Smiling and Take Care

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