Her training completed to her satisfaction Yasmeen bid a fond adieu to both her gurus who were presented with simple but elegant saris by their grateful pupil. They warned her that she was still green behind her ears and advised her against taking the plunge too soon. But she was quite clear about her goals, so along with their blessings they gave her details of some important contacts whose help she could seek when in need. Yasmeen knew intuitively that in a few weeks her life was about to change dramatically.

It would have been impossible for Sanyukta to skip the wedding; the groom's sister has certain obligations during the ceremonies in a Marwari wedding. For the sagai Sanyukta looked resplendent in a cobalt blue and silver sari as she entered the venue with her family, bearing a heavy silver salver with gifts for the bride-to-be Prerana Mittal; who herself was dressed in a saffron and gold lehenga choli.

Sanyukta put a vermilion mark or tika on Prerana's forehead and fed her a small lump of jaggery. She then proceeded to do the god-bharai, the placing of gifts of a sari, a jewellery set, and sweets on her lap. This was followed by the formal exchange of rings between Prerana and Ankit.

On the day before the wedding a ritual called Tel Baan was performed at both the bride's as well as the groom's place during which relatives anointed them with a paste of oil, turmeric and yoghurt.

The wedding itself was a traditional melange of sangeet, mehendi, baraat and varmala followed by the auspicious pheras- the seven steps and vows taken by the bridal couple symbolising the commencement of their married life together.

After this Sanyukta, dressed in a pink zardosi ensemble, had to symbolically braid Prerana's hair weaving a mauli or scarlet thread in it. She then assisted her brother in filling sindoor or vermilion in the parting of the bride's hair. Also a pearl and ruby nose ring called nath was placed on the bride's lap by Anju.

As Sanyukta had suspected there was some whispering going on between the mothers of the bride and groom, along with the bride's cousin Sameer who stood with them, turning his gaze towards her from time to time. Sameer ran the family business with his father and his parents were looking for a suitable match. Much to her annoyance she discovered that he paid more attention to her cleavage and the swell of her hips rather than to her eyes, while pretending to talk to her at close quarters whenever he had the chance. She hated his presence, even the thought of him violating her person with his touch was repulsive.

To add to her agony Vidushi had called to give her some disturbing news. It seemed the previous night after a party in the dorm Parth had chased out a half-clad girl trying to seduce a drunken Randhir in his room. She had boasted to her friends that she had nearly managed to hit second base with him. Of course Vidushi did warn Parth to watch her brother with a hawk's eye thereafter. But for how long could he keep the young man celibate? Sanyukta knew her luck was running out, it seemed like the time was ripe for desperate measures.