Chapter 13

ANUSHIYA VISHWANATH

One week later, our house had changed into marriage mode. Yes, the decorations were going on the
full speed because we didn't have time like a month or two, just a week so they were all busy. Flowers
were hanging on the doorways and around our house. Amma and Appa were super busy welcoming
guests and Jo was standing beside me helping me to keep company.

Last week had been a mess. Which was I didn't stop getting those mysterious calls, who call just to
hear my voice. That was insane. In change, I get to hear whoever was on the other side of the phone's
breathing sound. And Jo and Akhil didn't stop cheating and killing others as Sammy calling me every
day morning and giving me lectures about how to be a married woman and to take responsibilities. And
also she told me that once I married him I won't still be the same Anushiya Vishwanath, I'll be Anushiya
Smith.

I was thinking about that week, how they flew very fast as a jet. I didn't get any phone calls from him. I
didn't even call him either. And I even forgot that he gave me his visiting card that I forgot where I kept.
My life was getting ridiculous and hilarious. If I wasn't surrounded by dozens of people around me in
our bride's room in that huge wedding hall, I'd have cried. I don't know I was a sensitive person until
then.

It's been an hour since we just transferred from our room in the house to our room in the wedding hall.
Our beautician was doing our touch-up. While thinking and scolding about me in my thoughts, reality hit
me up with my beautician who was brushing my hair which was sticking on my hair knots. After some
aahs and ouches and sorry, she finally let my hair in peace and I was glad that she leaves my hair and
went to peat my saree.

The room was much bigger than our living room. The air conditioner seems working but still was hot
out there because of people standing inside the room and filling every space around the room to see



me bride's getting ready like it was also one the world's wonder. The room was filled with noise and
chattering. Some of the aunties were looking at me sadly as if they missed the chance to ask me to be
their daughter-in-law. And some of them were happy for me that I was going to married and moving to
the US. And even some of them were being jealous of me which I don't care as if I was marrying a
person I loved. And some of the children were sitting on their mom's hips and watching me like
watching a cartoon on big screens. And some of the teenage girls were giggling at the corner of the
room as if they were thinking of them in my place. I prayed to God that, "God, connect them with the
people they love and care about them and their decisions." To be honest I didn't like the stage lighting
on me even I was the heroine of that occasion.

I was looking for my sister and my amma in that crowded room but they were nowhere to see. While
searching for them, a beautician painted my lips with red gloss. And that's when I realized how I
scolded my sister for painting her lips, god knows how many times. I still didn't like that but I accepted
for my sister's sake to paint my face and lips for this occasion.

Once the beautician finished her artwork on my face she gestured me to stand and took a photo of me
to post it on Instagram and Facebook for likes. She asked my permission for that and I said yes without
thinking about it because I didn't concentrate on what she was saying. And I was posing her for the
picture.

Finally, I saw my mom who was busy welcoming our relations and guests. Once she made them seat
she walked towards me. When she came close to me I hug her tight, really tight which shows how
much I'll going to miss her.

She gasped.

I pulled myself back and tried to lock my gaze at her because if that hug lasts for one more moment I'd
have cried in front of those of people, for now. Who knows how many people she invited to my
wedding?



"Amma?" I was looking at her as her eyes were filling with water, speechless.

I pulled her into another hug. In that, I said her that no matter what I'll always be responsible and
respectful for others and I'd not let anyone scratch my name and family. That was just five seconds hug
and the conversation within that second was very large and emotional.

"I'm gonna miss you amma?" I told her with shaky words. "Take good care of Jo and appa. I'll try to call
you every day, amma. I love you and I'll always love you no matter what. You know that right?"

She just nodded.

"I know dear. Be careful and be good to your husband and your mother and father-in-law." She said
kissing me on my forehead.

"Where is Jo, amma? I'd love to talk to her before the ritual starts." I told her as she smiled at me.

She turned her heel and shouted at the crowd to see where Jo was "Jo? Jo?" Once she found her she
shouted in excitement "Jo! Come over here" she waved at her.

Jo walked to me and hugged me tightly with her open arm. She said she needs to talk to me privately
so we walked to the balcony. There were no people over there so we took that spot.

I scrutinize the balcony for one last moment before speaking to her. "Jo, please forgive me for those
times when were little we used to fight a lot and cry a lot. Those were all, my fault and you were
innocent. I was elder than you so I was the one who wants to adjust but I was done all wrong. Sorry for
beating you and making you cry. You are my one and only lovely sister. We used to fight with words, do
you remember?" she nodded as her eyes dripping the first drop of her tear. "Those were just words and
I never meant anything while saying that. I was trying to make you more angry than normal to calm
myself. That was selfish of me." I took her hands in mine and kissed her knuckle. "I'm so sorry, Jo. You
know that I never meant anything while fighting with you." She nodded and biting her lip to control



herself from crying. "I'm sorry. You know, no matter what I'd always love you and I'll always do." I kissed
her on the cheeks for the first time since I get a memory of myself.

I can't say she was crying or smiling. That was something in between happiness and sadness. She
held my hand tightly as she spoke. "I know we used to cry and fight a lot. And I also know that you
didn't mean any of those words while you yell at me because you were more innocent than me." I
looked at her confused. "I was the one who needs to ask to apologize because she was truly innocent.
Sometimes I was the one who started scene-like you know that pencil incident?" I nodded. When I was
in 10th grade she was in 5th I took her pencil and pretended mine. So I got beat by amma for lying and
stealing things. "Yeah, that pencil wasn't mine. I took that pencil from your back bag and put it in my
bag. I liked the color of that pencil and I wanted to make it mine. I'm so sorry for that to get you beat
from amma." She looked at me, pleaded. "I'm so sorry. I loved you, I love you and I'll love you. No
matter what," She gazed at me for a moment. I was speechless.

"You're forgiven." I chuckled, looking at her. "Will you forgive me?"

She smiled.

"You're forgiven." She mimicked me. She pulled me into a big sister's hug.

She was looking lost in thoughts. "What are you thinking about?" pulling back from the hug and making
eye contact with her.

Once our gazes were fixed she started to speak. "I was thinking about stealing that pink necklace, your
mother-in-law gifted for you." She said acting like she was being serious.

"Don't you dare," I said as I smiled and patting on her shoulder?

We both were busted into a laugh.



We both were turned our gaze down the driveway as the BMW pulled over. The peoples were chanting
as this was the first time they were seeing an expensive car. I'm not one of them. I don't like to
exclaimed about anyone's growth or luxury neither jealous. That's their price for their hard work or even
smart work.

As we were staring at the black BMW with silver border Jo winked at me and gave me a grin. I ignored
her.

I saw Arjun hopping out from the car when I saw his with full zoom in my eyes, that was it I was dead.
He was wearing a veshti and sattai (Veshti and Shirt) the South Indian traditional dress for any ritual
and important occasion. While scanning his attire amma shouts at Jo, from a distance to attend some
kind of ritual.

Before I try to see his face Arjun called me out and I can't even see his face from so much distance. I
went to Arjun for that ritual and Jo went to take arati for her brother-in-law who to-be in few hours. Arati
is the Indian traditional waving of lighted lamps before an image of a god or a person to be honored. In
performing the rite, the worshiper circles the lamp three times in a clockwise direction. She'll also get
rewarded by her to-be brother-in-law for welcoming him by taking arati.


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