True love doesn't happen right away, it is an ever growing process. It develops after you're gone through many ups and downs, when you've suffered together, cried together and laughed together.

ANANYA

Bhai and I split up to tackle our respective tasks, both of us fully aware that we had a looming deadline—everything had to be perfect before 4 o'clock. As I walked towards the area where the chefs were busy cooking, my phone buzzed with a message from Bhai. He had sent me the list of dishes that were to be served to the guests. As I scrolled through it, my eyes nearly popped out of my head.

Holy crap! There were about 108 dishes listed. I couldn't believe it.

We were really pulling out all the stops for this wedding. The sheer extravagance of it all left me shaking my head. The cost must have been astronomical. It hit me then, that if and when I ever got married, I wouldn't want to waste so much money just to show off how wealthy we are. Instead, I'd rather donate that money to cancer foundations or to people who genuinely need it. The thought of pouring money into a single day of excess, when it could do so much good elsewhere, felt wrong to me.

But that was a matter for another day. Right now, my focus was on making sure that everything was running smoothly. I moved through the kitchen, checking the seating arrangements first. I ensured there were enough seats to accommodate all the guests, mentally counting and recounting as I went. Then I shifted my attention to the food, tasting each dish to ensure the flavors were just right—neither too salty nor too bland. Satisfied that everything was in order, I took a deep breath. My part of the preparations was complete.

I decided to check in on Bhai to see if he needed any help. As I approached, I noticed him locked in a heated argument with the wedding planner. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. What had he done now?

I hurried over, hoping to diffuse the situation. "Bhai, why don’t you take a break and grab some lunch? I’ll handle this," I suggested, keeping my voice calm. He gave me a grateful nod and walked away, leaving me to face the wedding planner.

"Ma'am, actually..." she began, but I cut her off gently.

"Don’t worry, I know my brother can be a handful sometimes. And please, call me Ananya," I said with a reassuring smile.

The wedding planner seemed visibly relieved, though still nervous. "Ananya, we're almost done with all the decorations, except for the mandap," she admitted hesitantly.

I blinked at her, incredulous. The wedding was only a few hours away, and the mandap—the centerpiece of the ceremony—wasn’t finished?

Seeing my expression, she hurried to explain. "I'm sorry, ma’am—Ananya. Mrs. Singhania instructed us to create a floating mandap on the pool, decorated with flowers. But your brother didn’t like the idea."

Of course, Bhai had stirred up some trouble. I should have anticipated this and taken control of the decorations myself. But then, I would have missed out on tasting all that delicious food. Priorities.

Suppressing a sigh, I addressed the planner. "Go ahead and set up the mandap on the pool as planned. Use flowers and lights for decoration, but make sure it’s stable. We can’t have it sinking in the middle of the ceremony," I instructed.

She nodded, visibly relieved that the issue was resolved, and hurried off to get back to work. I glanced at my watch and nearly cursed out loud—it was already 3:00 PM. I had exactly one hour to get home, get ready, and be back in time for the wedding. Where was my useless brother?

I spotted Bhai in a corner, engrossed in a phone conversation. My patience was running thin. "Bhai, come on, we need to get home!" I called out, barely masking my urgency.

He quickly wrapped up his call, and without wasting another second, we left for home. The clock was ticking, and there was still so much to do before the big event.

I walked into my room and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror—what a sight! My hair was a tangled mess, my face looked drained from the heat and hard work of the day. Clearly, a shower was in order.

I headed to the bathroom, quickly shedding my clothes and turning on the water. The soothing sensation of my favorite strawberry face wash against my skin was a small comfort. I filled the bathtub with warm water, adding my favorite bath oil and soap. I sank into the tub, letting the warmth ease my tired muscles. I applied body wash and shampoo, scrubbing away the sweat and grime of the day. The warmth of the water and the comforting lather felt heavenly.

After a thorough rinse, I stepped out of the tub, dried myself with a fluffy towel, and wrapped up in a bathrobe. Just as I was drying my hair, I heard a voice call from the door.

“Ananya, can you please help me get ready?”

It was Georgia. I called back, “Of course, Georgia!” with a smile, stepping out to greet her.

For her outfit, I selected a stunning navy blue silk lehenga, pairing it with a shimmering American diamond set and blue silver heels. As I looked at her, I noticed something was missing. She wasn’t wearing bangles or a mangtika. I quickly retrieved my blue bangles and mangtika for her, and added a pearl kamarband for a finishing touch. She looked radiant in the Indian attire.

“Wow, you look beautiful, Georgia,” I said, admiring her.

“Thanks! Dad gave me this necklace on my 18th birthday,” she said, her smile bright.

“Let’s get you fully ready,” she said excitedly. “You know, I never had a younger sister to dress up, but now I do!”

I laughed and said, “Of course, you can dress me up too, my big sis.”

Together, we laughed as she helped me into my outfit. I chose a vibrant green lehenga, paired it with elegant gold jewelry and bangles, and slipped into golden heels. Georgia meticulously did my makeup, opting for a smoky eye and golden eyeshadow, and styled my hair into a chic bun.

When I gazed at myself in the mirror, I barely recognized the sophisticated woman staring back at me. The blouse of my lehenga was a bit daring, but it made me feel glamorous and confident. For one day, I deserved to look and feel pretty. Besides, with Mom’s attention focused elsewhere, I wouldn’t be in her crosshairs.

“You look beautiful, Ananya,” Georgia said with admiration.

Before I could respond, Mom entered the room. "You both are looking beautiful," Mom said, casting a brief, uninterested glance our way before continuing on her path. Her comment, though kind, lacked the warmth and attention that would have made us feel truly appreciated.

It was clear that, for once, Mom was too distracted by the day’s events to scrutinize every detail.

I gave mom a smile; she looked stunning in her kanchipuram saree. “Ananya, we’re all heading out now. Make sure to come after a while and don’t forget to bring the pooja items from the kitchen,” Mom instructed before hurrying off.

A few minutes later, we followed suit. Everyone looked glamorous and elegant, but my excitement was tinged with disappointment—I hadn’t been able to catch even a glimpse of Aakash. He’d been pulled away for an urgent call and promised to join us later. I sighed and settled into the car, my eyes searching hopefully for any sign of him. Sadly, no such luck.

In just under an hour and a half, we arrived at the venue. The sight that greeted us was breathtaking. The entrance was adorned with delicate orchid flowers, creating a fragrant and inviting path. The stairs were draped in vibrant bougainvillea blooms, leading us further into the venue. As we reached the main ground, we were greeted by an exquisite chandelier that cast a warm glow over everything.

The mandap, which I had insisted be decorated with flowers and lights, looked magnificent, floating elegantly on the pool. The seating arrangements were impeccable, and the stage was a regal sight, decorated with orchids and exuding a royal theme.

Guests had started to arrive, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. I barely had a moment to soak in the beauty of the place before the clapping began. My gaze was instantly drawn to the most stunning bride I had ever seen walking toward the stage. She was a vision of grace and elegance, and I couldn’t help but marvel at how perfect everything looked.