Chapter 17: chapter 17

The whole house was abuzz with activity and preparation. Despite Mowri, and Arnab  insisting they wanted a small ceremony for an engagement and an even smaller one for theirwedding it seemed nobody was listening. It had been three weeks from the first time they had met and they were getting engaged todaymarried tomorrow. Of course the wedding was to take place in a Gurdwara around noon followedby a reception in the evening arranged by the Malhotra's and Mowri, had desperately tried to keep the ever growing list of relatives and closefriends to the minimum it seemed things weren't happening that way.The engagement was to be held at their house which was already thronging with curious, inquisitive and good for nothing relatives of hers.Everyone she knew and didn't know were to be present at the engagement. Yes for the marriage ceremony tomorrow after a lot of arguments andfights they had decided only immediate family and very close friends wouldbe presernt. At the reception of course the list seemed to be endless from both sides. Mowri, had already resigned from her post at her college and given a fifteen day notice which she hadcompleted. Then she had returned to Ambala but not before applying for a post at a local college in Pathankot. She had kept in touch with Arnab through the past weeks. She had met Sarla too, many times since she kept coming to Delhi every now and then with her husband who had workthere. She had met Jay personally when he had come to meet her last weekend in Delhi. He was a charming guy very jovial but he was serioustoo about certain things in life. And he had made her feel so comfortable but so had Sarla and Rajesh. They had taken her for shopping for theupcoming wedding and had shared lunches and dinners together. Arnab  had a wonderful, loving and open family. And somewhere she wasjealous of that and somewhere happy that she Would be a part of it soon.She got ready as the girl from the salon helped tie her dupatta. She was wearing a beautiful rust colored lehenga, choli combination with antique work. It was Sarla's choice and Mowri, had liked it the moment she had seen it. She hadn't boughtmany things just one dress per ceremony and a few saris and suits that was it. And though both her parents and Arnab 's had insisted she buy more for her trouSseau she had resisted. She was a simple girl why waste money when she wouldn't even wear half the things. She had evenrefused to take too much jewelry with her. Roop had thrown a fit but she had stayed firm so much so biji, had intervened and asked everyone tolet her be.The matching jewelry for today's function was also selected by Sarla. She had excellent taste and though Roop hadn't been happy with thesimple necklace, ear rings, bangles and hair adornments she had kept quiet after biji,s rebuke. When the girl who was helping her get ready was done she looked at herself in themirror. Mowri, looked different. Beautiful would be the word to aptly describe how she looked.Her hair was tied in a long braid behind her back with the hair adornment set perfectly in themiddle of her forehead. The long rajwada style earrings shaped like a sun dangled in her earsand the beautiful necklace adorned her neck as if it belonged there. Her dress glittered with tiny deep gold sequins and the matching mixedcolors of rust bangles completed her outfit. She was wearing low heel sandals though Arnab  wastall she was not short of height either.And yet all the make-up couldn't hide the tension on her face. She had gone through a similar ceremony before. No matter how much she triedto keep that memory at bay it just wasn't letting go of its tenacious hold on her. She sighed as she sat down on the chair and watched the girlput her stuff away.She recalled Sarla's words when she had told her to take this journey with her son as a newchapter in her life. She had also told her a few things about Arnab  especially how he had changed after his divorce and the guilt he carriedwith him. And she had promised Sarla that she would give it her all. Mowri, needed to think about better things than think about sour memories."All ready she heard someone say and she turned her head to find biji, standing in the doorway with a smile.She was wearing a peach color suit that she had specially got made for the engagement and a new double string pearl set she had bought to gowith it."My my" biji, said as she walked in, "I never knew you to be so beautiful Mowri," she said,"where had you hidden yourself all this time?" she asked."Beeji, did you not find anyone else today" Mowri, responded."Mowri, what am I going to do with you," she said shaking her head.Mowri, rose from her chair and gestured biji, to sit down. She was actually surprised to see biji, in her room. She never climbed so many stairs.Poor thing actually looked winded."I couldn't resist getting a peek at my favorite girl before she came down for the ceremony," biji, said as she sat in the chair, "nervous?" she askedshrewdly."Have you ever known me to be nervous biji,?" Mowri, said."Hmmm not that lI can remember" the older woman responded, "Simrit has arrived with her entire family in tow, she said watching Mowri,carefully. Mowri, controlled herself. She felt anxiety, painand anger all in one go. But she had known about this. Simrit was her younger sister, of courseshe will attend her wedding and because of the closeness of the two families her in laws wouldalso attend though she had fought tooth and nail to send the invites as late as possible. She justshrugged."She was supposed to come," Mowri, said, "I am just surprised she came in so late,"' she told biji, nonchalantly which she was far from feeling."Yes, Rahul" biji, said, "wasn't keeping well," she told her.Rahul was Simrit's three year old son. Cute as a button he was just plain adorable. Mowri, had often wondered how someone like Simrit had a son like Rahul. His temperament did not match either parent or maybe it was too early to sayanything."Oh" was all Mowri, said."Let the past go Mowri,," biji, said quietly and Mowri, looked at her, "you are entering a new phase of your life let the bitterness go. It will help you with your present and future. You have trusted me in the past why won't you do that now," she said.Mowri, took in a deep breath then answered."Would you have done that biji,?" she asked.Beeji kept quiet."I thought so," Mowri, said with a twist to her lips,"'so why tell me to do that. Don't you know yet I am your granddaughter and I am so much like you. I can't let go. It is not right after what I went through she said firmly.Beeji didn't know what else to say. She rose from her chair and stood before Mowri,, her tall and proud grarnddaughter then holding her face in herhands plled her head forward to place a gentle kiss on her forehead."God bless you Mowri," she said gently and dabbing at her eyes turned to leave then paused and said, "by the way Sameer's parents have said yes for Kulraj. They will be here for the functions and we will discuss when they want the weddingto take place plus of course their demands," shesaid, "not that they need to place any Kulraj hasher own list of things she wants to take with heralready" she said sarcastically.Mowri, only nodded her head. She could feelthe trepidation grow as the time for her to go downstairs and face the crowd came nearer. She needed to calm down and she hoped while she did that nobody else came upstairs to meet with her especially not Simrit or her mother.*******