2

SITARA

It was the day when the groom's side were supposed to come to our home to see me. I woke up early, asked meher to wake up too, then both of us folded the sheets. afterwards I went to the washroom, did my business, took a bath, and wore a normal suit along with my dupatta. I was supposed to wear a heavier suit stitched by chachiji in the afternoon when they will come. maa and chachi had already woken up and were preparing breakfast. maa called me and we were sitting alone in a corner when she tucked my hair behind my ear lovingly and told me "ladka ek akhbaar wali jagah par kaam karta hain, uska bada bhai aur bauji kapde ki dukaan par baithte, uska naam madhav sharma hain, terse zyada bada bhi nahi hain bas 20 saal ka hain, ye sab islie bata rahi kyuki mrko kisi ne nahi btaya tha jb meri shaadi honi thi" i took in all the information and blushed a bit hearing about my future husband. maa noticed it and said "mereko pta hain ki aaj tak aisi baatein nahi ki, lekin trko koi bhi cheez preshan kregi to mrko zarur btaiyo". I muttered "ji".

I loved my mother immensely and she taught me everything about life. But talking about such stuff even with mothers was a very uncomfortable thing for us. ever since I started menstruating at 14 years old, I was taught to speak softly, always wear my duppatta around males, not laugh too loud, not ask too many questions. I was confined even more inside my home. I was taught every household chore including cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, embroidery, stitching etc. today was supposed to be my exam to showcase everything, I had been preparing for this day all my life. later, bauji and chacha went to our store after having breakfast, I bathed shaurya and manraj and all of us had our breakfast. then after doing all the chores, meher, me, maa and chachi were sitting together when chachi showed us the suit she had prepared. it was of maroon colour and very pretty. chachi teased meher saying "teri bhi baari aane wali hain".

they were supposed to arrive in an hour and maa and chachi were preparing the food to be served. meher was helping me get ready. my wavy hair reached my buttocks. I was of wheatish complexion which was criticized a bit. everyone wanted the girl to look like clouds and here i was looking like tea instead. my height was only 5'3. I wasn't exactly slim, but not fat either, there was a bit of fat on my arms, tummy and thighs. my breasts were average too. meher braided my hair, i applied kohl in my eyes, there was also a pink lipstick of my mother which i applied on my lips and cheeks. then maa came with a gold necklace and jhumkas and made me wear them.

she pinned my duppatta on my head and instructed me with a serious expression "khayaal rkhna duppatte ka, teri sari laaj ek kapde me hi bandhi huyi hain" i lowered my gaze and nodded. she then looked at my feet and playfully said "ab to bhaari wali payal milegi hi trko, ye halki wali reva k lie rakh denge" me and meher started laughing. maa looked at meher and me and said "kitni jaldi jaldi badi hogyi dono ki dono" she went silent for a while and then suddenly said "ja meher beta maa ki madad kar main bhi aayi bas". me and maa were left alone, she said "har kisi ke pair choona, aur aakhe neeche rkhna, sahi tareeke se baithna aur jab bulayenge araam se aana chai leke, chai dete wakt bhi zyada mt jhukh jana". i nodded to everything.