The music started as soon as everyone got settled. They sang the 'barna and barni' just like the ones which had been sung at the palace wedding. Out of the blue, a feeling of sadness came over me. Even though I still couldn't understand the wordings fluently, the music was a reminder that it was all a farce of marriage as compared to the real one at the palace. The people around me sounded so happy as they made jests about Rudra and me but in truth, I was but a fraud. Again the guilty realization of the selfishness of the situation struck me as it was not just about us but the feelings of people around us were also associated. I had this sudden urge to flee and I cursed myself for returning back again.

I looked at maasa as she got up to join the dancers for the 'ghoomar' and on the other side, few of the young girls had even dragged taisa on the dance floor. Their faces glowed with happiness. Maasa still might have understood my situation as she knew I wasn't from here, so had a different thought process about certain things. It was taisa I was most worried about. Every time she looked at me her eyes glowed with happiness that her son had at last, agreed to marry me. Disappointment was not something I wanted her to feel towards me, especially if I somehow became the cause.

Then again I reminded myself that I was doing it for the betterment of her son and she would end up getting a daughter in law anyways. I wondered what story Rudra would concoct to save us from this predicament.

I wanted to tell maasa about the facts I had learnt from 'my time' but the things had already got so complicated that I didn't know how to tell her without messing up with Rudra's real love life. The only possible way I could do so was by warning Rudra and through him maasa.

I mentally kicked myself for not sticking firmly to my previous decision but then that irritating man refused to convey the message. Thinking in retrospect I felt amazed that he wasn't even a single bit curious about what urgent news brought me back. It could have been anything from a big natural calamity to world war. World war seemed a bit far-fetched but then it could have been any equally destructive war.

" Lekha... Lekha... where were you lost? " Vaishali said shaking me. " It's such a beautiful performance, who knew weddings in the past were so interesting even without a DJ and our kind of jazzy music.... ooo ...I am simply loving it "

"I want to go home" I whispered looking at her with troubled eyes.

" Home! ... but you are home"

" Nooo... Home" I repeated with gritted teeth.

" Not when you are so close to marrying your dream man ... you are not to think of going back ever"

" He doesn't love me. He loves ..." I whispered.

" What are you two whispering about?" Interrupted Vasundhara and then looked at Vaishali with a fake mean look and said " You are breaking our sisterhood pact and keeping secrets now"

Vaishali laughed at her and said " She is whining about her head aching. Must be because of the hit she got before"

At that moment my love for Vaishali increased double fold and also a sense of relief came over me that even though she maintained friendly relations with others her loyalty stayed with me. She could lie to them for me.

Vasundhara ever the observant one, peered at me for a second and declared " You are a coward"

I was taken aback but she kept on giving me that piercing all-knowing look, while again rebranded as the traitor Vaishali grinned from behind her.

" Don't you trust 'your family' to stand by you," Vasundhara said in an emotional voice making me feel guilty.

"It's not that ... I really...." I stammered.

"What are you girls gossiping about?" smiled Anil.

"You... how...?" Just my day of incomplete sentences but I had the excuse of too much drama happening in my life at that moment. In my heart, I was ashamed to accept that I had forgotten about him and left him alone friendless between all the strangers. I wondered how he was faring.

"Considering I am Vaishali's relation and also by the orders of your maasa, I can enter any celebration. She is keeping Rudra's words about the wedding experience." I didn't feel, any kind of excitement or happiness in his voice, which made me worried.

"Are they not treating you well?" I asked softly in English bending towards him so that Vasundhara couldn't hear.

"Yes..." he said somberly but then his voice changed to comic sadness as he added "they torture me with food ... especially ladoos. I have had this unhappy realization that I might just turn into a ladoo before I leave from here"



Yummy 'ladoos' for everyone :)

I laughed in a very un-bride like fashion causing heads to turn. I quickly covered my face with the dupatta to hide away from all the stares.

"Well ... it seems I have overachieved my target," said Vaishali mysteriously.

I turned to question her but she was looking towards my left. As I hesitantly followed her gaze I saw Rudra frowning towards Anil. He then whispered something in Vikram's ear making him stand instantly and come towards us.

"Pranam bhabisa" teased Vikram "Hope you are enjoying the celebrations?"

"Yes," I smiled back.

"Anil sa why don't you join us there?"

"Why? ... let him stay ... you already have too many people on your side " I just blurted out the last part and then mentally scolded myself. I couldn't let others witness me as the jealous bride.

"I can send Gayatri and Maitri back if you want" he smiled, thankfully not understanding my innuendo.

"It's alright Vikram sa, I would like him to stay here. I hope I am not breaking any norm as he is a male member... I mean ..."

"He is Vaishali's brother so he could very well stay. Don't you worry Lekha" said Vasundhara jumping in. Then she looked at Vaishali and added: "He can actually attend all the bride's side celebrations too, as he has been 'especially' invited by maasa".

I had a gut feeling that some message had passed between both the girls as I saw them looking at each other meaningfully.

"But... bhaisa said ..." Vikram looked thoroughly confused.

"What did bhaisa say?" smiled Vasundhara.

"Umm... nothing. Alright, you stay here Anil sa. You can come over our side whenever you feel bored" smirked Vikram.

"With Lekha here I can never feel bored" replied Anil.

I noticed that he had not added 'sa' to my name as was the norm and I saw that Vikram had also noticed it. The girls seemed to be having a jolly time as their ever growing smile grew even bigger. I had again been left out of some private joke they shared.

I saw Vikram relaying everything to Rudra and saw him tense up but he didn't turn around. Vikram gave me a covert glance but smiled guiltily at been caught. He kept his gaze steady on Rudra as they discussed something with their heads bent together away from the girls sitting on the other side.

"So ... are you enjoying 'your wedding'?" asked Anil from beside me. I replied with a nod.

"Lekha ... I wanted to talk to you."

I looked up at Anil in question.

"Alone ... " he added softly for my ears alone.

"What happened...?" I whispered back to him.

"We haven't had time to have a proper conversation since we came here. I still feel responsible for you"

"For me ... here... but ..." I wondered what was actually bothering him. "Alright meet me upstairs after I return back to my room " I relented.

I saw him looking away from me with a victorious smile. I turned and met with Rudra's stoic expressions. As our eyes met, I felt more than saw a hurt look pass over his face but then there was nothing. He turned back and said something to Gayatri.

She looked reluctant and seemed to be protesting but then both Maitri and she got up and sat beside us.

"What happened? Thrown back... so soon" laughed Anil.

" It seems we have to save her from you " countered Gayatri in mock annoyance.

" You were sent back by ..." I started but was interrupted by the arrival of maasa.

" Who was sent back? " asked maasa.

" No one kakisa. Lekha wanted to know why we came back to join the bride's side. Actually, I wanted to introduce Maitri to Anil sa " explained Gayatri as she pushed Maitri forward to authenticate her answer.

Maasa seemed satisfied and moreover, she was too busy encouraging the other ladies among the relatives to join the dancers. Peace had fallen over our gang due to maasa's presence and everyone concentrated on the dancers.

I saw few older ladies getting up one by one as they rotated a handful of coins around the head of their chosen dancing candidate to ward off the evil eye and then handed it over to the barber's wife sitting close by. In fact, there were two of them as each represented both the sides.

My observations were cut short as Lajo broke out from the form of dancers and literarily pounced on me, insisting me to join the dancers. I was too nervous to dance in front of the gathering but the traitors beside me joined in in the 'insisting'.

Vaishali even had the audacity to whisper in English " Charm him with your dance girl. Show him your moves". She grinned back at my scowl, like the idiotic person she had become since her arrival.

I saw Rudra and the boys sitting with him turn towards us to look at all the commotion the girly gang made. Even Roopmati stared at me with a grim face. Too much attention didn't help the matter as it made butterflies flutter 'fast and furious' in my stomach.

" Don't worry Lekha dear, just copy the steps. And if you still have trouble then just go round and move your hands like this" encouraged maasa as she showed me the hand movements. " Nobody is an expert and nobody is going to judge you. Everyone out here is out to have fun and everyone loves to see the bride dance. You might just end up enjoying the dance"

"Girls take her away and you too join her for company" ordered maasa with a smile.

So that was it, I was dragged on the dance floor amongst much clapping and encouragements shouted out by the audience.

" Way to go bhabisa.... show them." I heard the solo male voice of Vikram shout out above the din. Way to make me even more aware of someone's presence, I cursed him in my mind.

Soon the throbbing of the dholak mixed with other musical instruments gave wings to my feet as I got more fluent with the steps. It became easier to forget my initial hesitance as I started enjoying the dance just like maasa had predicted. Being surrounded by laughing and encouraging friends made me forget my surroundings and I got fully engrossed.

Many older ladies did the 'warding off the evil eye' ritual around my head especially since I was the bride. It was also their way of appreciating the dancer as it conveyed that the dancer danced so well that others would definitely feel envious.

We had already danced two dances when we were suddenly joined by Roopmati just as the third one started. She seemed so graceful even as she did steps similar to us that I felt like a clumsy oaf in comparison. We all continued to dance through the laughter and jokes amongst us had stopped and everyone looked sombre. The other ladies thankfully didn't notice much.

At the end of the dance, the girls again surrounded me like a protection shield and we subtly retreated back to our seat. I couldn't help but look at Rudra sideways through my lowered eyelashes as we passed by. My heart soared as I saw him looking towards us. Maasa was full of praises, as were the other ladies sitting nearby. In my heart, I knew that I was no expert but it was an exhilarating moment till Roopmati.

" Never thought you were a dancing type Lekha ... always so engrossed in books" said Anil looking at me with appreciation in his eyes.

" Oh ... Lekha has many hidden facets to her. You should just spend more time with her to at least discover few of them" chirped Vaishali earning a frown from me. I wondered what was she trying to achieve' this time'.

"You were enchanting" Anil continued as if Vaishali had not even interrupted.

I smiled back at the compliment but shifted the topic to the other dancers to avoid the awkwardness.

Roopmati was soon joined by the other ladies for the next number, but I observed that her mother was the only person who did the 'warding off' ritual around her head.

" No one can cast an evil eye on that evil woman " whispered Gayatri. I could feel the anger she felt towards the woman who hurt her brother.

She was an enchantress for sure as even I felt mesmerized by her skills as I watched from the audience. No wonder Rudra couldn't stop loving her as she was perfect in all she did, whispered my jealous heart.

This time when I asked to return back to my room, no one stopped me but instead, all my friends escorted me back. Anil too followed us and mouthed 'see you later' as he left us at my door.

The girls stayed back to discuss the evening and left only after I feigned a headache.

I laid back waiting for Anil to stop by, as I wondered what he wanted to talk about.

My wait got over as I heard a soft knock on my door.



A long chapter ... a faster update ... keep your fingers crossed :D

Anyone seeking info on the dances, traditions etc . can refer to Lekha 12