In my culture wedding is one of the greatest occasions which elaborates so many rituals...

Ours is a hustle bustle wedding and we have planned to follow few important rituals alone... Whatever it may be , we are sure that the fun part shall not reduce in any way...

So ...

My cousins are already here and my home has adorned the charm with all the smiles and chuckles...

Added , Granny is here in home with the medical personnel to take care of her...

" Suman... You're looking very pretty... "

For the hundredth time one of my cousins states...

I pout at her ... Adjusting the bindi , I look at the watch...

" Some one can't wait.. "

As Divya akka mocks me , series of laughter follow..

I bit my lips...

As a matter of fact , I am going to get married within few hours... At present I am desperately waiting for Shravan's arrival...

He will be here by anytime...!!!

I sit down thinking the same...

Few seconds later , I hear someone's voice...

Shravan has come... !!!

The groom has arrived...!!!

I walk to the balcony in a wink... My eyes wander over the portico to spot Shravan...

He's there, getting down the car.. He is in casual jeans, paired with black shirt...

He walks to the front yard which is covered with colourful Rangoli... Before he steps the next walk ," Ohohhhh... Modern groom...."

Anish Anna's friends target Shravan to tease...

Actually , welcoming the groom is one of the riruals in my culture... Normally , it will happen with lots of fun where the groom will reach the wedding place in an open car like a procession...

Here , Shravan is straight away from airport and this is our kind of - welcoming the groom !!!

" Shravan ... Welcome dude...!!!"

Anish anna embrace Shravan and introduce him to his friends..

Amma takes aarthi to welcome him formally...

" Welcome Shravan..."

As she smears the red aarthi water on his forehead ( that depicts the protection from bad vibes) , he touches my mother's feet...

" Be happy always shravan.. "

As the wishes continue , he looks up in intuition...

He can't recognize me amidst my cousins as they all are dressed up like me... Moreover , they hide me from coming front. Succeeded , they shout at Shravan

" Ohoh... So sad...!! You can't see her now.. "

It seems that the bride and groom shall not meet until they tie the knots ...

I feel pity for him ... He lowers his head down , smiling... He acts asif he's trying to barge in between them...

Anish anna punches my cousins in air and calls Shravan...

" Shravan... It's getting late... Come ... You have to get ready..."

Nodding , he follows anna..

Tension builds in me ... Everything must go well...

" Divya akka... I am feeling cold" I state to her ...

She pressess my hands " what's this Suman... ?! You're going to marry your Shravan... Actually shravan should feel cold as he's going to manage you for his lifetime..."

Funny smile creeps in her lips..She doesn't leave any chance to tease me... I act asif crying ... All burst into laughter...

" Excuse me...!"

Their laugh pause all of a sudden...

" Yes... You're excused...!"

They all say in a chorus , screening me again...

Shravan huffs out annoyed... " If you all don't mind , can I have few minutes with..."

" No.. you can't..." They all answer in one tone before he completes..

He nods repeatedly.. " Then , sorry for what's going to happen infront of you.. "

He jerks and rolls his sleeves up... He walks fast towards us...

His determined attitude makes my cousin musketeers terrific...

" Wait....!!!"

They screech to stop him...

" Look shravan... You have only one minute... Not more than that.. "

Warning , they move to the door.. standing at the other side of the closed door , they all are curious to know what's happening inside..

I stare at the ground abashed to face him directly...

He closes me and lifts my face to look at him...

" Sam... You're beautiful.. "

My eyelids flutter to his appreciation..

" How do I look !?!" He asks intrigued...

I regain my composure slowly to gauge his appearance...

He's perfect in silk dhoti and creamy white silk shirt...

While I am thinking , he raise his brows to hint that his forehead is empty...

I grin to decipher his thought... Taking he sandalwood paste , I look for a chair to step on it...

There's no any chair except a side table .. Now , I have to tiptoe to reach his height...

I step close to him with the sandalwood paste in my ring finger... In a wink , he lifts me to his chest where I am close to his face...

" Shravan... What you're doing...?" I whisper to leave me...

" Ishhh...!" He hisses ... Gesturing me to be quiet , he closes his eyes...

I smear the sandalwood paste in his forehead ... " Now , you're perfect..." I state and try to be free of his hold...

He stares into my eyes and leans to my face...

He stops leaning when his lips are close to mine...

" Do you think I am here only for the sandalwood paste?!?! I came long way from Paris for you...I deserve a sweet premarital kiss ... Right...?!?!"

I am awestruck to his direct demand...

" No ... Shhhrav..." I blabber pointing the door...

He doesn't let me continue...

He grasps my lips between his fingers .Then , he gazes at them intense...

He brushes his lips with mine... I clench my eyes as sudden gush of blood rushes in me... He presses his lips firm on mine .. Then , he continues to nibble them until I get tired...

" Time up...."

My cousins open the door shouting at air...

I immediately step away from him... I hang my head down in embarrass...

" Girls... Just touch up the lip colour alone... By the way , I like the flavour..."

Winking at me , he says on the go ...

Shutting the door , Divya akka rolls her eyes at me...

" You both are not my suman and shravan... You both are devils... Made for each other devils...!!"

Akka disguises her wish in curse with moist eyes..

" Hey.... Wait...wait..!!."

One of my cousins observes my face keenly...

" Is the blush too much... ?!?! Should I clean it.. ?!"

To her query , everybody laugh... I don't understand them and start blinking...

" No... No... That's natural blush guys... Because of her to be husband the pink hue is a bit extra... He had added too much of blusher to our bride's cheeks...!!!"

" Ooooo!!!" All sing in chorus to bath me in embarrass...

my cheeks turn to cherry red to recall him kissing me ....

▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️