"Um-um,nope... nothing is wrong,"she blubbered out.That was quite embarrassing.She began touching her neck nervously.
Calista sat still on the bed.She was still hugging her legs tightly.Not that she was cold or afraid of something but she just could not find a position more comfortable than that.
Actually,she had been in that same position for almost an hour now.Her mother came inside and tried to talk to her but she did not even bother to look at her.She was not mad anymore but she just wanted to keep to herself whatever she would blubber out when she opened her mouth.
She had not taken anything since the other night.Ofcourse she was hungry but nobody dared to serve her food.
The only person who could get into her room was her mother and she seemed she was determined to make her loose weight within the twelve hours she would be inside there,before the wedding.
No one knew that the bride was not Izara except her mother.
That morning,Ishaani had brought her a glass of milk mixed with honey but she did not touch it.She just hoped out of hunger she would faint at the altar and everybody would know that she was not Izara.
It was too unlucky for her that the wedding would be carried out in her mother's custom and she would have to cover her face until she got into her husband's house.Only then would she be unveiled.
A few hours were remaining before the wedding ceremony and there were some ceremony she had to perform before the wedding.
Just then,the door opened and her mother got in, followed by her aunt,Preeta and her grandmother.
At the sight of her grandmother, Calista hopped off the bed and ran to her.She tightly hugged and fresh tears began washing down her soft cheeks.
The old lady hugged her grand daughter back and patted her back affectionately.Calista continued crying in her grandmother's arms.
"It's okay dear...stop crying now,"the old lady tried to calm her down after some minutes of hearing her granddaughter cry.
But Calista's sobs intensified. She almost wailed but she took hold of the pains that wanted to be shouted out of her young and innocent chest.
After all,she had decided to be strong.
"It's okay...hush now my dear,"the old lady continued soothing her.
Calista loosened her grip around her grandmother and wiped off her tears.
"Am sorry I got emotional when I saw you,"she apologized while wiping away her tears.
"It's absolutely fine dear...we all understand what you must be feeling,"her aunt spoke.
Calista stopped mid way and looked her aunt.
Did that mean that they knew what was going to happen and they were also in agreement of it?
She had to ask.
"You already know?"she asked calmly.
Her aunt nodded silently.
Calista nodded after her. She did not think it was a big deal now.The betrayal from her mother had hurt badly...but from her grandmother,it was more than worst.
"You too grandmother?"she asked, intentionally avoid her face.She could not bring herself to look at her grandmother for agreeing to such conspiracy and... infidelity.
"Forgive me dear...we are all afraid of the outcome if Maverick knew that his bride ran away from home. The shame that will come upon our family,what would happen to your grandfather who already agreed to the union.
Your reputation will tarnished badly and you may not find a good husband to marry you,"the old lady explained.
Calista still saw no sense in what her grandmother was saying.The fact she was stating for her right now were so archaic to her.
How would saying the truth to Maverick affect the man who would love her?
Did money too have an influence on love and choice for partners?
Calista saw no sense in arguing any further with them.She could see there was no turning back at this point.
"Tell me something about him,"she finally spoke.
Both the mother,aunt and grandmother were shocked by her request.
Her aunt got hold of the shock and responded to her.
"W-well,we don't know much about him.But we know he is Maverick,he owns lots of businesses and he is rich.He is also very handsome..."her aunt spoke.
Calista was disappointed by the answer.
That was not any important information a girl needed to know about her groom to be.
She let out a loud sigh,she had to accept that she was going to get married to man she did not know and neither did her family.
She walked towards the bed and sat.
Her grandmother came to her and sat beside her.
"We have to start the ceremonies...we have to perform the haldi ceremony,then the sangeet and the hinna ceremony..."she informed her with a charming smile.
"...so let's get you changed into this saree and these jewelries I brought for you,"she spoke as she took a bag from her younger daughter,Preeta.
She took the saree from it and placed it on her laps since she did not want to receive it.
"I will get changed myself..."Calista answered calmly.
Her aunt wanted to oppose that idea but her grandmother stopped her before she could do so.
"It's fine dear,we will be waiting outside for you...be fast,the ceremonies have to take place soon since the wedding will be at eight pm,"her mother spoke.
Calista remained still...she did not respond to any of them.
She was for once again thankful to her mother for naming her Serenity,at least she kept still unlike her elder sister.
The trio walked outside and left her alone.Calista stared at the dress once again.
A huge lump formed on her throat...she did not even know that the wedding would be an Indian wedding.
She did not even get the chance to choose the wedding she wanted.According to their customs,her husband's name was to be written on her palm...no,not her husband's name but her sister's husband's name.
A tear escaped her eye when she thought of that.She wiped it of and stood from the bed.She took off the clothes she had been wearing and kept on the saree.
She had never liked sarees but now,she did not have a choice.She had to wear it.
The saree was pure white.It was adorned with small diamond stones.Its shape resembled a huge umbrella.It was more of a ball dress.
The skirt fitted exactly at her waist and the shirt hardly touch her lower abdomen.She took the scarf and hanged it at her left side.
She let her hair down.It covered her all the way to her lower waist.
She put on the jewelries and wore white flat shoes.She looked at her reflection on the mirror.She was very beautiful.
Too bad she had to hide that beauty by veiling herself.She took the veil and wore it.
Ready for the ceremonies.
She went out and found her mother, aunt and grandmother waiting for her.
She lifted the veil for them to see her.
"Oh my!...you look beautiful dear!"the old lady exclaimed happily.
Calista would have loved that compliment if it was any other time but now,she felt nothing good out of it.
Ishaani was overwhelmed.
A tear dropped when she saw how awesome her daughter looked.She wished that she would get married to a man she loved but because of her and her naughty daughter,she could not get that.
"My baby..."she exclaimed as she embraced her.
Calista really felt like she would break down to tears again but she did not,she fought the feeling so hard.
"You look very beautiful my angel,"she added.
Calista did not even smile at the compliment.She remained still and tough.
"Okay,stop it already you two.We all have known Calista for her extreme beauty so it's nothing new is it?..but we have to start the ceremonies,"aunt Preeta spoke when they were all getting so dotty and emotional.
Ishaani lowered her daughter's veil and they all went downstairs.
The ceremony began,Indian songs were played.
Calista's family and her closet friends came to celebrate the ceremonies with her.
The haldi ceremony began and she was applied haldi both on her cheeks,her hands and her feet.
To everybody's surprise,no one was allowed to see the bride's face...not even the most closet friends.
The sangeet ceremony followed where they all danced together.
Everybody was happy, dancing with joy except for Calista and her mother.
How could the mother celebrate when she was personally destroying her daughter's life and the other daughter was missing?
It was impossible for her to be genuinely happy for her daughter's wedding.
The henna ceremony finally came and flowers were drawn on her hands and her feet.
Everything was conducted in a bit of a rush due to the little time they had.
"What's your husband's name?"the lady who was applying the henna asked.
Of course they knew but it was a custom.
The bride had to mention the name of her husband to be.
Calista hesitated for a moment.
Her husband's name...
"Maverick..."she softly mummured.
"His name is Maverick..."she repeated.
The people around her clapped happily.
The name was written on her palms and it was left to dry.