I came back to my house with a smile on my face. I get inside and see my parents waiting for me in the living room. They looked up at me as soon as I entered the house. There eyes were filled with expectations and they both had big smiles on their face.
"How was he?" Papa asked standing up from the sofa and walking towards me.
"He was nice" I said smiling. I knew I was going to be interrogated as soon as I reach home. So I already stopped in a park and thought about it properly before reaching home.
"Will you marry him" Mummy asked holding my hand and smiling.
"Yes, I will marry him" I said nodding my head slightly with a blush on my face. They both smiled and hugged me excitedly.
"Arjun had already said yes" Papa said and I smiled brightly at this. I mean I am almost 28 and I have never had a boyfriend. Its time I have some love life finally and he was nice and I didn't see any reason to deny it.
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I was laying on my bed and its almost evening. I pick up my phone and see a message from Arjun. He was asking about my answer and If I was okay with the marriage. I replied yes and asked him the same question. I keep my phone down and start thinking about our meeting today.
It was nice meeting him. He kept me engaged and we talked a lot. I did not feel awkward around him after those first few minutes. He was very sweet and he told me a lot about his job and how he sometimes loves it and sometimes hates it. I guess that is applicable for everyone. I mean I didn't like my college at all but still continued because the course was fun. He also told me about his past relationships. I hear a knock on my door and went to open it. I open the door and see my mother standing outside.
"Arjun and his family will be coming tomorrow for your Roka" she informed me with a teasing smile on her face and I shook my head at her. We will have our Roka(it is a ritual of saying that we have fixed the marriage and some gifts are exchanged between the families prior to the engagement) and our families will also approve about our marriage too.
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I wake up with a knock on my door and squirm in my place to reach my mobile. I checked the time on my phone. It was six in the morning. Who is disturbing my sleep this early and why? I get up and open the door.
"Your in laws will be here at 11. Get ready" mom said looking anxious and I shook my head at her. She has a habit of being punctual and its irritating sometimes.
"There are still five hours for them to appear. I will wake up at 7:30. You also just go and sleep now. Don't take tension, huh? Go and sleep" I said to her with a sleepy face and voice and patted her shoulder. I turned around and went back to my bed. I heard the door closing after a minute. I just wish she also gets some sleep and doesn't worry a lot.
It is 10:50 now and mom has dolled me up completely. I am in a green bandhani saree and my hair are left open. This saree I bought it for my college but thought it was very old looking so just kept it in my cupboard. I have straightened my hair too, honestly they are already straight but straightener gives a shine to my hair. I have done my makeup as much as I know. I will say that I am looking nice.
Arjun and his family must be arriving very soon. He lives in a joint family. His father and his father's elder brother(Mahesh uncle) live together. They both have two sons. Virat bhaiya(elder brother) and Rohan bhaiya are Mahesh uncle's sons and Akshit bhaiya and Arjun are Pankaj uncle's sons. His all brothers are already married and they all have kids. I already know all of them and I and Gargi bhabhi(Akshit bhaiya's wife) already share a good bond. Whereas I have a nuclear family. In my family there are only me and mom and dad. Everyone else lives in different cities and I am not very close with any of them.
I heard the door bell ring. It must be Arjun's family. Soon after a minute I heard noises from downstairs. My mother came in and asked me to come with her. I entered the living room and saw everyone settled. My eyes met Arjun's and he smiled looking at me from head to toe. He was wearing a back shirt with a black jacket and pants. He was looking really handsome in the all black outfit.
I made my way towards them and touched the elders feet.
"Navika, come and sit here" Akshit bhaiya said and made me sit next to Arjun. I was pushed by everyone of his brothers in a playful manner and Arjun held my hand and helped me to sit giving me space to sit. We were sitting very close as the sofa was packed. My arm brushed against his and my heart started beating very fast and I was unable to concentrate on what everyone was saying.
I squirmed a little to move towards Aunty(Arjun's mother)and Arjun realized I was uncomfortable and shifted a bit and adjusted his hand so it will not brush mine. I smiled at him and he gave me a cute grin. Soon after that roka ceremony started and Arjun's family gave me some stuff and my parents gave some stuff to Arjun
After the Roka ceremony I took Arjun to the garden as asked by our families.
"You look beautiful today" he said standing in front of me and smiling
"Thankyou. You do too" I said looking everywhere but him to avoid blushing
"I look beautiful too?" He asked teasing me with a smile on his face
"Yes" I said finally looking into his eyes. He smiled brighter and we walked in the garden in silence talking here and there.
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Their outfits for the Roka
Just imagine her hair open