Tomorrow is the wedding and today Mehendi function will be performed. I am trying to be happy but it's very difficult. This past month has been trying for so many reasons.

After Mayank dropped me home I went to the solace of my room and cried my heart out. Cried for my pain, for my love and for myself. After crying so much no more tears were left and I felt a bit better getting it all out. Now all that was left was to be happy for them. I numbly changed my clothes and threw the dress in the back of my closet never wanting to seeing it again, not wanting to be reminded of this day.

I went to office as usual, did my work and avoided him at all costs not wanting to face him. The project was a success and I was appreciated by all. He too congratulated me on my work and I thanked him professionally not making him aware of the internal struggle going inside me. After which I never talked to him again except for the usual hello's when he came at home to see Antara Di or at the usual parties.

During that time I went out on a date with Mayank as he was so persistent and not understood the word 'No'. Also wanting to come out of my self misery, after two weeks I finally relented and said yes. I really enjoyed my time with him but there was no attraction as such maybe because I was still hung up on him. First Love is hard to forget. We mutually decided it was better to stay off as friends and often went on friendly dates.

Everybody is happy with the wedding. Dad and mom are over the moon and have been preparing everything for the wedding. Clothes shopping and jewellery shopping was all finished and I wholly participated in all the preparations masking my hurt with a smile on face which didn't reach my eyes.

But there has been something that has been bugging me. Antara Di is different. She is not as happy as she was in the beginning and was always lost in her own world. At first the changes were minimal but as the time went by they became much more prominent. She gets angry whenever anybody mentions anything related to the wedding. She stays in her room not wanting to come out. All the shopping was done half heartedly as if she wanted to be anywhere but here. She even stopped meeting Siddharth saying they have all the time to spend together after marriage. Mom and Dad were tensed and asked me to talk to her. I remembered that day.

I knocked at her door. "Di it's me. Can I talk to you?" I asked her.

"Yes come in" she answered back.

I opened the door and went inside to see her standing in the balcony gazing at the moon. I looked around her room designed according to her taste. Stylish and Classy. Just like her.

I went towards the balcony and stood next to her not saying anything thinking to myself how to approach her.

"Anika say what you want to say" Di said suddenly still looking up at the night sky.

" How did you know?" I asked her surprised, how she knew why I came to see her?

"I have known you for 24 years lil' sis. Give me some credit" she said mischievously finally turning towards me but her eyes were sad.

"Di what's wrong? Are you not happy?" I finally asked her what has been bothering us all for so many days.

"I am happy Anika, I really am. But I have been caught up in this battle between my heart and mind, that I can't seem to decide which side should I choose" Di said leaving me confused. Seeing my confused face she continued "You know my one and only dream?"

"Yes. You always said that you want to be a world famous model. You wanna go to New York and do modelling for the famous designers. Be a known face in the modelling industry" I mused remembering her telling me all about it in an excited way when she just started her modelling career.

She laughed but in a bitter way in reply to my answer and said "Some dreams remain dreams only. They never come true" in a dejected voice. But then she covered it all up and gave me a wide smile.

"Arre, don't be so senti Anika I just wanted to act mature since I'm getting married soon" She said again.

I didn't comment anything thinking about my own dream. Siddharth loving me back. Him and I together. I sighed and agreed with her in my mind, some dreams never come true.

"Are you happy Di?" I asked her again.

"Yes. I'm just nervous. I know I have been acting weird but it's all nerves. Getting married and all, you are bound to get sacred"

"Are you sure? You can tell me anything you know" I told her

"I know lil' sis I know" with that our serious conversation ended and we talked about all the random stuff where she teased me about Mayank and I refused all her accusations. It was nice to spend time with her like old times but I could still feel her hiding her happiness. Her face and eyes both told a different story. When I was leaving I heard a soft whisper  "Sometimes your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows" I wasn't sure what I heard and what it meant and I didn't ask her anything about it. Next day I informed my parents that Di is just nervous that's why she's acting like this and they happily resumed with the marriage preparations.

"Anika? Anika? ANIKAAAA!!" I heard someone screaming and came out of my trance to see my best friend looking at me.

"Where are you lost? I have been calling you for the past 15 minutes and You were just lost in your day dreaming!" She exclaimed

"I was just thinking about something. But why were you looking for me?" I asked her before she lectured me some more.

"Aunty is calling you downstairs. Everybody has already arrived but the bride's sister" she reprimanded me.

I nodded and looked at myself in the mirror to see if I looked okay. I was wearing an emerald green Lehenga with golden work on it at the bottom and the sleeves of the blouse. The golden dupatta with the Lengenga complemented the look. My makeup was minimal and natural with a bold deep wine lipstick. After feeling satisfied, I quickly wore my golden Chandbalis and left with her.

The whole house was decorated with flowers and lights giving it a festive look. All the faces looked happy and everybody was enjoying. I saw my Di dressed in her golden Lehenga getting her henna done. She looked beautiful as usual. She was smiling and dancing but again I had this nagging feeling that everything was not right with her but I pushed it back.

My mom dressed in a red saree motioned me to come towards her and dragged me to the dance floor. I was hating all this attention on me and called Maya to come dance with me. Together we danced on songs after songs when other people too joined us to celebrate. My mom and dad were dancing while Aarav was making videos on his phone. I brought Di with me and we as a family had a blast and enjoyed this time together. This time Di was laughing and smiling genuinely with tears in her eyes while looking at us. Suddenly Di's phone started ringing and she left in a hurry to talk, after sometime when she came back all the happiness from her face was gone and worry marred her face. I looked at her and with my eyes questioned  'what's wrong' and she shook her head answering my question in 'nothing'.

________________________________
A/N:

Pic of Mayank above 🔝

Wedding in the next chapter.