The Runaway Bride! Part 1

Disclaimer:

This story is a purely fictional work. Names, characters, businesses, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events is purely coincidental.

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"Welcome! The arrangements are ready and we were waiting for your arrival" said the bride's parents humbly inviting the groom's family into an elite banquet hall that was beautifully decorated with a wide variety of flowers, decorative items and serial lightings. The pleasant fragrance spread in the air which warmly welcomed them. The lightings shimmered adding special attraction to the venue. The music was melodious uplifting the mood of the listeners. The traditional attire of the family members was much appreciated by the guests and relatives. The fireworks lit up into the sky bringing the festive mood to the on-goers too.

The groom's look got enhanced with the Royal Blue traditional indo-western ethnic wear Sherwani paired up with golden canvas mojari. The boutonniere placed on his left lapel close to his heart complimented his attire. His smile was radiant. The six feet tall and well-built physique was much envied by the bachelorette who missed such a handsome man while his eyes eagerly awaited his bride's entry. Walking onto the stage, he sat cross-legged on the love seat golden high throne chair majestically posing to the wedding photographers.

After a few moments...

"The reception is about to begin. Bring her here!" frowned the bride's father Narayan while his wife Lakshmi nodded listening to him. She rushed to their daughter's room.

"Aradhana! Let's go. The reception function is about to begin" said Lakshmi patting gently on her daughter Aradhana's shoulder. Aradhana lifted her head and stood up holding her dress gently. Lakshmi signalled her cousin Kamala to hold her daughter and lead her way to the stage. Kamala smiled and held Aradhana while Aradhana followed her in a well-mannered way. Aradhana's cousins too joined her. They giggled and talked about the groom romantically. Aradhana kept mum.

As Aradhana started walking towards the stage, the groom was awestruck to see her in the traditional attire for the first time. Her floral pink lehenga complemented her fair complexion while the glass bangles around her Mehendi applied hands and her anklets wrapped around her tender ankles turned the atmosphere into a romantic one for him. His heart skipped a beat as she greeted him with a smile from four feet distance. The invitees heartily welcomed her with their smiles. The groom grew restless and involuntarily started walking towards her.

"Aryan!" the groom's mother Indira called the groom to retreat his steps. She walked close to him.

Aryan turned to face her. Indira put up an act of adjusting his golden coloured turban and whispered into his ears "Calm down your nerves, Son! Don't behave so desperately in front of our relatives. They may call you a submissive one. I know that on seeing her, you feel like you are on top of the world but Control yourself! I am truly happy for you but don't give others a chance to gossip something unethical about us". He understood the intentions of his mother's say and nodded in agreement with a closed-lip smile.

His wait ended when his father Prabhu called him to stand beside the bride. Aryan stood beside his fiancee Aradhana. She felt shy and stole the glances now and then. The wedding photographer asked them to move closer for a close-up pose. She stood hesitatingly beside him that stir emotions in his heart. He sneakily moved close to her and tried to wrap her shoulder but held himself back not to flinch her.

The reception began on a positive note. The relatives and close friends blessed them with gifts and talked to them sweetly. The near and dear ones flashed smiles standing beside the couple, posing their best smiles for the photographs. Photos were clicked while Aradhana plastered a smile on her lips. The wedding photographers left no stone unturned to capture the moments that would become reminiscent memories for the wedding couple.

"You are looking pretty," said Aryan trying to hold her hand sneakily. Aradhana hesitated and gently slipped her hand from him. She thanked him for his compliments and averted her gaze. He adored Aradhana a lot and cared for her like always. Though he wanted to hug her right now and ward her off from the evil eyes he couldn't since she is not Mrs Aradhana Aryan Singhania yet. Her five feet seven inches height and appearance aptly matched with that of Aryan's... making them the most desirable couple. She was a few minutes away from becoming Mrs Aradhana Aryan Singhania. Soon, the wedding rituals began in an auspicious time.

The priest started chanting the holy mantras adding camphor to the Holy Kund. The rituals started taking place following the right order and the hall was filled with joys, gossips, laughter and happiness. The bride Aradhana was made to sit beside the groom Aryan. Together they started performing the rituals under the guidance of the priest. Aradhana sat quietly looking aimlessly at the sacred fire in the havan kund. Aryan tried to interpret her feelings but was preoccupied with the rituals.

After a series of rituals, Priest asked Aryan to tie the sacred thread mangalsutra around Aradhana's neck and was uttering the mantra "Mangalyam thanthunaanenaa". Just then, Aradhana gasped air and held Aryan's hands tightly. She stopped him from tying the mangalsutra by shaking her head signalling 'NO'. Aryan was taken aback. The entire hall fell into pin-drop silence. Narayan and Lakshmi were left shell-shocked. Prabhu and Indira furrowed their brows in utter confusion.

"I don't want to get married, Aryan. I am sorry." Aradhana's voice resonated in the hall. Invitees wide opened their mouths in shock. Aryan was dumbstruck. Aradhana holding her saree pallu along with his knotted angavastram stepped down from the stage with heavy teardrops rolling down her cheeks. Gathering courage, she started walking away from the stage.

"Aradhana!" yelled her father Narayan trying to stop her. Aradhana turned around to see her parents once. Fearing her father's wrath, she dared not to stop and ran away from the hall.

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To be continued...