𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 ~ 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+| - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Author's POV:-
Sakshi gasped waking up from her sleep. Her forehead was full of sweat breathing heavily. She look around to find herself in her room. Her eyes immediately filled with tears as she curled up her knees to her chest.
'Yeh toh bas ek bura sapna tha..par yahi agar sachme ho jay toh??' she murmurs thinking about her married life.
(This is just a bad dream but what if it happens in real??'
'Ajj meri shaadi hain par mujhe yeh nahi pata woh insaan kaise dikte hain??..naam tak nahi pata...suna hain ki mujhse bohut bare hain umra mein...' she whisper wiping her eyes..
(Today is my marriage but I don't even know the person's face who will I get married..I don't even know his name..I heard that he is quite older than me..)
She got up from her bed took out one small krishna murti from the drawer..
'Bacha lena krishna ...bas yeh dekh lena ki woh baba jaisa bilkul na ho...aur kuch nahi chahiye mujhe' she said kissing her Krishna's forehead as one lone tear escape from her eyes.
(Just make sure he doesn't turn out like Baba krishna.. and I don't want anything else)
Her favourite god is Krishna.. whenever she got in some problem,she always comes to her krishna for solution.. she knows her krishna will save her from every problem.
After praying for sometime, she directly went inside the bathroom to freshen up. Rituals will start in a few hours.
In the evening, a makeup lady had come to get Sakshi ready - to do her makeup and drape the heavy bridal saree.
"Wah, Sakshi! Tumhari mehendi ka rang toh bohut gehari nikli hain..lagta hain hone wale pati khub sara pyaar karenge.." one of her cousins teased, making the others burst into laughter.
("Wow, Sakshi! The color of your mehendi (henna) has come out so rich... it looks like your soon-to-be husband will love you a lot!")
Sakshi gave a small, shy smile, but inside, her heart was pounding like a drum.
Her eyes found her mother, who was sitting quietly in a corner, simply staring at her. In a few hours, she would be married. In a few hours, she would have to leave her mother behind.
"Chalo Sakshi, uth jao... mujhe ab tumhari saree pehnani hai, phir baal set karungi," the makeup lady said, and Sakshi got up, heading towards the other room.
("Come on, Sakshi, get up now... I have to help you drape your saree, and then I'll set your hair.")
But to her confusion, the lady started opening the saree right there in the room.
"Haan haan, tum blouse aur petticoat mein khadi ho jao," she said casually, making Sakshi feel even more awkward.
("Haan and just stand there wearing your blouse and petticoat.")
Sakshi's eyes darted around the room - all the elderly women were watching her with smiling faces, making her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"Woh... hum dusre kamre mein jaa sakte hain?" she whispered shyly.
(" Woh can we go to another room??")
The makeup lady chuckled.
"Kya Sakshi, ab humse kya sharmaana? Hum toh apne hi hain... asli sharmaana toh pati ke saamne hogi.." one of the women joked, making Sakshi's cheeks turn even redder.
("What, Sakshi? Why be shy with us? We're your own people... the real shyness should be saved for your husband!")
Feeling helpless, Sakshi silently looked at her mother, hoping she would understand.
"Ji, aap please Sakshi ko doosre kamre mein le jaaiye," her mother requested politely.
(Jii, please take Sakshi to the other room.")
The makeup lady nodded and took Sakshi to a smaller room next door. Sakshi let out a soft sigh of relief.
As the woman started draping her saree, Sakshi could still hear the gossip and laughter of the ladies outside.
"Humaari Sakshi toh abhi saree pehante hi itna sharma rahi hai, socho aaj raat ko kya hoga!" one of her elder cousins teased.
("Our Sakshi is already so shy just wearing a saree, imagine what will happen tonight!")
"Tab toh Sakshi bilkul paani- paani ho jaayegi," another lady laughed.
("Then our Sakshi will totally melt into water...")
Sakshi nervously bit her lower lip. She had a little idea about what happens on the suhaagrat - she had read a few things in her school books and heard bits and pieces from her friends and cousins, but never in full detail. Everything still felt unknown and scary to her.
Outside, she heard her aunt call out to the makeup lady,
"Behanji, hamari beti ko achhe se tayyar karna... jaise hi jamaisa dekhen, bas dekhte reh jaayein... aankh hi na hata paayein!"
("Behanji, please get our daughter ready beautifully... the moment her groom sees her, he should be left speechless... unable to take his eyes off her!")
The baarat has came and everybody went down to see the dulhan. Now it was only mother and daughter in room.
Sakshi stares at her mother who cup her cheeks lightly so that it doesn't ruined her makeup. She wished she could took her maa from this house with her.
'Maa..' she whisper as her eyes got little teary.
'Mein bachi duniya ki sabse pyaari dulhan lag rahi hai..' her mother gave a teary chuckle as she put kaala tikka under her ear.
("My daughter looks like the most beautiful bride in the world...")
'Ek baat bolni thi... hosake toh aaj raat kisi cheez k liye apne hone wale paati ko mana mat karna hmm??' her mother said making her confused.
("I wanted to say something... if possible, don't refuse your would-be husband for anything tonight, hmm?")
She smiled kissing her forehead,
'Unhe jo bhi karna chahe ..karte dena...agar mana karegi toh aur zyada takleef hogi...'
("Whatever he wants to do... just let him. If you resist, it'll hurt even more...")
Sakshi didn't understand but nods her head.
'Mere aashirvaad har samay rahegi tere sath..' with that she hugged her daughter as Sakshi lips wobble clutching her neck tightly. She doesn't want to leave her maa but wished she a had choice.
("My blessings will be always there with you..")
Her mother gently took her downstairs, where the groom's family was waiting.
Sakshi clutched her mother's hand tightly, her heart pounding with nervousness.
And then, her eyes finally landed on him.
Her breath caught in her throat when she found him already staring at her.
He was dressed in a cream-colored sherwani and a maroon dhoti, looking effortlessly royal.
Feeling her cheeks burn, Sakshi quickly lowered her gaze, unable to meet his intense eyes for long.
Her mother led her closer and made her stand beside him.
The whole time, Sakshi kept her eyes down, feeling her heart thudding loudly inside her chest, while her Maa performed the aarti.
One thing she noticed was just how tall he was - he seemed so towering that even if she stood straight, she wouldn't even reach his shoulder.
They were both sitting on the sofa, waiting for the marriage rituals to begin, which would start in just ten minutes.
Sakshi nervously played with her fingers, and whenever someone came to greet them, she quickly folded her hands politely.
From the corner of her eyes, she kept stealing glances at him.
She noticed how calmly and respectfully he answered every question, her relatives asked him.
But she also realized something else - he didn't smile much.
There was something about him - a serious, strong vibe that made him look even more intimidating.
It made Sakshi's heart-beat little bit faster.