Reflections

It was my cousin's wedding. I was all set. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. I was satisfied with the look. The sari was draped around me neatly. The make-up was flawless. Not a strand of hair out of place. I smiled again, and walked up to the porch, got into the car and set off.

We reached a little late and everyone came rushing to me asking me what took us such a long time. They ushered us in with all due courtesy. I went straight upto the dais and wished the merry couple. Then I lost myself in the huge crowd of relatives, exchanging pleasantries and sweet nothings. I met many of my cousins whom I'd fallen completely out of touch with. Then someone told me to go upstairs for dinner. That was when I first saw him. I didn't pay any attention. I went straight up and settled down for a hearty meal. After what seemed like hours, we were ready to leave. I was just saying goodbye to the bride when he came up to where we were standing, and said,"Hello..." We were then formally introduced. He turned out to be the bride's brother. We exchanged our phone numbers and e-mail ids and chatted casually for a few minutes. By then it was time to leave.

I left for Chennai the next day and was back at work. Suddenly the phone rang...and that's how it all began. It was him. He said he called up to tell me that he would send me the photographs soon. A sixth sense told me right then that the photographs were only a lame excuse. And hey, I wasn't wrong. The next thing I knew, my folks were talking about getting me married off to him!

Strange are the ways of God. I wonder why He shuffled up my slow, easy-going routine... and landed me in something so unexpected... so unbelievable. It all seems like a dream... so unreal. Is this really happenning to me? Shake me out of this reverie, oh merciful Lord, and show me the way. I don't know what my feelings are. Should I say yes or not? Was this how it was meant to be? Is this what they call "love"? Tell me... oh, somebody, tell me...