It was finally the wedding day.
Alya looked in the mirror at her gorgeous dark red lehenga. It was intricate and beautiful. She looked ethereal. Her makeup made her big eyes look bigger and more doll-like, while the dark red lip made her lips plump and gorgeous. She looked like a beautiful blushing bride.
"It is time." Her mother said, walking in the room. Her mothers' eyes were teary and her voice was shaking slightly. She gently grabbed Alya's arm guiding her outside.
There her father stood tall and handsome, greeting guests, not bothering to acknowledge her.
Alya was guided by her mother to her father. Both of them gently took either of her arms, guiding her down the aisle.
She looked gorgeous. Guests admired and cheered as she slowly made the way down the aisle.
Alya was certain that if her parents were not holding her arms she would have fallen, her legs felt shaky and her heart was thumping like a drum.
As she got near the end of the aisle, she made eye contact with Zak.
Zak stood, tall and regal, with a long black kurta and dark red dupatta, matching the shade of Alya's dark red lehenga. He looked even more gorgeous than she saw him two days ago.
She stopped the urge to wipe her mouth incase she was drooling as her arms were still being held by her parents.
Her father gave her hand to Zak, which he took. His hand was warm and comfortable. She wanted to hold his hand forever, never letting go.
Her father told Zak "Take care of my daughter," which made Alya feel a little teary and her throat heavy. Beyond the book world, in real life, she did not have parents. She did not know what a father or mothers' love was. Though she barely knew book Alya's parents, the little gesture of her father right now made her want to cry out.
Her father left the podium and Alya's hand remained with Zak. He was once again very close to her. She could not breathe or think, even if she tried. The proximity of his closeness was too much, she could barely hear the guests or the priests' words.
Therefore, she was taken by surprise when Zak wrapped his arm around her waist, placing his other hand on her neck, leaning in for the kiss.
She had never kissed anyone. The whole world seemed to black out, and she could only feel his warm lips.
Her heart had once again started beating erratically.
Zak kissed her like she was oxygen and he wouldn't survive without her. He kissed her so hard as if she would disappear in a second.
Alya forgot how to breathe.
Zak reluctantly let go, as he realised they both needed to breathe.
The crowd was shocked, witnessing the passionate kiss. It was a simple kiss: there was no tongue or anything. Yet, the pair seemed so engrossed with each other, it was as if they needed each other to breathe.
After recovering from the initial shock, the crowd cheered for the couple, with Zak's best friends cheering the loudest. They all knew how much Alya and this wedding meant to him.
But, not everyone in the crowd was happy.
Alya's best friend Sasha, who had worn a gorgeous red lehenga (not as intricate as Alya's lehenga yet nonetheless beautiful) sat with her boyfriend, Julian. Both were unhappy.
Sasha was confused to see that Alya had actually followed through with the wedding and not run away. But, then again it was a good thing. If she was married, she would stop chasing after Julian, her handsome and rich boyfriend, right?
Yet, Sasha remained unhappy. Alya looked gorgeous in her dark red lehenga, with everyone unable to keep her eyes from her. Sasha was not used to the lack of attention. She didn't care if it was Alya's wedding, she wanted to be in the spotlight no matter what.
Julian had barely been paying her any attention throughout the wedding, constantly glancing at the podium, waiting for Alya to emerge. And, when she did appear, he could not tear her eyes away from her.
Julian was unhappy because Alya did not even glance in her direction. This was not normal. Usually, Alya would do anything in her ability to seek Julian' attention.
Beyond the unhappy couple, there were aunties, who were also unhappy.
"They were so interlocked, did they have not shame?" one aunty said, as she ate her fifth samosa.
"Of course they don't! Don't you know the bride doesn't even like the groom?" said another aunty, as she sipped mango juice with loud slurps.
"Really? But, she was not hesitant to kiss him so.." the aunty was unable to finish the sentence as she was overwhelmed with disgust. The other aunties noticed what she was hinting at.
"That's because she has no shame, she's lustful female dog" responded another aunty, shoving a mouthful of rice in her mouth.
Despite their unhappiness, their words drowned amongst the loud crowd that was celebrating the newly wedded couple.
Their words were drowned with the loud cr
The newly wedded couple went around the room being congratulated by friends and family. Throughout all the greetings, Zak remained a firm hand on Alya's waist. It made her feel safe. Though, she did feel a swarm of butterflies flying in the bottom of her stomach, which surely wasn't healthy for her body.