With you by my side

Karishma took a steadying breath. Her nerves were shot, too much adrenaline running too fast through her system. A knotted stomach and entwined fingers followed by a achingly straight back resulted in a not-so-comfortable experience.

 Her cheeks hurt.

A wobble of facial muscles hit and her smile slipped. She opened her jaw wide, wriggling it around a little to loosen the tension.

Her mother gave her a reproaching look, tutting under her breath.

She rolled her eyes.

"Its not becoming for a girl to roll her eyes," hissed her mother.

A naughty grin and another roll of eyes was followed. Her mother mock glared, before smiling indulgently too. "Impertinent girl."

Karishma chuckled, before adjusting her heavy ghaghra. Bothersome clothes and heavy jewellery were not being her friends right now. A splitting headache was approaching soon, she just knew it.

Much too much time had been spent on pointless face painting. Why women chose to sit under the glare of yellow lights for hours at end was beyond her understanding. Wasn't it  a wise mother who said that pinching your cheeks was enough.

Wait, that was her mother.

And yet the woman had ensured that products were slathered on her face. Talk about volte face.

Another pleasantly plump aunty approached her, pinching her by now naturally red cheeks in affection, before handing over another reassuringly plump envelop. If she were going to have to sit through this shindig, she'd rather earn a couple of bucks. A Zara sale was just around the corner.

She spotted her younger cousin facing the Spanish inquisition. Shuddering she thanked her stars that she wasn't going to be at the receiving end of that conversation. Old biddies hounding you about 'marriage prospects' was the worst thing in the world.

A sigh involuntarily escaped.

This was boring.

"You're gorgeous," he whispered, his breath a warm caress on her face. The familiar scent calmed her down, his reassuring presence by her side the only thing making all this worth it. She could totally do this. Because he was there.

Despite the aching cheeks, a wide grin reappeared on her face.

"You're the bride. Don't smile so wide," admonished her mother.