“Where is the wedding dress?”
“Has the designer packed the shoes with the dress?”
“The makeup artist will be here in 30 minutes, wake her up?”
There were too many people talking at the same time and I got off the bed comprehending what was happening. It was my wedding day. Neha held me by my shoulder and said, “You have 15 minutes for a shower, you cannot be late today.”
She went back to the wardrobe and started laying my wedding dress on the bed. Neha is my colleague who I have known for 3 years.
I locked the bathroom door behind me and my mind wandered under the warm water.
I met Neha at my first job, it was her second and she was a year older, unmarried. Neha was my go to person for everything related to work, work gossip, work politics, basically my world from 11 am to 8 pm; Monday to Friday. I longed for a best friend since childhood and wondered if I have found mine after all these years in Neha.
She waited till 10 pm one night in office with me till I sent an important proposal to my client
She covered for me when I had to meet my boyfriend for an in between work lunch date
Friday nights were no longer humdrum
She is by my side on the most important day of my life
There was a knock on the door, “Hurry up Rhea, this is not the best time for the bath of your life. Get out, get dressed.”
I was recently promoted and since I have become the boss she hasn’t been her friendly self
She made sure our CEO knew that it was her idea that the client had liked the best
She wasn’t there at my bridal shower
I left that thought in the shower and entered the room, to my horror my college friend Ali stood there staring at me.
“And I thought I would see you in a wedding dress, talk about keeping it subtle.”
“Get out of the room now, Ali.”
“Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“I am but let me be in a condition to be glad.” I said adjusting my towel to make sure no one can see through.
“Come Neha, let’s get out and b*tch about the b*tch”
Ali left the room with Neha and I was alone again wondering if Ali was my best friend. He has been a part of most of my adult life.
The college projects, vivas, co-studying.
Getting caught texting each other in class. I let a quick laugh.
“All ok in there?” yelled Neha from the hotel lobby.
Embarrassed I said, “YES!”
I wandered back as I wore my lehenga
Ali proposing, I refusing his proposal
Him vanishing from my life after graduation for 2 long years and coming back into my life 2 years back.
Ammm…. Not so much.
Before another knock on the door I opened it. My make up artist, Neha and Ali were having a chat. After I let them in, I sat by the dresser and my make up artist started painting layers on my face.
“I know I am late but I have a valid reason, I couldn’t find the right Chandra bindi to suit her lehenga,” Raima entered announcing with a bag that was oozing out with hair and a lot of shiny sparkly things.
Raima is my school/ childhood friend who I know since Kinder Garten.
Raima and I have grown up together. We have shared our likes, our crushes, helped each other out when one got into trouble with teachers or parents.
But Raima was a bright and a smart kid. She used to study alone and call me to her house for revising what she studied. And I, a dumbo that I was. I used to go to her house and that would be the first time I opened the book. As obvious as it is Raima scored well and was also awarded student of the year award and I barely managed a Distinction.
Later she tried her hand at engineering as every bright Indian child who scores 93% in 10th Standard does. After 2 years of failing in multiple subjects she flew to London and got a degree in Fashion. She did not land a job there so joined a hair cutting salon close to her university and realized her passion was HAIR. She studied some more and came back to India and now is a celebrity hair artist. And hence my hair stylist for my wedding look.
She freed my hair from the high messy bun I tied and started arranging my hair in beautiful braids. As she pulled my hair at intervals I realized how she tricked me in school and how she did not reply to my pings on yahoo messenger when in London.
No she is just a good friend. Doesn’t qualify as a “best friend”.
I was ready by 10.30 am. The muhuratam for the wedding was 11 am. I was not supposed to see my husband that day till then. There was continuous jibber jabber among the 3 till I was composing myself and trying not to flip out and be hysteric on my wedding day.
“Shh…shhh.. will you’ll please be quiet?” I screamed
“Oh my god Drama queen!” said Raima
“Let her be, it’s her day today. Stop being mean,” said Ali giving me a kiss on my forehead head.
“Off we go guys,” said Neha grabbing Raima and Ali by their arms. The room was empty and I could hear my heartbeat.
So, here I am at 30 finally marrying the man I love with 3 of my closet friends by my side, my family, relatives and some more friends. But who is my best friend, I wondered.
I tried lifting my head as much as my heavy hairdo allowed me, to look at the clock. It was 10.50 am. My uncle called me from out of the door. This was it, in 10 mins I will be a married woman; yes, but someone’s best friend? No.
My uncle assisted me out of the doli and I stood on the mandap. All I could see was a silhouette behind a white ceremonial cloth that divided me and my husband. I was handed over a garland. The Pundit started with the mangalashtaka and I could feel the tears in my eyes.
Raima hushed into my ears, “stop crying, you’ll ruin the make-up”
Ali joined her, “you are flying to Bora Bora tomorrow, chill! Think of the naughty things he’ll do to you n stop now.”
Neha hushed in another ear, “You are marrying the love of your life, no room for tears now.”
At that moment the ceremonial cloth was lifted and I could see Kaushik for the first time in 2 days. As he looked into my eyes memories rushed my brain.
……He was there, when Raima left for London.
…….He was there, when Ali vanished from my life.
……..He was there, when Neha started acting indifferent.
He was always there, my friend, my confidant, my HUSBAND and my BEST FRIEND!
Bespectacled View 