My Summer Love Story

Finally today is the day, the d-day as most people would like to call it. Most people are bogged down by the feeling of excitement and nervousness on this day, even I experienced it when I went through this routine for the first time. Yes, I am not doing this for the first time. I have already been down this road and experienced what people expected me to feel. But today, it’s different. This feeling is different. I feel... How do I put it in words?

I feel liberated.

a smile broke through my face as soon as the realization came to me that finally today is the day when I get to embark on a journey of happily ever after. Happily ever after, every man’s dream and I am no different. I also want to live a normal life in a nice cozy house with the love of my life and two dogs. I have a house and the two dogs and as the sun will bid goodbye to this day I will even have the love of my life in my arms. Holding my love in my arms - this thought sent a wave of happiness across my body.

I want to enjoy each and every moment of the day. Right from the moment, I woke up, to this moment when I stood to enjoy my coffee from my balcony looking across the seas and the people who were making last minute arrangements. I enjoyed everything, even the chaos in the garden because they were happy chaos, the ones that bring a smile on your face, not a frown.

Every moment of this beautiful day has been memorable to me til now. I sighed happily standing in front of the mirror when her voice broke my reverie and I couldn’t help but smile realizing she is here.

“You are still not ready Nikhil” Saira walked in with a disapproving look. “I was just going to but” I tried to explain but she shook her head disapproving. “Don’t even try. I know you were brooding. Dude I have known you for 10 years” she marked her territory about knowing me as she sent me to the dresser to get changed.

True Saira knew me for 12 years, 5 years as my girlfriend, 5 years as a wife, 2 years as ex-wife but whole 12 years as my best friend. She has been a constant in my life. I don’t know what I would have done without her. I know I broke her heart by telling her the truth that I never loved her the way she loved me but she stood by me. She stood by me when my whole family turned my back on me. She was the one who made me fight for my true love saying it’s worth fighting for.

In her words - “True love is worth losing everything and everyone for that one person.”

“Nik stop brooding again and come out already” her voice brought me back from my thoughts. I put up my custom made black Versace suit, got to admit the fit is perfect. “Thank god your hair and other things have already been taken care of” Saira spoke as she took the task of fixing my bow.

“So nervous?” she asked. “No” I replied confidently and she glanced at me then shifted the focus back to the bow. “I feel I was waiting for this day and this moment my whole life. I am cherishing every bit of it, I am freezing these memories in my mind so that I can play them whenever I want. “Wow! I never saw you so sure about wedding. Not even on our wedding day” she whispered the last sentence and turned but I heard. I heard and I held her wrist and spoke in a remorseful tone “Saira I am...” but before I could complete she turned around and placed a finger on my lips, silencing me. “Don’t go there. Not today. This is your wedding day to the one person for whom you fought yourself, your family and practically everyone you know so just breathe in and breathe out and enjoy this day and your wedding Nick.”

“You know you are good at making me feel better” She swayed her head at my statement and replied, “Well its the job of a best man, well in my case best woman to make the groom comfortable and I am just doing that.” I pecked her forehead agreeing with her.

“It’s about time. So shall we?” she asked me and I inhaled deeply before saying yes and walking out to start a new chapter of my life. The most beautiful chapter.

“I hope you prepared your vows. Don’t mess like the last time” Saira warned me as we both took our positions at the aisle. There was still time for the ceremony to start, people were getting comfortable in their places. I smiled brightly as the cool breeze from the ocean washed upon me. I love this time of the year. Clean fresh air, crunchy leaves on the ground everywhere, a nip in the air that makes you feel alive. In other words, fall is the best time of the year.

I looked around and realized Montauk at this time of the year is even more beautiful. I always wanted to own a house in the Hamptons, I worked hard to make that dream come true and now I do own a beautiful beach house there. And right now I am getting married at this beach house. I saw my mother happily chatting with her mother as she waited for the ceremony to start. She genuinely looked happy today with her smile finally reaching her eyes. She came in terms with my choices and decisions and I couldn't be more thankful to the love of my life for making this happen.

2 years of struggle, fights and lots of confusion later finally today is the day when I get what I deserve. I wonder how did I get so lucky to find a person who loves me so much, a person who completes me. Now I know why they call soulmates. My love is my soulmate and there is no denying it. I greeted the minister who walked in to officiate the wedding. He smiled and complimented me on the decor. I smiled in acknowledgment and threw a glance at the decor. We wanted to keep the decor simple, white and blue combination, both our favorite color. White is mine and blue is ...

I smiled stupidly recollecting how we argued like kids over this decor combination. The smell of roses and hydrangeas filled the air when Saira whispered: "Your wait is over."

I looked up in anticipation with my heart picking up a beat and skipping a beat, both at the same time. Time stopped for me when I saw my love walking down the aisle. It's the look which makes you realize that this is the person you want to wake up next to every morning and the person you want to kiss goodnight to. I will always remember this moment when I saw my love shining in his eyes as he walked towards me with his mother.

Yes! Him, his smile, his love and now our love.

Nikhil weds Kunal - it's happening finally.

Like every cliche movie that I saw, I couldn't stop tears running down my eyes as Kunal blew a kiss in the air. I wiped my tears and smiled back at him. He looked happy, I am happy, we both are happy. Kunal being Kunal started being a tease as he realized how I wanted him to right next to me. He walked slowly shaking hands with everyone, seeking their blessings and chatting with them. I made an annoyed face and Saira chuckled "Gosh! I am so proud of Kunal for wrapping an arrogant and pompous guy like you on his little finger." I rolled my eyes and replied, "You have no idea what a pompous guy he is."

"You two are a match made in heaven" she commented and I couldn't help but smile. Yes, we are a match made in heaven, the caged birdies who finally found sky to fly high, but together.

Finally, his long walk down the aisle came to an end as his mother placed his hand in mine and kissed our foreheads blessing us. Kunal kissed my hand making my stomach flip and I squeezed his hand in assurance. We both smiled with content as the minister started the ceremony.

Nikhil weds Kunal - finally it's happening.