:: 30 ::

                                    

                                          
Two months after her engagement, Lathika returned to Madurai, the weight of wedding plans and family expectations pressing down on her. Just as she had begun to settle back into her routine, a call from her grandmother, Jaimathi, came through, asking her to join for a shopping trip to pick out gold jewellery and sarees for the wedding. It was a distraction she hadn't realized she needed, but welcomed all the same.
The group consisted of Lathika, Jaimathi, Raahini, and a few women from both hers and Prashanth's families. They were a lively bunch, moving from one shop to another, debating styles, colours, and which designs would suit everyone best. Lathika smiled to herself as they fussed over every detail, picking out sarees in shades of gold, red, and blue, each woman with a different opinion on what the wedding should look like. She couldn't help but think that her wedding, despite all the glamour around her, would be nothing like this. She had planned it to be simple.
She wanted everything to feel classic—nothing too over the top, no unnecessary decorations. The idea of extravagant chandeliers and grandiose centrepieces felt foreign to her, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt it didn't align with the kind of marriage she wanted.
When she told her grandmother this after the shopping spree, Jaimathi had paused, raising an eyebrow, sceptical at best. "Simple?" she repeated, almost as if the word was foreign in the context of the event they were preparing for.
But Lathika had been firm, insisting that she wanted a small, intimate wedding with a quiet elegance.
"Are you sure about this?" her grandmother asked again, the scepticism lingering in her voice.
Lathika smiled and nodded. "Yes, Achi. I want it to be about the two of us, not about the show."
To make sure there would be no misunderstandings, Lathika texted Prashanth, wanting to make sure they were on the same page.
Lathika: How do you want your wedding to be? Grand or simple?
An hour later, her phone buzzed with a reply.
Prashanth: I'd be happy if we did a registry marriage, even, but I'm fine with however you want it to be.
Lathika's heart fluttered, a smile creeping across her face. He always managed to make her feel so heard, even if it meant something less extravagant than he might have imagined. It made her feel secure, knowing that he wasn't the type to want a lavish affair. A small wedding felt right for them, especially after her previous experience in event planning with the disastrous wedding in Tirunelveli.
The memory of that event still stung—how the bride and groom had snuck in a surprise fountain firework display, ignoring the contract that explicitly forbade it, only for it to malfunction and cause chaos. The damage had been more than physical; her reputation had been scarred. But Prashanth had been there for her in ways she hadn't expected. After returning from a long-haul flight, he'd come straight to her house, his face etched with worry. He had been angry on her behalf, ready to confront the couple and their families, but Lathika had refused. Instead, he stayed by her side as she worked through the mess. He had been a gentleman, offering support and strength when she needed it most. He was the kind of man who made her heart skip beats.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She looked up, surprised to see Raahini standing in the doorway, a warm smile on her face.
"Patti," Lathika greeted with a smile. "Didn't know you were coming. I would've been downstairs with everyone. Is there something you need?"
Raahini smiled, shaking her head. "Nothing at all, just wanted to have a chat with you." She gestured for Lathika to sit, pulling her gently down next to her.