"I DO........"

The wind slowly transformed into a breeze and gently blew on her face as she stood near the window. The white veil fell elegantly and effortlessly over her head and behind, like a stream of undisturbed and untouched water. Her daughter had selected it to match her flawless white gown. A smile spread on her face as she remembered.

 “let’s get married in Paris”, that girl of 9 suggested.

“Nope,in Las Vegas”, he replied with a grunt.

“How about near a beach?..”

The discussion went on and on. Stupid and senseless. The confusion was as simple as the answer.

“let’s get married, every five years…..chumma.”, he came up with the brilliant idea ”I know its stupid and senseless and complete waste of money but come on!! at least we’ll have something absolutely ridiculous to look forward to then, who knows how booooooring we might grow up to be then …” he went on with a glow in his eyes and over doing the word “boooring.”  Her face glowed as she imagined it and she had nothing better to suggest. It was a deal.

She chuckled as she rememberes it now. How stupid and innocent were they. A promise, made by the innocent kids. She was just a kid then and he was her best friend, then and now. They were no lovers, neither we they anything less. He had held her hand through all ups and downs. And he still held it strong. But she had totally forgotten about this conversation until one day, a month before their 5^th wedding anniversary,

 He said...” so u ready?”

“For what?”

“To marry me , idiot??”

“Are u crazy???I am your wife bhudhu…..”

“yep. But we had a deal………..”, he said winking at her. And so it went on…….

 “ Mom!!!!!! We are ready whenever you are, Miss Bride…” ,Irene announced with a wink  as she stood there holding the door open. Her girl had indeed grown up to be just like her father.

She looked into the mirror to get a last glimpse of herself. She had no long earring or bangles. Just a single chain that fell elegantly over her pale neck and deep down. She looked pale, very pale to be true and her last few strands of hair…..”The treatment ……” , she remembered with a smile on her face and a pain piercing her heart. But she had not bothered to cover it up with make-ups.

Her hands trembled as she caught hold of her daughter’s, in an attempt to bid goodbye to her wheel chair for a few hours. It was her decision and hers alone to walk down the aisle and she was determined to complete it. The morphine was starting to loose its effect but with every step that send a pain like a sword through her body she smiled while whispering to herself, “You cannot fall, you cannot fail…” She had an “I DO………” that she had promised him today.  For, this would be the most memorable gift she could gift him in their married life of 25…..as it would be her last………..