chapter 3

It was her mother, her face etched with concern. "What happened, Aditi? Are you tired?" her mother asked, her voice filled with worry.Aditi forced a smile, trying to push down the disappointment that it wasn’t Aman. "Yes, I guess so, Mom," she replied softly.Her mother’s expression softened as she gently stroked Aditi’s hair. "Oh, don’t worry, darling. I know all this wedding shopping and planning can be exhausting, but we’re almost done. Once we get home, you can take a nice, long nap. A good beauty sleep is essential for a bride to look her best, you know," her mother added with a chuckle."Yeah, you’re right, Mom. I think I do need some rest," Aditi responded, her voice tired, her mind still partially distracted.Her mother’s gaze lingered on Aditi, taking in the sight of her daughter in the bridal lehenga. "Just look at you, my dear… you look so beautiful, so divine in this dress. Almost like a goddess," her mother admired, her eyes brimming with pride and love."Aman picked this out for you, didn’t he?" her mother asked, her tone warm.The mention of Aman’s name brought a blush to Aditi’s cheeks. Instead of answering, she simply nodded, a shy smile playing on her lips."It’s stunning… and it suits you perfectly, my girl. You look like a queen in this lehenga," her mother continued, her voice filled with admiration. "You know, he didn’t just pick out this dress for you. He chose outfits for all of us, and they’re all so beautiful. I can’t wait for you to see them when we get home."Her mother paused for a moment, her smile fading as a more serious expression took over. She took a deep breath, and when she spoke again, her voice was thick with emotion."Aditi… my child… I’m sorry," she began, her voice trembling. "We’re so sorry… for not realizing  sooner how wonderful Aman is…"Aditi’s eyes widened as she saw the tears welling up in her mother’s eyes. She could feel her own tears threatening to spill over."We’re sorry that we didn’t see how much he loves you, how much he cares for you… We were so blinded by our prejudices, by the caste difference, that we didn’t give him a chance. We insulted him… and we hurt you," her mother continued, her voice cracking under the weight of her guilt. "But despite everything, you both waited for us… you waited for our approval, and you never gave up hope."Her mother’s words were now choked with sobs, and Aditi could feel her own tears slipping down her cheeks.Seeing her mother in such a state, Aditi moved closer and wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tightly. "Mom, please, let’s leave the past behind. Don’t dwell on that painful time. Let’s focus on the present and the beautiful future we’re all going to have. We’re all happy now, aren’t we?" she whispered, trying to comfort her mother.Her mother nodded, still holding onto her daughter. "Yes, we’re happy. We’re so glad we gave you the chance to explain yourself, to show us how much you love each other. And we see it now, Aditi. We see how perfect you two are for each other."She pulled back slightly to look at Aditi, her eyes shining with pride and love. "You’re such a strong, mature young woman. I’m so proud of how you handled everything… and we’re so lucky to have a daughter like you, and a son-in-law like Aman."Aditi looked into her mother’s eyes, seeing the pride and happiness reflected there, along with the tears that threatened to spill over. She smiled softly, leaning in to kiss her mother’s cheek.In that moment, as she hugged her mother tightly, Aditi felt a deep sense of peace and satisfaction. The doubts and fears that had plagued her just moments ago melted away, replaced by the warmth of her mother’s love and acceptance.