Niki's House
The front gate was half-covered in fresh marigold garlands.
Yellow and white streamers fluttered lazily in the June breeze.
The sound of hammering, laughter, and loud aunties filled the air.
Inside, the house looked like a living magazine cover… that had exploded.
Suitcases. Sarees. Dupattas hung on chairs. Blouse fittings happening in the corner.
Cousins racing up and down the stairs. The living room had been taken over by half-packed gift trays and opened sweet boxes.
"Niki! Zara meri jhumki dekhna, kal kahaan rakhi thi!"
Her sister's voice echoed from the bedroom.
Niki walked in — wearing an old T-shirt smudged with haldi stains from the mehendi invite shoot the day before, holding a mug of half-drunken chai.
"Which one?" she asked.
Her sister — Sums — turned, hands full of bangles.
"The big gold ones. The ones I'm wearing for the sangeet. Mom's set."
Niki rolled her eyes and rummaged through the overflowing vanity box.
"Did you check under the lehenga pile?"
Sums scoffed, flopping onto the bed.
"I can't even see the bed anymore."
"That's what happens when you say 'I'll clean later' every day for two weeks."
Sums threw a cushion at her.
Niki ducked, laughing.
Then — she found the jhumkis. Held them up triumphantly.
"Here. Near the window. With the socks. Don't ask why."
Sums gasped, "Thank God!", grabbed them, then hugged Niki without warning.
Niki froze — mug still in hand.
"You okay?" she asked, pulling back slightly.
Sums nodded, then shook her head.
"I'm excited. And nervous. And happy. And tired. And I haven't had proper pani puri in a week."
Niki laughed, sitting beside her.
"That's it? You're doing fine then."
They sat there for a second — the only quiet pocket in the house.
Then — a horn honked outside.
"That must be Bhai!" Sums said, jumping up.
Niki peeked out the window — sure enough, their brother's dusty blue car had just pulled up.
From it emerged Kunal — with his backpack, two cake boxes, and zero patience.
"Can someone help with this?! I brought pastries!"
The house erupted again.
"Bhaiii!!" Niki yelled from the window. "You're 2 hours late!"
"Delhi traffic!" he shouted back. "And why is the gate half-decorated? Who ran out of flowers?"
Sums rushed downstairs while Niki stayed behind for a moment — watching from above.
Their house. Full. Loud. Messy. Alive.
The fairy lights on the balcony glowed even in the afternoon sun.
The wedding was 15 days away — and even though her own life was still a mess — in this moment, Niki felt something rare:
Peace.
---
Later that Night
In the bedroom, Sums sat cross-legged, going through the invitation list.
Niki was on the floor, folding sarees into labelled packets.
"Did you invite that one friend of yours?" Niki asked.
"Which one?"
"The one who always wears neon and fake British accent."
Sums burst out laughing.
"You mean Simmy?"
"Yes. That one. If she comes in orange heels again, I swear I'll hide them."
They giggled, shoulders brushing, like old times.
Then Sums looked at her and asked softly,
"You're okay, na?"
Niki paused — not at the question, but at the tone.
"I'm fine."
"You sure?"
Niki nodded.
"It's your wedding. I'm not letting anything mess that up."
Sums leaned her head on Niki's shoulder.
"You've been doing everything. Handling vendors, calling tailor waale bhaiya ten times, convincing Dad to try sherwani... You didn't even complain once."
Niki smiled.
"That's because I'll complain all at once. After you leave."
There was a pause. Then Sums said, quietly—
"You're going to miss me?"
Niki smirked, resting her head gently against Sums's.
"Obviously not. I'll finally get the big cupboard to myself."
"Liar."
They laughed again. Together.
And in that room — surrounded by lehengas and fairy lights and undone checklists —
they didn't feel like two girls on different paths.
Just… sisters.
Home.
The Next Morning — Home Before College
The house was already full of noise by 8 AM.
The pressure cooker whistled in the kitchen. Voices overlapped. The smell of turmeric, tea, and fresh marigolds filled the air.
And then —
"Niki!!"
Her mother's voice echoed across the hallway.
Niki had just stepped out of her room, adjusting her dupatta and slinging her bag over her shoulder, when her mom snapped:
"Where do you think you're going? At this hour? You're worried about college — who's going to help around the house?"
Niki let out a tired breath.
"Mom, I told you — it's the freshers' party. I have to go."
"Freshers party? Your sister's wedding is in fifteen days and you're thinking about parties?"
From inside her room, Sums called out — still pinning the sides of her dress:
"Mom, let her go! It's important. She's been planning this for weeks."
Her mother frowned deeply.
"The wedding is important too. No one in this house seems to care!"
Niki moved faster, slipping her phone into her crossbody bag.
"I'll be back by lunch, Mom. I'm not skipping anything. It's just for a few hours."
But her mom wasn't convinced.
"Yeah yeah. Everything is more important than wedding work. When the guests start arriving, don't come crying to me that you're tired. Go on!"
Guilt twisted in Niki's chest, but she didn't stop.
She grabbed her notebook and rushed toward the door.
Just as she stepped out of the gate, she quickly dialed a number.
Niki (on phone):
"Ravi! Can you pick me up? I'm running late."
Ravi (laughing):
"Oye, perfect timing. I was just about to leave. Meet me at the corner in 2 minutes."
Niki walked quickly, adjusting her bag.
The wind tangled her hair, frustration in her chest.
---
On Ravi's Scooter – On the Way to College
The scooter screeched to a stop in front of her, and Ravi tilted her sunglasses with a grin.
"Just going to college, right? Or should I bring a wedding band too?"
Niki gave a tired smile and sat behind her.
"Don't start. Mom yelled at me again today."
"You told her about the party?"
"Yeah. But in her world, nothing matters more than wedding prep."
Ravi rolled her eyes as they zipped through the road.
"Well, the wedding can wait. A freshers' party happens once. Your sister gets to look like a bride every day now."
Niki let out a short laugh.
"Sums took my side, though."
"Of course she did. She's cool like that. But tell her to chill with the bridal drama."
Niki grinned — the wind slowly calming her down.
As the college gates came into view, Ravi added—
"Oh, by the way… I'm coming to your place at 9 tonight."
"At 9? Why?"
"Dress trials, makeup matching, mehendi planning — all that jazz. And please tell Sums: be ready. No excuses."
"I'll tell her," Niki nodded.
"But don't expect her to be on time. She's already married to her mirror."
They both laughed —
a warm, shared laugh that cut through the chaos and college stress.
And just like that, their day had officially begun.