New pov

JAVELIN DEAN.

Javelin Dean, born in San Francisco, daughter to Aleixs and Chris, you can say I am the definition of the perfect daughter, or maybe not. But have it in your mind that, I'll do anything for my family, and I mean every word being said.

On June 13th, 2016, I met someone special, hold it. Before your head starts imagining things, I want you to know that the special someone I met is, Avanti Meera, an Indian who came to study business at the University of Brighton, that's where we met and became friends, from our first years of in-school till we both graduated and now my bestie is about to get married, to a guy her parent's arranged for her.

Yes, it's an arranged marriage, which is quite common in India, well all marriages that occur over there, are mostly arranged marriages, while a few are love marriages.

I do hate love, so I'd much prefer the arranged one with a stranger, wait! Come to think of it, how can I marry a stranger, and most importantly how can we be able to live together without knowing anything about each other?

But oh well, I am not the one who's getting married but Avanti, and I am certain she's excited about it and so am I, I cannot wait to travel to India.

Alarm beeps.

I reached out to shut it off, but it kept on ringing. I always love  morning sleep, however, the alarm is getting on my nerves

"Get your ass up, we are running late" For some reason Avanti's voice keeps wrecking my sleep, "Urgh!! Let me sleep" I turned my back to the other direction of the bed, however, Avanti dragged me off, and I fell with my face on the ground, "now can you get up and take a shower" She looked at her wristwatch.

"Why? Today is Saturday, please let me sleep" I pulled down a pillow from the bed.

"let you sleep, Are you forgetting today it's the day, I meet the man my parents want me to marry," she says.

I got up in an instant.

"Oh shit! I forgot about that, I'll get ready right away!!". I replied and hurriedly got into the bathroom.

An hour later, I strolled out holding my briefcase, "I'm ready" I said in a funny voice, "finally! Shall we?" She walks to the taxi.

While driving to the airport, I saw how serious Avanti looked, "hey! Are you okay" I couldn't help but ask, decerning how cold she was.

"I am fine, I just don't know how and what he looks like" Avanti was nervous about her arranged marriage with a stranger, "well that's why it's called, an arranged marriage" I spelled it out the way an arranged marriage was called one.

"I know but I am very concerned if he's going to like me, what if the alliance doesn't get fixed

She bites her nails off.

"Calm down and take a deep breath" I pulled out a key chain and passed it to her.

"Aww!! You still remember our promise key chain" She gazed so emotionally at it, "Yeah, that's to show that you are my best friend, and no matter what happens, I'll never leave you, so If any man refuses to marry you, he is a big fool because my best friend is a  queen, who deserves nothing but a king" I run my hands to her, as we both shared a warm smile, "thank you bestie" she says back to me.

After a few hours spent on air, the airplane ducked onto Indian soil, "Welcome to India", Avanti smiled at me as we both got into a taxi that took us straight to her home.

A few minutes, it stopped at a huge building, damn, I exclaimed while getting out of the taxi, Avanti kept a fast pace, and I know how happy she has been expecting to see her parents.

She walked and informed everyone that she had returned by screaming at the top of her voice.

Immediately the entire room got swarmed.

A man and a woman rushed down, Avanti tossed her bags on the ground and went to them.

I'm guessing they're her parents.

They shared a loving moment, and just then I heard a man's voice walk in.

He rode past me and went straight to Avanti.

They both hugged each other and she called him brother, Abhishek Luther Meera.

Avanti brought me to her parents and introduced me to them as her best friend.

Avanti's dad, Mr. Ajay gave me a warm welcome.

However, Mrs. Anuradha, Avanti's mom had the face of someone who didn't like the fact I was the best friend to her daughter.

Is it because I'm not Indian?

Mr. Ajay asked us to freshen up.

Avanti takes me to her room before walking me to the guest room.

I placed my bags on the bed and knocked myself down too.

Avanti smiles and follows me.

"So tell me, how do you feel coming home with me,"

She asks.

How do I feel?

Can I say happy or a little bit anxious as to what my stay here might bring?

"I'll go with let's see what happens next,"

I replied.

She nods her head and gets up from the bed, I look at her when her mom walks into the room.

She gets her face a little twisted seeing me.

I'm so certain, Mrs. Anuradha doesn't like me

Avanti went out with her after she told her in-laws were on their way to finally meet her.

She asked me to get ready as well since I would be keeping Avanti company.

I shook and got dressed into the first thing my hands touched inside my suitcase.

I came down later and met the entire Luther Meera family dressed, they stood by the door waiting to welcome the Avanti's groom.

Avanti, on the other hand, wore a beautiful Indian dress, she looked so innocent with her blue eyes that if any man saw her, I'm sure he would fall in love with her at first sight.

The groom's family walks in with the Luther Meera family, I hide behind a pillar but somehow Abhishek sees me there.

When they all sat down I rode quietly and stood behind one of the maids there, he looked at me and moved out of the way uncovering my presence to everyone.

Avanti lifted her head and caught me stuck in a tight spot.

Mrs. Anuradha grudgingly asked me to sit but had some time to scan my attire.

I took a seat behind and quietly watched without contributing anything.

Both the families started the whole marriage discussion.

I noticed Avanti didn't move or shake her head without being asked to.

It almost got me smiling. Indians' way of getting their children married is very different.

Don't get me started on the bride price.

In the Western part of the world, the bride price is paid by the man but in India, the woman is the one that pays them but in the end, they still respect the marriage.

Strange right?