Akshatha knew that this family trip was going to be different from the usual gatherings.
There was an engagement celebration on her eldest aunt's side, and she knew that attending meant she would eventually have to come face-to-face with people from a part of her past that she had no desire to revisit.
In her mind, they were the people she remembered as the so-called in-laws and the husband from her past life.
She had no intention of allowing those memories to control her.
Still, she knew they might be there.
So she prepared herself carefully—not out of fear, but because she wanted to walk into that gathering completely confident. She wants to show in this life as time passes the gap between them will only grow
While packing, she chose her clothes thoughtfully.
She packed several pairs of good-quality jeans, along with elegant lehengas for the family functions. She also packed different pairs of footwear—heels, pumps and comfortable flats, choosing each according to what she might need for the occasion.
Nothing about her luggage was extravagant for the sake of showing off.
But the quality was unmistakable.
The fabric of the clothes was fine.
The stitching was neat.
The footwear was well made.
The accessories she carried were tasteful and carefully selected.
She had reached a stage where she no longer needed to prove that she could afford quality.
It simply showed in what she owned.
As she folded another outfit into her suitcase, she paused for a moment.
This wasn't the same Akshatha who had once been trapped in circumstances she couldn't control.
Financially independent in ways she had once only dreamed of becoming.
The following day, the group finally set out for the engagement.
There were quite a few of them travelling together, including Akshatha, her brother, her cousins and members of the eldest branch of the family. The journey took several hours, and by the time they reached their destination, it was already night.
Everyone was tired from the travel.
After checking in, they had dinner together at the hotel before heading to their respective rooms.
This time, they were not staying in one large shared space.
Her elder uncle had specifically arranged private hotel rooms for their group. He didn't want everyone crowded into one hall, especially with so many people travelling together.
There was a practical reason behind that decision.
For large family functions, it was common for the bride's side and the groom's side to arrange large halls or designated accommodation areas where their invited guests could rest, get ready and help with the preparations.
It had its advantages.
Everyone stayed close to the function venue.
Family members could easily help one another.
People could get ready together, share meals and quickly attend to anything needed for the ceremony.
But there were disadvantages too.
Privacy became almost nonexistent.
When a large number of relatives stayed together, people couldn't always focus only on themselves. Someone might need help getting ready, another person might suddenly need jewellery, accessories or some other item, and before long, everyone would be moving around helping one another.
Even getting a little rest could become difficult.
There was also the matter of valuables.
During weddings and engagement functions, many women and men would be carrying expensive jewellery, watches, accessories and other valuables. With so many people moving in and out of a shared hall, keeping track of everything could become difficult.
A private hotel room gave them a little more security and peace of mind.
At least they could keep their belongings properly arranged and locked away when they weren't using them.
Akshatha understood why her elder uncle had made the arrangement.
Large family gatherings were wonderful because everyone was together, but they also required a certain amount of caution.
There was another uncomfortable reality that people rarely spoke about openly.
When something valuable went missing during a family function, the situation could become extremely awkward.
If someone realized that a piece of jewellery was missing, they couldn't simply accuse another guest or demand that everyone search their belongings. Doing so could create a huge scene and be deeply disrespectful to the people who had been invited.
So people often stayed silent, hoping that whatever had been misplaced would eventually turn up.
Unfortunately, crowded functions could also create opportunities for theft.
Too many people.
Too many belongings.
Too much movement.
And very little privacy.
That was one of the reasons the private rooms were a better arrangement for their group.
After dinner, everyone slowly retired for the night.
The younger cousins talked for a while before finally settling down.
Akshatha returned to her room and looked over the clothes she had packed for the engagement.
Her lehengas were carefully arranged.
Her heels and flats were packed separately.
Her jewellery and other accessories were kept safely with her belongings.
Tomorrow would be the actual function.
And she knew that among all the relatives and guests gathered there, there might be familiar faces she had no desire to encounter.
She wasn't going to let that thought disturb her.
For tonight, she simply needed to rest.
Tomorrow would be another day.
And whatever happened, she would face it as the person she had become.
The morning of the engagement finally arrived, and from the moment everyone woke up, the hotel seemed to come alive with preparations.
One by one, the family members began getting dressed from head to toe. Outfits were checked, jewellery was matched, hair was arranged, shoes were selected and the final details were adjusted before they left for the function.
Some of the men were still getting ready, but Akshatha's eldest uncle was already dressed.
He had always carried himself differently.
Even when he was young, he had the kind of appearance and presence that could easily have rivalled celebrities. But it wasn't merely his looks that made him stand out. His knowledge, confidence, manners and the way he carried himself gave him a presence that was difficult to imitate.
He didn't need to seek attention.
It naturally came to him.
The eldest aunt looked equally elegant. She had chosen a beautiful silk saree and paired it with jewellery that matched perfectly. Everything about her appearance was traditional yet sophisticated.
The younger aunt was no less impressive.
In terms of elegance, she could easily stand beside the eldest aunt. The two women had a similar sense of style and, in many ways, thought alike. Whenever they dressed for family occasions, they somehow managed to complement each other without even trying.
The contrast became more noticeable when the younger uncle appeared.
His personality was completely different.
His pettiness seemed to show almost immediately, sometimes even before he said anything. Standing beside his elder brother, the difference between them became obvious—not simply in appearance, but in temperament, confidence and the way they carried themselves.
The eldest brother had a natural composure that the younger one could never quite match.
The elder cousins had chosen a different approach.
Rather than wearing something heavily decorated, they opted for minimalist designer outfits. The clothes were elegant without being overwhelming, and the quality and tailoring elevated their personalities rather than hiding them beneath excessive decoration.
Her elder cousin brother wore a well-fitted sherwani, looking perfectly suited for the occasion.
The younger cousins, meanwhile, looked like little dolls.
Their gowns were beautifully styled, making them look adorable as they moved around the room, excited about the function.
Then there was Akshatha.
She had chosen a lehenga that suited her perfectly.
It was elegant rather than overly heavy, with carefully coordinated details that made the entire outfit look polished. She paired it with a small, delicate chain necklace and a matching bracelet.
Nothing was excessive.
The beauty was in how everything worked together.
Her brother Manu wore a sherwani as well, completing the traditional look for the occasion.
From slippers and shoes to jewellery and clothing, every detail had been chosen carefully.
The family was finally ready.
For a moment, Akshatha looked around at everyone.
They were all dressed differently, each with their own personality and style, yet together they looked like one large, well-put-together family heading toward an important celebration.
She adjusted her bracelet and glanced at herself one final time.
She knew there would be many people at the engagement.
She also knew that somewhere among them could be the people she had been expecting to encounter.
But she wasn't going to let that thought ruin the morning.
She had dressed for herself.
She had come for the family function.
And whatever happened once they reached the venue, she intended to remain composed.
After all, she had not come this far in life to let people from her past dictate how she carried herself in the present.