J - Jasmine

Image courtesy: Google

I watch her get dressed for her wedding; she made a beautiful bride. The ruby red of her saree complimented her skin tone, the wedding jewelry was handpicked by her mother specially for the grand occasion. The bangles caressed her hands, the jasmine buds kissed her hair. I'm however, busy clicking pictures, capturing each perfect moment of her special day through my lens. Each shot frozen in time; her smile reaching her eyes in all of them. 

Sometimes, she looks up at me and smiles, a rosy glow on her cheeks which I know is not the effect of any makeup. She is my best friend. And today, she is stepping into another phase of her life. Like most friendships, I know that this would change our relationship forever. 

Was I in love with her? Who am I kidding. It wasn't love. It never was. Did I have a crush on her? Couple of years back I had asked myself the same question. Maybe she felt it too. Which was why when I had kissed her that night she didn't resist me. She simply closed her eyes and gave in to my kiss, almost as though she had been expecting it all night. 

I still remember that night clearly. It was the night of a friend's engagement party. She was dressed in a midnight blue lehenga that brought out her dark eyes. The crystals on them shone in the moon light as she moved. But what mesmerized me were the jasmine buds she had woven into her hair. Maybe she knew what it was doing to me as she continued to flirt with me on our drive back. 

The locks of her hair that came undone when I had pushed my hands in them as I kissed her had the sweet fragrance of jasmine in them. The same scent lingered in my car long after she left, reminding me of what we had and what we could have been. 

And today, the drops of water that was sprayed on the jasmine buds to keep them fresh throughout the day reminds me of the beads of sweat that had formed above her upper lip just before I had kissed her. I shake my head. This can't happen now. It was too late. I click a final picture before she leaves the room all decked up as the gorgeous bride. She looks back and gives me a wistful smile. 

Maybe, in this life we are not meant to be, Darling girl. But there would come a time when you are you and I am me and we can love each other honestly. Until then, I wish you nothing but all the happiness that you so deserve. You are magic. And you were mine. Don't ever forget that. 

Linking this post to the A to Z Challenge.