Chapter 81

Sagar's POV



She was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen and she was mine.

Every slow step she was taking towards me was making my heart flutter. Everyone else faded and all I could see was her coming towards me very slowly and shyly.

Then she looked at me for a fraction of minute and oh shit !! ... My heart stopped.

" Are you fine? " Asked Gautam and Vikram.

" Hmmm... ? ... Yeah, I think so... "

" Good... I am still here... Let me know if you need my help. " Vikram teased me but I did not pay much heed to it.

" He is besotted... " Gautam said.

" As if we were not. " Vikram said and they all started laughing.

She came near the stage and I extended my hand and she placed her Heena covered hand on mine. I helped her to come up on the stage.

Swati and Manyata got the garlands on the platters for us and we picked them up. She was looking so beautiful that I kept looking at her and forgot to react.

" Come back on earth... " Sahil whispered in my ear. All my friends laughed. Damini blushed beautifully and I smiled.

" You both are supposed to exchange the garlands to get married. " Gautam said, while others laughed.

" Damini, are you having second thoughts about getting married to him? " Vikram asked. I hit him with my elbow.

" Damini it is your last chance... Think about it. After all who would like to get married to a dumbo like him. " Mehul said. Idiot... She just gave a blushing smile.

" There are some girls who don't bother, like that beautiful girl who married you. " Sahil said to him. Mehul got embarrassed and glared at him first but then smiled. All the others laughed.

" Beta, it is the right muhurta, so do the ceremony first and then tease each other as much as you want. " My mom said and we all nodded.

This was such a fun-filled ceremony. She had to put the garland first... My friends picked me up so that she could not put the garland over my head. She tried thrice but every time they picked me higher. She shook her head.

Samar said, " Don't worry sister, I am here. I will pick you up. " he was about to pick her up when she shook her head.

" No. Samar it is ok, " Then she said something in a very low voice.

" What?? " I was wondering what she was saying. I looked at her but she was not looking at me.

" She said to me that if you don't want to get married to her then it is fine. She asked me to find another ready one. " Samar said loudly.

" What?? Never... Don't you even think about it. Put me down, you morons... " I said and they placed me back on stage.

I went near her and bend my self but she did not put the garland in my head. I caught her hands and she looked at me I smiled so sweetly at her that she ultimately smiled at me. I bent my head again but shook her head.

" What?? Please yaar. " I said and held her hands and made her put the garland over my head and put mine over her head, immediately. Everyone laughed at my action but I didn't care. She was smiling shyly. Everyone showered flowers over us.

Then we proceeded to the wedding mandap and a small bowl of water was offered to me that I had to drink. I sprinkled some on my feet and drank the rest. Then Pandit Ji offered a special concoction made with curd, honey, milk, ghee and other sacred essences. ( This is known as the Madhuperk.) I had to take a sip off that drink before the wedding rituals commenced.

Then her parents did the Kanyadaan. (An old Vedic ritual, in which the bride is given away by his parents to the groom. He requests the groom to take good care of his daughter and the groom accepts the bride’s hand and promises her father that he will treat her with utmost love and respect throughout his life.)

The wedding havan was lit which is the sacred fire. ( In Hindu custom, the fire deity is the foremost witness of a wedding.) A plate was handed over to me, which had fourteen parallel lines drawn on a bed of flour with flowers.

" These lines symbolize fourteen vows of marriage. 7 for the groom and 7 for the bride. " The priest said and outlined these vows one by one through Vedic mantras, I repeated after him and erased one line with a flower bud. I said my 7 vows and Then Damini said her 7 vows.

Then he asked us to get up. Then Swati and Manyata tied the ends of our dupattas in a tight knot and we encircled the sacred fire.

I applied the Sindoor ( vermilion) to Damini's hair parting and tied the Mangalsutra around her neck. She was looking so pretty with sindoor and Mangalsutra. All the rituals were completed and pundit Ji declared that we were man and wife now. We took the blessings of all the elder ones. I was the happiest person around.

It was time for us to come out of mandap and when we came out my shoes were not there... But who did that??

Oh god !!! How could we forget Joota Churai? Maybe we were casual as usually the bride’s sisters take hold of the groom's shoes and hide them. But Damini was the only child of their parents. I looked at Sahil.. he didn't have a clue. But then we saw Samar Anshu, and Manyata standing there with a smile on their faces.

" Why are you smiling Samar?"

" Because we have your shoes dear Jiju.. ( brother-in-law). " Samar was smirking.

" How can you be on their side? " Sahil said to Samar.

" Their side?? Damini is my sister... This is my side. "

" Manu, why are you on that side? " Swati asked.

" Damini was very sad that Anshu will be alone on her side and she wanted me to be from her side.." she explained with a smile.

" Fine... " I said with a smile but somehow Sahil was angry.

" So are you ready to pay as per your demand Jiju? " Anshu said.

" What are your demands? " I asked with a smile.

" ₹ 50 thousand ... " Samar said.

" Are you out of your mind?? We can get 10 pairs of such shoes in 50 K. " Sahil said he was annoyed.

" Then go and get one for Sagar Ji ... " Manu said glaring at him. Sahil looked shocked.

" How do I know if you have his shoes or not... I want to see them first.... "

" You have not seen shoes till now Sahil ?? " Samar asked which irritated him more.

" What if you don't have his shoes.. show them to us first.... "

" Ok... Manu please bring the shoes.. "

Samar said and she nodded.

" Sure.. " she said and went to take the shoes.

All my friends, Samar and Anshu were arguing about the money and were trying to negotiate while Damini and I were smiling.

After 5 minutes I saw, that manu was coming almost running towards us. She was panting.

She had only one of the shoe in her hand. We all were surprised to see only one shoe.

" Where is another one? I need the whole pair Manu. " I smiled at her.

" He snatched it from me ... "

" Who ?? "

" Your brother.. "

" Sahil ?? "

" Hmmm," She said... I saw him coming with another shoe. She was glaring at him.

" Why ??? Did you do that Sahil? " I asked him.

" It was our thing and they stole it... So I wanted them back. What is ours, is ours. "

" Sahil it is a ritual... " Samar said.

" I don't care... " Sahil said in an angry tone.

" Ok.... Don't argue.. here Anshu, take this... " I gave her the money... But Sahil stopped me.

" Give only half the money... I have one of these. " he showed one of the shoes.

" Then wear that one and go ... We don't want your money. Manu give that shoe to me. " Samar said and laughed. Manu gave that shoe to him.

" Sahil let it be... It is just a ritual. " I said and he nodded. But went away from there after glaring at them. I gave them the money but Samar refused to take it. He gave the shoe back to me.

" We don't need that just take very good care of my sister. " Samar said. I smiled and nodded at him. He is really sweet. Swati is lucky, that he is in love with her.

I offered it again to Anshu and Manu. But she shook their heads too and smiled.

" Ok if you will not take this then I will get some gifts to you.." I said and they smiled.