Chapter-17

Shraddha Kumar
 
Tomorrow is my wedding day. 

I and Divi fought for some time because I always sleep on the left side of the bed but Divi is not letting me sleep on that place.

Letting a lot of debate, she took the right side of the bed. I love sleeping on the left side of the bed. even after marrying him, I will sleep on the left side only. If he wants then he can sleep on the floor I won't mind. I'm very stubborn in this matter.

 
Next morning

Sun is shining very brightly with its rays of hope. I thought of looking at how my life is going to be changed today. Today is D Day.

Yes. It is my wedding day.

I went to the washroom before Divi woke up. I had a bath and wore a bathrobe. 

I came near Divi and tried to wake her up. But she is not moving.

I thought of something and poured the whole jug of water on her face. 
She woke up in a jerk and looked at her surroundings.

I was laughing looking at her face.

"What the hell?" she shouted

"Hey get up sleepy head. How much more are you going to sleep? " I asked.

"What Radha is this a way to wake up a sleeping person?," she said in an irritated tone.

"I'm trying to wake you up from past twenty minutes but you are not moving at all that's why I didn't have any choice," I said  glaring at her playfully.

"Ok idiot don't start your lecture I'm going," she said irritatedly.

I went to my wardrobe to wear a lehenga for the first two rituals.
Sister in law came to call both of us. Sister in took me downstairs. In the living area, there was a setup organised for bride and relatives.

The very first ritual of today is Kangna Bandhana. The priest did Ganesh pooja at first and then tied a mouli (sacred thread) on my wrist. 
Then the Chooda Chadhana ritual started. 

As I don't have Any Maternal Uncle so my uncle decided to do this ritual. Chacha Chachi (Uncle-Aunty) gave me the set of 21 bangles of red/maroon and white/ivory in colour.

The bangles were kept in a tray and they rotated the tray through all elders who were present. People touch the Chooda and give their heartiest wishes to me for my future married life.

They blindfolded my eyes and my head was already covered by the Chunni. The bride can't see the Chooda until she is ready for the marriage.

The bangles are purified in a liquid mixture containing milk and rose petals. 

Then Uncle put the bangles on my wrists.

At that time flowers, petals were showered on me.

Then they covered the Chooda with white clothes and removed my blindfold.

Then we all moved to have some breakfast.

After having a light breakfast I changed my outfit. I wore a yellow dress for the Haldi ceremony.
I and Divi won't towards the backyard where it was organised that the ceremony will take place.

Sister in law made me sit in the place. She and Divi helped me to wear flower jewellery. Mumma came with the Haldi(Turmeric Paste)bowl. The Haldi paste is made of turmeric, sandalwood, rosewater and mustard oil. Mumma started to apply the Haldi paste on my cheek, arms, legs and face, with the help of durva. Then all the ladies started to apply Haldi on my body one by one. Then all the youngsters came. Divi and Kary applied it on my whole face.

There was lots of laughter and happiness in the environment. 

After completing the Haldi ceremony Mumma and bhabhi took me for the next ritual which is Ghara Ghardoli. We went to the nearby small shiv Ji temple with Mumma, sister in law, divi and few more ladies. Before entering into the temple, 

A pitcher full of holy water is then poured on me.

After this, I enter the inner sanctum of the temple and prays to the Shiv Ji and asks for His blessings. 

Then I came back home and took a full and proper shower. Mumma came into the room with my lunch. She started feeding me lunch.
After having lunch I kept my head in Mumma's lap.

 
"Radha, I know you're going to be someone else's daughter or daughter in law but listen to me this day is going to be the best day of your life and be the best daughter in law. I know you are the best daughter. Stand with them in their good and bad times. Please be calm and solve any problems. Do not let any problem come to your family. Please take care of everything my radha.I know how you care and love your family. Now they are also going to be your family. I trust you that you will make me proud." She said caressing my head making me smile.

I am going to Miss you Mumma.

She told me how a girl should stay in her in-law's house.

"I will take care of everyone but who will take care of me, Mumma?" I asked playfully.

"Haha, I know you will ask me this question. For that, your husband will take care of you. I trust him because I believe in the upbringing of my best friend" She said. There were unshed years in her eyes.

"Mom now don't cry. I can't see your tears." I said wiping her tears.

"No I'm not crying dear these are tears of happiness," She said  smiling at me.

"Princess tortures them to the high extent that they will send you here," Papa said to me in a teasing tone.

When did he come? He said coming near us.

"I will, " I said and gave hi-fi to Papa.

"You know I'm sure her husband will return her in two days only to be fed up with her," Kary said.
He is also here.

"You both will never change," Mom said frowning at us.

"Family Hug" stating that Kary came towards us and enveloped us in a hug. I cried thinking about leaving them.

"I know princess you will be the best daughter in law," Papa said with tears.

"I'm going to miss you, Papa," I said with tears flowing on my cheeks.

"Me too princess" dad said.

"Kary, are you not going to say anything?" I asked my brother who is also in tears now.

I hugged my brother who is very important to me. I will miss my family.

After that, I rest for some time. In the evening Divi woke me up. I freshen up myself and start getting ready for the main events of the evening.

The Makeup Artist told me to wear a blouse and covered it with Bathrobe. I followed her instructions. She started doing her magic on my face and hair. 

Then she and Divi helped me to wear my lehenga. Then Makeup Artist pinned my Dupatta and Chunri over my head. She also uncovered my Chooda. 

She gave some finishing touches. 
When I looked at myself in the mirror I couldn't believe that I was looking so beautiful.

Mumma came and said " You look beautiful my doll," I just hugged her in return.

Divi also complimented me making me smile at my devil best friend who is with me thick and through. I am not going to miss her because she'll be always with me.

I went downstairs with the help of Mumma, Sister in law, divi.
Uncle came near me and tied the Kalires on my both hands. 

There is a traditional belief that. A part of the kalire ceremony involves the bride making all of her single female friends, Sisters-cousins sit in a row.

She proceeds to shake her kalire tied wrists on all their heads. It is believed that if a part of the Kalire or a leaf falls on any of the girls, it is said she will find a good-looking match and tie the knot soon!

So my all cousin's friends sat on the chairs and I started shaking the Kalires on every girl's head. First two-three times it didn't fall but then next time it fell on the head of Divi. I'm so excited about it. 

Divi's expressions were worthwhile.

After that, we all had a photoshoot. I took photos with many of my relatives, friends.

We even had our family photoshoot.

Mumma said that she will hand one of the pics in our Mumbai home.
Someone shouted, “ Baarat aayi. Ladke wale aaye(Groom has arrived)” All relatives moved towards entrance to welcome them.

Divu took me upstairs and made me seat in one of the room. I went near the window and tried to take a peek of the groom.

He got down from the car but his face was hidden behind sehra. I returned to the bed and sat over there. I was thinking.

‘In a few moments, my life is going to change. I’ll become someone’s wife, daughter in law, sister in law. And many other relations I’ll be gaining. Hope I don’t hurt anyone and try to fulfil all my responsibilities.’

After doing some final touch-ups I was seated in my room. Bhabhi and Divya came to take me. I went outside of the room where Kartik and my cousins were waiting for me. They carried a red chunri over my head by four ends of it. Sister in law and Divya were standing on both sides.

Soon they took me to the Wedding Pavilion, I saw that my would-be was sitting in his place. His face was covered with sehra. He stood up. I also went and stood opposite to him.

We both were handed Pink rose garlands in our hands. I started to put a garland in his head but his friends and cousins pulled him backwards. I again tried but then Ishaan Brother and Rajeev Brother helped me by distracting him. He looked at his friends in disbelief.

Then, it was his turn to put garland in my head when suddenly my brothers picked me up which made it difficult for him to put garland in my head. All relatives were enjoying his misery. He looked towards his friends and cousins with puppy eyes and they also picked him up to put a garland in my head.

Then we both moved towards Mandap where other rituals were going to take place. We both settled in our place. The priest started chanting mantras.

I was feeling a heated stare on me. I looked towards it to see my would-be husband was staring at me. I blushed and looked downwards. Someone cleared their throat. He looked in that direction where my both brothers were smirking at him.

"Hey, don’t eat our sister with your eyes." Said Ishaan Brother in a teasing tone.

“Shut up man," he said to Brother and quickly looked towards me. There was a blush adorned on my face.

Next, my parents were called for a Kanyadaan ritual. This ritual signifies the giving away of the daughter by the bride’s father and mother to the bridegroom. Tears welled up in my Parents eyes. Then Shreya came and tied a knot of my wedding dress pallu and his sherwani Dupatta. After that, we both walked around the Havan or Sacred fire taking Seven marriage vows as the priest recites mantras.
After Phere I moved to his left side and took my place.

After that priest gave him a decorated plate of Mangalsutra (Nuptial Chain) and Sindoor (vermilion). He took a Mangalsutra and tied it around my neck. Divi came forward and opened my Veil and picked up my Maang Tikka so he could put on Vermilion. Then he took Vermilion and put it in my parting of the hair. Some of the Vermilion fell on my nose.

Seeing this some of the aunties who were sitting near Wedding pavilion said that he loves me so much.
I don't know why but I felt happy listening to them. There was a little blush formed on my face.

Priest- “Yeh Vivah sampan hua. Aaj se aap dono Pati Patni hue. Aab, aap bado ke aashirvaad lijiye."
(The wedding is completed. From today you both are Husband and Wife. Now you can take blessings of the elders)

We both moved towards our parents and took their blessings.
 
This is how I became Shraddha Kumar To Shraddha Aaron Malhotra

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