FORTUNATE BRIDE?

/3/ OUR MARRIAGE

THE MARRIAGE HALL, MANALI.

Xander made sure nobody was around and dumped the body in the dumpster while wearing gloves that he stole from the nun herself. Then, he disposed the gloves as well.

With a soft grin on his face, he sneaked into the men's room, washed his hands and made sure that his ‘Sharewanee’ (groom's ceremonial dress, worn particularly in India) wasn't spoiled by the blood he had on his hands.

 Since, Xander's mother was an Indian, he was pretty familiar with the rituals and the language itself. She used to live in England with his father, but had returned to Solan due to homesickness. She soon dies after a few months after arriving at the Rushworth Villa. 

Though Xander was broken, and was taken to therapy, his father remarried soon after her death. As his father and step-mother were busy, they couldn’t be at the marriage, but Xander wasn’t even a bit concerned. His wishes were bounded to getting Niti as his bride, and everything else seemed of little importance.

While looking at his face in the mirror, he exclaimed, "I have been disappointed several times in the past. It's an undeniable fact that people will eventually disappoint you. I wonder if you'd agree on that, Niti? … I wonder.. Would you too? Niti? I guess you’ll find out after our marriage if it’s disappointment that awaits you."

After getting his hands tidied up, he went back to the Groom's room. The moment he went inside, Lucas grabbed his arm and dragged him to the corner as he asked, "What have you been doing? I was actually looking for you everywhere!"

"Why were you looking for me? Is there something you want from me?" Xander let out as he jerked off his arms to losen his grasp over his hand.

As there still was time for the actual ceremony to begin, Lucas recommended, “There’s still time for the ceremony to begin. We need to get you drunk for your big night!”

Since he found delight in alcohol, Xander gave them a slight nod, and took off with them for getting drunk. When the time for the ceremony came, Xander was pretty stone. Regardless, he managed to get to the pavillion with the support of his friends for the ‘Saath Pheras' (the rounds that the couple makes around the fire).

They helped him settle upon the stool, right next to Niti. All of the fellow inhabitants of the orphanage came to the marriage to bless the couple in their holy reunion.

Among them was Joanne, Niti's childhood friend. As there was nobody to do the ‘kanyaadan’ (giving away of the bride) of Niti, Joanne took it upon him to serve the purpose.

After the giving away of the bride came the ritual of ‘Panigrahana.’ The ritual of Panigrahana comes after Kanyadaan. It is sometimes preceded by the vivaha-homa rite, wherein a symbolic fire is lit by the groom to mark the start of a new household.

Panigrahana (holding the hand) ritual is seen as a symbol of the bride and groom’s impending marital union, with the groom acknowledging the responsibility of his wife in front of the four deities: Bhaga signifying wealth, Aryama signifying heavens/milky way, Savita signifying radiance/new beginning, and Purandhi signifying wisdom. 

The groom is made to face west, while the bride sits in front of him. With her face to the east, he holds her hand while in accordance with the Rig vedic mantra.

Then, the next stage for the marriage was the sacred rounds. ‘The Saath Pheras’ also knowns as ‘Shaptapadi’ is one of the traditional ceremonies during a wedding which is performed along with the chants of a Pandit based on the Hindu scriptures where the bride and groom have to take seven rounds around the fire. It is believed that the God Agni (God of fire) resides in the holy fire that solidified the union and bond of the bride and groom who take seven vows in his presence.

The priest began chanting the mantras, and the couple stood to make their rounds around the holy fire.

In the first round, Niti took the lead while Xander followed her. The first vow is the prayer to the lord for the provision and nourishment. The bride seeks divine blessings in the form of pure, nourishing, and healthy food along with a respectful and noble life. The groom takes the pledge to provide for the welfare and happiness for his wife and children, and the bride promises to happily and equally shoulder all the responsibilities for the welfare of the groom and his family

Then, the priest began to vocalize the second vow. The second vow is for strength in sickness, health, good times or bad.

The couple pleads together to the Almighty to bless them with mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. The groom while requesting the bride to stand by him at all times makes a commitment to protect and provide security to their family. The bride agrees to be his strength while demanding undivided attention and eternal love.

As they approached the third vow, Xander fell on the ground. His friends brought him lemonade and woke him up with by sprinkling water on his eyes.

The priest was appalled by the habits of the young man, but requested him to continue. Then, the priest chanted the third vow, which is for prosperity.

While taking the third vow, the couple seeks wealth and prosperity so that they can live a comfortable and satisfying life. They also pledge to take care of their children and educate them. In the same Phera, the couple assures each other that will remain loyal to each other for the rest of their lives.

During this fourth vow, the groom thanks the bride for bringing happiness and sacredness in his life. While in return, the bride swears to serve and please the groom to the best of her abilities. Together, the couple takes a vow to take care of and respect the elders in their family.

In the fifth vow, the groom takes the lead for making the rounds. The importance of the fifth vow is to seek blessings for their future progeny. While appealing to the god for strong and noble children, the couple also prays for the welfare of all the living beings on this Universe. They promise that as mother and father they will be solely responsible for the upbringing of their children. This is also the step starting which the groom takes the lead.

In the sixth vow, the bride and the groom together invoke the Almighty to bless them with a healthy and disease-free life. The groom makes a wish in which he desires that his wife would fill his life with joy and peace; while the bride provides assurance to the groom that she would willingly participate with him in all his noble and divine acts.

While taking the last vow, the couple pleads for a long-lasting relationship, enriched with love, understanding, and loyalty. They take an oath to remain friends forever and stand by each other not only in this life but in the many lives to come.

Thereafter, they got to their respective seats, and the priest asked Xander to put vermillion upon the front parting of her hairs, and tie the nuptial change around her neck.

Xander raised the draped part of the long piece of cloth she was wearing upon her head, and put the vermillion while shifting the ‘maang teeka’ (the jewellery that women wear just above their forehead) a little.

Then, he grabbed the nuptial chain, and brought his hands closer to her neck. Niti felt his fingers brushing her skin gently as he tied the chain around her neck.

As India is a diverse country with people of different religion inhabiting the place, every culture and religion has its unique set of vows and numerous different ways to perform them. The basic significance and the meaning of all the vows remain the same, to be spiritually united as one.

After the wedding got over the couple was moved to a secluded room and were offered to eat food as they were supposed to be fasting for the whole day. It was almost the time of ‘bidaai (the giving away of the bride)', but the head nun was nowhere to be seen. Niti reagrded Miss Lorraine as her.mother.That’s why, she wanted to at least see her before she steps forward towards a new phase of her life.

On the contrary, Xander insisted on leaving. To avoid that, Niti grabbed his arm and begged, “Could we wait a little for Miss Lorraine. I can’t leave without meeting her.”

Though Xander gave her a happy nod, he had a disgruntled face as he very well knew that the nun wasn’t going to come. After waiting for an hour, he finally gave up pretending to be a good husband, grabbed Niti and shoved her into the car.

Niti needed to vent her emotions through crying, but she didn’t as she was sure that it was her fault for making Xander mad.

The car on which they were to use was bedecked with flowers, with few petals of roses bestrewed on the back seat as well. As they settled into the car, the driver drove to his villa which was located deep within a secluded valley. The Rushworths owned the whole estate. Though Niti wasn't comfortable with the location, she didn’t let it surface on her face.

As they reached the villa, Xander hurried to get out of the car, opened up the door for Niti, and pulled her out as well with a sudden force. Niti’s eyes widened due to the abrupt transition in his behaviour, but she thought he was being a little crude as he was drunk. As he reached th doorway, he let go of her hand and went inside to his bedroom, leaving her behind. 

‘That’s not probably how he usually behaves, I guess. Moreover, I made the decision of marrying him. So I would have to accept him as my husband. That’s what I have been taught from the beginning. No matter what happens, I will try my best to love him and uphold the vows I took,’ Niti pondered over while waiting for him at the door. The newly wed bride isn’t allowed to enter until the mother-in-law welcomes her with a small ceremony of kicking a utensil filled with rice. She had no mother-in-law. Therefore, Xander needed to prepare the utensil for her. 

She waited for him more than a minute, but there was no sign of him. She was only wearing lehenga (the religious wear for the marriage), and there was no quilt or jacket with which she could cover herself.

The only woman who was there in the villa at that time was an old made, who went by the name, ‘Rakul.’ She pitied the poor child, who had been standing in front of the door for at least half an hour now, and decided to do the ‘Griha Pravesh' (the welcoming of the bride into the family).

She grabbed a plate and placed a diya , and a red powdered substance, sprinkled some water and grains of raw rice upon it. Thereafter, he grabbed a ‘kalash’ (pot) and filled it with the grains of raw rice. Then, she went over to Aaradhya and informed, “I will get Xander here within a second, dear. Please wait!”

She nodded at the old woman with a smile while the lady rushed to get Xander. The lady was disappointed to observe him sleeping soundly while his bride waited for him at his door.

“Please, wake up, sir!” said the old lady while maintaining a safe distance from him. Xander disliked getting interrupted while sleeping. But, the woman kept calling his name. Due to the ruckus, he woke up and looked at her while rubbing his eyes.

The woman repeated the same thing again that he was expected to join his newly-wed bride in the ceremony. He then let out in a hoarse voice, “I don’t want to. I’m tired. What more do you want, Aunt Rakul? We have already gotten married. What’s the use of doing anything more?”

“Sir, she is waiting for you at the door,” The lady reminded. Xander woke up hastily and said while smacking his head, “I totally forgot that I got married today.” He looked at the tradsitional wear that he was dressed in, and followed the old woman while snickering.

After coming back downsatirs, he went straight to her, grabbed her by the arms and said while glaring deep into her eyes, “I'm sorry, hun. I was just a but tired.”

Niti shook her head as she said while dropping her gaze to the ground, “No, it’s okay. I made you wait. It was partly my fault as well.”

The man grinned deviously to observe her stupidity. Thereafter, while bringing his face closer to hers, he then let out a whisper, “Don't worry, I will make it all up in the bed.” Niti's eyes widened but she chose not to respond.

“Please, stand beside her, sir. I will do the ritual for you,” the old lady offered. The old woman then, applied a Tilak to both the bride and groom, after which the couple seeked blessing from the elder lady.

After this, Niti tilted a Kalash (pot) laden with rice using her right foot and then stepped into a dish with Alta. Thereafter, she walked into the home leaving behind auspicious red footprints which is symbolic of the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi.

Xander, then grabbed her into his arms and took her straight to his room.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

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It's an humble request from your author to add this book to your library. 

Thank you.