Part 110

The baaraat was at the gates. Papaji, Mummiji and Khushi's family and friends were waiting to welcome the Baarat!!! Elsa went ahead to prepare for the welcome of the Baarati! The baarat entered the gates and moved towards the Porch. The music had become louder. Arnav wanted this to get over soon. His baarat was moving dead slow.

"What the..! Oh! When will this end?" thought Arnav looking at the roof of Porch and suddenly he pulled the rein of the Mare causing to stop her dead. Raj was looking at him intently. He raised his hand and the music stopped! The baaraties turned to look!

Arnav looked up with a jerk. His Khushi was waiting at the window, looking at him pressing her hand on her heart!!. Their eyes met and the world around them vanished. Arnav and Khushi forgot to breathe. They couldn't take their eyes off. Khushi's breathing became uneven and heavy. Arnav had kept his rein pulled. He never wanted the mare to move ahead. A moment before he wished this baarat ended soon! And now he wanted it to go on and on. They gazed at each other and fell in love with each other once again!!!  There was no need to confess their love!! It was all evident...!

A faint smile appeared on their faces!! A shrill whistle brought them back. Raj whistled inserting his fingers in his mouth and then the baaraat erupted in whistling and wooing! The music and dancing reached its peak. The motorcade behind the horse started moving again. The baaraat reached the porch.

Khushi ran back to mummiji! Mummiji hugged her! "I knew it!" she whispered. Khushi was still breathing heavily and shivering slightly with excitement. Mummiji patted her and said
"Khushi, now go inside! Wear your shaadi ka joda! Take a mouthful of water and don't swallow it. First evoke Lord ganesha by making pooja and then Sit before your devi mayya and pray for "Health, Wealth, Prosperity and happiness' for your family. Don't get up till they call you! Understand?" Khushi nodded!!

The make up artists hurriedly came forward to get her ready. Payal was at her service. She changed into bridal wear. She wore a red joda and her jewelry changed accordingly. She wore the chunni sent by Anjali. Her joda had a real gold heavily embroidered borders and the precious stone studded all over! Her choli was intricately designed with real gold tiny flowers and leaved. Mummiji came in.
"Khushi, your solaa shringar will be complete when he puts sindoor in your maang! She came forward and applied ittar (Perfume) behind her ears and on her palms. "Khushi! Go and pray!" she ordered her. The baaraat was at the porch and the dancing and music never stopped. She knew it will take some time and Khushi will have enough time to pray!

Papaji, Mummiji and Guptas came forward. Elsa fed the mare and did aarti. Papaji lifted Tej from the Horse. Raj came to Arnav and locked his fingers cupping his palms and said bending down. "Keep your foot in here and dismount from the Horse!" Arnav looked at Raj's palms "Oh! No! I am not doing this!" He got down himself. Raj hugged him. Elsa washed his feet with milk and water and wiped with a cotton cloth. Raj helped Arnav to wear his jooti back. Anjali came forward and gave Arnav the coconut and kalash (copper round shaped vessel) she was carrying to hand it over to Mummiji. Mummiji took aarti from Elsa and put Ttilak on Arnav's forehead. She did aarti. Papaji took out cash again. Arnav touched the feet of both mummiji and papaji. He hugged his son in law. Arnav got lost. He did not know what was going on and who was doing what.

Papaji looked for Sham. He was the daamadji of the groom's family. He was at the back never taking part in the celebrations. He was smoldering from within. He had seen Arnav looking up! Sham too had gazed at Khushi but no one had time to look at him. He was constantly accompanied by two bodyguards! He couldn't move or do anything or call anyone. His wings were clipped neatly without his knowledge. He was trapped, cornered....

Papaji came and held his hand and brought him forward. He washed his feet and wiped. He called Anjali forward. Elsa put tick on Anjali;s forehead. And Raj put it on Sham. Sham and Anjali were given gifts. Shondeep was standing behind Sham keeping a close eye on him as the bodyguards were left behind.

Khushi was sitting before her devi mayya praying by joining her hands. She had closed her eyes and water in her mouth not allowing her to open her mouth.

There was milaap going on outside. Both the families were getting introduced with each other formally. The ladies had gathered for Jayamala. Lavanya and Anjali were busy greeting the family members. Mamiji was at her best, boasting herself and flashing the glittering jewelry. Arnav was given a beautiful garland. They were all waiting for the bride to come for the jayamala. Pandit jis were changing mantras. The maternal uncle was to bring Khushi. Papaji whispered something in panditji's ear. Panditji nodded. But Shondeep's father came forward and said "I am her Mama and I will bring her!" Mummiji's face brightened up! Papaji hugged him. He went inside smiling.

"Khushi!" he called out standing at the door of her room where she was praying. Khushi looked up at him. She swallowed the water at once and choked. "Easy..Easy!" he said coming forward and putting his hand on her back. "Uncle?" she looked at him.

"Yes, Khushi! I am your uncle, Mama and you are coming with me!" She got up. He held her right hand and walked her out of the room! They descended the stairs and she was standing before Arnav. She couldn't look up at him. But he was staring at her forgetting the crowd around. Khushi's friends giggled.

Khushi was given the replica of the garland. Aakash and shondeep were standing on either side of Arnav All his young cousins and relatives were gathered behind him. All set to lift him.... Arnav said. "No! No! don't do this!"

"Oh! Yeah! We know you care more about her! But let us see how she takes up the challenge!" A wave of laugher and whistling roused through the crowd. Khushi friends nudged her. "Take up the challenge ... haan?" they winked. Khushi's cheeks were competing with her red wedding dress!!
Panditjis were chanting mantras to bless the couple. Papaji felt little awkward by the childrens' stunts. He said "Nothing doing. No lifting and all!" he looked at Panditji. But pandit ji smiled and nodded and said "Its ok! Don't stretch it too far!!"

"Yeeaaa!" cried Aakash, looking at his wife payal who was standing next to Khushi. Khushi became suddenly alert hearing the word challenge. Her eyes flashing, she looked around. There was no one standing beside her except payal and her close friends. Mummiji and Amma with buwaji were standing behind her. She got nervous. Panditji asked her to put the garland around Arnav's neck. As she moved forward, Aakash and Shondeep, two tallest persons lifted Arnav at once making it impossible for her. The crowd wooed and clapped. Khushi felt helpless and so did Arnav. He looked down at her.

And suddenly she was raised up to his level. Raj and Avinash had appeared from nowhere and lifted her! She grabbed this and put the garland over his head around his neck. The crowd clapped harder!! She looked at Arnav for a fraction of second. He was speechless. His mouth fell open. Shondeep and Aakash were sulking. Avinash and Raj had a winning grin!!! Khushi smiled looking down and Arnav couldn't stop himself staring at her stunning beauty! He forgot the garland in his hand.

"Bete, put the garland around her!" said panditju touching Arnav's hand. Arnav came back to his senses and garlanded her. The crowd clapped and the crackers echoed everywhere!!!

All of them came inside. Cold drinks and snacks were served to everyone. Arnav was given a glass of juice as he was to fast till the wedding. The wedding altar with canopy (Mantap) was waiting for the wedding ceremony!!!

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The intricately carved Four marble pillars with meena work on them. Each one had an elephant's head at the base and the carved trunk balanced the height of the pillar. A canopy was built on those four pillars. A glass roof/top rested on the four pillars. The canopy contained four curved conical mirrors facing inwardly raised at the center above the glass roof making the sloped roof. The light source was placed at the center of the canopy where the four conical mirrors met. The transparent colored glass pieces and colorful rings were spread over the glass top randomly, reflecting on the four mirrors giving it a cascading effect shaping it in perfect symmetrical designs. It looked like a kaleidoscope from under the canopy. The colorful glass pieces emitted different colors down under the canopy . The outer canopy was decorated with delicate colorful flowers.

All the loud music and chaos was stopped. A mild low volume shehenai was played. The chanting by all the panditjis echoed throughout the house creating a holy, sacred, blessed, consecrated atmosphere dedicated to the divine purpose of union of two souls.

After the lavish lunch for all the guests and family members the priests were ready to start the wedding ceremony. The head panditji called the groom and his parent and the bride and her parents for invoke the presence of Lord ganesha by Ganesh poojan. A symbolic coconut and beetle nut were worshipped with fresh flowers and colored rice.

Papaji and Mummiji were asked to wash Arnav and Khushi's hands tand feet o get them ready for the pooja. A fire was ignited in the havan kund with wooden logs and pure ghee was poured over them. The head priest ignited the sacred fire evoking all the Gods and Goddesses inviting them to bless the couple.

The prayer to the nine planets of the Solar system was performed to please the celestial bodies influencing the destiny of every individual.

Papaji stood up for Kanyadaan (entrusting of the daughter in wedding) . Pandit ji asked papaji to take mummiji's permission to give away her daughter and she approved off the groom as the husband of her daughter. Papaji asked her "Do you consent to this? As her mother, your permission must be obtained. Do you agree to give your daughter in marriage to this boy?' Mummiji nodded smiling. Papaji stood behind Arnav and Khushi and took her right hand and by putting the bride's right hand into the groom's right hand (Hastamelap, joining of hands) while panditji reciting sacred verse. That sealed the relationship. All four parents papaji, mummiji, mamaji and mamiji placed a cotton cord around the couple standing at the four corners of the mantap, symbolizing the promise to protect the couple from all the evil and keep them always in safe environment.

Cold drinks, Tea, Coffee and milk were served to the gathering. Arnav and Khushi were asked to drink milk.

Panditji asked Anjali to tie the knot symbolizing the permanent union of bride and groom as husband and wife and she be the witness for the same. She tied the edge of Arnav's silk scarf to Khushi's bridal chunni. Papaji showered her with gifts and also honored her husband, Sham with several gifts.
Panditji asked Khushi and Arnav to get up for the havan. Khushi was asked to cup her hands and to place them in Arnav's cupped hands. Raj then poured puffed rice in Khushi's hands, half of which spilled over in Arnav's cupped hands. Together Arnav and Khushi offered it into the fire with pouring of pure ghee causing the emittance of smoke. Three such obligations were offered to the sacred fire and panditji asked both of them to pray to Yama, the God of Death, that he grant long life, health, happiness and prosperity to both of them.

"Arnav and Khushi! The smoke emitted by the sacrifice of the rice and ghee in the fire, not only wards off evil, it reaches all the corners of the house, purifies the house and drives away all the insects!" said the elderly panditji smiling. Khushi smiled and nodded. Arnav was busy wiping off his eyes and nose burning with the smoke. Anjali and Nani presented gifts to Elsa and Raj.

Pandit ji asked the couple to walk around the sacred fire four times. Each time they had stoped, to touch with their toe a stone in their path, symbolizing that all the obstacles in their life, they would overcome together.

"Arnav bte! You lead the first round holding her hand. Pray that you both will work towards Dharma righteousness and help her in every walk of life." They did.

"Lead the second round for Artha - monetary accomplishment and give all your finances to her to manage. Both of you together work towards growth and wealth.

"Lead the third round for Kama - energy and passion in life and never to part with her and keep each other satisfied and happy.

"Khushi beti.. you now lead the forth and the most important round Moksha - liberation from everything in life. Help him look at everything as if its not his while achieving the above three goals of life keeping the presence of God, The almighty in mind. You take your spiritual journey together! And lead him for self actualization!!"

For some reason unknown.. Khushi'f friends, Arnav's cousins, Aakash, Avinash and Raj had gathered around the mantap. They were looking at the couple with bated breath.

Panditji asked them to take their places, Khushi to the left side of Arnav symbolizing his better half and controller of his heart. Arnav sat down first and his party gave a winning roar. Raj, Avinash and her friends went away sulking. Both Arnav and Khushi were bewildered. Khushi looked at Panditji.
"Whoever sits first is the ruler in this marriage!" said panditji laughing.

"What? Why didn't you tell me earlier.. I..wo..?" Khushi started off angrily. Panditji laughed again.
"Shut up Khushi!" whispered Arnav making her shut her mouth up at once! She looked at his smug face.

"See! I told you! He is the boss!" said the youngest pandit laughing. Khushi looked away furiously and Arnav smiling with pride..

Mummiji was called again on the altar. She came with the help of papaji. Panditji asked her to help Khushi in Sheela Arohan Mummiji assisted Khushi to step onto a stone slab which was kept aside and counseled her to prepare herself for a new life with new family and new relations. "Khushi this is not bed of roses. This new life is like solid rock with the possibilities of banging your head. You have to be strong like a rock in standing by your family and husband. This is like climbing a cliff hanger. But once you reach the top, the world is yours!" . Mummiji had tears in her eyes while advising her young, kidlike, daughter! Khushi nodded looking confused.

"God knows how much she has taken in!" wondered mummiji.
The head priest was explaining each and every ritual of the ceremony in simple terms enlightening the gathering. He made sure the havan was kept burning constantly pouring ghee into the Havan Kund.

"Now get ready for saptapadi or saat phere! " This constituted the heart of the entire ceremony which virtually seals the wedding.

Papaji's phone kept in the front upper pocket of his shervani , vibrated. He took it and then grim appeared on his face. He bent down and said something to the head priest and then said please wait for me, I will be back in a couple of minutes. If I don't turn up in Ten minutes, please go ahead and complete the ceremony. Panditji nodded.

Papaji turned to leave. He looked around and raised his hand at Shondeep. Papaji hurriedly went out followed by Shondeep. Everyone else waited for them to return back. Sham was nowhere to be seen. But Raj was relaxed and confident. He knew nothing would go wrong.