Chapter 45

Part 45 – Beautiful Brides

   

         Preparations in the Virani household were running at an all time high. Everybody was running around here and there for days putting up decorations, going around asking Tulsi dadi and the other elders on who should be invited that they had forgotten, and etc. etc.

 

For Isha and Nisha, this marriage was happening after a long time. Little had they known that the guys they had met so causally would eventually become their husbands. It was an awesome experience for both of them to get married on the same day, time and place. They were also marrying in the same house! It was like a dream come true for both of the sisters. Everything was just perfect! A fairy tale ending! But – Isha and Nisha couldn't help but wonder how it would have been if their mom was alive now…It was true that they were extremely overjoyed right now as this was the day of their life but still there was a part of them that was aching for their mother.

             Isha sat down on Archita's dresser and looked at her shaadi ka joda. She was covered in red from head to toe. Her jewelry was shining bright. She looked at her sister on the bed. They both really looked identical right now. Tulsi dadi came upstairs to look at the two.

 

T: Are you two ready?

N: Yes, dadi. We're done.

I: yes, dadi

 

             Nisha gave her sister a smile. She couldn't keep in her joy and excitement. She had been smiling at herself feeling like an idiot the whole day.

 

T: Ok, then. I wanted to tell you two something. Come here, Isha.

 

             Isha walked over to the bed and sat on the side careful not to crease her dress. Nisha and Isha both sat by the bed sides while Tulsi came and sat in the middle.

 

T: Today is a very important day for the both of you. And I don't want any of you to feel bad because you don't have parents. I want you to think of your mother and think of how happy she would be if she knew her two gems of daughters are getting married to a great house like the Viranis. Zindagi mein kabhie bhi koi kahe ke tum dono akele ho, toh just tell them that you have a huge family. You belong to the Viranis now. You're going to be the bahus of this house. Now, come on. Let's go downstairs and show them our two beautiful brides.

 

             Nisha and Isha hugged Tulsi for her kind words. Finally, they would not be known as orphans because now they had somebody. A whole family. Even though a part of them really wanted to see their mother, they were happy to have a family now. Tulsi took the brides by their hands and led them down the stairs. Everybody stopped talking and watched as the twins walked down the staircase. Isha could see Eklavya sitting by the 'mandap.' There were two 'mandaps' as there were two marriages happening that day. Manthan was sitting at the far right one with Bhoomi, Karan, Tanya and some others. Eklavya, on the other hand, was sitting on the right 'mandap' with his Damini, Gautam, Mayank and other family members by his side. Tulsi first led Isha to her mandap and helped her sit down beside Eklavya. Eklavya's wide grin just got wider as Isha sat next to him.

 

E: Hey, gorgeous.

 

             Isha could do nothing but smile. She was too happy for anything.

 

 

Then Tulsi took Nisha and assisted her to carefully sit beside Manthan. Manthan looked as his bride and helped her sit down. He leaned close to Nisha and whispered, "You look beautiful." Nisha blushed like the first time she's seen him.

 

             The wedding ceremony was very long. Of course all the others in the wedding were too involved playing "find the shoe" to care about what was actually going on in the wedding ceremonies.

 

Pandit: Please tie the mangalsutra now.

 

             Eklavya took the mangalsutra and tied it around Isha's neck as Manthan did the same at his mandap. The reality was slowly sinking in now. They were getting married…Married!

After some pooja, it was finally time to take the saath phere. Nisha looked at Manthan biting her lip. It was true that her foot was fine from the hospital incident and she didn't need her crutches anymore. But the whole 'shaadi ka joda' weight about a ton by itself and she didn't think she could take another step with it. Manthan seemed to have read her mind. He smiled at her and winked. He looked over to Eklavya and signaled him. Both men lifted their respected significant others and took the saath pheres. Both girls' faces matched with their red saris. The crowd however, seemed to enjoy this new way of taking saath phere.

 

             Finally! They were married! Now it was time for their suhag raat…

 

 

Hope it's alright...

 

                                                      -Pooja