Seven Vows Part 2- Chapter 154Page 148 - Page 32

Chapter 93:

Yes Shrutha, a family where the women work together will be connected more. A learning actually I got post marriage. If you have more men in the family and if the MIL doesn't manage the DILs well giving each the right priority, right kind of freedom it will not take long for the family to break. Relations will remain but for namesake, like you can see in Mahantji's family where elder son has already walked out, younger bahu is doing chugli of her husband against the MIL.

@ Shruthi, child marriage or not, but what I appreciate of that era is that a brother really took the initiative to take the burden of his married sisters and her kids and supported them financially. The Sister in law whether she treated her as a helping hand or not, she was not that heartless to push them out of the house. Juts think of such situation in current time frame? Will a brother be ready to shoulder the responsibility of his sister's daughter? Let alone marriage will his wife allow her abandoned SIL to stay in her house? And as you said child marriage was not an unknown criteria in that era and my parents married in nineteen sixty's and my mom was just 14 years old when she got married. I am the 3rd child and the age difference between me and my mom is just 20 years. So far me as long as they really took pain to check the back ground of the groom's family and get the girl's married, No qualms as the story is revolving in ninety's.

But yes, if Devika could muster courage and takes up a job to support her & her daughters, that would be the best thing but for that she needs a push and that push should come from within.

@jaya even I come from a family where both my grand mothers married young. My paternal grandmother 17 and my maternal grandmother I guess 14 or 15. There was even a custom in our community where if a girl is not married before she has the first period, then the whole family will be outcasted. And my grand father's elder sister was a victim of that custom. Married at 11 or 12 she lost her husband when she was 13 and remained a widow throughout her life till her death when she was around 79-80. She was not allowed entry to temple because her head was not shaved as those days only widows whose head was shaved was allowed in temple. I remember her very much as she was the one who told me the stories of Krishna in childhood. She passed away when I was still a child of say 7 or 8. Most painful aspect was, while she remained a widow, my great grand father married second time a woman her age. My mother always talks about her and how she was exploited till the end by everyone in the family.

nice updates shruthi sis... just now I read all the parts which I missed... eagerly waiting for the next update..

Hai Shruthi

hello Sandhya. Happy to see you back.

Chapter 95- Deepdan

The entire Varma family reached Gowri-Shankar mandir. There were many people that day. Even media people were there. Poornima and Vaishnav came together. Vaishnav was smartly dressed in a violet sherwani and Poornima wore a beautiful ornage lehenga. Media people surrounded them and Poornima dragged Sreedhar along with them to face the media.

Media interviewed Vaishnav and Poornima along with Sreedhar. Then an announcement came

Since Mahantji was not there the younger priest was talking " Hello everyone we all know today we have assembled for a very noble cause. Woman who have been deprived entry to Lord's gate in the name of tradition has been allowed to enter the temple today and light the diya for Lord. Mahantji couldn't grace this occasion due to health issues, hence I will be guiding the proceedings. I would request all the widows to form a line and in order bring a lighted diya and place it in front of Mata Gowri and Bholenath"

" Chote Mahantji we have a request " told Poornima

" Yes Poornima please tell"

" Chote Mahantji we would prefer the first lamp to be lit by an eldest lady. We have got information that Shyamala Devi who is currently 93 year old has come to this temple after 60 years with her family. Could we start the deep dan ceremony with her"

Everyone turned and looked at a very old lady standing by the side held by her great grand sons and daughters. Poornima and Vaishnav went near her.

" Dadiji please come and light the diya"

The lady blessed them " Children I don't know how to thank you. From childhood I used to come to this temple everyday. Without seeing Mata Gowri and Bholenath my day never used to start. And when my husband died the world told me I could not enter the temple as I am inauspicious and I had always lived praying to Mata Gowri and Bholenath, that if my devotion was true before I closed my eyes, I should be able to visit this temple again. Light the diya for Mata Gowri and Bholenath. Today because of you and where is he Rajalakshmi Varma's grandson, her Giridhar who has made it possible. Sreedhar walked in front and touched the old lady's feet. " Mata Gowri bless you my son, your dadi used to tell Krishna had come her home and today her Krishna had bought light to many lives. She looked around and Sreedhar could see many eyes thanking him and the kids. Sreedhar helped the lady light the diya and the lady started moving with him and then she stopped.

" Dadiji what happened " asked Sreedhar.

" Beta I have been hearing Maheswari's widow bahu has got the blessing of Maa Durga. She has come today right. Can I see her. I want to light diya with her"

Maheswari asked Suman to go. Suman stood in front of the old lady. She looked at Suman and smiled.

" What is your name Beta" " Suman" saying it she touched the old lady's feet. The lady blessed her.

"No wonder everyone is saying you have Maa Durga's blessing. I cannot believe such a fate fell on you. Your face has not just Maa Durga's but Maa Lakshmi's blessing written on it. By seeing you I can tell with all the knowledge I have gathered for years, the house which you grace will always have prosperity. Come take the diya and light it with me."

Poornima helped Suman light the diya. Suman walked alongside the lady with diya and Sreedhar held the lady on other side. Poornima and Vaishnav walked along side them. Maheswari looked at the progression her eyes never leaving Suman and Sreedhar. They both were in blue. " Vindhya was right" Maheswari told in mind " Suman and Sree makes the most beautiful pair. She doesn't even have the complete Sringaar. If only the photo was shown to her before showing it to Murali, I could have taken some action. Alas when Vindhya told Sreedhar will more be a match for Suman it was late as the alliance was finalized between Murali and Suman and Murali had told he liked the girl. Even she had felt that time Sreedhar would have been the ideal choice for Suman when Vindhya pointed out, the height, sharp defined features etc.. . Murali was a bit short and his features were not as defined as that of Sreedhar"

The progression reached in front of sanctum santorium. Shymala Devi placed the diya in front of Gowri and Shankar and prayed. Suman followed suit, keeping the diya and then she too prayed. Soon the widows came in line and start keeping the diyas. Sreedhar and Suman guided the lady back. She told " Sreedhar I want to meet your mother"

They took the lady to Maheswari. Maheswari touched the old lady's feet " Maheswari I don't know how to thank you for raising such a noble son. I will always pray for his welfare and also the welfare of your family" . Soon Shyamala Devi's family guided her back. Many people came and thanked Sreedhar and praised Maheswari.

Once all the commotion was over Maheswari looked at Poornima who was standing with Harkishore and Pratap.

She went towards them, followed by the whole family. " Maheswariji we are giving your grand daughter to you. Her naani have raised her with all the right sanskaars. We are sure she will make your family proud"

" Harkishoreji I would always be debted to you, your wife and Pratap who has done our job. Now Poornima is our child. We will ensure she does not face any difficulty in our household. Come Poorni"

Poornima hugged her naanu and mamu and cried. Even Pratap was crying. She was the apple of his eye. Aakash and Adwaith tugged Poornima. " Poornima didi come, let us go"

Poornima wiped her tears. Harkishore patted her cheeks and she slowly turned towards the Varma's and started walking with them.

Poorni's walk with Varma's felt as if she's leaving her mayka to her sasural.. Loved the last 2 updates.. though didnt get the reasoning for the titles..

@Ria you wouldn't have felt much if Tilak had an elder son. But since it is a girl you felt like maayka to sasural. Think from her perspective. 15 years she has lived a lie that she didn't had a father, grew up with her maternal grand parents and uncle with faint memory of mother . When her father's family came she has to go with them, because her acceptance means a lot to her brothers, her father. She should have grown up in Varma house but didn't happen. Even if it was a boy it would have been sad for him to suddenly leave the family he grew up and accept a new family. For Poornima this is not the end. Maybe 6-7 years later once again she will have to move post her marriage