FF - Destined to Love - Updated Part 4B - pg 14 - Page 10

Originally posted by: poetic

Then should I be a bhatakti atma?

Originally posted by: poetic

Ok, ok I will wait for both the updates

Originally posted by: RaginiJoshi

Reserved😉

*Unres*

Amazing yet again👏 I loved this, really! I'm loving your idea for the story itself. The way you mentioned Nachiket's emotions here, his state of mind at that time could easily be felt by us. All the rituals of a hindu marriage were covered beautifully.

Thank you dear! 😊

A special mention to the moment I absolutely loved. When the Pandit Ji announced Kanyaa padhravo and the scene followed by that, his emotions, him trying to see his bride was really interesting to read😳 Like that of Nachiket, I was actually waiting for Ragini to enter into the scene😆 And when she did, you nailed it😃

That is one of my favorite moments too. The curiosity levels are so high. He is in for a wonderful surprise. Ragini to 😳

Indeed a beautiful ride of emotions! I'm eagerly waiting for the next rituals 😉 This is gonna be interesting:)

Its done. Posting!! 😆

Originally posted by: BlueMoon8

@iamcurious

You've beautifully described a typical Marriage, the rituals (in details) and the emotions .. that go with it.. Looks like you've witnessed too many marriages .. or must have put a lot of efforts to find out about them .. This is the first marriage that I'm attending .. I'm too young to appreciate it enough .. 😆

Haha...no just a couple of them but yes did search on the net for details. Young or old doesn't matter, appreciation is what you like. So its good.

All your writings .. have a deep touch of our Scriptures .. our traditions and Culture .. That's the best part ..

I realise I write that lot. 😆 I am actually very fond of these in general and what better way to explain than this? through fiction? 😃

Keep Writing ..

Keep imparting Knowledge about our Great Scriptures .. our Culture and Traditions ..

Part 4B

Taking a Betel leaf with a Shankh (Conch shell), a gold coin and some akshat (literally meaning unbroken'. Its basically unmilled, uncooked rice mixed with turmeric and is used as a sacred substance during most auspicious Hindu rituals) on it, the Panditji put the same on Ragini's outstretched palm, which had turned a deep red with the color of her Mehendi and in his sing-song, practiced voice said, 'Beti...now invoke the thought of God in your heart and repeat after me..'

Nachiket noticed Ragini's hand shivered lightly as she nervously repeated as instructed after panditji in a small voice. He kept stealing glances and realized how distracted, she was due to stress and was not able to concentrate on what the panditji said. The couple who earlier performed the Vishnu pooja reappeared as they were called to perform the Kanyadan.

When the Panditji had said some more of the required mantras, he spoke softly, addressing Nachiket, 'Kanyadan - This means that as a condition for offering their daughter for marriage, the father of the bride, here the mama requests a promise from you, the groom, for assisting the bride in realizing the three ends: Dharma, Karma and Arth. The groom makes the promise by repeating three times that he will not fail the bride in realizing her dharma, artha and kama.'

Nachiket felt a strange sensation in his heart, when he repeated the Sanskrit invocations promising to make his wife realize her duty, purpose and aesthetic enjoyment of life towards him.

The Panditji then told the maternal uncle to place Ragini's right hand, which held a Conch with gold, betel nut, flowers and a little fruit in it atop Nachiket's hands and hold on to both his son-in-law and daughter's hand as the Kanyadan ritual happened.

Ragini could not stop her tears and was thankful that her face was covered by a veil, but Ashaben and others did not have any such thing to cover up their emotions. Ragini's uncle found his hands shivering as he held onto her soft hands, placing them over Nachiket's own strong ones. Finally, Ragini's mami poured water from a silver vessel over the joined hands of her husband, Nachiket and Ragini, signifying the right of passing over of their daughter from her husband to the husband of their daughter.

There was not a single person in the wedding venue that time who did not have moist eyes. Even the otherwise jovial and carefree RK was found wiping tears standing in the corner, hiding his emotions from all.

'He owns me, my body, my soul', Ragini thought. 'I have always followed my instinct confidently but for the first time, even though my instinct is so strong with optimism, am not too sure. Why did I trust him so fast? Why does this all seem so strange yet so familiar, so right? Will he really be the man I am thinking him to be?'

A soft sniff from Ragini drew Nachiket's attention. He felt her soft hand tremble on his. Almost reading her mind, he took a sharp breath and within a second wrapped his warm fingers around her small hand gripping it firmly and reassuringly.

Ragini's heart almost skipped a beat that moment. 'He will be', she smiled as she felt his comforting warmth seeping through her hand and warming her heart. Nachiket smiled too as he felt her relaxing and let her hand lie more comfortably on his own.

'...and this hand, I hold to never let go', Nachiket repeated after panditji loud enough more to convince him and assure his bride beside.

The Kanyadan Sanskaar ended with the Panditji tying both Nachiket and Ragini's right hands together with the auspicious red thread and telling them to get up and take a round around the holy fire, promising God that the Groom had taken the responsibility of the Bride from her Father and that now she was on the way to becoming his wife, by mind, body and soul.

'Since the groom's sister isn't here can one of bride's sister step in for the gathbandhan?', Panditji requested. At the mention of sister Nachiket realized it was going to be so hard to explain everything to Pam, as he lovingly called her. But all that can wait.

He saw a young girl sprinting towards them merrily who deftly and very patiently tied the ends of Ragini's saree with the ends of pink cloth on Nachiket's shoulder.

Nachiket grinned at the little girl rewarding her for her cheerful smile. 'This knot is called Gathbandhan' symbolizing the unison of two souls' panditji explained further.

'You will now take the mangal feras around this holy fire seven times and make seven promises to one another, that you will have to fulfill for a successful and happy married life. The first four rounds will be taken with you walking ahead of Ragini and the last three with her walking ahead of you.'

Panditji asked Nachiket to hold Ragini's right hand in his own and take the first step around the holy fire, making him repeat the first promise that he made to his wife after him.

I pray to God for plenty of nourishing and pure food.

I pray to God to let us walk together so that we will get food.'

Taking the second step around the fire, the panditji asked Nachiket to repeat after him, following which Ragini repeated her part of the promise;

I pray to God for a healthy and prosperous life.'

I ask for the physical, spiritual and mental health from God.'

I pray God for wealth. I ask God for the strength for both of us so that they can share the happiness and pain together.

I pray that we can walk together to get wealth.'

Taking the fourth step around the fire, Nachiket and Ragini repeated the invocations;

We pray to God for the increase in love and respect for each other and our respective families.'

Ragini was literally shaking when it was her turn to come in the front, as she was led ahead gently by Ashaben and Nachiket took the fifth step around the fire walking behind her;

Together we pray for the beautiful, heroic and noble children from God.'

Nachiket could barely hear Ragini's voice, as it came out low and soft, almost like a murmur, while he felt as if he was under a magic spell, making him zapped, as he took the sixth step around the fire;

I pray for the peaceful long life with each other.'

I will always be by your side.'

There was complete hush in the assembled crowd, as the panditji announced, 'This is the final and concluding step around the fire and after which the Bride and Groom will be Man and Wife, for this life and for their next seven lives.

As Ragini hesitated a bit and started to take the final step around the fire, it was that moment when the realization hit Nachiket that his life had changed forever. It was not a change he had expected or wanted for himself, but it had happened nevertheless. And now there was another life interlinked with his, someone's else's happiness and sorrow co-dependent with his and much as he felt himself removed from his society and culture, the impact of these rituals and especially of the promises that he and Ragini had made, shook him to the core of his heart.

Closing his eyes for one brief moment and letting all this sink in he thought of all the dreams he'd had of a marriage with her which shattered. The moment he thought would never come was here staring at him, but with someone else and he had to face it, embrace it and accept it honestly. Opening his eyes and looking at the petite girl who stood huddled in front of him, he repeated to himself, almost to his own disbelief, 'I am someone else's from now onwards and someone else's I will remain for the rest of my life.'

Nachiket took a deep breath and started walking slowly as everyone watched with bated breath, the concluding part of the wedding ceremony.

Nachiket repeated what the panditji said, the seventh and final promise;

I pray to god for companionship, togetherness, loyalty and understanding between ourselves. I ask God to make us friends and give the maturity to carry out the friendship for lifetime.'

Nachiket added further on his own, 'We have become friends after these Seven Vows and we will not break our friendship in life.'

Hearing this Ragini spoke almost impulsively, her voice coming out low and soft, but clear as a bell; with sincerity that only someone with a heart as pure as a child could have;

As God is witness, I am now your wife. We will love, honour and cherish each other forever.'

Nachiket felt the sudden urge to lift the veil covering the face of his bride and finally see who he was married to. Didn't he just hear the panditji saying they were now man and wife for seven lives? So he could most certainly see his bride, couldn't he?

Sindoor daan karo', Panditji's loud voice drew his attention and he was handed a small silver pot. Nachiket took a pinch of sindoor as instructed. The wait was killing him. He could sense his heart plummeting, but just then Ragini's aunt stepped up to lift the veil gently and he saw her. Her head lowered submissively, the downcast eyes and innocence and fear written on her fair face.

'Fill the parting on her forehead son', panditji said. Before Nachiket could actually see her thoroughly he had mechanically put the sindoor on her forehead and her veil was put back again. He sighed as he had to control his urge to lift the veil and see her once again.

He'd seen her only for a flash second and there her face was covered again. He couldn't yet say if she was beautiful as he had hardly seen her, but in the brief seconds of what he saw her he'd seen an innocent soul who'd blindly handed over her life to him. Suddenly he felt more protective and responsible towards her, wanting to hold her and tell her that he'd never fail her.

Ragini found her palms sweating as the moments of vidaai neared. She felt partly excited too for this was one adventure she was looking forward to now as it was with someone she'd felt safe with unlike with Aman. She knew it was not going to be easy but also knew that her courage had been restored.

'Mangalsutra daan karo', Panditji announced and said, this mangalsutra binds you two further. Both the sindoor and this will be symbols of married status for your bride as well as the love, integrity and devotion to each other'. Soon after the explanation concluded Nachiket lifted the black and gold beads necklace from the plate and asked politely, 'May I?'

Ragini's hand stopped curling nervously and she gingerly moved a little closer to him, allowing Nachiket to tie it around her neck. Badhaiyaa! Vivah sampanna hua', Panditji said cheerfully which was followed by loud shehnai that played on the speaker. Rose petals and akshat were showered again on the couple as blessings from the elders who witnessed this unique wedding of two strangers.

The couple took rounds and sought blessings from everyone turn by turn. Both moved in correlation like a pair of eyes.

Finally the came to seek blessings from Keshavji.

'The only thing I have to tell you Ragini is that in your life here on you will see only happiness and no sorrow. I am sure that day is not far when you will fondly remember this day and thank your stars for such a remarkable change in your life.' Keshavji smiled and said lovingly and blessed the couple.

Usually a wedding is followed by many other rituals and an extended dinner and photo sessions but on Nachiket's request all of it was cancelled. If Ragini had just wondered if she felt her legs and back after all the exercise, she heard him say politely to her mother, 'We don't want Ragini to be exhausted further. If the rituals are not very important can they be cancelled or postponed for a later date? With your permission I'd like to take my wife home.'

Ragini felt her eyes pricking with tears more because of the compassion she'd just experienced. A soft sob escaped her mouth that acknowledged his gesture.

'Of course beta. Saying this you have removed even the least bit of fear I had in my mind. I have no fear now, I am happy that I have entrusted the life of my daughter in the right hands and that she'll be taken care of well.' Nachiket humbly folded his hands and stood silently allowing them to finish the last ritual of vidaai.

Ashaben hugged her daughter and wept inconsolably and said, 'I am sorry if I have hurt you my child but be rest assured I have never intended to harm you. Please forgive me..'

'Maa please..', Ragini sobbed and hugged her mother back with all her might. She couldn't put her feelings in words, but her mother knew her child had forgiven her for everything. Nachiket was moved with the sight in front of him. He knew how difficult life is without a mother. So what if he was a grown up man, he missed his mother too. He could empathize with Ragini at the thought of life without having your mother around everyday.

Ragini was then led towards the small temple where she had to leave imprints of her palms on the walls. She dipped her hands in the turmeric - sandalwood' water and marked the imprints of her small palms on the walls. She broke down crying copiously in front of the temple and dropped on her knees crying further. She was leaving her family, her memories, her childhood back to enter a new life. Such was the poignancy and bitter-sweet pain of the entire situation, there was no one left with dry hearts and an overwhelmed heart.

Before Ashaben or any of her cousins came forward, Nachiket had stepped closer and held her shoulders gently and made her stand up slowly. He didn't speak a word further. He just held her hand in his and walked towards the exit and stood in front of her mama who waited at the gate and said, 'Ragini is now my wife first and then your daughter sir. I assure you this is the last she has ever cried.'

'Thank you damadji', he said as he wiped his tears and hugged his daughter once again and helped her sit into the car which was now waiting to take her to her new abode. RK had taken the driving seat and one of Ragini's cousin brother accompanied him in the front seat to leave her till her sasural as one of the many other rituals.

'I'll look into the arrangements for bahu's welcome', Keshavji said and patted Nachiket's cheek lovingly.

'Dadaji I've done all of that. Please don't worry. You should go and rest too after such a long day', RK said and instructed his driver to drop Keshavji to his house safely.

Nachiket folded his hands once again paying respect to everyone and sat in the car next to Ragini, his wife. RK started the car and drove the couple towards the new beginning waiting for them.

to be contd...