FF - Destined to Love - Updated Part 4B - pg 14 - Page 8

Originally posted by: Vidya_Bng

Narges

Me tooo

Originally posted by: Vidya_Bng

Narges

Me tooo

Hello!

The next part is here. This is one of the significant part hence the elaborate explanation of the wedding.

There may be some words which some of you may not follow, please feel free to ask me, I'll be more than happy to help.

Also I have done my best to research and include the correct explanations of rituals, if you find something differing then please ignore considering it as fiction.

Happy Reading and happy weekend! 😳

PS: Remember next part follows tomorrow. 😃

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Part 4A

"You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly."

Nachiket didn't need any extraordinary suits or shirts to look princely befitting a groom. He was born with royal looks and blessed with an aristocracy that needed no further beautification of any kind. RK and Keshavji yet needlessly helped Nachiket to tie the safa on his head that was customary for the groom to wear in a Hindu wedding.

Nachiket was born and raised in a Hindu family yet he wasn't really aware of the Hindu rituals and ceremonies in general. But he knew he'd abide by and keep all the vows he'd take in front of the holy fire.

Setting his safa correctly once again, RK glanced at Nachiket from at an arm's length and said, 'Perfect! Ab lag rahe ho dulhe.'

Nachiket punched him gently and blushed a little after his failed attempt to shut RK up. Keshavji laughed and embraced him. He looked at him head to toe and said, 'I am sure if Vishwas was alive today, he would have been very happy to see you like this. Am sure he is proud of you my son.' Nachiket smiled and touched his feet again.

'Shall we start with Tilak Rasam beta', Ashaben inquired as she came closer to the men holding a decorated arti thaal. Nachiket nodded gently in approval. Joining both hands, he lowered his head, allowing Ashaben to apply the Tilak on his forehead marking his welcome. She looked at him lovingly admiring her son-in-law to be and then led him towards the finely decorated mandap. Nachiket took his seat as instructed by the panditji. One of Ragini's male cousins put the pink auspicious scarf on his shoulder which would later be tied to Ragini's saree before pheras. Nachiket observed and followed all the proceedings silently unable to decipher most of them.

Panditji looked at Nachiket cautiously and catching his blank expressions while applying the tilak yet again on his forehead, gave a welcoming smile and said, 'Beta I see you are in confusion in understanding the gujrati rituals.'

'Yes...I am not gujrati and..this is my first experience..', Nachiket mumbled nervously.

Panditji chuckled lightly watching his nervous demeanor which made Nachiket more nervous. He stretched his hand forward as instructed and while tying the nadachadi (red string) on his wrist Panditji commented, 'Usually its a first and last experience for almost everyone my dear. Unless you are keen on the second round.'

Nachiket looked horrified at the prospect of second marriage and nodded diligently in negation, 'No..this one time is enough.'

'Certainly enough to last a lifetime. Personal experience!', panditji whispered cheekily and chuckled further annoying Nachiket further.

He was already irritated with the stupid tittering in the background and the constant comments from some of the distant relatives of the Patels. To top it the panditji was doing know good with his untimely poor joking skills. He closed his eyes in anticipation to clear off his mind that was flooded with ideas to shut the man up in the most non polite ways. He took deep breaths consecutively to cool down and concentrate on what was yet to happen. Facing Ragini.

Nachiket exhaled heavily and wiped the fresh beads of perspiration off his face as thoughts kept clouding his mind, 'She fainted just after hearing my name, I didn't even get a chance to talk to her and tell her...tell her about...and here I am to be wedded to her in the next few minutes. What if she feels cheated when I tell her? What if I fail to keep up my words and her? The responsibilities? Can fate play such a big joke?'

'Nachiket', he felt a soft hand on his shoulder, bringing him back to the present. Nachiket shuddered slightly and his eyes followed the hand of the owner and saw it was RK.

'Any problem?'

'Oh no... no am fine..'

Forcing a smile Nachiket patted RK's hand on his shoulder and assured, 'am good. Trust me.'

'Now please close your eyes and fold hands as we begin the prayers offered to worship Lord Ganesh.' Panditji instructed Nachiket. He obeyed immediately and soon panditji recited some chants and hymns for the next few minutes.The room fell silent as he finished the last shloka and looked at Nachiket and said in a very serious tone this time without any trace of a hint in his voice, 'for your understanding, this ceremony is known as Ganesh Puja. According to our Hindu mythology any auspicious work always begins by invoking Lord Ganesha's blessing. Here we do so for the successful completion of this auspicious ceremony and for a happy married life for the two of you as a couple.'

Nachiket gave a genuine appreciative smile to panditji thanking him for the explanation. He did not just want to comply with all the rituals for the namesake, but actually wanted to understand them, which would make him understand the seriousness of this. The marriage.

'Now the bride's parents come forward to perform the Vishnu pooja', Panditji announced. Immediately a couple stepped forward and took place besides Nachiket on his left. He returned the customary greetings followed by a polite smile. He wondered how he knew just two people a couple of hours back and in an hour he was introduced to Ashaben, her mother and about a dozen other people except the one who would matter the most after this ceremony - Ragini.

'Irony', Nachiket muttered, giving a satirical smile to no one in particular. Just then Ashaben came forward and said to Nachiket,'they are Ragini's mama and mami, the thing is that only a couple performs this ceremony. So...', she trailed off not explaining the obvious further. Nachiket offered a gentle nod in response.

Panditji handed over a plate full of things to the couple as he continued his chants instructing them to perform the ritual which was known to them but him.

'Put your right foot forward beta', the lady spoke affectionately. Nachiket obliged immediately and watched them patiently. The husband began to wash his feet as the lady poured the water generously.'

'Oh no... Sir, please... please don't do this. I mean touching my feet', Nachiket held the gentleman's hand and withdrew his foot reacting immediately. The couple watched him curiously and then smiled to relax him and said, 'Arre beta...it is a ritual. Please relax.'

Noting no changes in Nachiket's bewildered expression the panditji spoke again, This ceremony is called Vishnu Puja, they are washing your feet with water and panchamrut ( mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, honey and jaggery) because during the auspicious marriage ceremony the groom becomes Lord Vishnu. And this is the way we welcome his gracious presence.'

'Oh...am sorry...I am not...'

'Its okay beta. You wouldn't know these rituals.', the lady smiled in an effort to ease Nachiket. He put his foot forward again and allowed the couple to finish the ceremony as meant to be. The lengthy ceremony ended with the couple feeding some sweets to Nachiket. That really helped as he was required to sit through the ceremony yet to follow.

Kanya Padhravo', the Panditji announced in his singsong voice. This, Nachiket guessed from the sudden hustle around, that it was time for Ragini to step into the mandap and occupy the empty space beside him...in his life... in his house and in his heart...maybe eventually.

Nachiket did not have the nerve to look up when Ragini was being escorted to the mandap by her maternal uncle. He felt his hands and feet going cold as it finally struck him that he was indeed going to marry this girl who he hadn't seen till date. With a sudden burst of curiosity, he lifted his head and looked in her direction who was in the same situation just like him.

Much to his dismay, all he saw was a slender built, rather painfully young looking girl, being walked towards the mandap, her face completely bent down and covered up till her chin by the bright crimson duppata of her wedding lehenga. Panditji's perpetual recitation of shloks continued in the background till she was standing a foot away from him. Before Nachiket could even get a glance of her a white cloth was placed in front of them and panditji continued singing some more prayers tunelessly. Just at the end of the song the cloth was removed and they were joined together in one space. Traditionally, this is the first time the couple will have seen each other, but here, even now the two had not seen one another. Indeed the cloth when taken away revealed the two strangers to one another who will cease to exist as individuals and be a couple instead.

'It's time for Jay Mala. Ashaben please hand over the garlands to both.', panditji said and looked at Nachiket and spoke further, 'you both will now exchange the garlands, representing the formal acceptance of this marriage and proclaim the love to each other'.

'Love?', Nachiket wondered but pushed his thoughts aside when he was handed a heavy nauseatingly sweet smelling garland made up of several flowers.

Nachiket waited for the next instruction ignorantly yet innocently evoking laughter from some around. 'Go on my boy, garland her. What are you waiting for? You are the groom', panditji said and hushed the crowd.

Nachiket awkwardly stepped forward and after taking a deep breath, hesitantly put the garland around Ragini's neck, almost loading her further with the weighty garland. The crown burst into cheers and claps making him more nervous and then It was Ragini's turn to put the garland around his neck.

Had the room been silent, then one could have possibly heard the loud thumping of her heart. Fresh beads of sweat covered her forehead out of anxiety along with the heat as her face remained covered.

Suddenly curiosity took over her and Ragini lifted her eyes to look at the man she was marrying and got a glimpse of him through the filmy veil that covered her face...he had his head bent down in front of her...both tears and smile came onto her face...and she felt so utterly confused by her feelings, so overwhelmed by all that was happening so fast, that without thinking she put the garland around him and backed off.

Another round of cheers was followed by some more shloks and the two were thankfully made to sit down. Nachiket from the corner of his eye could see how weighed down her figure looked not just by the heavy bridal attire, the garland but also the emotional stress of marrying a stranger. He pitied his bride who had to sit through the endless rituals till she is finally pronounced his wife.

to be contd...

Originally posted by: poetic

Thanks for the nifty update. I was so looking forward to it.

And must say, that the simple yet eloquent update had me rooted to the screen. Very nice way of describing the various rasams, without being verbose.

This update nicely discussed about Nachiket's feelings and state of mind, wish to read some more about Ragini. The poor girl whose life just changed in a jiffy, though for the better.

Great writing Curious. Can't wait for the next part tomorrow.😃