CHAPTER 19
By the time Sumi ma went to Mahir's room Mahir was sitting completely ready. He had removed his sehra and was lounging on his bed. There was still some time for the wedding and he wanted to rest a bit. Sumi ma knocked on his door.
M: Come in ma.
Sumi ma: Mahir, I wanted to tell you something very important.
M: Yes ma?
Sumi ma: I will retire as the MD of Sehgal industries. Me, Gayatri and Vyankatesh, we have decided to merge Kapoor Group of Companies and Sehgal Industries. The new company, Kapoor and Sehgal Industries will have a new MD from this April.
M: But ma, why?
Sumi Ma: It's time Mahir that you kids take up your responsibilities completely now. We will always be there to guide you. But we think you are capable enough to take it from here. This is just between you and me. Rehan is going to gift his shares to Bella as a wedding gift. He and Kuhu have got no interest in the company. They are quite happy with their fashion house. As you know Vyankatesh has already brought back his shares from me. He has divided them equally among Bella and Rehan. So as of April 2019 the company will officially belong to you and Bella.
M: Ma, why are you telling me all this now? Does Bella know?
Sumi ma: No, she doesn't know anything. I am telling this to you because I want you to know that I have made my decision. I will nominate...
M: If that is the case then I want you to know one thing. I never wanted to join the business. It was Bella who convinced me. She asked if I had any particular dream that I wanted to pursue like Kuhu and Rehan did? And when I said no, then she told me join you full time till I figured out what I wanted to do in life. She knew what I wanted even before I knew that. She does most of the brain work. Yes I do work and I do deserve a fair share of praise, but if I am being honest she is the driving force behind me. I know you never change your mind once you have made it up, but I think if there is someone who can carry forward your legacy it's Bella. Only she can replace you as the MD. Anyone else will be terrible.
Sumi ma: I am proud of you Mahir. I had decided to nominate Bella. I simply wanted to explain you my reasons for doing so, but you did it so well yourself. I did not want this to become a barrier between you and Bella.
M: Never ma.
Just then Kuhu entered the room with Suhani.
K: Ma, it's time to go downstairs. Panditji has called Mahir.
Sumi ma once again made Mahir wear his sehra and took him downstairs. Once again they entered through the front door. Amma did Mahir's arti and put a kumkum tilak on his forehead. Sumi ma and Amma hugged each other. Once they were all inside and seated, panditji announced that it was the time for the Jaimala ritual. Mahir was waiting for Bella in the mandap. Amma sent Kuhu and Suhani to bring Bella downstairs. Mahir was feeling very eager to see Bella all decked up in her wedding attire.
Shehnaaiyon Ki Sada Keh Rahi Hai
Khushi Ki Mubaarak Ghadi Aa Gayi Hai
Saji Surkh Jodi Mein Chaand Si Dulhan
Zameen Pe Falak Se Pari Aa Gayi Hai
Bella came down the stairs with varmala in her hand. She looked like a vision of perfection. The pearls in her jewellery glistened softly in the lighting and the diamonds shone brightly. The soft light made the small mirrors and silver embellishments on her lehenga look like stars shining brightly in the sky. The delicate bindi, a hint of blush on her cheeks and rosebud pink lipstick made her look magical. As she approached the mandap, the tinkling of her anklets mesmerized Mahir and the smell of flowers in her hair intoxicated him. She indeed looked like a celestial fairy had descended on the Earth. Mahir couldn't take his eyes off her. Mahir had no idea his best friend could look so beautiful and regal.
By then Bella was standing in front of him. She wore a radiant smile on her face. Panditji told them to exchange garlands. They were reasonably well matched where their heights were concerned, so there was no need for anyone to bend while the garland was being put around their neck. Bella first put the garland around Mahir' neck.
B: (She whispered) Hey handsome!
Then she backed off. Mahir did the same.
M: You are looking gorgeous.
B: Thanks.
K: (Clears her throat loudly) Patience Mahir.
BeHir blushed furiously at this. They both were being showered with lots of flowers. Then panditji announced that bride's parents should come forward for the Kanyadaan.
Ungli pakad ke tune
Chalna sikhaya tha na
Dehleez oonchi hai ye, paar karaa de
Baba main teri mallika
Tukda hoon tere dil ka
Ikk baar phir se dehleez paar karaa de
He made BeHir sit down opposite each other. Appa then took Bella's right hand and placed it in Mahir's right hand beginning the age old ritual of giving away the one who is most precious to him, his daughter. Then panditji placed beetle leaves, beetle nuts and flowers on top of Bella's hand. He then asked Amma and Appa to place their hands on top of Bella's hands and poured holy water mixed with milk on top of their hands.
Bella was feeling a strange mixture of emotions. On one hand she felt as though her connection with Mahir had multiplied a hundredfold, while on the other hand her connection with Amma Appa had not lessened one bit. All through her life she had been told by the society but never by her parents, that after marriage a girl is no longer a part of her father's household. She had feared this ritual ever since she was a child. She felt that if she married, her parents would begin to mean less to her. She will be emotionally distanced from them as well as physical distance was inevitable.
By now panditji was done pouring water on their hands. He then asked Mahir to place his right hand on Bella's right shoulder, symbolically promising her father that he will always care for her, treat her equally and nurture her just as he had. Panditji then asked Kuhu to come forward for the gathbandhan. He made BeHir sit besides each other and Kuhu tied one end of Bella's dupatta to one end of the scarf which Mahir was wearing around his neck.
It was time to stand up for the phere. Bella was told walk ahead for the initial rounds. Mahir took Bella's hand in his.
Chuteya na Chute mose
Rang tera dholna
Ek tere baju duja
Mera koi mol na
With each round panditji made them give each other a promise. With each round, he explained the significance of each round.
With first round they prayed to God for healthy and nourishing food and for strength to live together and respect each other in good times and bad times. He asked them promise each other that will nourish and take care of each other's needs.
Chuteya na Chute mose
Rang tera dholna
Ek tere baju duja
Mera koi mol na
Mahir remembered a few days ago when he himself had lost respect for himself when he thought he had ruined Bella's life, Bella had continued to love and respect him and she had trusted him when he himself had lost trust in himself.
Whereas Bella remembered that Mahir had always thought of her needs before his. As kids they both were given pocket money to spend. Once Mahir had very badly wanted a toy car and he had been saving for it for quite some months. Bella wanted a limited edition toy house, and Amma had refused to buy her that. Bella had spent the whole day sulking and refusing food. The very next day, Mahir spent all of his pocket money that he had been saving to buy that toy house for her. Even as a kid Mahir always thought of her needs before his own.
With second round they prayed to God for mental stability, spiritual strength and physical health to lead a smooth life. They also promised each other that they will always be there for each other to ensure each other's happiness.
Mahir knew that for Bella nothing else was more important than his happiness.
Bella also knew that Mahir would go to any extent to ensure her happiness. She remembered very clearly, just like every teenager, she gone through an awkward phase in her late teens. Even she suffered from low self esteem and had body image problems. She thought herself as too thin, flat chested and to add to her woes her skin was prone to acne and over styling had made her hair limp and lifeless. Pimpled skin, flat chest, dull hair and too thin body made her feel very ugly. She would look at curvy girls and would feel bad about her shapeless body. For the first time she found it very awkward to share it with Mahir. One day while talking about something random she called herself stick thin and ugly in front of Mahir. Mahir had not said anything but that day onwards he had made it a point to tell her that she looked beautiful every day. He made her drink ayurvedic medicine to purify her blood every day. That seriously helped with her acne. He would make various ubtans and scrubs for her to use. Whenever she felt like giving up, he would encourage her to take better care of her skin and hair. He himself would oil her hair every alternate night. And most importantly he would, without fail tell her that she is beautiful. She had slowly gained back her confidence with his help.
With third round they prayed to God for wealth, prosperity and wisdom to live a life full of contentment. They also asked for strength to share both happiness and pain. They promised to never cheat each other.
tere sang hansna main
tere sang rona
tujh mein hi rehna main
tujh mein hi khona
They had been sharing happiness and pain right from their childhood. Mahir remembered that had gone through a rebellious phase in his early teens. Andy had decided that he wanted Mahir's custody when Mahir was thirteen. During the course of the custody case Mahir was under constant stress that he might be sent off to Andy's place if ma lost the case. That made very irritable and rude. He would get into a ton of mischief in school and would be constantly punished by his teachers. Bella would share each and every one of his punishments. No amount of scolding would dissuade her from sharing his punishments. Seeing Bella getting punished along with him had made him control his mischievous ways. Bella had always shared his pains with him.
With the fourth round promised each other that they would always respect each other's parents and families. With this round Bella also promised to stand between him and death if the need should arise.
Ever since Bella and Rehan had come to live with Amma Appa, they had always treated each other's parents as though their own. Mahir silently promised himself that he would protect Bella, with his life if necessary.
dil mein chhupa ke tujhe
dil naiyo kholna
mar ke bhi maahi tosey
munh na modna
Then Mahir was asked to come forward.
With fifth round they promised to stand by each other no matter what the situation and also to share every joy and grief.
tere sang hansna main
tere sang rona
tujh mein hi rehna main
tujh mein hi khona
BeHir always shared everything with each other. Every significant, insignificant detail that had happened during the, they would share with each other.
With sixth round they prayed for a long and prosperous life. They also promised to stand with each other in sickness and in health.
BeHir knew there had been innumerable instances when one of them had fallen ill and the other one had taken care, the most recent being the Lonavala incident.
With the last and the seventh round they prayed for a life of loyalty, companionship, understanding and unconditional love. They also promised to fulfil each and every one of the given vows with utmost sincerity and honesty.
BeHir knew that loyalty and unconditional love already existed between them. The way they both understood each other, no one would ever understand them. They also realised that they had been unconsciously fulfilling all the vows right form their childhood.
Panditji then called Rehan to assist BeHir with the Lajahom ritual. Bella cupped her hands together and Mahir placed his hands beneath her hands. Rehan then put some puffed rice flakes in Bella's hands. Together BeHir offered puffed rice to Lord Agni or the sacred fire thrice.
Then they both sat down side by side for the Sindoor Daan ritual. Sumi ma brought a decorated plate with a box of sindoor and a mangalsutra. Panditji purified the mangalsutra and asked Mahir to fill Bella's hairline with sindoor. Mahir looked at Bella and their eyes met.
Tu Hoga Zara Paagal, Tune Mujhko Hai Chuna
Kaise Tune Ankahaa, Tune Ankahaa Sab SunaTu Hoga Zara Paagal, Tune Mujhko Hai Chuna
They were now husband and wife. Mahir was on his way to completing the final ritual that would bind them not just for this life, but for the next seven lives. He was looking at her, as though silently asking for her approval to proceed. She gave him a tiny nod and a smile. Mahir took a pinch of sindoor and lifted up her mang tika and applied it in the parting of her hair. Bella closed her eyes at his touch. She felt strangely complete in that moment. When she opened her eyes, her vision was blurred. She felt her tears of joy spill over and slide down her cheeks. Even Mahir's eyes were a little moist. In that moment they had eyes for no one but each other.
Tu safar mera
Hai tu hi meri manzil
Tere bina guzara
Ae dil hai mushkil
Tu mera Khuda
Tu hi dua mein shaamil
Tere bina guzara
Ae dil hai mushkil
Mujhe aazmaati hai teri kami
Meri har kami ko hai tu laazmi
Junoon hai mera
Banu mein tere kaabil
Tere bina guzara
Ae dil hain mushki
Mahir wiped his hands and took the mangal sutra from the plate. His hands were shaking slightly because of the inexplicable emotion that was coursing through his body. Bella placed her hands over his and steadied his shaking hands. He felt even her hands were shaking. She brought his hands to her neck and assisted him in making her wear the mangalsutra. They both were complete strangers to the emotion that they were feeling in that moment. They both felt complete in each other's presence.
Suddenly the sound of clapping brought them to their current surroundings. They stood up and faced everyone. All the people they loved and cared about were smiling at them. They were being showered with rose petals. They looked around, holding hands. They were now man and wife.
CID
