Part 6
The wedding day came and Mini was getting ready in her room when Babita came there. She saw two girls from beauty parlour were busy doing her makeup and hair. She asked them to leave Mini alone for some time. Mini gave her a questioning look. “Nothing just wanted to talk with you. Wanted to tell you things which my mother told me on the day of my wedding. Consider it as tips for successful married life.” Said Babita as she hold Mini’s hand. “And what are those divine tips?” asked Mini as she made dramatic expressions making Babita laugh at her antics. “First, from now on your husband’s home is your actual home. So take care of it. Always spread happiness there. Make it such a place where he would always want to return at the end of the day. Second, whenever you two fight then don’t let your ego guide you. Third, Its your responsibility to take care of his desires.” Said Babita becoming hesitant at the mention of third mantra. “Mom, I got the first two but don’t you think the last one is biased. I mean I am his wife so he should also take care of my desires too.” Replied Mini innocently. “Stupid girl…..by desires…I didn’t mean as in general wishes or something…I mean….I mean….physical desires.” Babita completed with difficulty. “Oh mom, please stop….I don’t need to hear this.” said Mini totally embarrassed. “But Mini you have to understand….this is important in marriage…..a wife should be able to…to…give him…uh…satisfaction….in the form of…..the closeness….” Babita struggled to find a subtle word to describe physical proximity. “Sex….its called sex mom.” Mini said out loud embarrassed by her mom’s metaphors. “Chup kar besharam ladki…dheere toh bol” Babita chided her. “Really mom? You are here to give me gyan on physical relations and you are not even comfortable saying the exact word for it. Wow….and you know what? The way you are trying to use code words for it is making it sounds more vulgar.” Replied Mini now feeling awkward at her situation. “Shut up. Here I am trying to help you and you are not even listening.” Said Babita annoyed by Mini’s behavior. “Please, don’t help me. And don’t you think you are some 5-6years late in giving me this sex education. I mean I already know everything about it. Even if I have any doubt I will google it….but please I am not going to discuss this with you….its super awkward and embarrassing.” Said Mini as she folded her hands in front of her mom to leave the topic. “Fine then. I wont talk about it.” replied Babita as she went out of her room. “Thank God!” Mini sighed in relief.
Mini got ready and was waiting in her room when Preet came there to take her, “Come, pandit ji is calling bride.”Said Preet as she helped Mini to carry her dress as it was too heavy. Mini was wearing a maroon color raw silk heavily embroidered lenhga with golden dupatta. Preet took Mini down to the mandap hall. Mini was not a shy person but she didn’t know why she couldn’t even look up straight to notice the decorations or surrounding people or she didn’t want to look at anyone else first? She wondered. As they came near the mandap which was made at a little height Mini stepped on the small ladder. She was about to lose her balance because of her heavy dress but her father Hanuman and Neil both came to her rescue at the same time as they both extended their hand to offer her support. Mini held Neil’s hand and Hanuman Singh pulled back his hand and stepped aside to make way for them. Mini looked up for the first time. She saw Neil, their eyes met for few seconds. He looked handsome as ever in his cream and golden color sherwani. His eyes hold her captive. There was so much depth in them. So much…which she would like to discover. She felt something moved inside her heart. “Come with me” said Neil as he gestured her to climb the ladder of mandap. Mini felt as if she would have gone with him to the world’s end let alone this mandap if he would have asked her to. He made her sit on his left side and he himself sat along with her. Pandit ji started chanting sacred mantras-
Tadev Lagnam Suridam Tadev
Tara Balam Chandra Balan Tadeva
Vidya Balam Daiv Balan Tadev
Lakshmi Pate Tendra Yugam Swarami
Shubmangal Sawadhan
The whole atmosphere became religious and pious with the hyms and the mantras as people watch the union of two souls. Pandit ji called Hanuman Singh for ‘Kanyadan’. Hanuman Singh went there with heavy heart. He did what pandit ji asked. He held Mini’s hand in his and then placed it on Neil’s hand signifying the relinquishment of his rights over her to Neil. Hanuman Singh couldn’t control it anymore and let his tears fall as he folded his hands in front of Neil as if pleading him to take care of her little doll. Neil held his hands in assurance. After completing other rituals pandit ji asked Neil to fill sindoor in Mini’s mang and make her wear mangal sutra as he kept chanting holy matras-
Mangalam Bhagwan Vishnuh,
Mangalam Garunadhwajah
Mangalam Pundari Kakshah,
Mangalaya Tano Hari
Ya devi sarv bhuteshu
Lakshmi rupen samsthita
Namas tasyai namas tasyai
Namas tasyai namo namah
Neil took pinch of sindoor and lifted his hand while Babita helped Mini and pulled back her pallu over her head a little to make space. Neil filled her mang and Mini closed her eyes as myriads of emotions cross through her eyes. Neil took the beautiful mangal sutra from the sindoor filled plate and tied it around Mini’s neck. Mini looked at her mangal sutra and then towards Neil. Though she had seen these rituals in so many marriages she had attended but when it was happening with her it all felt new and overwhelming. She didn’t know what is the importance of this chain and pinch of vermilion but it felt heavy on her as if now she is no more that carefree girl and suddenly a responsibility of ‘wife’ is bestowed upon her. She looked at her mom and dad. They were happy but had tears in their eyes. She wanted to reach out to them but they seemed too distant at that moment. Mini was feeling restlessness. Meanwhile pandit ji asked them to stand up for the pheras. Neil stood up but Mini remained seated lost in her thoughts. Babita helped her in getting up. Their gath bandhan was done and pandit ji asked them to take 7 pheras for 7 promises about supporting each other in every situation. Mini was still lost in thoughts when Neil extended his hand and took her hand in his holding in a tight grip. Mini looked at him and he pressed her hand a little and blinked his eyes. Mini found the assurance in that little gesture which encouraged her to move forward. Pandit ji kept chanting mantras as Mini and Neil took the pheras-
Bhoomi mangalam Udaka mangalam
Agni mangalam Vayu mangalam
Gagana mangalam Surya mangalam
Chandra mangalam Jagat Mangalam
Jeeva mangalam Deha mangalam
Mano mangalam Aatma mangalam
Sarvamangalam Bhavatu Bhavatu Bhavatu
Sarvamangalam Bhavatu Bhavatu Bhavatu
Sarvamangalam Bhavatu Bhavatu Bhavatu
At the end of last phera pandit ji declared them as husband and wife and asked them to take blessings of their elders. Neil and Mini took everyone’s blessings and had their family dinner. Since next day was reception and all Mini’s belongings were in haveli only so Babita and Hanuman decided to do just symbolic bidai of Mini where she was taken to Neil’s room in the 5 star hotel in which he and all the baratis were staying. Mini was supposed to sit there for few minutes and returned to haveli. Since Mini’s parents and some of Neil’s relatives were present there Mini and Neil couldn’t interact. Soon Mini was taken back to the haveli. Mini sighed in relief as soon as it all ended and she was back in the safety and warmth of her room. Preet was sleeping over with her.
“So,how does it feel?” asked Preet as Mini came out of bathroom after changing. “It was tiring yaar Preet kaure…both physically and mentally.” Said Mini as she finally sat on bed to get some rest. “Not that…I mean how does it feel to be married?” Preet asked again. “To be honest, I don’t know….you know it happened so soon. I mean I met him just two months ago and now we are married. I am still confused as to how my life is going to change and in what measures?” replied Mini. “Don’t be nervous Mini. Everything is going to be fine.” Said Preet in assurance. “Achha ye sab serious baatein chhod na….ye bata suhagraat ko lekar kuch excitement hai ya nahi?” Preet teased. “Excitement kaha se hogi? Shadi ke baad bhi mujhe mere handsome husband ke sath nahi balki tere sath bed share karna pad raha hai.” Mini said as she made faces. “Preet hit her with pillow, “Haan haan ab toh tujhe meri company buri hi lagegi na tujhe tera Neil jo mil gaya hai…..lekin dekh lena kal jab tu Delhi chali jayegi na toh meri bahut yaad ayegi tujhe.” Said Preet as she become sad thinking about the bidai of her best friend. “Aww ,I will be in touch with you….aur itni asaani se thode hi na chhodungi tujhe…aati jaati rahungi tujhe sataane.” Said Mini as she hugged her.
Next day was spent in reception and all of them only got free at evening. They were supposed to leave at night only as tomorrow was another reception at Delhi. As it was actual bidai of Mini everyone from her family was emotional. Babita and Hanuman came holding Mini’s hand towards the car where Neil was waiting for her. Mini was feeling as if she was leaving behind her childhood and all the sweet and sour memories of it in this house. She felt as if her legs have become heavy and she couldn’t move. She looked at her mom and dad with tears in her eyes as if asking them to stop her from going. Babita put her hand on her head lovingly and asked her to go ahead. She hugged Babita and Hanuman for the last time before sitting in the car. “Beta….Mini sirf beti nahi hai hamari….jaan hai….ye samajh lo ki apni zindagi tumhe saup rahe hain….khayaal rakhna iska.” Said Hanuman Singh as he hugged Neil. “Don’t worry. She is my wife now…my responsibility. I will take care of her.” replied Neil as he hugged him back. Then he took their blessings and sat in the car. Hanuman and Babita kept looking at the direction where the car went till it disappear from their eyes.
“Please don’t cry. It’s a new beginning of our life. Start it with a smile.” Said Neil as he saw Mini was still crying. Mini just nodded her head in yes and wiped her tears. After few hours they reached Delhi where Naeem bi made the arrangement for their welcome. Mini kicked the utensil full of rice and entered by putting her right leg first in the plate full of kumkum paste. She then walked inside the house leaving her foot prints on the floor. Mini touched Naeem bi’s feet for blessings. Neil saw this and he was touched by this gesture. He himself was going to ask her to do that but she did it on her own. “Please stop it, what are you doing? Ab tum is ghar ki malkin ho aur main bas yaha ek naukar hoon.” Said Naeem bi as she was overwhelmed by the respect shown to her. “Neil said that you are a motherly figure to him. So how can you be just a servant for me? You are our elder and elders are always respectable.” Said Mini as she smiled at her. Naeem bi took them to Neil’s room. And the servants brought Mini’s suitcases.
to be continued....
P.S. I know you want to hit me with chappal for ending it here🤣 but it had become too long for one part so had to end it here.😆😳
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