Love Onboard
Part 1
Nirmala is the eldest member of the family.
Their family is rich family in that small Village in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu.
Nirmala who lost her husband in early days managed to bring up her son Rajender & daughter Gauri well.
Gauri was married to Nirmala's own cousin who also reside in same village.
Nirmala wanted to take care that her daughter always be in her sight.
Rajender was married to Sujatha who is again daughter of Nirmala's cousin.
It is common in that village to get married within relatives so that relationship will prolong.
Rajender & Sujatha gave birth to a baby boy. His name is Siddhant.
Gauri gave birth to a baby girl. Her name is Roli.
Siddhant as well as Roli was everything for Nirmala being both are her only Grandson & Grand daughter.
Nirmala decided in their childhood itself that Siddhant & Roli will get married in future.
Nirmala informed her Son Rajendra & Daughter Gauri that Siddhant & Roli need to get married.
Nirmala also insisted to Siddhant & Roli that they will be married to each other in their childhood itself.
Siddhant & ROli were growing hearing this...
Roli was looking beautiful in her silk skirt & blouse.
The beautiful ear ring was shaking beautifully according to her face movements.
The bangles & anklets were raising sweet sound.
Her long plaited hair was moving here & there.
The jasmine flower kept in her hair spread the sweet fragrance around her.
Roli was running between the path of the field.
Siddhant in his half pant and shirt, with think gold bracelet in his hand and a chain in his neck showing his richness was running behind Roli.
Siddhant & Roli were playing running & catching.
Rajender who noticed this.
Rajender: Siddhant & ROli don't run like this. You may fall down.
They were not ready to hear anything.
ROli continued her running & Siddhant followed her.
Finally when Siddhant went very near to her & tried to catch her.
But as they were running, it pushed Roli slightly & she fell down.
Roli got scratches in her leg.
Roli started crying.
Siddhant got tensed.
Siddhant took her near the pond & washed the wound.
Siddhant: Sorry ROli. I did not push you purposefully. I am sorry.
Roli slowly stopped crying & smiled.
Siddhant & ROli hold their hands again & went to continue their play again.
Part 2
All the family members were in the temple of that village.
All were praying to god closing their eyes.
Siddhant opened his eyes and went near Roli.
Siddhant pulled Roli's hair plait & run from there.
Roli started crying & ran behind Siddhant.
Siddhant: ROli, you cant catch me.
Roli: I will not leave you. How dare you pull my hair?
Siddhant & Roli were running all over the temple.
Nirmala: Siddhant & Roli, you both started fighting even in the temple. Please come.
Siddhant & Roli went near their grand mother.
Nirmala: Roli, tell me what happend.
Roli: He pulled my hair.
Nirmala: Siddhant, why did you pull her hair.
Siddhant: Roli pinch me in the morning thats why.
Roli: No Grand ma, I did not pinch him.
Nirmala: Ok. Ok. You both should not fight like this. You both will be married when you grow up. Look at your parents, are they fighting like this,.
ROli: Ok. Grand ma, we will not fight.
Roli kissed on Nirmala cheeks.
Siddhant: I too wont fight grand ma
Siddhant kissed her on another cheeks.
Nirmala: Thats like good children. Go & play without fighting with each other.
Siddhant & Roli hold their hands & went to play.
Siddhant & ROli always be together.
They studied in the same school.
Siddhant was mischievous, but Roli was studious.
Siddhant always tease Roli in some or the other way. But both will become together at last & starts playing together.
Roli knows Siddhant's likes & dislikes well,
His favorite dish, his favorite color everything was known to her.
The days were moving while Rajender met one of his friend who was settled in US & came to their village for holidays.
Rajender: Hi, how are you?
Friend: I am fine. I have come with my family for the holidays.
Rajender: How is your living going on there in US?
Friend: It is going very fine. I purchased house there & my wife and son is also very happy residing in US. Look at these photos.
His friend, shown the photos to Rajender taken in US.
Friend: Rajender, why cant you too try to come & settle down there?
Rajender: Where can I come & settle there. I dont know anything.
Friend: What did I know when I went there? Now I learned everything.
Rajender: You are right. But my mother will not allow me to go.
Friend: Parents are always like that. My mother too does not allow me initially. But later she is ok now.
Slowly Rajender got distracted in his mind & decided to go to US & try.
Rajender informed Nirmala on this idea.
Nirmala: Rajender, what is the necessity, we are having everything what is required to us.
Rajender: But Maaji, what else we do being here. The whole life we will spend inside this small village itself. I like to go outside this small circle & see the outer world.
Nirmala tried to convince Rajender not to go. But he was not ready to hear anything.
Nirmala: If that is your decision & only you are informing me, i dont have anything to tell. You do as you wish.
Initially Rajender went alone leaving the family in India. Later once he was ok with the job & place, he decided to shift the family to US.
Rajender: Maaji, I am settled now well. Now I wish to take Sujatha & Siddhant also.
Nirmala: Rajender, Did you think of me. How can I stay without you all in these old days.
Rajender: Why do you worry Maaji? Gauri is there. All our relatives are here only. I too will be there for some years & return back.
Nirmala: You are not going to her what I am telling you anyway. But before you go I want to get the engagement done for Siddhant & Roli.
Rajender: Engagement in this small age. We can do that later also.
Nirmala: No Rajender. I will not compromise in this. I want to ensure before sending my grandson that he will marry my grand daughter.
After much discussions, Rajender accepted for this.
Both the families & their relatives with village people assembled at temple to get the engagement done.
Roli was wearing a new Silk skirt & blouse.
Siddhant was wearing a new Silk dhoti & shirt.
The senior people of both familes with pandit performed pooja & exchanged the engagement plates with Betal leaf, supari, coconut, varieties of fruits in it and confirmed the engagement of Roli with Siddhant.
Roli & Siddhant got engagement even before knowing what engagement is.
Siddhant left to US with his parents...
Part 3
Roli looks beautiful in her Silk skirt, blouse & half saree.
Roli has long hair well plait by her mother with jasmine flower giving fragrance & beauty to her hair.
Roli wear traditional jewellery like jhumki, nose ring, necklace, bangles & anklet always.
No one miss to turn towards ROli if she walk in the street.
She play with her friends like skipping, hopping etc & pass her time.
ROli is well disciplined & well cultured.
Roli never deny the words of elders specially her grandmother's.
All love ROli very much.
Roli stopped her education with 12th STD as their family were not ready to send her to college which is in the city alone.
Roli was good in Cooking, craft works, etc..
Mataji keep on telling her that she will get married to Siddhant.
She was waiting for joining her hands with Siddhant..
Rajender who went to US with his family was held up in work at US.
He rarely talk to Nirmala when finding time.
But Nirmala used to insist on each & every call about Roli & Siddhant marriage.
Rajender gave assurance that no 2nd thought in their marriage.
When Nirmala ask Rajender about Siddhant, Rajender tells her that he is not available at home.
Siddhant was very stylish guy with english on tip of his tongue.
Siddhant completely grown up like US citizen.
Siddhant never stay at home & always be busy with his friends.
Siddhant was working in a software company & earning good salary.
Siddhant never even find time or interest to talk to even his grand mother.
Rajender tried to change his attitudes, but of no use.
Rajender realised that he has taken wrong decision of shifting to US with family as he started missing the family a lot when he was already getting old.
Rajender: Siddhant, I am thinking of shifting to India again.
Siddhant: Dad, what are you telling. How can you even think of going from here? I am not ready for that.
Rajender: Siddhant I am getting old. I am no more interested to stay here & earn. I would like to go back leaving all these.
Siddhant: I do understand dad. Then you return back. But I am not going to settle down in India.
Rajender: Siddhant, it went years even seeing Maaji. I have decided to go to our hometown next week. Please be ready for that. Most probably I may not return here. If you wish, youreturn back here.
Rajender told his final decision to Siddhant.
Siddhant even though not at all interested, decided to come to India to just stay for 10 days & return back to US.
Siddhant never remembered that he got engaged with ROli & she is waiting for him..
Part 4
Rajender informed Nirmala that they are coming the next week.
Nirmala was very much excited on her son's family arrival.
Roli who came to see Nirmala was surprised to see happiness in her face.
Roli: Grand ma, what happend you are very much excited.
Nirmala: Roli, if I tell you what it is you too will be excited.
Roli: What it is?
Nirmala, Rajender is coming to India with his family.
Roli was unable to believe her ears what it is hearing.
She too was excited to see Siddhant after almost 12 years.
Roli face turned pink & her eyes faced down in shyness.
Nirmala: Roli, how many days passed seeing them. After hearing their arrival news, I am unable to wait even for a day. I dont know how I am going to handle for a week.
Roli ran away from there into her room.
Roli lay down in her bed and hug her pillow tightly.
Roli was thinking, how many days passed seeing you. You have kept me waiting these many days for you. Not even tried to talk to me over phone.
Roli was eagerly counting the days, the hours, the minutes & even the seconds.
Nirmala decided to arrange for Siddhant & Roli's marriage during their visit this time.
Nirmala called pandit & asked for marriage date.
Pandit gave the date on the next day of their arrival.
Gauri: Maaji how can we arrange without even telling them.
Nirmala: Gauri what is there is asking them. They are already engaged & anyway marriage arrangement we are going to take care. We are not aware for how many days they will stay. It will be better to complete their marriage. Roli is also in correct age of marriage now. Otherwise we cant answer the village people.
Gauri accepted what Nirmala said.
Nirmala arranged for the marriage very fast.
They printed the invitations & distributed to all their relatives, friends & village people.
Jewels were ordered & made by Nirmala.
Nirmala called the saree sales man to their house & selected sarees for the marriage.
Roli selected saree in Blue color which was Siddhant's favorite color.
All the arrangement were very well done that too very quick.
Nirmala was like flying in the sky in happiness.
Roli's friends were teasing Roli.
Friend1: Roli, you will fly to US with Siddhant. Then will you remember all of us.
Friend2: Where she will find time to remember all of us?
Friend1: You are right. Then Roli you will play with your Siddhant like how you both used to play during your childhood.
Friends2: Why they need to play those games which they played in childhood?
Roli: Wont you please stop all these.
Roli blushed & ran away from there.
All were very happy & excited for Rajender family arrival & the marriage.
Rajender & Sujatha packed all their clothes & required items to India as they decided not to return.
Siddhant was not interested to stay back in India.
Hence he packed few dresses in a bag & got ready taking leave for 10 days.
The day has come for Rajender & Family to reach India.
They reached Chennai airport & engaged a taxi to their village.
Siddhant was not feeling comfortable with the climate, pollution, traffic...
Siddhant: See dad, how it is. I am unable to understand how these people are living here.
Rajender: Siddhant, we too were living here only.
Siddhant: Dad, dont tell me old stories. I am not interested to hear all those.
Rajender was wondering how he is going to handle him in the village.
Finally they reached their village.
Rajender, Sujatha & Siddhant were surprised to see the decorated house and busy people running here & there.
Rajender first thought Nirmala arranged all these to welcome them.
Nirmala rushed towards the door hearing the car sound.
Nirmala welcome all.
She was astonished to see the grown Siddhant.
All went inside and sat in the hall.
Rajender: Maaji, why the house is decorated & all preparations are going on? Is it to welcome us?
Nirmala: Of course to Welcome you all. But also for our Roli & Siddhant Marriage which is planned for tomorrow.
Rajender, Sujatha were pleasantly surprised while Siddhant was shocked...
Part 5
Siddhant was very shocked to hear this.
Siddhant: What my marriage?
Nirmala: Yes Siddhant. Roli is waiting for you these many years. Its right time for your marriage.
Siddhant: What grand ma, i dont believe in all these marriage systems.
Nirmala was surprised to hear.
Nirmala: What are you telling Siddhant?
Rajender: Maaji, just give us time. We will talk to Siddhant.
Rajender took Siddhant to his room.
Siddhant: Dad, what is she telling? How can i marry some village girl.
Rajender & Sujatha was shocked to hear this.
Rajender: SIddhant what are you talking. Roli is already engaged to you.
Siddhant: Already engaged? When?
Sujatha: Siddhant, you were engaged before going to US.
Siddhant: Oh my god. What are you telling Mom? I was very small when we went to US. How can you decide my marriage in that age itself. Dont be silly.
Rajender: Siddhant, dont tell like that. Maaji will die if she hear this. She was not even ready to send us US. She accepted only after your engagement happend with Roli.
Siddhant: Oh God. I dont know how to make you understand. How you all can decide my marriage? That too not even when I was matured enough to understand what it is?
Sujatha: Siddhant for our family sake & my sake, you please accept for this marriage. Anyway you need to marry someone on some day. Why not ROli as per our wish?
Siddhant: I hate all these emotional black mails. That is the reason I never got interested to come here.
Rajender: Siddhant, Please for our family you need to do this. We beg you. We cant face our mother if you deny for this.
Siddhant: But dad how can I play with my life for you all sake.
Rajender: What is less in Roli? She is like a princess. She is indian cultured. She will be your right life partner.
Sujatha: Yes Siddhant. Please accept this.
After so many hours of argument, Siddhant finally accepted for sake of his family.
Gauri restricted Roli to go to Nirmala's house as tomorrow being their marriage & she need to go to that house after completion of marriage. Otherwise villagers will tell something that ROli going to meet Siddhant before marriage. So Roli was eagerly waiting the next day.
The night was sleepless night to both Siddhant & Roli.
Siddhant was sleepless as he was very uncomfortable, uneasy about all these happenings while Roli was sleepless feeling happy about her marriage.
Roli's happiness was seen through her face shinning.
The Marriage day.
Roli was well dressed up with traditional ornaments in the silk saree. She was looking like a princess. Nirmala herself was astonished by Roli's beauty.
No one can tell whether the jewelleries & silk saree is giving beauty to ROli or Roli giving beauty to the ornaments.
Siddhant was very uneasy with the silk dhoti. He was hating the sweating, the smoke and was sitting in the mandap.
Roli forward her steps towards mandap eagerly.
Roli's cheeks were pink due to shyness.
Her smile was increasing her beauty.
All the persons who came for the wedding was looking at Roli speechless by her beauty.
Roli sat next to Siddhant.
Siddhant not even looked towards her in the irritation created by the atmosphere.
Roli by her corner eyes looked at Siddhant & blushed.
With all the blessings of elders, relatives & friends and with the chanting of mantras by the pandit, Siddhant put the mangal sutra on Roli's beautiful neck and filled her forehead with Sindoor.
The rain of flowers were showered to bless this beautiful couples.
Nirmala was very happy & prayed to good to keep the couples happy for ever.
Rajender, Sujatha, Gauri & all other relatives were also very happy.
All the people who came to the marriage were praising on the beauty of this pair.
The procedure of marriages like chanting mantras, putting ring in the finger of feet of ROli, Pheres everything were done one by one.
Siddhant was feeling very tired and was waiting when he can go to take some rest.
Roli was enjoying each & every procedure with a smile.
The marriage was completed in a grand manner.
The couples sat down to have their lunch together.
Nirmala: Siddhant, give that sweet from your plate to her.
Siddhant: What grand ma, it is not hygienic to feed my food to her.
Nirmala: But that is the practice that husband & wife feed each other food.
Siddhant: Ok. I will give her as you said if she wants. But i dont take her food for sure.
Siddhant forward his hands with the sweet towards her.
Roli ate that sweet happily while Siddhant was not ready to even try to do that.
Lunch was finished. All relatives started leaving.
Siddhant: I am going to take rest. I am feeling tired.
Siddhant rushed towards his room.
Roli face was upset as well as Nirmala was looking puzzled.
Rajender: Maaji, actually due to time difference between US & India is the problem. We only came yesterday he has not slept properly due to jet lock. Let him take rest. he will be alright.
Roli smiled.
Siddhat inside his room.
Siddhant was thinking oh god what all procedures, what all people. I dont like anything. See that girl, wont she feel sweating wearing big saree, jewelleries, hair full of flowers. Oh god.
Siddhant & Roli have not even looked at each other yet.
Siddhant because of disinterest & Roli because of Shyness.
Roli & Siddhant were waiting for starting their newly married life...