thanks for reading..keep reading, voting and commenting. .

Clarifications:

1. Aarti - a ritual to welcome special guest's.

2. Warmala - flower garland

3. Mang tika - a accessory worn by women on their head

4. Havan - holy fire

5. saat phere - taking circles around the holy fire while taking the wedding vows..

6. Mangalsutr - a auspicious accessory worn by married women as symbol of their marriage

7. sindoor - vermilion

8. mantras - holy enchantings

9. joru ka gulam - tied to wife's apron.

************************

2 Nights Before the wedding...

Sakshi was in her room packing her things...when her eyes fell on her childhood photo albums...Each photo had a special memory...attached to it..one of the photos...was of sumeet's and her 5th b'day...where sumeet and aditya were tickling her..looking through the photos she walked down the memory lane of their childhood..a small tear rolled down her eyes..she was about to wipe it when a hand slowly wiped it for her and kissed her on her left cheek..sakshi knew that touch very well...they were the hands which..wiped her tears for the past 24 years..her mother was sitting next to her..her eyes were filled with tears..both of joy and sorrow..her mother spoke...

"what a dilemma...for a mother..for one she is happy for her daughter because she going to enter a new phase of her life..and for second she is sad because her loving child is going to leave her.."..Listening to her mother sakshi hugged her and said

"I will always be there for you..you will always have more right on me than anybody else..because you felt me nine months prior to everybody..I will always remain a part of you..".

Her mother was vigorously crying..she said..

"you know what's the toughest thing for a mother.."

Sakshi quickly replies

"it sure must be going through labour..delivering a baby is a toughest job"

Her mother smiled at her and said..

"sakshi it is one of the toughest physical things..but there is always a relief in it after nine months of waiting you see your baby for the first time so no it isn't that difficult.."

sakshi gave a questioning look..

"then what's the toughest thing???"

"sharing your child..you know when your baby is within you..the baby is always..with you..its each and every movement is felt by you..and then suddenly after nine months..your child is somebody's grandchild..niece. .nephew. .etc etc..that pain when your child's attention is shared is the toughest thing..call it a mother's selfishness or love..she likes it when somebody loves her child..but she still feels a hint of pain..in her heart..I am so happy for you that you are going to start a new life..but at the same time..there is pain of giving away my child..." saying this she started crying....again.

After a while they sobered up..and her mother said

"sakshi you have always lead a life of comfort...your wishes were fulfilled before you uttered it..you were never forced to take any responsibility...but know things are different...you will be somebody's daughter in law...sister in law...they will have some expectations from you..I know rohan will be there to help you..but at times..you need to adjust..and move on in life..never keep grudges..about anything in your heart..always forgive and forget..its the best mantra of being happy..."

Sakshi smiled and lied on her mother's lap

"mom can I sleep with you tonight..I have only 2 nights in this house.."

her mother patted her and sung Sakshi's favourite lullaby which sakshi used to love when she was a kid..

(Next day)Day before the wedding..

At 10 in the morning beauticians arrived at Sakshi's house to get her various beauty treatments and to apply mehndi to her..meghna and shruthi were also applying mehndi...when sakshi sadly said

"if we had time we could have various programmes like mehndi, sangeet..etc..it would be so much fun.." Sakshi's mother felt bad because her daughter was upset on such a occasion.

shruthi and meghna smiled at each other..and stood up....shruthi played the song and both of them started dancing..

Mehndi hai rachnewaali, haathon mein gehri laali

Kahe sakhiyaan, ab kaliyaan

Haathon mein khilnewaali hain

Tere mann ko, jeevan ko

Nayi khushiyaan milnewaali hai

Mehndi hai rachnewaali, haathon mein gehri laali

Kahe sakhiyaan, ab kaliyaan

Haathon mein khilnewaali hain

Tere mann ko, jeevan ko

Nayi khushiyaan milnewaali hai

O hariyali banno

Le jaana tujhko guiyyaan aane waale hai saiyyaan

Thaamenge aake baiyyaan, goonjegi shehnaayi

Angnaayi, angnaayi

Mehndi hai rachnewaali, haathon mein gehri laali

Kahe sakhiyaan, ab kaliyaan

Haathon mein khilnewaali hain

Tere mann ko, jeevan ko

Nayi khushiyaan milnewaali hai

Gaaye maiya aur mausi, gaaye behna aur bhabhi

Ke mehndi khil jaaye, rang laaye hariyaali banni

Gaaye phoofi aur chaachi, gaaye naani aur daadi

Ke mehndi mann bhaaye, saj jaaye hariyaali banni

Mehndi roop sanwaare, o mehndi rang nikhaare, ho

Hariyaali banni ke aanchal mein utrenge taarein

Mehndi hai rachnewaali, haathon mein gehri laali

Kahe sakhiyaan, ab kaliyaan

Haathon mein khilnewaali hain

Tere mann ko, jeevan ko

Nayi khushiyaan milnewaali hai

Gaaje, baaje, baraati, ghoda, gaadi aur haathi ko

Laayenge saajan tere aangan, hariyaali banni

Teri mehndi woh dekhenge

To apna dil rakhdenge woh

Pairon mein tere chupke se, hariyaali banni

Mehndi roop sanwaare, o mehndi rang nikhaare, ho

Hariyaali banni ke aanchal mein utrenge taarein

Mehndi hai rachnewaali, haathon mein gehri laali

Kahe sakhiyaan, ab kaliyaan

Haathon mein khilnewaali hain

Tere mann ko, jeevan ko

Nayi khushiyaan milnewaali hai..

A huge smile crept on Sakshi's face..a happy tear rolled down from Supriya's face..her daughter in laws were the best..they really cared for sakshi.

After a while Sakshi's friends teased her..about rohan's name in her mehndi..

Sakshi blushed..and to divert their attention she asked the beautician to add Aditya's name in Meghna's mehndi..at which their friends started teasing meghna...

In the evening. .

Sakshi was busy trying her sandles and other accessories when shruthi and meghna entered her room and locked the door.

Sakshi curiously asked

"both of you..don't you have any work..what are you doing here..??"

Meghna walked towards her and faked a frown and said

"why..we can't rest or what..and why can't we come to you..??"

Sakshi had never seen meghna like this so she said

"sorry I didn't mean it that way..I was just curious that both of you..came to me.."

Meghna smiled at that and said

"chill sakshi..come gets ready we have to go to temple..mom has sent us to get you ready"

Sakshi looks at them confused

"why didn't anybody inform me about it earlier we were going to go temple tomorrow morning before going to the hall right.."

Shruthi stared at meghna and bit her lip questioningly. ...Meghna thought for a while and then made up a answer and said

"that..actually panditji called mom and asked us to arrive at the hall earlier tomorrow so..we decided that we will go to temple today itself.."

"ok, but what should I wear?"

sakshi asked ruffling through her new clothes..

shruthi handed sakshi a bag and said

"don't worry we have a dress for you..wear this.."

Sakshi opened the bag and she was shocked...to see a pretty green color lehenga in it..

"this is superb.. but we are going to temple right so why to wear such a party dress there...I could wear a anarkali or something..."

Meghna looked down..she was out of excuses now..but luckily shruthi spoke

"actually we have some ritual in the temple and rohan's family will also be coming so mom said you must get dressed properly.."

sakshi smiled and started getting ready..

shruthi signaled meghna a thumbs up and texted sumeet

'step 1 accomplished'

Sakshi, Meghna and Shruthi drove in Meghna's car..

Sakshi was restless and kept asking questions like why were they driving separately and why were they alone at home..when they left..where were her parents etc .etc... meghna and shruthi had a tough time answering her questions..Meghna abruptly haulted her car in front of a three star hotel..and.. made fake attemps of reviving the engine, after a few seconds she said..

"hey girls the car has some problem..we need to get down.." sakshi frowned at her and got down..

Meghna opened the bonnet and acted as if checking everything and said..

" the car is heated..we need some water..sakshi will you bring some water from this hotel"

Sakshi glared at her and said

"send shruthi I am not going inside..wearing all this heavy stuff I cant walk in it.."

Meghna questioningly looked at Shruthi and said

"aaa..shruthi will help in getting the car aside..you see we are in the middle of the road..I hope you don't want to push the car wearing such a nice dress..but if you insist you can help me in it.."

sakshi frowned at meghna and said

"we will call bhai he will pick us from here..we will get your car later.."

shruthi banged her head on the car and said

"sakshi the temple is far away it will take him atleast an hour to get here lets just get the water..the car will be alright..."

Sakshi cursed her luck and walked towards the hotel..

a manager greeted her and asked what she wanted..she asked for a bottle of water..the manager instead of giving her the bottle..sent her to get it from the adjacent room..she fumed at him at walked towards the room..the door was decorated from outside...but the lights were switched off..she opened the door..she was scared to enter the room as the lights were off... so she turned back..to leave the room when somebody pulled her inside....and closed the door..she was about to scream when the lights were switched on. The view in front of her made her eye sight dizzy not because of fear but because of happy tears which were rolling down her eyes..there was a neon flex in front of her which read

"Sakshi and Rohan's sangeet party"

then everybody appeared in front of her..and said

"SURPRISE"

infront of her was her full family..rohan..his family..meghna...her parents..her friends...Rohan's frnds...she was speechless...everybody congratulated her and made her sit next to rohan..she leaned towards him and asked

"what's going on who planned all this.."

Rohan took his handkerchief and wiped her tears without ruining her make up and smiled at her and said

" aditya and meghna planned all this..aditya came to our house a few days ago and asked my parents if we could celebrate a night..before the wedding...he didn't give the details but asked us to get dressed and arrive on time and asked us to hide it from you as it was a surprise for you.."

"so sweet of them...where are they by the way..I must thank them..." she was looking from them when..the lights went off and only a voice was heard...

"This is for you sakshi and rohan"

then a slide show started displaying various photos of Sakshi and Rohan together...starting from their childhood..some were of both of them fighting..some were of them posing for the camera..then they had some recent photos...both of them were nostalgic...watching those pictures...after the slide show there were dance performances by sumeet and sakshi...Rohan's friends..Sakshi's friends...their other family members...then it was time for..sakshi and rohan to dance.. a slow song was played..Apparently it was sakshi's favourite song..

Hum tere bin ab reh nahi sakte

Tere bina kya wajood mera

Tujhse juda gar ho jaayenge

Toh khud se hi ho jaayenge judaa

Kyunki tum hi ho

Ab tum hi ho

Zindagi ab tum hi ho

Chain bhi, mera dard bhi

Meri aashiqui ab tum hi ho

Aditya walked towards meghna and held her hand and said

"thank you so much...sakshi is so happy today and all because of you"

Meghna smiled at him and said

"thanks to you too..it was possible only because, you convinced rohan's parents for this.." Aditya smiled at her and said sadly

"I wish we could dance together.."

Meghna blushed at his childlike demand and said..

"you know that our engagement is not officially announced so we can't be together in public openly.." Aditya made cute pout and said..

"I understand..." then he continued.. "I missed you...we didn't spend time together from past two days... and yes don't think that I didn't notice your mehndi...and that big A in it.." she blushed..and looked at their entwined hands..

Tera mera rishta hai kaisa

Ik pal door gawara nahi

Tere liye har roz hai jeete

Tujh ko diya mera waqt sabhi

Koi lamha mera na ho tere bina

Har saans pe naam tera

"its going to be very dark I bet" aditya said in a challenging tone..

she looked at him acting clueless

"because..Apparently when your husband/fiance/lover loves you more your mehndi goes dark even more.." she blushed at that and tried to walk away..but he held her hand tightly...and whispered "I love you" and walked away....

meghna looked at Sakshi and rohan and imagined aditya and her dancing that way..and then mentally swat her self for such..naughty thoughts..

Kyunki tum hi ho

Ab tum hi ho

Zindagi ab tum hi ho

Chain bhi, mera dard bhi

Meri aashiqui ab tum hi ho

Tumhi ho... Tumhi ho...

Tere liye hi jiya main

Khud ko jo yun de diya hai

Teri wafa ne mujhko sambhala

Saare ghamon ko dil se nikala

Tere saath mera hai naseeb juda

Tujhe paake adhoora naa raha hmm..

Kyunki tum hi ho

Ab tum hi ho

Zindagi ab tum hi ho..

Chain bhi, mera dard bhi

Meri aashiqui ab tum hi ho

After the program was over sakshi thanked aditya and meghna..for their excellent gift...

Afterwards Sakshi was in her room restlessly tossing and turning in bed..thinking about the big day..the wedding day...which was apparently...few hours away...

Wedding day!!!

Sakshi and her family...left for the wedding hall..at 6 in the morning...on their way they visited a temple..for seeking blessings so that the wedding happens without any troubles..

Meghna and her family also joined them. After having breakfast Sakshi was taken by the beauticians for the bridal makeup and stuff. At 8.30 Rohan and his family arrived..Sakshi's family welcomed them warmly..Sakshi's mother did rohan's aarti..and then after the sweet banter between the two families they were ushered for breakfast...

Later the rituals were started...Meghna was at Sakshi's side throughout the ceremony..

After the small small rituals it was now time for the main wedding ceremony...the wedding muhurat was of 11.35..

sakshi was in her dressing room being all nervous about the wedding..she looked like an angel dressed in her baby pink wedding dress..which was accompanied by a diamond necklace..bangles..mang tika and loads of accessories...meghna gently placed the dupatta over her head and started adjusting it..Sakshi held Meghna's hand and asked "is this nervousness normal or am I different feeling all jittery on such a happy occasion?"

Meghna smiled at her and said

"it is a very big step...in a girl's life..her life changes from this day forward so surely she feels nervous.." as they were chatting..Sakshi's cousin entered the dressing room..and informed them that the bride was asked to come outside for the Warmala..

Sakshi held Meghna's hand and walked outside..then her maternal uncle (mama) picked her up and lead her to the stage..then she was standing in front of rohan but a silk cloth was held between them as the panditji said his holy mantras..obstructing their view...rohan was being impatient to see sakshi..sakshi didn't show her wedding dress to rohan..as it was a surprise for him..and as sakshi was getting on the stage Sakshi's cousins obstructed his view..

Rohan's cousins stood behind him to lift him up as it is said that one who puts the warmala first..has a upper hand in a relationship..

on the other side..sumeet and aditya were also ready to lift sakshi as they didn't want their sister to loose.. even though it was just for fun..as the pandit finished the mantras the silk cloth was removed sakshi and rohan were lifted up..rohan was mesmerized by Sakshi's beauty...he remembered his mother's words that a girl looks best in a wedding outfit...it was true..sakshi was looking like an goddess...he was so lost in her beauty that he forgot about his surroundings..he was brought out of his thoughts...by the loud shouts of his cousins and friends forcing him to put the warmala before sakshi..as rohan was taller among them..sakshi couldn't reach over his head to put the warmala..rohan warmly smiled at her and bent over..sakshi smiled at him and placed the warmala around his neck..then he placed the warmala around her neck..his cousins and friends started teasing him about how he is a joru ka gulam.. everybody started clapping and throwing rice grains over the couple then they sat near the havan were rohan placed the mangalsutr around Sakshi's neck and filled her mang with sindoor...with the mantras enchanted by the panditji..then Sakshi and Rohan went around the havan for the saat phere..Aditya and Meghna were standing near the stage..as the first phera started aditya slowly held Meghna's hand and said..

"I promise you to accompany you for rest of my life.."

meghna looked at aditya..but he was looking at rohan and sakshi...but smiled at her..she blushed and when the second phera started Aditya continued

"I promise you to take care of you in both sickness and in health"

meghna couldn't believe aditya was reciting his vows....prior their wedding

then Sakshi and Rohan started the third phera..aditya continued

" I promise you my loyalty and I accept you as my life partner with my mind..body..and soul.."

Meghna had tears in her eyes she never expected aditya to do such a thing..

with that the fourth phera started panditji asked sakshi to come forward..sakshi started walking ahead of rohan..as it was the time of the brides vows..

meghna lookes at aditya and said

"I promise you to be at your side for rest of my life"

Aditya smiled at her and tightly held her hand..

as the fifth phera began meghna said

" I promise you to be loyal and faithful to you..and accept you as my partner with my mind..body and soul. ."

as the sixth phera was taken by Sakshi and Rohan...meghna continued

"I promise you to take good care of our family and children"

Meghna blushed at her own statement as the seventh and last phera started...they both said simultaneously

" I promise to live in peace and prosperity with you for rest of our lives"

as the pheres were completed aditya and meghna smiled at each other and walked towards sakshi and rohan and congratulated them..after some small rituals and the banter between their cousins over the grooms shoe's..both bride and groom went to their dressing room for getting ready for the reception...after the reception it was time for lunch..sakshi and rohan fed each other...aditya and meghna sat adjacent to each other...aditya eued everbody around the table and fed meghna..Meghna was worried at first that somebody would see them but quickly..ate it..them she nervously took a piece of sweet infront of aditya's mouth. Aditya smiled at her and quickly ate it..while he took the sweet from meghna he brushed his lips on the tip of her fingers..meghna blushed and immediately took her hand away and started eating her food...meghna was stunned when aditya held her hand under the table...

After lunch it was time for the bidai..sakshi and her family was crying their heart out Aditya stood in a corner controlling his tears because he was the eldest among his siblings and his parents needed his support to overcome Sakshi's loss in their house..though she would be often visiting them though she wouldn't be present 24x7 to entertain everybody..meghna walked towards Sakshi's mother and held her arm and said..

"your one daughter is getting married and going away from you but your other daughter will come to your house after marriage..right?"

Sakshi's mother pulled meghna into a hug.. a small tear rolled down from Aditya's eyes as he could see his mother smiling at meghna.. Aditya felt relieved as he could see his mother's pain subsiding with Meghna's words..and after meeting everybody sakshi left for her new house..with rohan..

************************ hope you liked it..it was the biggest chapter I have ever written..mainly the chapter is lengthy because of the two songs..I tried the chapter without it but it felt incomplete so I incorporated it back..sorry if somebody didn't like it.. hey I know this chapter isn't that good..but I really didn't want to write the marriage details as I want a detailed wedding ceremony for Aditya and Meghna...so sorry this would be it for sakshi and rohan's wedding...if you didn't understand anything or something is confusing plz ask through comments or by messaging me..I will surely..clear your doubts..

love n best wishes

Crazybookworm..