"It isn’t enough to love; we must prove it.”

____

WEDDING, 12 DECEMBER 2018

*Nandini*

"Nandu, uth gayi beta!!"

Mom said, while coming in the room.

I was drying my hair, which I had just washed.

"Han ma! Bas Abhi Ayi nahakar"

I said, and she made me sit on the bed and sat herself.

"Nandu, mujhe pata hai tu Sabse achi beti hai. Tu sab khud handle kar Sakti hai, par, beta..mera kaam hai tujhe samjhana. Humesha yaad rakhna, kit shaadi me thoda bahut adjust karna padta hai.
Aisa nahi ho Sakta ki Manik aur uska pariwar har chiz tere according ya teri pasand se Karen. Par iska ye matlab nahi hai ki vo tujhe pasand nahi karte. Okay?"

She said.

"Han maa. Main Dhyan rakhungi."

I replied keeping my hand on hers.

S

he smiled and I hugged her.

"Ma, ap bas apna Dhyan Rakho. Mere liye Manik hai, Mom hai, cabir, dad, aur Navya bhi hai"

She nodded in a yes and later went to do her work.

"Hey baby! So, today is the day!! *wink*"

Manik messaged me.

I blushed thinking about yesterday.

Soon it was night and I started getting ready.

Everyone around me were panicking and making me feel panicked as well.

Somehow I got ready and Navya put the final duppata on my head.

She removed some kajal from her eye and put it behind my ear.

"Ab lag Rahi hai na, Manik ki Dulhan!"

She said.

I smiled.

"Navu, main itni khush kahin na Kahi teri
Wajah se Hun. Agar tu mujhe Manik se Milne ke liye nahi manati to..pata nahi aj life kaisi Hoti"

She back hugged me and replied,

"Meri Jaan, tu itni chinta Kyun kar Rahi hai. Aur waise bhi bachpan ke dost hai hum. Thank you and sorry humare bich nahi hota."

We had a talk for some time and then Mom called her. Because as a Bhabhi, she had to perform some rituals.

I heard trumpets, Dhols and many other instruments indicating the baarat was here!

My heart raced.

I know I love Manik, but changing surname is almost giving up your identity.

This day isn't easy for any girl in this world.

I wore a Punjabi Red lehenga along with golden earrings, necklace and a maang
teeka with a tight bun.

I peeped through the window to see Manik in a white sherwani sitting on a mare. He looked up at once and I turned back. I didn't want him to see me, before our wedding.

Ma told me, its not considered inauspicious and I didn't want any problems between Us.

"Nandu, chal, Panditji ne Bulaya hai"

Navya said, after some time.

Ma and Navya held each hand of mine and I covered my face with a veil.

I could sense Manik looking at me, who was already sitting in the mandap.

I was made to sit on the Mandap and the rituals started.

"Var ki behen, gathbandhan kare."

The priest said.

Mukti, who considered Manik as her brother, came forward to do so.

She side hugged me and went to stand behind.

"Vadhu ke mata pita kanyadan ke liye age aye"

Ma, papa came and sat beside us and did the rituals.

I felt emotional and tears started coming out of my eyes.

Then I felt someone's hand on mine. I looked to my right to see Manik from under the veil.

I smiled and nodded my head telling him I am fine.

"Fero ke liye khade ho jaye"

The priest said.

Now, the time of promises, my favorite one. I had already taken some vows in Navya's wedding and I know Manik had done the same. But it was the time to take some fresh ones.

We had to repeat the vows which Panditji told us to.

For the First Vow, Manik promised:

‘I will always treat you as an equal and  and be helpful in every way. I will cherish you and provide welfare and happiness for you ’.

I complied in return:

‘ I am responsible for the home and will help you in all the financial responsibilities.’

For the Second Vow Manik said:

‘Together we will protect our house and our family and I will always love you’.

I in return promised:

‘I will be by your side as your courage and strength. I will rejoice in your happiness. In return, you will love me solely’. 

During the Third Vow, Manik said,

  ‘May we grow wealthy and prosperous and strive for the education of our children and may our children live long.’

In return I promised,

‘I will love you solely for the rest of my life, as you are my husband. Every other man in my life will be secondary. I vow to remain chaste’. 

During the Fourth Vow, Manik declared

‘You have brought sacredness into my life, and have completed me. May we be blessed with noble and obedient children’

In return for this promise, I said,

‘I will shower you with joy, from head to toe. I will strive to please you in every way I can’.

For the Fifth Vow, Manik said,

‘You are my best friend, and staunchest well-wisher. You have come into my life, enriching it. God bless you’.

To this I said, 

‘I promise to love and cherish you for as long as I live. Your happiness is my happiness, and your sorrow is my sorrow. I will trust and honor you, and will strive to fulfill all your wishes’.

During the Sixth Vow, Manik said,

  ‘Now that you have taken six steps with me, you have filled my heart with immense happiness. Will you do the kindness of filling my heart with happiness like this for all times?’

To this I replied,

‘I will always be by your side’.

For the Last and Seventh Vow, Manik said,

‘We are now husband and wife, and are one. You are mine and I am yours for eternity.’

I accepted this proclamation and said,

  ‘As God is witness, I am now your wife. We will love, honor and cherish each other forever.’

After he put sindoor and tied mangalsutra in my neck, our marriage was completed!

__

The most important part of the story, the marriage is here. The purest bond in this world. Will Manik and Nandini be able to fulfil their promises?

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