~**~

"Kanya ko bolai jai!" The pandit ordered. Ashok sat at the mandap waiting for his bride. Queen Sudeshavati brought her down, she looked extremely beautiful to everyone's eye. To Ashok's eye it was someone rather than Kaurvaki, the jewellery was the same but the appearance was different. Lotus like eyes and perfectly smooth lips were clear to him.

 Ashok felt some pain in his forehead, he closed his eyes holding his forehead decreasing the pain. Looking at Kaurvaki the beautiful woman blurred and gave back Kaurvaki's form. Walking down the golden stairs Kaurvaki was nervous her mind always rotated back to what her guru Kamlika had told her, marrying Ashok will put her at risk. The nerve racking thought trail had stopped when Kaurvaki sat down near Ashok on the mandap.

Ashok gave his signature comforting smile to Kaurvaki re- assuring her not to be nervous. The pandit started saying his mantras that mentioned the name of Narayani, he gave alms to the fire and asked for Ashok and Kaurvaki to do the same. As they placed their palms together, they started a new thought track. 

"hai Agni Dev, tum mere Saakshi ho, tumarai agni mujhe pavitra sada karega!" Kaurvaki said. Agni Dev loved what he was seeing through the holy flames. "this is most fortunate for me Goddess Sri, to be apart of this great love saga is of great pleasure, I give my word Devi that if for any reason you may undertake Agni Pariksha, my fire shall be welcoming to you!" Agni Dev gave the boon of Agni welcoming to Kaurvaki. 

"Gathbandan bandijyai!" The pandit instructed, Queen Dharma and Queen Sudeshavati tied Kaurvaki's veiled stole to Ashok's placed on folded stole, and King Dhishrtara came up behind them to do the Kanyadhan by sitting and giving alms to the fire blessing his daughter for a beautiful future, Kaurvaki and Ashok stood up and did the circumambulation's around the holy fire, the 7 pehra, Ashok lead till Kaurvaki took over the 4th Pehra till 7th. 

"I promise Kaurvaki i will always give the respect and care you deserve!" Ashok vowed through thought, circling. Kaurvaki vowed for the truth and righteousness in this marriage. They sat back down and they gave alms to the fire again. The two took the holy water the pandit offered, in their hands and vowed the sacredness that came with it "hem pran laitai hai  ki apni Vergan ki meryada ham jeevn ber palan kartai raingai, ishwar hamari jeevn mei Dharm ki stapna kerai!"  ( We promise that we will stay in the boundaries of our vows and fulfil them throughout our life time may God establish Dharma (righteousness) in our lives)! Saying this was very familiar to Ashok and Kaurvaki, they turned to one another with their hands already at palms together.

"will you to keep looking at each other or will you continue the wedding?" Enkhara questioned mischievously. Some of the family giggled a little, Kaurvaki just smiled at her, a giggle easily hidden. 

Queen Sudeshavati lifted the front of Kaurvaki's head piece and Ashok placed vermillion into the parting of her hair. The Sindoor, that is meant to protect the bride and show she is married. Kaurvaki didn't really like the rule of vermillion in the hair of a bride, she looked around to see other women's partings but most were covered by a head piece she saw Charumitra's no Sindoor was their. At least some didn't have it. Kaurvaki pushed away her thoughts to the side. They were now married and stood to take the blessings of their elders, but the cycle of immense pain was on the verge of coming.

~**~