DESTINY'S PLAY

AMMAVAARI POOJA

Megha and Maha came downstairs together making everyone look at them in Awe! since they are looking so beautiful. Kalyani came to them and put disti chukka behind their ears saying "Someone might think you are sisters. You both are looking so gorgeous" making both the girls laugh.

They reached the temple and Raghuvaran was waiting along with his wife Leela at the entrance. Abhi's face turned cold seeing him and put his arm around Megha immediately pulling her a little close to him.

Kalyani and RC gave saara to poojari garu who joined his disciples starting pooja. People greeted Nissankara's before sitting in front of the pooja down the dias. Everyone was talking about new family joined in pooja and whispering about how good Megha and Abhi looked together.

"Amma...please spread these akshintalu" Poojari garu said to Megha giving her plate full of turmeric rice grains. She got up and started giving the grains to people when she reached Raghuvaran he smirked putting a leg before her so she would fall down.

She slipped and was about to fall on the sharp edged diya stand when Abhi caught her securely in his arms but the akshintalu fell in the homa gundam making everyone stand. Abhi slowly raised her up who has tears in her eyes looking at the sharp diya stand before her and kept her hand on Abhi's which was on her small baby bump and faced Abhi who shook his head.

"Are you alright?" Maha asked giving Megha water. She nodded and gulped the water slowly sighing while Abhi was glaring at Raghuvaran.

"Ayyo! Eshwara...What have you done girl?" Ramesh exclaimed making everyone look at him as he yelled "Do you not know that it must be the daughter in law of our family who should be the first one to give aahuti? Now because of your lack of mind the aahuti is done" making everyone whisper.

"Ramesh.." RC warned but Raghuvaran got in between yelling at Megha "Why are you scolding Ramesh, baavagaru(brother in law)? This clumsy girl here is responsible for this grave mistake. What if something happens to my daughter?".

"Ayya...there is nothing to worry. If it isn't ammavaaru's (Devi ma) wish of taking aahuti from the girl the homam's agni(fire) must've been set out by now. That means ammavaaru wanted this girl to complete the pooja by giving aahuti. She must be so lucky that she's blessed by Devi ma itself" Poojari garu said making everyone look at Megha like she's some miracle child.

"You are right poojari garu we already did last year's pooja so let Megha and Abhi continue the pooja like ammavaaru wished" Adi said dismissing the murmurs.

Abhi and Megha stood in front of ammavaaru's statue and poojari garu gave them the Maryville flower petals to shower them on the statue and then the holy water from Krishna river making them complete the shuddi (purification).

           "Amma next ritual is pradikshina. You need to hold this deepam(diya)and do 108 rounds around the temple safeguarding this light. Remember this diya shouldn't go off" Poojari garu instructed making Megha nod.

            "What? 108 rounds? No way" Abhi said making everyone look at him.

             "I'll be fine it's just 108 rounds. I did them so many times before our marriage" Megha said looking at Abhi.

              "You might've been fine before but not now" Abhi said clenching his jaw.

               "I said I'll be fine and I'll do it" Megha said dismissing him and praying to ammavaaru's statue before starting the first round.

                Abhi nodded in frustration and walked towards Megha lifting her off her feet into his arms in bridal style while she held the diya tightly in her arms. Everyone's jaw dropped but he didn't care and started doing pradikshana looking forward.

               "Abhi everyone's watching us put me down" Megha scolded but he didn't listen and said "You want to do 108 rounds then this is the only way you are going to or I'll be happy to be in our room with you" continuing the rounds making her blush and hide her face in his shoulder.

                After 108 rounds he stopped before the statue while everyone else was watching them in amazement as he put her down. She poured the oil into the main lamp joining both the diyas and stood beside Abhi looking at him.

                "Apply sindhur in her hairline" Poojari garu said handing him the kumkuma box. Abhi faced Megha and applied kumkuma in her hairline making her close her eyes.

                "You must be so lucky to get a husband like him. He'll find you in every birth of yours and love you just like lord shiva loved Parvati" Poojari garu blessed them showering them with akshintalu along with other married couples who are older than them.