✓ Narottam Arjun: Soul of the Sage

s i x - m a r r i a g e

"Love is stronger than Hate,
Acceptance is stronger than Vengeance,
And if not, then there exists no future."
~ Kyra

If someone ever asked Arjun about the craziest day of his life, he would reply with this day. The sun rose with him waking up excitedly to meet his sister, and the moon shone with a wife, the woman he met today.

He sighed, and the worst part, Krishna had left for Dwarka due to an emergency and won't attend the wedding. Arjun wished his Madhav was here, he gave an intangible support.

The shubh muhurat for pheras was during the last prahar of the day, at the sunset. No matter how confidently he agreed to marry, he was literally biting his nails sitting in his room, all ready to marry.

"Jyesth," His sister walked inside, "if you are so nervous, think about your bride. Few days she got married, and while she was still in her wedding attire, she saw the corpse of her husband. And now, today, she is marrying the same man who was the reason she wore white.

If nothing, then I at least respect her for her sacrifices and courage, I know you think she isn't a good woman and is probably seeking vengeance, but brother, as a woman, I assure you, no matter how much a woman is drowned in the ocean of revenge, blood and hate, she will never trade her heart for that.

If she agreed to marry you, in Devi Manasa's presence, know that, even with her flaws, even with her weapons, even with her blood filled memories, she has accepted you. And that my brother, is a huge thing.

Today, not as a sister, but as a woman, I want you to promise me that you will take care of her. I know you can't promise to never let her cry, but you can be there to wipe her tears when she cries.

Take care of her, respect her, treat her the way she deserves, will you?"

Vrinda spoke calmly, even if no one saw, she witnesses the unshed tears in Uloopi's eyes, the pain and the misery in those orbs.

Uloopi didn't deserve what she went through, but the future, Arjun could give her what she deserved.

"I promise," Two words, one promise, that's all that held them together for a lifetime.

Arjun sat down in the mandap, waiting for his bride. "Arjun," he saw Devi Manasa, Mahadev had sent her. "Pitadev asked me to say something to you, he asked you to not worry as Indraprasth is in good hands." Arjun sighed in relief, even when far, Mahadev had him calm down.

"He sent a gift," Said the daughter of Mahadev, and passed a small leaf, bel patra, "he said, this will help you in your difficult times," Manasa added.

Arjun nodded, and accepted the leaf, holding it close like his life depended on it.

"Yajmaan, Saptapadi ka samay ho gaya hai," Said the Pandit.

He saw his mother bring Uloopi, and the woman dressed in red sat down next to him. She didn't even spare a glance at him.

"Om esha ekapadi bhava iti prathaman,” Arjun said.

“Dhanam dhanyam pade vadet,” replied Uloopi.

In the first vow, the groom says I will provide welfare and happiness for you and the children that we bear and you shall offer me food and help whenever it is required. In response to this, the bride promises to be responsible for the complete household management.

The vow beckons the willingness of both the partners to bring prosperity in their lives; each is agreeing to fulfil their respective role.