At last love remained

Vaidehi

"Kousalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravarthathe
Uttishta Narasardula karthavyamdhaivamanhikam"

(Meaning: O Rama! Great Son of Kausalya, the Sun is about to rise in the Eastern skies; please arise to offer the early morning oblations.)

[Vaidehi completing three circles around Tulsi]

"Rama!!! Never make me fall in love with anything or anyone. Never make my parents suffer. Please protect us."

"sarve jana sukhino bhavantu"

(Meaning: Let the entire world be happy.)

"Akka..Akka..."

Vaidehi opened her eyes and raised her head to see a young boy of 10 years and a smile came following her eyes

She quickly went in and brought few books with her hands.

"Good morning akka!! When the whole city is struggling to wake up, you finished pooja "

While collecting newspaper and milk in one hand and giving the books to him in another hand.

"Enough enough Gopi ..Good morning, here take your books, check once . Are these that you wanted?"

Gopi while checking the books and said "Exactly akka, thank you so much."

She smilingly said " Study well.Thank me with your success and achievement."

Gopi said" Sure akka, are you not going to office today?"

She said" No Gopi, me along with Amma and Pappa going to my cousin's wedding. By the way no need of newspaper and milk for next three days. You take milk to your home. Don't return it to dairy." and bid him goodbye and entered kitchen preparing coffee decoction and breakfast. After preparing everything she cleaned up kitchen and was taking a sip of coffee and enjoying Bangalore winter, where her mother entered kitchen yawning and tying her hair into a messy bun.

Her mother said "Putta, why didn't you wake me up? Did all the chores all alone? Why Putaa?

She smiled and answered " Ayyo Amma let it be, you were very tired yesterday helping Athe(aunt in Kannada) in all wedding works. So I woke up performed pooja and prepared breakfast. Did you brush? Shall I give you coffee? Did papa wake up?"

"Yes give,he is still sleeping, let him sleep for some time. By the way, did you apply for leave in your office?"

Vaidhehi answered preparing coffee" yes Amma,I did, for 3 days if necessary I will extend. By the way what are events for these 3 days?

Lakshmi answers" Today will be Arishina shastra(Haldi ceremony), Mehendi,Chappara Shastra(Pandal ceremony) as well as bangle ceremony.

Tomorrow will be the official wedding day with mahurath after Mangalagowri pooja and evening will be the reception.

Day after tomorrow, send off day."

Giving coffee to her mother she said "Ooooh!!! Aaradhya's wedding is going to be a blast."

Aaradhya was Vaidhehi's paternal aunt's daughter.

Lakshmi was about to take a sip, someone took the cup from her, when she raised her head to see, it was her husband Srikanth enjoying her sip of coffee and said "Mother –Daughter chitchat successfully disturbed my sleep. Thank you Putaa for your coffee really there is some magic in your hands."

Lakshmi was glaring at him with fake anger to which Vaidhehi smilingly gave her other cup of coffee and laughed.

After getting ready and having breakfast everyone left for bride's home, where some of the groom's family members too gathered for giving the bride some ritual gifts.

Vaidhehi wore simple but elegant lehenga with elbow length blouse. She clutched her long hair, wore jumkaas, simple necklace with few bangles and a stone bindi between her eye brows.

When they entered bride's home, it was jam packed with relatives, friends, neighbors, groom's family members, caterers, beauticians and boys from flower decorations.

But everyone's eyes were on Vaidhehi, when Arishina shastra was taking place everyone from groom's family asked bride's family about her, to which they answered irritatingly. She tried to mingle with many but everyone ignored her and asked her to stay with bride in the room.

She entered Aaradhya's room and said" Aaru really your wedding is happening very royally and you look stunning" to which Aaradhya said "Ayyo leave it Vaidhu, I'm tensed and scared" with some anxiety in her voice. To which Vaidhehi asked with mischievous smile " Are you scared of Arun anna(brother)?". To which Aaradhya bet her playfully with cushion pillow and both laughed.

"Wait, I too will get the time to tease you in your wedding" for which Vaidhehi's face became pale.

She changed the topic and asked about her friends. Likewise whole day was spent in fun, laughter, teasing, playing and singing.

Vaidhehi sung a wedding song "Baare Baare kalyana manatapake baa, namma maduve set aayith iga bega baa" from movie "Appu" teasing Aaradhya to which everyone enjoyed.

Evening everyone applied mehendi and wore glass bangles from bangle ceremony and had dinner.

Vaidhehi and Srikanth went back to home leaving behind Lakshmi, as she was busy with the wedding works and next day was a big day in her niece's life. Only destiny knew that it would be the big day for her daughter as well.........

WILL BE CONTINUED.....

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AUTHOR