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ACT. 4 — SCENE 1.
Third Person's POV
Krishna sat in the main hall as Vasudev proceeded to do the rituals done from the bride's father. Everyone was surprised when Yashaswani chose Vasudev to do the rituals that her father or at the moment her Tatshree should've done but all she said was, "You are my Swami's father, nothing less than my own if anything I would be honored to have you do the rituals."
On the other hand, Yashaswani sat in her chamber, getting her shringaar done for the wedding. She wore a heavily embroidered and embellished red lehenga, with a half-sleeved matching choli and a dupatta draped over her head. For jewelry, she wore a white and red-pearl detailed maang tikka, nath, a pair of jhumkis with a red-hued touch in it, heavy gold choker and necklace that had white pearls and red stonework, heavy armlets, a pair of handcuffs, haathphool, and rings. Finally, Vatsala completed her look by applying a red bindi and gently rubbing the rose petals on her lips to give it a pink hue. All this while Uma and Gayatri did her hair and Lakshamana was applying aalta to her feet.
"It feels weird," Yashaswani muttered seeing so many people fuss over her.
"Tolerate it my dear sister, it's your wedding, it is the only day when everyone will fuss over every single strand of your hair," Satyabhama said.
"I just hope you don't trip over while walking towards the mandap," Yashaswani couldn't help glare at her friend.
"Thank you my dear, I will surely trip now," Rukmini giggled at their conversation.
"Then swami will catch you," Jambvanti couldn't help but add.
"He does have a knack of catching us, when we tend to fall," Yashaswani smiled, a soft pink hue forming on her cheeks as she remembered all of the times when her beloved has caught her.
"That he does," she agreed.
"Swami has entered the mandap!" Bhadra informed excitedly. Yashaswani could feel anxiety creeping up again which didn't go unnoticed by anyone in the room.
"So, we have to leave," Vinda dragged each syllable as if trying to make Yashaswani realize that she has to get up.
"That we do," Vatsala nodded as she eyed a rigid Yashaswani.
"Sakhi," Uma softly muttered making Yashaswani snap her head up at her. "Huh?"
"We should leave for the mandap--" Yashaswani instantly stood up, her heart beating a thousand times per minute. Rukmini cupped her sister's face.
"Yashi, don't be scared,"
"I am not scared," she truthfully said. "It's just I-I am just...scared." she slowly smiled at her own contradicting words.
"It's just I am missing my--"
"--family?" Subhadra completed, her own glistening with tears as remembered her beloved. Yashaswani nodded her head.
"I am missing them too," Subhadra whispered. "Remember the plans they made for your wedding, of how Bhrata Bheem threaten to eat all of the ladoos and how swami said that he will hide you, so Bhrata Krishna won't be able to take you away," Yashaswani chuckled at her words, remembering the sweet memory of her brothers.
"They were happy for you Yashi," Subhadra spoke. "Their happiness resided in yours, so I want you to be happy today, it is your day, let no one ruin it." Yashaswani smiling nodded at her as she took a deep breath and smiled.
"Shall we leave?" she questioned the ladies who happily escorted her towards the mandap. Yashaswani walked on the trail of flowers, Krishna turned, hearing the soft jingles of her anklets.
To say that he was blown away was an understatement, he couldn't help but question himself, how is it that she just gets more and more beautiful by each passing day. Yashaswani looked up at him, her eyes not wavering from her beloved. She blushed furiously under his gaze. Vatsala helped her sit at the seat placed next to Krishna.
"Don't blush anymore Rajkumari, people might mistake you for a tomato," Vatsala teasingly whispered in her ear. Now Yashaswani was blushing because of embarrassment.
'Great!' she couldn't help but think. 'Now I am actually looking like a tomato.'
"Quite a beautiful tomato, I must say," Krishna added. She looked at him shocked.
"How--" Krishna just gave her cheeky smile. Yashaswani hmphed knowing that she would never be able to understand him.
After completing the varpuja and kanyadan, they proceeded towards gathbandhan which was to be done by Subhadra. One end of Yashaswani's dupatta was being tied with other end of Kanha's shawl along with a coin, durva, flower, whole turmeric and some rice.
The coin symbolizes wealth. It means that both husband and wife will have equal rights on the wealth they have earned or inherited. A flower represents happiness and auspiciousness. It symbolizes all the essence of a happy marriage. Turmeric signifies good health because of its healing properties. Since good health is vital for life, both husband and wife are blessed with the goodness of haldi. This is for nourishing their physical and mental health. Durva grass symbolizes eternity. It is said that despite drying up, the durva grass doesn't lose its properties. Moreover, durva is Lord Ganesha's favorite offering. Therefore, it also symbolizes auspiciousness and last, the raw rice (dhaanya) represents nourishment. It is a symbol of prosperity. Therefore, both husband and wife are blessed with dhaanya, which they need to live a long life together.
Subhadra now tied the two ends of dupatta, symbolizing the acceptance of bride into the groom's family. Now, Yashaswani and Kanha stood, with Kanha taking the lead in the mangalapheras.
"Hey priye," Kanha vowed. "I vow to always provide for you and our family; I promise you that I will do with everything within me to keep you happy."
"Swami," Yashaswani vowed. "With AgniDevta as witness, I vow that I shall share your burden of responsibilities and respect you."
"Yashaswani, I vow to be at your side, in sickness and in health,"
"Swami, I vow to be your strength and to stand by your side, through thick and thin."
"I vow to forever treasure the smile on your face and be eternal soulmate," he smiled.
"I vow to love you eternally Swami. I vow to be yours and only yours till my last breath." They stopped in front of the holy fire, completing the manglaphere and sat. The bride sat on the left side of the groom, indicating that she was now closer to his heart. Lakshmana held the plate of sindurdana and brought it to the mandap. Krishna delicately took the coin from the sindurdana and scooped up the vermilion, filling her hairline. Now she was his, he was hers and nothing in this universe could now separate them.
