Mera Rangsaaz

Chapter 6

Tara
1 year later

"Didi aap taiyyar hogyi?"

"Haan bas hogyi" I say adjusting my nosering. I look in the mirror and see all the gold jewellery I am decked up with. Except for my necklace, everything else is given by my in-laws. The best part is my lehenga. It is bright red with gold embroidery. One of my cousins adjust my ghunghat, covering my face.

I can already hear the baraat. It is pretty weird since my baraat came from just two houses away. It is an evening wedding so that everything can be done by the night. I am led downstairs to the hall area for garland exchange. I am not able to see much due to this ghunghat.

After garland exchange we wait for sometime to click some pictures. I am made to take many solo photos away from my groom, while my ghunghat rests on my head. Photographer asks me to do different different poses for the pictures. I whole heartedly do them. Ofcourse I want my wedding pictures to be good.

Ek baar hi hoti hai shaadi.

Once my solo shots are done. My groom is called. This is the first time I am seeing him since our wedding rituals started and he stops his every movement once he sees me. I hope he likes me.

He continues to look at me for sometime until someone clears their throat. Then photographer asks him to stand by my side and do various poses.

"Aree Veer Bhaiya thoda Hass lo. Aapki hi shaadi hai" Sanjay says. I control my giggle and look at him.

My groom gives him a glare and Sanjay immediately shuts up. The photographer asks him to hold me for the photos. His touch makes my heart race. I slightly look up at him and click!

"Bas hogaya ab" my groom says in his always angry tone.

We are immediately called for the pheras after that. I again adjust my ghunghat and sit beside him. The mantras are being chanted while I feel heat from the holy fire in front of me. Standing, we both take pheras. Once done he makes me wear mangalsutra and sindoor.

We both stand up to take the blessings from the elders. First we go to Amma, then Bade Thakur and then many more.

Soon after eating, it is time for my vidai. My mother starts crying, watching me leave and her crying makes me cry.

"Kya bhabhi do kadam dhoor hai apka ghar isme kya rona?" Daksh says.

"Daksh" my husband says in warning tone.

I know my house is near but it's just that I am married now. Everything will change. Not immediately but eventually. And this thought makes me cry more. When finally me and my ma break the hug, I sit inside the car for exactly 3 minutes.

"Rona band karo" my husband says. I try to wipe my tears. His thumb brushes against my cheek, "Tum roya mat Kara karo"

He withdraws his hand as the car stops. This use of car makes me giggle internally. We could have just walked to the Haveli.

My Sasu Ma is at the entrance of the Haveli to welcome us. She puts Tilak on our foreheads. She has been always sweet with me. Too sweet.

"Chalo ab kuldevi ke darshan karne hai" Amma says.

Kuldevi's temple is few blocks away so we go in car. With us, there is Daksh, Jhanvi, Amma and Asha bhabhi. We take the blessings from the goddess for our good married life.

While going back to the car, my leg slightly slips due to the heavy lehenga. I am immediately held by my husband. His hands wrapped around my waist.

"Dhyaan se chal" he says and slightly lifts up my lehenga to help me walk. He continues to do it until we sit in the car again. Returning home, there are series of rasams. In one of them the youngest brother of groom is made to sit on bride's lap as sister in law is considered as mother.

"Ma mein nahi baith raha dekho Veer bhaiya kaise ghoor rahe hai" Sanjay says and everyone around us laughs. Sanjay is the smallest of all brothers and is even 2 years younger than me.

"Veer rasam hai yeh. Koi nahi lega Teri biwi ko tujhse" Amma says to him and then turns to Sanjay to encourage him. He finally agrees. He sits on my lap while everyone claps. I give him the shagun which he takes happily. 

"Bas hogaya na ab utar" my husband says and Sanjay stand ups. In reality he wasn't even putting his weight on me.

In another rasam, I have to pick up and stack the utensils together without making much sound. I do it perfectly despite my clumsy ass and heavy lehenga.

Then in the last rasam, we both have to hit each other gently on legs with a very thin sticks.

"Bhabhi dhyaan se Veer bhaiya bohot zor se marte hai" Daksh says as if remembering something.

"Tara maaro Veer ko. Rasam hai yeh" Asha bhabhi says. I am slightly hesitant at first but I hit him lightly. He too touches the stick against my lehenga. I don't even feel it on my leg.

"Bhabhi ek mauka hai, mardo chauka. Hum sabka badla lelo" Sanjay shouts, making me smile. We continue it until Amma asks us to stop. And No I don't hit him hard.

"Kya bhabhi ek mauka tha wo bhi gawa dia aapne" Sanjay says disappointed.

"Sanjay idhar aa" my husband calls him.

Sanjay looks at him and then the stick in his hand. "Aree bhaiya mujhe pyaas lagi hai. Mein abhi paani peeke aata hoon" he says and runs away.

"Chal beta" Amma says to me taking me away from my husband. She and Asha bhabhi takes me to my room. They still don’t enter it. Just giving me milk and some instructions, asked me to go inside.

I enter the room to see it decorated with flowers. It looks so pretty. I sit on the bed as instructed and pull my ghunghat down. After a while I hear noises from outside. His siblings must be asking for money to let him enter his room. He gives them money and finally enters the room. I hear his footstep and a sigh. Then I feel the bed dip in front of me.

"Kamra dekha tumne?" He asks, his voice still having that edge.

"Ji" I say fidgeting with my finger. He holds them with his hand and asks "Accha laga tumhe?"

I can feel the callouses on his hand and the warmth.

"Haanji"

Author's Note- Hi guys! Thank you so much for your support. I will put the subtitles after I have completed writing the book. I hope you guys understand since it becomes too hectic as I want to update daily so I have to write atleast a chapter every day and also edit the one I'll be updating. Once I complete writing, I will sincerely write the English subtitles. Thank you very much for your patience 🫶💝