Crown

chapter-5

.Rituals and a Weird suhagrat

They have finally reached raizada palace , ajmer after two days of rigorous travelling , invention of cars has certainly made their journey shorter and easy but still it's tiring and now their standing outside the gates while the whole palace is buzzing with happiness , drums beat playing at top of its sound .

After the momentary shock of him being married instead of shyam has set on the residence of palace and father's intervention to carry on the preparation at best has made everyone get back to their work . while mother looks shocked still standing with arti taal on her hands , making sure other preparation for their welcome is done , she is not happy , he can feel it why she would be instead of her own son , her step son standing with his bride . he has taken what supposed to be her son's .

nevertheless she come towards us hiding her disappointment and adore tilak on our foreheads did the arti .

then she put a kalash on khushi's head making her come though the main entrance of the palace while balancing it with one hand of her's and other of mother's , a ritual to indicate that girl will be supported by her mother-in- law to adjust in this new household. I walk behind them .

now standing at the main doors of palace , with Rajasthani folk song indicating the welcome of the new bride and couple are sung with great enthusiasm resonating in the whole palace . mother take the water kalash from khushi's head in her hands and round it around both of us in circular motion and then try to take a sip out of it but I stop her with my hands not letting her drink . she again follows it five more times and I stop her every time from taking sip of the water .but at last round she take a sip even after I stopped her .

"a mother always takes away all the pain upon her life for her children's , no matter how much they try to stop her" a old lady said looking at my angry expression because of mother's sipping the water . I never want anyone to take the pain and hardship of my and now my and khushi's lives over them especially not mother . isn't that this ritual meant circling the water kalash around newly wed to let it consume all their upcoming hardships, pain and mother drinks it indicating that she will take it all on her before it reaches her children's and son stops her every time to not let her drink but still she drinks it .

We are then made to sit on small wooden seats decorated with beautiful clothes , I look at khushi whose face is still covered with long veil from that day of our marriage to till now , its tradition good she understands it , it's something common on both their religions and provinces .

Mother put a piece of sweet near my mouth telling me to take a bite , while ladies surrounding us make a joke saying don't eat the whole sweet beta , bride has her share in it too .i just gave a small smile at that , then mother unfolds khushi's veil till her lips and urge her to take a bite and she do as asked . I still wasn't able to look because my cousins forced my head to other direction making sure I don't look at her face before the wedding night . they are clearly having a lot of fun at my expense today . we are made to share many such sweet delicacies for a while , a take the first bite and she take it after me .

"love increases by sharing the food brother " one of my cousin says making everyone laugh while I just look at them embarrassed , I am not a big fan of sweets they know that , here eating so many is getting on my nerves .

Then the time for game starts the most fun as per my laughing cousins who are already betting on who will win , I so wish shyam was also here enjoying it too . there is still no news of him and I can only wish he is safe and sound wherever he is .