Love at First Sight

chapter 29

Vaishali's PoV

It was 4.30 in morning when my maa came and woke me up telling me to take head bath. When I was ready Amit's mummy ( chachi) came with bhabhi and other elderly ladies to do chuda ceremony. Chuda means set of white and red bengals. This ceremony starts with sacred Puja where elder members keep fast till chuda is not shown to bride. Once the Puja is  over everyone touched the chuda and then they put in my hands. I was looking to my chuda when mummy told me that I have to wear chuda compulsary for atleast  1 year. It's their tradition followed in their family that new bride should wear chuda for atleast one year. She asked wheather I am ok with that and I nodded saying yes.

I wanted to talk with Amit but my bhai told me not to call him as he will be busy in doing rituals.

After that they told me to be ready for haldi ceremony as after that marriage was going to be held.

Before haldi ceremony my mami put toe ring. As this is an  important ritual in goan wedding. Then haldi ceremony was done after applying paste of turmeric powder and mustered oil. After that bath I took bath with holy water.

Now it was time for getting ready for marriage. Beauticion were ready for doing their work at that time I saw papa. But before he could come to me, my bros took him to another room and then what had happened I don't know. 

I was ready wearing maroon colour lehenga choli which was having heavy work done on it.  Beauticians has done her work pretty well. I was wearing different jewellery then Maa came and put chunary on top of my head. Now I was ready for jaimala ceremony where bride and groom exchange flower garland made of white and red flowers. At that time maa told me that barat had come.

My both bhai came to take me for jaimala ceremony. They were having tears in their eyes. They told me that I was looking gorgeous and took me on stage .

It was the time when i saw Amit after my engagement. He was wearing blue  sherwani with sehra on his head. He was looking so handsome that I forgot everything.  He smiled at me but I was lost in his eyes that time panditji told us to exchange flower garland.

After jaimala ceremony next was kanyadan followed by saatphere.

At the time  Punjabi wedding  known as 'veddi' mantras are recited by grooms as asked by panditji and then bride is led to vedi.

When Amit said all the mantras asked by panditji  it's time for kanyadan. That time i saw papa coming towards us. He looked at me with so much anger that if it was in his hands he would have killed me.

Panditji told papa to keep my hand on Amit's hand pouring holy water symbolizing he handover me to Amit. After doing kanyadan papa went from there without looking at me.

Next came saatphere which is important feature of Hindu Punjabi wedding which involves taking seven rouds along with pious  fire , along with seven beautiful  vows.

We took seven rounds along with fire while taking seven vows.

When we completed seven rounds panditji told us to sit.And then he told Amit to put vermilion in my hair partition.

When Amit was feeling vermilion my  eyes met with his. He just gave me a smile and then it was time to tie mangalsutra. Mummy gave mangalsutra to Amit and he tied it in   my neck. It was beautiful as it was neither too long not too short having diamond locket at the middle. After that panditji told us to take blessings from elders. We took blessings from all elders but my papa was not seen anywhere in the hall.

Now it was time for vidai ceremony. Here while walking on the way I have to throw a handful of rice towards my parental home,symbolizing giving  back whatever I had taken from my fathers home.

After completing this ritual my both bros came to Amit and said that they have given their princess to him so he has to take care of me. It was like that time I couldn't  control my tears and I hugged my both bros cried. They also starts crying. Amit hold my hand and took me to car.

After sometime we reached Amit's house.  It was not just house but a big mansion. When we reached door,aarati was done by mummyji. Then she told me to touch kalash filled with rice by right leg and come inside the house.

Then they took us to their mandir and asked us to do aarti. After that they told us play games where ring was thrown in milky water and we have to find out the ring. Whoever finds it first will win and to my surprise Amit gave ring to me all the three time and made me to win the game.

It was time for dinner and all his cousins told us to feed each other and this Amit was smirking at me. I was not able to eat food properly as I was tensed as it was our first night.

And now here I am waiting for him in his room.