Arranged Remarriage

✔Chapter One : Tied in the Holy bond.

Dedicated to the actual mentor of this story, my inspirator, arandomme

First Vow, the Groom promises: “om esha ekapadi bhava iti prathaman” meaning ‘You will offer me food and be helpful in every way. I will cherish you and provide welfare and happiness for you and our children’. The bride complies in return:“dhanam dhanyam pade vadet”‘ I am responsible for the home and all household, food and finance responsibilities’. Concisely, the bride and groom promise each other prosperity by fulfilling their respective roles in their lives.

Second Vow the groom says: “om oorje jara dastayaha”, meaning ‘Together we will protect our house and children’. The Bride in return promises “kutumburn rakshayishyammi sa aravindharam”, which translates as ‘I will be by your side as your courage and strength. I will rejoice in your happiness. In return, you will love me solely’. 

Third Vow, the Groom says, “om rayas santu joradastayaha” by which he means ‘May we grow wealthy and prosperous and strive for the education of our children and may our children live long.’ In return the Bride promises, “tava bhakti as vadedvachacha”, meaning ‘I will love you solely for the rest of my life, as you are my husband. Every other man in my life will be secondary. I vow to remain chaste’. 

Fourth Vow, the Groom declares “om mayo bhavyas jaradastaya ha” by which he means ‘You have brought sacredness into my life, and have completed me. May we be blessed with noble and obedient children’ In return for this promise, the Bride says “lalayami cha pade vadet”, by which she means, ‘I will shower you with joy, from head to toe. I will strive to please you in every way I can’.

Fifth Vow, the Groom says, “om prajabhyaha santu jaradastayaha”, which means ‘You are my best friend, and staunchest well-wisher. You have come into my life, enriching it. God bless you’. To this the Bride says, “arte arba sapade vadet” or ‘I promise to love and cherish you for as long as I live. Your happiness is my happiness, and your sorrow is my sorrow. I will trust and honor you, and will strive to fulfill all your wishes’.

Sixth Vow, the Groom asks, “Rutubhyah shat padi bhava” which means ‘Now that you have taken six steps with me, you have filled my heart with immense happiness. Will you do the kindness of filling my heart with happiness like this for all times?’ to this the Bride replies, “yajna hom shashthe vacho vadet” meaning ‘I will always be by your side’.

Seventh Vow, the Groom says “Om sakhi jaradastayahga”, by which he proclaims ‘We are now husband and wife, and are one. You are mine and I am yours for eternity.’ The Bride accepts this proclamation and says “Attramshe sakshino vadet pade”, which means ‘As God is witness, I am now your wife. We will love, honor and cherish each other forever.’

The priest chanted the seven sacred vows of marriage and explained them to me and the man sitting beside me who is slowly step by step heading nearer to be my husband. Along with that, we complete the Sath Fere (seven holy turns around a fire) and then we sat down for the Mangalsuthra and Sindoor Dan.

I was in my finest Fifty lacks Manish Malhotra collection red coloured Lahenga and was dressed up perfectly with all limited collection heavy gold jewellery from Tanishq. It's not that I'm interested to be so classy but I had to be because of my father and his classy status guests who were invited in this ceremony. I actually wanted my marriage Lahenga to be designed by myself. Though I didn't dislike this Lahenga  either because it was most kind of I wanted as Mr.Malhotra had personally talked with my would be sister-in-law and had designed my Lahenga specially for my attire. Now my would be sister-in-law is a successful Bollywood actress and so I had got this credit of meeting Mr.Manish Malhotra and informing him about my choices.

Now finally back to the place. The priest gave Guru the Mangalsuthra and he swiftly tied it around my neck as if it was the most easy thing to do on earth. My stomach churned as I felt adrenalin rush within me. Then he put on the Sindoor on my Mang and I could feel the turn in my life. I was no more my Papa's Princess but Mr.Gaurav Karshyav's legally wedded wife.

"So from now, I, by keeping the sacred fire as the main witness, declare Aisha Desai as Mrs.Aisha Gaurav Karshyav." Said the priest and I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath and opened to see the world through new eyes. The eyes of Guru's wife.

I looked at Guru and so did. I smiledat him but he never returned me the same smile. He instead returned me back that same smile.

We walked to our parents who were standing beside the Mandap. Guru and I touched their feet in unison and they gave their blessingsto us.

And as the time of the Vidai approached, I could no longer control my tears and bursted out on my father's shoulder.

"C'mon don't behave like a baby. You are an young and independent adult. Why are you crying? It's not like our times that there were only telephone lines available and the bride had to travel a long distance to her husband's house." Said Papa.

I chuckled at this and playfully punched him on his shoulder.

We then got into the beautifully decorated car and drove away to the place where my husband lived. The place where me and Guru would start a new life. The place where my every dream would come true. The place which would be my home from that day.