A suitable Man

Chapter 13

Smriti's house

The d-day had arrived. Few of Padmakar's relatives had come for the wedding. One of his  'Attige'( sister-in law) was helping Smriti get ready for the wedding rituals. She was draped in one of the finest of Kanjivarams worth a fortune and was bedecked in jewellery from head to toe. She stared at her reflection with a look of lifeless eyes. They would proceed to the temple by 8:30 as the muhurtam was at 9:23 a.m. Few rituals had to be carried out before the actual exchange of garlands and putting the thaali. She went to the Devara Kone and said a silent prayer, took a long look at her mother's portrait. She then went to Ganga, gave her some hay and stroked her back. Ganga too seemed to be in low spirits today.
Padmakar called out to her to hurry as they were getting late. Smriti took a good look at her house, her Thota, her Ganga. Her simple beautiful house, the house she was born in, she caressed the walls. No riches of the world could replace the love for her house. She looked at Shashank, her handsome young brother, there was so much for him to do.... She hugged him tightly. Shashank took her hand in his and led her towards the gate. With an heavy heart she proceeded.

The temple was just few metres away from her house, but Vishwanath had sent his car for them. All three of them sat in the car and they reached the temple in 5 mins. Smriti was greeted by some of Vishwanath's relatives. They applied haldi kumkum on her forehead and ushered her in. The Nadaswaram and the Thavil( typical South Indian wedding music) was playing at one side of the temple. Smriti was walking with her eyes cast down towards the ' Kalyan Mantapa(wedding pandal). There was a fire burning in the 'havankund'. For a moment Smriti felt like walking through it and ending all woes once and for all.
Vishwanath was standing near the Mantapa in his wedding attire. Even the finest clothes couldn't mask the warped form of the man. Smriti felt pure disgust as she saw him scanning her with hungry eyes.
The priest called for the bride and groom to be seated near the "havan kund". Smriti froze at that moment, this was it.... Her heart wrung  inside out. Padmakar almost pulled her hand and led her towards the havan kund. He made her sit besides Vishwanath. The priest started chanting the mantras...

District sessions court Honnavar

Mahendra was standing close to the door and it was exactly 8:00 am now, anytime the door would open and he would grab the certificate and go straight to the wedding venue. Every min was taking his life.... He just prayed and prayed. He remembered his mother's words. " love will give you power". Just then the registrar arrived. Mahendra immediately got inside his office and asked ' please sir, its very urgent, I need that certificate"... please fast".

The registrar looked at the disheveled form of the handsome man in front of him... he seemed like he hadn't slept whole night. Without wasting time, he removed Mahendra's file and made the signatures, took printouts and again signed. He smiled and handed over the certificate to Mahendra saying " congratulations Mr. Shetty, you are now legally married ".

Mahendra was bursting with happiness.... Now there was nothing to stop him. He looked at his watch, it was 8:30 now. He called Shankar who informed him that Smriti had left for the wedding and the wedding venue was the ' VishnuMurthy' Devasthana in Baggon. ' come soon Putta, time is running out"...
Mahendra called up Prabhakar, PNH and asked them to meet him at the temple in 10 mins. He kicked start his bullet and drove like a man on fire. He reached the temple in 5 mins. Shankar was already there, so were PNH and Prabhakar. All four of them barged inside the temple.

VishnuMurthy Devasthana

The priest was chanting mantras and asked Padmakar to tie Vishwanath's ' Uparna' with the end of Smriti's saree. He was about to tie the knot when a thunderous voice echoed through the temple ' STOP THIS WEDDING"

Suddenly the music stopped, even the priests stopped to look at what happened, there was a complete silence. Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice. There stood a man taller than almost all the people present there. His eyes were bloodshot, his breath heavy. His fists clenched. He thundered again " PADMAKAR BHAT STOP THIS WEDDING".... ' YOU CANNOT MARRY AN ALREADY MARRIED WOMAN" " SMRITI IS MY WIFE". Suddenly the temple erupted in voices... someone shouted names.
Padmakar leapt at Mahendra's throat shouting " You scoundrel......What are you doing here??? Smriti is getting married to Vishawanath NOW.... DON'T YOU COME BETWEEN THIS... I WARN YOU"