A suitable Man

Chapter 14

Chapter 14.

Suddenly Smriti asked the driver to stop the car, she came out of the car and ran towards Shashank, hugged him and tightly, " Take care Tamma, Akka loves you a lot, put lot of efforts in your studies  and do well, I shall call you again" . She bid him good bye and went and seated herself in the car, remembering to slide her hand back in to his. " Where are we going ? She asked again.  Shankar who was seated in the front replied, " we are going to shree Durga parmeshwari Devi temple in Kateel"

She could have gone anywhere in this world with the man seated besides her, it would not have mattered how, when, why.... As long as he was there with her. Somewhere deep inside she knew he would come for her and he sure did.

Relief was sinking in Mahendra slowly. He had been the most obedient, straightforward and fair man all his life.... But in the past few days, he had bribed, forged, threatened, beaten people, broken laws and what not!!!! And the sweet result was yawning peacefully besides him. He looked at her through the corner of his eye. She was a mess of gorgeous chaos. She must have been exhausted as the difficulty in which she was trying to be awake was evident.

There was an awkward silence between them, both were burning with love for each other but were tongue tied in person. Both stealing glances at each other. The hands were still held but not a word passed amidst them. The car gave a sudden lurch where Smriti fell towards Mahendra in a jolt, he extended his arm to support her and they were entwined in a hug although sideways. Their eyes met, both lost in to those pools for the longest time. Mahendra felt like singing his favourite Bryan Adams song

" Look in to my eyes.... You will see
  What you mean to me"......
Search your heart.... Search your soul... when you find me there... you'll search no more....
Don't tell me it's not worth trying for....you can't tell me it's not worth dying for...
You know it's true....
Everything I do...... I do it for you.

Smriti lowered her eyes going pink all over and her lips curved in to a shy smile. Mahendra, with a lot of effort restrained himself from kissing her, steadied her to make her comfortably seated. He folded his hands else he would have crushed her in an embrace, so he turned his head away to look outside.
It took them four hours to reach Kateel. As soon as they reached, the priests present there asked Mahendra to first have a bath and then come inside temple where the wedding rituals would be performed. Smriti was to be seated near the havan kund. It dawned upon her that Mahendra had brought her here to be married in the traditional way. She thought " god knows how he managed that marriage certificate, but thank god", now she would get married as she always wanted to in simple style. She tidied her hair, straightened her saree and waited for him to come.
He came.... Wet tousled hair wearing only a ' Mundu'( traditional lungi worn in functions) and ' uparna'. What a sight he was!!!! Six feet of sheer manliness. Smriti was mesmerised!!!! She pinched herself to find if this was true. He ran his fingers through his hairs, put on a shirt and sat besides Smriti near the havan kund. Shankar tied a cloth on Mahendra's head in traditional bunt style. The rituals began. Mahendra put his mother's thaali around Smriti's neck and slipped the Vadungila in her fingers. She looked at him when he said, " My Amma gave you these as her blessings, she couldn't come here due to Doddas health but she wants you to accept these as your own".

Smriti took the thaali in her hand and touched it to her forehead. She replied ' I would like to meet your Amma', Yes why not he said. Once I get finished with everything in Kumta, I shall take you to Bangalore with me."

She smiled coyly. The priests completed the remaining rituals and then pronounced them as truly Man and wife. Both of them seeked their blessings and also from Shankar and PNHegde who were present there. The other formalities were completed and then they proceeded to go back home now. It was another long journey back.