Disclaimer: The characters in this novella are purely fictional. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental.
In the dim green light of the night lamp, Kiran sat on the rocking chair placed at one corner of their bedroom.
Kiran wandered back in time. Among the many that had come to congratulate them on the wedding day was a senior colleague of Swati, Mr. Sharma. Swati introduced him as her friend, a well-wisher and guide. She mentioned that she discussed everything with him before making any decision.
She was planning to start her PhD thesis under the guidance of Mr. Sharma. Kiran shook hands with Mr. Sharma.
“Hello Mr. Sharma, very nice to meet you. Please join us for a picture.”
“Nice meeting you Kiran. It’s okay. No need for any pictures.”
Kiran did not give that comment much thought.
“Please have lunch before you leave” Kiran said
“Of course I will, thank you”
A mosquito landed on Kiran’s cheek and inserted its sharp needle to suck some blood, disturbing Kiran’s thought and bringing him back to this fateful day.
He was questioning himself; if it were this Mr. Sharma that Vicky had seen Swati with today? How could he get it confirmed? There were no pictures. They had not yet received the video that was recorded at the wedding. It would be another couple of weeks before they received the VHS copy of the video.
Then he consoled himself by saying that, it would be fine, if it were the same Mr. Sharma. Mr. Sharma was a respectable gentleman and had a family of his own. Why would he risk his reputation for a woman? Hmmm, but, why were they going to the park, hand in hand as lovers? Veerappan was caught and this has created a mess in the city. When everyone was trying to reach the safety of his or her homes, why should Swati go to the park?
Questions, questions and more unanswered questions. The more he thought the more confused he was. How was he going to broach this with Swati?
He drifted back in time…
Right after the ceremony of the bride and groom exchanging garlands in the swing the head priest was screaming over the top of his voice, so that he could be heard. There was music and chattering of family and friends around.
The priest looked at Kiran and said, “Hold her right hand with your right hand. Do not leave her hands now. You need to keep holding her hand until we go inside and start the next ritual”
Kiran tried to keep his hold on Swati’s hand, intact. While going through the maze of people, his hands slipped and he let go of Swati’s hand. Right at that time Raghavan was asking the priest about the next ritual, the tying of the nuptial knot as the auspicious time was almost there. Kiran’s ears were perked up in that detail and he forgot that he had let go of Swati’s hands.
Swati did not resist…
When they were inside at the wedding dias, the head priest commented, “I told you not to let go of her hands and that’s exactly what you have done”
Kiran bit his tongue, “Oops, sorry” and held Swati’s hand right away.
The wedding ritual continued with the tying of the nuptials followed by walking around the holy fire for 7 times (Saptapadhi) and the stepping on the grinding stone (Ammi). This is an important ritual in the Hindu wedding as this is where the bride and groom take the wedding vows, ‘till death do us part’.
Once the vows are done, Kiran was to put on the toe ring on Swati’s long toe, the toe beside the hallux. The toe ring was too tight and was not fitting Swati’s toe. Though this ring had to be worn on the long toe, he put it on the one beside that, to complete the ritual.
Ammu noticed this struggle. She was wondering as to why they had bought a smaller size of the toe ring for Swati should have been present while buying the toe ring. And, why was there an obvious struggle. She did not like it. However, she did not say anything.
It was now the ritual of seeing the star “Arundhathi”. Kiran laughed when the head priest asked them to see the star during the day. How can one see a star in the day? How foolish was that? He didn’t realize the symbolic importance of that ritual then.
Arundhathi is the wife of the sage Vashistha, one of the seven sages (Saptarshi) who are identified with the Ursa Major constellation. She is identified with the morning star and also with the star Alcor, that forms a double star with Mizar (identified as Vashista Maharishi) in the Ursa Major. Arundhati, though the wife of one of the seven seers, she is accorded the same status as the seven seers and is worshipped with them as such.
The specialty of these two stars (Alcor and Mizar or Arundhathi and Vashistha) is that they revolve around each other. The husband and wife are expected to live such a contended life revolving around each other. How was poor Kiran to know this!
The wedding was a grand occasion with every ritual followed. The lunch served was a huge feast with 15 courses. Kiran and Swati were so tired after all the rituals that they were not able to enjoy the 15-course lunch. They gobbled some lunch so that they had the energy for the next event in the afternoon, called ‘nelangu’, which was to start around 4pm.
Nelangu was the most fun filled event of the entire wedding proceedings. Kiran and Swati had to play some simple games – finding a ring hidden in a bowl of rice; the keys in a pot of water, etc. Then, it was the rolling of coconut, while there were people singing and dancing. The newly weds were also the focus of some double-entendre jokes. Kiran happily immersed himself in all these amusements.
What an exhausting but exciting day it was. Though everyone was tired after the wedding ceremonies since the previous two days, there was smile and jubilation in their face.
As the evening slowly turned to night, Kiran was getting very excited. It was his first night with Swati as man and wife. He had so many things to talk about and of course his mind also pondered about consummating his wedding with Swati.
The very thought was exciting. The dinner for everyone was served at the wedding hall. After dinner, the local family members started leaving to their homes. Finally, it was just the two families and a few friends at the wedding hall.
Oblivious to what was coming, Kiran continued to dream about that nonexistent future.
Once Again…???!!! Chapter 3: the Erudition
to continue…