Saturday 11 October 2014
3.00am
Iyer Apartment

It was only 3.00 am but the Iyer household was in happy disarray. All the adults had been up for over an hour, having snatched just a couple of hours sleep after the Sangeet and Mehendi.

Ishita had hardly slept at all. She had lain in bed for a while, Ruhi fast asleep beside her, thinking back on the evening. She remembered how Raman had danced for her, the way he had proprietorially carried her to her seat, the feel of his hand over hers, protective, loving. He had still been in the hall when amma had ushered appa and the girls away.

She just hoped that he and the other Bhallas had not drunk too much; that they would wake up in time and be ready to go to the temple. She knew that the forthcoming ceremonies would be alien to Raman, but she herself could not wait for the festivities - all the guilt she had felt on their court marriage day, the feeling of alienation, that she had deprived her parents the joy of seeing their child married - all that would disappear in a little while.

At 3.00 am she called Rinki. It had been pre-arranged between them that she would call and check that they had woken up, that they would be ready to leave for the temple at 3.45, for the wedding in the Bramhamahuratam. The Iyers were leaving shortly, since they needed to get to the temple to make arrangements before the groom arrived. Rinki picked up the phone on the seventh ring, her voice sleepy and cross. "Kya bhabhi" she muttered. "Okay okay, I'll get everyone up"

Ishita smiled as she put the phone down, turning her attention to the sleeping Ruhi.

Here was another Bhalla still in dreamland. Thankfully, she had dressed Ruhi the night before. All that was needed was for her face to be washed and her jewellery and Kajra to be put on, which could be done in the car. She stroked Ruhis forehead and then decided that the face washing could be done at the temple. She would let her baby sleep for a little while longer.

She pulled the duvet up over Ruhi again and then walked to the mirror.

The image that looked back at her was scarcely recognisable. She had been draped by the bridal artist they had hired in a red madisaar, the bright colours repeated in her blouse and the bangles on her arms. Her face had been made up professionally, her large eyes accentuated by kajal, her soft lips outlined in red. Her hair was tied up in a high jooda, a white gajra wound around it. Her head was uncovered, and a maang tikka and matching earrings glittered around her face. A heavy gold necklace adorned her neck, her wedding present from her parents and sister.

She touched the necklace now, tears welling up unbeckoned in her eyes. The mehendi on her hand caught her eyes and she smiled through her tears at the mehendi design, Raman's name prominent on her palm. She blushed as she remembered how she had hidden his name on her waist before their court wedding, and how he had looked for his name that night in Rajasthan...

Manamagalae manamagalae vazhum kaalam soozhum
{oh you bride. All your life}
Mangalamae Mangalamae
{its happiness}
Gunamagalae kulamagalae paalum thaenum naalum
{Oh lady of habits milk and honey}
Pongidumae pongidumae
{Let it overflow}
Kutham kural illa gundumani saramae
{Oh you flawless bride}

"Yeh kya akka? You're blushing and crying? Don't worry, you'll see Jeeju soon enough. Ab apni beti ko uthao, we need to go" (Now wake up your daughter, we need to go)

Ishita started as Mihika's voice interrupted her musings.

"Let her sleep Miku. I'll carry her" She blinked back her tears and moved toward the bed.

"Aise kaise akka" Mihika protested, gesturing at her madisaar. "I'll carry her, aap aage jao."
(How will you manage akka?. I'll carry her, you go on ahead)

Ishita smiled gratefully as she moved toward the door.

She looked around her room with a pensive smile. From tonight, this would no longer be her room. Raman's room would be hers now, his home would be her home. She was leaving a part of her life behind. Memories of her childhood came rushing back - cuddles from her amma, appa carrying her around their house in Chennai, then Delhi and the anxious look on her parents faces as she trotted off to her first day at school, holding Vandu akka's hand.

The tears she had been holding back came again, unbidden, to her eyes.

"No akka" Mihika was by her side, a sleeping Ruhi cuddled in her arms. "No crying, make up kharab ho jayega. Ab chalo." (No crying, your makeup will get spoilt. Now let's go)

Ishita let Mihika usher her into the living room, where her family awaited.

Her mother's face instantly crumpled into tears as she finally saw her seemingly impossible dream coming to fruition, finally saw her daughter in her wedding madisaar, decked as the bride her eyes had been yearning to see. Her father and Bala Jeeju, in their veshti, her Vandu akka and chitti, resplendent in kanjeevaram silks, a sleepy Shravan rubbing his eyes. Their eyes were moist as they looked at her, pride and awe mingling in their faces.

For a moment she wanted to throw herself into her ammas arms, wanted to be a little girl again, reassure her that she wasn't going anywhere, ever. Then she looked at her daughter, fast asleep in her royal blue pattu pavadai and remembered her husband. He was her future, but she would never lose her birth family either. She would now be a part of his family, he would be a part of hers, and she would have everything she had ever dreamt of.

She smiled tremulously and extended her hand to her amma.

"Amma, aaiye chalte hai. Vaango pogalaam." she said
(Lets go amma)

**************************************************************************************************************
3. 40 am
Bhalla Apartment

"Raman bhai, yeh kaun side jaata hai? I don't know" ( Raman Bhai, which side does this go? I don't know)
Mihir stood with the sash of Raman's veshti in his hand, blinking his eyes furiously as another yawn escaped him. The Bhallas were propped up in varying stages of consciousness around them.

"Bala told you didn't he?" Raman barked at Mihir.

"Bhai, mein bhul gaya yaar. Itni subah koi shaadi karta hai kya?"
(Bhai I forgot. Who the hell gets married at this hour?)

Mr Bhalla who had been outside waiting for the hired cars to arrive came bustling into the apartment, prodding Romi on the way, and observing Raman's veshti with a critical eye.

"Raman, chalo, yeh wahan mandir mein theek karlenge. Saare car aa gaye hai. Chaar baje ka muhurat hai. Der na ho jaaye. Chalo sab."
(Raman, let's go, you can fix all that at the mandir. All the cars are here, and the muhurat is for 4.00am. We can't be late, come on all of you, let's go)

Raman yanked Mihirs collar and pulled him straight. "Let's go" he echoed his father's words. "Ma, wake up please. Hum jaa rahe hai."

"Bhai tu bada enthusiastic hai" Mihir smiled as he followed Raman out the door to the waiting cars and drivers. "Life mein pehli baar is time pe jaaga hai aur dekho kitna khush hai."
(Bhai, you're very enthusiastic. This is the first time in your life you've woken up so early and see how happy you are)

Raman grinned as he settled into his car, making space for Mihir beside him.

"Life mein pehli baar itni subah jaaga hoon. Life mein pehli baar yeh veshti pehna hoon. Abhi na jaane aur kya kya karna padega madrasiyon ki mandir mein. But you know what Mihir? This is nothing. Mein toh aag pe chal jaon yaar uss ke liye. Mein toh mar bhi jaon, uss ke liye"
(This is the first time in my life I have woken up so early. The first time in my life I have worn a veshti. And I don't know what else I am going to be doing for the first time in the Madrassi's temple. But you know what Mihir? This is nothing. I would walk on fire for her. I would lay down my life for her)

He smiled at the bemused look on Mihir's face. "Let's go" he said to the driver. "Let's go"

**************************************************************************************************************
4.00 am
Lakshmi Narayanan Temple

The Iyers were waiting when the cars carrying the Bhallas arrived at the Lakshmi Narayanan Temple just on 4.00 am.

The stillness of the surprisingly cool Delhi pre dawn was shattered by the sounds of shehnai as Raman and his family were received at the temple steps. Bala quickly arranged Raman's Veshti and sash correctly, he was garlanded and taken through various ceremonies, all the while as his eyes searched for his bride.

Finally, she was there as he was walked up the stairs to the inner sanctum.

The absolute feeling of surreality that had surrounded him dissipated as she came into view.

His eyes drank in every detail, imprinting them in his mind and heart for the rest of his life- her red silk sari, draped around her in an intricate pattern he had never seen before, showing a glimpse of leg as she walked up to him. Her neck, arm, ears and head were adorned with glittering gold jewels, her beautiful black eyes looking even bigger with the addition of kohl.

She was garlanded just like him, and she held a garland in her hands as she stopped in front of him, her head bent slightly, her hands trembling slightly. She was his wife, he had made her his in every way, and yet he could feel the nervousness that radiated from her this morning. She looked at him as shyly as if it were their first meeting, and his heart overflowed with love for her.

His little daughter walked with her, cute as a button in a royal blue outfit, a tray holding another garland in her hands. She presented the tray to her father and he stooped to kiss her quickly, taking the garland before turning to face his bride.

The crowds around them receded as she placed the garland around his neck. His family was hooting, his mother sufficiently roused to do her balle balle routine. Hers was equally noisy, all their voices competing with the shehnai. And yet they could only see each other.

He lifted his head as the garland caressed its way down his neck and encircled her neck with the garland he held. The scent of the flowers mixed with the scent of the thick white gajras on her hair, and his fingers lingered as they settled the garland around her. They stared at each other for that moment, their eyes reassuring the other, speaking volumes of love.

And then they were engulfed in the crowd once again. They were seated before the havan, priests on each side. She understood the instructions, he took his cue from her and from Bala by his side, who translated the Tamil mantras for him. He held her hand when told, led her around the fire by her toes, tied the thirumangalyum, the thali, around her neck.

Maangalyam tantunaanaena mama jeevana haetunaa
{This is a sacred thread. This is essential for my long life. I tie this
around your neck}

Kanttae badhnami shubakae tvam jeeva sharadam shatam
{Oh maiden having many auspicious attributes. May you live happily for
a hundred years with me}

Enrrenrum punnagai
{Happiness forever}

Mudivilla punnagai
{Never ending smiles}

Inrrunan meendum meendum pirrandean orru thulli parvaiyilae
{I feel I was born again and again at your sight}

Ohhh ... enuyirae
{Oh my life}

He did not need to understand Tamil to understand the significance of each ritual. The love in her eyes told him. He did not need language to read those eyes - they spoke to him in ways that words never could. He felt each ritual, each action in his being.

Their hearts had started a relationship steeped in love, then they had been bound to each other legally, their bodies had joined with each other physically - now the union of their souls, the spiritual union that the first joining of hearts had heralded, was being recognized before God and their families. The tradition of ages proclaimed them as one, for ever.

Ishita looked in awe at her husband. He must have barely slept, he would understand nothing, and the noise and smoke must be driving him crazy, she knew. And yet, he looked at her in perfect understanding. She knew that somehow he felt and understood the significance of each ritual in their wedding. That he meant every word he repeated after the priest.

And in those moments, in that dawn, she finally knew true contentment.

************************************
7.00 am
Bhalla Residence

The wedding was over, breakfast had been eaten and she had returned with Raman in the bridal car to the Bhalla apartment.

Her eyes were still moist as she got into the car with Raman and Ruhi - she was only moving across the landing but the symbolism of the bidaii had gotten to her parents and they had both burst into tears as she had bent to touch their feet, to take their blessings. Their tears had brought her own back and they started to flow again as she sat back in the car, Ruhi between Raman and herself.

"Aap sad kyun ho Ishima? Aap ko hamaare saath nahi rehna?" Ruhi asked in a worried voice, fixing her big black eyes on her mother. "Ya phir papa ne kuch kaha?"
(Why are you sad Ishima? Don't you want to stay with us? Or did papa say something to you?)

Ishita could not help smiling through her tears. "No beta, papa didn't say anything to me. And of course mujhe aap ke saath rehna hai. Bas mein apne amma aur appa ke saath nahi rahoongi na, is liye sad hoon"
(No beta, papa didn't say anything to me. And of course I want to stay with you. I'm just sad because I won't stay with my amma and appa anymore)

"Unhe bhi bulao lo na Ishima, hum sab saath rahenge"
(Call them too Ishima. We can all stay together)

Ishita chuckled and kissed her daughter on her forehead. "We can't do that beta. Ladki shaadi kar ke apne husband ke ghar jaati hai. Apne mummy papa Ko saath kaise le kar jayegi? Unko apne ghar mein rehna hai na"
(We can't do that beta. Girls go to live in their husbands home when they get married. How can they take their mummy papa with them? They have to stay in their own homes, don't they)

"Mein toh le kar jaongi" Ruhi declared, snuggling up to both her parents. "Ab aap kabhi papa aur mujh se dur nahi jaa sakti"  (I'm going to take you both with me. Now you can never leave papa and me)

Ishita caught Raman's eyes and smiled tearily. "I'll never leave your papa or you baby" she promised. "Never"

The car had drawn up just then at the Bhalla residence.

Ruhi had led Raman and her to the door of their apartment, where the just returned Mrs Bhalla and the other women of the society waited. She had been handed a dupatta which she had draped over her head, and then had proceeded to carry out the Punjabi rituals which were carried out by a new bride entering her husband's home. Raman had stood steadfastly by her side, his hand clasping hers protectively.

Manjal kungumam enrum vazhanumae vazhanumae
{May you live life long with him}
Valadhu adi eduthu vaithu vasal thandi va va
{Enter the house with your right foot}
Ponmayilae ponmayilae
{oh peacock}
Pugundha idam olimayamai unnal thanae marum
{The place will flourish because of you}
Manguyilae manguyilae
{Oh peacock}
Illam koyiladi adhil penmai deivamadi
{this house is a sacred place and woman is the God}
Deivam ulla idam enrum sevam pongumadi
{Let this place flourish always}

After the arti, Raman had been called away by Mihir and mummyji had insisted that Ishita rest. Ruhi had wanted to show her her room, and so she had changed there and before she knew it, had fallen fast asleep in Ruhi's bed.

Raman had looked in a little while later, and had ordered that she not be disturbed and be allowed to sleep for as long as she wanted.

"Aaj raat to reception hai Ma. We need to be ready by seven, lekin koi Ishita ko abhi disturb nahi karega samjhe. Let her sleep"
(The reception is tonight mum. We need to be ready by seven, but I don't want anyone disturbing Ishita now, okay? Let her sleep)

"Areh toh hum kya disturb karenge" Mrs Bhalla retorted. "Hum bhi to sone jaa rahe hai. Tu bhi rest kar le puttar"
(Why would we disturb her? We are going to sleep too. You get some rest too son)

"Haan Ma, I'll just get some things done and then I'll rest" Raman paused at the door of Ruhi's room and looked in again at his sleeping wife and daughter. They both looked tired and yet so contented, fast asleep in each other's arms.

"Rest all you want now madrassan" he whispered to his sleeping wife. "You're not going to get any sleep tonight in my bed."