Dharini's POV

"Now both will untie the thread. Bride can use both hands but groom will use single hand"

I quickly untied that thread from his wrist, followed by him doing same. Then mumma passed a plate of Kansar to me. We are told to feed each other 5 spoonful of it.

I hate sweets.

Thank God he fed me very little.

We stood and took the blessings from the priest, followed by our parents and relatives.

"Now it's already 12:30 PM, let's go home" his dadi said.

"Ji ma" (yes mother)

"Dharini dear, it's time of vidaai" ma said to me.

Don't cry Dharini

Don't cry Dharini

Don't cry...

Mumma hugged me, followed by my grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, Drishu...but I didn't cry.

He patiently stood beside me when I hugged everyone and they took their time.

Mishra sir hanged his dupatta on my shoulder because it is knotted with mine.

"Let's go Bhabhi" Vishakha didi said

I nodded but stopped midway...

Papa

I didn't hugged papa

Where is he? I frantically started searching for him until my eyes land on him, who is standing beside horse carriage.

As if he felt eyes on him, he turned to look at me and I realized everything changed today. I'm not his little girl anymore.

I took quick steps towards him and hugged him and there my resolve broke.

I don't know how long I cried hugging him till I heard Mishra Sir's voice behind me.

"Don't be sad papa, I promise I'll keep her happy and Dharini, please don't cry, whenever you want, you can meet your parents"

Papa and me parted and then I looked at him, whose eyes are... moist? Why was Mishra Sir emotional?

We sat on the carriage. Then mumma papa washed our feet and garlanded us. Then we left for my new home.

"Were you crying?" I asked him more like whisper.

"Yes I got emotional seeing you cry" he confessed.

I just stared him in surprise. He got emotional because I cried? Oh My God.

"I mean it Dharini"

"W..what?"

"Whenever you miss your parents and want to see them, you can go there. Just inform me"

I nodded.

I can't thank you enough mumma papa for getting us married.

*****
The carriage stopped infront of a beautiful home. He stepped down from the carriage, meanwhile Vishakha didi came and helped me get down.

We both went towards the entrance where all of my in laws are standing.

Ma applied vermillion on our foreheads then asked me put my hands in a plate filled with vermillion water and paste it on entrance walls. Then I hit the pot filled with rice followed by putting my feet in a plate filled with vermillion water. I entered in my new home, leaving red foot marks behind.

"Uh huh bhai, tu kahan?" Didi stopped him
(brother, where are you going?)

"What happened didi?" He asked annoyingly. He must be tired too.

"Chal ukhana bol" (I don't know what is the english word for ukhana, any marathi here can help?)

"What is it?"

"Take your wife's name in the poem"

"Uh" realization hit him.

We all stood and staring at him.

"Twinkle twinkle little star, Dharini is a super star" he said

Did glared him, while everyone laughed.

"Ok ok I will say something else, don't give me that look didi"

"Do it fast" she said

"Let me think first"

"Tumhare aane par mera aisa haal hai Dharini, jaise saver ko mili dhoop aur andheri raat ko chandni.

Sab kehte hai mai kuch badal sa gaya hoon, thoda zyada khush rehne laga hoon..sach hi to hai, Tumse mil kar lagta hai jaise mai khud ko mil gaya hoon"

(Dharini, my condition after your arrival is, like a morning gets its sunlight and dark night gets its moonlight.

People are saying that I'm changed a bit, it's true though..I feel like I found myself after meeting you)

Everyone clapped and looked at me, making me shy. I just looked down with shyness.

We entered the temple and worshipped God.

"Now it's time for rituals" one of his aunts said.

We are made to sit on either side of bowl facing each other.

"Now Aanu and Dharini will find the ring in this bowl. Whoever finds the ring will have upper hand at home" another aunt said

"Three..

Two...

One..

Go" Didi said

We both dipped our hands in bowl filled with flowers and milk.

I felt I touched a ring ...oh no it's a bud.

"Got it.." he said

"Yayy..I knew our Aanu will win" youngest aunt said

"Aunty, two rounds are left. I'm sure our Dharini will win."

I just looked down and smiled.

We again dipped our hands..

This time again he got the ring.

"Told you my aanu will win" aunt beamed.

"There is no need for third round as Aanu already won. Hamare aanu ke samne sab paani kam chai hai" (it's a idiom used when you think that one is better than everyone)

I don't know why but the way she said it, I felt as if she was not complimenting him but insulting me..

"Now it's late, bride is not supposed to stay here tonight. Here brothers must be here in sometime."* Grandmother just finished saying and my cousins arrived.

Ma hugged me then didi hugged me.

"Dharini, Anav will come to pick you" didi said in my ear.

"Ji"

I left with my brothers.

******
Anav's POV

Finally we got married. I'm feeling like a zoo is my stomach.

"Now Aanu and Dharini will find the ring in this bowl. Whoever finds the ring will have upper hand at home" aunt said.

I don't believe in these things because I believe in equality. There will not be as such upper hand or decision maker of the house.

Anyways when I found the ring first time, with little efforts. In the second round, it just came in my hand, and I'm declared winner. Everyone clapped and are looking happy including my Dharini until one of my aunt decided to open her mouth.

"There is no need for third round as Aanu already won. Hamare aanu ke samne sab paani kam chai hai"

Her taunt didn't go unnoticed by Dharini, as her smile fell.

She didn't smiled after that and left with her brothers. Just after seeing her off, I went to my room and closed the door.

*****
Third Person's POV

Just as Anav went to his room, his father glared at his sister for taunting his daughter in law, but he kept his mouth shut as her family is present there and they might feel insulted if confronted.

After sometime, around 3 AM, relatives left for their home. They need to rest as tomorrow their daughter in law will come.

■■■■■■■
(Kansar is a sweet, prepared by wheat especially for marriage and it is considered as couple's first meal and given by bride's mother)

(In my culture, on the wedding night, the bride is supposed to go back to her parent's house with her brother and return in 2-3 days when her husband comes to take her)

BTW, the shayari was not made by Anav! he stole my shayri.😠