Sach hote Khwaab

Vyaah

We were sitting the the mandap, gleefully following the Purohitji's instructions. Kabir was sitting beside me, fidgeting with some flowers and one end of my chunar. That's when I saw Veerji rush towards the door. I turned to find Bhanu Veerji standing there with Saroj Parjaiji and a small girl at their feet – probably Guddi, their daughter. Veerji welcomed them with a surprised smile. He embraced Bhanu Veerji, greeted Parjaiji and patted Guddi on her head fondly. I couldn't discern for Bhanu Veerji's expressions about what was going on his mind.
I was too elated to see them. My entire family was here for my wedding. I hadn't expected they would actually come. But then all the injustice they had met out to us came back in front of our eyes. That bond which had been snapped off – it wouldn't be the same ever again. However I still wished we could atleast be pleasant to each other as a family.
I did not move from my seat. I just looked on. Bhanu Veerji came up to me. Knelt down beside me and with a pat on my head, he plainly said, 'Vyaah di badhaaiyan Amrit.'
No apology, no expression of regret – he was here for mere formality. Before I could reply, he just got up and went to find a seat for himself. He didn't even bother to greet Randheer.
I went still for a while. Why had he come here if he didn't want to mend things? His absence had been better than this cold and rude behavior.
Still thinking about him, I turned towards Randheer. He shook his head and gestured me to take a deep breath in and smile. I relaxed and did the same. I shouldn't have these thoughts right now. This could be dealt with later. Nothing had changed really.

We proceeded further with the wedding rituals. A while later, Purohitji said, 'Ab vadhu ke Mata-Pita ya Bhai kanyadaan ke liye aage aaye.'
And to my dismay, I saw Bhaanu Veerji getting up for the same. Unke rookhe bartaav ke baavjood mainu khushi hui thi ohnu vekhke, par voh mera kanyadaan karein ye mainu manzoor nahi hai! Ye mere Uday veerji ka hakk hai! Aaj achanak inne saal baad aake vo ye hakk chheen nahi sakde!
I considered for a while whether I should protest. It would probably be disrespectful but this couldn't happen.
Before I could react, I saw Uday Veerji quietly come and take seat beside me to perform the kanyadaan. I heaved a sigh of relief.
I did not turn to see Bhaanu Veerji 's reaction.
I could hear the women singing vivah geet behind us.

'Ram Siya ke shubh byaah ki ghadi hai
mil mangal gao ri!
mil mangal gao ri!
Mithila nagariya mein dhoom machi hai
sab mil khushiyaan manao ri!
sab mil khushiyaan manao ri!

Ram Siya ke shubh byaah ki ghadi hai
mil mangal gao ri!
sab mil khushiyaan manao ri!'

Following the priest's instructions, he took my right hand and smeared haldi on it and placed sacred articles like a betel leaf, a coconut, some rice and placed it on Randheer's hand and poured some water on it with a kalash. That explains why 'haath peela hona' is a phrase used for marriage all the time. Once he withdrew his hand, the ritual was fulfilled. Keerti tied my chunar  to the patka on Randheer's shoulder, and we stood up for the pheras.

'Dhanya dhanya hui aaj Janakpuri hai
Dhanya dhanya hui aaj Janakpuri hai
sab mil mangal gao ri!
sab mil mangal gao ri!
Ram Siya ke shubh byaah ki ghadi hai
mil mangal gao ri!
sab mil khushiyaan manao ri!'

With everyone's blessings, at long last, we completed all seven pheras. Randheer had been holding my hand throughout the pheras.
As we sat down- this time me on his left, he gently asked, 'Zindagi bahein phailaaye aapke intezaar kar rahi hai. Kya aap is zindagi ko apnaayengi?'
After a while I softly replied, 'Dil khol ke!'

A lone tear escaped my eye as Randheer lifted my maangtika and filled sindoor in my hair-parting. I closed my eyes to take in the moment.
Purohitji announced, 'Vivaah Sampann hua. Ab se aap dono pati-patni hue!'
Slowly opening my eyes, I looked up at him. And he gazed back with a satiated smile.