The groom and the family arrived with dhol and dance. Murthy family is all set to welcome them. Anurag came forward with a goglet{kindi in kerala} of water and then did the welcome ritual of washing the groom's feet and then welcomed him.
Everyone entered inside the shaandhaar wedding hall and then the groom's family did the prayer before the temple.
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..............................
Manik took the blessings from the elders and then entered the mandap.
"Ab dulhan ko bula diya jaaye" Pandit ji said to Amms. Amms immediately passed the message.
Manik eagerly looked sideways for his bride, but a white long cloth tied infront of him, in between his and his bride's seat. Manik's confused look made his friends to giggle, and then Rajesh said, "Manik beta, tilak ke baad hi aap apna dulhan ko dekh sakta hai, tab tak aap dono ke beech yeh curtain honge"
Manik disappointedly smiled at Rajesh...
"Thoda sabr rakho Manik jeeju, aage se life long dekhna padega" Shivani commented, and everyone laughed.
"Wow... Nandini saadi mein bahut sundar lag rahi hai..., ek baar mujhe bhi try karni hai" Mukti said amazed.
This made Manik more restless. He tried to look above the curtain, but failed miserably.
"Don't worry, humare shaadi bhi South Indian style mein karte hai" Zubin whispered to Mukti from her back. Mukti startled and elbowed him lightly, "in your dreams"
"Ouch!!"
.....
Tilak ritual completed and slowly the curtain slided away revealing a beautiful Nandini to an impatient Manik.
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Manik looked at her mesmerized...
Cabir noticed this and leaned towards him and pinched him, "Manik...tera hi hai, control..."
Then Panditji showed the mangalsutra to everyone and gave it to Manik.
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{This is the original Mangalsutra, a combination of South and North, but today, instead of black beads, the locket part is connected to a yellow thread. This yellow thread will be replaced by the black beads the next day}
"Ab Mangalsutra pehana diya jaaye" Panditji said and everyone started showering flowers and blessings, with the nadaswaram as background, while Manik tied the knot.
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Amms wiped her tears of happiness and mentally blessed them...
"Kanya ki Pita aage aaye aur Kanyadaan kare" Panditji announced. Amms immediately held Venkatesh's hand and told him to do. Venkatesh and Shanno got overwhelmed and their eyes glistened with happiness.
Venkatesh did the Kanyadaan pooja and placed Nandini's hand on Manik's hold with blessings.
Then Nivedita did the gadbandan. They did the 7 pheras.
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Manik put the sindhoor on Nandini's forehead. Then, the most fun element came, the bride and groom shower each other with turmeric rice. Manik and Nandini took that into a whole new level....
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{Please watch the Niti's telugu song 'Srirastu Shubhamastu" from the movie "Pelli Pustakam"... The rituals and the beautiful interaction between the bride and groom shown in that song is so apt for Manik and Nandini... Visualize them in that song}
"Shaadi saari vidhi vidhan ke saath poori ho gayi, Ab aap dono Pati-Patni ban chuke hai"
Manik's hold on Nandini tightened, as if he is assuring himself that his Nandini is finally his...
