Hi guys!!! So sorry for the delay!!! Dulha and Dulhan are ready!!! It’s marriage time!!!
It’s going to be a long episode!!!
Recap:
~Sona’s home~
Sona: ~gazes at herself in the mirror~ I am waiting Mr. Obodhro…
Sona smiles brightly
~Dev’s home – Ishwari’s room~
The mangalsutra has fallen near bed…
~Wedding Venue~
Asha: ~to a servant~ Jaldi karo…. Bor jatri (Baraat) will be arriving any moment… Keep these fruits there… Sourav, go check the veg section of the food…
Sourav: Ji ma… ~goes to check~
Sharan: Chachi… ~holding her from behind~ Why are you feeling so tensed? We are there na… Just sit and give orders to us…
Asha: ~smilimg softly~ I can’t Sharan… It’s my daughter’s wedding… Do one thing, check if all the items for bor boron (baraat’s swagat) are ready… There should be earthen lamp, matka and… Wait, here’s the list… Make sure, everything’s there… Okay?
Sharan: Ji chachi… ~takes the list and goes out~
Bejoy: Asha, don’t worry… Everything will go on smoothly…
Elena: Mashi… The panditji has arrived… I have made him sit at the chadnatolla (wedding altar plus canopy) …
Asha: Very good… I will go and see my Shona now…
Elena: ~feeling excited~ I will accompany too…
~Wedding Venue – Bride’s room~
Sona sits as the makeup guy applies chandan patterns above her eyebrows… Once done, he and his assistant apply makeup…
Sona: ~gazing at herself in the mirror~ ~Sona’s pov~ Sona… This is it… Don’t weep or you will spoil your makeup…
Makeup guy: Sonakshi mam, you have applied mehendi to your hands… Shall we keep away alta?
Sona: ~coming out of her thoughts~ Apply alta to my feet… ~Sona’s pov~ Baba… Your daughter has grown up… But she’ll always be your little princess…
Makeup guy: ~nods~ Ji mam…
Asha and Elena enter…
Asha: ~smiling~ Look at my Shona… She’s the most gorgeous bride ever…
Sona: Ma… ~sees that makeup guy has finished putting alta; gets up and walks towards Asha~
Elena: Haan Shochi!!!!
Asha: ~getting teary eyed~ My Shona is all grown up now… ~takes kajal from her eyes and places dot behind her ear~ Kisiki nazar na lage… Be happy always… The house will become so silent without you… ~chokes feeling emotional~
Sona: ~getting teary eyed~ Ma… If you say like that, I won’t go… I will stay with you and baba!
Asha: Dat…. Pagol… You shouldn’t tell that… ~hugs her close~
Elena: Haan… What will happen to Dev jiju then?? Wo bechare toh besabri se intezaar kar rahe hai… Eagerly waiting for Shona…
Sona: ~smiles softly~ Who toh hai… It’s so unfair… Why only girls have to marry and shift? Why guys have it so easy? After marriage, they can stay with their parents, stay in same bedroom…
Elena: Haan… Even I wondered the same always… Dev jiju should become ghar jamai… I will tell Rithvik to be prepared… To become ghar jamai…
Asha: ~laughs~ Tum dono bhi na… Shochi… Ek dum pagol… But I won’t blame you both… Even I asked my mom the same question…
Sona: Really? What did nani tell?
Asha: She told one day you will understand why… After few years into marriage, she asked me to come home forever… She told that she misses me…
Sona: ~looking surprised~ Really? What did you tell then?
Asha: I told how can I come home like that? Who will take care of my sasuma? Who will feed and take care of my Sourav beta? You were a small girl then… ~touching Sona’s head~ I asked her, how can I leave my little princess doll? And most importantly… How will Bejoy live without me?
Sona looks surprised…
Asha: Then, your nani asked… “Now do you understand why you had to leave after marriage?” She laughed… I can still hear laughter… She was right… We ladies are capable of giving love; sharing love… Take care of families… We get married and shift only to start our own family and take care… Just how mom used to…
Shona, now it’s your turn… Take care of Dev’s family… Besides see the plus point… Our nani… Nani’s mom and all, they had to shift so far… Relying only on letters and few visits in marriages… That too very few… But now… We have technology… We can speak over phone… Your sasural is closeby… We can meet every now and then… I am sure Dev babu will surely take care of it…
Sona: Sorry ma… You are right… I will keep smiling and take care of Dev’s family… Just like you did for us… I love you ma ~hugs her tight~
Elena: ~hugs Asha~ True mashi….
~Baraat~
Nikki and Ria dance happily as baraat moves towards the venue
Suddenly Neha’s phone rings
Neha: ~walking away from the noise; speaks over the phone~ Abhi? Aap bhi na… Why didn’t you remind me? I thought… Achcha teek hai… Wait…
Neha goes back; pulls Nikki aside; whisper something to her and goes away…
Nikki comes back and joins the dance…
Vicky slowly arrives there and joins silently…
Mamaji sees him; gets angry; but doesn’t talk to him…
~Wedding Venue~
The baraat arrives… Elena watches it and rushes to inform Asha…
Soon Bejoy, Asha, Sourav, Elena, Sharan, Rabi and Sidhanto wait at the entrance…
Dev slowly gets down from the horse; walks toward the entrance… Rest of the family join him…
Asha takes earthen lamp and does entire family’s aarti… Then takes a matka and does Dev’s aarti…. Then Elena hands over a thaali; Asha takes trefoil (a kind of flower/plant); sprinkles over Dev’s head… Asha points to the other basket; Elena nods and hands over kula (bamboo window) with husked rice over it and does aarti… Sourav then gets a plate of sweets and a glass of water…
Asha feeds Dev, the sweets and makes him drink water… Then Elena distributes the sweets to entire Dev’s family…
Dev feels very happy…
~GKB’s pov~ Oh god… How come their swagath is never ending?
Mamaji: ~whispers to GKB~ See, they have done so much for our swagath… Hope you won’t taunt them on this… Just keep smiling…
GKB looks shocked; tries fighting…
Asha: Please come in….
Bejoy: Ishwariji, there is a rasam to be done… Shall we take Dev to the chadnatolla? I mean the mantap…
Ishwari: ~nods feeling uncomfortable~ Ji Bejoyji…
Bejoy: ~leads a happy Dev to the mantap; makes him sit~ Panditji, wo teekha…
Panditji: ~nods and gives the bowl~ Ji lijiye…
Bejoy: ~makes him sit and does teekha to Dev~ Dev babu… Please accept this potto bastara ~hands him a package~ This is a gift from our side…
Dev: ~nods~ Ji Bejoy baba… Shukriya… ~takes Bejoy’s blessings~
Bejoy places his hand on Dev’s head
GKB (Radha Rani): ~whispers to Ishwari~ Jiji… Dev told us that marriage will happen according to our customs! Here, all I can see is only Bengali customs! How can our Dev lie to us? She hasn’t stepped into the house… And this is the state now… Bhagwan jaane… Aage kya hoga…
Ishwari feels uncomfortable and angry
Panditji: Ab kanya ko bulaiyiye…
Bejoy: Ji panditji…
Sourav, Sharan, Rabi and Sishanto come in, carrying Sona on a pidi/piri (a small wooden stool) and take seven rounds around Dev and the hund… Dev smiles seeing Sona; tries seeing her face… But, Sona has covered her face with betel leaves… Dev feels impatient to see her face…
Dadi takes conch and blows as the other ladies make ulu sounds…
GKB (Radha Rani): Hey Bhagwan!!! What are they doing!!!
Elena: Mamiji… The phere taken by our brothers around Dev jiju is to ensure that their bond is strong… United by family… The bride can show her face after the phere… Dadi blew the conch, so that the moment becomes auspicious… And the ladies do ulu sounds to ward off evil sounds… And in olden days, there were no invitation cards… So, this used to be a form of invitation…
Ishwari: ~nods~ Hmmm… Okay… ~Ishwari’s pov~ How can Dev cover up like this?
Sona slowly takes out the betel leaves… Dev stands up; looking completely mesmerized… Sona smiles brightly
Panditji: Abhi, var aur vadhu varmala daalenge… Uske baad mala badalenge teen baar…
GKB (Radha Rani): Jiji!!! That bengalan isn’t wearing our lehenga!!! 1lakh vala lehenga!!!
Ishwari: ~gets angry~ How… I sent them the dress already…
Elena: ~ listening to their conversation~ Ishwari aunty, our side dulhan should wear banarsi saadi… However, please wait… Sona and Dev jiju has a surprise for you… Please wait…
GKB (Radha Rani): Ek baad ek jatke mil rahe hain… Where’s the surprise???
Ishwari tries calming down herself…
Sona is about to put varmala, Dev is lifted by Vicky and his couple of cousin brothers…
Sona looks mildly shocked; tries again… Dev bends in front of her… And Sona puts successfully!
GKB (Radha Rani): See Dev… Already has bent his head in front of her…
Ishwari feels uncomfortable…
Dev now tries his level best to put varmala around Sona’s neck… Sona’s brothers lift her easily… Dev tries thrice… No use…
Dev: ~points to something~ Look, your earring fell down!
Sona: Huh? ~bends without thinking~
Dev successfully adorns the varmala… Everybody cheer…
Dev and Sona exchange the varmala thrice and sit down…
Panditji: Abhi, kanyadaan ka samay ho gaya hai… Vadhu ke pita aage aayiye…
Bejoy: ~takes Sona’s hands and places over Dev’s hand; ties a sacred thread on their hands and places on a mangol ghot (kalash); ghatbandhan done~ Dev babu, we call this ritual as sampradan…. These people might call it kanyadaan, but for me… I am giving my life to you… Shona has always been a light of our house; I hope she lights up your house with her smile and laughter… Please take care of her ~chokes feeling emotional~
GKB (Radha Rani): ~whispers to Ishwari~ So much of nautanki…
Mamaji: ~listening to GKB~ Ishwari, you remember what she told Neha during her bidaai? No matter what happens, Neha will always be our daughter… Then how can Sona be any different?
Ishwari: ~nods~ Ji bhaiyya…
Dev: ~gazes at Sona; smiles~ Bejoy baba, I Devrath Dikshit, today promise on this holy fire that, irrespective of the circumstances, I shall always be with her… Till the last breath in my body, I shall never ditch the hand that I held today… Baba, I promise to care for her like Asha ma, scold her like you do, protect her like Sourav does, respect her like a husband should and love like a boyfriend does and support her like a best friend…
I will do everything for happiness… ~gazes intensely at Sona~
Ishwari looks surprised and shocked at Dev’s promise… ~Ishwari’s pov~ My Dev has never been so vocal… Yet… Today…. In front of so many people… Does he really love Sona so much?
Sona: ~looks surprised; emotional at Dev~ And I promise that I will do my best to take care of you, ma and everyone…
All smile happily…
Panditji starts doing the yagna… Dev and Sona start chanting the vedic mantras too…
Panditji: Ab var aur vadhu pheron ke liye kade ho jaayein…
Dev and Sona complete the saat paak (saat phere)
Bejoy and Asha smile…
Before Dev could sit, Sona signals him to wait… Sourav comes and pours khoi (puffed rice) into Sona’s hands… Sona signals Dev… Dev stands close; stand behind and hold her hands… Both extend their arms and pour the khoi together…
Sona feels shy when Dev holds her close… Dev smiles seeing Sona… ~Dev’s pov~ Holding you so close, my heart flutters… ~whispers to Sona~ You really are my khargosh… So soft, innocent and fragile… I feel like protecting you from every harm…
Sona: ~whispers back~ I only look fragile… I am a sherni in khargosh costume… ~smiles mischievous~
Dev: ~whispers again~ Let me find that out during our first night and honeymoon…
Sona: ~blushing suddenly~ Dev!!!
GKB (Radha Rani): What is that they’re doing now?
Elena: That is called Anjali…. They offer khoi… I mean puffed rice to Agni Devta…
Panditji: Var aur vadhu apne sthaan grahan karein…
Sona and Dev sit in their respective places…
Panditji: Ab var, vadhu ko sindoor lagake; mangalsutra pehenayegein…
Dev ~moves her veil; applies sindoor~ Ma… mangalsutra?
Ishwari fumbles around the box; slowly feels shocked…
Mamaji: Ishwari, kya hua? Give him mangalsutra…
Ishwari: Bhaiyya… Mangalsutra nahi hai…
Mamaji: Kya? Look in other boxes…
GKB (Radha Rani): Jiji, us box mein dekho… ~GKB’s pov~ Arey wah… My plans failed… This time I didn’t succeed, yet… Shukriya bhagwanji…
Panditji: Sheegr mangalsutra pehanayiye… Shubh muhurat nikalta jaa raha hai… Bina mangalsutra darn karein yeh vivah adoora rehajayega…
Dev: ~feels tensed~ Where did they misplace the managalsutra…
Vicky: ~whispers to GKB~ Is this your plan?
GKB (Radha Rani): ~whispers back~ You keep quiet… ~looks angry~ You told so much… Yet did nothing to stop this marriage…
Vicky: ~smiles evilly; whispers back~ Wait for two weeks, mom… Everything is set…
GKB (Radha Rani): ~continues whispering~ Two weeks? What will happen in two weeks?
Vicky: ~smiles again; whispers~ You wait and watch mom…
GKB feels pleased…
Panditji: Ishwariji… Jaldi kijiye… Warna yeh shaadi…
Dev and Sona look at each other tensed
Dadi: Panditji, according to our customs, just sindoor is sufficient…
GKB (Radha Rani): Aise kaise? Without managalsutra, this marriage isn’t complete… First time, I am seeing that mangalsutra getting vanished… Guess, even bhagwanji doesn’t want them to unite… Guess nobody can save this marriage now… It’d be incomplete forever…
Sona’s family look shocked…
Mamaji: Radha… Shut up… Soch samajh ke bolo…
“Who said that nobody can save this marriage? Who said that this marriage will be incomplete?”
Neha enters smiling…
Ishwari: Neha?
Neha: ~rushes to the mantap~ Ask questions later!! Here, Bhai… ~gives him mangalsutra~ Go ahead…
Dev: ~looks relieved; learns close to Sona; adorns mangalsutra and whispers~ Finally, I have claimed my beautiful Bengali bride…
Sona blushes…
Sona’s family finally heave in peace…
Neha smiles and gazes at GKB…
~Couple of hours ago~
Suddenly Neha’s phone rings
Neha: ~walking away from the noise; speaks over the phone~ Abhi? Aap bhi na… Why didn’t you remind me? I thought… Achcha teek hai… Wait…
Neha goes back; pulls Nikki aside; whisper something to her and goes away…
Neha meets Ranvir…
Ranvir: Sorry Neha… I totally forgot…
Neha: Thank god, we didn’t go far… I think we kept all the gifts in ma’s room… Our envelope will be there…
Ranvir nods…
Neha: ~rushes to Ishwari’s room~ Mil gaya… Let’s go… ~grabs Ranvir’s arm~
Suddenly something glittering catches her eye; bends and finds the mangalsutra
Neha: thank god, we came back… Or I don’t know what could have happened… ~shows Ranvir the mangalsutra~
Neha comes out of thoughts ~Neha’s pov~ Sorry mami… I won’t let you snatch my Bhai’s happiness… I may fight with him… I may be rude with him… But if it is about his happiness, this Neha can go to any level…
Ishwari: Neha? Are you all right?
Neha: ~suddenly jerking~ I am fine ma… Just little tired…
Ishwari nods and watches…
Just then, Asha slowly comes from behind; puts the lehenga around Sona’s neck…
Asha: Shona beti, I finally have covered in you ashghomta/lajja vastra… Now, you not have to uphold our family values but also you have responsibility of your sasural… I bless you to be successful in winning everyone’s hearts with your smile and patience…
Sona nods feeling very emotional…
Dev touches her arm… Sona lifts her head… Dev signals her to smile…
Pandit: Ab yeh vivah sampan hua… Nav Dampati ab badon ke aashirvad le…
Devakshi take blessings from Sona’s Dadi first… Then take blessings from Mama-Mami; Ishwari and Bejoy-Asha…
Panditji: ~slowly goes to Ishwari~ Achcha Ishwariji… Now I’ll leave… Ishwariji, you are very lucky to get such a beautiful, smart and sanskari bahu… Today’s generation only look for shortcuts everything… Anything traditional, they runaway… But Sona bahu requested me to include couple of rituals… She even explained their meaning and importance… I told her that if any ritual is intended for enhancing and enforcing the bond between the husband and wife, there is no harm in including it… I am so pleased with her… I pray to the God that she always remains happy… Mark my words ishwariji, Sona bahu will be the kawach for your family…
Bejoy and Asha listen to this and feel proud…
Ishwari nods uncomfortably; gives him guru dakshina…
As panditji starts leaving; even Bejoy gives him the dakshina…
Panditji leaves happily…
Ishwari walks away; looking around for Dev…
~Other side of the hall~
Sourav: ~hugs Dev~ Good luck Dev babu!!! It’s party time from now for me!!! I can eat anything and everything!!!! Good luck with her strict diet plans!!!
Dev: ~gulps~ Luck? Guess I will need it!!!
Sona: Dev!!! ~hits Sourav~ Dada… Don’t think that you can enjoy behind my back! I am watching you ~points her index and middle fingers to her eyes; then to him~
Sourav: Not fair… You can’t do that to me… ~pouts~
All laugh…
Nikki: Sona di!!! Welcome to family!! I mean Sona Bhabhi!!! ~hugs Sona~
Ria does the same…
Everyone start hugging each other in happiness…
Ishwari looks on smiling; feels slightly worried ~Ishwari’s pov~ My son’s looking so happy today… ~recalls his promise~ Will he only think of Sona now? Will he forget me and my love? I won’t let that happen… As a ma, I will be always his priority…
Nikki, was about to hug Rabi… Realizes and moves away
Rabi-Nikki: Sorry!
Nikki smiles and walks away
Rabi scratches his hair smiling…
Sharan starts walking…. Collides on Ria… Both hit their head…
Sharan: Ouch!
Ria: Ouch!!!
Both try moving; but end up blocking each other’s’ way…
Sharan: ~signs to wait; asks her to go~ You may go first…
Ria: ~nods~ Okay… Bye…
Ria walks away… Sharan looks at her…
Sidhanto looks at them… ~Sidhanto’s pov~ Love’s definitely in air…
Devakshi try to talk to each other…
Elena: ~pulling Sona~ Come on… We need to get ready for reception!
Sourav: ~dragging Dev away~ Come Dev babu… You will need my help to get ready…
~Reception~
Rabi: All our beloved family members and friends!!! We are here to celebrate the wedding reception of our beloved Dev and Sona… ~snaps fingers~
Lights go off and spotlight turns on…
Nikki: Presenting to you, the hottest newlyweds – Mrs. And Mr. Dev Dikshit…
Sona enters from the right side, wearing lehenga…
Dev enters from the left side, wearing traditional Bengali dhoti kurta…
Both join on the stage… Everybody look surprised
Dev: ~grasps Sona’s hand; smiles at everyone~ I can’t express my gratitude and happiness to see you all here… Thank you for coming here and blessing us…
Sona: I know our families would have been confused as to whether the marriage happened according to Bengali customs or traditional Brahmin customs… All we would like to tell is – both the customs…
Dev: We didn’t want to hurt anyone… I know a lot of my relatives would have hoped to see my Sona in lehenga and her relatives would have wished to see me in this… That’s why we dressed up this way for the reception… I hope all of you are happy… I am happy to welcome my Sona… Mrs. Sonakshi Bose Dikshit… ~Dev’s pov~ I won’t ask you to drop Bose from your name Sona… You are and always will be my beautiful Bengali bride…
Sona: ~looks at him proudly~ Thank you Dev! ~Sona’s pov~ Thank you Dev… For not asking me to drop Bose from my name… Rather you made it easy for me…
Soon, Dev and Sona’s colleagues rush inside… Devakshi accept gifts from all and take photos… Devakshi introduce each other’s colleagues and ask them to eat and leave…
After last of them leave, Devakshi head towards dining hall…
Sourav: All the family members and guests, we request you to join our newlyweds for dinner…
The vegetarian section is on the right side and nonveg section is outside… Towards the left side…
Please enjoy…
Dev: ~whispers to Sona~ Aren’t you going to have nonveg?
Sona: ~whispers back~ No… I can eat all veg platter… But, I can’t ask you to join me in nonveg section… Remember?
Dev: ~nods~ Right… ~smiles brightly~
GKB (Radha Rani): Jiji… Nonveg food?
Ishwari: How will I touch food here?
Mamaji: Ishwari, thinking about us, they have kept nonveg section outside… If we don’t eat, it will be an insult to Sona’s family…
GKB (Radha Rani): Even if we eat, what about our relatives… They won’t touch…
~Dining Hall~
Some of the Ishwari’s relatives see the nonveg section…
Relative 1: How can they serve nonveg here?
Relative 2: I can’t eat here…
Nikki: Please eat at least a little…
The relatives nod no and are about to leave… Nikki looks on sad…
Rabi: ~listens to this; looks at Nikki’s sad face~ Excuse me ladies… Any problem?
Relative 1: We are pure Brahmins… How can we eat where nonveg food is being served?
Rabi: ~nods~ Makes sense… But one doubt… Have you and your family ever ate at Mc Donald’s, Domino’s etc.?
Relative 2: Yes… Our kids love the place… Why are you asking that?
Rabi: Do you know that they serve both veg and nonveg dishes there?
Relative 1: Ya… But they have separate kitchens and counters…
Rabi: Are you sure that they don’t keep the frozen veg and nonveg food together?
Relative 2: How will we know? We are not allowed inside… We just assume…
Rabi: ~smiling~ Here you don’t have to assume… ~shows around the veg section; shows the kitchen~ See, the cooks are Brahmins… Look there are no onions and garlic too… They’re Swadisht Caterers!!!
Relative 1: Swadisht Caterers? They’re one of the best in our city ~looks pleased~
Rabi: We will ensure that you won’t get even a small whiff of non veg food… Please eat to your heart’s content…
Relative 2: Now we will all eat and go…
Soon, the word gets spread that Swadisht Caterers are serving and all Dev’s side family rush to eat…
Ishwari, Mamaji and GKB see their relatives going to eat…
GKB (Radha Rani): Poor people… Guess they’re very hungry…
Relative 1: ~comes out~ Arey Ishwari behenji… Won’t you eat? I had food peacefully… The food is cooked by Swadisht Caterers… They’re the best… I am very pleased with the khatirdari…
Relative 1 leaves…
Mamaji: See… Our bahurani’s family has taken care of everything… Let’s go and eat now… I am very hungry…
~Outside the venue~
X stands and watches the wedding venue… Reads “Dr. Sonakshi weds Devrath Dikshit” board
X: Are you happy Mr. Dev Dikshit? Good… I want you to be happy… Enjoy these moments Dev Dikshit… Soon, they will be snatched away…
X laughs crazily; starts humming Gumnaam hai koi tune… and starts to walk away…
Yay!!! Devakshi finally married!!!
Tomorrow, the post marriage rituals and pehli rasoi rasam!!!What will Sona do?
And gasp… X is back? What is Vicky planning?
Comments please!!!!
P.S All the Bengali readers (esp Juhi), hope I have captured the Bengali wedding rituals properly!!!