Akaash POV:-
When Teja entered, she looked absolutely stunning.
I felt great to make her all mine today.
I want to protect her from this cruel world and give her all the happiness and respect she deserves.
My little prince walked with her while helping his mother with her lehenga.
I must say, he is just like Teja.
Sometimes, I found it hard to believe that Vihaan is not Teja's biological son.
His face feature and his personality are just like Teja's.
But all in all, I am glad to have him as our son.
He made me proud.
Everyone looked at him with adoration as he was helping his mother.
Today my family will complete.
I will have a beautiful and kind-hearted wife and a caring son.
When Teja and our son came to the stairs, I went and raised my hand towards Teja.
Teja looked at my hand, then my face.
She blushed to see the intensity in my eyes.
Teja put her hand in my hand, and I felt sparks.
I got shocked but controlled my emotions.
I helped her come to the stage.
The priest took our swords and worshipped them.
After that, he tied them together and put them in their place.
He turned towards us and said, " It's time for the varmala(Garland) ceremony. "
Teja and my mother came with the garland on the plate and a smile on their lips.
We took garlands in our hands.
Teja's brothers came and put her on their shoulders.
I jumped and tried to put the garland on her 2-3 times but failed.
My brothers came and put me on their shoulders.
It helped me, and I put the garland on Teja's neck.
Everyone hooted and clapped for me.
Before I could enjoy my victory, Teja used my distraction and put the garland on my neck.
Everyone hooted for her.
After the ceremony, our brothers put us down.
The priest left for preparing for the further procedures.
Our parents came, and my mother said, " Teja and Akaash, come for dinner, Bacho. You both must be hungry and tired because of all these rituals. "
We both nodded and followed our parents.
But before we came downstairs, Vihaan held my patka in his hand.
I sat on my knees and asked, " Vihaan, son. What happened? "
" Daddy, I asked Mumma that is she really this beautiful? She told me to ask you this question to you. Now, tell me, please. " Vihaan said, and I looked at Teja, who blushed hearing Vihaan's words.
I smiled and looked at Vihaan.
" Vinu, your mother is happy to get married to your father. That's why your mother's face is glowing, and she is looking like an angel. " I explained.
" Mumma, if I grow and become like papa, will you marry me and look this beautiful? " Vihaan asked, and I looked at him with shock.
This child!!!!
Everyone laughed hearing his question.
Teja looked at him with shock, just like me.
We looked at each other and replied to Vihaan in unison, " No!!!! "
I held his hands in mine and explained, " Son, your mother is your father's wife. You can't get married to your mother, son.
When you grow up, you need to find your bride. You will get married to her. "
He looked at his mother innocently, and Teja nodded.
She sat on her knees and said, " Son, you can't get married to your mother, your mother's relatives, and your sisters. You need to find your life partner who understands you. Then you will get married to her. Okay? "
Vihaan nodded innocently, and we sighed in relief.
Sometimes children unknowingly said such words that gave a heart attack to their parents.
I took him in my arms, and we went to the dining table.
Our families sat in their prospective seats, and I sat beside Teja.
Maids served us food.
Our parents looked at us, and Teja's mother said, " Teja, you need to eat Akaash some kheer. Then Akaash will help you eat kheer with his hands. "
We both blushed.
I took some kheer in the spoon and raised it in front of Teja's lips.
Teja removed her nose ring. She parted her lips and ate the kheer.
Our siblings teased us, and Teja blushed.
She took some kheer from the bowl and raised the spoon in front of my mouth.
I looked at her with my intense gaze and ate the kheer.
Teja blushed, and I smirk.
I felt her nervous under my gaze, and I love the effect on her.
I know she is uncomfortable with me and nervous. Because of the attention we are getting.
I held her hand in mine and whispered in her ear, " Don't get nervous, dear. I am always here to give you my support and comfort. "
Teja looked at me and smiled.
After that, we ate our food on one plate as this is the ritual too.
The bride and groom have to eat together on one plate.
Whenever our hands touched, a shiver ran through my body.
After dinner, Teja adjusted her nose ring again, and Teja's mothers took her to her room while I sat with my siblings.
After some time, the priest called me to come to the mandap.
I went towards the mandap and sat on the right side as the priest told me.
Then he started chanting some mantras.
He called my mother and ordered her to bring Teja.
Mom left, and mom came back with Teja and her mothers.
I saw tears in Teja's parents' eyes.
I can understand their feelings.
After all, Papa Albert and Mom Angelina were with Teja for the last three years and got all her attention.
They took care of her.
On the other side, Papa Raj and Mom Rajshree just got the chance to spend their time with Teja the last month.
Now, Teja will leave them again and bring loneliness into their life.
Arjun and Bubbly held each other hands tightly to control their emotions.
It's not like they are not happy to see Teja happily married to me.
But they are sad about their separation.
Teja came and sat on my left side.
The priest started chanting some mantras, and we joined our hands and closed our eyes.
After some time, the priest told us to change our seats, and we sat on the right side this time.
Then the priest started the pooja.
After some time, he announced that it was time for Gatbandhan.
Bubbly came and tied Teja's chunar with my patka with some ingredients like one coin, a few grains of rice, and some flowers.
After that, Bubbly went back to her seat.
The priest started reciting some mantras and said, " It's time for Kanyadaan. "
First, father Raj and mother Rajshree came and sat beside us.
Father Raj raised his hand first, and mother Rajshree put her hand on his.
Teja put her hand on the top.
The priest put the paan ka Patta, long, ilayachi, a few grains of rice, flowers, vermillion, turmeric, and one rupee coin.
After that, father Raj put some Ganga Jal, and they stood from their seats, and they went back.
Then, father Albert and mother Angelina came and sat beside us.
This time,
I raised my hand, and mother Angelina put her hand on me.
Then, father Albert put his hand on mother Angelina, and Teja put her hand on father Albert.
The priest fell some milk on the ingredients.
Then Mother Angelina retreated her hand on put it on the forearm of father Albert.
Father Albert rolled Teja's hand and put it on my hand.
He said in a hoarse voice, " Today! I, Laxmi Narayan, doing my daughter Teja's Kanyadaan. Now, you, Akaash, will take care of her. I am giving you my soul.
If you dared to hurt her, I would kick your a**. "
I nodded and said, " Don't worry, papa. Even if she cried, she would cry in happy tears. That's my promise. "
He nodded, and they went back to their seats.
The priest started chanting mantras while Teja and I looked at each other.
Our stare broke when the priest announced, " It's time for phere. Please stand up now. "
He stood up too, and we stood up from our seats.
The priest looked at Teja and said, " Bride, repeat after me.
If you ever go on a pilgrimage, then take me along with you. If you do any fasting or any other religious work, then like today, give me a place in your left part. If you accept it, then I agree to come to your Vamang. "
Teja looked at me with determination and repeated the words.
I nodded, and we took the first phere, and I walked above her.
Then the priest looked at me and said, " Groom repeat after me.
Just as I respect my parents, in the same way, I promise to respect your parents and if I remain a devotee of God while performing religious rituals according to the dignity of the family, then I will accept to come to your Vamang.
"
I looked at Teja and promised her with sincerity and determination.
After that, we walked around the mandapa a second time.
The priest looked at Teja and said, " Bride, repeat after me.
I promise you that I will continue to follow you in all the three stages of life (youth, adulthood, and old age), then only I am ready to come to your Vamang.
"
Teja looked at me and repeated the words with sincerity.
After that, we walked around the mandap and took our third phere.
The priest looked at me and said, " Groom, repeat after me.
Till now, you were completely free from the worries of the family. Now, you are going to tie the knot, and the responsibility of fulfilling all the needs of the family in the future lies on your shoulders. I promise to bear this burden with you, then I am ready to come to your Vamang. "
I looked at her and repeated the words with sincerity.
She nodded, and we took our fourth phere.
The priest said, " Bride repeat after me.
This verse is very important in today's context. I promise if you take my advice while spending on your household work, marriage, etc., transaction or any other, then I accept to come to your Vamang.
"
Teja looked at me and repeated the word with determination.
This time, she came forward, and we took our fifth phere.
The priest looked at me and said, " Groom, repeat after me.
I promise that if you are sitting among your friends or other women, then I will never insult you in front of everyone for any reason. If I keep myself away from gambling or any other kind of addiction, then I accept you're coming to Vamang.
"
I looked at Teja and repeated the words with sincerity.
After that, we took our sixth phere.
We stood and waited for our last promise and phere.
We held our breath as this phere would tie us together for seven lives.
" Groom, repeat after me.
As the last promise, I will treat foreign women like mothers and do not make anyone a partner in the mutual love between husband and wife. If I give this promise to you, then only you accept to come under my Vamang.
"
I looked at Teja, whose breath hitched.
I knew that Tanish broke this promise, and somewhere she felt insecure.
She looked at me with nervousness, and I looked at her with love, trust, and determination.
I repeated the promise with determination and sincerity, and A tear fell from her eyes.
I wiped it and held her hand in mine.
After that, we took our last phere.
Everyone clapped for us.
The priest told us to sit in our seats.
We sat, and The priest gave me a plate that contained Mangalsutra.
I took Manglasutra and carefully made Teja wear it.
My fingers touched her neck, and she shivered and closed her eyes.
Then, the priest raised the plate that contained the vermillion bottle with one silver coin.
I took vermillion on the silver coin, and I filled Teja's partition after removing the mang tika.
Teja closed her eyes, and a few tears fell from her eyes, and some vermillion fell on Teja's nose.
" Your wedding is complete now. You both look at the pole star first and then take the blessings from your elders. " The priest said, and we looked at the pole star, which shone and twinkled a lot.
After that, we touched the priest's feet, and he blessed us.
Then, we went towards our parents and took their blessings.
We touched Teja's mother's family feet too, and they blessed us.
After that, we touched our older siblings' feet, and they blessed us too.
Teja, Bubbly, and Arjun hugged each other and smiled.
We took an hour's rest, and then the Vidai started.
Teja cried and hugged her mother Rajshree and father Raj.
They cried while hugging her.
After that, father Albert and mother Angelina came and hugged her tightly while tears fell from their eyes.
Tears formed in my eyes, and I looked at my sister, who looked at Teja and her family crying.
I know it's not easy for a girl to leave her family to whom she devoted her life since birth.
But they did it and tied themselves together with a new family, whom they rarely know.
They left everything behind and started a new life with new responsibilities.
Bubbly came with the plate filled with batashe and kheel.
Teja took some contents in her hand and threw them backward.
Mother Angelina took the contents in her sari pallu as many as possible.
Teja threw it seven times and hugged Bubbly.
After that, Teja hugged Arjun, who cried like a child.
We sat in the car, and Father Raj, Father Albert, and Arjun pushed the car.
Now, Teja's parents and siblings will stay in the outhouse for the night and leave in the morning.
On the other side, my family will prepare for post-wedding rituals.
I gave Teja tissues.
I took a deep breath and looked at Teja with sad eyes.