Three days before the date, Dad called me.
Dad: Agastya! Son, when are you arriving? We are all waiting for you.
Me: On the way, Dad. (feeling happy inside)
Dad: Ah! Bring Bhanumati too.
Me: Sure, Dad.
Bhanu was overviewing the new syllabus books that had arrived.
Me: Bhanu, Dad has called us both in brother Rudra's wedding. We have to move now. Please, get ready.
Bhanu: Really? Ok, I will get ready in ten minutes.
I and she started getting ready and packing our pricey suits for the wedding. After around fifteen minutes, when I saw Bhanu in her ethnic styled saree designed by Dikshita, I was left breathe-taken.
Bhanu: So, this recluse man too got trapped into attachments. Please stop staring at me like this. (feeling shy)
Me: It's my right to stare at my lady. I must say you are looking so beautiful.
Bhanu: I can feel the way you feel me. But Mr. Handsome, why haven't you got ready until now?
Me: I am ready. What do you think have I missed?
Bhanu: My watch pair. You always forget it. And one more thing, what shall I gift to the bride?
Me: (while wearing the Rodex black-dial watch) Umm. What have you thought of?
Bhanu: A wedding tiara?
Me: Ofcourse not. Bhanu, we aren't married. You are an invitee at the wedding so, it won't suit you giving an extravagant gift to bhabhi.
Bhanu: (hurt) Then, what?
Me: We will get married on time and as per our culture. Don't ruin that pretty face who I love a lot.
Bhanu drew a simple simper on her face.
Me: Yeah! That's nice. You may gift bhabhi a beautiful lamp. Oh, I remember one that I searched for last day. I suggested it to Brothers Bhargava and Hemanta but they didn't accept. You may gift it to her. See, this one! (I opened the picture of the lamp that I had saved on my phone.)
Bhanu: It's beautiful, Agastya! At night, it will cast the couple' lovely picture on the wall. Add it to cart and buy it now. When shall it be delivered?
Me: On the wedding day, most probably.
Bhanu: Let's go now. I am too excited!
(Smiles)
Me: Let's make a call to both my moms. If they have anything to buy from here, maybe.
Bhanu: I am calling Vinita jiji!
(Mom Mohini, on the call, asked to bring her a particular mascara that she had but lost somewhere. She sent the details to Bhanu. Vinita jiji thanked her for asking but she had nothing to buy. So, after buying that mascara from a cosmetic parlour, we drove straight on the National Highway to our hometown. With a short stoppage of around ten minutes after three hours of driving, we reached home at around three p.m.)
All the decorations of flowers and lightings were perfect. An event manager named Swastik had done all the management of stage, lightings, food and banquet, chariot, mandapa and the bride's room.
Entered the hall where everyone in the family had gathered. Aunt Vagisha, elder to my dad and younger to aunt Savitri and mother of Vinita jiji, noticed me first.
Aunt Vagisha: Agastya has arrived. Come, my son. After Vinita has accepted you as her son, should I address you as my grandson?
(Laughs.)
Me: Pranam! You may call me by any name you like, bhua!
Aunt Vagisha: Oh! So sweet.
I bowed down to my uncle Suyansh and aunty (his wife) Sursundari, aunt Savitri, Dad and Mom Mohini. Addressing my brothers and sisters and in-laws relatives, I confidently introduced Bhanu, as my girlfriend, to all of them. I doubted Vinita jiji's presence when I saw Divya and Pramod in the gathering. As I turned, Vinita jiji stood at back.
Me: Jiji! Pranaam jiji!
Vinita: May your radiance be glorified, my son! How are you, Bhanu? It's been only a couple of days when we met but nowadays, I miss you everytime. Thank you for being with my son.
Bhanu: Pranaam jiji! I am satisfied and happy, jiji. (anchored my right elbow.)
Vinita: May lord protect this lovely duo! I am also waiting for the moment when you get married.
Uncle Suyansh: Will you three keep on talking on the doorstep or sit here on the couch? We too, wish to talk to Agastya. It's been so long that I have met him.
Vinita: Ofcourse mama! He is all yours. Come, let's sit (to Bhanu).
Me: What preparations are going on, uncle? How may I help you?
Uncle Suyansh: Tomorrow onwards, there will be regular functions here. We have to make formal lists of invitees who we will invite everyday. So, sit down and write the names as I say.
Aunt Sursundari: He has just arrived. Let him have some food first.
Uncle Suyansh: Oh! That's your job. All the mothers may feed him but I will allot him the task that is under my responsibility. So please, do not disturb.
For all the traditional ceremonies named Haldi, Mehendi, Bidhat and Mayra, all the lists were prepared. Mom and other ladies discussed about the jewelleries, gift clothings and ethnic wears, make up and other personal agenda. The event manager Swastik regularly gave updates on what was happening under his vigilance and asked if something was missing in our sense. One major requirement I felt was rebuilding the passage and constructing a black pitch road over it. When I talked about it to grandpa and uncle, they said the government had allotted the budget but construction works didn't start for unknown reasons.
Dad: Agastya! In this short notice, nothing is going to happen. It's better they do not initiate now. We will lay down the carpet here.
Me: Let me talk to our mayor now.
Dad: Why are you meddling everything?
Uncle Suyansh: Can you get it done by tomorrow? If yes, then do it.
Grandpa: What are you all talking? No need of doing anything. Agastya, don't meddle with us or the government. You will create heck.
Me: Okay, grandpa. Please cool down.
Hemanta: (to Bhargava) We celebrate his presence but whenever he is here with us, a dispute, short or long, breaks out for sure.
Bhargava: Neither this is a dispute nor Agastya is willing of it. He said because he is confident on his side and the elders are on confident on theirs. Don't forget that Agastya has always succeeded because of his confidence. And I love that.
Vinita jiji: Agastya! Please drop me and Bhanu home. It's being late.
As I took my car keys, jiji paused me and asked to walk. Bhanu was willing to be her guest for the night.
Me: Oh! So, you will stay with jiji. But why when your home is nearby?
Vinita: Can't she be my guest? I have asked her to stay with us and she have talked to her uncle. Is it fine now?
Me: Yea, of course. No problem. (lips closed)
Jiji lived just five minutes away on foot. Soumya was in the national capital and she had no vacations to attend the wedding. I entered jiji's home with them.
Vinita: Bhanu, come downstairs! I shall provide you night suit for tonight. Soumya's clothes will fit you na?
Bhanu: Yeah jiji. We are almost of same height and weight.
Me: No, you look quite fat nowadays.
(A hard hit at my arm.)
Me: Ouch!
Bhanu: Wait, I have something to ask.
Me: Ok, I will be with Pramod.
Diya, Parineeti and Bhanu changed their attires and entered the T.V. room where I and Pramod were watching cartoon Ramayana.
Bhanu: Agastya! What were grandpa angry over you?
Me: Oh! Actually, I made a remark at that dilapidated passage. I wished if a fine pitched road was constructed there. Budget has been passed for the same but yet no progress has started. So, I was about to call the mayor but dad and granddad didn't wish to.
Bhanu: You are smiling that means you have talked to her.
Me: Hahaha!
Bhanu: Who did you call? The Mayor?
Me: No. Kusum! And everything is prepared for it but the contractor was busy in other projects so he didn't send his operators here.
Bhanu: So, won't it be done now?
Me: Luckily, I knew the contractor Ashtanga. He has a long story and I shall tell you some other day.
Vinita: Ashtanga! Is he the same personal who carried out the Greenhouse cultivation project brought by the municipality?
Me: Yes. He won an award of five lakhs for his contribution in the project.
Bhanu: But, why did he follow you?
Me: You will know it tomorrow. Let me go now.
Bhanu: Wait Agastya. I had to ask something.
Me: Yes!
Bhanu: I observed that the elders engage themselves in a non-conclusive debate. Why is there so much suspicion despite being so scholarly? What's lacking in your family that hinders its satisfaction?
Vinita: Bhanu! They are elders who have to understand everyone's will and views so that, a proper way of carrying out the tasks is evolved.
Me: But it's an irony that they never found such a way. Because a conflicting question has itself born the conjunctions of various types. Bhanu! Our past determines our present and both of our past and present determine the future to a considerable extent. They have seen a particular way of living when they were growing up; they lived quite dissimilar life on their own and as the world is changing, they are once again witnessing the difference. But transition periods are critical and hence, who is worried of future for oneself or any dear one will definitely doubt on terms that have double standards. Just like our live-in relationship. Our guardians have heard of various incidents going on all around our society and they too have a past. Moreover, the new influencer yogis and speakers on the internet have provided them with so many versions of our scriptures, mostly nonsense, that they get confused while living their attitude. They mix up living like Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Indra, Surya, Parshuram, Ravana, Buddha, Harishchandra, Mahatma Gandhi, Bose, lion, ants, fish, birds, plants and many more. And at last, they apply both the scenarios on us and hence, a new debate appears on the screen. What I said just now must be confusing, no?
Bhanu: Literally, yes!
Vinita: There is no head or tail to those talks. Leave them.
Me: Jiji is right. Just follow me.
Vinita: (to Bhanu) YES!
Bhanu: But Agastya, won't you clear this clutter and aid them to be at ease and peace?
Me: Bhanu! They have reached the stage where they believe 'OK Tested' marked items only. So, we have to act it right to get them right.
Bhanu: If we can't do it at home, how will we bring the change in district? And it's better not to think of the nation.
Me: (holding her shoulders) If I mark down the levels of difficulty in any sector of life on one to hundred basis, the comparative scale will be like-
1 - 25: Hard/Difficult
25 - 50: Very hard/Difficult
50 - 100: Easy
We, the bourgeois, are struggling at 25 - 50 scale. We have to keep patience and strengthen the chain as hard as we can. Once we cross the fifty mark, umpteen chains will start pulling and pushing us to our goal. We just have to keep balance there. While on initial stage, we use our intellect and force and on second stage, we deal with the art of choice such that we risk nothing to win this risky life.
Divya: I am running in circles now, mama.
Bhanu: Me too!
Vinita: Agastya! Do you have to answer every question? They are kids. Don't overestimate their learning capacity. And you Bhanu, he will forever be with you. So, keep following his trails and be that back force he will require all his life. Dinner is prepared. Agastya! If you wish, you may have it here.
Me: Jiji, some other day please. I need to go now.
Vinita: Okay! You may.
Next day:
It was seven in the morning while everyone were either sleeping or busy in getting ready. It was foggy all around. I was doing some warm-up excercise when I heard Uncle Suyansh talking to someone. Grandpa had a look on the ground where he saw a team of labour and their haulers and rollers readied up to reconstruct the road.
Uncle Suyansh: Are you here to construct the road?
Ashtanga: Yes! Everything is ready.
Uncle Suyansh: But why now? After two days, we have wedding here. Please don't disturb us now. You may do it a week later.
Grandpa interrupted the conversation. He warned the contractor not to do anything while Ashtanga insisted on following the orders of mayor Ma'am Madhu. Dad, on hearing the dispute, stepped downstairs as soon as he took shower.
Grandma: Why are they all shouting? And who are they shouting at? Hemanta, go and see son!
Hemanta: (reporting) The contractor, on the orders of our mayor, has come to build the road, grandma! He says the work will be done by today but grandpa and dad are restraining him from carrying out his duty. Agastya must have called him.
Dad: (shouting) AGASTYA!
Me: Yes, dad.
Dad called me down on the passage and asked me to send the contractor back the same way had I called him. But Ashtanga refused to follow my orders and insisted to carry out the work. This dispute continued for an hour when the police arrived. It was surprising to see mayor Ma'am Madhu there. Grandpa called everyone in the neighbourhood to face her and have the project postponed for then. I stayed on family side.
Ma'am Madhu: (in a sweet voice) Please excuse me for my interruption Marwaris. Mr. Ashtanga is here on my command and I am here on the people's command. However I have the discretionary power of having jobs done that I am appointed for but I have come here to assure you of finite and justifiable operations of every project. With the application of modern equipments, the skilled manpower working under our fellow contractor Ashtanga will complete the job before the sun sets in the west. I, the mayor of Marwar District, pledge not to leave this municipality for any cause until and unless the road construction is completed. If you all believe me, please let them carry out their jobs. Mr. Divyansh, don't you think it will be better when the procession will be conducted on newly constructed fine pitched road?
Dad: It would be better if you did it earlier.
Ma'am Madhu: I am extremely sorry for this delay. I beg pardon from all of you. It will be generous of you if you let us carry the project now.
The bricks were removed and the passage was dug 1.5 ft below. A tin mesh was laid on the passage over which the larger stones were placed. Two tractors laden with smaller chip-like stones were unloaded over them and then the sand was filled. For around two hours, the water tanks drizzled on the passage to set everything. The sun was up and warm during the noon.
The Mehendi ceremony was carried out simultaneously as it did not involve a large horde of outsiders. Bhanu and jiji had arrived. During lunch time, Vinita jiji curiously asked about the construction to Uncle Suyansh. He dictated all that happened in the morning. On conversation with Ashtanga, he had learnt of the fact behind the immediate action.
Uncle Suyansh: (to Vinita jiji) Your son Agastya has the supreme power over all. If he wishes, he can do anything.
Dad: I wish he was a tawpie. It's difficult to handle him this way.
Vinita jiji: Mama! A son mustn't be in chains when he is adept of doing all the tasks the guardians do.
Uncle Suyansh: You are not able to recognise his potential! Ask Dhan Lal, how did Agastya save his drowning business. Later, he urged Ma'am Madhu to let Ashtanga handle the greenhouse cultivation project and thus, helped him get the reward. Then onwards, Ashtanga initiated a new agency to carry out these projects while he is running his business on a departmental store basis where he doesn't need to be present always. Agastya talked to both our mayor and him about the road and thus, they are here today to complete the said task. Why do you need to handle him when he can handle the whole of the state on his own?
(Silence)
I had a call from Dakshit. He informed me that my special ethnic sherwani was ready to ship and would reach home by the following day. As I turned around, Bhanu stood behind hiding he face behind her mehendi-dyed hands.
Me: Beautiful are those hands sketched with mehendi.
Bhanu: (shy) Find your name.
Me: Between your thumb and pointing finger i.e. in the curve of your right palm, here is my name. See 'AGASTYA'.
Bhanu: (happy) Eee... People say that if the guy succeeds to find his name in the designs, the couple's love and romantic life will be awesome. I don't understand the logic but I am feeling it so happening.
Me: You are so cute Bhanu.
(Laughs)
Me: Tomorrow, it will be haldi ceremony of brother Rudra. I have some necessary jobs to do. You may be with mom or jiji.
The tar, which was prepared at other place, was brought and appropriately spilled on the passage. Around six metres wide road and two metres of drainage line (one on each side) was constructed in a way that didn't level up the previous altitude and prevented draining water spill over the passage. The roller pressed the tar affirm. All the tasks were done until five in the evening. It was notified to all not to walk or drive for at least an hour. After an hour, the mayor revisited the ward.
Ma'am Madhu: Let me congratulate all of you on the successful construction of this road
Let me thank you all to have kept belief on me and patience on the project. Now, I have lived my pledge and thus, request you all to free me of it and let me return to my office.
Grandpa: We all thank you to have done this job by today. We are sorry to have you here all day and not let you go. Forgive us Ma'am!
Everyone joined their hands to beg forgiveness. Ma'am Madhu too joined hands and asked for leave. The contractor Ashtanga came to me.
Ashtanga: When I was born, the priest said that my eight organs and limbs will function very well throughout my life and thus, I succeeded in doing everything I wished. But I always used my skill in cheating someone. After contacting you, I felt there was someone who could beat me. Thank you for helping me get engaged in valued jobs and enjoy a respectable life. Thank you Agastya!
Me: Ashtanga! If you work for your benefit, the world may follow you to learn the tricks but if you expend yourself for benefits, you will be titled unique among the men.
Ashtanga: Greetings!
Next Day:
The shipment driver called me half an hour before he reached my hometown. So, I got ready and reached the roundabout where I would receive my parcel. I waited at a tea stall. Some of the men at the stall were reading the local newspaper which dictated about the road constructed last day. One of them said, ''I heard about a boy named Agastya. Who is he?'' The man at the stall replied, ''Have I not met him in person but he is our hero. I wish he participated in the elections. He is doing so much for people of all ages. His name echoes high in our headquarter Jaigarh.'' The driver called me again when he reached the junction. I recognised the van number that was standing the opposite side of the road. I called him towards my car and received the parcel. I called Dakshit to inform him about the delivery receipt and then, returned back to home.
Mom Mohini: Son Agastya! Where have you been so early? What have you brought in this parcel?
Me: I had ordered an ethnic designed sherwani from Vastra.com. I just got the delivery.
Aunt Vagisha: Let us see!
Aunt Savitri: A sherwani is for the bridegroom. Do you want to get married now Agastya?
Me: C'mon auntie! Please! See this. Umm, let me wear it.
All of the family members and the guests at home covered me in the room. As I dressed up, there were camera flashes on me. Everyone appreciated my look in sherwani. It had beautiful embroidery and patterns. Dakshit sent me a pairing jewellery of pearl stones with the sherwani. Dad said that if I wore it during the marriage procession, the bride and her family may get confused of the actual groom. The groom must be the most attracting persona during marriage and I would lure all that. I insisted and it was again a grave situation for all of them.
By eight, everyone got busy in the rites and rituals of Haldi ceremony. Relatives and guests arrived to apply turmeric paste on brother Rudra who attired himself in a yellow chola-pyjama. It was a ritual to keep Lord Vinayaka beside the groom and Pramod acted to be like. Couples from both paternal and maternal sides came forward to apply the paste on both. It was all a cherishing moment to be captured in memories. Meanwhile, it started raining outside.
Mayra Time:
It's a rite when the immediate material family of the groom (or bride in case) and the immediate maternal family of groom's mom (or bride in case) bring gifts and ornaments for the groom (or bride in case) and his/her immediate family symbolizing their willing attendance and cheerfulness. They organise a ritual procession while bringing the gifts to their nephew.
All three of us i.e. brothers (except Rudra), dressed up alike in designer traditional suit. A drone camera captured all the moments we cherished on the ground. The set-up was exceptionally good.
Party time:
We, the groom side, organise a party on wedding occasion the night before the wedding because people, in general, didn't wish to wait for a single day after wedding and hence returned back to their homes. I dressed up myself in the royal blue tuxedo that I had bought on Aisha's wedding.
Aunt Sursundari: That's a lovely tuxedo, Agastya! Where did you buy it?
Aunt Vagisha: Agastya has an amazing fashion sense.
Vinita jiji: And the fabric quality is too good. You are looking so handsome Agastya. May the Lord save you from evil eyes!
(She applied her mascara behind my ear that is assumed to save from evil eyeshadows.)
Me: Let's have a click, jiji!
Dad: Oh wow! Lovely tuxedo, son! When did you buy it?
Me: Dad, I bought it on Aisha's wedding in Jaigarh.
Dad: It must be expensive.
Me: Yeah, Dad! It cost eight thousand rupees. I bought a three piece suit too for the same cost.
Bhargava: It's fine Dad. He is earning millions now for he has not joined any company or the government.
Uncle Suyansh: Earning millions?
Bhargava: Yeah! Rivaaze Vastra Udhyog Pvt. Ltd. pays him for his contribution to the company. Today, if Vastra.com has listed itself in the NSE, it's because of his efforts and intellect.
Grandpa called everyone and commanded to be present at the party hall. So, the gathering dispersed and re-engaged in guffs with guests at the hall. My cousins caught me up at the party and we discussed on studies and family and enjoyment. However my eyes searched for Bhanu.
Vinita jiji: (whisper) Don't search her Agastya! Hold yourself or you may get lost somewhere in metaphysics when she enters.
Meanwhile, a girl hiding her face in her stylish stole, specs and blue flower mesh hat came along the entrance passage. Her kurti had a single sleeve end on the left side, a nice cut around the waist with slight mesh work and just as she passed by me and uncovered her back from her long stole, I kept glaring at her back covered by the beautiful lace works. Her simple yet exquisite ornaments and high cone heeled sandals released oomph in the party. A guy from the bride's side fell for her and directly approached for proposal. After she removed her stole and specs and reset her grooving hair, I felt like I was seeing Bhanu for the first time. Before she answered anything in reply, I too approached towards her and asked the gentleman to stand up.
Me: Boy! If you want this lady, you must have a high vision, passion and AGASTYA 2.0 attitude. So if not now, come some other day. Goodbye! (to Bhanu) You look beautiful, my lady!
Bhanu: And? Mister! People have written poems and essays on my beauty right now. What about you?
Me: Maybe! But none dares to face me and flirt with you.
Bhanu: The stage is set, mister. Let the artist within you reborn and win my heart!
As soon as my eyes were off her eyes, I jumped on the stage and took the mic. First, I sung a romantic song for her and when she joined me on the stage, we performed a couple dance on a trending Bollywood song.
(Huge round of applause...)
Me: What's your opinion now?
Bhanu: (shy) I was always yours Agastya! I just wanted you to sing and dance for me, with me.
Divya and Parineeti: It was AWESOME mama! Soumya di too watched you live. Mumma is talking to her now.
Vinita jiji handed her phone to me. Soumya was on video call.
Soumya: Hi mamu! You are so amazing and incredible dancers. I regret missing the wedding now. Mama, when did you learn to dance so gracefully?
Me: It's all your love my dear. Spread love and enjoy its fragrance! Uh-uh, but still beware of people. For I had learnt defense techniques first.
Soumya: No, mama. I can't be like you. I am okay with whatever like I am. Given chance, I may join classes or maybe someone but I have no such plans right now. I admire you and Bhanu di. Please send me the video. I will watch it again.
Me: Okay! Have you had your dinner?
Soumya: Yeah! I just had it. It's time to study mama and now, I don't wish to.
Me: It's just half-past eight. Continue your daily routine dear! The world is waiting to address you as CA. And don't forget, I am there for you.
Soumya: Ok, mama. Bye! Good night!
Me: Good night my sweetheart.
Everyone had engaged themselves at the food corner. We had around fourteen items in the banquet hall associated with salad, tea-coffee and some items of street food.
Wedding Day:
The groom was on the spotlight of all talks and arrangements. Everyone were happily grooving around out of ecstasy. Preparations of the wedding procession was going on. Around eleven o'clock, the priest called brother Rudra for the rituals to be performed before formal procession was carried out. The groom was worn a traditional pagri (turban), a tika on forehead and a kataar made of stainless steel on his waist. After him, all the other men taking part in the procession put on their pagri. The groom came downstairs to ride the adorned beautiful mare and with great fervour, dance and music the procession followed him. Women in the family do not take part in procession while they stay at home preparing all the essentials to welcome the bride. After reaching the highway, the groom descended the mare and got on the chariot for the remaining one and half kilometre distance to bride's home. I rode the mare on will.
After an hour of celebrations and feast at the bride's wedding hall, the pundit called the groom at the mandapa to perform the samskara on right astrological calculations of time. Rudra's brother in law Mr. Swapnil came to me.
Swapnil: Hello Agastya! Nice sherwani bro! Do you have any purpose of getting married today? I must tell you that you are being admired here.
Me: Really? I don't think so.
Swapnil: Oh man! You are looking great today. People were left astounded when they saw you on the mare. They thought we are organising two marriages and invited them for only one.
(Laughs..)
According to the vedic culture, the priest conducted all the rituals of kanyadaan, paani grahana and saptapadi. Most of the guests on the bride's side had left and only immediate family members and who came from far attended the ceremony. Marriage has been looked upon as designed by the cosmos and considered as a 'sacred oneness witnessed by fire itself'. The saptapadi is the crucial ritual when both the groom and bride pledge eachother a vow at each step (a step is a complete circuit around the holy fire) after which they are called husband and wife. This union then pursues Dharma (duty), artha (earning money and other possessions), kama (physical and other desires) and moksha (the eternal liberation) in unison. It is also a pyramid of elevation to the next level of one's Karmic experience.
By five o'clock, the bride's family conducted the bidaai ceremony where the daughter is finally sent off with her husband to her patrilocal family after the father of the bride renunciates his rights over her to her husband during the kanyadaan samskara. (The bride is generally sent with a pair of clothing and some ornaments but it may differ on the basis of resources of the families.)
During the procession, brother Bhargava rode my car (fully decorated with roses and garlands) with Grandpa and then on return, brother Rudra and bhabhi Bhavna, Vinita jiji and her husband seated behind while Bhargava was on the front seat and I drove it. Dad, uncle Suyansh, Grandpa and other relatives boarded a mini-bus on return.
On command and instructions of grandma, mom and other aunts had prepared for the welcome ceremony. Bhanu participated in all the preparations and learnt about the rites and rituals. A copper utensil filled with rice was put on the main gate that the bride softly kicked at entrance. This symbolised welcoming of Goddess Lakshmi into home. Further, the newly wed couple was engaged in Ganesha pujan and other playful rituals.
The elders got engaged in preparing for the Abhishekam ritual for the following day and we, the juniors, enjoyed having chitchats with the newly weds.
By nine, the couple went to bed on their first night.
Reception Time:
At specific time as suggested by the priest, everyone including the newly weds got ready for the Abhishekam ritual of Lord Lakshmi-Narayana. Thereafter, a formal reception ritual was conducted where everyone in the family gave blessings and presents to the newly wed couple for their convivial and prosperous conjugal life.
Brother Rudra is a passionate book lover and thus, I presented him a portable metal adjustable reading stand and for bhabhi, I had a vintage camera clock. Bhanu presented them a CONJURER mouth organ of ten holes and forty tunes of C.
Me: (whispering to Bhanu) A mouth organ?
Bhanu: Yeah! You said all of you love music.
Me: Yea, but none except me know to play it.
Bhanu: He will learn for bhabhi. Or bhabhi may learn. C'mon, I found it beautiful!
Me: It definitely is!
Aunt Vagisha: Come sweet little brother-in-law Agastya. Now, your bhabhi will pull your ears.
Bhanu: That's gonna be amazing! Haha!
Rudra: Pull his ears long, Bhavna!
Bhanu: Yes, bhabhi. Let me capture this moment. Agastya! Smile na!
Agastya: I don't know what to express!
(Photo clicked...Laughs)