November 6, 2011, Sun had not risen but I had risen out from bed to take a look on my mehendi; the deep red color on my hands and feet somehow tickled me inside (for first time, out of the 3 in all, I was truly happy for being beautifully clad in mehendi). Anxiously I grabbed the phone and spoke to a friend (who couldn't come to Allahabad) non stop for next one hour (she was surprised with my words as has always known me as a listener and not otherwise).
Gradually everybody started getting up and out of beds, and moving into the festive and chatty moods. I could see almost everyone doing something or else relating to wedding, as all had been assigned some or other responsibility by my mapa (I felt alien to be spared from being given a task for a change ! Not that I mind ;) ). All were in haste but I. I was in a state of peace with myself. I knew that 'tonight was going to be a night to change my life and me' and I had readied myself to experience this change.
A lot was planned for the day; Tilak had to be departed with my brothers to Nisheeth's place; Haldi ceremony had to take place; I had to go to the parlour. But to commence in order, the reverend Pandit Ji was late. I think finally someone was sent to his place to bring him and so his arrival obliged us and ceremonies officially started.
It was the day that was to have me keep changing dresses. First was haldi ceremony in a yellow cotton saree (Dress no.1). I surely enjoyed the short and sweet ceremony, with ladies humming sweet traditional songs and naughtily applying haldi on me. I felt very pure and country like. But as soon as it was over, everybody got into their true selves and got after my life to hurry up and clean up and eat and leave for parlour (ironical !! all took their own sweet time to cover me with Haldi but expected me to get ready and leave for Parlour at earliest ! unfair !). But being myself, I managed ( :P ) and left in time with two of my girlfriends.
I was very tensed for how I will look finally (I am not a bling-bling girl and the parlour though reputed in town was new for me at least). After 3hrs long torture to my neck and back (for being made sit in awkward posture) I rose from chair to have a look at myself (bearing around 10kgs of clothes and ornaments), and the look made me comfortable (Ok yes ! I was happy with the job done by make up artist ;) ). After few final touch ups, we left parlour for the venue (in Dress No. 2 for the day). Back there everyone went crazy taking pictures even before I could actually get inside. Solo-pictures, group-pictures,posed-pictures, picture-pictures; I felt like a celebrity in front of shutterbugs (no one asked for autographs though ;) ).
Now while I and my friends were having final few moments before my stepping out of spinster-hood and stepping into a new world, I could listen to thumping of bands and crackling of crackers. My heart pounded as my groom and his baraat was approaching to me. I was too curious to have a look, and finally sprung to the window to have a look. I couldn't stop myself from swinging to the tunes of band (Someone came up from gate to tell that I could be seen so should not ;) ). It was the most exciting moment of the day, with I, dressed up as some model from a wedding designer's portfolio book, dying to locate my groom in the crowd. The immersive view is still very fresh in my mind and no picture or video can be compared to what I can see it as with closed eyes.
My family-to-be were to be welcomed with some Vedic chants and then it was my time to finally go to my groom on the stage, to be his bride.
Each step towards him had to be taken as if counted (I had received strict instructions to not to march up to the stage !). I was to and so was looking down, but kept asking everybody around me 'Is he looking at me ?' (I wonder why was it so important to know if Nisheeth was looking at me while I was coming to him). He extended his hand to help me come up the stage (though after being coerced by his friends :D )and I thus climbed with his help to stand with him, by him. The dramatic Jaimal took place and we were taken to dance floor (To be true I very much wanted to dance on my wedding ;) so thanks to all who took us there!!! ). With anxious heart and happy mind I and Nisheeth did swing a little together (I still remember that it was playing 'Sheila Ki Jawani' then, mmmm wish it was Chhamak Chhalo instead :D .. lollzz ).
After few hours of sitting on the stage and talking to each other while everyone openly scrutinized us and relentless photographers kept forcing us in supposedly 'picturesque poses', we left for dinner (wahaan bhi photographers ne peechhha nahi chhoda,, I wonder if at all they even dined).
It was soon time for me to get ready for wedding ceremony (it meant I had to get into Dress n. 3). Then started hours long riot of Vedic Chants, circles around holy fire and such complicated related rituals. All the time during this too, I and Nisheeth were chatty and smiley (all our pictures and recording has us with ear to ear smile :D ). Thus the wedding was concluded with sindoor daan and blessings from our wedding. And so I was Mrs Ajita Nisheeth Saxena now :) .
With a few more interesting playful events in between, it was to be time for me to bid bye to my family, relatives and friends to get into my new family, Nisheeth's family (what was interspersed was the stubborn argument on Nisheeth's shoes stolen by my girls, and :) few sweet answers to me for questions asked to Nisheeth by my friends n cousins ;) ). I was somewhere curious to know if I'll finally cry at my vidaai (I am pretty infamous that I never do !), and when the moment arrived, I lived upto everyone's expectations and smilingly hugged my teary mapa and relatives (I know they could and do understand what my feelings were) and left holding Nisheeth's hands firmly, to step into the dreamy world of companionship (in Dress No. 4).
Happy I was;Happy I am; to be blissfully married so .....
