4| Dilkash

✨ Duniya zamaana, jhoota fasaana

Jhene marne ka wada sancha mera✨

It's 26th May today. The day Aashi and Armaan get married. The Malhotra and Oberoi household were bustling with people. Caterers, Decorators, Family, Guests and Makeup artists. It seemed as if almost everyone in the city was invited.

"Are you ready? The Oberois are already there." Mrs. Malhotra spoke as soon as she entered her elder daughter's room.

"Yes, Mama." Aashi said with a smile on her face. She pinched her red bridal lehenga in her hands and twirled, giving her mom an overall look of her as a bride.

"You look so beautiful Aashi." Her mother complimented her as she cupped her face and placed a light kiss on her forehead.

"Itni badi kab ho gayi tum? Mujhe toh pata hi nahi chala." Mr. Malhotra asked in an emotional voice as he eyed his daughter as a bride.

When did you grow up? I didn't even realise.

"Don't get so sappy, papa. We have to be at the venue in 15 minutes." Vedika, Aashi's sister said as she kept a hand on his father's shoulder.

"Chup reh." Her father said in a fake-strict voice.

Shut up.

"We should get going." Khushi said and everyone agreed.

It took them 30 minutes to reach the venue since traffic in Mumbai is so bloody unpredictable. Fortunately, they weren't extremely late since everything was shifted a bit back at the venue.

"Thank God, we're here." Vedika exclaimed. She was convinced Aashi was gonna be late at her own wedding.

They got out of the car and walked towards the room Aashi was suppose to stay in until the Panditji asked for the bride to be present.

Priest

Mr. and Mrs. Malhotra went to see Armaan's parents, leaving Aashi with Vedika and Khushi.

"Oh my, you look beautiful, bhabi." Aditi said as soon as she walked into the room.

"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself." Aashi said and gave Aditi a side hug.

"Let's click some selfies. Panditji will call for you in 10 minutes." Aditi said and the girls agreed.

They clicked multiple pictures and uploaded them to their respective social media profiles. People immediately started liking and commenting on their pictures. They were impressed by the simplicity of Aashi's look and they all appreciated how despite being super rich, the couple were happy with a minimalist wedding.

"Aashi, it's time." Aashi's father said as he peeped into the room.

"Let's go." She said as she stood up from her place and walked out. Her father and the girls followed her.

As Aashi walked towards the mandap, her eyes fell on Armaan who was already sitting in front of the pavitra agni, performing the rasams with Panditji.

Pavilion

Holy Fire

Ceremony

They stopped for a bit when Panditji said, "Kanya ko bulaye."

Call the bride.

Aashi began walking towards the mandap and Armaan forgot how to blink. Due to the traditions of both the houses, the bride and the groom can't see each other once the wedding ceremonies like haldi and mehendi begin.

Turmeric Ceremony

Henna Ceremony

Armaan couldn't keep his eyes off his bride. She looked heaven-sent today. She was dressed in a simple red Lehenga and her makeup was minimal too. The only part of her face that had makeup was her eyes. She had little tint of red on her lips and that was it. She was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful brides the crowd had ever seen.

Shortly, the couple was done with the rasams and now it was time for Armaan to apply the sindhoor on  Aashi's hair's parting-line. A little sindhoor fell on Aashi's nose which is a good sign in the scriptures. Next, it was time for Armaan to tie the mangalsutra around Aashi's neck.

Vermilion

Auspicious Necklace

The mangalsutra's design was simple and cute, just like Aashi's personality. Armaan got it custom made and he designed it himself.

"Kripya varmala ke liye khade ho jaiye." Panditji said and the couple nodded. Armaan was the first one to get up. He extended his hand for Aashi, which she took and got up from her place.

Please get up for the exchange of garlands of flowers.

The bride goes first for the varmala a.k.a. the Jaimala cermony.

Aashi's mom handed her the varmala and she hoisted her hands in the air for the ceremony but Ranbir and Armaan's other male cousins kept their hand in front of his chest.

"Itni aasani se toh humare bhai ko apka hone nahi denge, bhabi." Ranbir jokingly said and people laughed.

We won't let him be yours so easily, sister-in-law.

"Ranbir." Aashi said in a cute voice.

"Sorry, bhai. Main toh iska ho chuka hoon." Armaan said and pushed his cousins away.

Sorry, brother. I'm already hers.

"Wohhooo..." Everyone hooted at Armaan's sentence and actions. Aashi gave him a shy smile and put the varmala around his neck.

"Armaan, your turn." Armaan's father said and handed him the varmala.

He saw how Vedika and Khushi were about to pull Aashi back so he held her hand and pulled her towards him. He swiftly put the varmala around Aashi's neck and winked at her.

"Sorry, sali sahiba. Jo mera hai, mujhe woh lena khub acche se aata hai." Armaan cockily said and smiled at his sister-in-law.

Sorry, Madame sister-in-law. I know how to take what's mine.

Everyone once again hooted at his words and a deep blush covered Aashi's cheeks.

Now it was time for the pheras.

Panditji asked Vedika to step forward for gathbandhan. Since Aashi has no brothers, her sister is responsible for this. Aashi's Dad did the kanyadaan.

The ceremony where a dad gives her daughter's responsibility to her husband by keeping her hand in his.

Armaan and Aashi took 7 pheras around the Agni. In the first 4 pheras, Armaan walked ahead of Aashi. The last 3 pheras were lead by Aashi, signifying how wife will rule the wedded life.

After a couple more ceremonies, the Panditji concluded the wedding by announcing them to be a married couple now.

"Vivah sampan hua." Panditji said.

The marriage is official now.

The crowd as well as the couple dispersed since now it was the time for their dinner. Both the families were seated on a joint, large table. The food was everything Armaan and Aashi liked.

Kadhai Panner, Paneer Butter Masala, Dal Makhani, Butter Naan, Jeera Rice. They ended strong on the dessert with Jalebi Rabdi.

2 different cottage cheese dishes, brown lentil curry, Butter Chapatis, Rice.

After the dinner concluded, it was time for Vidai.

That time at a wedding where the bride parts from her family.

"I'm gonna miss you so much meri Gudiya." Mr. Malhotra said with unshed tears in his eyes.

My doll

"I'm gonna miss you too, papa." Aashi said in a quavering voice as she hugged her father tightly.

"Tere Bina poora ghar soona ho jayega. Tu chali jaiyegi toh hum kaise rahenge, meri bacchi?" Mrs. Malhotra said as she started crying.

Without you, the house will feel empty. How will we live without you, my child?

"Shanti se." Vedika cracked a joke to lighten the sad mood, earning a slap on the back of her head from Khushi.

Peacefully.

"Visit us as often as you can." Vedika said as she hugged her sister and tried to control her tears.

"I promise I will." Aashi said. Armaan kept both his hands on Aashi's shoulder and corrected her sentence. "We will."

Everyone smiled at Armaan's word and after a few more tears, it was time for them to finally leave.

Aashi and Armaan sat in the back of their car, accompanied by Ranbir who was sitting next to the driver's seat. Mr. and Mrs. Oberoi took another car along with Aditi.

As Aashi saw her parents' figure disappear due to the distance, Aashi broke down in tears once again. The pain of separation from her parents had settled heavy on her heart. She had to leave the house she grew up in and she had to bid goodbye to all the time she spent with her sister. She promised herself to visit them as often as she can.

She had always took the time she spent with her family for granted but it was now that she realises that every second with your loved ones are as precious as life itself.

"Aashi..." Armaan whispered as she pulled her in her arms and she freely let her tears flow. She kept her hands on his chest and continued crying.

"Please don't cry, bhabi." Ranbir said as he passed the box of tissue to Armaan.

"You're in the same city as them and their house is 20 minutes from the Oberoi Mansion. You may visit her whenever you feel like. Please don't cry, right now. You just got married." Ranbir said. The man tried consoling his new sister-in-law. He hated how the pure soul had to cry so much due to the pain of parting from her maiden house.

"Ranbir, let her cry as much as she can," Armaan said as he handed a single tissue to Aashi.

She looked up from his chest in surprise. She was contemplating the meaning behind his words.

"Because this is the last time anyone will see tears in her eyes." Armaan said as he dabbed another tissue on Aashi's tear-struck face.

Aashi smiled internally and dabbed her own tissue in the corner of her eyes, the tear duct.

"By the way, you look cute with your tomato red nose." Armaan whispered in her ear. She smacked his chest and chuckled as she rubbed her red nose.

Aashi was quite fair and a little crying always left her nose red.

.

.

.

"Now, it's time for the ring game." Aditi excitedly announced.

"Basically, we'll drop a ring in a bowl full of milk and water. You both will have three chances to grab the ring from the opaque liquid before the other one does. Who ever will be able to fish the ring out twice, will be said to dominate their married life." Mrs. Oberoi explained.

Aditi placed the bowl in front of the couple who was currently sitting opposite each other on the dining table.

"1..2..3.. Go!" Aditi said and both of them put their hands in the bowl, searching for the ring.

Almost all the females in the house were on the bride's side and the males were cheering for Armaan.

Both of them won one round each and the third round started.

Aashi noticed how concentrated Armaan was in finding the ring, and it was now that she realised that even though it was just a game meant for fun, this was where Armaan's dominating and competitive side rose unknowingly. Aashi internally shrugged her shoulders and deliberately pushed the ring which she had found in the water, towards Armaan's hand.

He was quick to grab it and pull it out of the water with a small smile on his face. Aashi smiled softly to herself as she saw Armaan's friends and male cousins congratulating him about winning the game and indirectly establishing dominance in their married life.

After all, successful marriages are built upon the mutual understanding that sometimes you will have to let go something and other times your partner will. The cheat code to a happily married life is but after all the happiness of your partner.

~ Their Wedding Attire ~

~ Aashi's Makeup ~

~ Aashi's Mangalsutra ~

— x —

So... They're finally married!