chapter 37

“Mita, you wait here in the kitchen. I will just go and check in the living room,” Seema.“Ok,” Mita went inside the kitchen and sat near the dining table.Mami, Aaji were already present there in the kitchen.“Mita Baal, kalajimadhe distes. Nako karu chinta, sagale chaan hoyil (Dear Mita, you look tensed, don’t worry, everything will be fine)” Aaji blessed Mita.“Ho Aaji, (Yes Aaji),” Mita.“Jara Mitala pani deshil ka baala? (Can you please give a glass of water to Mita?),” Aaji asked Mami.“Ho Ho aaji, dete,” Mami immediately offered a glass of water to Mita. She finished it in a gulp.“ag savakash bala. (Dear, please drink it slowly),” Aaji. “Wow Mita, the living room seems to be full!!! I am so excited,” Seema entered in kitchen.“Is it?? How many people are there??” Mita.“I didn’t count them. In fact, I just peeped into the living room. I couldn’t see most of the faces. Mom and Pihu are serving them Juice and snacks!!” Seema.“Ohh is it??” Mita.“Mita betaaa…..Please come out!” Papa called Mita.Mita got up from her chair, “Oh my God..My heart is beating faster!!”“Relax!! Come, let’s go!!” Seema again held Mita’s hand and took her to the living room.Yes, she was still nervous. As soon as she entered the living room, she saw Amma. Amma immediately got up, came forward with cheerful smile and held Mita’s hand. She was really happy and excited to see  Mita. Seeing Amma’s warm and friendly gesture, Mita was relaxed. She touched Amma’s feet to take her blessings. Simi waved her hand, “Hi Bhabi!!” Mita smiled. She was looking here and there. Her eyes were searching for Jay. But he was sitting exactly behind her. Amma introduced Mita with other relatives. Mita touched everyone’s feet and took their blessings. As soon as she turned, she saw Jay staring at her, having wide smile on his face. It was the first time that he was seeing Mita in saree. Mita blushed. Papa asked her to sit next to Jay.“#$%@&*(&^%$#@(*,” Amma to Jay.Then there was a pin drop silence. Everybody was looking at Jay for the translation.“Papa, Amma is saying that she is delighted to meet you all, especially Mita,” Jay translated.“^&*%$#@$&^**,” Another relative.Everybody turned to Jay.“My uncle is saying, they all are so overwhelmed to have such warm welcome by you all!!” Jay.“Jay beta, are they really saying this or you are translating something else??” Papa.Everybody started laughing when Jay told his relatives what Papa said.“Absolutely Papa, this is what they said and I translated each word,” Jay.“I know I know, he was just kidding. We trust you beta,” Mom.“What is this??” Amma took the snack in her hand and asked Mom.“that is Bhadang!!” Mom.“Bh…Bhadang???” Amma tried pronouncing that.“Yeah, I mean it is made from Murmura,” Mom.“What?? Mur??” Amma.“Murmura..!!”“Yes, it is very famous here in Kolhapur. Jay Amba Bhadang!!!” Pihu.“Nice taste..@#%&&&$#@  recipe??” Amma.Everybody was waiting for Jay to translate. But he did not. He knew if he starts translating, it will become another cookery show.“Jay beta,we are waiting for you to translate. What is Amma saying??” Mom.Jay remembered the conversation between Mita and Amma about Poha Recipe.“hmm..nothing Mummy. Actually , Amma is very much interested in knowing different recipes. So,she was just curious to know how this bhadang is made…We will tell her later,” Jay.“Yes, she is only interested in knowing the recipes but never makes any, hehehehe,” Appa.Everybody started laughing again.“Hahahaha, I got you, Mita told us about Poha episode,” Papa.“Alright!! Let me show you, our house!!” Papa took them all inside and showed all the rooms. Jay and Mita also followed them all.After an hour…“Alright, now the bangle lady has come. Let’s start the ceremony,” Mom requested all the ladies to follow her in the garden.There was a big colourful carpet laid down on the floor. One lady was sitting in the middle of the carpet. She had kept so many bags of bangles around her. Various types of bangles.“Woow, this is so beautiful,” Simi.“You liked it??” Pihu.“Yeah,” Simi.“You can take whichever you want,” Pihu.“Ohh really?? OK!!”Amma and Mom couldn’t talk much with each other but Mom was showing her everything. Somehow, she managed to explain, with Simi’s help about bangle ceremony.The bangle lady, Maya mavashi, called Mita, “ag ae, navaribai, ye, bas ithe ata. (Hey, dear bride. Come and sit here. You need to wear bangles first.)”Mita came forward and sat on the carpet infront of Maya mavashi. Mom came and did some puja ritual. Later she took Aarati thali and blessed Mita. After that, Maya mavashi, took a set of dark green bangles and started putting in Mita’s hand one by one.“Bhabi, why are you wearing this dark green bangles. It will not match your wedding saree right??” Simi.“Yes, beta. Mita is the bride. And here as per the ritual, the bride has to wear these bottle green colour bangles only,” Mom.“Ohh is it?? Why so??” Simi.“Beta, Green is the color of prosperity. So, it symbols the bride will bring prosperity in her new house, new family,” Mom explained.“Wow, such a deep meaning,” Simi translated everything to amma. Amma to nodded her head as if she was convinced.“Wow Mita, your hands looking so pretty. This maroon colour mehandi and these green bangles. Lovely it is!!” Seema.“Yes Di, now you are looking like an actual bride,” Pihu.After Mita, every girl, woman chose different types of bangles as per their choice. Maya mavashi was putting those bangles in everybody’s hands.Simi chose dark blue colour and Pihu wore maroon colour bangles. Amma chose to wear very few green colour bangles.The garden was lightened up with the beautiful musical sound of those bangles. Mom gifted beautiful Jasmine gajara to all the ladies. They all became very happy.  After finishing the bangle ceremony, around 5:30 pm, Jay and family went back to the hotel rooms. They had to get ready and come back in an hour for Haldi ceremony. To be continued….      Â