chapter 40

The Wedding Day!!!“Ghanashyaam Sundaraa Shridhara Arunodaya Zala….” It was 5:30 am. Mita woke up to the song. She remembered her childhood days. Her mom used to play radio- akashwani, early in the morning back then and Mita & Pihu used to get up to these beautiful devotional songs and used to get ready for the school.  Mita opened the window and sat in silence for few mins, waiting for the sunrise. Then she checked her phone,“You have got a new fan…. My Mita dances so well!!” Jay’s message.She remembered,  yesterday night they were chatting and she didn’t realize when she slept off. She smiled and went downstairs.Mom was in the kitchen and Aaji was praying to the God.“Beta, lavkar uthali?? (Dear, you got up so early??),” Aaji.“Zopach nahi aali aaji (couldn’t sleep well Aaji),” Mita.“Bar bar, thoda chaha ghe. Fresh vatel (have some tea, you will feel fresh)” Aaji.“Beta, I know you must be feeling restless and it is normal,” Mom gave a cup of tea to Mita.“Mumma, did you feel the same?? But yours was arranged marriage, right?” Mita.“Beta, arranged marriage or love marriage, that doesn’t really matter. Feelings will be the same,” Mom.“Don’t worry my dear. You have got really a nice partner,” Mom.Mita smiled, she prayed to God and went back to get ready..!! Around 8:00 am, beauty parlour lady, Sushma aunty arrived.“Oh Hi Sushma aunty, you are on time..!!” Pihu.“Ohfo, don’t call me Sushma aunty, call me Sush, and yes, I am so punctual. I need  minimum 2 hours to make bride ready. But our Mita darling….she doesn’t like make up??? I mean tell me, who in this world doesn’t want to apply make up on your own wedding day??? Aunty aise mat karna, waise mat karna, itna hi lipstick lagana....blablabla”“Aunty. She did not say no make up but she wants natural look. So you can do light make up..!! And Mita Di does not need any make up. She is naturally so pretty!!” Pihu.“huh, so many instructions.. yeah I know she is a pretty girl, but she has to look the prettiest today.. anyways where is she???” Aunty went to Mita’s room.Everybody was so busy and running here and there.Around 10 am Mita got ready. Maroon colour Saree with white stones on the border and the pallu. Hair tied neatly in a bun. Jasmine gajara with some red roses was decorated around her bun. She was wearing kolhapuri saaj (the famous kolhapuri necklace) Dark green bangles were already making kin kin song in her hand.“Wah wah… Ekdum Nakshatrasarkhi diste ho aapali Mita (She is looking so pretty!!)” Ajji came forward and kissed Mita’s forehead. Mita took her blessings. Bhaiyya came and dropped Mita and all other ladies at the wedding hall.The hall was looking even more beautiful than yesterday. Instead of those small wooden stalls, now big red chairs were kept on the stage.“Why am I always dropped here the first??? I mean being a bride I should take more time to get ready isn’t it???” Mita was waiting in the bride’s room, “and where is Seema? She told me she would come early.”“Hehehe, because we are the hosts. We should always come first. by the way, Aaj jiju ki to khair nahi..someone is looking so pretty!!” Pihu.“hmm. But what happened to Seema?? I had told her to stay with us yesterday night. But she did not agree,” Mita was in irritated mood today.“Di, I think you did not get enough sleep yesterday night, which is making you more anxious. Relax!!! Seema di called me that she would be little late. Your phone was not reachable so only she called me. I forgot to inform you, sorry!!” Pihu.“Oh Ok. You are right Pihu, I don’t know why, but I am feeling so nervous today…!!” Mita. "Di, dont worry.. Just enjoy.. Come on, ssmile, it is your wedding today!!" Pihu. Here Jay also reached the wedding hall with all his relatives. He was wearing the off-white color sherwani, which Mita had suggested him. Amma, Simi and all other ladies wore silk sarees and Appa, and other gentlemen wore kurtas. Initially they were not comfortable in wearing those kurtas but on Papa’s insistence they did. Jay was about to enter the hall but bhaiyya called him.“Jiju, don’t go inside now. Wait…”Everybody turned towards bhaiyya to see what happened. Bhaiyya came forward and said,“Jiju, wait, you need to wear this,” It was a offwhite-maroon colored pheta (Marathi turban). It was decorated with white stones and pearls. Bhaiyya put pheta on Jay’s head. It suited him very well.“Yeh huyi na baat.. you look royal….”“Yes Anna, you look great in this,” Simi.Jay smiled, and started walking towards the main door of the hall.“Wait wait Jiju, one more thing is pending,” Bhaiyya.“What is that??” Jay.“Look there,”Everybody turned towards the direction where bhaiyya was pointing. Papa was standing there with his big big smile on his super excited face,“Jay Beta, come you have to sit here,” Papa showed him a white Ghodi (Horse).“Whattt??” Jay was dismayed.“No  no Papa, I mean this was really not required, hehehe,” Jay tried to hide that he was panicked.“No need to get scared beta. She is well trained and will not harm you, come fast, We have to take a round here for sometime after that we will go inside..” Papa.Bhaiyya, showed Jay how to sit and where to keep legs. Jay took a deep breath “Amme Narayanaa…” and sat on the horse.“Yeyyyy,” everybody clapped. The band baja wale people started the music. Everybody started dancing in front of the horse. The actual baaraat was heading towards the wedding hall. Here inside the hall, Mita was feeling restless, “It’s been almost half an hour. Where is everyone??”“Di….. Please come here,” Ritu came running to Mita.“Now what Ritu??” Mita.“Come na Di. I have something to show you,” Ritu pulled her hand and took her to the balcony,“See that…”Mita was shocked. She was seeing there with wide open mouth and after that she could not control her laugh. Jay was sitting on the horse and dancing.“Mmm… Dulhe miyaan bade khoosh lag rahe hai…!!! Kyun Di??” Ritu.Mita’s all tension ran away. The music gave her positive energy and she too dancing there in the balcony on the tune of band baja with Ritu... To be continued…..