Falling in love after Marriage

Chapter 27

Hi friends, Please read the following explanations before proceeding to this chapter. This will help you to understand certain Tamil terms used in this chapter as well as for upcoming chapters. Enjoy reading!

'Thali or Mangalyam' is a pendant with a gold chain or yellow thread that the groom ties around the bride's neck in India which symbolizes the woman is married.

'Thoranam' is hanging decorations with leaves or flowers or with both leaves and flowers.

'Pandhal' is just a tent-like structure.

Pandha kaal Nadudhal: This ceremony is held on the day before a wedding. The families of the bride and the groom gather outside her house and offer ritualistic prayers to the Gods above. They ask for protection and guidance to go about their work for the ceremony and also pray that it goes on without any obstacles or hassle. The bamboo pole is planted at the entrance of the house. With tilak and a piece of silk cloth around it, it symbolizes the god they pray to. Anyone who sees this pole is sure to understand that the daughter of the house is getting married.

Seer varisai : Seer is an exchange of presents, pleasantries and pay-return respect between relations for different occasions in life. It is such a beautiful tradition that our ancestors designed to ensure there is constant connect between relations through multiple customs & occasions over the different stage of life. Seer varisai is the way of bonding for a boy child or a girl child (most often), throughout his/her entire life, with his/her parents, brothers, sisters, maternal uncles and paternal aunties. There is a different set of seer for different occasions in life.

Nichayathartham (engagement): This ritual begins with a Ganesh puja performed by the bride's family. The groom's family then gives the bride a new saree, jewels and gifts and the bride's family gifts the groom with the new set of clothes. The bride and the groom then change into the new dress gifted by each other's family. Then the parents of the bride and groom will exchange betel leaves and betel nut with fruits. It's a sign of confirmation of the marriage between their son and daughter. Sometimes, the bride and groom will exchange rings too.

Lagna Pathirikai in Tamil translates to a wedding invitation. After the engagement ceremony, the wedding date is officially announced in front of the guests by the priest.

Nalungu (The cleansing ritual): The ritual of cleansing and purification, Nalungu is usually done on the night before the actual wedding or on the early morning of the wedding day. The bride and the groom are made to sit in mats and tree trays are kept near them containing turmeric paste, kumkum, scented oils and a mixture of lime and turmeric in water also called as Aarthi. The ladies come one by one, keep the kumkum on the foreheads of the couple and apply turmeric paste on their feet, legs, hands and cheeks. After everyone is done, the older ladies in the family show the Aarthi around the couple. This ritual will also be held individually for the bride and groom by their families. .

Janaki's POV

The arrangements have been going on in full swing. Advances to the contractors have been almost paid. My appa and mama had been giving the wedding invitation to our friends and relatives. Today is an auspicious day, we planned to buy 'Muhurtha Saree' (Wedding Saree) and 'Thali or Mangalyam'. In India, we consider 'Thali' as the most auspicious thing and it holds a lot of sentiments. We believe that the 'Thali' is linked with the wellbeing of one's husband hence we perform puja related to 'Thali'. Now we have to get it from the shop where we ordered earlier and we will be going to temple to pray the god to bless Prabhu mama with a long, happy and prosperous life.

First, we went to the silk saree shop as it will take more time to select sarees. I love shopping. But shopping with my amma and athai is always a tragedy. They never get satisfied. The shelves were almost empty. But we have selected only four sarees. Out of that four, two saree is for me and two is for Vidhu, and we did select it. The salespersons are visibly annoyed. But kept their mouth shut as we are a regular customer here. Please save these poor people God!

After turning the shop upside down and with tedious analysis, they selected three sarees for Nandhini (One for the reception, one for Muhurtham (wedding) and one for.. umm you know.. for their wedding night). And they took two for each. Then we went another round of purchase to get some designer sarees and salwars. GOD!

Vidhu and I were very exhausted but our amma-s were so enthusiastic and energetic. And we carried out the plan we devised earlier for 'Thali'.

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"AKASH! I am going to kill you!"

I yelled and chased after him because he smudged my mehendi. But he mingled with the bunch of relatives in the living room and smirked. I glared at him and went inside to finish the mehendi. If I continue chasing him in the middle of my relatives, I will have to face more consequences like senseless advice and gossips about what is going on between us. The families of our thatha's siblings came tonight to attend the wedding ceremonies.

Akash came here yesterday to join us in marriage fun, I mean to help us in marriage work. He is a lot of fun and at the same time, he gives a severe headache sometimes. Prabhu mama is in his dreamland, mostly roaming with mobile and obviously talking to her even though she is just a few feet away from him. Maybe she just hates me and Vidhu. But what she did at the party is unacceptable. I hope she will change... at least after the wedding.

The wedding is on the day after tomorrow. We decorated the home with 'Thoranam'. Akash helped our uncles to tie plantain tree at the entrance and to tie the 'pandhal' in front of our home. It's Tamil tradition to symbolically announce the neighbourhood, some function is going to be held in our home.

[Next day]

We woke up at 4 AM because the auspicious time (Nalla neram) happened to be at 6 AM to 7.30 AM. Pandhal kaal nadudhal has to be done at that time. Vidhu and I dressed in comfortable salwars and went to Nandhini's home along with our parents and close relatives. Her parents had almost prepared everything. Their home is also decorated nicely with 'Thoranam' and 'Pandhal'.

After the exchange of greetings, Vidhu's parents and Nandhini's parents started the puja. They told us to pray to God for the wedding to get completed without any obstacles. Vidhu and me exchanged a mischievous glance and I prayed God to enlighten my spellbound mama about her real face hoping for some last minute miracle to happen and stop this wedding and we could marry a nice woman to my mama. Exactly at the time of finishing my prayer, I heard a mobile ringing, which few people like me believe as good omen like God has symbolically granted our wish. This fed my intuition to try something to save my mama and my family from that evil woman.

We returned home after successfully finishing the ceremony. My appa, me and Vidhu quickly finished our breakfast and started to the wedding hall. We are asked to oversee the arrangements there. Usually, the bride's family will have to pay for the whole wedding which is not reasonable, so my mama strictly said them to share the expenses equally. We reached the wedding hall and found every work is going on and Nandhini's Thatha was already checking everything. We suggested a few changes in decoration and ran here and there to solve the complaints from the people working. I descended to the dining area and found my appa talking with his employees to recheck everything. We planned to do Tamil vegetarian menu for dinner.

The wedding hall is almost ready by mid noon. I instantly liked the name board. It's not so grand neither so simple. It was bright and elegant. The canvas is in mustard yellow colour with green highlights. The words "PRABHU WEDS NANDHINI" is in dark green and the board is decorated with golden diamond shaped designs.

The hall looks nice with floral decoration and simple sandal coloured chairs

The white-yellow-red theme highlighted the stage's beauty. A golden coloured sofa is placed in centre of the stage.

Marriages are so sensational events. I found Vidhu sitting exhausted near the stage steps. We have to go home and get ready. I have been assigned to stand at the entrance to receive and welcome the guest along with another girl from Nandhini's family. It is our culture to invite the guest by spraying Rose Water and giving them Sandal paste, Kumkum and Karkandu (I could not get the exact English word for Karkandu, I got the following translations: rock candy/ rock sugar/ candy sugar/whatever!).

We went to Vidhu's home and sneaked into her very own room to escape from our amma-s. If they see us, they will send to do some works. We have to look good tonight. We could not predict what the future brings. We might see new people so we wanted to look presentable in front of them. Particularly, I have to look good in front of Prabhu mama's colleagues and my other cousins as Vidhu is already committed, she doesn't need too much attention.

We put face mask for 30 minutes and took a shower before getting the sarees from my athai. I selected a pinkish red saree with green border silk saree for tonight's function. Vidhu's saree is an inverse colour combination of my saree with the same design. We mostly select dresses like that to highlight ourselves individually as well as to show our unity with wearing the same design in family functions. My amma came to our room and gave us a pleased look and handed over a few jewels to wear along with tons of advice, most likely instructed us to how to behave there.

Usually, the groom's family will come to the wedding hall from the temple who would be welcomed by the bride's family with 'Aarthi'. But Nandhini's thatha insisted my parents, send me earlier to welcome the guest. I am a little nervous to be around strangers though my family will arrive within 1 hour. But, that one hour is what disturbs me. As Vidhu is the groom's sister she has to be with her family to carry 'Seer varisai' plates. We got ready and Vidhu had been called to make arrangements for the puja. Nandhini's thatha told me that he will send someone to get me to mandapam (Wedding hall). There are still a few relatives in the home. So I don't need to worry about locking and safety of the house before leaving.

But I am surprised to see Sanjeev came to pick me up. If I had known this arrangement earlier, I would have asked Akash to drop me there. The memory of that party night is the only thing flashing in my mind on looking at his fake smiling face. He led me to his car and opened the front door. I looked at the backseat and found it fully occupied with some stuff. ARGH! I thanked him and got into the car with my handbag.

"You look gorgeous in this saree."

I noticed his eyes travelling all over my body except my eyes. What more could I expect from Nandhini's friend? I muttered a 'Thank you' and averted my gaze on the window.

"Shall we start! It's getting late."

I said glaring at him. He narrowed his eyes with confusion.

"Why you seem angry baby? Ah! I forgot that you saw us on that day. Now I understand the reason for why you are glaring at me"

I couldn't even register him calling me 'baby'. But HE NOTICED US that day yet continued his dirty deed without having any guilt of touching an engaged woman. What type of person he is? Disgusting! I glared at him failed to form any sentence.

"Nandhini is on high that day. She didn't even remember anything the next day."

He laughed like he said a big joke. But I got confused.

"What do you mean? I saw she is willing..."

I paused not knowing how to decently finish the sentence.

"Yes, we did have s*x many times. So she didn't deny me that day. But she wouldn't have accepted for it if she's not drunken. She didn't allow me to touch her in later days because of 'him'. So I took her while she is no more in her sense."

His voice turned dangerously venomous at mentioning my mama. My mind felt like blasting at processing what he said.

He is openly stating about his intimacy with Nandhini to me. They did it many times. GOD! What did my mama do to deserve such a b***h? He is also telling like he took advantage of her that day. Does it mean she changed for him? Then why Sanjeev had done such a thing to his own friend? He is still looking dangerous with a look of 'going-to burn-someone'.

"Why are you telling all these details to me?"

I asked him with lots of confusion written all over my face.

He just smirked at me and added "You are smart. I want Nandhini. She is MY woman. My Princess! Do something or help me to stop this marriage. I know you guys are from a typical Tamil family who thinks having s*x before marriage is a Sin. But we aren't. I couldn't understand why you fixed Nandhini to that pathetic cousin of yours. As Nandhini's close friend, I know her only intention to marry Prabhu is to get revenge on you for making her childhood miserable. She will divorce him after getting her family assets. Now the decision is yours to help me or not."

With that, he got out of the car making me realize that we reached the wedding hall.

My mind is overloaded. One side, I am so happy that my mama could escape from the hell, he is going to step in with Nandhini, but how will he take this. He is like an addicted puppy in front of Nandhini. Will he be able to make it through if he comes to know that everything is a lie? Please God, help me!

I got out of my trance by the welcoming voice of Nandhini's thatha. I smiled at him sadly. He is the old soul trying so hard to transform his grand daughter's life. I pity him. I went near the chairs and table kept for people who are welcoming the guest and started thinking about what to do. I obviously want my mama's life to be good. Planning to stop marriage is not a good thing to do, but how shall I let my mama step into hell, knowing her purpose is just to take revenge on me. I need someone to clear my head.

Like God has heard me, I saw my thatha coming. Why didn't he come with my family? My happiness overruled my little confusion.

I mischievously welcomed him like other guests with a normal smile hiding my excitement. He noticed my act and came near me to sit on my chair.

"Ena periyavare, vayasanale ipdi tha tired aagi adikadi engayachum utkandhu utkandhu poganum. Nan vena ulla koititu poi vidava?"

(What happened old man, you are getting too old which makes you too tired to walk continuously and have to sit every now and then. Shall I help you to go inside?)

He raised his umbrella to hit me but laughed instead.

"Kazhudhai! Enaka vayasaachu? Vivasayam paathu paathu irugi pona udambu. Una vida nalave nadapen. Una paka poi vandhen paru, nan thaan muttal."

(You donkey! Am I getting aged? My body is fit from doing agriculture. I will walk far better than you. I am the i***t here to come all the way here, just to meet you)

He turned his face away from me to let me know he is angry.

Awwwww... My cutie pie came alone here to be with me...

"Okay, okay. Don't overreact. I'm sorry." He instantly smiled at me. And asked me to bend near him to kiss my cheeks. I smiled lovingly at him and returned the kiss.

Then I welcomed a few guests thinking whether I shall tell him everything or not. After gathering every bit of my courage, I called him.

"Thatha... I want to talk to you."

I looked at his eyes.

"Tell me ma" He said calmly with a smile.

"Nandhini is not like what she looks like. She is not a good women thatha. Day by day, I am getting bad information about her which is making me shocked. I want to save Prabhu mama's life. She is just marrying him to take revenge on me and to attain her family assets thatha. But Prabhu mama was so much into her. Please help me thatha. I am so confused about what to do."

He listened silently and I didn't expect his answer to shock me beyond how much confused I am.

"I know everything about her past ma. (He smiled at my shocked reaction and continued his reply) Nandhini's thatha is my best friend. He told me about her past and also told me that she is changing after her marriage got arranged with our Prabhu. Don't get confused about them. Prabhu will manage everything. I trust him. That girl had an unloving childhood with both her parents being busy with their profession. We can't blame them. They are doing the job of saving people's life. But she will change if she comes into our family. Won't you help her to change?"

"I will happily help her thatha. But she hates me to the moon and back. Also, she is not vir... she is not pure, thatha. You know they all blamed me for doing that at that party. But me and Vidhu saw her being intimate with one of her male friend that day. That's why I literally dragged him out of that house. And no one in our family is ready to listen to my side."

I said him controlling my tears. He sighed sadly.

"Leave the past in past, Janu ma. She is basically a good soul ma. She even helps to run a small orphanage. She never spoke or publicized about it. It is her original soul, which doesn't want to see any other child suffer. All her childhood, she hated you because you spoiled her chance of being the centre of attraction which would have given her a chance to get more affection from more people. All she needs in her life is true affection, Janu ma. Give her a chance. Don't tell about this to your athai or mama. They won't want to marry their son to a woman like Nandhini. But Nandhini will change after her marriage, Prabhu and our family will change her."

My head is aching with all this information. I am wondering about this side of Nandhini. Thatha strongly believes that she will change after marriage. That Sanjeev too mentioned something like she is not allowing him to touch her because of mama.

Is this a good sign?

Are you telling me to let this marriage happen God! I think so.

So, I have to stop Sanjeev from spoiling her chance of being in my lovely family. Everyone deserves affection and happiness. I looked at my thatha and sighed.

"I won't spoil my grandson's life with my own hands Janu ma"

Yes. He won't do that. I respect his decision. I will stand by him. I let out the breath along with the burden that pressing my mind. Let things happen on its flow. I am going to leave my entire burden under God's feet. He will take care, Janu! He should take care of everything! I have to talk to Nandhini tonight at any cost and clear everything between us.