Chapter 38
Regardless of wealth or social standing, brides traditionally wear a plain yellow sari for their haldi ceremony. The very simplicity of the sari is an ode to their purity. Their jewelry is minimal; natural adornments like flowers and foliage are the order of the day.
The future Maharani was no exception. She was dressed in the customary plain yellow sari, her hair was dressed in a knot at the nape of her neck and adorned with fresh white flowers, she wore only a small pair of gold earrings and no other jewelry and she looked completely beautiful. Her fair complexion carried the light blush of a bride, courtesy her nervousness and shyness.
The conversation of the guests, all ladies, died when she stepped out of the cottage to make her way to the flower decorated pavilion in the back grounds of the cottage. Garima held her aanchal over Khushi's head as she walked with her attendants. Her flawless beauty, her delicate fragility and very obvious shyness; all combined to remind the married ladies of their own weddings while the few unmarried girls wished they would also look just as beautiful when they married.
She walked to the pavilion and took her seat. The big bowl of turmeric paste, brought over from Devgarh Palace for the future Maharani occupied pride of place. The haldi ceremony commenced proper. All brides have their own sisters, cousins and aunts to apply them the haldi but Khushi was not so blessed. She had no family of her own. To make up for it, the haldi ceremony for her groom was scheduled for later that afternoon so the ladies of his household and all their guests could attend Khushi's ceremony.
Anjali led the group of ladies who were to apply haldi and as Khushi's eyes fell on them, nothing was more glaringly obvious than the fact that apart from Anjali, she didn't know a single one of the ladies personally and yet, it was these same ladies who were going to anoint her with haldi; thus fulfilling one of the most important and time-honored custom!
From behind her came the light tinkle of bangles and immediately Khushi's emotions took a positive turn. When Garima came to the cottage this morning, for a few moments Khushi could not believe that this was her Maa. Gone were the simple and plain suits and ghoonghats. In its place, Garima wore a pink sari with the pallu draped over her head neatly, leaving her lovely face uncovered. She had put on some kajal and her hair had flowers in it. She wore simple yet beautiful jewelry and colorful bangles adorned her previously bare hands. She glowed with her beauty and Khushi could not help hugging her mother tightly. At that moment, she actually felt glad that her tribal people had beated her up; at least she came in Garima and Shashi's life and could take some credit for bringing them together.
She sat there lost in her thoughts, incredibly nervous and scared for herself but happy for her Baba and Maa when Anjali, who had finished applying haldi dabbed a tiny bit on the tip of her nose. Khushi blinked at the laughing Anjali and then her eyes widened when she became aware of the haldi on her nose. She pleaded with Anjali with her eyes who in turn studied her own nails, supremely unconcerned with her sister-in-law's predicament. She spoke in a soft and low voice,
"Di! Yeh kya? Aap hame tang kar rahe ho?"
"Hmmm..."
"Di, hamari madat karo!"
"Kyun?"
"Hamara naak peela ho jayega! Everyone will laugh at me naa!"
"Sort of like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer but yours will be yellow."
"Rudo...! Kaun Di?"
"Koi baat nahi. Aap baad me Chhote se pooch lena Rudolph ke bare me."
"Chhote? Rudolph? Ye sab kaun hai Di?"
"Chhote! Aap ko nahi pata. Arre Khushi, didn't anyone tell you? Your future husband is nicknamed Chhote. Ye naam hum ne unhe diya tha; hamare chhote bhai hai na!"
"Chhote!!!" Khushi's mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. The Maharaja and Chhote! That aristocratic, class-conscious snob and Chhote!!! A giggle threatened to erupt and she quickly stifled it. But her expressive eyes twinkled with merriment. Chhote! Well, knowing that arrogant man had such a nickname made him seem slightly human to her!!!
She was distracted and forgot about the haldi on her nose but Anjali pointed to her nose with a grin and abruptly Khushi's eyes turned pleading again.
"Di, hame satao mat. Baad me aap ko ko bhi chahiye, hum aap ke liye karenge."
"Kuch bhi? Hmmm...jo bhi? Soch lo Khushi."
"Soch na kya Di. Sach me. Pakka wada."
"Pakka?"
Khushi nodded vigorously and laughingly Anjali wiped the tip of her nose. The teasing byplay was nodded by all the guests, cementing the fact that the future Maharani of Devgarh and her lovely sister-in-law the Rani of Surjangarh were on excellent terms. Unknowingly, Anjali had just let everyone know that Khushi had her friendship and support!
The ceremony continued for the next few hours and this time all the guests gave their shagun or token when the last haldi had been applied. Once again, Mamta collected and handed them over to Garima for safe-keeping. The ceremony concluded with Khushi going inside the cottage. She was not supposed to shower or wash the haldi from her body today. The haldi would be washed from her body the next morning followed by a tub bath.
Meanwhile in Devgarh, Arnav hurried to his suite so he could shower and change before the haldi ceremony. He had been out riding Sultan for the last time until after his wedding. Like his bride, after the haldi ceremony, he could not step out of the house. After showering he dressed in a white dhoti only. It was while he was brushing his hair that he realized that he was also saying goodbye to his suite.
From tomorrow onwards he would occupy the Maharaja's chambers in the palace. After his father's death, his mother vacated the Maharaja's chamber for him, the next Maharaja. But he always refused to sleep there, preferring his suite but there was no avoiding it anymore, he thought with a grimace.
The Maharaja's chamber was a huge wing set aside for the Maharaja's personal use. On the top floor, it contained a huge bedroom for the current Maharaja and his Maharani with a slightly smaller adjoining bedroom room in case they preferred sleeping separately, luxurious bathrooms, once again in case they preferred not to share, separate dressing rooms, sitting rooms, dining room, study, suites for their children when they were young while on the lower floors, there were quarters for their immediate servants like the valet and maids, complete with a kitchen and laundry facilities for their personal use. It was understood that it would be convenient for the servants to cater for their needs straight from their own kitchen facilities.
The chamber, Arnav surmised, was by American standards an apartment on its own. After all he had seen and lived in one such, slightly smaller apartment during his years in America during his studies.
It was too huge for just his use. But now Khushi would share it with him. Khushi. His wife. Arnav tossed the brush aside to stand by the window, looking out. Tomorrow she would become his wife. He wondered how they would deal together and for surely more than the hundredth time, wished he had had the opportunity to talk with her. But then, he thought, if wishes were horses, beggars could ride!
It was not as if he could not have talked with her even after his Dadi forbade him. He could have. All he had to do to arrange it was visit Shashi Gupta's house. But he had not. He knew he had messed up with her big time and it was more that he trusted his Dadi's judgment more. He had stayed away from Khushi and now hoped he had not made a mistake.
A servant came to fetch him and Arnav went downstairs for the ceremony. He spied the huge bowl of haldi and gritted his teeth to bear it. He nearly bolted when Anjali applied the first bit of paste and wondered how he would bear it till the following day when he could wash it all off. He had no idea how he bore the whole thing until he could retire to the mandir in the palace to spend his last night as a bachelor there. He spent the entire night tossing and turning, cursing the sleeping pallet and waiting for the morning.
A short distance away, in the cottage, Khushi also faced the same sleeplessness. Unlike him though, she didn't curse the pallet at all. She wished and prayed that she had taken the right decision. She prayed for the strength to see her through the future. At this point things didn't look as good for her but she had faith in Devi Maiya. She would see her through.
When the first rays of sun streaked the sky, both bride and groom were up, to face this long ritual filled day, at the end of which they would be man and wife, starting a new life together ...
Hi folks...so the big day is here...the wedding day. Wish me luck in penning it. And for all my readers, please do comment on this update even though I have not covered much in it...Thanks for your support ...
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Anupamaa
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