Mytri's POV:

It's my wedding day!!

Wedding rituals started with Sanai and Nadaswaram playing (Indian classical music Instruments). Guests started arriving. There is huge security in and around palace and guests who are not in the lists are not allowed.

I don't know why I feel like security is too tight than it should be? Is there any reason that Dad is hiding from me?

Third Person POV:

Coming to the groom's (Seshi's) side, there is this funny and entertaining ritual called 'snathakam' where Seshi's parents put a silver thread around his shoulder and Seshi wears the clothes of a saint and pretends to go away from this materialistic world and takes on sainthood. Then, brother of Mytri needs to offer him something and convince him to marry his sister and become a family man.

Since Mytri doesn't have a brother, Shyam, who is a god given brother to Mytri acts as her brother and does the ritual. Since Shyam doesn't know what to say in such ritual, Seshi's father writes in a paper and gives it to him to recite.

Originally the paper explains the beauty of marriage and married life but shyam feels to make certain changes in the speech to make it realistic.

Shyam: Uncle this is too... formal. Let me improvise this and interpret in my own way. *clearing the throat* Seshi... my soon-to-be brother-in-law in three hours... what is there in sainthood... no parents, no siblings, no family, no money, no necessities and most importantly no spice in life. Instead of that comeback and marry my sister. You'll have family and spice all in a single package. Isn't the offer tempting? Though I cannot guarantee that your life will be a bed of roses, I can tell you that marrying my sister would make you strong in life because you cannot face any trouble as big as her.

Everyone around snickered and giggled, whereas Seshi facepalmed himself for such unique turn of the ritual.

Shyam (continued): What do you want to marry my sister? I cannot offer you money/property because you have it a lot. But this poor yet rich at heart brother can give you few things... I give you a lifetime VIP entry into one of my friend's famous club where you can drink and enjoy yourself when my sister is making your life hard.

Seshi: No, I don't need them!

Shyam (Clears his throat): If you won't marry my sister then I'll not give the password of the secret blog I've opened on your name in the university, where many beautiful girls have confessed there feelings for you. If you don't agree to this marriage... I'll give the password to Mytri sis.

Seshi: What? Are you out of mind....Give me the link Immediately, I will find my own way to reach the password! I will kill you if it reaches Mytri!

Shyam (Ignoring Seshi's threats): Last but not the least... Many girls in the university still have a crush on you and they hugged-kissed me whenever they saw me and asked to pass on those to you. If you don't marry my sister then I'll return you all of them right now, right here, directly !!

Seshi: That's it. For God's sake... stay away from me. I'll marry your sister. Just stay five hundred foot away from me.

After Seshi's desperate attempt to marry Mytri and trying his best to be meters away from Shyam, they moved towards the venue to continue with the rest of the ritual.

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In the meanwhile, on bride's side, Mytri started worshipping Goddess Gawri as a part of the ritual.

The ritual means the bride prays for a long and a happy married life to the goddess who is also known as Goddess of marriage.

It was tiring to wear heavy clothes and jewellery and do all the rituals but Mytri couldn't be anything but happy since she was dreaming of this day for many years. Exhausting and frustrating or not she is putting her heart, soul, mind and body into this marriage. Why wouldn't she? It is after all her dream to become Seshi's bride and wife.

On the other side, groom and others arrive at the venue. The priest starts the wedding. He asks Seshi to sit on a wooden plank in the wedding pavilion.

Wedding pavilion...

If anyone would've thought how a royal wedding would take place, then it would be like Seshi and Mytri's. The whole pavilion... every inch of it is created to give elegance and poise to all that stand in front of it. It's carefully carved hour glass pillars are entwined with stunning crystals. When it is lit up it creates a mesmerising effect as the crystal twinkles. The aisle way pillars along with its magnificent entrance gate and integrated lights, hold hand carved Lord Ganesh's idol that greets guests as they enter.

As Seshi sat in the pavilion, Priest started chanting mantras. After a while, Priest asks to bring the bride. According to ritual Bride is brought by her uncles (Mother's Brothers) in a basket holding a coconut.

In Mytri's case, she didn't have Uncle Prem and Arvind Rana gladly carried her in a basket.

Mytri came in a basket with a vibrant face she can ever give. She is seated in the pavilion seats facing the groom with a specially designed curtain between the two to block them from viewing face to face.

Then, Mytri's parents who sit beside her, place Seshi's feet in a big brass plate from under the curtain and washed his feet. While the priest chants mantras, Mytri's parents offered sixteen varieties of fruits to the Seshi from under the curtain. And finally, amidst the chanting of mantras, they place Mytri's hands along with the tender coconut in her hands in Seshi's hands and give away their daughter in a donation to him. In return, they seek a promise from the Seshi that he will take care of their daughter for life long.

While Seshi is anxious to see his beautiful bride, Mytri being the evil one, tried to sneak a peek from under the curtain while the priest is busy with the procedure.

Priest: (noticing Mytri) Sorry Miss, but you shouldn't do that. I know you are a bit desperate...

The priest told her with an amusing look and yelled for his subordinates to bring the necessary items for next ritual quickly.

Priest: Guys... bring the items quickly... Here, the bride is unable to contain herself.

Hearing it, many of the guest and family members laughed and Seshi's lips curved upwards trying to hide his smile.

After Kanya Dhan (donation), Both of them are given a thick paste made of crushed cumin seeds and jaggery placed in betel leaves.

As the auspicious time came, Mytri and Seshi place the paste on each other's head from underneath the curtain. And at that moment, the curtain is removed when Mytri and Seshi remain seated facing each other.

When the curtain is slowly removed, both their eyes meet and a lot of emotions pass on in their eyes for each other especially expectation, affection and... Love!!!

All the guests throw flower petals on them blessing them and priest send both Mytri and Seshi to change their clothes in their respective rooms.

When Seshi enters his room, he notices Sujith and Shyam getting his second outfit ready. Sujith looks at Seshi weirdly and Shyam smiles happily at him for no reason.

Shyam: Wow... Seshi the wedding is really fun and entertaining. This is so much different from other weddings but yet similar. I think I would like to get married like this.

Sujith: You do know that child marriage is a crime here right?

Shyam: (scowling) I am not a child. It is your love that you are denying my well grown up form.

Seshi: Guys... this is my wedding so please don't create havoc here with your stupid-ness. Shyam gets your brain steady on your studies first.

Seshi sighs and leaves the room quickly after changing his clothes to meet his pretty bride.

Mytri, on the other hand, locked the room after entering and started dancing like a mad woman who was hit on the head several times and went through shock treatments but failed.

Leela and the three aunts looked at her like she completely lost her mind.

Mytri: (to Gayatri) Oh aunty!!! What did you eat while carrying Seshi in your stomach that he came out like an excellent piece of art? He is looking so handsome.

Leela (Mytri's mom): Mytri... stop dancing and change your clothes. You'll get late.

Mytri smiles widely at her mother and changes her clothes quickly to see her Seshi again.This time she wares the Lehanga sadhana gifted her.

Mytri and Seshi's wedding rituals continue with Lots and lots of happiness and blessings.

Beautiful bride Mytri, sat next to Seshi. Priest continuing wedding rituals... Shyam and Sujith were busy hiding Seshi's slippers from Pyaar, who is restlessly searching for them for a while along with her friends...

The most important event in the ceremony starts...Seshi ties "Mangal sutra" (the sacred yellow thread smeared with turmeric paste, to which two specially designed pendants called 'sutras') around Mytri's neck and ties three knots amidst the fast beat of traditional instruments and blessings by the elders.

After Mangal sutra, Now they are couple In front of the god and continue the other rituals like Talambralu. Talambralu is the rice grains mixed with turmeric powder and saffron along with other things like flower petals, pearls and colourful beads . In this event, Seshi and Mytri are made to sit facing each other and initially they are made to pour 'tambralu' on each other's head like a shower in turns. As it progresses, the couple is encouraged by the friends and relatives to compete in pouring of 'talambralu' on each other's head. There is much of laughter and enjoyment all around and the event signifies the happiness and contentment of married life.

After Talambralu, the next ritual 'Saptapadi' started. Mytri who is covered with Heavy sari and Jewels tries to stand up by herself, but Seshi extends his hands and supports her to stand, giving her one of his reassuring smile stating the wedding rituals will end soon. It was a simple gesture but Mytri again falls in love with Seshi...at the very moment.

In this Ritual Mytri and Seshi, the newly wedded couple hold each other's hand and take Saptapadi or 7 steps that are symbolic of 7 vows of the married life. They pledge and declare in the presence of the gathering that they have accepted one another willingly.

After Saptapadi there is another fun-filled ritual in which usually a gold ring is placed in a narrow-mouthed vessel into which the newly married couple put their hands and search for the ring. They say whoever picks the golden ring from the vessel will have the upper hand in their relationship. All her Aunts and Mom encourages Mytri to pick the ring...Where Seshi's dad and Uncles enlighten him saying if he didn't pick the ring now...His future will be like their present.

Instead of searching for the ring, Seshi holds Mytri's hand inside the water smirking at her. She tries and tries but neither could she find the ring nor could free her hand from Seshi's. After few seconds she starts pouting and then Seshi felt like giving the ring to her which he already found in water but to amuse her and see her pouting face again, he lifts the ring and shows it to everyone.

Mytri receives angry suppressing sighs from her mom and Aunts where Seshi's father and uncles can't even believe that he won! It was a thing that never happened in their household. Of course, it is not going to change the long list of credit bills Seshi is going to pay in future but still Seshi's victory was like a ray of hope to them. He was the first male in the family or may be the last too who won in that rituals. It was a sacred and happiest moment especially for Raghu and Amit that they forget the impact of crores and crores of rupees they spent in the past week for the wedding.

Seshi after showing the ring gladly puts it on Mytri's ring finger and then he put toe rings on her toes earnings few giggles from her because of tickles he is giving her with his fingers.

By this, all the customary rituals come to an end and finally the newly wedded couple are taken out to the open air whence the priest shows them the 'Arundhati Nakshatra (star) and seek her (Arundhati's) blessings as she is exemplified as the ideal wife and the embodiment of chastity.

Pyaar didn't ask for ransom for returning his slippers but she asked a promise from him. She whispered a promise in Seshi's ears and he agreed to her immediately.

The Next ritual is the farewell to the bride...She is going to New York tomorrow but for today, She is going to Seshi's New house.The guest house which Seshi's family bought a week ago...

All the rituals are performed religiously but not this one. In this one, everyone in the family should cry bidding a farewell to the bride but in reality no one cried instead everyone laughed heartfully. Amit and Leela happily gave their elder daughter's hand to Seshi, Raghu and Gayatri welcomed their all time favourite daughter with smiles and laughter.

Shyam is happy for getting a new sister, Pam is happy for getting a new gossip mate. Pyaar is happy that one more room with swimming room was added to her territory. Sadhana, Sujith, Arvind and Prem are happy that no mishap took place in the wedding. But the happiest among them were MRS AND MR. MYTRI SESHANK GUPTA shortly called as Mytri and Seshi...They are going to start a new chapter in their life. HAPPINESS AND LOVE FOREVER!!

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A/N

Heya... my lovely readers

This consists of detailed south Indian type wedding. It took us three days to gather knowledge about it and you won't believe we even took an appointment with a priest... sat for four hours and wrote every detail he explained us.

It may be a boring chapter for the people who know about this type of wedding but it will be interesting for the others.

We tried our best to keep intact with every ritual like we learnt but if anywhere you find any mistake regarding the rituals please excuse us.

And one more thing... We need someone to make a trailer video with GIFs for our first book. If you know anyone please let us know.

Please vote, comment and share our story.

Lots of love

sandyblush

PS: Lots and lots of Thanks toJWALAKRISHNA for making this awesome cover for our book.

PPS: This chapter is dedicated to...

Meghana_N_S

coinikee

sofyaugy

Djyothika

vesinwin

Thanks a lot for appreciating my work all the time:)

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