15.

                                    

                                          
Sanskar came into his room to get something. 
Just as he entered he saw his wife.
Standing infront of the mirror applying sindoor, ready in a gorgeous red banarasi saree. 
She looked different today. May be the sindoor and red saree did that .
Swara had took part in all the wedding rituals so far. Helping in anyway she could. Doing her duties as the main lady of his house.
Swara looked up in the mirror and both had their eyes locked for a few seconds. 
Sanskar cleared his throat and moved towards his locker to get the gold chain he got for Laksh. 
Swara also looked away and was ready to leave.
"If you are done let's go." Sanskar said.
They both left together. 
The mansion was jam packed with guests. Few foreign clients of Sanskar were also present. 
Everyone got a little shocked when they saw Sanskar' wife. But then,already all knew how private he was.
The sound of dhol and barat reached their ears, and the ladki wale got ready to welcome the barat.
Near the entrance, a ribbon was tied. 
Laksh and everyone from his side reached near the entrance. 
There, on the other side, stood Swara. 
Not as the groom's sister but as the bride's bhabhi.
Her parents got a little emotional while Laksh behaved as if she were a stranger.
Pandit ji asked Swara to do Laksh's arti and welcome him in.
Swara went near him, applied Tika, did arti.
As per ritual she had to pull his nose.
So she moved forward and grabbed his nose tightly. 
"Aram se bhabhi ji. Naak hi nikal lengi aap to." Laksh said taunting her a little. He knew she was irritated with his behavior. 
"Arey damad ji ache se swagat to karna hai na. Ab aap thehre humare ek lote damad aur humare ladki ko le jaenge to thodi mehnat to lagegi hi." Swara taunted him back. 
Everybody started laughing seeing their banter.
Their parents,with little tear in their eyes, just shook their head.
Their kids may show themselves as enemies sometimes but will love each other the most. Their banter is their way of showing love.
Sanskar was a little taken aback, given he knew Laksh was the most angry one due to the wedding fiasco. But their banter amidst on going tension was not what he anticipated. 
Then the banter continued a little more, the girls asking Laksh to pay them to get in.
Sanksar came to his rescue and giving the money and all Laksh was welcomed in.
Swara so wanted to go to her parents but right now she had to do her duties as well. And she knew her parents will appreciate her doing that, more.
Rituals started . Laksh was called to mandap.
After few moments Ragini was called.
Swara and few girls brought her out. 
Laksh and Ragini looked at eachother. They were looking really nice.
When she reached near him, he forwarded his hand and helped her to get up the stage on which mandap was set up.
The wedding rituals continued. 
"Badhu ke mata pita kanyadan ke liye age aajae." Pandit ji said.
"Pandit ji, me aur uski bhabhi kanyadan karenge." Sanskar said. Swara looked at him.
They got up and went to perform kanyadan.
"Kanyadan duniya ka sabse punya ka kaam hai. Mata pita apne beti ko ek dusre ghar bhej rahe hai. Aur aab woh ghar bhi uska apna hoga. Par iska ye Matlab nahi ki beti ko Daan de diya. Balki ek beta bhi paa rahe hain aap, jispe bharosa karke aap apni beti ko unke sath bhej rahe hein, ki woh aur unka pariwar apke beti ka khayal rakhenge, unhe pyaar aur sanman se nawazenge." The Pandit ji said.
Sanksar was emotional. He was giving away his daughter. 
Log chahe kitne bhi ache hon, pariwar Kitna acha ho, par jab beti de rahe hain to chinta to lagi rahegi.
Kyunki ab woh apne ghar ko, apno ko chod kr chali jaegi.
Swara, who was also emotional, understood his plight. She held his hand tightly, as if saying you are not alone, I am with you right here.
After that, the sat(7) phere and the 7 vachans were done.
Pandit ji specifically told Laksh, " Beta kabhi bhi jhagda ho to ye mat kehna ki kya diya hai tumhare ghar walon ne. Apni beti de di hai unhon ne tumhe. Aaj Kal to koi udhar bhi nahi deta kisiko bina Matlab, par yaha tumhe apni bachi de rahe hain. 
Beti ghar ki woh amanat hoti hai jisse sara ghar chamakta rehta hai. Woh hi ghar ki khusiyan hoti hai.
Jab tak beti ghar me hai, ghar humesa chehkta rehta hai. Aur jab woh chali jati hai, chahe kitne hi log ghar me kyun na ho, ghar suna ho jata hai.
Aur yeh baat tab pata chalti hai jab apni beti hogi aur use dusre ghar bhejoge. 
To humesha isko pyaar dena, izzat karna iski aur iske pariwar ki, badle me yeh usse jyada pyaar aur sanman tumhe aur tumhare pariwar ko degi."
And this hit hard for many. 
Almost all of them got emotional. Sanksar looked at swara, listening to this.
All the rituals were finally done.
"Vivah ab sampan hua.Aaj se aap dono pati patni hue. Apne badon ka ashirwad le lijiye." Panditji declared.
The newly wed couple first moved to his parents and took their blessings. Janki hugged the both of them.
They then moved to Sanskar, Bent down and took his blessings who hugged them both. 
They went near Swara. May be smaller by age, but now she was elder by relation to them. 
They both bent down to take her blessing. Swara was shocked given she didn't expect that. She forwarded her hand to bless them.
"Humesha khush raho aap dono. Ek dusre ka sath dena humesha, pyaar karte rehna ek dusre se chahe kuch bhi situation ho. Also sou(100) Putra putri bhava. Tathastu." She blessed them, teasing little at end.
"Thank u bhabhii jii." Laksh teased. 
"Ya ya damad jiiiiii." Swara sassed back.
"Sab chaliye khana khane, fir vidai bhi karni hai." 
Sanksar said.
To be continued....