I wish to acknowledge the selfless support and guidance of these lovely people, without whom much of my work and the wedding chapters would not take shape. Thank you dear aakashi_s and NILA2763 for always being there. Thank you dear  iam_abose, princesswidlov and  ShreyaSandhir for making the time to give me your inputs for the Sandhir wedding, the celebration for which will continue into the next part as well.

The bride and the groom travelled separately. Sanyukta, the bride and Vidushi, her bridesmaid rode with Nobin da in his car. Vidushi chatted happily as Sanyukta listened, not saying much, experiencing mixed emotions. Sanyukta felt a little unsettled knowing that she was approaching the most important milestone of her life and neither her family nor Randhir's parents would be present. They would not even be told about the wedding until much later. Though she knew it was the only way, she felt burdened by guilt. Every girl dreams of being pampered by her loved ones when she becomes a bride and being given away by parents is an emotional moment. While Randhir had Vidushi and Nobin da who were related to him and Parth, who was a great friend as well as his best man, Sanyukta had no one present whom she was related to.

Gauging her mood by her silence Nobin da began telling her about how he had to perform the Vriddhi or the Nandimukh along with Randhir and Vidushi without her knowledge, in order to keep the wedding a secret. The Vriddhi ceremony is traditionally held on a day before wedding, and he had offered a symbolic puja  to the ancestors of both the groom and the bride, seeking their approval for the match and for their blessings just before the wedding. This made Sanyukta feel a little lighter. Though she missed her mother, she had not dared to give her the news. Even though the rituals of Aashirwad, Aiburo bhaat, Gaye holud and Dodhi Mangal had to be dispensed with due to the rushed wedding, they had performed the Pithi Dastoor or Haldi Rasam in the Rajput style.

As they reached the the temple where the wedding would take place they were greeted by Aman who stepped forward, dressed like a little bridegroom himself. He welcomed Sanyukta with an angelic smile and a bouquet of red roses, grabbing her palm, and bringing cheer to her heavy heart. He led her inside where she would have to wait for her groom to arrive. Aman promptly seated her on a chair. "You look very pretty, just like a Dulhan should." He gave her a spontaneous compliment and she drew him close. "You look handsome too. You are the Neet-bor or groomsman, you must stay near us during the ceremony." She declared and he consented happily.

Two banana trees had been planted at the entrance and the 'Mandap' was decorated with fairy lights and 'Alpana', which are traditional drawings made of rice paste. Shehenai music played in the background, creating a wedding ambience. Sanyukta and Vidushi were baffled to see some modestly dressed, unknown persons present. There were also several children who looked excited to be witnessing the wedding, and they chirped happily among themselves, glancing the beautifully dressed bride with admiration. Nobin da informed them that on behalf of an NGO, he had invited a few people from a shelter for homeless elders and some families with an underprivileged background to participate in the ceremony because there were hardly any relatives or friends of the bride or the groom attending the wedding.

As soon as Randhir and Parth reached the venue, they were welcomed by Aman's grandmother, who performed the Bor Baran on behalf of Sanyukta's absent family, using a plate containing an earthen lamp, sprinkling trefoil, husked rice and fruit. Some women stood by blowing the shankh or conch shell and making the auspicious ululu sounds, which were to be repeated through the evening for the various rituals. The plate was first touched to the groom's forehead, then to the ground, and back again to his forehead in a gesture blessing and reverence.

The guests were welcomed with sweets and sherbet, a refreshing drink. Randhir was gifted the wedding attire, which included a 'panjabi' or kurta, a 'jore' (silk shawl), 'dhoti' and 'topor', a headdress made of pith and zari. The groom has to wear these items for the duration of the wedding rituals. Hidden away from her groom Sanyukta sat clutching nervously the Gaach kouto or sindoor box, Kajal lata or kajal container and betel leaves, a bride having to keep these close to her during the ceremony.

Nobin da led Randhir away to assist him to drape the dhoti elegantly. They were back quickly, and Randhir felt self-conscious, trying to balance his shola crown, hoping that it would not topple. Parth laughed to see Randhir's state and stood near him to offer support. "Dad will surely make me eat dirt for two reasons, first, that my parents were not present for the wedding and second because I consented to have a Bengali ceremony. " Randhir told Parth, who grinned wickedly. "You know what, it is actually ironic that you are a Rajput, your bride is Marwari and you are having yourself a Bengali wedding!"He joked. Randhir could not agree more. 

While Vidushi, Parth and Aman remained close, Randhir sat down before the priest who chanted mantras as the rituals continued. Nobin da had insisted that the Saat Paak ritual be performed, now that there was enough manpower to hoist the bride up on the decorated seat called piri. Parth, helped by some men present, carried Sanyukta round Randhir seven times, while she kept her face concealed with a pair of heart shaped betel leaves, instinctively clinging to Parth out of fear of being dropped accidentally. The couple then faced each other, and she uncovered her face slowly, exchanging the Shubho drishti with her smiling groom, who winked at her spontaneously, making her blush.

While still sitting high on the piri, Sanyukta and Randhir did the Mala Badal, exchanging garlands of fragrant flowers thrice, while the priest continued to chant mantras. Sanyukta then took her place before Randhir where Nobin da formally handed her over to the Randhir in the Sampradan ritual. The couple's hands were bound by the sacred thread amidst recital of Vedic chants and were then placed on the mangal ghot - a brass pitcher filled with water, covered with mango leaves attached to one twig and a green coconut placed on it. The Yagna followed, wherein offerings were made to Agni, the sacred fire by Randhir, who was assisted by his bride.

For the Saptapadi Vidushi made the symbolic Gathbandhan by tying the end of Randhir's shawl to Sanyukta's aanchal. Randhir and Sanyukta took seven rounds around the fire thereby solemnizing the occasion. These Saat Pheras signify the sanctity and solemnity of a Hindu marriage, during which the seven sacred vows are recited. Acting as her brother for the ceremony Parth assisted the bride when the couple gave 'Anjali', pouring 'Khoi' (popped rice) onto the yagna. Randhir then applied 'sindoor' (vermillion) in Sanyukta's hair parting, in a ritual called 'Sindoor Daan', and then her head was covered with a Lajjaa Bostro, a new saree gifted by her husband. Following this ritual they now became man and wife, following the Hindu tradition. After a round of congratulations the guests turned their attention to another important custom, the wedding feast! Nobin da could feel his eyes moisten, he had managed to find Randhir the same bride whom, in his belief, his dear wife Madhabi had been seeking high and low!