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Chapter-12

That was the start of the summer holidays. "Mumma I would like to go to pinni" seven years old Abhimanyu jumped up and down making his mother chuckle. "Fine! But promise me you will be a good boy!" His mother said ruffling his hair. "Yes yes I will I will. I will play with Nehu only. I won't trouble anyone there!" He said and chuckling his mother nodded her head.

Soon after sometime, they stopped infront of Radha's (Abhimanyu's mom) sister's place.

"Sudha, take good care of him. And don't let the kids out for longer time." Radha said as she sat in the car arranged by her sister. They came to hr place in an auto. Even though, she is the wife of an upcoming politician, she always travelled in public transportation and in autos.

Abhimanyu went to his sister Neha who is two years younger than him. They ate, played and did all the things. Soon it was evening and Neha called him when he was talking with his uncle .

"What Nehu?" He asked. "Let's go and call Aarohi to play. Let's go to her house." She said dragging him but he stopped her. "Who is Aarohi?" He asked. "Our neighbour. I met her in playschool." Neha said and Abhimanyu waited there as she went to the home beside their's.

A small girl around Neha's age came out, her hair tied in a small ponytail, with loose strands over face and a small black bindi on her cute chubby face... Aarohi Ramaswamy is the cutest kid.

Abhimanyu, Neha and Aarohi played alot... Initially Arohi thought Abhimanyu to be a jerk who won't like playing with girls like most of the boys but he is not. Sure he is shy but he doesn't hold himself back while playing. He taught them the basic cricket he knew on every summer vacation that followed since then. They play every game the girls say. Slowly he dragged his new friend Atharava and Aarohi's brother Anirudh started. Due to their kids being close, the parents became close to eachother and started spending more time.

For Abhimanyu's mother, it is a bliss. It was after two years of their meet, they again met at Aarohi's place and all are talking and playing. Aarohi's mother was talking to her father and was asking him to bring milk from the nearby shop when Aarohi went to her mother and said she will go to the shop. Her mother denied first but since the place is close she let her go.

It was five in the evening and Aarohi fumbled over the routes to see which route she have to choose to go to the shop. She took the left one and continued to walk. That shop was supposed to be there but it's not! Aarohi thought and continued walking until she saw an empty place with a small pond. That's when she realised she chooses the wrong route.

Tears prickled her eyes as she tried to go back but she forgot the route. There is no one at the sight.

She sat on the rock nearby begging the god to let someone find her when she heard footsteps and turned to see Abhimanyu standing there. "Abhi" she mumbled as he came to her. " That's why you shouldn't roam around like that when you don't know routes properly." He mumbled wiping her tears away.

"How do you know?" Aarohi asked and he said that he just guessed and when he went to the shop and asked the shopkeeper he said that she didn't and as on instinct he searched in the opposite route.

"This place is good." Abhimanyu said moving past her and examined the area. Aarohi looked at him for a moment before saying a yes. He sat on the rock that was nearby and motioned her to come and sit. They sat there in silence watching the sunset. Since then, it was their thing, and their secret escape from reality.

Years passed, but they continued to meet there atleast once a week. No matter what, they would meet there atleast once a week. They don't do much, they just sit beside eachother and watch sunset. Aarohi is the one to talk always... They bonded so perfectly... Her little smile, her laugh, the way she speaks animatedly, the way she complains or the way she huffs angrily... Everything fascinated him.. he didn't knew then that he was entering in a wrong zone of life... He didnt knew that the girl who was so innocently beautiful would crush his heart, he didn't knew that the girl who gave him the taste of love... Would be the reason for his heartbreak... He didn't knew then that Aarohi Ramaswamy is the girl who never cared...

Author's POV:-

The home is decorated beautifully, with all the relatives chirping like birds early in the morning. The glow of wedding can be seen and is emitting from each and every corner of the home.

The aroma in the air sweet and fresh. The nature giving cool and fresh vibes.

They just completed doing Gouri Pooja that a bride should perform and is heading upstairs for another bath and to finally change into her wedding saree.

Her cousins left one by one leaving her alone in her room. She looked at the already packed bags, she took a bath and tied the saree around her frame and let her cousins enter. The beautician is doing make up and the hairstylist is doing her hair while Priyanka, her bestfriend is making her wear jwellery. An hour and half later she is finally done.

Clad in a deep maroonish red saree with a golden border and same colour's designer blouse Aarohi looked beautiful.

"You look beautiful!" Her cousins, sister, friends and beauticians complimented her but she just gave them a small smile. Her mother and father had moisture in their eyes when they saw her.

Soon the drive to function hall began.
Aarohi's heart thudded in her chest vigourously. She would be married to Abhimanyu soon. All negative thoughts crept in her mind. They took her to the bride's room when they reached function hall.

The hall looked beautiful with all the decorations. Slowly everyone left out of the room except she and Priyanka to look after arrangements and to greet Abhimanyu's family.

"What are you thinking now Aarohi?" Priyanka asked and Aarohi sighed. "You still have hope he will come!?" Priyanka exclaimed making Aarohi look away.

"Aarohi! Have you ever seen the way Abhimanyu looks at you? It wasn't lust like he said Aarohi. We girls surely know when someone is looking at us with lust and when someone is not! Abhimanyu never looked at you that way and it was a known fact to our school back then that he had feelings for you expect you! You had to fall for that cheating bastar-" "Priyu please. Don't sa-" " you told me you saw him right? In Mysore? Aarohi they haven't found his body and you told me you saw him two years ago!" Priyanka exclaimed.

"Yes yes. I saw him. Clearly! He is alive. That's why please help me elope! I don't want to get married to Abhimanyu! What if Visha-" "Four years passed and two years back you saw him. If he really loved you then atleast he should have met you! His parents left the city exact two years back. Why are you not getting he is a fraud!" Priyanka said and just then Aarohi's mother entered the room with her Uncle and cousins to her to the mandap. It was time for her KanyaDanam. A ritual in telugu wedding where the bride is handed over to the groom by her parents.

She was seated in bamboo basket as her uncle and few cousins lifted the basket and took her to mandap. She can feel all the eyes on her. She was seated infront eachother. Until KanyaDanam the bride and groom are not allowed to see eachother thus they were partitioned through a curtain in front of them.

Aarohi's parents washed Abhimanyu's feet with water as a gesture of respect. On the day of the wedding the groom is considered as Lord Vishnu and the bride as Goddess Lakshmi.

The Groom is made to chant "Dharmēca Arthēca Kamēcha Mokshēca Nāti Carāmi" three times and assure the bride's father three times that he will remain her companion in joy and sorrow forever.

Then the next panigraha where the couple are to hold hands and promise that no matter what they won't leave eachother's hands.

The next is JeelaKarra Bellam ritual which is also considered as Half marriage in Telugu Weddings.

The couple are asked to keep the paste of Cumin seeds and Jaggery that symbolises the bond that doesn't break. This is the actual muhurtam and this the time that the bride's Gotra changes to the Groom's and she no longer belongs her father.

Aarohi blinked when she realised that she half way married to her best friend. The priest asked the couple to get dressed in the wedding outfits that is for a bride to wear a white saree with red border and for groom to wear a white dhoti as a part of Madhuparkam ritual.

Aarohi breathed hard once she again got ready in her actual wedding clothes and is headed to the mandap with ten married woman again.

This ritual is called Sumangali where the six of ten women carry Sacred Rice which is a mixture of rice grains and turmeric. The remaining women are to carry Diyas.

Rice is symbolised for abundance while lit Diyas for light.

The next ritual is Mangalsutra Dharanam. In order to perform this ritual the curtain between them is removed. Abhimanyu's breath hitched when he saw his Bride.. her long eye lashes now with Mascara is highlighting them. The big doe kajal filled eyes. The pointed nose adorned with a nose pin. Her full lips now tinted with red lipstick. A blush on her soft white cheeks. Beautiful white, pink and red flowers adorning her long hair. The pearl and gold earrings on her ears and with all the jwelery... She looked like a godess.

As the priest chanted the mantras, Abhimanyu was handed the Mangalsutra with two golden discs. He bent down as few woman from behind held Aarohi's hair up wards so he can tie. One knot.. his breath stilled as his hands tied the second knot. He can feel Aarohi tensed. By knotting the third time Akshitha's fell on them. Tears leaked Aarohi's eyes as she felt broken from inside.

He married her.. he married Aarohi Ramaswamy finally now who turned to be Aarohi Abhimanyu Varma. His eyes fell on the thread which represented the physical, mental and spiritual union. The most sacred union between two people bind with a single yellow thread with two golden discs.

They exchanged garlands then one by one guests appeared and blessed them for their union by sprinkling Rice with turmeric powder and rose petals. She stood silently beside him, her cheeks paining with all the fake smile.

After that they took Saptapadi. The seven rounds around the holy fire while taking oaths for caring, loving, protecting, understanding, and for guiding eachother. In this ritual, the end of Aarohi's saree is tied to Abhimanyu's scarf's end.

The next came Sthalipakam where Abhimanyu made her wear silver toe rings which are also a sign of married women. They also gave some black bead during this ritual which are believed to be keep the couple from bad eyes.

In the next ritual they were brought a silver pot that is filled with water and rose petals, some use milk here too.

They are seated infront of eachother with the pot between them and the priest throws the ring in the pot. This game is played three times and the one who wins more is believed to be having dominating hand in the marriage. It was such a fun game.

Looking at the happiness of her family Aarohi for the first time in the day smiled and her eyes locked with Abhimanyu. She gave her knowing small smile and they played. The two times Aarohi won and everyone from Aarohi's side hooted for her and Abhimanyu's side teased them alot.

After that ritual being done Aarohi was made to cook some food the holy fire which is an oath like ritual that she is now responsible for her husband's health.

Later that the couple were taken outside and did Arundhathi Nakshatra ritual where the groom points his finger towards the Nakshatra and shows the bride. Arundhathi and Vasishta are the perfect couples so they are shown in this way to the couple.

Next after a lot teasings they are now sitting on the dining area where they were forced to eat food in one plate feeding each item to the other once. Abhimanyu can see the irritation passing through her. One was sucha time where she glared at her cousins and aunties so much that they left immediately making him chuckle. "Why are you laughing? Is it funny for you? You are enjoying this so much aren't you?" She seethed and he looked at her.

"You can scold me all you want later but first eat wify, we have all our lives to fight. Eat before the photographers come and drag both of us to the stage." He stated with an amused smile and even though she badly want to wipe that smile nevertheless ate the food.

After completing the food, the photos section started and after that everyone enjoyed by dancing and all. Aarohi watched with a small smile forgetting everything as she saw her whole family bursting with happiness, on the dance floor enjoying themselves. Unknowingly tears welled up and she was to wipe them with the back of her hand when she saw a kerchief infront of her. She took it and mumbled a thanks to him.

Finally the last part of the marriage came where she had to leave her family. She cried alot in her mother and father's arms. She hugged her sister tightly and saw Abhimanyu assuring her father patiently. She hell of tired but he looked patient. She can see he is tired but he didn't show any signs of irritation towards her family.

Soon they are seated in the car which is decorated. He saw her crying alot and want to assure her that they can go to her parents whenever she wants, he wanted to hold her tell her he will be there for her. He wanted to soothe her. But he knew better. He knew she doesn't need his assurance.. she made it clear, he will not get fooled again like last time. He have to gaurd his heart... Atleast this time.

Hello peeps.

How are you all doing? Hoping all are fine.

These are the rituals of telugu wedding and for some it might be different. I wrote what I know so sorry if there is any mistake.

Love-Anya ❤️