Nirvair sighed as he had been woken up early by his mother.The wedding was scheduled at 7am in the morning,and he was already awake by 5 am.

Why?

Because he was supposed to have the Mangala Snanam,i,e the holy bath before he get's ready for the wedding.

And because the Mangala Snanam is carried out in the early hours of the dawn of the day of the wedding he was up early.

Nirvair was made to sit on a stool wearing just a dhoti around his waist.His mother, grandmother,his choti maa and chachi all stood around him.

A paste is made with turmeric, saffron and sandalwood and applied on the groom's face,oil is applied to the hair and a holy bath is given by married women.This ritual is also carried out for the bride, in her respective home as well.

Firstly the saffron, turmeric and sandalwood paste was applied on his upper body.His hair was gently oiled and then one by one water was poured over him to clean him off.

"Jaa,jaakr acche se nahakr aaja jaldi se,tere kapde nikal kr rakh rahi hu tere bed pr"Bela said and Nirvair nodded and left to take a clean bath.

He had a bath and after cleaning his body thoroughly he was about to apply the body spray but didn't because he smelled of sandalwood and saffron,he decided to let the natural scent be on his body.

He came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.He looked at the bed on which his clothes were placed by his mother.

He picked up the white inner and wore it followed by the white shirt,rolling the sleeves of it,he stared at the Vesthi(unstitched white cloth that is wrapped around the lower body as a lungi) and sighed.

How was he supposed to wear it now?

"Tu ready nhi hua abhi tak?"Kartik and Ali asked as they entered his room and he sighed and showed the vesthi to them.

"Seekh le,ab toh kya pata aage bhi bht baar pehnni padegi tujhe yeh"Ali teased him and received a glare in return.

"Chal,I will help you,mujhe aati h pehnani"Kartik said as he took the vesthi in his hand and started tying it around Nirvair's waist.

"Bhai dekh acche se bandhana,kahi dulhe raja ki lungi na khul jaye sabke saamne"Ali continued with his teasing and Nirvair too continued sending glares his way.

Once the vesthi was also tied around him,Kartik placed the white Anga vastra on Nirvair's shoulder.Nirvair just wore his watch and his footwear and he was ready.

Bela entered her son's room and was satisfied by seeing that he was atleast dressed by now.

"Yeh le yeh pehen le"Bela said as she passed him a gold chain and Nirvair sighed looking at it.

He didn't like wearing any kind of accessories except for a watch and a kada which his mother had strictly asked him to never remove.

"Yeh pehenna zaruri h kya??"Nirvair asked and Bela nodded.

He sighed and opened the box and removed the gold chain and wore it around his neck and Bela smiled then.

"Ab bahar aa"Bela said and he nodded and followed his mother along with Kartik and Ali.

"Ohhooo"Aashi said looking at her brother who looked like a perfect South Indian groom.

"Bhai kya lag rahe ho aap iss dhoti mein"Shivansh said.

"Yeh dhoti nhi h gadhe, it's called vesthi"Nirvair said and everyone gave him a smile.

"Hayee,abhi se sasural walo jesi baatein krne lag gaye h aap toh,abhi toh shadi hui bhi nhi h"Abeer said and Nirvair rolled his eyes hearing that.

"Bela,aarti kr do beta,phir nikalte h"Sumitra said and Bela nodded at that and took the thali from Pankhuri and did Nirvair's aarti.

She applied the kumkum on his forehead but not as a tilak but in the way south Indian's applied it over their forehead.

"Ab lag rahe h na south Indian dulha apni dulhan ko lene jaa raha h"Shivansh said and everyone smiled hearing that.

Nirvair didn't said anything to this.

He still wasn't sure if what he was doing was right?

He didn't wanted to destroy Iknoor's chance of happiness,he couldn't do that to her,she was a nice girl who deserved much better then what he could ever offer her.

"Papa hum kaha jaa rahe h?"Iti asked as she too was ready in a cute traditional skirt and small blouse which had been sent by her badi maa for her specially for this occasion and she looked so adorable in it.

"Aapki badi maa ko ghar le jaane ke liye jaa rahe h"Hriday said smiling at his daughter who smiled wider hearing that.

"Badi maa?ab toh hamesha hamare saath rahengi?"Iti asked and Hriday nodded at that.

"Yay!"Iti said excitedly,she liked her badi maa a lot and she was happy she would stay with them forever now.

"Pr unke toh dadu akele ho jayenge na mumma?"Iti asked as she remembered her badi maa too had dadi and dadu like her,if she lives with them now they would be alone.

"Haa pr aapke buddy bhi toh akele h na?isliye aapki badi maa aa rahi h,taaki aapke buddy ko bhi ek friend mil sake"Aayat said and Iti tried to understand what she had said.

"Buddy,hum aapke friend nhi h?aap akele h?"Iti asked as she went towards Nirvair who smiled hearing her.

"Arre Itudi,badi maa toh sirf aise hi bas friend h,tu toh meri best friend h na?aur teri badi maa ke koi friends nhi the,isliye meine dosti kr li usse,sahi kiya na?"Nirvair asked and Iti nodded at that, everyone should have friends.

"Phir thik h,chalo badi maa ko lekr aate h!"Iti said excitedly as she ran towards her father urging him to pick her up.

"Nirvair bhai chale?"Aayat asked and Nirvair just nodded hearing that.

"Don't be nervous,trust me this is the best for you"Mahir said as he stood infront of his son and patted his shoulder.

Nirvair didn't wanted to argue now,that time had passed now,he couldn't cancel this wedding now anyways,but he knew he was doing injustice to Iknoor and that was eating him up somewhere in his heart.

He didn't said anything to Mahir and just passed by him.

Mahir sighed.

Bela went and held his hand assuring him that everything was going to be fine.

They all got into different cars and drove away towards Iknoor's home.

As they reached the bride's home they saw full-grown plantain trees tied to both the gate,a beautiful kolam was drawn at the threshold of the house.Nadaswaram i,e the south Indian shenani was playing in the background.

As they entered inside,rosewater was sprinkled on them along with flower petals for their welcome.

Nirvair's heartbeats had raced now.It was all going to happen now and he couldn't back off now,it all seemed too much for him now.

Iknoor's Athai(bhua i,e paternal aunt), Iknoor's periamma and Iknoor's chittamma did Nirvair's welcome as he stood infront of their house entrance.

The three held a thali with a diya lighting in it and rotated it seven times around him to take away all the evil eyes off him and to bless him.Next vibhuti was applied on his forehead and he was escorted inside.

He was directly made to sit in the mandap where the Panditji began with the Ganesh Puja first as he is the god of initiation,so he was invoked to keep away all the hurdles and problems.

Nirvair sat in his place calmly, doing everything the Panditji was asking him to.

After that the Navagraha Puja is performed to propitiate the nine astral planets that rule over man’s destiny.

The Panditji then tied a thread around Nirvair's right wrist.This was done to let the groom know that a new chapter in his life as a grishta or a householder is about to begin and he should forget about his bachelorhood days now.

A lot many rituals were done which Nirvair had no idea about but he was just following the Panditji's lead in it and doing as asked by him.

"Kashi yatra ka samay ho gaya h"The Panditji said and the Sehgal's were confused hearing it but the Iyer's smiled hearing that.

The Panditji asked Nirvair to stand up and get out of the mandap.

Did he heard right?

He had to leave the mandap?

He looked at Iknoor's family who all gestured him to do as said.Hesistantly Nirvair got up and walked away from the mandap.

But he stood and turned not knowing what he was supposed to do now.

"Yuva avastha mein ek vyakti ke paas do maarg hote h pehla,grishasta,yaani shaadi krke ghar basana aur dusra snayas yaani saari moh maaya toh chod dena"The Panditji said as he too walked out of the mandap.

Everyone then walked towards Nirvair who still didn't knew what he was supposed to do.

Gaurav Anna I,e Iknoor's brother handed an umbrella,slippers and a bamboo fan to Nirvair.

"Pr krna kya h bhai ko?"Aashi asked not abek to hide away her curiosity.

"Kaashi yatra pr jaana h"The Panditji said and the Sehgal's were shocked hearing that.

Kaashi yatra?

He was here to get married.

"It's a fun ritual,the groom decides that he is going to go to kaashi leaving all mortal luxuries to find peace and the bride's family will try to convince him to not do it and offer their daughter to him for marriage"Iknoor's Periappa said trying to explain it to Nirvair's family who appeared very confused.

"Natak krna h?"Shivansh asked and Iknoor's Periappa nodded at that.

"Aur aap log sab bhai ko convince karenge bhabhi se shadi ke liye?"Abeer asked and they again nodded.

"Jaldi yeh vidhi puri kare, muhurat ka samay ho jayega"The Panditji said and everyone gestured Nirvair to do it.

Nirvair who had zero idea what he was supposed to do,started walking towards the house entrance when he was stopped by Ikbir.

"Inko toh jese bahana mil gaya ho mandap chodne ka"Aayat whispered to her husband who chuckled hearing her.

"Sirf natak h,aaj toh bhagwan bhi aa jaye na toh bhi yeh shadi nhi ruk sakti"Hriday said and Aayat nodded hearing that.

"Tum kaha jaa rahe ho?"Ikbir asked as he approached him.

Nirvair for a second wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do but then Lakshmi I,e Iknoor's cousin sister's husband whispered something in his ear and gestured him to say it out loud.

"Mein moksh paane jaa raha hu"Nirvair said and the Sehgal's all laughed hearing that.

It was hilarious.

Thinking that Nirvair would ever say that he wants to leave all these worldly pleasures and go away in search of englightenment.

"Kya tumhe pata h yeh moksh paane ke chakkar mein tum kya kho doge life mein?"Ikbir asked and Nirvair shook in head in denial.

It was all a pretentious act and both were in their roles now and had understood each other's assignment.

"Ek achi family,ek achi biwi,a happy life"Ikbir said and Nirvair smirked hearing that.

"Pr meri toh shadi hi nhi hui h"Nirvair said.

"Isliye toh tumhe nhi pata na ki iss jeevan ke sukh kya h? isliye toh tum sab kuch chodkr jaane ke liye taiyaar ho"Ikbir said trying to say the good things of marriage.

"Bhai rehne do shadi toh sab krte h,aap jaakr moksh dhundhiyey"Aashi said as she was having fun seeing this ritual.

Everyone laughed hearing her statement.

"Pr meine toh suna h shadi krne ke baad,aadmi ki life hi change ho jaati h,biwi ke saamne kuch bol nhi sakte,apni marzi ka kuch kr nhi sakte....isse accha toh mein bina shadi kiye,ishwar ko dhundhu"Nirvair said and everyone chuckled hearing him.

"Arre,jab do log saath rehte h toh thoda bht compromise toh krna padta h....aur wese bhi jiss bhagwan ko tum dhundne ke liye jaa rahe ho woh khud bhi shadi ke bandhan mein bandhe huye h"Ikbir said.

"Ohh kya point h"Shivansh said.

"Pr agar samjhota hi krna padega toh saath rehne ka kya fayda?"Nirvair said pretending to think for an answer to his own question.

"Samjhota zaruri h,isliye kyuki shadi mein do alag log ek dusre ke saath bandh jaatein lifetime ke liye,agar woh dono hi dheet banenge toh kabhi bhi ek conclusion pr nhi aa paayenge,shadi ko work krne ke liye aur peace maintain krne ke liye dono ki taraf se thode compromises hone chahiye"Ikbir explained him,making him see how a marriage works.

"Pr mujhe shadi krne se milega kya?"Nirvair asked.

"Ek companion for the rest of your life,ab tum itne bade ho gaye ho ki apni problems apne maa-baap se share nhi kr sakoge toh tum apni life partner se woh sab share kr sakte ho because she won't judge you and even if she can't help you out she will be with you in support,that is what everyone wants in life eventually right?A person to lean onto in need,hold onto in happiness and be with every time"Ikbir said expressing his views on marriage.

"Aww"Twinkle Chachi said.

"Mera bhi shadi krne ka mann ho raha h yrr"Abeer said and everyone chuckled hearing him.

"Pr mujhe aisa partner kaha milega?ab mein kaha dhundhu usse?"Nirvair asked playing with him.

"Meri behen h na,she will be perfect for you,you be with her,she can be with you"Ikbir said.

Nirvair pretended to think about it.

"Aur aapli behen mein aisi konsi qualities h jo hamara beta moksh paane ke chance ko chodkr usse shadi kare?"Avni chachi asked just in a fun way because this was just a game.

"Kya qualities nhi h yeh puchiye aap?sundar h,susheel h,padhi likhi h,job bhi krti h,joint family bht pasand h,aapki family ko jodkr rakhegi aur bht matured h,agar aapka beta koi impulsive ya immature decision lega toh usse bhi handle kr legi,aur kya chahiye aapko?"Meher bhabhi, Iknoor's bhabhi said and the Sehgal's nodded appreciatively.

"Khana waghera banana aata h?"Nirvair asked just pulling their legs

"Aisa ki tum ungliya chat te reh jaoge"Ikbir said praising his sister.

"Umm.....

"Itna mat socho wrna haath se nikal jayegi ladki,phir jaatein rehna moksh dhundne"Tejas Anna said and everyone laughed hearing it.

"Acha thik h,aap sab itna force kr rahe ho toh mein apna decision change kr hi leta hu"Nirvair said and everyone cheered for his decision.

Nirvair was then escorted back inside but instead of making him sit on the mandap he was made to sit on a chair.

"Pada Puja krke var ka swagat krke mandap mein bithana h"The Panditji said and the Sehgal's were yet again not sure what this ritual was about.

Only when it happens will they know about it.

A huge copper plate was brought and Nirvair was asked to keep his feet into it.

Ikbir got on his knees infront of Nirvair and Nirvair was a lil confused.

"Kya kr rahe ho tum?"Nirvair asked but Ikbir didn't say anything.

He touched his palms on Nirvair's feet and that is when Nirvair got up and backed off.

"What are you doing?"Nirvair asked not liking the way Ikbir was touching his feet.

"Yeh ek ritual h"Iknoor's thatha said and Nirvair looked at him confusedly.

"Ladki ka bhai,uske hone wala pati ka pair dhokr uska swagat krta h,it denotes the respect the groom is given by the bride's family"Iknoor's Periappa said and the Sehgal's were surprised hearing that.

Washing his feet?

Literally?

"Nhi,you don't have to do this"Nirvair said not liking that Ikbir would have to wash his feet,he didn't wanted to get this special treatment,it seemed unfair to him.

"It's just a ritual Nirvair"Ikbir said but Nirvair still shook his head in denial.

"We can skip it,aap logo ne bht acche se mera welcome kiya h and I am content with that,kisi ko bhi mere pair chune ki zarurat nhi h"Nirvair said firm on his decision.

"Nirvair jiju, it's not degrading to us,you are the groom,our sister's life partner, it's just a way to show how much we respect you for holding out sister's hand for life and never leaving her"Lakshmi said and the Iyer's nodded at that.

Nirvair looked his Bela.

He still wasn't really okay with Ikbir touching his feet.

Bela who herself seemed to be thinking the same,at last nodded.

If they wanted to do this,and also it's was a ritual in their culture she couldn't change it,or not let it happen,it might hurt them.

Nirvair sighed but nodded then.

He again sat on the chair and Ikbir again kneeled infront of him and firstly washed his feet with water and then with sandalwood and kumkum and then again washed his feet with the water.

All the while Nirvair was getting very uncomfortable but couldn't say anything about it too.

As soon as Ikbir was done Nirvair sighed in relief,but it was yet remaining,Ikbir wiped his feet with a cloth and then finally got up.

Nirvair didn't knew what came over him but he hugged Ikbir.

He could see the live he holds for his sister.To be honest, Nirvair and Ikbir were never friends,they had their fair share of arguments in their school days but what he did today just made him respect Ikbir a lot.

He willingly was ready to wash his feet even though Ikbir didn't liked him much,just for his sister.

The live that he holds for his sister made Nirvair respect Ikbir a lot.

"Just keep my sister happy"Ikbir whispered and Nirvair nodded hearing that.

He would have to anyhow.

This family was treating him as some sort of king just because

he was Iknoor's would be husband,if they could show such unconditional respect and adoration for him he would have to keep Iknoor happy any how!

"Ab vadhu ko bulaya jaye"The Panditji said and the Ikbir and all his cousin brother's nodded and left the mandap to get their sister.