Ikbir,Gaurav,Tejas,Naman,Shubham and some of their friends walked towards the mandap, holding a flower blanket above Iknoor.

Iknoor tried to smile as she tried to brush away her nervousness.Her hold on her thatha and Nanu's hand tightened as they both walked on either of her sides.

Many gasps were heard as everyone turned towards the bride as she entered into the wedding premises.





                      (Her hairstyle)

Nirvair took a sharp breath as his eyes too followed her.

She looked ethereal.

His eyes didn't blink even for once till she walked towards the mandap, standing right in front of him.

"Maalai maatrai,ka samay ho gaya h"The Panditji said as soon as they stood in front of each other.

Flower garlands were handed over to both of them.

Iknoor's hands were literally sweating as she looked at Nirvair.

He looked so handsome.

She had never imagined the vesthi and white shirt to look this good on someone.

The way his eyes stared at her gave her butterflies in her stomach.

"Ek dusre ko ghurna band karo aur varmala pehnao ek dusre ko"Abeer said and a burst of laughter was heard from around them.

Both immediately averted their gazes.

Before either of them could even try to put the varmala around eachother's neck,they both were lifted off the ground by their brother's and friends.

Iknoor held onto her brother's shoulder with one hand trying to balance herself and not fall down.

Nirvair on the other hand was pretty calm,he wasn't struggling at all with being held high in the air.

"Noorie,daal de maala"Ikbir said.

"Bhai aap dalo pehele!"Shivansh said from the other side.

Iknoor tried to put the varmala around Nirvair,but even though she was held high by her brother's, Nirvair still towered over her.Firstly he was already very tall and when he was being held high by his brother's and friends,he went on more height making it difficult for Iknoor to put the varmala around him.

Nirvair on the other hand had the upper hand,he was already tall and so he easily put the varmala around Iknoor without struggling for even a bit.

Cheers from the groom's side were heard as Nirvair put the maala around Iknoor.

"Yrrr!!"Gaurav Anna said as they wanted Iknoor to put the maala first.

"Koi nhi tu daal de ab Noorie"Tejas Anna said and Iknoor tried to put it around Nirvair but he was really very tall.

She sighed when after her 4th attempt also she wasn't able to put the varmaala around him.

"Bhabhi,itni aasani se thodi hamara Bhai aapke haath aayega!"Ali said as he along with everyone laughed.

"Hame kya?aap hi log delay kr rahe h,phir kahi muhurat na chala jaaye"Meher bhabhi said but they all didn't budged at all.

Iknoor stared at Nirvair who had a smirk on his face.She made a determined face and again tried putting the varmala around his neck,but he was quick to get back and she was unsuccessful.

Again.

"Noorie chal na yaar!ek maala hi toh h!"Lakshmi said and Iknoor had enough now.

She can't let him tease her like this!

"Noorie daal de puttar!"Her Nani's voice came.

Shivansh,Ali,Abeer,Hriday and Kartik were busy teasing her as her attempts were unfruitful.

Iknoor again leaned forward to put the maal around Nirvair, but Nirvair again tried to move back but this time she threw the varmala and it went straight around his neck.



Everyone cheered loudly as they saw it.

Nirvair had an amused reaction to her action.

"Kya nishana tha!"Kartik said as they finally put Nirvair down on his feet.

Loud cheers and claps were heard as finally the varmala ritual was done.

"Chalo ab mandap mein beth jao dono"Nirvair's choti maa said and the duo nodded at that.

"Nhi,nhi,onjal ka samay h,waha bethiye dono"The Panditji said and the Sehgal's were yet again blank as to what ritual would be done now.

A swing which was beautifully decorated with flowers of different kinds was placed on the opposite side of the mandap.Nirvair and Iknoor were asked to sit on it together.



"Jese yeh jhula jhulte jhulte aage peeche hota h,upar neeche jaata h,wese hi jeevan mein bhi bht baar aisa alag alag padav aayenge,jese ab aap saath bethe h jhula jhulte jhulte,wese hi jeevan bhar aap dono ko hrr uuch neech ko saath rehkr hi sambhalna h,phir hi pyaar aur ek dusre ka saath prapt hoga aapko"The Panditji said and the Sehgal's were in aww.

It was such a cute ceremony,but the meaning it had was deep and very important for any married couple to understand.

One by one everyone was supposed to push the swing and the couple just had to sit on,traditional songs were being sung by the ladies in the background.

The couple was finally escorted in the mandap and they were made to sit on their respective places.

The Panditji then began with the Shiv-parvathi Puja.In this ritual the groom represents Lord Shiva while the bride is goddess Parvati.As their's was a heavenly connection,keeping away all the setbacks the two had a legendary reunion,the married couple is also said to follow the same and no matter what happens,they have to get back together.

Iknoor and Nirvair put the aahuti in the havan kund as and when asked by the Panditji.

The Panditji was explaining each and every ritual and the meaning behind it very clearly and the Sehgal's all felt it to be so meaningful,it was new for them but each ritual had a dept in it.

"Kanyadanam ka samay ho gaya h"The panditji said and the Sehgal's were a bit surprised hearing that because they haven't even done the pheras yet and are directly doing the kanyadan.

"Pr hamari shadi mein toh kanyadan last mein hua tha na?"Hriday asked looking at his wife who nodded at that.

"Maybe south Indian weddings mein alag hota hoga"Aayat said and he nodded at that then because a lot of rituals were different in the north and South Indian weddings.

A chair was brought and kept in the mandap beside the bride's place.

The Sehgal's were yet again confused,why would they need a chair for kanyadan?

"Kanya ke pita aage aakr kanyadan kare"The Panditji said and the Iyer family became gloomy after hearing that.

Iknoor's eyes turned glassy with the emotions she was feeling right now.

Her father won't be able to do it.He wasn't here for that.

The Sehgal's too felt bad for her,it was a significant ritual in any marriage after all,also the most emotional one too.

"Ikbir aur Meher karenge Kanyadan"Iknoor's nani said and the whole family nodded at that.

Ikbir was shocked hearing that.

How can he do it when his thatha,nanu,Periappa,chittappa everyone was here?

"Nanu,mein kese karu?aap h,thatha h,Periappa h,chittappa h,aapka haq h yeh toh"Ikbir said.

"Tumne iska jitna dhyan rakha h,utna hamne nhi rakha h,you are like a shield for her,protecting her from every problem"His thatha said looking at him.

"Tu uske liye uske baap aur bhai dono ka fraz nibha raha h Ikbir,tune kabhi usse kisi bhi cheez ki kami nhi hone di h,tujhe hi kanyadan krna chahiye "His nanu too said and Ikbir was touched hearing that.

Iknoor smiled hearing that.

It was true.

Her Bhai had always made sure she was happy,without any problems,he had always been there for her when she had needed.She was a strong girl and she knew it,but she knew when things go out of her hands and she can't handle them anymore she just has to tell her brother and he would move the world to make her happy again.

That was the depth of their relationship.She was just his sister but he has been a brother,father and a mother for her since they had lost their parents.

He would annoy her,make her cry too at times but if she cried because of any other person or because of a problem he would make sure to put things in their right places and never let her cry again.

Ikbir stared his sister who was sitting in the mandap in her bridal attire.He wasn't sure if she would want this.

But a smile made it's way on his lips when he saw her nodding her head at him gesturing him to do it.

He too agreed to do it then.

He sat on the chair and his wife stood beside him.Iknoor and Nirvair got up from the mandap and stood infront of Ikbir.

Iknoor slowly sat on her brother's lap.

The Sehgal's were a bit confused seeing that.

They didn't knew what was happening.

"Jese ek Kanya bachapan mein apne pita ki godd mein khelkr badi hui h,aur ussi pita ne apni beti ka bht khayal rakha h,bht prem kiya h usse,wese hi woh pita chahta h ki uska damad,yani ki uski beti ka honewala pati bhi wese hi uska khayal rakhe,usse prem kare,aisi aasha krte huye woh pita apni putri ka haath var ke haath mein deta h,ki aaj se yeh tumhari zimmedari h"The panditji said explaining the meaning of this ritual.

Everyone got emotional when they heard it,this was the most beautiful yet emotional ritual of a wedding.

Giving away your daughter to anyone is not an easy thing,the daughter you have taken care of as a piece of your heart her whole life and then one day giving her away to someone else.

Iknoor's periamma,chittamma,nani,Patti,Lakshmi,her brother's, thatha,nanu,Periappa,chittappa everyone were crying as they saw it.

Their lil girl was going away.

The Sehgal's too had tears in their eyes,well the ladies did.

Hriday too had a tear rolling down his eyes which he immediately wiped away before anyone could see it.Aayat squeezed his hand as she too wiped her own tears.

They too had a daughter and one day she will go away too.

Ikbir tried not to let his own tears fall but failed at it when he was supposed to give his sister's hand in Nirvair's.

He was giving her to someone else now.

Iknoor's eyes turned teary too when she saw everyone crying,she had been controlling herself but couldn't when even he bhai was crying.

Nirvair held on her right hand in his own,he could understand her emotions,he had sister's too.

In that moment,he vowed that even if he would not be able to make this marriage work,he would try not to hurt her ever,not to make her cry ever because of him.

Meher bhabhi sprinkled holy water on their adjoined hands,to purify this connection and to keep all the evil eyes away from them.



Iknoor then got up from her brother's lap but turned and hid her face in his chest as tears slipped from her eyes.

"Roo mat,rote huye...ekdam chudail jesi lagti h"Ikbir said as his own tears flowed down too.

Iknoor slapped his chest and chuckled in between her tears.

"Chal ab,roo mat,mein toh Mumbai mein hi honewala hu na?kuch badlega thodi abse,tujhe jab bhi meri zarurat hogi mein hu na waha!....stop crying now"He said as he broke the hug and wiped her tears gently with his handkerchief trying not to ruin her makeup,talking to her as if she was a lil kid.

Iknoor nodded at that then and tried to stop her tears.

"Chalo,abse atleast roz toh teri badsurat shakal nhi dekhni padegi"He said and Iknoor glared at him while he chuckled at her.

Her brother was a dog.

She had unnecessaryily thought so good about him.

"You are a dog"Iknoor said and everyone laughed at that.

This brother-sister duo can literally fight anywhere!

"Muhuratam ho gaya h"The Panditji said and they all again focused on the marriage then.

The couple was made to sit in the mandap again.

The groom's family was already informed that they would have to bring a red silk kancheepuram saree for the bride which she will wear before she is made to wear  the mangalsutra or the thali.

As Maahi was the elder sister she was supposed to wrap the saree around Iknoor's shoulder for now.

"Sindoor daan kijiye"The Panditji said forwarding the bowl of sindoor to Nirvair who took it.

He took a pinch of sindoor between his thumb and index finger and leaned towards Iknoor,he applied the sindoor in the middle of her hair partition.

"Yaha pr bhi lagao"Iknoor's Patti said as she showed him to apply the sindoor in the middle of her eyebrows as well.

Nirvair did as he was told and applied it there too.A pinch of it falling down on her nose making everyone hoot as it meant the husband loved his wife a lot.

"Ohho bhabhi"Abeer teased her making her cheeks go red.

"Noorie jaa pehele jaldi se saree badalkr aa"Her nani said and Iknoor got up from the mandap.

"Arre pr shadi kaha hui h abhi?"Twinkle chachi said.

"Ladki thali(mangalsutra) ladke walo ki taraf se di hui sadi mein pehenkr pehenti h"Periamma said and the Sehgal's nodded at that.

Nirvair was waiting for his bride to come wearing another saree.

"Ab toh yahi life h teri,biwi ka wait karo"Ali teased him and Nirvair rolled his eyes hearing that while every married men in the wedding hall agreed to it.

After waiting for a good amount of time,Iknoor came back wearing that red silk kancheepuram saree her in law had gifted to her,this marked her acceptance in their family.

She again sat beside Nirvair.

The Panditji then offered the thali to Nirvair after showing it to everyone present there as they would be the witness of this union.

It was a bright yellow thread which ad a gold pendant in between it,the thread is replaced by the gold chain by the groom after a few days of the marriage.

Nirvair was meant to stand and make her wear the thali.



Everyone threw flower petals and yellow rice covered in haldi on them and the classical music went fast as he was tying the thali around her neck.

The first two knots were done by him but for the third knot Maahi was called as the groom's sister tied the third knot as a witness to this union.

"Saptapadi shuru krte h"The Panditji again said.

Nirvair and Iknoor stood up in the mandap.They didn't do any gathbandhan instead they had to interlock their pinky fingers with each other and walk around the holy fire seven times.



The Panditji started chanting the mantras and explaining the meaning of each Phera.

They took seven rounds around the holy fire with the other's throwing flower petals on them.

Then came the toe ring ceremony.The groom has to bend down in front of the bride and make her wear the toe ring himself in front of everyone.



Nirvair bent down in front of Iknoor,her foot was placed against a granite stone.

He very gently made her wear the toe rings in both of her feet.

As that was done too, everyone hooted loudly.

Finally!

"Vivah sampanna hua,aaj se aap dono pati-patni h"The Panditji said and that was it.

Everyone smiled and congratulated each other,finally the marriage was done.

Both the families had bright smiles on their faces witnessing this union.

The bride and the groom were then asked to take everyone's blessings.

Nirvair and Iknoor walked towards his family first,the Sehgal's didn't allow her to touch their feet but Nirvair anyways had to touch everyone's feet.

When they came to the Iyer family,Iknoor and Nirvair touched everyone's feet.

They both were then again made to sit in the mandap because a few post wedding rituals were left.

Now everyone was excited for this one because they were going to be fun rituals.

A pot was kept infront of them and they both knew what it was about.They had to find the ring in that pot,the one who finds it first,dominates the marriage.It was only a one time thing and they both were ready for it.

No matter if Nirvair wasn't okay with this wedding and all,he can't lose this because his siblings will not leave a chance to tease him then.

Iknoor on the other hand had the same thought,she can't lose this to him,never!



"Come on bhai!!"Aashi cheered for her brother obviously.

"Noorie chal!!!"Lakshmi and Meher bhabhi cheered for Iknoor.

Both had their fair share of supporters cheering for them to win.

They both were focused to get it anyhow now.

As soon as the Panditji put the ring into the pot both put their hand inside it.Now they realised it was difficult because the pot had a narrow mouth and so their hands were pressed against each other.

Iknoor didn't think about anything except finding the ring.Her hand tried to search for the ring,his too trying to do the same,their hands touched each other's a lot of times because there wasn't much space inside the pot.

"Mil gayi!!!"Iknoor beamed loudly as she found the ring and showed it to everyone.

"Kya yrr bhai!!!haar gaye na!"Shivansh said his brother lost the game.

"Koi nhi,wese bhi shadi mein biwi hi dominating hoti h"Hriday said and everyone chuckled hearing that while Nirvair rolled his eyes hearing that.

He was never going to listen to anyone.

"Nirvair Sehgal haar gaya!"Ali teased him and Nirvair ignored it thoroughly.

They did another ritual then,in which the couple had to throw yellow rice puffs on each other's heads,the one who throws most of it wins,it was just a fun ritual.

The plate with the rice puffs was kept in between them and both were facing eachother.

As soon as the Panditji asked them to begin,both collected a handful of rice puffs and threw it on each other's heads resulting everyone to laugh at them.