Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

- Rumi on love.

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She corrected the pleats of her saree, she was looking like a beautiful indian women wrapped in purple and pink Banarasi silk saree which did justice to her beauty.

It was expected of her to wear something like this on such event because a simple salwar suit won't work. The women who adorns saree is the prettiest.

There was something beautiful with these 7 yards. They made a little girl turn a woman irrespective of the age. But when it comes to saree it's a fact that they make you look beautiful but there is a parallel issue with it. With great saree comes the responsibility.

That is how it goes, to handle the pleats is not just another job. It's a responsibility.

It is when you decide to arrange and adjust your future. Our culture is anyway obsessed with saree alot and the women who know how to handle the pleats and parts of saree, is learning to handle the norms of her society. So the funny part is saree is something which actually exposes your body part but it is fun to see your mother wearing it in such a way that her nothing is exposed. All set and arranged in a beautiful way. A LENGTHY LESSON, sure it is.

Alaknanda arranged everything properly, it was her first lesson to get into grishasthashram  of life. Grihasthashram in sanskrit means learning the ethics of household. The time in every person's life where he learns to handle kids and other responsibilities and most important relationship with husband.

The lesson of love and responsiblities.

'Alka, you are looking beautiful.'

'Thanks maa, but I am very nervous. It is something out of the blue. Are you sure I am ready to face this?'

'It is not going to be easy, and you will never know how ready you are? But once you are in this process of marriage then only you can understand it better. May be your ladoo can be sweeter than other or it becomes 'methi ladoo' which is very bitter.(Ref: Shadi ka ladoo). Do it once for me and then you decide whether you want to go ahead with this process or no. I am assuring you no emotional  blackmail from my side too. I will be with you in this journey.'

Alka gave her mother a nod and looked herself in the mirror. All draped in saree and jewellery she was ready to take the first step. It was odd for her or for any girl to meet a stranger and decide on the journey which is supposed to be life long. But this was it, the guy was about to come and he can be anything.

'I should have atleast taken a look at the man's bio-data for marriage.'

Alka thought in her mind, she didn't even knew the name of that person. She was sure that the guy will now think of her as foolish when she will ask his name. Let us see, how it will be.

As the evening birds at 5 chimed and the sun was in hurry to set as it was winters striking. The doorbell of Goyal house rang creating anxiety inside and outside the house between both the families. They both were well dressed looking decently and ready for the new chapter of their lives.

It was a new chapter for everybody in the family as they now all will be changing their roles. Mother's to mother-in-law, father's to father-in-law, it was not only the change in Alka but also every part of the family will go through the change.

Vrinda Devi welcomed the guest with both the hands folded together and bowing her head. A lady dressed in same banarasi saree which resembled Alka's and Vrinda Devi was standing with elegant smile on her face.

Banarasi saree had its own significance for the people of North India, the gold and silver jari work not only made the saree a sign of royalty but was also evident in claiming the person's class and status. More expensive the saree more attraction the person got from the crowd.

Obviously, on this special day nobody would have left a chance to show their family's whereabouts in a sense of a saree. The lady clad in the saree had a mixture of emotions on her face elegance, arrogance and subtle smile which made her an authoritative figure she was beside her man who was well dressed in a suit looking stoic and his personality did justice to his government qualification.

'Aaiye, Agarwal ji.'

Brijesh and Vrinda devi Goyal welcomed the guests with warmth. The couple entered with them there was also a young lady dressed in a same manner like other who was middle aged around her 30s and have charming smile.

'She is our daughter Lata, she has come from her in laws place for the meeting today.'

'Oh please welcome.' Vrinda devi said with a smile. Lata and her mother Ragini Agarwal was seated in other room with Alka's grandmother Suhasini devi while both the gentlemen were seated in the lawn area.

Vrinda devi all messed up with the hustle and bustle going around her kitchen trying to keep up with the timing of serving tea coffee with other eateries and at side handling Alka's nervous outbursts.

'Our Alaknanda is very talented when it comes to handling kitchen duties.'

'She is just learning.' Vrinda devi interrupted Suhasini so she does not set an high expectations for in-laws which would be difficult for her daughter in future.

'It's okay it was difficult for me also to handle household chores before marriage.' Lata said relaxing Vrinda devi.

'Yes, beta.'

'We are eager to meet Alaknanda please call her.' Ragini said in the quest to know her future daughter in law more.

'Yes I will get her.'

Vrinda devi went to call her daughter who was a nervous wreck but it was a beginning to something new.

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