Billionaire’s Love From India

Lavanya’s henna color was much darker this time. She smiled, looking at it as she sat down on the decorated couch with her maternal uncle for the Chura and Kaleere ceremony.

Her maternal uncle started putting the Chura(a set of traditional red and white bangles that is given to the bride by her maternal uncle) on both her wrists. Her uncle covered the Chura with the cloth as it is considered inauspicious if the bride saw her Chura before the wedding day. After Chura, her maternal uncle put on Kaleere(A beautiful golden accessory worn on the wrists. They are beautifully hung like tiny chandeliers on the bangles) on her wrists.

Eden, Jaime, Ray, Kristina, and Edward got surprised, witnessing this ritual. Everyone blessed Lavanya.

Lavanya got up, and Sakshi asked her cousins to kneel down in front of Lavanya for a ceremony because the bride shakes the Kaleere worn by her on all the unmarried girls and boys present, and it is believed that if any part or leaf of the Kaleere falls on anyone, she or he will be the next one to get married. Lavanya started shaking the Kaleere on her cousins, but it didn’t fall on anyone. She called Jaime and asked her to sit down.

“Do I have to do this, sister-in-law?” Jaime asked while sitting down on her knees.

“Don’t worry. It’s just like how we throw the bouquet at the Christian Wedding.” Lavanya started shaking the Kaleere over Jaime, and a part of her Kaleere suddenly fell on Jaime.

Lavanya picked it up with a smile and gave it to Jaime. “I know you’re next in the line. I can’t wait to attend your wedding.” She hugged her.

***

The hair stylist was working on Lavanya’s hair, tying them into a beautiful bun and decorating her hair with flowers and with a Kundan Chained Mangtika (a part of the Indian Jewellery a bride wears onto her forehead). A matching Kundan necklace was tied around her neck while she wore the matching earrings. The make-up artist applied the dark-red lipstick onto her lips, finishing her make-up.

Niharika entered the room. “Oh my god! You’re looking so gorgeous, Lavanya.”

“I am feeling nervous, Bhabhi.”

“Why are you feeling nervous? It’s your big day.” Niharika removed the covers, which were covering her Chura, and Lavanya’s eyes fell on the white dazzling bangle on which Eden’s name was written with Red stones. She replied, looking at it, “I don’t know. I hope everything goes well without any problems.”

“Everything will be fine.” Niharika helped her in wearing the Kaleere and tucked the long red dupatta (scarf) on her bun. She touched her cheek. “Don’t be nervous. Everything will be fine when you will sit beside Eden and hold his hand.”

Lavanya smiled and saw Jaime and Kristina entering the room. They both were dressed in beautiful lehengas.

“Wow. Indian brides look so beautiful. I wish I could get ready like this for my wedding.” Jaime said.

“Okay Lavanya, I will come to take you when the priest calls you.” Niharika left the room.

Kristina took in her gorgeous appearance. “Eden is really lucky.”

“Is he ready?”

“Yeah, your brother is helping him.”

In another room, Eden was looking at the designer light almond color outfit Daksh gave to him. Seeing him staring at the outfit like this, Daksh frowned. “Don’t stare at it. You have to wear it.”

“Will it look good on me?”

“We will find out once you wear it.” Daksh pushed Eden into the bathroom. Edward and Ray laughed at him.

He came out, changing into the outfit. Daksh adjusted his outfit a little and made him wear an expensive Stone Studded Chain around his neck. He held the designer Sehra (Headgear) adorned with a stone studded designer brooch called Kalingi and beaded lace and patch border work. He placed it on Eden’s head and pinned a four chained Peacock brooch on the left side of his outfit, completing his look.

“You’re looking like a King of India.” Edward laughed, looking at him.

Eden glared at him. “You should be thanking God that I can’t beat you today.”

“I don’t want to see you guys fighting right now. We should leave this room. It’s almost time for the ceremony to start.” Daksh took all of them out of the room to the garden where the mandap (A temporary setup where Indian wedding rituals are performed) was decorated with flowers.

Kristina, Jaime, Ray, and Edward sat on the chairs arranged for the guests. Sakshi asked Eden to sit down, and the priest instructed him to do some rituals. Daksh translated everything for him the priest was saying into English.

“Call the bride!” The priest asked Daksh to call Lavanya. Daksh went inside Lavanya’s room to get her, and a tear rolled down his cheek when he saw Lavanya dressed up as a Bride. She walked near him. “Bhai, Ro kyu rahe ho (Brother, Why are you crying)?”

“You will go back to London soon. I still can’t believe that my little Lavanya is grown up. I am seeing her as a bride.” He kissed her forehead.

Niharika entered the room. “Daksh, Pandit Ji (Priest) is calling her. She is getting late for the wedding.”

“Yeah, Let’s go.” He forwarded his hand in Lavanya’s direction, and she happily placed her hand on his.

Daksh held the blanket made of flowers with his cousin brothers over Lavanya’s head as she walked down the aisle with Niharika, Shreya, and her cousins by her side. Eden took a deep breath, taking in Lavanya’s beauty in the red lehenga. Niharika helped Lavanya to stand beside Eden.

Niharika gave them the garlands, and the flower petals showered on them when they exchanged the garlands. Lavanya sat beside Eden, joining her hands in front of the sacred fire. The priest gave Sindoor (Vermillion) to Eden, asking him to fill Lavanya’s hair partition with it.

Daksh told him in English what to do with the vermillion, but Eden already knew about it. Niharika lifted the Lavanya’s mang tika, and Eden smiled while carefully filling the partition of her hair with the vermillion. The priest forwarded the nuptial chain in his direction. He tied it around Lavanya’s neck.

The priest called Jaime to tie the knot between them for the seven circumambulations. Niharika helped Jaime to tie the knot, and Eden and Lavanya stood up for the circumambulations around the sacred fire.

Eden took the lead in the first four circumambulations, and Lavanya took the lead in the last three as they took the vows after completing each circumambulation. The priest explained the importance and meaning of each vow to them, and Aakash translated them into English for Eden.

The guests and family members showered them with rose petals, and their wedding ended happily as they took everyone’s blessing. Lavanya was feeling very tired, and it was almost sleeping time, so she slept with Eden after having dinner and changing her clothes.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

The next day, Eden got ready and went downstairs. Sakshi went into Lavanya’s room to wake her up. “Lavanya, wake up. Get ready for the rituals and fishing the ring game.”

“Let me sleep, mom. The marriage is over. What rituals are left now? And the game can be played later.” She covered her face with the blanket.

Sakshi snatched the blanket from her. “That is also a part of rituals. Eden has woken up before you. You should wake up before him.”

She sat on the bed, brushing her hair with her fingers. “So what if he has woken up before me? If I should have been at my in-laws home right now, I should have woken up early, but I am at my own home, and Eden is at his in-laws home, so he should wake up early according to this.”

Sakshi placed her hand on her head. Seeing this, Lavanya said, “I will come downstairs soon.”

“Don’t come like this in your night suit. Wear this.” Sakshi placed the red saree on the bed.

Lavanya got ready, wearing the saree, and went downstairs. Eden, who was eagerly waiting for her to come downstairs, forgot to blink his eyes when he saw her look.