Chapter 168 Marriage


    Dakshin Bhartiya Empire, Hampi.


    It has been a week since thend has been distributed to the workers of the new territories, and a lot of things have happened. First, the elites in the new region became more and more united. Their goal was still unknown, but Vijay ordered Roshan to keep watch. Also, within the week, the first naval confrontation of the Hampi ss sloop with the Mughal Empire took ce. Fortunately, the result was not disappointing, as the Hampi ss sloop both outssed and outmanoeuvred the old Mughal frigates. Due to this confrontation in the eastern Naval base, Gautam also became a household name among the naval officers.


    One more surprising thing is that Hey Ram, who Vijay thought was a dense and rigid man, made a big move just after his visit to the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences. Hey Ram informed his rtives about Umashree. His rtives were very happy with this development and soon geared up and went to Umashree''s house to talk with her father.


    Fortunately, Umashree''s father also wanted the same thing. So, both families called a priest to settle on a date for the couple''s marriage. Surprisingly, the priest said the marriage should bepleted within the month, and he also informed that the nearest Shuba dhina (Good day) for marriage is due in a week. So yes, Hey Ram''s marriage will go ording to tradition and not how Vijay got married hurriedly. Well, that was because Vijay''s marriage took ce in a time of war, so Vijay had no time to waste. Anyway, Vijay had informed Kavya to attend the marriage process, and he would join her on the final day.


    Kavya got up this morning excited. Ever since bing the queen of the Empire, she was not able to do many things. While Vijay is quite liberal in his ways, Kavya does not want her actions to affect his reputation. She does not want her husband to be Rama for her. So, she herself held back. But participating in a traditional event like this is very rare for her. Vijay''s direct rtives are only the Shetty family, who do not have any children of marriageable age, nor do her direct rtives have any children of marriageable age; her nephew is still only 2 years old. Thinking about it, she bes emotional. ''It has already been two years since the fall of home,'' she thought. Although the region where her family originated, Maharashtra, was part of the Bharatiya Empire, she always felt that the ce where she grew up was her home. But she soon lost her mncholy, thinking that Vijay would sooner orter take back what should belong to this nation.


    Anyway, she excitedly dressed up in a beautiful green saree and left for the event.


    The first event was Nichayathartham, an event simr to an engagement in Western culture.


    She was warmly weed, and greeted by Hey Ram and his family. She was also given a separate chair that almost looked like a throne, and she sat down gracefully.


    Kavya noticed a te of sweets ced in front of her. Normally, she refrains from indulging in sweets ever since Vijay yfullymented, "If you eat too many sweets, you may be fat." Even though she understood Vijay said it in jest, she took those words to heart. The weight of her role as the Queen of such a vast and powerful empire often made her restless and uneasy. She was aware that not all of Vijay''s subjects fully embraced her as the queen. Additionally, the absence of an heir added to her uneasiness. Despite Vijay''s reassurances that the matter would be resolved in a few months, Kavya couldn''t shake off the feeling of unease.


    Anyway, back to the present, Kavya decided to treat herself well on this auspicious asion, taking adoo out of the numerous sweets ced in front of her. She took a small bite and eximed, "Mhm, tasty," looking like a chipmunk. But soon she remembered that she must stay modest. She secretly finished whatever was in her mouth and took small bites one at a time for the remaining part. Fortunately, she was sitting on a balcony all by herself with some guards.


    The event after Nichayathartham was sangeet, a really fun event where both familiese together and bond over songs and dances. Seeing the happy faces below, Kavya felt a hint of pity that she could not join them as she had to maintain the royal dignity. Apart from that, she enjoyed the spirited performance of the young girls and the rigid dance steps of Hey Ram. Seeing this, she couldn''t control herughter.


    The next event took ce at night, called haldhy. This event was nothing but applying posupu (turmeric) for both the bride and groom. This is done in the belief that posupu could ward off evil spirits. Usually, the posupu paste is applied to both the bride and groom in their homes and Kavya was in the home of the bride.


    Thest day of the marriage had arrived. And, as promised, Vijay also joined Kavya, wearing a white dhoti and saffron shawl.


    As Vijay entered the venue for the wedding, the security had been heightened, with guards meticulously checking everyone for weapons. Upon stepping into the temple, Hey Ram, apanied by Uma Shree''s father, personally greeted Vijay. Vijay warmly exchanged greetings with Hey Ram and his father-inw, expressing his joy at seeing Hey Ram settle down. As the director of the Bhartiya Academy of Military Sciences, stability in Hey Ram''s life was crucial. Vijay extended his blessings to Hey Ram, emphasizing, "Hey Ram, always remember, in a family where the wife is content because of her husband and the husband is also joyful because of his wife, only their prosperity resides - this is incontrovertible."


    Hey Ram bowed down to Vijay, taking the words that Vijay said to heart, and invited Vijay inside. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The first event of the day was Mangshnanam. The bride and bridegroom bathed in the secret waters of the temple, separately, of course. Next, after the bath, both Hey Ram and Umashree were brought to the Kalyana Mantapa (marriage tent? Anyway, it is four poles nted in the ground with coconut leaves on top for cover). The priest chanted many mantras and slokas. After a long wait, the Mai Maatral (exchange of flower gands) took ce. The Karnataka musicians continued to y the music throughout the ceremony.


    The next event considered a core part of Hindu marriage, took ce – Saptapadi. This ritual is nothing but walking seven steps around a Holy fire. This signifies the vows of each other and the responsibility of each other. After this event, rituals took ce for a few more moments until it was time to tie the knot.


    The Mangalsutra Daravana (equivalent to putting a ring on the finger) soon took ce. All the people, including Vijay and Kavya, who were provided separate seats, stood up and threw grain in their hands towards the couple as a blessing.


    The musicians also started to beat the ta loudly at this very moment. Umashree was in tears, and seeing this Kavya was also in tears. ''Why?'' Well, Vijay would say he is a scientist, not a god. Finally, after tying the knot, the thing the people were waiting for was the reception. It was when both families of the bride and groom fed the people who entered to bless the marriage. Vijay and Kavya had the food separately served to them. Finally, after Hey Ram''s marriage, Vijay and Kavya were nning to leave.


    But some sort ofmotion happened outside the temple. Vijay''sasked, "What is happening?" The guard beside Vijay enquired about the news and answered, "Your Majesty, it seems that some goons wanted to extort money from a guest entering the marriage outside the temple."


    Vijay frowned upon hearing this and asked a stern question, "Are events like thismon?" If so, Vijay would be very angry with the local police. But fortunately, the guard soon answered, "It is not like that, Your Highness. It is said that the guest who was harassed owed a lot of money to this specific person and did not pay the money back. So, the person employed this gang to extort the money. This kind of thing is quite rare."


    Vijay''s tension eased slightly. While he was not condoning such behaviour, he understood that the absence of a proper financial regtion infrastructure contributed to such incidents. Witnessing this, he realized the need to expedite the establishment of such regtions.


    "Okay, send these people to the police station and leave half of the guards in the temple to provide security for the people."


    "But, Your Majesty, what about your security?"


    "Don''t worry about me. Out of my 500 guards, there will still be 200 by me, so you don''t have to worry."


    The guard hesitantly agreed and sent the orders to his deputy to stay in the temple. He led the 200 guards and followed Vijay out of the temple.


    Inside the temple, as soon as Vijay left, a person among the guests dressed in white attire like a Brahmin saw this scene and muttered, "Alhamdulih, this kafir''s time hase." He turned around and signalled to a servant carrying flowers near the gate. The boy, as if waiting for the signal, soon climbed up a tree with the flowers and started to decorate the tree to reduce suspicion. But when he was on the tree, he sent a secret hand signal to a certain person standing in the crowd, watching the goons making trouble outside the temple premises. As soon as he saw the signal at the corner of his eye, he left the scene. "Ahu Akbar, the n must seed," he said as he disappeared into an alleyway.


    P.S. Hey Ram, in real life, is one of my good friends, and we boys always tease him in ss by calling this girl Umashree''s name. He is kind of like the guy who mingles effortlessly between all the small groups in ss. So, this marriage chapter is dedicated to him, and My blessing for it to happen in real life too. Hoping for my dear readers'' blessings.