Engagement Day

Part 3

Both the family agreed, more importantly Madhu and I had the same feelings towards each other, Oct 24th 2010 Sunday was decided as the Engagement day.

Alarm went off. It was 3:00 in the morning. I had hardly slept for few hours after talking to Madhu late in the night and to wish my best buddy for the B'Day. The later didn't happened even after multiple tries. I could hardly open my eyes. We had to reach Kanakapura, which is an hour drive from Bangalore and from there all the way to meet my love, which is of 6 hrs drive to Somwarpet. Mom came for my help to get out of the bed at 3:15. Mom, Pramod, all my Mamas, Attes and I left to Kanakapura and reached there around 5:30 AM. I had argued with my mom in wearing a gold chain before leaving home. Somehow she fixed me to listen to Dodappa in Kanakapura and he made me to wear :) ... love you mom. I don't know why but I don't like gold stuffs and knowing that I will listen to Dodappa she kept it with her till Kanakapura. We left Kanakapura at 6 AM. All my relatives in Kanakapura were in the bus and all of us who left from Bangalore were in Qualis. Having nice fun, talk and a stop for breakfast we were in the picturesque, green, scenic Malnad region - Somwarpet at around 11:30 AM. Man ... the person on the pilot seat really stepped on the gas.

Unlike all the engagement in our family that had happened at the girl's house, mine was in a party hall. It was a warm welcome with Arathi to start with; for which I had to pay quite a few bucks until they stopped asking for more :). By the way what is the purpose of Arathi?. Anyway followed then was introduction of her family members, soft drink. Camera light flashed. Adarsh, Madhu's brother, being a professional photographer had took care of this along with his friends. I was searching for my love. Where is she? ಪುಟ್ಟ ಬಾರೋ ಬೇಗ ಅಂತ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಕೇಳ್ತಾ ಇತ್ತು. Madhu's mama told me that if I would like to freshen up, they have a room in the floor above and Madhu is in next room of mine. My relatives were busy with hers in setting up for the day. Wink ;) My heart rushed to see her. Neatly dressed and with a hint of over makeup, she stood there speechless. Hi .. I stretched my hand. She was a bit hesitant. She looked around waiting for someone to give a green signal; guess she was baffled :). Kumar uncle who was next to me said "ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ ಕೈ ಕೊಡಬಹುದು". She then stretched her hand and shook with mine. My relatives and I then left to my room to get ready for the day. My brother who had controlled to answer his nature call, left his pant and went inside the restroom. When he came out he was with short towel wrapped around :) in-front of everyone [Of-course with only gentlemen inside the room]. The elders of both the family gathered in my room to decide upon the marriage stuffs. Marriage date was fixed on Feb 12th, 13th 2011 at Somwarpet. All through the conversation between elders, I was looking at my love. It was around 12:45 PM when the elderly talks was done. The stage was set for 1:30 PM. With another 45 min left for the engagement to start. I was just spending time walking and talking to her relatives. She was sitting with Vibha and Shubha, her cousins. Our eyes met and I winked at her. She was smiling and blushing :).

She was in the maroon saree. We both walked together to the stage. She was asked to be seated first and then I. We both set the stage remembering almighty in mind. All the eyes in the hall was watching us. Damn that was scary for few seconds. Garlands were exchanged and it was her who was first to put the garland. Rings were glowing, we both exchanged and decided to spend the rest of our life together and again it was her who was first to adore the ring. Why it should always start with girls? It was part of the customary as said by elders. I made promise to her and myself in my heart while exchanging the ring - "ಪುಟ್ಟ ಏನೇ ಆದರು ನಾನು ನಿನ್ನ ಜೊತೆ ಯಾವಾಗಲು ಇರ್ತೀನಿ. I Love you a lot ಮುದ್ದು". Everybody clapped and we exchanged sweets. It was then the blessings followed by photo session with family, friends and relatives. A funny incident was her granny blessings. She took a hint of ಹರಿಶಿನ and rubbed against my cheeks :). This customary is done only for the girls. When her granny was doing this to me I could hear Maddy saying "ಅಜ್ಜಿ, ಅದೆಲ್ಲ ಹುಡುಗರಿಗೆ ಮಾಡಬಾರದು". And granny replied "ಏನಾಗಲ್ಲ ಇರಮ್ಮ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪಾನೆ ಹಾಕೋದು". It was a long; an hour and a half of photo session. I was tired and hungry. We touched the feet and took the blessings of my mom, ದೊಡಪ್ಪ, ದೊಮಮ್ಮ, her mom, dad and other elders. We again had a photo session. This time it was Madhu and I, together, posing in different styles :). The best I liked was when I held her shoulders and pulled towards me. Damn ... Mr. Praveen is so close to "going to be Mrs. Praveen" for the first time :).

We were now allowed to eat :). We sat next to each other, gave morsel of food to each other and more sweets were exchanged. My chikkappa, who wanted to pull our legs, wanted her name to be told by me and my name to be told by her. She was a bit shyish telling my name :). We were asked to exchange the sweets again :(. " ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಸಾಕು ಬಿಟ್ಬಿಡಿ please. Sweets ತಿಂದು ತಿಂದು ಸಕಾಯ್ತು :( ಅನ್ಕೊತಿದ್ದೆ ". After food we left to meenakshi aunt's house to take blessings of Madhu's grandparents. She was next to me in the car. We were four in the back seat; shubha was sitting on meenakshi aunt's lap. I wish she had the seat and Madhu on my lap :). I wanted to hold her hand, stretched my palm but she was too shyish to hold before meenakshi aunt. We took the blessings of her grandparents and left to her house. She again sat next to me. On the way, I badly wanted to hold her hand. By GOD's grace this happened when Madhu's ಮಾಮ met us on the midway in another car and shubha, meenakshi aunt moved to the other car. I stretched my palm again. This time Madhu placed hers on mine. I held her hand tightly and close to my heart and said "Love you ಪುಟ್ಟ" and she replied "Love you too ಪುಟ್ಟ". This is one of the unforgettable moment of our life. That was close to the heart. We stopped on the main road and were walking to her house. Mountains right in front of her house was too photogenic to watch. One day I will get close to those mountains, I said to myself. I was asked to get out of her house just after 5 min of entering :). Some customary of ರಾಹುಕಾಲ. I was out of the house. Wanted to see her very badly. Messaged her asking her to come out. She came out and signed to come near to her :). My chikkappa, brother who was watching this pulled my legs - "ಹೋಗಪ್ಪ ಮನೆಯವರು ಕರೀತಿದ್ದಾರೆ". I climbed the steps and raised my head. Oops where is she :(. Someone else had called her and she went inside :(. Finally it was the time to bid adieu. She was standing there, our eyes met again. Wish I could stop the time forever. We all walked back to the main road. My heart was searching for her again. One last time for the day I wanted to see her. She was not there. ತುಂಬಾ ಸಂಕಟ ಆಗ್ತಿತ್ತು. We were about to leave the place, there she comes on the back seat of his brother's bike. My heart pounded with joy. For the first time she stretched her hand and said - "Many more happy returns of the day in advance. Have a safe journey". Next day it was my birthday. I shook her hand and said "Thanks. ಆದ್ರೆ call ಮಾಡಿ wish ಮಾಡೋದು ಮಾತ್ರ ಮರೀಬೇಡ :)". Wanted to hold her hand forever but had no other option. I looked in her eyes and my inner voice talked to her "Love you ಪುಟ್ಟ". Stepped inside the car and left to Bangalore. We reached Bangalore at around 11:45 PM. At 12:00 in the night she calls me to wish for my birthday. We talked and remembered the moments of the day before hitting the bed.

- To be continued