"You are my destiny"
Vijay parked his 2 wheeler outside the temple. They both entered inside, the temple was calm and quiet as it's morning 10'o clock, only a few devotees were seen here and there.
While taking a round in the outer courtyard, anitha noticed Vijay being a bit nervous. Why?What for? she thought, but she didn't ask.
Then they went to the main 'karpagraha' where Goddess 'Devi Kamakshi' was seen fully decorated in beautiful attire, jewels and garlands, she was offering blessings to her devotees with a peaceful smiling face.
They both stand in front of her opposite to each other as there was a partition for men and women. Nobody was around except them. The priest came outside and asked their names for 'archana'. He said 'anitha', and she said 'vijay' , priest went inside and started chanting mantras.
Anitha gestured him to join both his hands together, and pray the God, he nodded and did the same. With a smile, she also joined her hands together and closed her eyes, started praying herself, " He should be happy always, keep him blessed Ma... He should get a suitable girl in near future as his life partner, who will take care of everything about him and pour lots and lots of love over him and accept him as the way he is...... while she was praying, she felt something was crawling at her nape of neck. She opened her eyes, to her shock, Vijay was standing in front of her so close and tying the knot around her neck with a smiling face. In utter disbelief, her eyes widened, she looked down at her chest, to her fear, it's nothing but the 'mangal sutra'. Her breath hitch, She looked up stunning and speechless, looked into his eyes without blinking. At the same time, he was also looking at her, with that unfading smile in his face, he completed the 3 sacred knots.
All through this event, the priest standing next to him, chanting "mangalyam thantunane..." , and both Gayatri and Rajesh were standing beside and blessing them with the ritual 'manjal-rice' (akshatha) added with flowers. The few devotees who were seen inside the temple also gathered around them and blessed them with the flowers given to them.
When Vijay finished with the knots, the priest asked him to keep 'kumkum' over the 'mangal sutra'. He did it dutifully. The priest also handed garlands to both of them and asked them to exchange. Vijay did it readily whereas Anitha didn't even move her hands an inch. Gayatri hold Anitha's hands and assisted her to lift them up, put them around Vijay's neck.
A beam of smile bloomed in Vijay's face, he appeared somewhat relieved and satisfied. Rajesh shook Vijay's hands and congratulated Anitha. He started distributing sweets to the small crowd gathered around them.
One by one came and started congratulating Vijay and anitha, even then her face looked blank. Gayatri hugged her, "I am so happy for you my dear, I understand it's very difficult....but this is what your life is meant for, please accept this, he is a very good man, will take care of you at his best, don't think anything else, be happy and live long", she said with glistening eyes filled with tears.
Vijay was looking at Anitha then and there, still her worried face bothered him a lot but he hide his feelings and plastered a smile on his face. The priest brought the marriage register which is maintained here in the temple, Vijay signed in first followed by anitha who signed like a robot, yet to come out from her shock.
Gayatri gave a small box to Vijay. Vijay sat down in a half kneeled position in front of anitha, opened the box and took out the silver toe rings found inside. He took her right foot in his hands, gently lifted up and placed the ring in the second toe, while doing so, by his gentle touch, anitha felt goosebumps which is transferred to him also. He able to feel the slight shivering of her foot in his hands. He did the same for the left foot and looked up at her and reached for her eyes. What's there in his eyes... unable to understand, her breath caught and she closed her eyes shut...
To be continued....
