30. Finally Married

No one disturbed the bride or groom when they slept for almost half the day, knowing they needed the glow for the big day. After the sangeet was over, Aryaman and Maitri didn't get much time to talk to each other as the photographer pulled them for pictures and later their cousins and friends.

Early in the morning in the presence of both the families the ritual of Thamb puja was done. Pooja is performed on the pillars of the mandap indicating that the bonds between both the families will remain forever strong.

"Mayu" Akshit and Jiya woke Maitri up and asked her to take a bath. At around 4, both of them started getting ready for their day.

Aarchi was asked to tie the pagdi on Aryaman's head and Nidhi was called to apply kajal on him. Generally the nazar uttarna ritual is done by the sister-in law but since Nidhi didn't know, Aryaman and his friends took complete advantage of it and asked her to complete the ritual. Aarchi was given a bowl with rock salt chunk covered with a cloth that was tied by raksha sutra and had a swastika applied on it.

"Don't stop ringing it" Kaira said before kissing Aryaman's forehead. Before Aryaman left his room, Rishav came and locked the door.

"Ready to be hitched?" Rishav asked sitting on the bed. Aryaman nodded his head smiling widely as he adjusted the necklaces.

"Sit" Rishav asked Aryaman to sit by him.

"Are you sure you want to get married? Shaadi ke baad break up nahi seedha divorce hota hai" Rishav asked in no-nonsense tone.

"I've accepted her with her flaws and perfections and she has too" Aryaman replied with a smile.

"She's going to be leaving behind her everything for you, make sure you make it worth it. There will be times where she'll challenge you ego, which at times would force you to be a better person for her and sometimes make you feel like a loser. Whatever your feel always talk it out or else a third person will find the crack and make sure it breaks you two apart" Rishav advised his son.

"I will papa" Aryaman hugged Rishav, as if telling him that he wouldn't break his trust. Kaira knocked on the door and asked them that it was time to leave. Ruhanika and Saumya circled their hands around his head and teased him slightly. Aarchi stood behind Aryaman ringing the bowl with rock salt as everyone infront of him danced as he made his way to the entrance.

At the entrance door, Kaira did his aarti and applied a small tilak on his forehead and asked him to proceed. A helped stood with ladder and asked Aryaman to climb over the elephant. Aryaman really hated sitting on the elephant but understood that at times royal traditions held more importance than his wishes.

The whole way everyone danced pouring their heart out. When they were almost reaching the wedding venue entrance, Aryaman came down from the elephant and joined the dancing. Rishav and Kaira were the happiest seeing their one son being married.

Jiya and Akshit stood at the gate waiting for Aryaman. They too danced as they waited for him. Maitri looked out of the window staring at her groom with happiness.

"Mera piya ghar aaya oh ramji mera piya ghar aaya oh ramji" Maitri started dancing around seeing Aryaman on the elephant, looking like the kings described in novels.

"How much will you dance?" Divya asked seeing her sister go mad.

"Mujhe sajan ke ghar jaana hai" Maitri started singing and dancing.

"Stand straight, jiju has requested for a full picture of yours" Divya removed her phone tucked in her waist.

"Nope, he needs to wait for me to come at the toran" She checked herself in the mirror. She had finished her photoshoot and the rest was after the wedding where it would be a couple photoshoot.

At the entrance, Aryaman touched his sword to the toran as a sign of warding of evil eyes. Jiya stood with the aarti thaal to welcome him and all the groom side. After she did the aarti, Aryaman's cousins pulled him back thinking she would pull Aryaman's nose.

"Apni naak bacha ke rakh" Saaransh said laughing.

"You won't get entry inside if you don't let me pull your nose" Jiya said smirking.

"Arey sasuma, aap toh bura maan gayi" Aviraj said teasing Jiya. She held Aryaman's nose lightly.

"This is to remind you that tum yaha apni naak ragade hue aaye the meri beti se shaadi karne ke liye (to remind you that you came here on your own wish to marry my daughter)" She said playfully earning many ohhs from the groom side.

"Aapki beti se shaadi karne ke liye roz apni naak aapke same ragad sakta hu (I can come here at your entrance everyday just to get married to your married)" Jiya blushed and everyone on the bride side awed at his words.

"Meetha bolte ho. I'll only let you go in if you give me something" Jiya teased him.

"Aapke liye kuch bhi sasuma" Aryaman bend down to Jiya's level and winked. Jiya raised her hand playfully scolding him.

"Promise me you will never make my daughter choose between her career and you" She whispered in his ear. Aryaman looked at her with a smile and went down on his knees making her blush.

"Aapka hukum sar aankhon pe" Aryaman took Jiya's hands and promised her making her feel at ease. Jiya then let him in by feeding him a piece of jaggery, accepting him into her family. She then asked the girls to go get Maitri for the Garland ceremony.

All her friends and cousins came to get her. She stood at the entrance all excited to meet Aryaman. She didn't have to walk much to the area for exchanging garlands. First stood all her male friends then her female friends and then her. On the other hand Aryaman stood with his gang.

As Aryaman took one step ahead, the song Sajan ji Ghar Aaye started playing and all the cousins beside him danced to it. After the snippet of it finished, Maitri took one step ahead and all the boys on Maitri's side started dancing on Lagdi hai thai. Aryaman couldn't see Maitri but she could see him.

Aryaman once again took a step ahead and the song Tenu Leke started playing and he also danced. The girls on Maitri's end danced on Banni removing the number of obstacles between her and Aryaman.

Finally Aryaman was face to face with Maitri. His eyes widened in surprise seeing Maitri dressed as his bride. All her cousins stood aside and gave her enough space.

Maitri danced on Aithey aa earning the exact reaction she wanted from Aryaman.

She then walked up the staircase leading to Aryaman. Divya passed her the rose garland/

Aryaman gave her his hand to held her climb the stairs causing everyone to cheer for them. Maitri slid her hand in his and climbed them smiling. Once she was up, Aryaman lowered his head to her ear.

"I can't wait to get married to you" He kissed her forehead earning making 'aww's.Both of them stood opposite each other with a wide smile, holding the garlands. The background music started playing and at the exact time the beat dropped, Maitri made him wear the garland. At this point only the bride makes the groom wear the garland as it symbolizes that she welcomes her groom in her house and life. Aryaman went down on his one knee with his head bowed to her making her realise that she'd be his one and only Queen. Firecrackers burst in the sky and around them, making them moment special. Using a drone, rose petals were showered on the couple.

After the Varmala, Maitri was asked to return to her room while Divya was asked to guide Aryaman to the mandap. Divya threw flowers on the ground, adorning his path to the mandap. Aryaman laughed at Aviraj teasing Divya as he picked a few petals from the basket and showered them on her. Aryaman was made to sit in the mandap and perform a few rituals. Soon Maitri was called.

Her all mama and cousins held a red chunni which had everyone's wishes for her written on it held above her head. Many dholis were called that constantly played the dhols and everyone around her danced with happiness until she was a few steps away from the mandap. She took the steps to the stage and walked on the ramp that led her to the mandap. In background the Kudmayi Song played. All the guests took a video of her and blessed the couple. She was made to sit onto Aryaman's right hand side.

One by one all rituals started, marking her as his. Akshit did her kanyadan. In kanyadan the father of the bride gives the bride's hand to the groom and asks him to take her responsibility. The bride also accepts the family of her in-laws as her own and accepts their geneology and surname as hers. She also accepts that all the problems of the family of her husband as her own and pledges to always uphold their reputation and do everything to make them feel happy and comfortable.

In Paani Grahan the hand of the bride is put in the hand of the groom. This symbolizes the groom's willing acceptance of taking the responsibility of the bride as well as the unification of the minds and bodies of the two. Aarchi was then called to tie the knots.

""Tie it tightly. Kisike bhi koshish karne se na khule" Kaira said smiling as Aarchi used all her strength to tighten the duppata.."soon they were asked to stand up for the pheras. In Rajput marriages instead of 7 pheras there were only 4 pheras. It is considered that in the first 3 pheras the groom and bride go around the sacred fire as two individuals and in the last one they become one so when they are summed up they have taken 7 pheras. The 4 pheras are based on Dharam, kaam, arth and moksha.

First phera- Dharma

In any kind of dan/dharma Aryaman would do, he would have to consider Maitri's wish and give her half credit to it. In return Maitri promises that in all her prayers she would ask for his health and long life. Whatever fruit she gets from her worship would be shared with him and their family.

Second phera- Arth

Aryaman would provide Maitri with a house, clothes, food and all materialistic things needed to live. Aryaman would provide for his wife and his family.While Maitri promises to promises to look after him and his family and pledges to share responsibilities by helping him look after the home, food, and finance.

Third phera- Kaam

Kaam is primal human desire and pleasure. Kama includes sexual pleasure, love, and enjoyment in your life that is induced with passion and intimacy. Kama, if indulged in the right quantity can help one to find their Dharma. But, if it becomes more, negative feelings like greed, lust, and addiction take over. Both Aryaman and Maitri promise each other that they would fulfill each other's sexual pleasures and wouldn't cheat.

Fourth phera- Moksha

In the last phera, Maitri came infront of Aryaman. In the last phera they were now said to be one. Maitri promised Aryaman to protect him against death the way Savitri fought with Yamdev for her husband's life.

After the pheras were done, Maitri was asked to sit onto Aryaman's left hand side the way Laxmi sits on to the left hand side of Vishnu. They are considered as Lakshmi-Narayan.

"Do you know the importance of why she comes infront in the last phera?" The panditji asked Aryaman who looked at him curiously.

"She promises to even fight Yamdev for your life but after you have promised her everything for her comfort. So when you fight with her in future just know that only she will stand infront of you in time of death to protect you but only after you've fulfilled your promises you made to her" The panditji explained to the new couple. Maitri elbowed Aryaman teasingly and asked him to listen to the panditji clearly.

"I'll only come after you've fullfilled your promises, samjhe?" She looked at him teasingly. He nodded his head and squeezed her hand, promising her that he would complete all his promises made to her.

He was then given the sindoor peti from which he applied sindoor in her hair partition and made her wear the mangal sutra.

"Vivah sampaan hua" The panditji announced and firecrackers were burst in the sky for celebrating it. One by one all the elders and guests came to congratulate the newly wed couple, giving them blessings for their married life. Hours went by with the couple bending down to touch the elders' feet and get their blessings but they did it without saying anything knowing that the more blessings they get the better.

After all the guests congratulated them, Maitri and Aryaman finally moved to the dining area for dinner. Both of them noticed that the dinner contained all the items of their wish. They were served dinner in one platter as it is said that eating from the same plate increases the love between the couple. They fed each other the first bite and started gobbling down food.

"Finally Married Mrs. Ranawat" Aryaman said while feeding her the first bite.

"Welcome to marriagehood Mr. Husband" She fed him the first bite and made him look ahead and kissed his cheek.

"Wait till we reach the room, I've got so much planned for you" Aryaman said checking if anyone saw her kissing him.

"Who is complaining?" She said eating the kachori.

"And you never will" He held her left hand on the lap and continued eating.

"I love you" Maitri removed her hand from his grip and pressed his thigh making him sit upright suddenly.

"You are playing with fire Maitri. You'll get burned in it" Aryaman held her hand stopping her from exploring more parts of his body in public.

"Maybe I want to be burned in that fire" She whispered sensually in his ear. Aryaman pinched her naked waist.

"Few more hours and then I'll see how much you love being burned" He warned her.

"All talk no show" She deliberately hit his ego and rolled her eyes, continued eating.

"You wait Ranisa" He pinched her again making her choke slightly. She glared at him and took the glass of mango lassi and drank a bit.

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And the story finishes here. We came along a long way of 30 chapters which had its ups and downs.

I can't write smut for these two for some reason so please forgive me for not giving you all the required smut for Aryaman and Maitri but incase anyone wants to try their hand and writing smut for them, I have a few scenarios in my head which I could share it with you and you could write something awesome out of it.

But that is it for ARYAMAN AND MAITRI. A huge round of applause for them.

Jokes on you guys if you think am ending the story here. One last problem is left for the cute couple and after that this story would be over. Atleast 4-5 chapters still.