The priest recited more prayers and asked Raj to place her right foot on a stone. He gestured for me to say my part, and I told her to be as firm as a stone so that we could face the difficulties of life together.
Guided by the priests, Raj and I performed ceremony after ceremony for the next three hours. Raj and I struggled to stay awake as the priests recited prayers for everything that could be thought of. At five o’clock, the priests ended the phere, and Raj and I were officially a married couple. It was a somber moment compared to the festive atmosphere of the night before. Everyone was half asleep, and someone shook my brother awake to let him know it was over.
Unfortunately for me, when we returned to the guest house, there was no time for sleep; I needed to freshen up for the day because the members of the baraat were already waking up to bathe and get ready for breakfast provided by Raj’s family.
A few hours later, I stood with Raj in front of her house. Women were chanting songs in tearful voices. Amid the clamor of Raj’s family and friends crowding around her to say goodbye, I caught one of the lines the women repeated over and over as Raj’s parents, sisters, and older brother said their goodbyes. “Our daughter is leaving. Her parents took care of her and loved her before she left the house.”
Servants were bustling in and out of the crowd, carrying trays laden with tea and sweets.
Raj’s eyes filled with tears as she and her parents embraced one final time. After Raj and I touched the feet of her elder family members (parents, grandmother, aunts, and uncles) to receive their blessings, I led Raj to the car decorated with orange, red, and white flower garlands. Fastened to the back window, a sign read, “Krishan weds Raj.”
Raj’s brother escorted her into the seat next to me, a gesture that signified, “I am giving you away to your husband. He should take care of you.”
Raj shook with sobs. Close to fifty of her relatives pressed in close around the car, crying loudly and calling out farewells. The local band began to play jubilant music which strangely contrasted with the sadness of the moment, and as the band escorted us to the outskirts of Nabha, the noise of the relatives followed us until everyone dropped back to watch us go. A few minutes later, the car left Nabha, and the band waved after us, leaving Raj and me in a sudden silence.
I will love Raj and take care of her the best I can, I thought to myself. I will make her happy and will never give her a reason to cry.
When we reached my parents’ house in Malaudh an hour later, there were more ceremonies to perform, each of which a held special meaning for the groom to bring the bride to his parents’ house for the first time. Then, for the remainder of the day and night, everyone ate and drank. Since nothing was planned ahead, there was much confusion as everyone jostled each other and the cooks hurried to finish the food preparation. At 9:30 p.m., the servants served a huge meal. I ate with my male family members at one end of the room, while Raj ate at the other end surrounded by my mother, sisters, and aunts. Although I enjoyed the conversations and laughter with my relatives, I couldn’t wait to go to bed. I could tell Raj felt the same way.
It was nearly midnight by the time I said goodbye to my relatives and climbed to the roof, entering a room containing two beds. Raj was already in bed with her eyes closed. She had changed out of her wedding sari and was buried under the covers since it was cold and there was no heat in the room. Going to the other bed, I lay still for fifteen minutes, wondering if she was still awake.
“Raj?” I said after a while.
“Gee,” she replied, using the respectful form of yes.
Moving to her bed, I took off the gold ring my parents had given me and held it out. “This ring is for you, a token of my love for you,” I said. My initials were carved on the outside.
She took the ring and, smiling slightly, put it on her finger. Then, exhausted from the long two days of countless ceremonies, celebrations, and no rest, we both fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 14
After Raj acquired her visa, and after we made numerous trips to visit our closest relatives in other towns one last time, we were ready to leave for the States. On the day of our departure, our family members took us to the airport, and we all stood together to say goodbye. With so many emotions over-flowing, it was hard to leave. After hugging everyone tightly, we passed through customs with heavy hearts and waved at our parents and relatives for the last time. I held my head down as we boarded the plane. An overwhelming tightness filled my chest and throat. I did not know when I would see my parents again, and thinking of my mother, tears streamed from my eyes. I wondered if this was the last time I would see her face. Just a week earlier, my mother became so sick at the thought of my leaving India again that she started spitting up blood, alarming me and
