He said beaming with joy “no Munni please wait”, I heard Radhika shouting from inside asking her husband to come quickly. Both parents joined soon, now I realised everyone was dressed in celebration attire.
Radhika was holding a thali (normally a brass tray used for special occasions during worshipping) with a lit up lamp in the middle, she placed a tumbler full of rice at the door.
Putta stepped out and stood by my side while she proceeded to waving the thali all over us. I recollected this is what we do when we welcome a newly wed bride home.
Now I wondered why were they doing this to me. I stood frozen at the unexpected surprise I was receiving. After Radhika was done with the thali rituals, she said “Sarita now tip the rice tumbler with your right foot and come inside the house”.
I was reeling under unlimited confusion about what was going on, Putta put his arm around my waist and said “let’s go inside Munni darling”. His words sent a 10000 volts jolt thru my head, he called me ‘Munni darling’ in front of his parents.
This could not be happening for real, not by a million miles or so I thought. While I was nearly blacked out mentally by the surprises unfolding, Pramod nudged me saying “c’mon darling what are you thinking of before entering your matrimonial home”.
Like under hypnosis I raised my right foot gently tapping the tumbler making it fall inward of the house. Putta kept nudging me and I kept walking further inside.
I was made to sit on the sofa with Pramod by my side. Radhika sat next to me while Adarsh sat on the opposite couch. I was very nervous like shit about all that was happening.
Radhika said “welcome to our family Sarita or should I say Munni”? Everyone laughed except me, I didn’t know what to say so sat perplexed. Pramod interjected “mom you will call her Sarita only, Munni is strictly between us only”.
Radhika placed her hand on my back turning me to face her, she said “we know everything Sarita, Pramod told us how much you both are madly in love and we are fine with it”.
Adarsh said “Sarita in fact we are very happy about it, we all like you and are very happy to have you as a part of our family. We are also very happy that Pramod made the right choice in choosing his life partner”.
Radhika added “we know about your present challenges so this relationship will remain strictly a secret so no one will know. You both will continue just the way you have been all this time, nothing will change till you give the go ahead”.
She nudged me and asked “Sarita aren’t you feeling good now? Don’t you have anything to say”? I barely whispered “I don’t know if this is a dream or this is actually happening”.
Now Pramod turned me towards him and kissed my lips, he said “now do you still think you are dreaming Sarita”? I was shaken up by his kiss and realised everything was true.
I hugged Radhika and burst into tears, tears of joy. I never imagined my Sunday with Pramod was going to change my life like this. Radhika comforted me and took me inside the kitchen.