In India, marriage is not just a ceremony, it's a festive event in their life , involving many traditions and rituals to follow from the moment bride and groom sees each other till their first night, for every event, time is determined before according to their horoscopes. To see each other, engagement, to start the wedding preparations, shopping for wedding, making them bride and groom, moment of marriage, moment of first night.. everything is pre determined.
Before their first night together as husband and wife... Pooja will be performed by Krishna and Karunakar. Krishna is wearing pure white silk saree with her golden jewelry and Karunakar is dressed in white shirt and dhothi.
After completing Pooja, some games will be played with flower ball, getting the ring from a pot,etc . As the time determined by priest approached, Krishna was sent into the room fully decorated with jasmine flowers, sweets and incense..., with a glass of milk, where Karunakar was already sitting on the cot fidgeting his legs while clasping his hands tightly. Krishna walked towards him after locking the door with the glass of milk in her hand. He stood up as she came closer and stepped towards her. He's mesmerized with how beautiful she looked in that white saree. She handed him the milk glass where he drank half and passed it to her. She drank the remaining half and put the glass aside. She took his husband's blessings. Even after the completion of their marriage, they were still in the days where they're afraid to tell their parents. "Priya, should we sleep?" She nodded. He climbed on to the bed from the right side followed by her from the left side both facing each other. He gently caressed her ear and hair. He opened his arms wide inviting her to him. As if waiting for that, she melted into his embrace and fell asleep in no time. He chuckled to himself and held her all through the night. She woke up in the morning with his breath on her forehead, looking at him with beaming eyes. He woke up to her slightest movement and smiled a little while kissing her eyes, temple, tip of the nose.
Sound of someone knocking the door disturbed them. They woke up and freshened up themselves. They came out of their room and joined everyone.
Pooja will be conducted by newly married couple after the completion of their first night by the priest... this will continue for another two night's and mornings. After the completion of Pooja on the third day, some people from brides family will be dropping Krishna off at Karunakar's house going along with them.
From then onwards she will be an official member of the family....
Karunakar and Krishna were alone in his room after the completion of all rituals after arriving at in laws house for the first time after marriage. Even though they were alone the last three nights, they just fell asleep in each other's arms due to exhaustion from all the wedding without even talking to each other. They sat beside each other ,"Priya.." he called her as he lifted her chin up. She hmmed as she looked down. "Look at me" he asked her. She looked at his face but not meeting his eyes. He cupped her face and lifted her face a little, "look me in the eyes " he said. She shook her head sideways. "Why? You don't like my eyes?" he asked in discontent. She continued to look down ,"how can I look at your eyes when we just got married?" she said in a low tone and fidgeting with the corner of floating pleates of he beautiful pink saree. He looked at her face closing the distance between then, she bent her head even more as she felt abashed. He let out a chuckle. "Can you call me again,...?" he asked her in an anticipating tone. "No way ,dear" she immediately replied. "Just once... please?" he whined. "How can I call you by your name now?" she replied as if she missed something. "Priyaa..." he called. "Tell me ,dear." She replied. He just lied down on the bed spreading his left arm open "wanna lie down?" gesturing at his left arm with his right hand. She lied down resting her head on his left arm. "Priya.. you are in my room now. ...no. This will be our room from now. Don't hesitate or bottle up yourself if there's anything you don't like. Just say a word. One word. I'll take care of that. Remember, don't do anything by yourself." he whispered those words into her ears making her tingle all over the body. "Mmm. I'll tell you everything, ask you if there's anything." she replied as she turned herself to face him resting her left arm on his right hip. He hugged her and shed few tears of happiness as he kissed her temple gently. He's really living his dream now. She felt so warm and comfortable that she fell asleep despite noises coming from outside. He just held on to her like he held a new born baby in his hands. Watching her sleep ,made him sleepy. Soon he fell asleep with her in his arms and her hand over his waist.
In the hall, Obulesu, Muthyalaiah were talking about their children marriage and expressing themselves about it along with other elders of the village. On the other side, Subhadra engaged in conversations with Kasthuri, Kamala, grandma, Sathyavati, Prabhavathi and other ladies. Oormila, Aparna, Siva, Padma , Mallikarjuna, Chandranna, Rajappa and some other younger people were talking to each other forming a small circle. Children made the entire house and yard into playground, running, screaming, falling, fighting, they're doing everything while filling the house with their laughter. Almost half of the village is present at their house, celebrating marriage of KARUNAKAR AND KRISHNA PRIYA, blessing them from their hearts. Her happy married life started in Karunakar's house with aunt Subhadra, Obulesu uncle and Aparna. She really looks forward to their happy and prosperous life from here on.
...----.end of volume 1----.....
This concludes volume 1 -sixteen years of KARNA.
Volume 2 . Love me? Marry me? will be mostly dedicated to Aparna, Mallikarjuna and Chandranna featuring Karunakar and Krishna along with other characters.