Karunakar left to his home after dropping off Krishna at her house. His father was having breakfast. He washed his foot and hands ,joined his father. "Father, there is something I need to talk about. Can I?" Karunakar asked. Father nodded taking his food into his mouth. Karunakar took a deep breath, "Father can I marry Krishna Priya?" Father looked at his son once and took his food into his mouth, chewed "you can" and continued eating. Karunakar shown the same expression as Krishna when her father agreed. Subhadra who is sitting beside them chuckled and proceeded to serve the food to her son. Karunakar looked at his mother as if confirming that he heard his father saying that I can marry Krishna. Subhadra smiled at her son and nodded as confirmation. Aparna just came into the house from Oormila's house, saw three of them giggling to themselves, "brother, why are you giggling like a madman?" Aparna asked. Karunakar was too bashed to answer that. Subhadra "Aparna, from now onwards you don't need to go to Krishna's house anymore. She'll be here with us permanently." looking at her son and daughter alternatively. Aprana took her time to process what her mother told "aaaaaaaa... REALLY? " screamed at the top of her lungs. Her father "don't scream like that Aparna. You'll scare our neighbors away." laughed at his daughter. "Father... it's real. Wait..... I'll inform Oormila and come back." went running the way back she came. Subhadra and Obulesu smiled themselves looking at their excited daughter, but the man who should be excited, is not showing any signs of excitement. He fell into deep thoughts fiddling with rice in his plate. Obulesu completed his meal. He pat his son's shoulder to wake him up. Karunakar woke up from his deep thought and completed his meal as fast as he could. "Mother, I'll be going to tell this to Krishna." As he hurriedly washed his hands and immediately left the house.
Now it's Karunakar turn to run, but he didn't attract people as much as Krishna did. He did not stop anywhere in between. He didn't call for her infront of her house, just entered through front door, he encountered Kasthuri "aunt , Krishna Priya? " asked as he huffed. Kasthuri pointed towards the yard where Krishna is watering plants. He gave her a single nod as thanks and rushed towards her. She felt something changing around her so she tried to turn and look back, but a pair of hand held her from behind failing her to do so. She knew it was him. She held his hands which were wrapped around her neck and shoulder with her hands "I'm really happy now" as she gently stroked his arms. He was panting into her neck trying to regain his normal breathing. He hugged her so tightly as if he had no intention of letting her go. "Me too. I'm really gonna live my dream now." Karunakar told her as he placed himself in front of her and wrapped his arms around her swaying sideways in joy. He was grinning ear to ear with his eyes glistening from so formed moisture in them. She lifted her face to look into his eyes caressing his neck and ears, tip toed herself to his height, placed a kiss at the right corner of his lips. Karunakar became a stone parting his lips in shock as he didn't expect Krishna to do this, not even his dreams. As she was about to pull off from his face, he pulled her to him by her waist, took her lower lip into his and nibbled on it a little.... "Krishnamma you better pull off now before I rattle on you to master." a threat came from Kasthuri who came to see what was happening as there was no noise coming. Krishna bit his upper lip ,startled by sudden sound from Kasthuri who's existence has been forgotten by her. Karunakar whimpered a little. "Karunakar, don't touch her before marriage. As both of your parents agreed , I think your marriage will be over by next month. Stop doing these things okay?" sounded like a warning to Karunakar. Krishna buried her face into her palms and went to her room running at full speed. Kasthuri side eyed Karunakar, poor soul who could only let out an awkward chuckle and took his leave. "These children have grown up a lot doing these things right under the bright light." Kasthuri talked to herself.
Oormila and Aparna were hopping in circles holding each other hands. Karunakar went to Siva and shared this good news.
Obulesu and Muthyalaiah talked to each other and went to head priest of the temple to determine time for pelli chupulu, even though they like each other , one should follow traditions.
In that meeting they determined the day and time for the marriage.....
...days passed by , preparations for their wedding began with Pooja and other rituals.
They young lady and young man turned into beautiful bride and handsome groom. She looked like so ethereal with pure silk saree of golden color with red colored border along the saree, adorned with golden ornaments embodied with multiple colored stones into each of them, from head to toe, beautifully arranged jasmine flower decorations to her long braid, with a golden veil over her head which is doing nothing in covering her beauty.
Young man looked so handsome in his traditional wear with turban around his head.
The moment Karunakar was wait for almost ¾ of his life, the moment Krishna dreamt of every night, is happening to them right now.
With the blessings of villagers and sacred chanting of priest, they exchanged jeelakara-bellam¹ on their vertices right on the moment they decided previously. Everyone blessed them with flowers and akshithalu². After that, he tied her mangala sootram³, placed kumkuma on her papidi⁴ and forehead. They made seven rounds around fire (sapthapadi) promising each other seven things.They took the blessings of their elders by touching their feet. Elders blessed them for longevity and prosperity in their marriage life.
With that the morning ceremony of the marriage us completed and ritual for first night begins.
1. Mixture of cumin and jaggery placed over beetel leaf. It is the symbol of inseparable nature indicating that husband and wife should not be separated in any of the circumstances.
2. Mixture of raw rice, turmeric, ghee- indicates one which cannot be destroyed, blessing them with long and eternal married life.
3. Mangala sootram: yellow thread made from turmeric and white thread adorned with two gold pendants representing her birth family and other family into which she is going to give birth. Sign of marriage and prosperity.
4 edge line of hair parting over the forehead.