Proposal

It was drizzling; the sky was all dark today. There would be a rumble from time to time.

Dev and Tara were standing at the grave of her father. Tears were pouring out of her eyes while he was covering her from the rain using an umbrella.

They stood there for more than an hour. She calmed down after some time. He gently held her shoulder from behind, turned her towards him, wiped her tears, and wrapped his arms around her. She smiled and leaned on his chest.

They stood like this for some time. He then held her hand and proceeded toward the gate of the crematorium. They were wet due to the rain.

Tara was in a rush due to the rain but Dev already had other plans, so he was walking at his own pace.

They finally reached the door of the grave, she turned around to look at her family's grave for one last time before leaving.

Tara was looking at her parents Grave when Dev suddenly nudged her to look at the sky. She looked up at the sky and tears started pouring out of her eyes.

A picture of her family was projected in the sky with the help of many drones.

She turned around to look at Dev and was astonished to see the most gentle smile. He then nudged her to look at the sky again.

The picture in the sky changed from her family to the day at her parents' house garden door, where they talked for the first time. It stayed there for a few seconds then it suddenly changed into the picture of their first meeting at the shelter.

It then changed into the first kiss they had at the shelter, and then it started showing their first memories together, the show in the sky ended when they slept for the first time together on her birthday.

Tears were still pouring out of her eyes while seeing the picture. Her eyes went wide open when texts started appearing in the sky instead of the picture.

When the text got completed, she was stunned and had no words to speak. She turned around to see Dev on his knees.

Before she could say anything, Dev started confessing, "Tara, since the day I've seen you. I knew I wanted to be with you. I never thought that someday, I'll start giving someone more attention than me. The day I kissed you for the first time, I decided, I want to spend my whole life with you. You've completely changed me. If my past self saw me today, he wouldn't believe the change."

As the confession continued, his voice started shaking, Tears started pouring out but he continued, "You've made me a better person, you've taught me so many things. You make me want to be a better person every day. As I spend more time with you, the more I fall in love with you. I've never wanted anything more than you. We've been living together for more than 15 years yet It passed in an eye blink. I want to spend eternity with you."

Dev and Tara both were crying and smiling at the same time. She bent down and kissed his forehead and lips. He then calmed himself down because his voice became unclear due to all the crying, he then continued, "You've been asking me this question for the last 16 years, why did your father allow me to stay that night with you? But I never answered the question because I was waiting for this day."

"That day, I told your father about our first kiss, and then I told him something which I never told my parents. I told him that the day I kissed you, I don't know why but I decided to marry you, no matter what I've to give up for that. I looked at him and asked him which made him unsteady, I asked him for his permission whether he'll allow you to marry me or not." He then started tapping on his watch and a Projection of a document appeared.

Tara was stunned to see the document as it was a legally binding document with two signatures, one of her father and the other one of Dev. The document was the legal Permission of the guardian for the marriage of their children. Only Tara's signature was left on the document.

He then looked at Tara and said, "I already had permission from your father. Only you are left."

"Will you give me a lifetime of happiness, will you allow me to be there for you, will you be there for me? Tara, will you marry me and make me the luckiest person on this planet?"

She responded crying, "I don't need a marriage to spend my life with you. You've no idea how important you are to me. You may be able to live without me, but I can't live without you. I love you so much. I will marry you because it'll make me the luckiest person."

A smile appeared on her face after accepting the proposal, she was crying and smiling at the same time. Her face looked weird yet Dev has never found anyone more beautiful than this. He was happy yet he couldn't stop tears. The rain was hiding their tears.

They both just hugged themselves for hours without speaking anything. Their moment got disturbed due to a loud rumble. They released themselves from each other's embrace. They both looked at each other and smiled.

Dev stood up from the ground and then helped Tara to stand up. They held their hands and made their way towards their car.

After returning, Dev called his mother and told her about the proposal. Isha and Aryan came running toward the shelter after hearing about the proposal from Dev. They celebrated that day together. Dev gave raise to everybody working at the shelter. The whole shelter didn't sleep that day, whether animals or humans.

It has been 3 months since the proposal, wedding functions were to start from today. Today was the engagement day.

Tara wore a light orange lehenga, Dev wore a sherwani. She put the ring on his finger and he put the ring on her finger. It concluded the function.

The next day was the sangeet ceremony. In this ceremony ladies in your family will sing to celebrate your wedding. After that, it was time for the Haldi ceremony.

In the Haldi ceremony, a paste will be made of turmeric. Everybody known to the bride and groom will put some of the paste on the face and hands of the bride and groom. This paste will bring a glow to the skin on the wedding day.

After this, it was time for the Mehendi ceremony. In the Mehendi ceremony, a worker will put bridal henna on the bride's hands.

Today was the day of the wedding between Tara and Dev. The wedding venue was adorned with different kinds of flowers. The venue looked dreamy.

Dev and Tara both wore traditional wedding dresses. Dev wore a creamy Kurta and a yellow Dhoti. He wore a red turban on his head. Tara wore a red lehenga which was studded with gold wires. She had worn pieces of jewelry from her head to her stomach.

The wedding platform was set up. Dev was waiting for Tara on the platform. His heart took a beat when he saw Tara approaching him. He didn't know why but his eyes got wet seeing Tara.

Tara wasn't feeling different too, her eyes too got wet seeing Dev emotional. Isha calmed her down from the side. She reached the platform. It was time for the garland-wearing ceremony.

Tara put a flower garland on Dev and he did the same too. The ceremony ended after that. They both sat on the platform for some time. Guests were coming and going from the platform for the picture.

It was finally time for the wedding to start according to the Vedic traditions. They sat down on the ground in front of the holy pyre. They started chanting mantras as the priest told them to. It was time for seven rounds around the fire, in every round of these seven rounds both bride and groom will take a vow for the marriage keeping the holy pyre as the witness. They promise themselves to spend their lives together for eternity. He put sindoor(vermilion) on her forehead, which is the sign of a Hindu married woman.

The wedding ceremony finally ended. They played some games after that.

Tara's and Dev's bedroom was adorned with roses to celebrate their first night. They both went to their room. They both were in no shape to consummate their marriage due to the customs from the morning. So Dev looked toward Tara and said, "Thanks for choosing me to spend your life with. I'm very happy."

He then moved his face toward her, pecked at her lips, and then slept without even waiting for Tara's answer.

She looked awkward, she smiled wryly. She then changed as the lehenga was very heavy. She also slept after that.

Will Dev pass the test?

We'll find out next time...