Marriage- A transformation

It was the twinkle that caught my eye in that crowded hall, a small ring in her beautiful Mehendi adorned finger. The Henna had really done her job well,inspite of the cold and humid climate, her Mehendi colour had come off very well, something that had given her sleepless nights a couple of days ago. It was finally the D-Day, a day which we had all waited for very anxiously, excitedly and well there was a lot of curiosity content in it too.

I fondly remembered the day, when she called me half speaking excitedly, half breathing, half jumping, she just said "U know what, I am getting married"....From that day to today a lot had changed. Gone was my partner in crime who believed that laughing and having fun was as important as breathing. Here was my bubbly, carefree, happy-go-lucky kind friend, who denied believing in the existence of even the tiniest bit of seriousness in life, sitting here in the mandap, quietly rather strange, considering the hustle bustle around her. Her head low, and a calmness over her face, a look of perfection. I tried to think of all the possible thoughts that could run in her mind at the moment, joy of a new life, excitement, curiosity, pangs of leaving her parents....But her usually expressive face denied to give me an answer. And then the moment came, just like a lightening, with a chant of the vedic mantras the curtain between them was pulled down, and as Akshatas of blessings were being showered on the newly wedded couple, for a fleeting second, she looked up at me and smiled. It was that smile that gave me an answer to all my questions.

Marriage is not only about sharing your life with that special person, it is not about just saying or rather living through the vows, but it is about transformation. A transformation of the heart, soul and emotions. It is the same transformation that a catterpillar undergoes to become a Butterfly, only that here two people undergo a transformation to become a beautiful butterfly adorned with the colours of happiness and joy, they fly from circumstances and incidents drawing only the nectar out of them. And each day as they fly in the beautiful garden of life, time blooms into a beautiful flower of trust, faith and Love.

There is a beautiful dialogue in the movie "Shall we Dance??" by Susan Sarandon where she explains to a detective she hires to spy on her husband. She says, the reason why people get married is not because of the magic in Love but it is because, in marriage, we promise to hold hands together and be a witness to each others' lives. We say that in this world with billions of people around us, I will be a witness to your life. I will stand by you and rejoice in your happiness. I will give you a lending hand when u fall. I will stand by you always till death does us apart.


It is this promise, this magic that makes marriages succesful. And it is this magic that binds people across different walks of life, different upbringings together. Truely, Love changes your life and teaches you to Love yourself.