When two persons fall in love, nothing matters whether it’s religion, caste or any other aspect and the same happened with a Hindu girl Ankita and a Muslim boy Faiz. It was love at first sight for them when they met each other at IIM-Indore but the journey to marriage was going to be really tough, as a Hindu marrying a Muslim is not so common in our society. In fact, it is something which most people don’t want to witness in their own families.
Ankita’s parents were totally against this marriage as they had their own concerns. Firstly, Muslims can marry 4 times and secondly, they eat non-veg. For 2 yrs, Ankita tried her best to convince her parents but when the couple felt that it was the time to sit together and talk, Faiz arrived unannounced at Ankita’s house as the girl wrote on her blog:
“The boyfriend, unannounced rings my doorbell, taking my Papa completely by surprise. My mom turned red, she did not know whether to make ‘chai’ or run inside the room and burst out crying. Papa, very calmly, went inside, changed out of his home clothes into something more formal. I was terrified, but knew that we could not have postponed this further. Then there was a long monologue by my boyfriend – explaining how he will not convert my religion or change my name or make me eat non-veg or make me follow his culture or make me wear a burkha or marry anyone else or whatever other doubts my parents expressed in the last 2 years. He ended by saying he will pamper me as much as my Papa did as he knew that he could not pamper me more!”
However, this session didn’t have much effect on Ankita’s father and he politely asked Faiz to leave and said that that they would not be attending their wedding if they decided to get wed. Here’s what Ankita wrote,
“At this point in time, any Bollywood movie would have shown a teary eyed Dad get up from the sofa and hug the hero, but that did not happen in my story. My Dad asked my boyfriend to leave (respectfully so), promising him that he will never ever be part of this marriage or our lives if we decided to live it together.”
The date that was decided for court marriage was 18th Feb and they both were getting wed under Special Marriage Act. This act doesn’t allow Muslims to marry 4 times. To satisfy her parents, Ankita also got their Kundalis matched. However, on 14th Feb, Ankita’s mom told her that it’s Amavasya on 18th Feb and certainly not a day good for marriage. But the good thing was that Ankita’s dad was ready to send her mom and brother to attend the wedding, even if he himself was not in a mood to come.
It was decided that they would get married on 17th Feb in a temple, as it was the very auspicious day of Mahashivratri, so technically, they both were married one day before their court marriage.
“Everyone decided to get us married a day earlier (17th Feb was Maha Shivratri) in a Mandir. We were ok with that arrangement, anything that gives them a hope that this was meant to work out. So on 17th night, we all dressed up in pretty clothes, bought 2 var-malas and got married in a small Ram-mandir at the foot of the Mahalaxmi temple. We were married – a day earlier than we had initially planned.”
And finally, the big day of the court marriage arrived and things took place in a pretty easy manner:
“The day had arrived. Too many people were meeting too many people for the first time. The parents were more nervous than us. What would they say to each other? Salaam Valekum or Namaste? But once they met, it did not matter. They hugged, they laughed and the wedding ceremony was as simple and endearing as it could be. He filled my maang with Sindoor, put mangal sootra around my neck and yes, we were officially and legally married! We missed my father, but knew that time was the biggest healer.”
Later, it was the time to celebrate the happiest occasion of life with near and dear ones. Little pomp and show was also on the way!
“The aim was to have a budget destination wedding with world class pictures and videos and a hell lot of fun, such that everyone who attended our wedding would think of it as the best wedding of their lives!”
3 functions were organized; the first one being “Mehandi & Sangeet followed by Nikah”, the second was “DJ Night with cake cutting, rings and vows exchange” and finally, Pheras on a beach side!
“Nikaah was a funny story in itself. As a bride, I was looking forward to saying the words ‘Qubool hai’, but the Qazi had methods of his own. My signature was deemed enough of a ‘Razamandi’ and he did not find it necessary for me to say ‘Qubool hai’. I was furious and somehow passed on the message to Faiz on the other side of the ‘Parda’, that he better not mess this one up! And after a lot of persuasion, the Qazi finally agreed and I got to say ‘Qubool Hai’!”
Last but not the least, it was the time of pheras. They were dressed up in traditional attire and all set to have a blast of entertainment in the most unique wedding. And guess what, the groom didn’t opt for a ‘ghodi’, ‘baggi’ or ‘car’ but a lambretta! Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?
“Post the groom’s ‘dhol-waking-up-routine’ and the entire Sajna-dhajna and dozens of picture clicks later, the groom set out towards the beach with his ‘baraat’ which was him, not on a ghodi, or a baggi, or a car, but a super-cool lambretta! His friends danced to the dhol beats while he drove the lambretta in endless swag. It was now my turn to make an entry. Mine was a much graceful affair, with my closest girls holding a flowing dupatta on my head while I slowly made my way to the most beautiful mandap I had seen in my life. After an hour of laughs and jokes and ‘reeti-riwaaz’, we were finally married in all possible ways!”
Time flew and it’s been 2 years! Good news is that both the families accepted this marriage happily:
“It has been 2 years since this spectacular time, and by God’s grace, both our families have happily accepted our union. We get to stuff ourselves with ghee-filled aloo parathas at my home or finger-licking sevai at his!”
We wish the couple lots of luck!
