24 Customized (1/2)

Marriage rites are completed. Akash felt like a burden is removed and after the gesture from the priest he and Varsha stood up to depart from the prayer canopy. Varsha is helped toward her own room and Akash along with his friend family members is ready to depart to pavilion prepared for them.

On the side of the courtyard when Akash looked for his shoes, he was not able to find them. He questioned Kripa and he also did not find the shoes. Akash felt speechless and asked his grandfather and he laughed.

Akash felt annoyed and asked Kripa ”Is this also some irritating custom to make me go barefoot up to the pavilion?” Even family members felt speechless about the ignorance toward the customs of the marriage.

While Akash is feeling irritated, a small girl of about 10 years came to him and pulled his sleeve to attract his attention. Akash made himself look calm and then asked the girl ”What is it?”

The girl looked at him and said coyly ”I am one of the sisters of the bride.” She pointed toward some other girls of age group around 10 to 15 who are smiling and laughing while looking toward Akash and then waited for his reply.

Akash felt like there is something about this girl's expression and asked ”So?”

The girl while thinking how to say, tried but it feels like she felt not able to say properly and blurted ”If you want your shoes, you have to pay for it.”

Akash felt speechless. He looked at this shy girl and then those girl standing at a distance. But he did not see his shoes with them. It seems they have hidden his shoes somewhere. He said impatiently ”They are my shoes, why should I pay for them? And when did bride get so many sisters?”

”Brother-in-law! We are the distant cousins of Varsha di. Some of us from her maternal family.” Another girl who is a bit more in age joined the little girl and said. Akash waited for the answer for his other question but none came. Both girls also stood in front of him and showed no expression other than expectations.

Kripa found his cue and started his recording while laughing and he added his commentary ”Looks like this is the custom of hiding the shoes of the groom by the sisters of the bride. Groom has to pay them to get his shoes back.” Akash felt irritated by his friend's comments and then said to girls ”How much you need to bring my shoes back?”

The little girl showed her 5 fingers of one hand but said nothing. Akash questioned ”Five hundred?” And he pulled his purse and bring out a five hundred note. But the girl did not move from her place. The elder girl said ”Brother-in-law! Aren't you evaluating your shoes so cheap? We need five thousand.”

Akash felt surprised and said ”This is a loot. I can buy many shoes like that in five thousand.” Even Kripa laughed at the side. His grandfather saw that situation is not improving, he came and laughed and said ”Ha ha ha. This is a custom where we have to show our generosity and pride. Shoes are just the means.” And he pulled around eight to ten notes of thousand from his pocket and gave to the girls and said: ”Go and divide among yourselves.” Girls thanked Patel Grandpa and went back laughing and running.

After a few seconds, the shoes of Akash are in front of him. Akash felt frustrated about his own ignorance and also due to his grandpa's generosity who gave almost ten thousand to the girls.