THE NAVEL OF LOVE: THE JOURNEY OF MARRIAGE

 The Navel of Love: The Journey of Marriage
                     By Sanjay Yadav

When Ram and Ravi accepted the marriage of Krishna and Pooja, they began making arrangements for their children’s future. They decided that the first step would be to arrange their engagement.

One night, Ram went to Ravi’s house. Both of them sat together and discussed the arrangements for the engagement.

Ram: Ravi, what happened? Why are you sitting so quietly?

Ravi: Nothing. I am just thinking about something.

Ram: What are you thinking about?

Ravi: I am thinking about our children. They love each other, and they want to get married. But I am wondering how we will make all the arrangements for their engagement. It will take some time to organize everything.

Ram: Don’t worry, Ravi. Everything will be arranged slowly. We have enough time to prepare for the engagement.

Ravi: Yes, Ram. Let’s see what happens. I hope everything goes well.

Ram and Ravi continued discussing different matters related to the engagement. They talked about the guests, the ceremony, the food, the clothes, and other arrangements that would be needed for the special occasion.

After finishing their discussion, Ravi looked at the time. It was already late at night.

Ravi: Okay, my friend. I am going home for dinner. It has become very late.

Ram: Okay. Let’s continue our discussion tomorrow.

Ravi: Sleep well, my friend. And don’t think too much about the engagement arrangements.

Ravi then left Ram’s house and went home. Ram also went inside his house, had dinner, and went to sleep peacefully.
Meanwhile, Krishna and Pooja met again in front of their houses.

Pooja: Krishna! What are you doing here?

Krishna: I can’t live without you. That’s why I came to meet you.

Pooja: Same here, Krishna. I also can’t live without you.

They hugged each other happily. Krishna believed that Pooja truly loved him, and he could see the love in her eyes. However, Pooja was hiding a secret from everyone.
The next morning, Ram and Ravi began working together on the arrangements for Krishna and Pooja’s engagement. They started planning everything carefully because they wanted to make the occasion special for their children.

Ram: Ravi, how are the arrangements going?
Ravi: The arrangements are going very well.

Ram: Good! Can I also help you?

Ravi: Yes, of course.

Ram joined Ravi and helped him with the preparations for the engagement.
After working for some time, Ram had an idea.

Ram: Ravi, I am thinking that we should invite all the people from our village to attend the engagement ceremony.

Ravi: Yes, you are right. Let’s finish this arrangement first, and then we will prepare the invitations.

Ram: Okay.

After completing the other arrangements, Ram and Ravi sat together and prepared a list of the people they wanted to invite to the engagement ceremony.

Ram: Yes! The list is complete. Now we need to send invitation cards to everyone’s house.

Ravi: We can ask one of the village boys to deliver the cards to every house.

Ram: Yes. Call someone who can do it.
Ravi called a village boy named Rohit.

Rohit: Yes, Ravi Bhaiya?

Ravi: Rohit, look. These are the invitation cards. You have to deliver one card to every house in the village for the engagement ceremony.

Rohit: Don’t worry, Ravi Bhaiya. I will deliver them to every house.

Ravi: Good.

Rohit took the invitation cards and went from house to house, delivering them to the villagers.
After Rohit left, Ravi and Ram continued discussing the remaining preparations.

Ravi: Ram, we should order sweets for the guests at the engagement ceremony.

Ram: Don’t worry. I have already placed an order for the sweets.

Ravi: What about lunch for the guests?

Ram: Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot about the lunch.

Ravi: No problem.

Both of them went together to place an order for lunch for the guests. Soon, all the major arrangements were completed. The sweets and lunch were ready for everyone.
Slowly, the guests began arriving at the engagement ceremony. Ravi’s family and Ram’s family also arrived. Krishna and Pooja were already sitting on chairs, waiting for the engagement ceremony to begin.

Ravi brought the rings for Krishna and Pooja. After the ceremony began, Krishna put the ring on Pooja’s finger, and Pooja also put the ring on Krishna’s finger.
All the guests became very happy and started clapping their hands. The families were filled with joy as they watched Krishna and Pooja begin this new chapter of their lives.

After the engagement ceremony was over, all the guests enjoyed sweets and lunch happily. When they had finished eating, the guests slowly returned to their homes. Before leaving, they gave their blessings to Krishna and Pooja and wished them a beautiful future together.
During the evening, Ravi sat outside his house, thinking about the happy day. Suddenly, Ram came and sat beside him.

Ram: Hello, Ravi.

Ravi: Hello, Ram.

Ram: How are you?

Ravi: I am fine.

Ram: What happened? Why are you sitting outside alone?

Ravi: Nothing. I am just sitting outside and thinking about today.

Ram: I see.

Ravi: Today, I am very happy to see our children’s happy faces. The engagement went so well.

Ram: I am also very happy, Ravi.

Ravi: But now only the marriage is left.

Ram: Yes! The marriage is the main event. We still have many arrangements to make.
The two friends continued talking about the upcoming marriage.

Ram: Ravi, don’t worry. Tomorrow we will talk about the marriage arrangements.

Ravi: Okay.

Ram: Have you had dinner?

Ravi: No, not yet. I am going home to have dinner.

Ram: I think it is already very late. Go home and have your dinner. Tomorrow we will talk about the marriage arrangements.

Ravi: Okay. Goodbye, Ram.

Ram: Goodbye, Ravi. Take care.

Ram then returned to his house after his conversation with Ravi.
The next morning, Krishna and Pooja met each other again.

Pooja: Hello, Krishna.

Krishna: Hello, Pooja.

Krishna: Our engagement ceremony is over now. Are you happy?

Pooja: Yes, I am really happy.

Krishna: I want to ask you something.

Pooja: Yes, please ask me.

Krishna: Do you really love me?

Pooja: Yes, Krishna. I really love you.

Krishna: Are you sure?

Pooja: Yes, I am sure. But why are you asking me that?

Krishna: Nothing. I was just asking.

Pooja: Okay. Goodbye, Krishna.

Krishna: Goodbye, Pooja.

When Pooja reached home, she suddenly began thinking about Krishna’s question.
“Do you really love me?”
His question stayed in her mind. Pooja knew the truth in her heart: she did not truly love Krishna. She was secretly in love with Raju.
That afternoon, Pooja quietly left her house without informing her parents. She wanted to meet Raju at a different place where nobody would see them.

She called Raju.

Pooja: Hello, Raju. Where are you?

Raju: I am coming. Wait for me.

Pooja: Come quickly.

After some time, Raju arrived at the place where Pooja was waiting. When they saw each other, they became very happy. They hugged and kissed each other affectionately.
Nearby, there was a small house where they could spend some time together. They went inside and sat together, holding each other’s hands and talking about their love and their future.

As night approached, Pooja stayed with Raju for some time before finally returning home.
Meanwhile, Pooja’s father, Ravi, was worried because she had not returned home. After midnight, Ram saw Pooja coming from somewhere very late.

Ram: Pooja, where did you go?

Pooja: Dad, I had some work to do. That’s why I came home so late.

Ram: Okay. Go inside.

Pooja: Okay, Dad.

Pooja went inside the house, while her father continued wondering where she had really been.
Five days later, all the arrangements for the marriage were completed. The wedding was going to take place at the temple.

Ram: Pooja, are you ready?

Pooja: Yes, Dad. I am ready.

Ram: Okay. Let’s go.

On the other side, Krishna was also ready for the marriage. Both families took their children to the temple for the wedding ceremony.
The temple was beautifully decorated, and many guests had arrived to bless Krishna and Pooja.

But there was one person whom only Pooja knew about Raju.

When Pooja suddenly saw Raju at the temple, her face became filled with happiness. Nobody else knew the secret behind her smile.

The priest began the wedding ceremony and started reciting the sacred wedding mantras. Everyone watched the ceremony with happiness and excitement.
After the rituals, Krishna placed the wedding garland around Pooja’s neck. Pooja then placed a garland around Krishna’s neck.
Everyone clapped and celebrated the marriage.

But while everyone around her was celebrating, Pooja secretly looked toward Raju.
Raju stood quietly among the crowd.
Their eyes met.
And in that single moment, Pooja knew that her real love was still with Raju.

After the wedding ceremony was completed, Krishna and Pooja went to their parents and took their blessings. Both families were filled with happiness.
After blessing the newly married couple, the guests slowly began returning to their homes.

At the same time, Raju came to meet Krishna and Pooja at the temple. He had brought a wedding gift for them.

Raju: Congratulations to both of you on your marriage.

Pooja: Thank you so much, Raju.

Krishna: Thank you so much. This is the first time I have seen you here.

Raju: Yes, you are right. I received an invitation to the engagement ceremony, but I had some work, so I could not attend. That is why I came to the marriage ceremony.

Krishna: No problem. I am happy to see you here.

Raju gave them the wedding gift and talked with them for a few minutes. Pooja quietly looked at him, knowing the secret that nobody else knew.

After saying goodbye, Raju left the temple.
Krishna and Pooja then returned home with their parents. Everyone was happy after the successful wedding ceremony, and the newly married couple began their new journey together.