Kamadeva puts on his black tuxedo and dress shoes on. He was a little nervous but also very excited. She was finally going to be his wife. He had courted her for several years but always got turned down but his persistence and determination finally paid off.
There is a knock on the door and a lady dressed in a professional manner walks in. She was the wedding planner. She claps and says,"It's time!
He entered the temple and looks around. Several people are gathered for the wedding including the raksasas, princes, kings, and queens.
He was currently in his dressing room with his best man, Krishna, and his groomsmen, Rama, and Arjuna.
"How come it took long for the god of love to get hitched?", asked Krishna in a teasing manner as he helped Kamadeva with his tie.
"What do you mean? How? I think the real question is Why?, replied Arjuna in a teasing manner.
"Love sure works in mysterious ways, Kamadeva should know that better than anyone. Isn't that right?, Rama asked Kamadeva.
Kamadeva just laughs and says, "I would've been married sooner if that woman wasn't so hard headed." He thought about his soon-to-be wife. The two would always fought because of Kamadeva's mischief with his love arrows. He would often make a person whose already fallen in love, love another, and then she would have to clean up his mess.
Krishna just shook his head and chuckled.
Him and his soon-to-be wife had affected many people's lives. Some for the worst, and some for the better but regardless, they were all here to celebrate their big day. Kamadeva slowly walked to the altar. His best man, the groomsmen, and the bridesmaids walked in next, each as a couple. It was Krishna and Radha, Rama and Sita, and Arjuna and Draupadi. Kamadeva and his bride had strategically place the couples together. Even on his big day, he was working his magic.
They were now patiently waiting on the bride.
The wedding march began playing and everyone stood up and looked at the door as the light shone in with a silhouette of the bride.
The woman put on her black wedding dress. Her bridesmaids, Draupadi, Sita, and Radha, gently grabbed her arms and sat her down in front of the dresser. They were currently in the dressing room getting ready for the her big day.
She smiled at her wonderful friends. Over time, they became very close after their court trials. They were very grateful for what their friend had done for them.
Draupadi started working on the bride's hair while Sita worked on her makeup. As they worked on their dear friend, Draupadi teased her and said, "Wow whoever thought you would ever get married. Your so stubborn and hard headed."
She playfully glared at her friend.
"Careful, we can't have you messing up your makeup!", said Sita as she applied some black eyeliner on her eyes.
As Draupadi and Sita did the finishing touches, Radha walks over to the bride with a smile and hands her a bouquet of white roses.
"I'll be sure to throw these at you, Radha. I've seen the way you look at Krishna.", she teased. Radha's cheeks turn red as she shyly looks away.
There is a knock on the door and the wedding planner walks in. She claps and says,"It's time!" As the bridesmaids leave they each look back at her and give her a smile. The door closes.
The bride looks into the mirror. She was a little nervous but also excited. Never in her years did she even think of getting married. She has always seeked advice from Kamadeva during her court trials. He balanced her out. While she was ruthless and all about returning favors, he was about making peace and spreading love around the world.
Another knock comes on the door and the wedding planner walks in and says, "It's finally time! You are looking absolutely beautiful!"
She smiles at the wedding planner. Together they walk towards the doors of the temple. She meets her father who gives her a warm smile. A tear of happiness rolls down his cheek.
"I am so proud of you darling.", he says to her and gives her a kiss on the cheek. The wedding march starts playing as the doors open. She grabs her father's arm and together they walk to the altar.
Kamadeva watches as his bride makes her way to the altar. His father-in-law gives her a kiss on the cheek and gives to her soon-to-be husband. Kamadeva gently grabs it and helps her onto the altar. The couple gazed into eachothers eyes lovingly.
As the music dies down, the priest begins to speak,"We are gathered here today to watch these two wonderful souls become one. "
"Do you Kamadeva, take Karma to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, until the universe tears you both apart?", asks the priest.
"I do.", replies Kamadeva as he gazes into Karma's eyes.
"And do you Karma, take Kamadeva to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, until the universe tears you both apart?", asks the priest.
Karma looks at the crowd and then back at Kamadeva and replies, " I do."
"If there are any objections please speak or forever hold your peace.", says the priest.
The room is silent.
"In the presence of all the gods and goddesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride.", says the priest.
Kamadeva swoops in and gives Karma a sweet kiss as the guests start cheering and wolf-whistling.
'Who knew?', thought Karma with a smile.
Author's Note: I decided to create my own story and combine all the characters from both the Mahabharata and Ramayana into this story. The groomsmen and bridesmaids were main characters from both the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Radha is the only one who is not in either of these stories. She and Krishna were a couple in a different version of the Krishna tales which I grew up hearing about. In the story I grew up hearing about, Krishna had only one wife instead of several. The Bhagwat illustrates that Krishna had many wives which I didn't really like.
I purposefully chose the title that I created to keep Karma a mystery until the end. From
Case 1 of my portfolio, Kamadeva had made a guest appearance as a marriage counselor towards the end. I thought about how the characters were personalities were so different and thought this would make a great story. I decided to surprise the readers by having them get married.
The setting is in a temple since India has temples instead of churches. Karma's dress is black to reflect her personality and demeanor in society. The priest says universe instead of death doing them apart because both of them are immortal.
I did not mention Karma's name but I explained how the two balanced each other out. By this, I was not only referring to their characters but to the decisions Karma makes in her court. I've made her kind of a ruthless and sarcastic character. I thought it would be a good idea to allow readers to put the pieces together.
I want to convey the idea that when Karma handles a case, she seeks Kamadeva's advice because of his nature and job as cupid. I also mentioned Karma having to clean up his messes occasionally which was a reference to Draupadi and the Pandavas as well as my story from
Week 6. Arjuna was brought to trial because he married three different women. I want to give readers the idea that Kamadeva had done this because he is also mischievous.
I also said Karma became friends with the bridesmaids after the trial so that people know she isn't bias when making her decisions in each case.
I vaguely mentioned Kamadeva in one of my very first stories with Judge Karma. He had been a marriage counselor for Rama and Sita. Since Karma is all about justice and Kamadeva is about love and peace, I thought they would both make a good couple and created this story about their wedding. In most of my stories Karma's personality seemed cold so I wanted to show a different side of her in this story. Since Kamadeva is an Indian cupid, I thought about all the messy love stories throughout both the Ramayana and Mahabharata and combined it with Karma and made them balance each other out.
