Many words were spent on an emotion called Love. Many love stories were written on the very expression of love. And today I was going to be changed with love.
The church was packed and tension was in the air. And I was in the middle of all that tension. I stood near the altar along with two of my best friends. They were talking to each other, standing a bit away from me. I looked around me. There were many people, both known and unknown to me. To my left were two young women who I barely knew, coupled with three cute tiny tots in flowery pink frocks. The tiny children had miniature tiaras on their heads. And they never stopped readjusting each other’s glittering crowns, much to the delight of the two women overlooking them. I turned to the hall.
The space was cavernous and multi-hued colors poured from the stained glass murals in the tall church walls. Men and women sat with each other, all dressed in crisp tuxedoes and satin gowns. They had filled up both sides of the aisle. My relatives and known friends sat at the section behind me. I looked to the other section, and knew that I had to get acquainted with many new friends. The aisle was lined with white lilacs and sunflowers. Cream satin covered arches with red roses covered the aisle. The choir was sitting on the side, with their black and purple church gowns. The pianist sat at the pipe organ, while the violinists joined him in playing a few hymns. The guitarist sat quietly looking at the gathering. The choir seemed calm with their song folders in their hands. I looked at my watch and sighed. I closed my eyes for a moment. It was time.
Just then the organist and violinists ceased their instrumentals. Instinctively I looked at them. They were looking towards the end of the hall. I turned my eyes in the same direction. And I began to sweat. One pair at a time, a woman and a man walked down the aisle. There were three pairs, the women in silver blue gowns and men in crisp tuxedoes. The women were my colleagues and friends, while the men were my new friends. As they walked down the aisle, the violinists played a soft sonata. My best friends patted me on my shoulder and went to their seats. The two young women led the three small children with flowers to their seats. The men and women walking the aisle separated at the altar, the three men coming to my side, and the three women standing on the other side. I smiled at the men and women at the altar with me, and looked in anticipation towards the end of the hall. To add to the anxiety, the violinists too concluded their sonata. Silence filled the hall.
It was noon, and light shone through the main door of the church. My palms were clammy. Just then a shadow spread from the church entrance. In unison, the gathering rose to their feet. They looked to the end of the hall. The organist started playing his piece. Just as the music filled the emptiness of the spacious hallway, I smiled to myself and closed my eyes for a moment. The music seeped into my mind, bringing back a memory. A week earlier, she told me that she loved Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ for its meaningful lyrics. And she even told me how much it related me to her. And today, on the most important day of her life yet, her favorite song filled the hallowed emptiness of the church. It was a bold step, since the priest was orthodox in the ways of the Church. But he had a good heart, and gave his consent for the song to be played. Prior to this day, I sat down with the choir and explained the need for this song and told them to give it a soulful composition. And today, as I listened to the song playing from the pipe organ, guitar and violins, I knew that this WAS her song. The song was perfect, and this was her moment.
A silhouette was visible at the entrance. But as they came close, I saw Clara, my love, holding the arm of her father. When I saw her clearly, tension left me. She looked lovely in her flowing white gown. White satin flowers seemed to fall down her gown as she slowly walked down the aisle, towards me. The gown trailed behind her, giving an effect of her walking amidst white roses. The gown was simple, yet it highlighted her figure with every step she took. A thin white veil fell from her tiara, covering her glowing face. Clara held a bouquet of pink roses in her white, long gloved hands. She wrapped her right hand around her proud father’s left arm. As with me, all the people gathered in the hall were amazed at the transformation of a girl who grew up before their very eyes. She looked beautiful, and I was so proud of her. As the choir started to sing ‘Fix You’, Clara looked them and then at me in amazement. And she started to cry.
Many people sighed at the sight, and some women blotted their eyes with their handkerchiefs. I too was overwhelmed with emotion, and tears welled up in my eyes. Her father patted her hand in consolation and smiled, braving a tear. As she neared me, I stretched out my right hand. She managed a smile, and looked at my hand. At the front row, she turned to her father. Her father lifted her veil and kissed her cheek. He then went and sat next to Clara’s mother, who was already crying in joy. I looked at my parents, and saw them hold each other’s hands. They smiled at me and nodded in consent. I smiled back at them, silent as ever. Clara turned to me and smiled. She took my hand and stepped up to the altar beside me. She covered her face again with the veil. I looked through her veil into her moist eyes, never letting go of her hand. Clara and I looked towards the altar at the priest. The reverend smiled at us and beckoned the congregation to sit down. The congregation sat down. The choir remained standing, softly singing the song while the priest began to recite.
Clara always dreamt of a short and memorable wedding. Today she was getting what she wanted. We faced each other as the reverend spoke. He spoke of the commitment of two souls, in harmony, through love and pain, joy and sorrow, and through the journey of Life. But I was not listening. I was lost in the mesmerizing sight of Clara in front of me. I looked at her cherubic face, those moist eyes, scarlet lips curving into a smile, her thick curly hair that fell to her slender shoulders, her neck decorated with a string of pearls and her ears glittering with pearl solitaires. I held Clara’s hands in mine, and felt its warmth. As she gently gripped my hands with a smile on her teary face, we promised each other a lifetime of commitment and love, without saying a word. I looked at the priest, who continued, saying, “Shall we have the rings?”
The bridesmaid and the best man presented the rings to Clara and me. As the Reverend pronounced the vows, we exchanged rings. My hand was trembling as I slowly slid the wedding band up her ring finger. My heart fluttered, and my spirits rose. The priest smiled at us.
And he said, “Before this gathering, you have promised each other your love and have given each other rings to wear as a sign of your deep commitment. It is my distinct pleasure to declare that you are now husband and wife. You may kiss one another.”
I looked at her and smiled. She quickly lifted her veil and smiled, tears streaming down her face. I wrapped my hands around her and held her tight. Then with one hand behind her head, I looked into her eyes for a moment. Her eyes were barely open and her head bent back, waiting for the kiss. And we kissed. The choir still sang our song, and the congregation rose to an applause. When we parted, we thanked the priest and faced the gathering. The three cute flower girls came forward and gave Clara flowers. Clara bent low and gave each girl a kiss on the cheek. She got up and looked at me. I smiled at her and kissed her again, much to the encore demanded by the gathering. And the rain of rice fell on us both.
Holding her hand, we ran down the aisle towards the doorway of the church. At the entrance, the warmth of the sun greeted us in our new life as one. There was our getaway car ready at the church entrance. I went over and got into the car. As I opened the door for Clara, I saw her toss the flower bouquet behind her. Rounds of cheers emanated from the crowd as the bouquet landed in the hands of a lucky young woman. Clara quickly got into the car and we both waved out goodbye. As we drove out of the church’s courtyard through the wrought iron church gates, I felt a rush of emotions through me. It was coupled with the feeling of Clara wrapping her arms around my neck as she rested on my shoulder. We were married at last.
After driving a while, we stopped on the side of the road. I turned off the engine. I looked at her. She returned my look, and I could see that she was relieved. Then she sat back, and moved her hands in a series of gestures. I read her signals and responded back through hand gestures, telling her that we will first go to the hotel and change up for the reception. She looked at me in silence. I signaled her, asking what’s the matter. She paused a while and replied with gestures ending with a closed fist over her heart, telling me that she loves me forever. I did not gesture back at her. Instead, with fresh tears in my eyes, I reached out and kissed her once again.
As we treasured a private moment in tender passion, I still couldn’t believe that I would have found love and companionship in a person with a speech disability as I. And today, I was glad that that person was none other than Clara. It was in her that i had really discovered love, beyond words.
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