By Parmjit Singh Pammi USA

When we were young boys growing up in Punjab, many parents used to arrange marriages of their children even before they had attained the age of puberty. As per the prevailing custom, the bride would spend only one night at her in-laws' house after the wedding and then go back to live with her parents as before. During the solitary nuptial night she would invariably be accompanied by a chaperon called Nain. At a later date, decided with the consent of the bride's family, the groom would ceremoniously bring the bride back to his home and they will start living as man and wife. The custom was commonly known as Muklawa. Many marriages could not be consummated till after Muklawa because the couple were too young.

My dear friend joined Indian Military Academy from the ranks and unlike most of us, he was already married when we met as cadets. We were digging trenches under a moon-lit and starry night when he told me this tale of strange luck that came his way. The date of his wedding was drawing close and his mind ran wild in anticipation. A fertile imagination fired by raging hormones of a virile young man played on his mind day and night. Scenes of the impending Night of the Sacred Rites(called Sagnan wali Raat in Punjabi) ran like a non-stop movie. A lovely virgin kept landing in his embrace again and again all the time.

Unfortunately, the events of the actual night unfolded in a singularly cruel way. When the effect of drinks wore off, he found himself lying awake on a cot all by himself whereas the virgin of his dreams lay on another bed in the arms of that cursed Nain. The night was slipping away and he felt lost. Not able to bear the dead silence, he finally woke up the Nain and told her to move over. She said she had very strict instructions from the girl's mother. "The bride is very young and he must not touch her under any circumstances till Muklawa." She argued long and hard. This sudden and unexpected edict came as an ugly surprise. He saw all his romantic dreams being reduced to ashes in one instant. He had never imagined such a tragic start to his married life. Sagnan wali Raat was turning into a night of despair for him.

 He has no recollection of how his hand shot out and pulled the Nain into his bed. She uttered a feeble "no" once but there was little resistance. He was a total novice and knew nothing about the business of making love. But, to his great joy, she knew everything. All that he now has is the memory of a dream-like world full of warmth and softness where time stood still. He has no recollection of the time they were together. She must have slipped away when he lay in a state of bliss. There were no tears, no blood and no mess!  In a soldier's language, he had had the best lesson-cum-demonstration of his life: all done in silence! The bride appeared to have slept the sleep of the dead that night. During their long and happy married life neither party ever made a mention of the Sagnan wali Raat. It was too good to be remembered except among his army friends!