Marriages in the subcontinent are always a huge affair compared to the west. Though things have changed a lot since ancient times, still an array of customers and rituals are followed by almost every family. One such tradition is seeing the bride. From a traditional perspective it was the occasion where the groom along with family visits the bride's family and decides later whether the wedding is to be carried forward or not. This includes an array of measures where the groom's family do their best to check whether the bride is acceptable to their family starting from her character, skills and even physical aspects. Though hardly practiced nowadays, still in quarters, it is still practiced where some of the female members of the groom's family ensure that the bride is physically perfect by undertaking an examination of her body. I was rather fortunate or unfortunate to undergo such an ordeal. I didn't even have much of an idea about all such customs till I underwent them before my wedding.
I was all decked up in a silk saree and jewels when the groom's family arrived and it was close to an hour where a lot had been exchanged through a casual discussion. Then the groom's mother took me aside and asked me to go inside and change into a nightie and she'll be there in a few minutes. I wasn't sure why but rather I went inside rather confusingly. I took off my saree and blouse and put on a full length nightie with my underwear and petticoat intact.
In a couple of minutes, the groom's mother came into my room accompanied by her eldest daughter, who closed the door beside. They assumed that it's nothing serious and they just wanted to see how I am and I shouldn't be ashamed as we all are women. The mother sat on my bed and I was standing a couple of feet away, next to the sister. She brought me closer to her and took my right hand in her, caressing all the way above my elbow and having a closer look. Similarly, she did the same with my left hand too. Next she hiked my night a little and had a good look at my feet. Then she asked me to keep my right leg on the bed next to her. I was a bit hesitant and looked at the sister who nodded approvingly with an assuring smile. I pulled up my nightie and petticoat a few inches and lifted my left leg and placed it next to the mother on the bed.