Love? And me?

Can this be love,
When I am yet to wed?
How could I've found the trove,
Without having been led?

I first need to forsake
The world, set off towards Kashi,
Before an offer he can make,
Of marrying off his daughter to me.

He, the father of the bride,
Has to wash my feet and beg,
And only then can I decide,
If I can promise and not renege.

My decision won't be swift,
But he'll hope to persuade me,
Come bearing many a costly gift,
With whom she comes free.

I await that permitting nod,
Of those who know life;
He alone can't sanction it, can God,
Her being taken as my wife.

Once the elders have their say,
Having haggled over my worth,
None can lead them astray,
Not even the stars of our birth.

God, too, is at last invoked,
As we climb the last rung,
Love between us is stoked,
By chants in an alien tongue.

There still is a box to check,
Vowing to be together, I tie,
Three knots round her neck,
And even with us, our bond won't die.

She, then, agrees to obey me,
Follows me in seven treads,
Man and Wife, they shall decree,
All the sagacious, senile heads.

Now, I will love her,
And, she me;
We have to, for here after,
We need to go on a siring spree.

She might weep my tear,
And, I to her tend,
But love, it cannot appear,
Till the society's willing to lend.

So, how could I have found love,
The elixir under lock and key?
My mind and heart, hand-in-glove,
Cannot contrive to deceive me.