The wedding was arranged by Rahul and Vijeeta’s parents. The Dravids and Pendharkars knew each other since decades, even before Rahul and Vijeeta were born. Rahul’s parents, Sharad and Pushpa Dravid moved to Bangalore after their

marriage in 1967. Meanwhile, the Pendharkars had also relocated from Nagpur to Bangalore. Vijeeta’s father was with the Indian Air Force and had been posted in Bangalore. The Dravids and Pendharkars used to visit each other frequently and kept in constant touch. When Rahul’s mother held her art exhibition in Mumbai, they stayed with the Pendharkars. Later, whenever Rahul played in Nagpur, he would visit the Pendharkars.

Pushpa Dravid, who was keen that Rahul got married as early as possible, believed that Vijeeta and Rahul would make an ideal match. Both families got together and thus arranged the marriage.

The news of the marriage caused a stir. Rahul had not spoken about it even to his closest friends. It was only after the invitations started going out that they became aware of it. Both families wanted it to be a private affair and not a media circus with the whole of Bangalore barging in and making it a mela. The media, however, soon got wind of it and there was speculation whether the wedding would be in Bangalore or Nagpur. Some media persons even tapped into their sources in the five-star hotels to find out when and where the marriage ceremony would take place. Some pried news out of Rahul's neighbors. Others tried to track down Vijeeta and her parents.

Vijeeta tried to slip into Bangalore by taking the train from Nagpur. But somebody had tipped off the media and there was a huge party of photographers and media persons at the station. Finally, the marriage was held at the Air Force Station in the outskirts of Bangalore. With Vijeeta’s father being a former Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force and brother a major in the Indian army, the venue was blocked off as "high security zone." Only quests with invitation cards were allowed in.

Rahul's home, 'Shrishti' in Indira Nagar in Bangalore, bore no tell-tale decorations of a mega wedding. A few paper lanterns and some lights hanging from the roof were the only signs of festivity. Friends and relatives, who walked in and out of the Dravid household, were sworn to secrecy. The wedding had all the ingredients for an exciting potboiler, but there was one difference: it was done with style.

Rahul’s mother ensured that Rahul tied the knot on akshaya trithiya, one of the most auspicious days on the Hindu calendar. The venue was a tiny temple inside a tightly guarded Border Security Force training camp at Yelahanka, about 30 kilometers from the city.

Vijeeta was dressed in a blue Maharashtrian sari with golden dots, while Rahul wore a white kurta-pyjama. The wedding started at 9.30am with a puja, which was followed by kanyadaan and seven pheras around fire. Rahul then tied the mangalsutra around Vijeeta’s neck and exchanged varmalas with her. The ceremony, which was solemnised by Pandit Kumar Dharangaonkar, lasted the full six hours.

The chairman of cricket team selectors, Brijesh Patel, along with Dravid's Karnataka teammates and close buddies Sujit Somasunder, Venkatesh Prasad and Anil Kumble, were around to shower petals and blessings at the muhurtham at 12:23 pm. Sweets and savories for the wedding came from Kartik's Mithai Shoppe.

The wedding was followed by a reception the same evening. Another large reception was held at Bangalore’s Taj West End Hotel on May 6. It was an elegant affair that had class stamped all over it, which was hardly surprising considering Rahul’s personality. The invitation card was also sweet and simple. It read:

"Please Join Me At A Reception To Celebrate My Wedding To Vijeeta ... Warm Regards – Rahul Dravid ... Blessings Only (Please Bring This Card With You")

There were over 400 quests. The wedding party arrived around 7 pm in three large green BSF buses and Ambassadors. The bride and groom arrived a little later at 7.20. In the evening, the couple spoke to the media for 10 minutes, that too after Rahul’s manager persuaded him to end the public’s curiosity. Rahul and Vijeeta stood on a small dais in front of the hotel reception as the photographers clicked away. Rahul wore a cream sherwani topped with sparkling buttons and a netty silvery shawl, with silver-white jootis. Vijeeta was draped in a gorgeous grey silk sari bordered in red and zari work, with the pallu worn in the Gujarati style and her hair left loose with a mathe-ka-teeka parting it.

On the menu, which was strictly vegetarian, were uttapam, dosa, puran puri, etc. Desserts included gulab jamun, jalebi and ice cream.

Among the distinguished guests were Karnataka chief Minister S M Krishna, state ministers, VIPs, industrialists and

dignitaries from all over the country. Teammates Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mohammed Kaif, and Parthiv Patel also attended the reception. Also spotted at the wedding were former cricketers Mohinder Amarnath, B S Chandrasekhar, E A S Prassana, Roger Binny and owner of the Sahara Empire, Subroto Roy.

A week later, the couple left for a short honeymoon in the hills of Sri Lanka. They celebrated an "extended honeymoon" in Scotland a month later. Rahul had signed a contract to play for the Saltires, Scotland’s official cricket team.

Rahul and Vijeeta are married for almost three years and are now proud parents of a baby boy born on October 11, 2005. We wish both of them a very happy married life.