tennis star Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik took the oath of marriage

After the high-voltage run-up to what's being Called the wedding of the season, tennis star Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik took on their wedding vows in a simple ceremony before a select gathering of family and friends on Monday afternoon

maybe someday you too will experience the same thing if you currently you are not married

The groom placed a sparkling solitaire on the bride's ring finger to seal the union that came with a Rs 61 lakh meher, an amount promised to the bride in case of separation.

Sania, 23, draped in a tomato-red chiffon, embroidered end-to-end with heavy gold thread, said, ‘‘It’s the happiest day of my life. This whole experience, this joy, is yet to settle in.’’ Then with a blush, she added, ‘‘It takes time, you know.’’

Shoaib, 28, said, “I cannot tell you how happy I am. It’s a dream come true for me. I will treasure her for the rest of my life.’’

Despite the huge media buzz surrounding the wedding, the Mirzas — Nasima and Imran — had managed to keep details of the nikah under wraps.

But the moment Sania, wearing her mother’s wedding sari, presented to Nasima by her groom 25 years ago, left her Jubilee Hills residence, media vehicles hit the roads in a frantic chase. Sania, a veil over her head, and wearing a heavy mix of diamond and rubies, was whisked in through the back entrance of the Taj Krishna hotel.

It was a harrowing build-up to the wedding for the Mirzas, but the family threw their weight behind Shoaib, who was embroiled in controversial divorce proceedings with another Hyderabadi. By the end of Monday evening, it was clear that the Mirzas were both stronger and wiser for the experience.

Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza ended up saying ‘Qabool hai’ three days ahead of their scheduled wedding date.

The reception though, is still listed for April 15. While Sania has turned to designer siblings Shantanu and Nikhil for her clothes for the reception in Hyderabad, and the one to follow in Pakistan, she had always wanted to wear her mother’s wedding sari for her own nikah.

She made that decision the moment she first laid eyes on Nasima’s sari as a teenager. Nasima had only worn the sari once, on her own wedding day almost 25 years ago, and then had locked it away until she pulled it out for her first-born.

Sania’s nikah, which had a gathering of less than 100 people, including the groom’s immediate family — mother Sultana Malik, three sisters and their families and younger brother — was held at the Taj Krishna grand ballroom.