Adhisayam aanal unmai!!

So I got married on Nov 8 this year. Yayy🎉 Then I found out you gotta register your marriage within 90 days to avoid a penalty. I was like, okay cool, let’s do this. Watched a couple of YouTube videos and realized you *have* to visit the registrar office in person with witnesses—no shortcuts. Now, you know how it is with state govt offices. Bribes are like, *default mode*. Even on Reddit, people were saying they had to pay at least ₹1,000 to get their certificate, even after applying online. But I was like, “Let’s see if I can do this *without* greasing any palms.” So, I applied online, filled in all the details, uploaded proofs (ID, age, address), and fixed an appointment for Nov 23 at the Thiruvotriyur Sub-Registrar Office. First hiccup? The office address. I’d been to the one in Kaladipet before, but Google said it had moved to Wimco Nagar. So, I called their helpline. The person on the other end confidently told me, “It’s in Kaladipet.” I think she Googled it too. 🙃 But I wasn’t buying it, so I went to check myself. Surprise, surprise—no office there. Should’ve just asked my dad first. He confirmed it had shifted to Wimco Nagar months ago. *Facepalm.* Anyway, I landed at the right office on the 23rd at 2:30 PM sharp. But guess what? The Sub-Registrar was in a rush to leave early (it was a Saturday, after all). She wasn’t exactly thrilled to see me crash her weekend plans. Initially, she was kinda rude, questioning everything—address, marriage, you name it. But once I called my parents and in-laws inside, she calmed down. I came super prepared—hard copies of our marriage photos, all proofs (original + photocopies), everything. She finally guided us through the process, got us connected with her team for photos and thumbprints, and our witnesses (parents and in-laws) signed. Boom, done! I’d already paid ₹220 online—₹100 for the registration fee, ₹100 for a “CD copy,” and ₹20 as a copy fee. No extra money was demanded, which honestly shocked me. My dad was ready to jump in and fight if anyone even *hinted* at a bribe, lol. But nothing happened. The Sub-Registrar signed off, approved everything, and told me to collect the certificate in 10 days. Fast forward a few weeks—my dad went to pick up the certificate since I was swamped with work. Still, no bribes. Can you believe that? Though, here’s the catch: no CD was given. Even when asked, they denied it existed. Like, why charge ₹100 for a CD copy if you’re not giving one? Weird, but whatever. At the end of the day—mission accomplished. No bribes, no drama. Just ₹220, some patience, and maybe a little luck. Namma ooruku enna than aachu? Or did I just meet one of the few honest officers in the state this time? 😂