Vaani:- "Ye kya kar rahe aap, hum gir jaayenge! Niche utaariye humein. Aan, put me down." In a surprise turn of events, she didn't even realised what she called him.
Aanvik:- "Don't ever call me that, only my family members are allowed to call me by...
Upon waking up, I find myself lying in my bed, my mind in disarray as I try to piece together what had happened. My memory brings me back to the temple, where I was last seen. I distinctly recall being lifted by someone from the temple stairs, but the details remain hazy. I check my phone and realize that it's already 4:30 in the evening, and my heart skips a beat as I remember that the Haldi function is scheduled to begin in half an hour. I start to feel anxious as I frantically search for Zee, wondering where they could be. I rush to change into my Haldi outfit and hurriedly make my way downstairs, hoping to find him soon.
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As I scan the room in search of my little one, my heart rate quickens. After a few moments of panic, I finally spot Zee nestled in one of the cosy couches designated for the guests. A wave of relief washes over me as I approach him - he looks so peaceful in his slumber. Suddenly, my stomach churns with guilt. How could I have dozed off while my child was left unattended? I berate myself for my negligence.
"Zee, wake up bacha. Look, I have brought new clothes for you, wake up baby and then I will make you some delicious pasta and then we will also drink a chocolate shake and then we will play Holi with yellow colour and there will be so much fun! Wake up now, baby." I coo at him in a baby voice, to wake him up.
"Mamma?"
"Yes baby, I am here wake up. Look I have cooked your favourite pasta and made your favourite chocolate shake. Wake up, I will feed you."
I pull him into my arms and wake him up. I feed him with my hands, then I hand him his favourite drink and after that, I dress him in a yellow kurta and white lower.
He then proceeds to play with his new buddies, just as Chachi calls for Haldi. The function kicks off with all the ladies applying haldi on my feet, hands, and then face.
I find it challenging to concentrate on anything as my mind continues to drift back to the intricate patterns of henna on my hands, each stroke forming the name of someone other than my spouse. To mask my inner turmoil, I make a conscious effort to wear a smile on my face while the women around me enthusiastically apply Haldi, a turmeric paste, as part of a traditional pre-wedding ritual. Some of them jovially tease me about my newly married status, unaware of the underlying anxiety and restlessness that consume me.
After all the women had finished applying the Haldi paste on me, they led me to a large pool filled with fragrant rose water. They instruct me to immerse myself in the pool and enjoy a bath while being surrounded by the soothing essence of roses. Once the milk and rose water bath is complete, they tell me to follow up with an actual shower to ensure that all traces of the Haldi paste are thoroughly washed away, leaving my body completely cleansed.
