Heartbeats And Halos

Chapter 4

• P a l a k •

"For the twentieth time Ragini, get out of there! I need to bathe." Standing outside the bathroom door I helplessly cried out for my twin sister who had been inside the bathroom for the past one point five hours. "It's nine already!! If we don't go downstairs by ten we are dead!!" I reminded her about Mumma's warning.

"Five more minutes Palu." She said back.

"You have been saying that for an hour now!! Are you there to shower or what?" I banged on the door again.

"You are gonna break that damn door if you keep doing that Palak," Diya said. Easy for her to say she had already showered, wore her saree, and was now doing her makeup. Her saree was violet in color and she had paired it with a tank top of the same colour.

"Easy for you to say! Why didn't you wake me up a little earlier? You woke up at what? Seven? You could have at least woken me up." I scolded her too. I had no patience left in me. "This would have never happened if I had woken up a little earlier." I slammed my hands on my forehead.

We stayed up till two last night. After Ragini pulled that stunt yesterday I was very anxious about Roshan and his brother telling about it to mumma. She will kill us. But then I realized overthinking isn't gonna help in a situation like this.

Diya and I convinced Ragini to apologize to Roshan's brother the first thing today, and after a lot of persuading she agreed but very reluctantly. That's why we planned that we would go downstairs before they came and Ragini would apologize and convince Roshan's brother not to tell anyone about what happened yesterday. That's why it was important to go downstairs at the time. But it seemed like nobody except for me even taking it seriously.

Also, it's Mahashivratri so there is a Puja at home. Though the puja is in the evening there is still a lot of work to be done for it. The decorations were going on and things like setting up the mandap, etc. There was a lot of turmoil. Also, the guests are coming in the morning. The adults would not eat anything today they have fast so food is only being cooked for the kids.

All the adults will only drink a few traditional drinks like juices made by mixing spices, sugar, fruits, and yogurt. We will keep the fast until midnight when the puja will be over and then eat.

"Ragini!! I am sure I am gonna kill you today!" I slammed the door harder. "The guests will be here at sharp ten! Mumma is going to explode."

"If by guests you are talking about your to-be husband and his family then congratulations dear he's already here." Trisha Masi popped out of nowhere and dropped the bomb. She had a nagging grin on her face.

Ohh boy! This is bad news.

"Th--they are already here?" I stuttered. What will happen if they tell Mumma and Papa about yesterday? At the moment I wanted nothing more but for the ground to open up and swallow me.

"They are here!!" My twin opened the door at the very moment she heard the news. She had this foolish excitement for God knows what. She should be worrying about what happens if he tells anyone about yesterday. I jerked her out of the bathroom by her arm angrily, went in, and slammed the door on her face.

They are here! They are here! There's no time to forfeit.

I took a shower and washed my hair as fast as I could. Wrapped a bathrobe around me and I was done. When I got out only Diya was there still doing her makeup.

"You are not done with the makeup yet?" I asked as I walked towards the wardrobe and got my saree out.

"Actually I was halfway through but then I also did Ragini's makeup and hair so it took time." She replied applying a highlighter on her face.