Avan's POV
Shit, her expression was totally worth it. The way she blushed when I complimented her shows how much I effect her.
It was not my idea to meet her alone, but my sweet of a sister's. I'm marrying her, so I should do some romantic gestures with her and make her feel attractive so that she will start seeing me in that way. Her words, not mine.
I reached home with didi and jijaji and first thing I was expecting to see is everybody preparing for haldi ceremony, instead I saw my aunts are going through all the gifts I received today!
"Ma, the chain looks so thin, what do you think how much its cost would be?" asked my youngest aunt who is assessing the chain by keeping it between index and thumb.
"Looks like it is around 10 grams, it would be around Rs. 4000" said my eldest aunt.
"The shirt-pant material looks expensive and color is also good" said my middle aunt.
"But my Aanu only wears ready made shirt" my grandma commented by tilting her head high.
They have not noticed me. Baba is not here in the moment and ma chose to ignore everything. As soon as we entered, didi heard what they are talking about but Sanath is sleeping on her shoulder so she went to her room directly, jijaji follows her.
I have heard enough insult of my in laws.
"I like the clothes, I will get them stitched." I replied and left, not before hearing taunt
"Dekh rahi ho bhabhi, aapka Aanu abhi se paraya ho gaya"
(See sister in law, your aanu has become alienated)
I turned around and replied, "if you want to see me happy, stop this."
"But Aanu..."
I ignored them and went inside to change my clothes. I'm wearing yellow kurta for my haldi ceremony.
I sat on a baajat, ma applied vermillion on my forehead first then everybody took stick with beatle leaf wrapped on it in their hand, dipped it in oil and applied in my hair.
Ma took wet turmeric on both her palms and applied on my cheeks. Didi applied it on my forehead and arms. My eldest aunt applied it on my feet and forehead. Jijaji came but stopped
"Where will I apply turmeric, every place is already covered" he said in fake angry tone.
"Are koi baat nahi abhi jagah bana dete hai" my middle aunt replied
( oh it's ok, let's make a place)
Before I coukd understand, she pulled my kurta over my head. Now I'm in my vest only.
I don't know when Rajeev came, took the bowl of henna and turned it over my head. Shit! So much turmeric, it is going to take me ages to remove this from my hair and body.
Dharini's POV
I got ready in yellow saree for haldi ceremony. Today I wore all the new clothes. Mumma tied a very small knife on my waist to protect me from negative energy.
Mumma applied vermillion on my forehead, then everyone applied oil in my hair with the help of bestle leaves, wrapped on sticks.
One by one everybody applied turmeric on my body. I'm feeling uncomfortable when my relatives are touching back or front area covered with blouse or when they are lifting my saree to apply turmeric on my legs. When I expressed my discomfort, my mama's (uncle) daughter teased, making my freeze.
"When Anav ji touch you, will you say the same?" It reminded me of what mumma said yesterday.
My face may be looking yellow because of turmeric but I'm red because of embarrassment and anger. I don't know why but I don't like teasing.
When I didn't reply, they chose to change the topic.
After haldi ceremony I came to bath, removed all my clothes and kept it in a polythene because mumma told me that some people may have evil intentions so bride should keep her clothes away from others' reach. I gave the polythene to Drishu and started bathing. It took me around one hour to remove turmeric from my body and hair.
"Rini today is ladies sangeet at Anav ji's house and they invited all the ladies of our family but I can't go because I have so much work to do as tomorrow is your wedding, so Drishu will go on my behalf"
"Mumma noooo..." drishu whinned beside me.
"What no? Your grandmother, aunts, sister-in-law and cousins, everyone is going but if I can't go, can't you go on my behalf?"
"Mummaa ladies sangeet is so boring and every sangeet is just like others. One aunty will play dholak, and rest the other women sing in a dissonant voice and some ladies fulfill their long lost passion to dance."
"Drishti can't you listen to me for once?"
Mumma calling by full name means you are in deep ship.
"Are yar mummaa" drishu fake cried.
(Oh no mummaa)
"Meri pyaari beti" mumma kissed on her forehead and left. To which Drishu glared at her retreating figure, afterall she got manipulated by her.
(My lovely daughter)
I laughed watching this scenario, "laugh jiji laugh on my misery, one day I will also laugh on your misery" she commented which increased my laugh.
*****
It's 8 PM already and I'm feeling tired. There comes Drishu and other ladies of my family, back from my in-laws' house.
"Take this jiji, your mother-in-law gave" she winked and went inside washroom. Oh God, sweets again? I hate sweets but since I came here, people are just looking for opportunity to stuff sweets in my mouth.
I came back to my temporary room to sleep. Mumma came just after me..
"Rinu, sleep properly dear, tomorrow will be a very long day" saying this, she kissed my forehead and went out.
Indeed tomorrow will be a very long day.
■■■■■
I'm very busy now a days but still I'm sparing my time to write for you guys. Least you can do is votes, it doesn't cost you a penny but makes me happy.
YOU ARE READING
She's Taken
RomanceSet against the backdrop of the 1990s, this story unfolds a unique and unconventional tale. "I see her every day in school, and now I don't look at her the way a teacher should look at his student. The young woman who sits on the fourth bench of the...
