Be mine SONEYA

14. HALDI AND MEHNDI

The wedding celebrations had moved into full swing, and the day of the Haldi ceremony had finally arrived. The morning sun bathed the Gupta and Sharma households in a warm, golden glow, as family and friends gathered to partake in the joyous ritual.

At the Gupta house, Aryansh sat cross-legged on a low stool in the courtyard, dressed in a simple white kurta and dhoti, his hair neatly combed back. The courtyard was decorated with marigold garlands, and the smell of fresh turmeric filled the air. His mother, Mrs. Gupta, started the ceremony by applying the first touch of Haldi on his face, her eyes misty with emotion.

"Yeh lo, beta. Tumhari shaadi ki rasmein shuru ho gayi hain," she said, her voice filled with love and a hint of sadness.

Aryansh's father smiled, holding his wife's hand, "Arre, tum kyun roo rhi ho. Bahu aa rhi hai yeh nikaama toh yahi hai."

Everyone around laughed, and soon, the Haldi was being applied by all the relatives, turning the ceremony into a joyful mess. Dhruv, as always, took the opportunity to smear a generous amount of Haldi all over Aryansh's face and neck, making him look almost unrecognizable.

"Dhruv, tu ruk, tere liye kuch extra Haldi bacha ke rakha hai!" Aryansh tried to retaliate, but was held back by his cousins, all of whom were eager to participate in the fun.

Meanwhile, at the Sharma house, a similar scene was unfolding. Adhriti was seated in a beautifully decorated area in their courtyard, her white outfit already stained with yellow from the Haldi. Her mother, Mrs. Sharma, lovingly applied the turmeric paste to her face, arms, and feet, while the women around sang traditional wedding songs.

"Adhriti, ab toh tu dulhan banne waali hai. Humari choti si bitiya badi ho gayi," her mother said, her voice catching in her throat.

Adhriti smiled softly, "Maa, ab toh aapko mujhe dulhan ke roop mein dekhne ki aadat daalni padegi."

Her friends and cousins, including Shanaya, couldn't resist teasing her. "Adhriti, ab toh bas ek din baaki hai. Aryansh ji ke ghar pehli rasoi ki tayyari shuru kar do!" Shanaya joked, making everyone laugh.

As the Haldi ceremony at the Gupta house came to an end, Dhruv and Surbhi quickly filled a small silver bowl with the remaining Haldi.

"Bhai, yeh Haldi Adhriti bhabhi ke liye Jaa rhi hai abh!" Surbhi announced, as she and Dhruv made their way towards the Sharma house.

When they arrived, the scene there was just as lively. As soon as Adhriti's family saw Dhruv and Surbhi approaching with the bowl of Haldi, they knew what was coming. Shanaya, always up for some fun, quickly pulled Adhriti forward.

"Arey, dekho! Dulha ki Haldi aa gayi," she exclaimed.

Before Adhriti could protest, Surbhi dipped her fingers into the bowl and smeared the Haldi on Adhriti's cheeks, while Dhruv playfully applied some on her arms. Adhriti tried to back away, laughing, but there was no escape.

"Bhabhi, yeh toh sirf shuruaat hai. Aage aage dekho hota hai kya!" Dhruv replied with a wink.

The Haldi ceremony soon turned into a playful Holi, with both families smearing color on each other, completely disregarding the traditional boundaries of the ritual. The sound of laughter and the sight of yellow, orange, and pink powder filling the air marked the joyous blending of two families.

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As the day progressed, the house transformed for the Mehndi ceremony in the evening. The Sharma's living room was adorned with vibrant cushions, low seating, and strings of jasmine flowers that filled the air with their sweet fragrance. Adhriti, now cleaned up from the earlier Haldi chaos, was dressed in a beautiful teal and gold lehenga, her hair loosely tied back to make room for the Mehndi artist.