Tangled in Livin×LOVE

Chapter 5 The Nalungu day

The sun shone brightly over the sprawling house, decorated with vibrant rangolis, fresh garlands of flowers and banana leaves adorning every corner. Famous Ilayaraja songs drifted from the loudspeakers, creating an atmosphere that buzzed with tradition and festivity. The crowd moved like a colourful mosaic, a blend of emotions—some busy with preparations, some curiously observing the rituals, while others appeared bored or exhausted from the never-ending ceremonies. It was a day of joy and blessings, marking the beginning of Ram and Meera's life together.

The smell of jasmine flowers and fresh marigolds filled the air as Tamizh dashed around, taking charge of nearly every detail before she left for her room to get ready. Her parents, with beaming faces, greeted guests, ensured food arrangements were perfect and supervised the decorators putting up the final touches. Ram and Meera, sitting under a colourful canopy, exchanged shy glances during the relatives turn by turn, applies the paste of turmeric on Ram and Meera's cheeks before blessing them for a long happy marriage, their faces glowing with happiness, while Meera humming to the tunes of "Andhi Mazhai," while Ram tried to sneak peeks at her without being obvious.

The Nalungu is a very special and symbolic ritual in Tamil marriage traditions, typically held before the actual marriage ceremony. It involves blessings meant to prepare the bride and groom for their new life together. During Nalungu, family and friends gather to anoint the couple with turmeric paste, rice and oil, which are believed to cleanse and purify them. The ritual often includes teasing and lighthearted activities, creating an atmosphere of joy and camaraderie. It's a way for the couple's families to bond and offer blessings for a harmonious married life.

Meanwhile, Prabhu was upstairs, talking on the phone. His voice though jovial, carried an undertone of frustration. Ever since he had arrived, despite the overwhelming joy of watching his brother finally settle down after avoiding marriage for so long, something within him gnawed at his peace of mind. It wasn't the endless rituals or the gathering of people—he was used to family chaos—but an inexplicable itch for something else entirely.

He sighed, shaking off the thoughts and bantering with the person on the phone when he paused mid-step. Crossing the second floor, his eyes caught sight of what he had unknowingly been searching for: Tamizh.

Standing in front of her dressing mirror in her room, the door wide open, she looked utterly captivating wrapped in a red silk saree. Her hair was pinned halfway up and her face showed a rare vulnerability as she struggled to adjust her saree pleats.

With her saree still giving her trouble, Tamizh let out a small curse under her breath. The sound of it brought a grin to Prabhu's face. Unable to resist, he slipped into her room smoothly, catching her off-guard. She nearly yelped but before she could react, he bent down in front of her, his fingers already busy fixing the unruly pleats.

Her irritation dissipated as Prabhu carefully adjusted each fold of her saree, his touch surprisingly gentle and careful to not make her uncomfortable. She felt herself holding her breath as he straightened the pleats with the ease of someone who had done it a hundred times before. For a brief moment, she lost herself in the intimacy of the gesture.

When she regained her composure, Tamizh arched an eyebrow at him. "Seems like you have good experience adjusting saree pleats for girls," she quipped, her voice full of teasing suspicion.

Prabhu glanced up at her, his lips curling into a devilish smile.

Damn that smile, she couldn't help but pause for a second as it did something weird to her heart.

"Of course," he replied, with just the right amount of wit, "Thanks to my girlfriend. Oh, sorry, I mean my ex-girlfriend."

Tamizh frowned at his words, a surge of irritation rising in her chest. "I should have known," she muttered, her voice laced with sarcasm.

As Prabhu finished adjusting her pleats and stood up, they suddenly heard footsteps approaching. Tamizh's eyes widened in panic. "Get behind the door!" she hissed, shoving him towards the shadows.

If anyone found them together in her room, rumours would spread like wildfire, overshadowing the happiness of the marriage celebrations.

Prabhu ducked behind the door just in time as one of Tamizh's cousin brothers walked in, asking for the Wi-Fi password, complaining about his poor network.

With remarkable calmness, Tamizh guided him out of the room, casually tossing out a random password while throwing a warning glance at Prabhu, urging him to make a quiet exit after they left.

As she and her cousin disappeared down the hall, Prabhu let out a sigh of relief, shaking his head at the close call. His lips curved into a mischievous smile as he noticed something else in the room.

With an impish glint in his eyes, he swiftly grabbed something and shoved it into his pocket. Chuckling to himself, he whispered, "Teasing her is going to be a lot of fun."

Downstairs, the Nalungu functions was in full swing. The air was thick with laughter and music as the women sang traditional songs while decorating each other's hands with mehndi. The room was alive with colors—vibrant silk sarees and sparkling jewelry glimmered in the soft lighting of early sun.

As the ceremony continued, Tamizh found herself constantly on her feet, running back and forth to ensure everything was in order. Between managing the guests and checking on the food, she barely had a moment to breathe.

Still, she couldn't help but notice how often Prabhu's eyes seemed to follow her, his gaze lingering on her with a mix of amusement and admiration.

It wasn't until she caught him stifling a laugh that she finally confronted him with a raised eyebrow. "What's so funny?" she asked, her voice clipped with annoyance.

Prabhu, biting back a smile, simply shook his head, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Nothing," he said innocently though the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.

The day wore on and the festivities continued with endless rounds of rituals. Ram and Meera shared sweet glances, their story unfolding with subtle tenderness amidst the busy crowd. As they sat through the Nalungu, teasing each other with rice and turmeric paste, Tamizh felt a warm pang in her heart, seeing how well they fit together.

Yet, even with all the activities, her attention kept drifting back to Prabhu. Every time she turned around, it seemed like he was there, watching her as if she was the most interesting thing in the room. His intense gaze sent shivers down her spine though she stubbornly refused to acknowledge it.

While others were focused on the rituals, Prabhu's eyes never left her. Whether she was bustling about, instructing the caterers or helping an elderly relative find a seat, Prabhu watched her with unabashed fascination, as though witnessing a scene from a movie that only he understood.

By the time the Nalungu functions ended, the house was filled with contented smiles and satisfied guests. The evening had been nothing short of a success and everyone felt the warmth of a day well-spent. Tomorrow was the big day—the marriage day. Excitement hummed in the air as everyone began to prepare themselves for the grand celebration.

As the guests began to retire to their rooms after the heavy dinner, Tamizh caught Prabhu stealing yet another glance at her, his lips twitching with suppressed laughter.

Irritated and confused, she finally marched up to him and demanded, "What are you laughing at?"

Prabhu still grinning, leaned in slightly, his voice low and playful. "You'll find out soon enough."

Before she could press him further, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Tamizh standing there, more curious than ever.

She narrowed her eyes at his retreating figure, a mix of frustration and intrigue swirling in her chest. Whatever game Prabhu was playing, she wasn't going to let him win.

Not without a fight.