Closure

34. Haldi

The day had finally arrived. The day Akshu and Abhi had dreamed of, longed for. The morning of their wedding was bathed in golden sunlight, and the Haldi ceremony, the first of the rituals, had begun.

The air was thick with the scent of marigolds, rosewater, and sandalwood, and the colors of yellow and orange wrapped the venue in warmth and vibrancy. Akshu sat gracefully on a stool draped in flowers, her face radiant with the soft glow of the morning. She wore a simple yellow saree, her hair loosely tied, and her eyes sparkled with the joy of the day.

The moment the elders began applying the turmeric on her cheeks, Akshu's heart swelled with emotion. With every stroke, blessings for a beautiful married life were whispered into her ears. The soft yellow paste contrasted against her glowing skin, and soon her face, arms, and feet were adorned with the sacred Haldi.

On the other side of the venue, Abhi sat surrounded by his family, dressed in a simple white kurta, yet he looked every bit the regal groom. Laughter echoed around him as his siblings playfully smeared turmeric on his face and arms, but Abhi's mind was elsewhere. His eyes kept darting to where Akshu's ceremony was taking place, though he couldn't see her. His heart raced with anticipation, yearning for a glimpse of his soon-to-be bride.

Neil, always the mischievous brother, noticed Abhi's restlessness and whispered, "Bhai, you're going to sprain your neck trying to look through that wall. You know you can't see her."

Abhi chuckled, trying to play it off, but Neil wasn't done. "If you want," he added slyly, "I can make something happen..."

"Yes!" Abhi blurted out louder than he intended, and everyone turned to look at him. Embarrassed, he lowered his voice, "Please, Neil. What would I do without you?"

As the Haldi ceremony wrapped up and the families began to scatter, Neil quietly approached the spot where Akshu's ceremony had just ended. Leaning in close, he whispered, "Follow me."

Akshu's heart skipped a beat. She had been longing for a moment alone with Abhi and, understanding Neil's plan immediately, she quietly followed him. Neil led her to a secluded spot in the palace garden, where the morning light filtered softly through the leaves. He glanced at his watch and said with a wink, "Fifteen minutes. That's all you two get." And with that, he was gone.

As Akshu stepped into the clearing, she saw Abhi waiting for her, his face still glowing with the yellow hues of Haldi. They locked eyes, and in that moment, the world seemed to shrink until it was just the two of them.

Overcome with emotion, Akshu's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. Abhi rushed to her, his hands cupping her face gently. "Akshu, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

Akshu tried to smile through her tears. "It all feels too good to be true, Abhi. I can't believe we're actually getting married today. Everything is so perfect—our families, this celebration—it feels like a dream. And if it is... I don't want to wake up."

Abhi chuckled softly and, with a playful glint in his eye, pinched her cheek. "Ouch!" Akshu exclaimed, surprised.

"See? It's not a dream," Abhi teased.

A smile crept across her lips, but there was something deeper in her gaze—a vulnerability, a rawness that made Abhi's heart ache with love. Slowly, he dipped his fingers into the leftover turmeric still smeared on his arm and brought it to Akshu's cheek. His touch was tender, lingering, as he traced the contours of her face, smearing the haldi with an intimacy that sent shivers down her spine.

Without breaking eye contact, Akshu did the same, her fingers dipping into the turmeric on her arm, and slowly she brushed it onto Abhi's lips, the sensation electric between them. Their breaths came slower, their world now filled with the soft rhythm of their hearts, beating together.

"Akshu..." Abhi's voice was barely more than a breath, yet it carried the weight of every emotion he felt. He stepped closer, their foreheads brushing gently, the scent of marigolds and sandalwood swirling around them like a delicate veil.

Akshu closed her eyes, her hands resting softly against his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath the thin fabric of his kurta. "I'm so lucky to have you," she whispered, her words brushing against his lips.

Abhi's hands found her waist, pulling her a little closer. His thumb traced the curve of her jaw, lingering as he whispered back, "I'm the lucky one, Akshu. You have no idea."

For a long moment, they stood there, wrapped in the stillness of the moment, foreheads pressed together as if the world outside their small cocoon had ceased to exist. There was no one else—just them, standing on the cusp of something beautiful and everlasting.

"I have to go," Akshu said softly, her voice trembling as she reluctantly pulled away, her fingers still resting on his chest, unwilling to completely sever the connection. "They'll start looking for me."

Abhi nodded, his thumb brushing tenderly over her lower lip in a fleeting, intimate gesture. "I know," he murmured. "But just remember, this is real. This isn't a dream. In less than a day, you'll be mine. And I'll be yours."

Akshu's cheeks flushed a soft pink as her gaze dropped shyly, but not before she gave him one last lingering glance. Then, with a rush of unspoken emotion, she turned and hurried back. Abhi's eyes followed her until she disappeared from sight, his heart full of love, already counting the moments until they would be together again.