"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 73

Kabir's Perspective

The Haldi ceremony was buzzing with energy as I walked into the courtyard. The sun was shining bright, and the scent of fresh marigolds mixed with turmeric hung in the air. The setup was beautiful—yellow and orange flowers adorned every corner, and bowls of haldi were placed carefully on trays. Today wasn't just a ritual; it was a celebration, one that was about to become very messy, if my friends and family had anything to say about it.

I was dressed in a simple white kurta-pajama, knowing full well that by the end of the ceremony, it would be a shade of yellow, torn, or both. But none of that mattered because my eyes were on Aditi.

She stood with her family, a vision in a white saree with a gold border. Even through the crowd, she took my breath away. Her saree was draped elegantly, but I couldn't help but think about how the haldi would soon stain that pure white. Her blouse was white too, fitting snugly across her chest, accentuating her perfect figure. I swallowed hard, feeling my heart race just looking at her. How could she look this stunning in something so simple?

Our eyes met across the courtyard, and I could see the teasing glint in hers. She knew the effect she had on me. The curve of her lips, the way her eyes sparkled—it all made my knees go weak.

I walked toward her, catching glimpses of her shy smile as her family and mine prepared for the rituals. Aditi's parents greeted me warmly, her mother holding a thali of haldi, while her father smiled, his hand resting on my shoulder.

The ceremony started with the elders performing the first part of the ritual. Aditi's mom applied the first stroke of haldi on her forehead, then mine, followed by our cheeks, arms, and legs. Her father did the same, blessing us for a life full of happiness and prosperity. My mom and dad followed suit, their smiles full of love and pride.

Once the formalities were over, though, it became a free-for-all. My friends were grinning like wolves, and I knew I wouldn't escape unscathed. They made their move almost immediately.

"Ready to be properly blessed, Kabir?" Raghav smirked, grabbing a handful of haldi.

Before I could dodge him, the turmeric paste hit my chest with a wet smack. I groaned, trying to fend them off, but Sahil was already on my other side, his hands covered in haldi, pushing me from behind.

The next thing I knew, hands were tearing at my kurta, exposing my chest to the cool air as they smeared haldi all over my skin. "We can't miss any spot!" Sahil laughed, his hands spreading the paste over my chest and abs.

The fabric tore away easily under their rough hands, leaving me shirtless, my chest smeared with the yellow paste. I glanced over at Aditi, who was now giggling at the sight of me. Her cousins were applying haldi to her too, though in a far more gentle manner. But she couldn't take her eyes off me, and I could tell she was enjoying the view.

I shot her a grin, but before I could say anything, I was pulled back into the chaos. My friends didn't hold back, slathering me with haldi until I was covered from head to toe. The women on Aditi's side were a little more reserved, but not for long. As soon as her cousins got started, Aditi's face and arms were covered in bright yellow streaks. I couldn't stop staring at her—her white saree was slowly being overtaken by the golden color, the fabric sticking to her skin as she tried to laugh off the attack.

After the haldi ritual, the atmosphere was electric. The courtyard buzzed with laughter and chatter, but I couldn't take my eyes off Aditi. Her white saree was now streaked with yellow, the once pristine fabric clinging to her curves in a way that made my heart race. The gold border shimmered under the sun, but my gaze was fixed on her body, where the wetness of the haldi mixed with sweat had made the saree slightly translucent.