Hidden Marriage

CHAPTER 13: HALDI 2

Before she could hit the ground, a strong arm shot out and wrapped firmly around her waist, steadying her just in time. Her heart raced as she found herself held securely, her body frozen for a moment. Slowly, she looked up to see the person who had caught her-and her expression immediately darkened.

It was Abhay.

Dressed in a yellow kurta, Abhay stood there, his grip steady and his expression unreadable. His sharp, piercing eyes met hers, and for a fleeting second, there was a spark of something she couldn't quite place. But that spark quickly gave way to irritation as the reality of the situation hit her.

Kavya quickly straightened herself, pulling away from him as if his touch had burned her. Her cheeks flushed-not from gratitude, but from sheer annoyance.

"I didn't ask for your help," she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain.

Abhay raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "And yet, you were about to fall," he replied coolly, his tone laced with calm amusement.

Kavya glared at him, her fists clenching at her sides. There was something about his confidence-or what she considered arrogance-that got under her skin. And now, this moment, with him saving her, only made her dislike him more.

Meanwhile, Rohan, who had witnessed the entire scene, couldn't contain his laughter. "Now that would've been a perfect shot!" he teased, holding up his camera as if to immortalize the moment.

Kavya turned to him, her glare shifting from Abhay to Rohan. "Rohan!" she exclaimed, her tone half-embarrassed, half-angry.

She stormed off, her heart pounding-not just from the embarrassment of the fall, but from the encounter with Abhay. She hated how he always seemed so composed, so unaffected, while she was left fuming every time they crossed paths.

As Kavya disappeared into the crowd, Abhay watched her retreat with a glint of amusement in his eyes. Rohan, still chuckling, resumed clicking photos, leaving the rest of the lawn to buzz with excitement as the haldi preparations continued in full swing.

Everyone gathered around Isha as the festivities began. Sakshi sat beside her, teasing her playfully and complaining about Abhinav's antics. As the laughter and chatter filled the room, Sakshi turned her attention to introducing someone.

"Meet him," she said with a bright smile, gesturing toward the man beside her. "This is Ekaksh Raichand, Bhai’s best friend, just like I told you."

Ekaksh smiled warmly and greeted Isha with a polite, “Namaste, Bhabhi.” His tone was cheerful and respectful, but what he did next caught Isha off guard. He bent down as though to touch her feet in a traditional gesture of respect.

Startled, Isha quickly pulled her feet back, her cheeks flushing slightly. "No, no, Devar ji! What are you doing?" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and amusement.

Ekaksh straightened up, a playful grin spreading across his face. The word devar—younger brother-in-law—clearly pleased him. “Just seeking blessings from my bhabhi,” he replied good-naturedly, his smile widening as he spoke.

Before Isha could protest further, he bent down and touched her feet, much to her embarrassment.

“Let him do what he’s doing,” Sakshi chimed in with a teasing tone. “He doesn’t listen to anyone anyway.”

Caught between amusement and mild discomfort, Isha simply smiled, choosing not to argue.

The cheerful atmosphere carried over as the haldi ceremony began. Family and friends surrounded Isha, their excitement contagious as they smeared turmeric paste on her face, arms, and legs, blessing her with love and good wishes for her upcoming wedding. Laughter and chatter echoed around her as the golden hue of haldi marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life.