Meri Jaan

Part 14

Haldi ke Rang 🌼✨

The morning sun spilled golden light into the Khans’ mansion. The courtyard was decorated with marigolds and green dupattas, a stage set at the center where Faiza would sit for her haldi. Bowls of turmeric paste gleamed on the side tables, waiting to be smeared with laughter and love.

Inside the house, chaos was in full swing. Mukti was running around with trays of sweets, Aliya was clicking nonstop selfies with cousins, and Ayesha supervised everything with calm authority.

“Bachoo, zyada masti mat karo,” Ayesha called, but her smile gave her away. “Sab ready ho jao, Faiza ko bulana hai.”

Nandini adjusted her dupatta in the mirror. The soft yellow anarkali made her glow, but her nerves were jittering. She smoothed her braid once more before heading out — only to bump into Manik in the hallway.

He looked dashing in his white kurta with a yellow stole, but his face was taut, eyes dark.

He had seen Nandini talking with one of Ibrahim's cousin while he was checking her out.

“Tum kahan thi?” he asked sharply.

“Woh… main bas ready ho rahi thi,” she replied softly, taken aback.

“Sab neeche wait kar rahe hain. Tumhe samajh nahi aata time pe kaam karna?” His tone was clipped.

Her chest tightened. “Sorry, main—”

But before she could finish, Aliya called from downstairs, “Bhai, leave Di alone! She looks so pretty. Jaldi le aao usse!”

Manik clenched his jaw, then simply grabbed Nandini’s wrist and walked her down the stairs. His grip wasn’t painful, but firm enough to make her heart race.

---
The Haldi Begins 🌿

Faiza, glowing in a simple yellow kameez shalwar was escorted to the stage by Ibrahim’s sisters. Ibrahim himself was on the other side, being teased mercilessly by Manik’s cousins.

“Dekho dulhe ki shakal!” Mukti laughed. “Bas abhi se sharma raha hai.”

“Tu chup reh,” Ibrahim muttered, but the smile gave him away.

Ayesha placed the first haldi on Faiza’s cheek, her eyes moist. “Khush raho, meri beti,” she whispered, kissing her forehead.

Then chaos erupted. Cousins rushed forward, smearing Faiza’s face, arms, and even her hair with turmeric. Ibrahim didn’t escape either — his friends pinned him down and covered him in haldi till he was glowing more than the sun.

The whole courtyard rang with laughter, music, and playful shrieks.

Aliya and Mukti weren’t going to let Nandini escape.

“Dulhan-to-be, come here!” Aliya shouted, grabbing her arm.

“Mujhe kyu? Yeh Faiza Di ki haldi hai!” Nandini protested.

“Family ki dulhan bhi family ka hissa hai,” Mukti declared, already smearing a little haldi on Nandini’s cheek.

Everyone clapped and laughed, but Manik’s eyes darkened instantly. His fists clenched at his sides as Ibrahim’s cousin reached for the bowl and jokingly moved toward Nandini.

“Enough,” Manik’s voice cut through the laughter.

The boy froze, confused. “Arrey, mazaak hi toh—”

“Main keh raha hoon enough.” Manik’s tone was sharp, his gaze fixed on Nandini as if daring anyone else to touch her.

The atmosphere went quiet for a beat before Mukti stepped in with her usual cheer. “Chill, Bhai! Hum mazaak kar rahe hain. Waise bhi apki dulhan par sirf apka haq hai, haina?”

Everyone chuckled, easing the tension, but Nandini felt the weight of his stare. Her cheeks burned, not just from the haldi but from the intensity of his protectiveness.

To divert attention, Aliya switched the music louder. Soon, cousins dragged both Faiza and Ibrahim to the dance floor. Mukti joined in, pulling Nandini along, who hesitated at first but then followed the rhythm.

Claps echoed, laughter filled the air, and for a while, the tension dissolved. Even Ayesha clapped along, her eyes twinkling.

At one point, Ibrahim’s friends tried to lift him onto their shoulders, only to almost drop him. The entire crowd burst into hysterics as Faiza scolded them, half angry and half laughing.

“Bas karo! Usku langra na kr dena !” she cried, wiping haldi off his nose with her dupatta.

Manik watched quietly from the side, his gaze softening as he looked at his elder sister’s happiness. But when his eyes shifted back to Nandini — laughing with Mukti, strands of hair sticking to her haldi-streaked cheek — his chest tightened again.

Later that evening, after the guests had left and the courtyard was being cleaned, Nandini slipped into the kitchen to help. She tied her dupatta tightly and began stacking used bowls when a shadow fell across her.

Manik.

“Tumhe samajh nahi aata meri baat ka matlab kya hai?” His voice was low, controlled anger.

She blinked at him. “Kya matlab?”

“Main tumhe warning de chuka hoon. Mujhe pasand nahi ke koi aur tum par haath lagaye. Even as a joke.”

“Woh toh bas mazaak tha, sab masti kar rahe the,” she explained softly.

“Main mazaak nahi karta, Nandini.” He stepped closer, caging her against the counter. His eyes burned into hers. “Tum meri ho. Sirf meri. Kisi aur ka haq nahi.”

Her breath quickened. She tried to look away, but his hand lifted her chin gently.

“Samajh aayi baat?” he whispered.

She swallowed hard, nodding faintly. “Ji.”

For a second, the storm in his gaze softened. He brushed a thumb across her cheek, wiping away a faint streak of haldi. “Acha lagta hai tum par.”

Before she could respond, Ayesha’s voice came from outside. “Nandini beta, zara mithai lana.”

Manik immediately stepped back, his face blank as ever. But as he walked out, she could still feel the lingering heat of his words — and the undeniable truth in them.

Later that night, the family gathered in the living room, sipping chai. Ibrahim sat near Faiza, who glowed with post-haldi happiness. Mukti teased them nonstop, Aliya sang a silly song, and Ayesha just shook her head, laughing at her children’s antics.

“Yeh sab dekh kar tumhare Abbu kitne khush hote,” Ayesha said softly, her voice heavy with emotion.

A silence fell. Manik’s jaw tightened, but he placed a hand gently over his mother’s. “Aap pareshaan mat ho. Hum sab aapko kabhi akela mehsoos nahi hone denge.”

Nandini’s heart melted at the sight. For all his anger, Manik’s love for his family was unshakable. She smiled quietly, sipping her chai, while Aliya and Mukti launched into another round of jokes, lightening the mood again.

That night, as Nandini lay down in her room, her mind replayed the day: the laughter, the haldi chaos, but most of all — his words in the kitchen.

*“Tum meri ho. Sirf meri.”*

Her cheeks warmed, her heart thudded painfully against her ribs. For the first time, she realized… maybe she didn’t mind belonging to him.

---

Mystery