My nightmare turned lover

Chapter - 26

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Haldi and mehandi ceremony

Astha's POV :-

Lying on the bed I looked at my ring. Is it a symbol of love or a sign of being a prisoner? Well I certainly felt like one when Abhay gave me my resignation letter. Does being engaged means that now you are dependent on your husband and that you can't fend for yourself? Ma is that how you had been after you got engaged to Pa? I tossed on the other side feeling a bit heavy. I can't explain the emotions swirling inside me. I feel heavy but don't want to cry. Was my decision right? But maybe every girl has to face this at their time.

You are overreacting Astha. Remember what Anupama aunty once said about marriage that it is a bond where each one looks after the other's happiness before their own. Maybe Abhay too thinks or rather doing that thing. He is maybe in the impression that I would be more happy by not working. Yeah that's definitely the case. I will talk about it with him later. I will make him see my point. He will definitely understand.

I immediately felt light realising the fact. Uff... now I can fall in sleep peacefully.

The next day...

I looked myself in the mirror and sighed. Perhaps I will be the first bride who will have to apply her haldi on her own. Neither do I have my parents nor anyone close who will come here and call themselves as the bride's side people. I shook my head and was going to ask the beautician if she was done when the door bursted open shocking me and the beautician in the process.

" You are such a lazy dulhan (bride) Astha. I understand that it is not that thrilling to think of marrying my brother but still! You look like you have had just come from a funeral party not a dulhan whose haldi is today." Samarth came in booming his voice inside.

" Don't say such words Samarth. It's an auspicious day, why are you bringing the word funeral here?" Aunty too came in glaring Samarth.
" You are looking lovely as always Astha." She said looking at me and I blushed.

" Is she done?" Samarth asked the beautician.

" Yes sir, she is all ready." She replied.

" Great because now she has a party to attend. Let's go besty."

" A party?" I asked confused.

" Yes you see, mom and I decided to be on the ladki's side as the ladki wale. It's more fun to be on this side if you can see." Samarth winked at me and aunty rolled her eyes. " And apparently mom thought that we two are not enough for your's side so she personally called all your neighbours and invited them to be with us. And just to let you know your neighbours are just like me, party lovers. They immediately accepted our invitation. And now they are all waiting on the garden outside to play yellow holi." Samarth said excitedly.

" Yellow holi?" Aunty and I asked simultaneously.

" Haldi rasm, mom!" Samarth said rolling his eyes. " God you two are such sadhus."
And we went out laughing.

I was mesmerized by the scenario in front of me. A beautiful gazebo type temporary setting was set up in the garden. In the middle of the raised platform inside the gazebo was a low stool probably for me. Bowls of haldi were placed across it and people were chanting among themselves sitting inside. The whole set-up was decorated with yellow and white tulips. My eyes moistened looking at all this and I looked at aunty.

" Aunty...I...I... thank you so much for this." I said with a broken voice. I had never thought that my haldi will be like this.

" Why? For this? Don't thank me Astha. I did what a mother was ought to do on her daughter's haldi. Now come, we have to quickly finish this as your mehendi rasm too needs to be completed today." She said and led me to my place.