Akruti Arora
My cousins and sister-in-law woke me up to get ready for the Mehandi ceremony. Last night Viren called and whined telling me how badly he wanted to be in the function. Since the ladies of both the families denied him from coming, he told me that he has hatched a plan to come and attend the function.
Giggling, I thought what will the so-called plan be. Taking a warm bath, Tara did my makeup. My hair was tied in an elegant updo so that I can be comfortable with my hairs throughout the function. I kept the makeup simple because I don't want to look all dolled up.
After doing my makeup I slipped into my Mehandi outfit. It was sky blue color lehenga with mirror works at the hem and sequin work at the waistband. It was paired with a pink hand-embroidered corset blouse which had a sweetheart neckline and it was sleeveless too. I draped the dupatta in such a way that it won't annoy me during the function.
(Picture credits - Pinterest)
After getting ready I was accompanied by my cousins and Nila to the garden of my house. I gasped looking at the magic my family has done to this place. The place was full of bright colors. There were small-small pavilion made of bright colored clothes with tables and chairs surrounded by them. I guess that's for dinning.
At the center was another big pavilion in a circular shape with its top pointed. There were small floral hoops decor hanging inside the pavilion at different heights. Beds were placed on the ground with color cushions with mirrors works mirroring in the sun's ray. I also noticed a small ottoman but big enough for two to sit, placed at one end of the pavilion with 'Bride's here' backdrop.
I was literally in love with the decors. Finally, I was made to sit on the ottoman. Viren's dadi came and kissed my forehead. "You look, beautiful child. Viren will literally go nuts seeing you in this attire", she said and I blushed scarlet hearing this.
Nila and all my cousins hooted and teased me on hearing this. The henna artist came and started doing her magic on my hands. The ladies of my family have asked the henna artist to draw till my upper arm. I whined hearing this.
"Shh!! Akruti... once in a lifetime you get married. So lets us do whatever we want", my mom said and my grandmas and aunts agreed to her.
"Shouldn't be I saying this dialogue?", I asked my mom sarcastically. But she just shrugged her shoulders in response.
"Okay fine". The moment, these words slip out of my mouth, the ladies went crazy. I just smiled looking at them.
My cousins were dancing like maniacs for Bollywood songs. Krisha pulled Harleen Dadi to the dance floor. All our jaws were touching the floor. She was swaying her hips in a way that made us look like we were older, and she was younger.
She was dancing on the Chittiyan Kalaiyan song. All of them were hooting and clapping for her, except me. I couldn't even move my arms because of the henna. I was sulking like a kid. Nila was sitting beside me and helping me from time to time. Sometimes she'll adjust my dupatta, sometimes my hair.
She was doing everything without any complaints. When I said her the same, she beat me on the already numb arm.
"You're my sister and I'm bound to do this", saying this she hugged me. After helping me with my stuff, she settled to get herself some henna. I was just sitting not doing anything. My aunts and dadi kept on dancing. I wonder whether they weren't tired or not.
I saw Preeti sitting and getting her henna done on her left hand. I saw a frown forming on her forehead. Poor she, this Sahil is always nagging her. But she looked at me and frowned. Huffing at whoever was at the other end, she came towards me and handed me her phone.
"It's your annoying groom. He wants to speak to you, it seems", she said.
"Oh!! This guy... I'm so sorry Preeti, because of him you have to stop yourself from getting your henna done.", I told her, whilst I was cursing Rey in my mind.
"No problem Bhabhi", saying this she shrugged her shoulder and went to her previous place. Nila placed the phone near my ear, but I supported it with my shoulder so that she can be at peace. But all I heard was the beep sound indicating the call as ended.
What the hell?
I was literally breathing fire now. This guy! I'll surely kill him if he's in front of me. Suddenly all the ladies started standing in line in front of me. Like hiding me from someone. I chuckled when I heard his voice. But it was loud enough for the whole locality to hear. I bet that he was using mike and speakers.
"Oh, God!! Why aren't you allowing this poor boy to meet his bride?", he cried dramatically and everyone roared with laughter, whilst I was blushing like a tomato.
I heard some aunties say that he can't, and he's not allowed to. But what he spoke next made all the ladies broke into a fit of laughter and made way for him to reach me. I didn't know that he'll be such a drama queen.
"Ahh!! Then you'll be cursed by a handsome groom. Don't ask me what the curse is because I'm still thinking about it. So please make way for me to see my bride".
The instant our eyes met, I felt my heart skipping multiple beats. There he was standing in his pastel blue colored kurta matching my outfit.
___________
Viren Khanna
I couldn't breathe seeing her. I don't know how we wore matching outfits, 'cause our family wanted to test our love for each other. So they didn't tell us what color we both would be wearing today.
Ridiculous, I know!
I was wearing a white color sherwani which had a round collar with buttons. I also wore a pastel blue color blazer over it. They had some golden color motifs blazer. I had paired it with pastel blue harem colored trousers.
(Picture credits - Pinterest)
I grinned ear to ear when I heard an aunt say, "I think, they both love each other so much, that both they're faces are glowing just by looking at each other".
I looked at my blushing pill. Kneeling in front of her, I mouthed 'I love you' to her, and she blushed profusely, while others teased us, but I cared less. From the day our wedding has been fixed, she brought out the child in me. From whining to being a drama queen, she brought out all the hidden traits of me.
All of her hands and legs were decked up in henna, and from the look of her face, I knew that she was hungry and uncomfortable sitting here. So without any prior warning, I scooped her in my arms, whilst she squealed like a kitten. All the ladies and the men -Daksh, Sahil, Sharav and men from both the families who accompanied me were looking were now standing with their jaws hitting the grounds.
Coming out of their trance, Dadi came near us and twisted one of my ears. I yelped in pain. "Ouch!! Dadi, what are you doing?", I asked her still having Pari in my arms.
"It should be us asking you this? What are you doing, leave my granddaughter this instant", she scolded me still holding my ears. Pari has already buried her face deep inside my chest.
"But Dadi, if I leave her, she'll fall down and get hurt. No dadi, I don't want my bride to get hurt", I replied, with my most innocent face. Others in the back chuckled hearing this.
"You naughty grandson of mine, tell me where are you taking my granddaughter?", she narrowed her eyes at me.
'Why is everyone looking at me like I'm a kidnapper. Which I really want to be right now. So that I can kidnap my bride', I thought myself.
"You see dadi, my bride she is tired of sitting idle for hours, and she's hungry too. I want to feed her with my own hands, but you see my bride is not a big fan of PDA, so I'm taking her inside and feed her", saying this I started marching towards her room.
"You can't do that!", I heard Sharav and Sahil yelling at back.
"Try me Brothers-in-law", I yelled back. All this while Pari had hidden her face in my chest.
Entering her room, I kicked the door behind and made her sit on her bed carefully. But damn-my brothers-in-law who barged into the room with plates which are wholly stuffed with foods.
"You go and take rest Jijaji (brother- in- law), we'll take care of our sister, you may go now", saying this Sharav started pushing me towards the door, whilst Akruti and Sahil chuckled looking at me.
"Nah-uh! It's not happening guys. Sahil my sister will need you, and Sharav...", I dragged the sentence not knowing what to tell him.
"Yes meee....", he too dragged the sentence.
"Go help someone na", I literally begged him. Hearing this the three siblings laughed out loud, whilst I narrowed my eyes at them.
"Okay we'll keep going Mr. Desperate, just don't do anything naughty with our sister", Sahil told while keeping the plate and a small bowl on the bed.
"Like hell, you'll allow me to", I murmured loud enough for them not to hear."Did you say something", Sharav asked me, whilst I nodded no.
Laughing at me, they locked the door behind and left. Not trusting them, I latched the lock too. You see it's better to be safe than sorry.
Sitting beside her, I started feeding her. I have already warned her not to moan because it takes several cold showers to calm me down.
"What's in the bowl?", I asked her.
"It's lemon water. Actually, it's used to pat on the dried henna. You know Rey, people say when a bride's henna turns darker, it means that her groom loves her so much", she told me softly, while I just hummed and continued feeding her.
"Won't you say anything?", she questioned me, after swallowing the last piece of her food. I brought the glass of water near her mouth and motioned her to drink it. And she did the same.
Placing everything on the side table of hers, I cupped her face. "Rey wha-", I didn't let her complete the sentence. I placed my lips on her and silenced her. I nibbled her lower lip and she kissed me back. After giving the required attention to the lower lip, I focused on the upper lip. I felt heaven in kissing her.
I let her go when I felt her struggling for breathing. We both were gasping for air to fill our lungs. Pulling her forehead to mine, I whispered
"My bride's henna alone will not be darker, but also her lips".
_________________________