chapter 38

Beep beep.Mita opened her message box. It was Jay’s message. He had sent her pics,“Wow, when did you click these??” Mita replied.“When you were busy in explaining about bangle ceremony. I loved the way you were explaining everything to Simi and Amma. That’s when I captured it secretly,” Jay.“Very nice. Your photography is improved I must say!!” Mita.“I know, I will become a professional photographer under your guidance within next few years,” Jay.“Hehehe,” Mita.“By the way, you look beautiful in saree. It really suits you,” Jay.“Okk, and you are telling me that now??” Mita.“Yeah, I couldn’t say this there. So many people were around us, sorry!” Jay.“hmm, ok.”“Ok, tell me, what should I wear for haldi ceremony? The maroon kurta??” Jay.“No no, it’s very expensive. It will become dirty. Wear simple kurta,” Mita.“So what? Let it be dirty. We bought it specially for haldi.. and I don’t have anything else traditional to wear,” Jay.“No, I told you to buy simple kurta for haldi, because it will become dirty,” Mita.“No, you didn’t mention anything like that?? You just said buy 3 sets of clothes. Haldi, Shadi & reception,” Jay.“No Jay, I said, buy one simple kurta,” Mita was typing fast.“But when??” Jay replied.Mita called him. He rejected the call.“Reject???” Mita was shocked.“There are so many people around me. I can’t talk,” Jay.“Oh ok,” Mita.“You never mentioned to buy simple kurta,” Jay.“I did,” Mita.“Man main bola hoga. Lots of things you say in your mind only,” Jay.“And I never told you to buy this much expensive dress,” Mita.“That’s ok, I will wear that maroon Kurta,” Jay.“No Jay, you bought it for 30K isn’t it?? Why do you want to spoil it for haldi??” Mita.“That’s ok Mita. Anyways I bought it for that only,” Jay.“No Jay, you don’t know. Here people play haldi as if it is holi,” Mita.“Is it?? Then what should I wear??” Jay.“Wear anything simple and comfortable,” Mita.“Should I wear normal shirt?” Jay“Best idea!!!” Mita.“Mita, Come Mita, we are getting late. What are you doing here?? Let’s get ready…!!!” Seema.“Ok, got to go,” Mita quickly replied Jay..“Ohh madam chatting kar rahi hai patidev ke sath, Chalo,” Seema.“I am so tired !! How many times I have to get ready??” Mita.“My dear, it is your haldi ceremony, not mine. I can’t get ready on behalf of you!” Seema.“After me, it is your turn only. Then you will understand my feelings!!”“I know, when my turn comes, you say the same dialogues to me, ok?? For now, come fast and get ready. We have to reach the wedding hall by 7 pm!! It is already 6:00 pm.” Seema.“But Seema di, wedding is tomorrow, then why are we going to the wedding hall now??” Ritu.“Darling, we have booked the hall from tonight. These many people we won’t be able to manage at home. So only haldi ceremony we will celebrate there, samazi??” Seema.“Ohh ok. And there are some surprises also, right??” Ritu.“Shhhhh,” Seema.“Surprises?? What surprises???” Mita.“No no, nothing. She meant, Jay and his relatives will be so surprised to see haldi function as they don’t have this ritual isn’t it??” Seema.“Yeah, absolutely. I hope they enjoy!!”“Ok, take your haldi saree and get ready now. Mom just called me and told Bhaiyya will come to pick us up in sometime,” Seema.“Ok. But where is Pihu?? She was supposed to give me matching necklace and bangles. After all she only did all the shopping for me,” Mita.“Di, Pihu di has given all those items to me. Take this,” Ritu.“Ohk, thank you. But where is she??” Mita.“Mita, she must be busy. After Mom, papa and bhaiyya, she is the one who is handling everything. You know na, Bhabhi has to be with Golu. He isn’t leaving her at all,” Seema.“Alright!!”After half an hour, Mita got ready. Bhiayya picked them up and dropped at wedding hall. The stage was nicely decorated. “Mita” & “Jay’s” names were written on the decorated wall. Two small wooden stools were kept at the centre of the stage. Flower arrangement was made around those two stools. Colourful curtains added extra beauty to the overall ambience.Mita was delighted to see that. She sat on the chair and was waiting for Jay.“What is this?? Why you people asked me to come so early? Nobody has come yet,” Mita.“Wait for 5 more mins, then see,” Bhaiyya.“Hmmm…” Mita.After 5 mins, all relatives started coming inside the hall. Everyone was dressed up nicely!! Most of the ladies were wearing yellow colour saree and gentlemen in kurta.“Beta, Jay has come,” Mami.Jay was wearing navy blue shirt and jeans. Mita gave a wide smile at him and raised her eye brows. She was wearing yellow silk saree with maroon border. She had neatly pleated her hair and put small mang tikka on her head and simple red bindi on forehead. It enhanced her beauty and grace.He frowned at her. Mita couldn’t understand why Jay reacted like that.Simi and Amma came to Mita,“Wow Bhabhi you look beautiful. This Yellow colour saree with red border really suits you,”“Null saree,” Amma.“Thank you,” Mita smiled and looked at Jay again. He turned his face.“What happened to him??” Mita said to herself.“Come Jay beta come. Mita, you also come. Sit there on that Paat,” Mama.“So cute, those stools are so small and cute,” Simi.“We call them Paat. Generally, for Puja, or any auspicious occasion we sit on that and pray,” Mita explained.“Oh wow, nice,” Simi translated everything to Amma. She nodded her head.Mita and Jay went to the stage and sat next to each other on paat.“Kanna, Kanna, what happened to you??” Mita whispered.“Nothing,”“What nothing?? Look at your face? What’s wrong??”“You told me wear simple shirt and you are wearing such a beautiful saree,” Jay.“Arrey, I am the bride??” Mita.“Is it? Then who am I??” Jay.“You are not a bride?” Mita.“Yeah of course.  Forget about you, look at everybody. All are wearing traditional kurta. And me?? Being a bridegroom for my haldi I am wearing jeans and shirt and sitting on this paat??? Isn’t it weird? I was telling you that I will wear maroon kurta, but you said no….” Jay.“OK OK, relax. Look Kanna, I am really sorry. I mean I have seen many haldi functions. But I didn’t know that ours will be so grand. You know, in some haldi I have seen people apply lots of haldi on bride and bridegroom’s body and they give them bath then and there….and …so I thought …” Mita was explaining..“Whatt?? Are they going to give us bath here on the stage?? No way!!! And I haven’t got extra clothes… You should have told me this…” Jay was keeping smile on his face and whispering.“No no, they won’t. I said some people do it that way..here we will not do…” Mita.“Thank God!!” Jay sighed.Mom came and explained the ritual to Amma. She took haldi paste with betal leaves and applied it gently on Mita’s face, hands and legs. Then she kissed Mita’s forehead. She had tears in her eyes. Mita became emotional. Somehow mom controlled and then did the same to Jay. Amma saw all the steps carefully and followed the same, including kissing on forehead. Everybody was laughing. Then each person started coming on stage and applying haldi to Mita and Jay…It was Pihu’s turn!!“Hi Jiju!!”“Pihu, where were you?? And what is this?? Why are you wearing this simple dress? You were supposed to wear yellow saree!” Mita.“Di, I thought to give a company Jiju!! He is also wearing simple dress, isn’t it?? Hehehe,” She gave hi-five to Seema.“You heard our conversation??” Mita.“Little bit. I was standing behind you both only, hehehe. Poor Jiju!! Di, you should have told him clearly naa…” Pihu bit her  tongue.“Mita, you guys are continuously talking. Kitna bologe??? A bride should look shy, but here you are doing chapad chapad, non stop talking….  ” Seema.“Really? Is it looking bad?”“No, not like that.. I mean keep something to talk after marriage? Hehehehe,” Seema.“And jiju, you are looking dashing and handsome in this navy blue shirt, don’t worry. Everybody is wearing same traditional kurta.. you are the bridegroom, and should look different and hatke..right?? So chill!!!” Pihu.Jay was relaxed and feeling better now.“Can you move from the stage? We also want to apply them haldi??” Mami.“Ohh sorry mami, come now, the stage is all yours!!” Pihu moved from the stage, whereas Seema stood next to Mita..“Such a beautiful couple, kisi ki nazar na lage.,” Mami was done with her haldi and was about to turn, that’s when someone grabbed her from behind and painted her face with haldi…!!! To be continued...