ch 61 Haldi
few days later
Morning sunlight spills across the Malhotra mansion garden, turning the marigold strands into glowing gold.
Soft shehnai music plays. The entire garden is draped in yellow white, haldi bowls arranged on carved wooden tables, fresh flower arrangements everywhere.
Aarav stands there in his cream embroidered kurta, jawline sharp, hair perfectly set,
looking annoyingly handsome.
And of course...
Aditya, Kabir, and Raghav are having the time of their lives.
Aditya nudges Aarav 's arm
"Bhai... bas thodi der aur. Aaj haldi hai, kal shadi... phir parso se tumhari azadi khatam."
He smirks.
Kabir laughs
"Haan aur tab se tum sirf ek hi baat bolte sunai doge 'Yes baby.' "
Raghav crosses his arms
"Aur aaj... haldi function me hum koi rehem nahi karne wale. Aaj tumhe pehchaanna mushkil hoga."
Aarav rolls his eyes but can't hide the smile creeping onto his lips.
Aarav narrows his eyes
"Very funny. Tum teeno milke kisi ka bhi jeena haraam kar sakte ho."
Kabir smirks lifting a brow
"ohh... we learnt it from you only, but seriosly aaj ki haldi m to ham dhamal macha denge."
He wiggles his eyebrows.
Aarav looks around the garden, a little impatient.
"Bas... Ashiana ko jaldi bulao. Main usse dekhna chahta hoon."
Aditya whistles dramatically."Ohooo... dekhna chahta hoon? Bhai, control!"
Raghav pats Aarav's back."Relax. Dulhan ki entry sabse last hoti hai.Tab tak aap hamse tang kechwata raho."
The three of them burst into laughter while Aarav glares at them.
Right then, drums start playing on the other side of the garden —Ashiana side is arriving for the haldi.
Aarav's heart skips.
Kabir smirks."Areee... lagta hai aapki haldi start hone wali hai,Dulhe raja."
The beats of "Sajna J Vari Vari Jao Ji" burst through the garden loud, chaotic, energetic, full-on wedding madness.
https://youtu.be/ZEMsTk5SPSg
Everyone turns toward the entrance.
And then—
Ashiana appeared
Ashiana steps in wearing a yellow–creamish lehenga,
sparkling under the morning light. Her hair decorated with real jasmine and marigold flowers,
matching gajra trailing down.
Floral earrings, floral bracelet, floral waist chain all real flowers. Goggles on. Attitude ON.
And her energy?
A full tornado.
A walking festival.
Pure chaos queen.
Prerna and Meghna dance behind her, matching her vibe, but Ashiana
she steal the entire freakin' show.
her enter with her hands up, dancing wildly, hips swinging, lehenga flying, goggles slipping down her nose, but she fix them with a dramatic jerk and continue.
"Areeee sajnaaaa vari vari jaooo jiiii!"
She picks up her lehenga and hops in like an excited puppy, almost tripping on the carpet
Prerna catches her from behind.
Prerna chuckles"Aye pagli sambhal!"
meghna shoocks her head"Aaj ke din bhi acting mat chhodna!"
Ashiana spin againbump into a haldi bowlmanage to catch it at the last secondand then point at the crowd proudly like she did stunts.
Everyone bursts into laughter.
Even the aunties chuckles"Haii kitni pyaari aur mast-maula bachchi hai!"
And then
her eyes land on Aarav.
He's frozen.
Speechless.
Jaw slightly open.
everyone whitles
kabir laughs"Bhai... aaj to Ashiana full-on Patakha lag rhi h?"
Aditya shakes his head"Patakha nahi... Atom Bomb."
Raghav puts his arms in kabir's neck"Aur bhai ki haldi se pehle hi uska BP badh gaya."
Aarav just keeps staring... like she is the only thing existing in this entire garden.
Ashiana strut toward him with oversized attitude, goggles still on, dancing nonstop and shouting lyrics wrong on purpose.
Finally she stand in front of Aarav, tilt her goggles down on her nose,
give him a slow sexy smirk ''ku sajna ji kaisi lagi entry''.
Aarav's breath catches."Tum... unbelievable ho."
Aarav's brothers were still teasing him, band playing loud, everyone dancing around
But when Ashiana stepped closer, everything slowed.
she leaned in, her goggles slipping to the tip of her nose, her floral earrings brushing her cheeks.
Ashiana lips almost grazed his ear as she whispered, voice low, teasing, wickedly sweet
"Aur haan... you're looking hot... like usual."
Ashiana pulled back with a slow smirk, eyes locked on his.
Aarav inhaled sharply
completely gone.
His jaw flexed, his fingers curling like he wanted to grab her waist right there in front of the whole family.
Kabir slapped his shoulder laughing."Arey control, dulhe raja! Haldi se pehle hi pighal gaya!"
But Aarav didn't even look at him. He only looked at Ashiana. His voice dropped, deep and rough
"Ashiana... aaj tum mujhe maar hi daalogi, hmm?"
she smirked wider, lifting her lehenga a bit and twirling dramatically"huh.... that's my duty fiance."
He stared at her like she hung the sun.
The garden exploded with cheers as the Haldi ceremony beganmusic loud, flowers flying, laughter everywhere.
Yellow sunlight.
Yellow clothes.
Yellow haldi.
And Ashiana her entire face glowing brighter than the sun.
Prerna smeared haldi across her cheeks. Meghna attacked her arms.
Kabir grabbed a full bowl and yelled"MOVE, EVERYONE—HALDI BOMB COMING THROUGH!"
Ashiana shrieked, dodging but he smeared a giant streak across her cheecks anyway.
Ashiana whinned"Kabir bhaiyaa! This is not haldi! This is harassment!"
Kabir smirked, wiping his hands on her lehenga deliberately.
Aarav sat on his decorated seat
trying to look composed.
But the moment haldi touched him, his jaw clenched, eyes narrowing like he wanted to murder someone.
Aditya laughed and smeared more across his face."Relax, King. It's haldi, not an assassination attempt."
Raghav added a thin streak across Aarav's forehead, smirking"You're supposed to smile. Try it."
Aarav glared at him."I am smiling."
Kabir hollered"Bhai, that is not smiling. That is your 'I will bury you alive' face."
Even the guests laughed.
Aarav gaze goes on Ashiana
she was laughing haldi on her cheeks, her neck, her forehead goggles crooked, floral jewelry messy.
Aarav forgot to breathe.
His entire anger melted into something
soft
warm
raw.
Kabir elbowed him."Bhai, stop staring or she'll melt before haldi finishes."
Aarav didn't take his eyes off her.
Aarav in low voice"She already melts... only for me."
Ashiana walked quickly chaotically, her fingers coated in haldi, smirk tugging at her lips.
He straightened. Everyone whistled.
ashiana smeared his cheek gently, rubbing haldi on him... and whispered"Aarav... now .. you look like my husband."
His eyes darkened instantly.
He caught her wrist, pulled her a little closer, and whispered against her ear"I already am."
her cheeks went crimson.
Aarav picks the haldi bowl
"Aaraavvv NOOO—!!"she squealed, holding her lehenga up as she sprinted away.
Everyone laughed watching her escape like a cartoon character.
she ducked behind a pillar, pressing her back to it, heart racing, breath shaky from laughing too much.
her shoulders rose and fell.
she whispered to herself"Safe... I'm safe... that mr. yellow laddo can't find me—"
And then
Warm.
Wet.
Haldi-covered fingers slid across her bare stomach.
her breath stopped.
A gasp escaped her lips as her body jerked in surprise.
her eyes widened.
her hands automatically flew to his wrist
but he didn't stop.
Aarav stepped out from behind her, coming into full view.
His face smug.
His smile sinful.
His hands still on her waist, streaks of haldi on his fingers.
Ashiana gulped.
Aarav (low, victorious)"Running from me, sweetheart?"
she tried to glare but her voice trembled"Aarav... that's cheating..."
He leaned in, his forehead almost touching her, eyes locked on her."You started it."
He raised the bowl in his other hand.
her eyes widened."Don't you dare—"
And he smirked.
"Too late."