The wedding was after four days and today everyone was going to the venue. It was a two hour journey. They reached almost at the same time. Everyone greeted each other and they went inside. They decided to meet for dinner an hour later. Everyone went to their respective rooms to freshen up.
They had their dinner and went to their rooms to sleep as the next day was the Haldi ceremony.
The next day everyone woke up early and the rituals started. The bride and the groom's haldi were in different halls. First was the Tel chadana followed by a short puja. The Haldi rasam started and by the end of it both Rashi and Vaibhav were completely drenched in Haldi paste. They were taken to their room to change.
Everyone changed their clothes and again gathered to have lunch followed by a small puja where some holy threads were tied on the bride and groom's legs and wrist. The work for the day was done and no one was in the mood to sleep. They decided to play Antakshari. Everyone gathered in the hall alloted to them.
On the other hand, the Singhania family was also gathered in the hall alloted to them and were playing Dumb Charades. They played till late evening and then everyone had their dinner. Rashi was not hungry and excused herself. Pranati and Sakshi went after some time as they knew she would be talking to Vaibhav.
They decided to go to the parlour and pamper themselves as tomorrow was no ritual. Soon they slipped into slumber.
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The next morning they woke up around 10 and went down to have their breakfast. They got ready as their appointment was of 12. All three of them along with Dhriti spent the whole day at the parlour, pampering their skin. Sahil drove them. They returned at 5 and went to their room to change. Everyone met downstairs for tea and discussed about the Mehandi function next day.
It was decided that the Mehandi function would be kept together. Rashi and Vaibhav will be made to sit on the opposite sides of the hall. They discussed the menu for the day and then left for their rooms after having dinner. Everyone was told to wake up early the next morning.
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The next morning everyone woke up early and had their breakfast. Rashi and the elder ladies started getting their mehandi done. The youngsters were clicking pictures.
The dholwalas arrived at 12 pm and everyone danced like crazy. They danced for three hours non-stop. They had their lunch and Pranati fed Rashi also. Rashi's mehandi was done by evening and Shweta asked the girls also to sit down to get theirs done.
It was dinner time and their mehandi was still wet. Pranati looked around for her father to ask him to feed her but he was not in sight. She got hold of Adarsh and asked him to get something for her, Sakshi and Dhriti. He nodded and went. He came with Sahil and Utkarsh by his side. All three of them carrying plates.
"Baaki dono kaha hai?"
(Where are the other two?)
Adarsh asked about Sakshi and Dhriti.
"Sakshi ko mami ne bulaya tha yahi kahi par hogi aur Dhriti shayad meethe ke counter ki taraf gyi thi."
(Mami had called Sakshi she must be here only and Dhriti i guess went near the sweet counter.)
She replied. Adarsh nodded and he and Utkarsh went to look for them. Pranati looked at Sahil who was standing there with the plate.
"Aapko bhi kisi ko dhundne jaana hai?"
(Do you also have to find someone?)
"Nhi."
(No.)
"Toh khilaiye na."
(Then feed me.)
She said and sat down. He chuckled and started feeding her. More like teasing her. He would occasionally rub his thumb on her lower lip saying that there was a food particle there or accidental caress of cheeks because of something being there. Pranati's breath hitched everytime he did that.
She was almost finished with her food. Only some rice were left.
"Bas. Aur nhi."
(Stop. No more.)
"Thoda sa toh bacha hai."
(Just some is left.)
"Bhuk nhi hai bilkul bhi."
(I am not at all hungry.)
He shook his head at her and finished the rice.
"Sahil! Mere jhoothe the wo."
(Those were mine.)
"Toh?"
(So?)
He raised his eyebrow in question. She looked at him speechless and then shook her head. He got up and went to throw the plate with a cheeky smile plastered on his face. She bit her lip to stop the smile forming on her face.
Soon everyone went to their rooms after removing their mehandi. Sakshi and Pranati entered the room and saw Rashi getting emotional. They engulfed her in a hug and Sakshi also started crying. Pranati tried to console both of them. Rashi's phone rang. Pranati attended the call.
"Hi jiju."
"Ohh. Umm- hii. Rashi kaha par hai?"
(Where is Rashi?)
"Wo-umm- she is getting emotional. Pre-wedding jitters."
She heard Vaibhav sigh.
"Meri baat karana usse."
(Let me talk to her.)
Pranati passed the phone to Rashi. And she and Sakshi moved out to give them privacy. After some time she came out and said that she was going to her parents room. Sakshi went with her snd Pranati went back to her room.
She changed her clothes and laid down on the bed. Thinking about Sahil a smile formed on her lips. She opened her phone and started going through the day's pictures. She stopped at a picture of her and Sahil together.
It was of the time they were getting their pictures clicked and Utkarsh had cracked a stupid joke. She had laughed at that and Sahil was looking at her with his arm around her waist and her head against his shoulder. The picture came out so beautiful. She smiled looking at it.
Sahil too had the same picture and he loved it so much that he had immediately made it his homescreen wallpaper.
Both of them slept thinking about each other oblivious to the other's feelings.
The next morning they woke up early as there were a lot of rituals to be done. Rashi's appointment was of 3pm and she was ready by 5pm.
Sakshi and Pranati went downstairs to check when to take her down. They reached the hall and Vaibhav's tilak was going on. Soon they were asked to call her down. ************************************** Please do leave your comments.
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