Chapter 7 – Haldi

The next morning, the Rajawat haveli was filled with music, laughter, and the fragrance of fresh flowers.

It was Shreya's haldi ceremony.

The courtyard had been beautifully decorated with yellow and white flowers. Marigold garlands hung from the walls, and everyone was dressed in shades of yellow.

Shreya sat in the middle of the courtyard, dressed in a beautiful yellow lehenga with floral jewellery.

She was smiling shyly while her cousins and friends surrounded her.

Revati came forward first with a bowl of haldi.

Revati: "Today, nobody is going to spare you."

Shreya laughed.

Shreya: "Maa, please don't put too much!"

Revati smiled and applied haldi gently to her cheeks.

Revati: "You are my daughter. How can I not?"

Everyone laughed.

Rahul came next.

Rahul: "My little girl is getting married."

Shreya smiled.

Shreya: "Papa, don't become emotional."

Rahul applied haldi to her forehead and kissed her head.

Rahul: "Always stay happy, beta."

Aravind and Gayathri came forward together.

Gayathri's eyes became emotional as she looked at Shreya.

Gayathri: "Look how beautiful you are."

Shreya hugged her.

Shreya: "Dadi!"

Gayathri applied haldi to her cheeks.

Aravind followed, putting a little haldi on her forehead.

Aravind: "May you always be blessed."

Shreya touched his hand lovingly.

Then Kamala came forward.

Kamala: "Now it's my turn."

She applied haldi to Shreya's cheeks.

Kamala: "May your married life always be filled with happiness."

Shreya: "Thank you, Dadi."

Soon, the entire courtyard became lively.

Her cousins started applying haldi to her arms and cheeks.

Shreya tried to escape, laughing.

Shreya: "Enough! Everyone is putting too much!"

Rahul laughed.

Rahul: "Today you cannot escape."

Everyone joined in.

Poornima stood nearby, smiling as she watched the family.

She was wearing a simple yellow saree with small floral jewellery.

Revati noticed her.

Revati: "Poornima, what are you waiting for?"

Poornima laughed.

Poornima: "I'm just watching."

Shreya immediately called her.

Shreya: "Bua, come here!"

Poornima walked toward her.

Poornima: "Why are you calling me?"

Shreya smiled mischievously.

Shreya: "You have to put haldi on me."

Poornima took some haldi and gently applied it to Shreya's cheeks.

Poornima: "May you always be happy, Shreya."

Shreya hugged her.

Shreya: "I love you, Bua."

Poornima smiled and kissed her forehead.

At that moment, Veeresh came downstairs.

He had no intention of joining the ceremony.

He was simply walking through the courtyard when he stopped at the sight of everyone laughing.

His eyes moved across the gathering.

Then they stopped on Poornima.

She was smiling as Shreya's cousins teased her.

For a brief moment, Veeresh simply watched.

Kamala noticed him.

Kamala: "Veeresh, come."

Veeresh: "No, Maa. I'm fine."

Rahul immediately called out.

Rahul: "Come on, Veeresh! It's Shreya's haldi."

Veeresh looked at him.

Veeresh: "You all continue."

He tried to walk away.

But Shreya suddenly shouted.

Shreya: "Chacha!"

Veeresh stopped.

Shreya smiled.

Shreya: "You can't leave without putting haldi on me."

Veeresh looked at his niece.

Everyone waited.

Finally, he walked toward her.

He took a small amount of haldi and gently placed it on her cheek.

Veeresh: "Stay happy."

Shreya smiled brightly.

Shreya: "Thank you, Chacha."

The family smiled.

Veeresh stepped back.

But before leaving, his eyes briefly met Poornima's.

She gave him a polite smile.

He simply nodded.

Neither of them said a word.

Yet somewhere in the middle of the laughter, music, and wedding celebrations, something had quietly begun.