Chapter 8 – The Mehendi

The following afternoon, the Rajawat haveli was once again filled with music and laughter.

It was the mehendi ceremony.

The women of the family had gathered together in the beautifully decorated courtyard. Colorful cushions were spread across the floor, flowers were hanging from the pillars, and the fragrance of mehendi filled the air.

One by one, the ladies of the house sat with the mehendi artists.

Gayathri got beautiful patterns drawn across her hands.

Kamala sat beside her, laughing as the artist decorated her palms.

Revati and the other women of the family also got their mehendi done while teasing each other and talking about the wedding.

Shreya was seated in the center.

As the bride, her mehendi was far more elaborate.

The artist carefully covered her hands with intricate bridal designs.

Shreya looked at her hands happily.

Shreya: "It's so beautiful."

Revati smiled.

Revati: "Just wait until it dries."

Everyone laughed.

Poornima stood nearby, watching everyone.

Revati noticed her.

Revati: "Poornima, come. You should get your mehendi done too."

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "I'll come in a little while."

Revati: "No excuses."

Poornima laughed.

Poornima: "Okay, okay."

She walked toward the mehendi artist and was about to sit down.

Suddenly, someone caught her hand.

She turned.

It was Veeresh.

Poornima looked at him in surprise.

Poornima: "What are you doing?"

Veeresh looked at her hand and then at her.

Veeresh: "No."

Poornima frowned.

Poornima: "No what?"

Veeresh: "You won't get mehendi done by the artist."

Poornima stared at him.

Poornima: "What are you saying?"

Veeresh's expression remained serious.

Veeresh: "I don't like you getting it done by the artist."

Poornima looked completely confused.

Poornima: "Why?"

Veeresh didn't answer.

He simply looked at her.

Veeresh: "I'll apply it for you."

Poornima blinked.

Poornima: "You?"

Veeresh: "Yes."

Poornima looked toward the mehendi artist and then back at him.

Poornima: "Veeresh, everyone is getting it done by the artist."

Veeresh: "You won't."

Poornima: "Why?"

Veeresh's voice became firm.

Veeresh: "Don't ask. Just do what I said."

Poornima stared at him.

For a moment, she wanted to argue.

Poornima: "I will get it done with the artist."

Veeresh immediately pulled her slightly closer, his grip firm around her hand.

Veeresh: "I said no means no."

Poornima went silent.

She looked into his eyes.

His words were strict.

His voice was commanding.

But his eyes were different.

There was something in them that didn't match his words.

A quiet request.

Almost pleading.

As though he wasn't ordering her.

As though he was asking her.

Poornima's expression softened.

She didn't understand him.

But she could see that whatever his reason was, it mattered to him.

After a moment, she quietly nodded.

Poornima: "Okay."

Veeresh loosened his hold.

Poornima walked away.

She returned downstairs where everyone was still busy with their mehendi.

Revati looked at her hands.

Revati: "Poornima, where is your mehendi?"

Poornima quickly smiled.

Poornima: "I'll get it later."

Kamala looked at her suspiciously.

Kamala: "You said that before too."

Poornima laughed awkwardly.

Poornima: "I'm just not in the mood right now."

Revati: "You always have an excuse."

Poornima smiled.

Poornima: "What can I do?"

She sat beside Gayathri and began talking to her, carefully avoiding the subject.

One by one, everyone continued getting their mehendi done.

Poornima kept giving different excuses whenever someone asked her.

She didn't tell anyone what had happened upstairs.

And Veeresh?

He stood alone for a while, looking down at his own hand.

He had no idea why he had stopped her.

He only knew one thing.

He didn't want anyone else touching her hands.

And that realization unsettled him more than he wanted to admit.