Dil dharkne do
دل دھڑکنے دو

Distinctly the beat of the drums and soft clang of the bangles echoed though the halls of our house. Feet shuffled, dishes rattled, rooms buzzed. Voices, sonorous and muffled, blended into the soft rhythm of the music. This past week the Lal Mahal had unfurled in a spectrum of colour and life.

Marigold, roses and jasmines adored the walls of the Haveli. Several small diyas, lining the floor, illuminated the hallways with their pale gold fire. The heavy fragrance of henna and haldi drifted through the air, a happy reminder of the days that were to come. Trays laden with meethai, garlands, flowers and gifts filled the floor of the hall.

"Madness. This is madness." I heard my mother's frantic murmurs as she walked into the hall with her assistants walking right behind. "Why did we have to agree to such madness? I can't believe the wedding is tomorrow." She said shaking her head, her features furrowed together in panic. "There are so many preparations yet to be made."

I held a smile, trying to focus on my henna laden hands, while two women sat besides me finishing the intricate designs on my feet. "Layla, has Shanzae had her dress fitting? We can't wait till tomorrow." My mom's worried voice sounded from behind me.

"The dress is perfect, Mom." I said with a smile. "You should calm down and have a seat. Everyone here has been asking for you." I pointed towards the several relatives that sat in the hall getting their hands done, some engaged in idle chat, while others munched on the savouries being served. We had kept the function small and intimate with only our relatives and close friends invited to the wedding.

Mom sighed, her grey eyes scanning the room with a fleeting glance. Despite the smile on her face, I could see how tired she was. Layla walked over to her and threw her arms around her neck, "Relax mom." She chirped cheerfully, "Look how pretty Shanzae's mehndi looks."

Mom nodded her head, but her eyes glistened with warm tears. "Mashallah, it does look very pretty." She said, as she walked up to me and bent down to see my hands. "I can't believe my baby is getting married." Her words dwindled to a whisper, her voice clogging up with a myriad of emotions. And suddenly my own tears threatened to blaze a trail down my cheek.

"This is a no cry zone," Layla warned behind us and mother quickly replaced her tears with a convincing smile. She patted my head and then turned towards Layla.

"Are all your arrangements for tomorrow complete?" She asked while going through the list of tasks in her hand. After a quick conversation with Layla, she turned back to me, "You must be tired Shany, do you wish to take some rest before the dholki starts?"

I stretched a little, my side and midriff were still tender and soar. "My back also hurts now." I said, cranking the sinews of my neck. "My feet are almost dry. I think I can use some rest before the next event."

My mother nodded, "Go take some rest. I don't want you getting exhausted. Huda will bring your clothes when it's time. Should I send someone to help you get ready?"

I shook my head, as I got up from the wooden palki I had been sitting on all afternoon. The attendants around me quickly adjusted the duppatta of my gold dress around my body, careful to avoid the henna on my hands. I threw my head back, flipping the loose strands of my curled up hair behind me. The gold jhumkas that were attached to my hair with a strand of jasmine flowers jingled at the movement. "This necklace is very heavy." I mumbled as I walked out of the room.

I navigated through the long hallways of our haveli. The sun had bid goodbye, but the sky had turned into rich yellow, just like the deep colour of the turmeric paste I had been smouldered in earlier today. A lingering pink hue lined the edge of the sky, welcoming the silvery night. Light careened in though the windows, reflecting off the crystal walls on the corridor.

I entered the threshold of my room, turning around to switch the lights on, when a pair of hands caught me by the waist and whirled me around pinning me against the wall. The surprised yelp that escaped my lips was quickly muffled with a hand pressing against my mouth. My eyes widen and my heart dropped to my chest at the sudden action.

"Shhhh. It's me." The rich male voice that I had come to recognise even in my sleep kissed my ears and I squinted my eyes trying to make out his face in the dim shadows of the room. "Don't scream." He warned quietly before removing his palm from my lips.

I took a deep breath, trying to control my racing heartbeat. "You scared me." I mumbled with another escape of my breath. "I thought someone was trying to kidnap me again." The horrid memories of that night came flooding back and a frisson of fear ran through me.

"They wouldn't dare." His voice hardened and he inched closer, his hard body pressing against my soft one. Despite the darkness, his eyes glowed and his face looked vaguely admirable. Shadows creased around his face and his hair was mussed, but when his eyes caught mine his expression softened and his eyes shone with a mischievous glint.

Sensing his intent, my lips curled into a skittish smile and my eyes darted down demurely. For once, I was unable to meet his gaze. "You're not supposed to be here." I said, my eyes focussed on his black kurta. This was the first time I had seen him in one and I felt my heart jump in my chest.

"But I missed my wife."

My heart thundered like a storm when I felt the warmth of his tone settle within my soul. His words stirred something deep within me and a sweet nervousness crept up my spine. I looked up and his eyes gleamed gold, and like his voice his eyes too were filled with love and affection.

"I'm not your wife." I teased, my teeth chewing upon my lower lip. "Yet."

His eyes shifted and then darkened wistfully, before his arms reached around my waist and pulled me closer. "Soon, baby," his voice dropped, but rang with a steady amusement.

At this my eyebrows shot up in challenge and my back arched into him. "What if I run away?" I leaned in and whispered against his ear. I could feel his chest constrict at the intimacy of the moment, but he remained still, his palm pressing against my back.

"You wouldn't dare." A shadow of a smile creased his lips and his eyes twinkled with amusement.

My head tilted at his words and I wriggled in his arms, trying to move away. "Are you challenging me?"

A soft chuckle escaped his lips and his hold on me loosened, "Now that is something I wouldn't dare." He shook his head in worry and I couldn't help but stifle a giggle.

"You know you're not supposed to be here." I reminded him, but he suddenly seemed too distracted. His eyes focused on the tendril of hair flirting with my cheek, before he wrapped it around his finger. "Aliyaar, you're not supposed to see me before the wedding. It's against the traditions."

"I detest any such traditions that keep me away from you." He said, his voice still laced with thoughts while his hands played with the loose strands of my hair.

I laughed, the sound dancing through the dimness of the room. At this he looked up, his eyes raw and burning with desire. "Ajj bohat khoobsurat lag rahi ho."  His hand held mine, and he lifted it up to see the henna design on my hands. The stain had turned dark and the air suddenly became heavy with its fragrance.

I felt my cheeks burn with the blood rushing through me, but I stood still while he played with my hands. And that's when I suddenly remembered, "Why didn't you send me flowers today?"

Every morning for the past week, he'd send me flowers. I remembered how I surprised I was when I first saw them, but then every morning I'd started to wait for them. Sometimes they'd be accompanied with gifts and sometimes with achingly sweet notes. But this morning I received none, and a frown appeared on my face at the memory.

"That's because I bought them myself today." He said and then moved away to retrieve a small bouquet of flowers and flower bangles from the table. "Did you think I forgot?" He asked, taking my hands and slipping the bangles on.

"These are very pretty," I smiled at him graciously. I sniffed at the bouquet in my hand when I saw a flower fallen on the ground. His eyes caught mine and he bend down to pick it up from the floor.

"You can put this in your hair," he joked.

I thought for a while, before I slowly turned around, "App laga dein."

There was absolute stillness for a moment and I could hear his breath become haggard for a moment, before the warmth of his body pressed against my back. His fingers threaded through the locks of my hair and my eyes fell shut, relishing the moment. His breath kissed the softness of my neck and a shiver rocked through me, before he slowly pushed the flower  into my hair.

Shanzae's first wedding gift from @shininggstaar. 🤩🤩

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Until tomorrow, keep me in your prayers.

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