Zoya was in her room getting ready for her Haldi. She was wearing yellow designer kurta with matching sharara and cream white dupatta. Zoya set her dupatta around her neck finalising her look. She had kept her makeup light and simple.

Zoya looks at her face in the handheld mirror. Dark circles had smudged the delicate skin beneath her eyes. It was the outcome of lack of proper sleep. Last night she fell asleep on the floor crying remembering their first night.

"Zoya bete, ready nhi hui aap abhi tk?", Roshnaq asked entering the room. She was holding a basket in her hand.

"Bas 2 minute Ammi", Zoya replied.

"Niche Aditya ki Haldi shuru bhi ho gyi h aur Anjana ji kb se aapke baare mein puch rhi h", Roshnaq told her keeping the basket on the bed.

"Yeh kya laayi h aap Ammi?", Zoya asked pointing at the basket.

"Iss mein aapke liye phoolon ke gehne h. Aap yahan baithiye hum pehna dete h", Roshnaq commanded.

Zoya quietly obeyed & sat on the bed. Roshnaq tied the sunflower maang tikka on her forehead followed by the rest of the flower jewellery. Zoya saw a smile on her Ammi's face as she adorned her daughter with the flower ornaments. She was happy as well as emotional at the same time for her daughter.

Roshnaq placed her palms on Zoya's cheeks and asked, "Aap khush h na Zoya?". When Zoya smiled in answer, she kissed her forehead.

Their little moment was disturbed by a knock on the door. "Khaala aapko aur Zoya appi ko Khaalu bula rhe h", a young girl in her late teens called standing at the door.

"Noor aap unse kahiye hum bas abhi aa rhe h", Roshnaq told her & she left.

~~~~~~~~~~

Today Siddiqui Mansion was draped in yellow spreading the positive vibes. There was something special about the house today. The energy and radiance of the Haldi Ceremony can be felt around the house. Guests had already started arriving dressed in yellow giving the pure haldi vibes. And this excitement was evident in the back yard of the Siddiqui Mansion where the groom was surrounded by his cousins who were having fun in pulling his leg.

Trapped between them, there he was looking as bright & charming as ever. He was giving Lord Krishna's vibes in his yellow kurta & silk golden-yellow dhoti. His face was lit up matching with his kurta and the sun over head.

"Dekho abhi na bahot ho gya h. Bahut taang kheench li tum logon ne meri", he scolded them in a firm voice trying his elder brother weapon but today nobody was in mood to hear him.

"Bhai, aap chahe jitna daant lijiye pr aaj hum aapko nhi chodne wale", one of his cousins teased.

"Haa bhai! Aur Shaadi ke baad to wase bhi aap hume bhool hi jayenge", Arjun contributed in teasing.

"Paa, dekhiye na yeh sb mujhe kb se pareshan kr rhe h", he complaint.

"Adi bhai, this is not fair! Aap humesha aise hi krte h", Nisha dramatically says. She is Aditya's paternal cousin. "Bade papa, iss baar aapko hamari side leni hogi", she firmly told Harsh.

"Paa meri hi side lenge! Hai na Paa?", Aditya said with confidence.

Harsh turned to the girls, "Aisa h tum log jo Adi ke saath kr rhe ho woh galat h" & Aditya smiled in victory. "Thanks P..." but "Bhala apne bhai ki Haldi pr koi aise sukha thodi chodta h" and Aditya's smile vanished. He looks at his father in surprise, "Paa aap bhi". Harsh smiled at the girls and they all stepped forward to attack Aditya with the Haldi.

"Arre arre tum sb kyun sataa rhe ho mere Cheeku ko", Anjana scolded.

Aditya who was captured by them in the center, said pouting his face, "Maa achcha hua aap aa gyi. Yeh Arjun ka bachcha mujhe sb ke saath mil ke pareshaan kr rha h",.

Just then Zoya along with Roshnaq entered the garden turning everyone's attention towards them. As he was still surrounded by people, Aditya couldn't see Zoya until she came sat next to him.

"Bahut pyari lag rhi ho", Anjana puts 'kaala teeka' behind Zoya's ear.

Aditya's eyes had got stuck on Zoya and he openly stared at her. She was looking like a sunflower, ready to rain sunlight on all who look down upon her. Sitting close to her, he could feel her vibrations on his body.

Unaware that he is being watched by the people, Aditya lost in her beauty uttered out loud in his husky voice, "Beautiful". Zoya's eyes lifted to meet his at the word and everyone went "Awwwww". They instantly broke the eye lock and Aditya looked at other side blushing.

"Bhai aapne hume to kabhi compliment nhi dia", Nisha once again started pulling his leg.

"Nisha, ab hum thodi na Zoya bhabhi jitne special h. Hai na bhai?", Arjun said winking at Aditya and yet again everyone went "Owwwww".

Arjun and Nisha winked at each other and next moment Aditya was attacked by all of them. After few minutes, he looked like as if he had played holi with haldi. His face, neck, hands, feet & the already yellow kurta had bathed in the yellow color of haldi. Everyone was giggling and cheering at him.

Someone was silently enjoying the scene watching him being drenched in haldi. Zoya quickly stole a side glance at him. No one would deny that he was looking handsome and radiant as young Sun and Moon. His haldi-coated skin glistened in the sunlight making him look fresh. He had some haldi on the tip of his nose making him look cuter. Zoya looked down suppressing her laugh.

Nisha caught her smiling, "Zoya bhabhi, hum bhoole nhi h. Ab haldi me nahane ki baari aapki h", she said taking the haldi in her hand.

Noor took a step forward and announced, "Zoya Appi ko haldi phle hum lagaenge".

"Arre waah! Hamari bhabhi h to sbse phle haldi hum hi lagaenge", Arjun told Noor coming face-to-face.

Noor put her hands on her waist and looking in Arjun's eyes, she replied, "Yeh hamari Appi h! Haldi to hum hi phle lagaenge. Dekhte h hume kon rokta h".

Noor took another step forward but Arjun blocked her way and smiled at her evilly. Noor frowned at him and he smiled more widely. This irritated her and she was about to push him when Roshnaq stepped in between to resolve the about-to-happen fight scene.

"Zoya ko sbse phle unki Ammi haldi lagaengi", she said and settled the fight as for then but Noor wasn't going to let it go so easily.

Roshnaq took some haldi from the same bowl and applied it to Zoya's cheeks & arms.

~ Banno Re Banno Meri Chali Sasuraal Ko

Zoya had tears in her eyes when Waseem came to apply the haldi on her. He too had happy tears in his eyes.

~ Ankhiyon Mein Paani De Gayi

Then came Noor who dipped both of her hands in the bowl and rubbed the haldi lovingly on her sister's cheeks. Zoya smiled at her between her tears.

~ Duaa Mein Meethi Gud Dhaani Le Gayi

At last Zoya's friends took the lead and fulfilled their duty by drenching her completely in the haldi.

~ Re Kabira Maan Jaa
Re Faqeera Yun Na Ja
Aaja Tujhko Pukaare Teri Parchhaaiyan

One by one everyone including Anjana, Harsh and Arjun applied the haldi to the soon-to-be bride-groom & passed them their blessings.

~ Re Kabira Maan Ja
Re Faqeera Yun Na Ja
Kaisa Tu Hai Nirmohi Kaisa Harjaaiyaa

The ceremony ended by everyone clicking pictures with Aditya-Zoya and applying haldi to each other. There were only laughter and happiness around.

~ Re Kabira, Re Kabira
Re Fakeera, Re Fakeera
Re Kabira, Re Kabira
Re Fakeera, Re Fakeera

~~~~~~~~~~

"Yes Mrs. Chaudhary? Please come in", Dr. Kabir said with a smile as his eyes were busy reading the files kept before him. Alvira who was standing at the door of his cabin entered and took the opposite seat.

"Dr. Singh, mujhe kuch baat krni thi aap se.....Sahir ke baare mein", she nervously spoke.

"Please go on", he replied without looking up.

Alvira hesitated before speaking, "Ek baat h jo maine aap se chupayi h. Yeh baat mujhe bahut phle hi aapko bata deni chahiye thi".

Kabir instantly lifted his eyes at her words, "What is it Mrs. Chaudhary? Kya kuch h jo mujhe pata hona chahiye?".

"Dr. Kabir, Sahir.....Sahir theek nhi h. Woh beemar h. Usski medical history ke baare mein mujhe aapko batana chahiye tha.....pr main darr gyi thi", Alvira told.

"Tell me clearly Sahir theek kyu nhi h?", Kabir asked paying his full attention.

"Sahir ko Borderline Personality Disorder h", Alvira confessed one of the harsh truths of Sahir's life.

"Kab se?", Kabir asked.

"Bachpan se! Jb se uske Abbu hume chod ke gye h tb se woh aisa hi ho gya h", she revealed as tears found way to her eyes.

"Aap mujhe Sahir ke symptoms bataiye", he asked for the details.

"Mera Sahir bahar se jitna sakht banne ki koshish krta h.....ander se woh utna hi nazuk h. Woh bhale hi bada ho gya ho pr usska dil abhi bhi bachcho wala h. Choti choti baaton pe ghabra jata h. Apno ko khone se darta h. Usse darr laga rhta h ki woh akela reh jayega", Alvira paused to wipe her tears.

She continued, "Mujhse aksar puchta h ki 'Ammi aap to mujhe chod ke nhi jaogi na jaise Abbu chle gye'. Jb kbhi udaas hota h to meri gaud mein apna sar chupa kr ro leta h. Kabhi fikar krta h to kbhi bahut jldi gussa ho jata h".

"Kya Zoya ko pata h?", Kabir inquired.

Alvira shook her head, "Nahi! Sahir ko darr h ki agar Zoya ko pata chlega to woh bhi usse chod ke chali jayegi. Ek wahi to h jiske wajah se woh ab tk jee rha tha. Zoya ko yeh bhale hi na pata ho lekin sirf wahi h jo Sahir ko sambhal skti h. Jb se woh Sahir ki zindagi me aayi h, Sahir jeene laga h. Uska akelapan door ho gya. Uska gussa bhi shant hone laga h. Mera beta khush rehne laga h".

"Ab Zoya kahan h?".

"Maine uske office me phone kia tha. Usne milne se mana kr dia".

"Lekin uska aana bahut zaroori h".

"Uska nikaah kisi aur se tay ho gya h".

"Look Alvira ji, Sahir ki condition iss waqt critical h. Aur uske disorder ki wajah se hum usse koi medicine bhi nhi de skte h. Aise patients ko pyaar aur hamdardi ki zarurat h. Woh pyaar Zoya Sahir ko de skti h jiske liye woh bachpan se tadpa h".

"Pr Zoya milne ke liye tayaar nhi h".

"Main aapko phle bhi bata chuka hoon ki agar Zoya nhi aati h.....to hume hamara last option hi use krna padega".

"Dr. Kabir, mera beta pagal nhi h. Aap usse shock kaise de skte h?".

"I am sorry to say but hum zyada wait nhi kr skte. Aapke paas kl tk ka time h. Usske baad hum Sahir ko Psychiatric Ward mein shift kr denge".

Alvira was numb at his words, she didn't know what to do. She got up and left the cabin. She felt her breathing abnormal as tension absorbed her mind.

**********

Hello everyone! Hope all are doing good! And I hope you guys like this chapter.

I have finally introduced Noor!! Wasn't planning on it but it happened anyway.

Take care & stay safe! And cast your vote before you leave.

Tell me in the comment section how was this chapter. Hope it has compensated for the last chapter ;)

Stay tuned!