Haldi ceremony

Nandini was made to sit on a podium, while all the ladies sat down around her singing traditional songs. All the married people one by one came and did the haldi charhao rasam, some of them indulged in haldi holi, putting haldi on each other playfully. All in all the entire mood was set for fun and mischief.

On the other side manik was also made to sit in the same way and the same rituals were performed. The ladies kept teasing manik saying "haldi lagaoge beta toh chamak jaoge, fir tumhri dulhan tumse najare ni hata payegi" manik being a little shy did not know what to say or do, so he just blushed and smiled, while the women continued on their teasing game. Punjabi blood being high on fun quotient, indulged in mischievous haldi holi. Men running after their sister-in-laws or wife to smudge them in yellow. Everyone was laughing and having great fun.

After all marriages are the time when whole family gets together to have a family time', coming out of their sedentary lifestyles.

After the haldi charhao rasm was over, all the men of murthy side were shut out as haldi was now massaged all over nandini's body. Whereas on the other side manik was sent to take shower.

It's been almost 4 hours since manik has seen nandini and he felt restless. Fab 5 were sitting on the terrace, enjoying the cool breeze and sunset. Fab 4 had requested the malhotra side and the discarded' murthy men to come and sit on the terrace as the view was mesmerizing.

Cabir: the bachelor party is all set; I just received the message from the organiser.

Alya: what are you guys going to do in the party?

Dhruv opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by cabir.

Cabir: arey nothing major Alya, just some belly dancers have been called , loud music and a little drink, 4 baje tak jage rehne ke liye itna toh hona hi chahye..

He gave a mischievous smile to Dhruv as Alya turned towards Dhruv. Mukti smiled as she caught cabir doing that but decided to keep mum.

Alya: Dhruv ...? (She glared)

He shrugged saying nothing, so Alya turned to manik.

Alya: manik, even you are up for this?? How bad will nandini feel when she comes to know this..

Manik: actually I have told her before...

Alya: she doesn't have a problem?

Manik: of course not, she said I can go...

Alya got up frustrated and looked at Dhruv for one last time , he gave no reaction, so she stomped her foot and stormed off from there...

Cabir: le!! Gyi teri possessive girlfriend..
And they all laughed except Dhruv.

Dhruv: gussa ho gyi yaar!! Ab manana parega..bye guys!!

Manik: ja ja jaldi bhaag...

Cabir: maja agya!!!

Manik: yaar cabir ..aur kitni der wait
karu...nandini toh najar hi ni arahi hai

Mukti: bhai mujhe toh lagta hai ab hum nandini ko direct kal mandap pe dekh paenge!!

Manik: tu majak kar rahi h na??

Mukti : no bhai...thori der pehle mai abhimanyu se baat kar rahi toh usne asa bola...(she was blushing but this went unnoticed by manik and cabir)

Manik put his head between his palms in anxiety and frustration, cabir thought of helping him , as he cannot see manik even slightly tensed, so he messaged navya

Cabir: hey sweetheart !! what are you doing?? I m missing u..:-*

Navya replied after a minute.

Navya: aww missing you too sweetheart, but I am caught up you know na..:-(

Cabir: yeah..I understand so..what is happening now?

Navya: I am helping nandini take sponge bath as the yellow tinge is not going off her skin...

Cabir: oh is this some problem?? Shall I call the doctor??

Navya: no budhu..it's the colour of the turmeric, it will go..in fact now she is in the shower and I am free.

Cabir: oh like that..:-P and what's the program after that?

Navya: well she will get ready for the mehendi , beauticians is right here , waiting for her, after that she will go down for the ceremony..

Cabir: oh ok..actually navya..I need your help yaar...manik is really upset that he is not able to see nandini..

Navya: yeah even nandini from the last hour, is quite restless to see manik, tell me what can I do??

Cabir: hey I love you for that sweetheart...:-*

Navya: *blush* ok now tell me what I have to do?

Cabir: no first tell me , you love me too..:-/

Navya: of course I love you..:-D

Cabir: yeah! Dats like my gal!! So you have to just message me exactly 10 mins before nandini is all set to go to her mehendi ceremony...that she is ready'

Navya: yeah ok well that is easy..I will do it, but now I have to go get ready..

Cabir: ok go..but don't forget to message please baby!

Navya: yeah ok..wait a minute..I did not ask, what are you going to do..?

Cabir: hehe..nothing ..I will just change the venue of mehendi from hall to terrace!!...:-D

Navya: gawd! cabir..you are just unbelievable!! Well nandini is out of shower now FYI..I m off to get ready, I will message you in approx 45 mins, because that's the time nandini will be ready in..

Cabir: ok! Love you...:-*

All this while manik was busy trying nandini's number, but it was switched off being discharged . mukti was busy doing eye talk with abhi..as he was sitting a little away.

Suddenly her phone beeped. It was a message from cabir in the fab 4 watsap group which they had formed for the marriage purpose so that manik doesnot know their plans. She looked at cabir as to why he was messaging sitting so close . cabir gestured her to read quietly. She understood.

Cabir: guys time for some action, but there is a slight change in the pre plan

Mukti: what is it?

Dhruv: yeah buddy what is it?

Cabir: waah Dhruv tune mera message padha?? Aliya maan gyi kya?

Aliya: cabir, I m not gonna leave you!! I m coming..just wait..you lied..idiot!!

Cabir: ROFL..most of the times I do that aliya!!..;-)

Mukti: arey you idiot people tell us what is the plan first!!

Cabir: yeah so we will be performing in exactly 40 mins from now..we will ask manik to sing the song which he had practiced as a duet with nandini..and speakers are placed downstairs too. So as soon as nandini will hear the song she will come running into manik's arms, and the murthy ladies will also follow as they will be under the spell of fab 5!!!

Alya: but why are we doing this??

Mukti: arey budhu because bhai is dying to see nandini..he wants to meet her once...

Cabir: aliya balike...basically we are doing this , so that mehendi ceremony is held on the terrace and manik and nandini get some time together...samjhi??

By this time manik had got up and went on the side of the terrace to look at the sunset. And aliya , Dhruv walked in together and sat near mukti and cabir. So now they were chatting, not on watsap.

Dhruv: buddy toh ekdm devdas ban gya hai...

Alya: aww poor manik..he is so in love with her!!

Mukti: yeah so we gotta help him now!!

Alya: oh freak!!

Fab 3 jumped up in shock as Alya got up in a hurry!!

Dhruv : wat happened baby?

Alya: mukti we are going to attend the mehendi ceremony, so we need to be ready!!! Com'on we are getting late!

Fab 3 rolled their eyes but she was right as the boys were in traditional attire but the girls were wearing western outfit, so Alya and mukti went to change and cabir Dhruv went to set up the plan, whereas devdas' manik sat there with his guitar playing a sad tune...

One hour later...

Everything was set, now fab 4 were waiting for navya's message as told by cabir.

Cabir's phone beeped.

It was a message from navya

"she is ready"

Cabir beamed in excitement and messaged fab 3

"time to set the plan rolling, I am going to talk to manik, take your places, you know the lyrics ,beat, everything, if by any chance nandini does not turn up on time , manik will sing the full song. Got it everyone??"

Mukti: yup!

Alya: definitely!

Dhruv: no doubt
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cabir: manik

Manik: ha bol

Cabir: chal gaana gate hain, tera mood theek ho jaega..

Manik: yeah ok I too think so.. par kaun sa gaana..?

Cabir: ************

Manik: but ye toh mai nandini k sath gaane wala tha na?

Cabir: ha par fab 4 ka mann yahi gaana gane ka...see they have even started tuning their instruments..

Manik: par cabir...

Cabir: arey av hamare sath gaa le fir nandini k sath v gaa lena...

Manik , thought for a while, then said "ok"

Nandini saw herself once for the last time in the mirror and got out of her room accompanied by navya. When she reached in the hall way, she heard a tune playing over the speakers and she instantly recognised that it's the same song which she and manik had practiced to perform duet.

Tenu itna main pyaar karaan ( she heard the soulful voice of manik.)
Ek pal vich sau baar karaan (she realised, he was sad, nandini could not)
Tu jaave je mainu chhad ke (bear it, she turned to navya who was already)
Maut da intezaar karaan (smiling, navya said "jao I will manage here")

Ke tere liye duniya chhod di hai (that was it for nandini, she ran as if)
Tujhpe hi saans aake ruke (her life depended on it, she had to reach)
Main tujhko kitna chahta hoon (terrace on time to sing her part and to let)
Ye tu kabhi soch na sake (x2) (manik know that he is not alone. she heard mukti's back ground voice.)

Kuch bhi nahi hai ye jahaan (she was running holding her lehenga up. On)
Tu hai toh hai isme zindagi (the other side, murthy ladies heard manik's)

Kuch bhi nahi hai ye jahaan (voice and as suggested by navya decided to do)
Tu hai toh hai isme zindagi (the mehendi ceremony on the terrace. All of )
Ab mujhko jaana hai kahaan (them moved towards the terrace.) nandini
Ke tu hi safar hai aakhiri (reached the terrace entrance panting).Rishu was standing there with a glass of water, as instructed by cabir. Nandini smiled and drank water and relaxed herself as there still was sometime in her part. Rishu then handed her the microphone and said "di you are looking beautiful"

nandini smiled and kissed his cheek before saying "thank you" then she put on the microphone and switched it on as manik reached the last line...

Nandini:
Ke tere bina jeena mumkin nahin (fab 4 smiled a big smile as manik's face lit )
Na dena kabhi mujhko tu faasley (up hearing her voice and he looked at fab4)
Main tujhko kitna chahti hoon (gratefully as he understood that it was)
Ye tu kabhi soch na sake (their plan.)

His eyes searched for her but all the drapes veiled his vision. He moved forward with his guitar. Nandini too was coming towards him slowly...as the wind blew a drape fluttered in the air...and ...he saw her...time stood still in that moment...as their eyes met and did the talking..conveyed the longing for each other...his desperation...her restlessness . manik sang lost in her eyes and beauty

Tere liye duniya chhod di hai
Tujhpe hi saans aake ruke
Main tujhko kitna chahta hoon
Ye tu kabhi soch na sake

Nandini:

Aankhon ki hai yeh khwahishein
Ki chehre se teri na hatein
Neendon mein meri bas tere
Khwabon ne li hai karwatein

Manik:

Ki teri ore mujhko leke chalein
Ye duniya bhar ke sab raaste
Main tujhko kitna chahta hoon
Ye tu kabhi soch na sake

Tere liye duniya chhod di hai
Tujhpe hi saans aake ruke
Main tujhko kitna chahta hoon
Ye tu kabhi soch na sake

He end the song , still looking in her eyes.

Earlier:

As fab 5 had started performing, all the people on the terrace had arranged their chairs to sit and enjoy the song. The Punjabi lyrics suddenly boosted their mood. When they heard nandini's voice, they were in for a sweet surprise, they encouraged her by clapping. Soon they saw the murthy ladies coming towards them , so more chairs were arranged for them. All of them sat hearing the song.

Present:

As the song ended, everyone started clapping, this brought MaNan out of their trance . fab 4 put their instruments aside and came running to manik and nandini and manik hugged them tightly constantly saying thank you.

Cabir: ho gya yaar manik, itni sweetness handle ni hogi mujhse, diabetes ho jaega...

Manik: tu ni sudhrega...

Cabir: of course not!

And they all laughed.

Sheetal shouted from her place "nandini beta mehendi lagane baith jao.."

Nandini replied " yes amma...I m coming"

Manik held her wrist. She turned around..fab 4 excused themselves and went to refresh themselves.

Manik: thori der aur plzz ...ruk jao. By the way.you are looking beautiful.

Nandini looked down and said "thank you" blushingly.

Nandini: manik ..I want to say something...

Manik pulled her closer, they were behind a drape and no one can see them.

Manik: ha bolo na...

He was caressing her cheek...she looked up, her eyes were moist.."manik sometimes it takes years to realise that u r in true love and sometimes it happens in just a moment..for me manik , the moment was today, when I was running to reach here on time, realisation hit me that I can't bear ur sadness, in fact I can't live without you now, you have become my everything...

She stopped and took a deep breath, while manik stood their stoned to his place holding her waist.

"manik...I love you"

She suddenly felt light..and relaxed. She looked up to see manik's reaction. He smiled, there was a different glint in his eyes now, and she smiled in return.

Manik: so finally I m good enough for you?

Nandini: no I m strong enough to say it...u know manik, for me, to say I love you is like to say I trust you with all my heart and soul. It needed courage and finally I did it.

Manik: I wish we would have been alone now, but I can see ur mother is looking for u..

She looked in the direction where manik was looking and she sighed and looked at manik again "I guess I have to go then"

Manik replied "yeah and umm u know it but I will say again..I love you.."

Nandini: I love you too...

She quickly pecked his lips and moved out..while manik stood their blushing and touching his lips..

All the girls sat down on the mattresses and the mehendi girls started applying mehendi...

Manik went to the corner where all the boys were standing. Cabir noticed manik's beaming face and felt happy for him.

Cabir: arey yaar ye larkiyaan mehendi lagaane baith gyi...par hum larke kya kare?

Dhruv: yeah..kya kare??

Abhi: chalo gaana play karte hain ar dance karte hain..wat say?

Cabir: idea bura ni hai..I have a song in my mind...let's go..

Manik: yeah you guys continue..

Cabir: arey manik..nandini ko baad me taar liyo..av chal thori masti karte hain.

Manik rolled his "main kisi ko taar ni raha tha"

Cabir: ha ha tu toh mahatma hai...ab chal...

Manik: cabirrr...acha tum log start karo..I will join you..

Cabir: pakka?

Manik: ha saaale pakka..ab ja na..

Manik stood there watching every movement of nandini, as to how she was instructing the mehendi designer, sometimes widening her eyes, sometimes pouting, sometimes flicking her hair bangs off her eyes. Manik felt that he could see her every action in slow motion. As if sensing his gaze on her, nandini looked up directly in his direction. He was smiling and she couldn't help but blush knowing that she is the reason for his happiness. Just then they heard loud music..

Pa pa pa.. oo.. (CABIR and Dhruv sang in chorus)

Cabir:
Tukur tukur tukur tukur tukur tukur
Dekh taka tak (x3)

Dil mein haan hai hothon pe naa
Dil mein haan hai hothon pe naa (aaye..)
Bhare bazaar mein dil tod gayi zaalima

Tukur-tukur tukur-tukur tukur-tukur
Dekh taka tak (x2)

Dhruv:
Aashiqon ki jaan le gayi (aaye..)
Aashiqon ki jaan le gayi (o ho!)
Kaahe rumaal magar chhod gayi zaalima

Tukur-tukur tukur-tukur tukur-tukur
Dekh taka tak (x2)

Abhi:
Chahne wale tere jitne hazaar sanam
Badh ke humse nahi honge dildaar sanam
Ye zamana hai bewafa (toh)
Ye zamana hai bewafa (haaye)
Mile mushkil se wafadaar koi baalma

Tukur-tukur tukur-tukur tukur-tukur
Dekh taka tak (x3)

Pa ra re pa...

Ai yai ya Vasco da Gama
Ai yai ya pagdi pajama
Hey ai yai ya Vasco da Gama
Ai yai ya pagdi pajama

Cabir pulled manik.

Manik:
Hosh mein hi sahi
Magar gustakhiyan ho zara
Aa tujhe choom loon
Bhale badnaamiyan ho zara

(Tukur tukur tukur tukur..)

O... hosh mein hi sahi
Magar gustakhiyan ho zara
Aa tujhe choom loon
Bhale badnaamiyan ho zara

Husn hai bekaabu agar (aau..)
Husn hai bekaabu agar (hatt!)
Kaahe jazbaat ko kaabu mein rakhe baalma

Tukur-tukur tukur-tukur tukur-tukur
Dekh taka tak (x4)

Ai yai yai ya Vasco da Gama
Ai yai yai ya pagdi pajama (x2)

Cabir:
Pyaar kya cheez hai
Peechha chhode naa wo marz hai
Umr bhar sar se jo
Miyan utre na wo karz hai
Iss se bach ke rehna zara
Iss se bach ke rehna zara
Nazar andaaz naa kar mashwara ye kaam ka

Tukur-tukur tukur-tukur tukur-tukur
Dekh taka tak (x2)

Pa pa pa.. oo.

By this time some of the guests were rolling on the floor, laughing non stop. The moves were so hilarious. As the signature step was taught by cabir. All the boys sang looking at their partners, teasing them. Of all the girls mukti was the most uncomfortable and nervous when abhi sang looking at her every now and then. The mehendi girls had hard time applying mehendi through the dance as their clients couldn't sit quietly!!

Cabir: maja agya yaar, I will miss these moments after you are married manik...

Dhruv: ek kaam karte hain cabir, ab tu v shadi kar le..toh fir hm ase maje kar paenge...(winks)

Manik: yeah buddy true that!!

Cabir: chup raho tumlog..pehle main manik baba k experiment ka result dekh lu tab sochunga shadi ke bare mein...

Manik: abe mein toh nandini ko bas 20 days se janta hun, par tut oh navya ko 1 year se jyada se janta h, fir v tujhe doubt h??

Cabir: arey yar, we love each other but marriage is a big responsibility , let's see what happens but for now I think Dhruv ko shadi karni chahye, ye toh ek dusre ko std 7 se jante hain...

Dhruv: rehne de mere bhai..mujhe mt drag kar isme..bahut heavy topic h ye mere lye...mujhe lagta hai next number abhi ka hona chahye..aunty kitni akeli ho jaengi nandini chali jaegi toh..

Abhi who was sipping a drink and eyeing mukti till then, suddenly choked .

everyone had by now turned towards him, manik quickly rubbed abhi's back to ease him. He relaxed.

Abhi: what..what were you asking Dhruv?

Manik: abhi he was just saying that u should get married next as ma will get a company and she will not feel alone after nandini is gone.

Abhi: oh hmm yeah..(he was struggling for words, just then mukti came up and he sighed in relief)

Mukti: bhai...

Everyone turned to face her.

Manik: yeah mukti watsup? You want something?

Mukti: wo bhai my hand is clad in mehendi, could you please feed me, I m feeling hungry.

She forwarded her hands to make them see her mehendi.

Manik: arey ye v koi puchne wali baat hai, wase mehendi is looking nice..

Mukti: thanks bhai!!

Abhi: wo mukti can you plz tell me ..nandini ko bhi mehendi lag gayi kya?

Manik tried to look for nandini, but he could not see her.

Mukti: nahi abhimanyu, uske legs me mehendi lag rahi h av, ar woh waha fan k pas baithi hai to dry the mehendi of her hands.

She showed him extending her hands the direction. Abhi nodded and left from there.

Manik also took mukti with him to feed her food.

Mukti: bhai chalo hm nandini k paas chalte hain.

Manik: q?

Mukti: dekhte hain usne khaya ya ni?

Manik was more than happy. So they went there and saw that abhi was feeding her while the girl was applying mehendi on her left foot. Mukti smiled inwardly. She liked that abhi cared for his family just like manik did his. Anyone who matched upto manik had to have a special place in her heart because manik was her ideal.

They greeted each other and manik nandini had a small eyelock before they looked away blushing. Manik then feed mukti and so did abhi to nandini. Sisters made brothers to eat too, sharing the food. Till then mehendi was also done but nandini , now had to be careful with her lehenga, as letting it down would smudge her mehendi applied on leg.

Navya came up.

Nav: chalo nandini mai tumhra lehenga pakar deti hun, room chalo.

Nan: r u sure navya, tumhri mehendi smudge ni hogi na?

Nav: nandini 9 baj gaye hain, tumhe ab rest karna chahye, aaj din bhar tumne jara sa v rest ni kiya h, kal 3 baje hi uthna h fir..ar meri mehendi ...forget it..itni der rakh liya, rang ajaega, wse v meri shadi ni h, so no need to worry.

Nan: par...

Manik: if u don't mind I can help you ladies...

Nav: par kese?

Abhi also looked at him confused.

Manik: (sheepishly) I can carry her in my arms..(bridal style)

Mukti: yeah!! Superb idea bhai!! Go for it!!!

Everyone else smiled, even nandini blushed at the thought of it...

Manik moved close to nandini and said nandini in her ear huskily "can I?" nandini blushed harder and just nodded. Manik in a swift move , had her in his arms while navya adjusted nandini's lehenga.

As manik moved among the guests with nandini in her arms, they looked in admiration. Neyonika blew a kiss to her son and manik smiled at her, when nandini caught site of sheetal, she saw tears in her eyes while a smile on her lips, nandini smiled back. Manik carried her effortlessly as if she weighed nothing.

Nan: manik you can put me down for a while..if you are tired.

Navya: yeah manik..she is right..

Manik: no sweetheart I m fine..relax. because I m loving it (he grinned at her)

Nan: r u sure??(blushing)

Manik: of course.(winked)

They reached nandini's room and navya opened the door, manik placed nandini carefully on the bed, while he was doing this nandini whispered in his ear "you smell so good" manik quickly looked in her eyes smiling ear to ear "really , do I?" while she nodded in affirmation and blushed.

Navya: ok I heard that, but sadly you have to go now manik, to your stupid bachelor's party!!

Manik and nandini blushed and then manik rolled his eyes.

Just then his phone started ringing.

Manik blew a kiss to nandini and signalled that he is going before saying "hello" on the phone. The last word nandini heard him saying was "ha saale araha hun" navya locked the door and helped nandini to change into a frock and then removed all her makeup and tied her hair in a bun and then left for her own room to change and crash to bed.

Nandini lied down on the bed and sleep took over instantly...
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Credits to the writer- Manini Mehra