I speed walked inside the mansion as soon as Manik caught Ashutosh n told him that his friends r looking for him.  With camera's strap wrapped around my fingers, I walked passing the busy guests running here n there. When I thought that I reached a safe place, is stoped n took rapid breaths.

"Bacch gaye! thank god mujhe kissine pila(yellow) nahi kiya!
But seriously, Di and Jiju r really looking so funny, like they roll over yellow mud!" I chuckled at my own thoughts.

Suddenly cold paste touched my both cheeks from the back. The cold sensation alerts me & I gasped while getting stiffened in my place.

When I got sense back I turned back abruptly to catch the culprit...

"Aap?" I looked at him horrified.

"I believe u'll be happy that I'm the first to apply Haldi on u!" he said with his smirk but I'm too shocked to register it. And I don't know when my grip loosens on the camera n the strap unwrapped making it drop with a low Thudd...

I looked down at the sound n again eye started to trail back at the person when suddenly my adrenalin rushed nerves cracked and I registered what actually fell on the ground!

I spat my full attention on the Canon Camera "Oh My! My camera!" I shouted while bending to pick it up.

I checked it hurriedly with my heart thumping hard against my chest.

'Oh God! please, Camera kuch nahi hona chahiya! Warna me Navya Di se kya bolungi!' i prayed.

"Oh no! its lens is cracked. It's... I hope it's internal is damaged" I talked to myself while checking it round n round but didn't switch it on as I need to check it before that.

Then a pair of feet came to my view. 'Arrogant! Mera face pe haldi lagadi, meri Camera toddi, uper se wahi pe khada hai, bend hoke help bhi nahi kiya! Aarrghhh... I hate this man!'

I punched his feet hard before standing up with the camera. He hissed in pain with the unexpected blow and raised his feet up in reflex.

"Are u mad?" he growled when I looked at him with angry eyes.

"yes! humhari sakal dekhke toh koi bhi pagal ho jayega." I replied whatever came in my mind without a filter. Even I don't know what it means.

"See! U break the Camera. It's Navya Di's which she gave me to capture her special moments. Now, what will I tell her, han?" I spoke angrily. I never wanted any problem here, but this man is getting on my nerve, with his smirking face n unpredictable self!

"Aur uper se, Mujpe Haldi kesse lagi tumne? How dare u touch me, woh bhi piche se? Can't u come from the front like a man, Manik Malhotra?" I gritted my teeth while I spoke. He too looked angry.

"And please, do me a favor and don't appear around me for the rest 2 more days. Kal Shaadi aur day after tomorrow- reception. Uske baad, I'll leave" I declared before dashing away. I know, it's not possible to not be around when he's groom's bro and I'm bride's sister-like, But at least I want him not to bother me anymore. Khadhoos, Arrogant, Battameez Malhotra!

"What the hell!" I shouted in anger punching the wall.

'Samajhti kya hai khud ko! Bloody Hell! How dare she shout at me? Ek toh mene usse uss Ashutosh se bachaya, instead of thanking me, he bloody scowled at me? And what's with her always saying 'Like a man!' Of course, I'm a man with full blood and flesh!
Damn Her!' I hand palmed myself at the irritation she caused in my mind.

"As if I'm dying to get close to her. I won't even acknowledge your presence, not for only 2 days, but for ever! I hate this girl! Irritating, frustrating, Stupid girl!" I set it in my mind n locked it properly before walking to my room. Damn this girl! I need drinks now!

-----------------

I placed the damaged Camera in my bag to check it once I got back to the hotel, And hed outside to see Navya Di along with some ladies of both the families r walking out of the mansion in a group. I run n joined them. Where r they going with Haldi-pooted?

"Where r we going to?" I asked Meera Di who is walking aside Navya Di.

"To the nearby temple." I nodded thinking that it may be ritual.

As we reached the nearest temple, the dried Haldi paste is scrubbed off from Navya Di's face and body and she is bather with pitchers full of holy water.

"This ritual is known as Ghara Gharoli. U should perform a prayer to the deity of the temple asking for blessings. And after returning to ur place take a proper shower and start getting ready in ur wedding finery." Dadi instructed to Navya n I noted the function mentally. it would have been better if I had the camera with me.

After the puja, now finally we r at our hotel room with Di taking a shower first. Her phone ring while she's still inside the bathroom n water running.

I peeped to see it's caller id '❤️Hubby❤️'. I grinned evilly with a plan to tease both parties. And I picked up the call...

"Hey baby" came the sweet voice fo Jiju. I pressed my lips not to laugh.

"Why r u not saying anything?" I got tense, what to do now?

"Oh! U must be resting while applying the face pack. Okay! I'll talk, u listen." I mentally danced.

"So, tomorrow is our wedding, I wasn't able to spend time with u today. Everyone is holding onto me. I missed u, baby!
But no worries, tomorrow, after our marriage, at night, I won't leave u, u know what I mean, right baby?" He said so coyly that I couldn't hold my laughter anymore n cracked out a chuckle only to bit my tongue later. He got silent.

"Oh! Hello
Who is there?" he asked seriously. He caught it. Shit!

"hellooo Jijuuu...." I pressed the words n laugh in between.

"Nan.. Nandu?" He asked doubtfully. I burst into touches of laughter.

"Sataan ki bacchi!" He too fake anger n then laughed along with me.

"Oh Jiju! Di is coming to u as ur wife in only one day. And u can't even wait for more 24 hrs." I teased him. I can already visualize him blushing.

"Teri Shaadi hogi na, tab main batata hun, ruk!" he commented making me laugh more.

"meri Shaadi ko abhi bahut saal baki hai. Tab tak toh aap ke bacche bhi ho gaye honge, mere saath khelenge" I added more tease.

"Shoo Crazy girl!" he sounds embarrassed. I laughed more. At that time only, Navya di came out of the washroom drying her hair in the towel.

"Lo...Aa gayi Hubby ki wifey! Aab mere se kya baat!" I said on the phone while Di gave me a confused look. "Di, Aapke Hubby ka phone hai! He said he missed u a lot!" I said to Navya Di forwarding the phone. She snatched it instantly giving me glares. I laughed more.

She started to whisper talk n blush like a tomato. I walk out to garb my clothes for a shower.

"Karlo karlo... jitna baat hai karlo! But remember, What Dadi said? 'No Milna till Shaadi!'" I spoke aloud for both of them to hear n rushed to the washroom. Such a cute happy couple!

------------------------

The night before Cavya's Wedding, inside one room of Malhotra Mansion

A man in his late 50s sitting on his comfort chair beside the double-bed and is turning pages of a file. The File which he ordered his PA to collect about the information of his life-saver, each n everything about his saviour.

Then the room door opened, a lady in her early 40s entered n closed it behind, sitting on the edge of the bed near him.

"Kuch baat patta ki?" he asked.

"Hain! I asked Cabir indirectly between the talks. He said that she's living with her step-mom n step-brother who doesn't care anything about her. They made her work, talk rudely, like a slave, not give her any money........." the lady goes on whatever her son, Cabir told her n what she could guess in total.

"Kitna inhuman ho sakte hain log! bechari Ladki, Sab kuch saahke apni studies puri karna chahati hain. Mere beti ko main iss halat pe kabhi nahi dekh pata!" the man, lady's husband said sadly.

"Hain Raj, kitni pyaari ladki hai woh! becoz of her father, u are alive today... with us." Nyo said emotionally.

"Surya. that day ... pushed me from getting hit by a truck and in the process got hit by the car. He before losing conscious told me 'to take care of his princess'. And yeh baat mere dimaag se nikal hi gayi thi apne beta ki Shaadi ke chaakar main. Since one year, his princess is suffering, when I should be taking care of her.
On top of that, when I told u his name was Surya Murty, u said that iss name ke aadmi se mera heart transplantation hua hai! Means, he saved my life not once, but twice! I am in debt to him n his princess." Raj declared.

"Now, what should we do? I don't want that child to lose her smile after she went back to her step-home. Can't we keep her here?" Nyo suggested.

"Hmmm... We need to do something as fast as possible. I won't let her suffer anymore!" Raj said in deep thoughts n determined tone.

"Okh. Aab Medicine khake. let's sleep. Kal Cabir ki Shaadi hai!" Nyo forwarded him medicines n they both got on the bed to sleep while thinking of what exactly do for his Saviour's princess.

----------------------------

It's the Marriage evening, tonight. It's 5:30 pm, and the auspicious time is 7:13 pm. Navya Di must be getting ready along with others. I need to rush.

I boarded the bus on my way back to the hotel n got seated.
YA! I've just come out after all pre-marriage rituals this morning till late afternoon, for repairing the Canon lens as I checked that other things r alright. I had to visit 4 shops to negotiate the price n expenses; one said that full set ha to be changed, is he take me as a fool, as if I don't know. Then the other one said the double price for it, I had already checked it's the accurate price in my tab, none can plaster me, hun! Then the 3rd one said, it'll take him two days to repair it, but I need it now, as I want to capture the marriage photos, morning rituals are already missed. then finally, at the last shop, I get it done, but it cost 300 rupees more for instant work. So, in total, I paid Rs. 4800 of my precious hard-worked money.

It's not like I'm Kanjoos! But, when u have to work hard just to live a simple proper life, u automatically get conscious of spending money!
I still remember, after Appa's death, when Salinimaa confiscates my smartphone, it had been problematic with getting updated with news around, also, in collage studies, making assignments, projects, PPTs, files, everything got so difficult. that's when I worked three jobs; in the cafe, as a cashier in a local shop for a few hours and also distributing flippers. With all money, I bought the tab I have now.

The bus stops and I rushed out, running to the hotel, which is decorated for the Marriage, and Mandap is in the hall. Everyone is busy, fully dressed fancily. Only I'm dressed in a simple jeans-top. I need to rush!

By the time I walked out of the washroom dressed, it's already 6:15 and Only Navya Di is sitting in the room in front of the mirror looking beautiful as a bride!
Resplendent in a gorgeous red-golden lehenga and lots of fashionable jewelry, she walks in beauty. She pairs the lehenga with a matching dupatta with which she covers her head. She wears a lot of jewelry like maangtiaka, bangles, Nath, Chooda (a traditional red and ivory colored bangle set in multiples of four), kamarbandh, and Paijaniya. These are gold or silver ornaments that are dome-shaped with multiple danglers attached to them.
The Punjabi bride is a sight to behold!

I clicked some of her pictures from the backside n walked up to her, who is sitting embracing herself in the mirror.

"So, Nervous?" I asked sitting at the bedside. She looked at me with a smile.

"No... just, finally, I'm going to Cabir's wife, Malhotra's daughter-in-law, after long one year... so, it's feeling just... different!" She said in a serious tone but with a faint smile. I know, they waited long to get married. If not for Jiju's Dad's accident,  they would have been celebrating their first marriage anniversary this year. Something is just Unpredictable!

"So, finally, the cinderella is getting married to Coffee Prince charming, hun!" I lighten the air around n she blushed lightly. I knew they love story starting from coffee, so I called them with coffee names, Funny!

"So, picture time! After this, I'll go welcome my Sweet Jiju's Baraat... fast, fast, pose!" I declare n starting clicking her pic like a professional from different angles while she possed for me.

In every pic. the Kalire came into my view, and my mind drifts to today's morning events... .......

Firstly, Kangana Bandhna Ceremony; in which a sacred thread is tied on the Navya's hand in as a lucky charm to ward off evil. It is knotted multiple times around the wrists to make it difficult to untie later.
Then, Chhodha Chadana ritual; Navya's maternal uncle(mama) and his wife gift a set of 21 bangles (mostly red and ivory) to her. There is a belief that seeing the bangles, before the wedding begins may incur bad luck.  Her sister-in-law, Mukti Di ties in the Kalire around her wrist to one of her bangles which are umbrella-shaped ornaments that are encrusted with coconut, dry fruits or dried betel nuts.
Finally, in Kalire Ceremony Navya Di is supposed to shake the kaleeras over the head of all unmarried girls. If the fruit or betel nut falls over her head, it is believed that it is sure she will be next in line to tie the knot!

Navya's unmarried cousins and her friends including Maya, Sweta, even Adya got seated for the ceremony. I was not going to sit in the line as I didn't wish to get married any sooner, maybe for next 4-5 yrs later. But, Maya called me "Come na! See, even Adya came, who is younger than u.... come'on it's fun."

After all, Dadi had the last words "Sabhi 18+ girls aajao, Akhir Kalire toh sirf ussi pe giregi jiski aage shaadi hone wali hain!"

Thinking not to spoil the fun I got seated between them...

. And. Shocking to my poor self, all the betel nut rains over my head. I was like 'What the hell!'

Lastly, Aunty commented, "Loo, Aage Nandu ki Shaadi ki mithai(sweets) mileage!" I smiled nervously. I mean, this is just superstition, right?

So, What do u guess, what will happen in Nandu's life Ahead?

Now that Manan 'hate' each other(or what they claim), what will happen in their life next?

What will Raj-Nyo do for Raj's Savior's Princess?

Stay tuned to see the upcoming twists n turns in Manan's life...

Don't forget to hit the Star button... and comment ur views, suggestions, and remarks. It inspires a lot for me to write on...

Keep smiling!