The morning of the Haldi ceremony arrived, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation. The sun streamed through the windows, casting a soft golden glow over the mansion. 

The air smelled of fresh flowers and turmeric, mingling with the laughter and chatter of guests, as everyone gathered to celebrate the bride and groom-to-be. 

It was the beginning of the final pre-wedding rituals, and the energy was palpable.

Thalia was seated in the centre of the open courtyard, surrounded by her closest friends and family. 

The space had been transformed into a vibrant spectacle—yellow marigold flowers hung from every corner, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of jasmine. 

The guests, dressed in bright yellow and orange outfits, were all smiles as they prepared to celebrate the tradition of applying haldi, the yellow paste made of turmeric, on the bride and groom. 

The ceremony symbolized purity, happiness, and good luck.

Thalia, radiant in her traditional outfit, wore a simple yet stunning yellow lehenga with floral embroidery. Her ensemble was a celebration of the colour of the day—yellow. 

The lehenga was light and flowing, adorned with intricate designs, and she paired it with a matching blouse and a sheer dupatta draped gracefully over her shoulders. 

Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, with a few loose tendrils framing her face. She wore a pair of delicate gold earrings and a small maang tikka, adding a touch of elegance to her look.

As she sat there, her face illuminated with happiness and anticipation, her friends began to apply the haldi to her. 

The turmeric paste was smeared gently over her arms, legs, and face by her closest loved ones. 

The playful laughter of her friends filled the air as they joked about how she would glow brighter than the sun after the haldi was applied. 

The ceremony was intimate and joyful, as the guests took turns rubbing the paste on her skin, wishing her a lifetime of happiness.

Meanwhile, Shubman was on the other side of the property, with his own group of friends and family gathered around him. 

He was seated on a traditional wooden chair, his shirt discarded, leaving him in a simple pair of white shorts.

His muscular torso was exposed, and his skin already showed signs of the turmeric being rubbed onto his arms and chest by his friends. 

They laughed and teased him, slathering the haldi onto his body, and joking about how he was going to "shine" like a golden god by the time the ceremony was done.

Shubman's friends—Virat, Rohit, KL Rahul, Hardik, and Rishabh—were all there, along with his teammates, laughing loudly. 

Each of them took turns applying haldi to his face, arms, and chest, before playfully smearing it on his back. The atmosphere was relaxed and full of banter, as they teased him about becoming a glowing bridegroom. 

Even though Shubman was the centre of attention, he couldn't help but steal glances toward Thalia, who looked radiant even as the haldi was applied to her skin.

After the haldi ceremony for both Thalia and Shubman, they were called together for the most anticipated moment of the day. 

They stood face-to-face in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by their friends, family, and loved ones. 

The golden glow of the haldi paste on their skin made them both look ethereal, a perfect symbol of the new journey they were about to embark on.

Shubman couldn't help but smile as he took in the sight of Thalia, whose face was glowing with a natural radiance. 

She looked stunning in her yellow lehenga, the turmeric paste giving her skin an even more golden hue. 

She met his gaze with the same intense love and excitement, and as their eyes locked, a wave of emotions swept over them both.

"You look gorgeous, baby," Shubman said, his voice soft but filled with admiration. "Golden, just like the sun."

Thalia chuckled, wiping a bit of haldi from his cheek with her finger. "I was thinking the same thing about you. Now you look like you've just come out of a painting, all golden and glowing."

As the haldi was applied to both of them by their loved ones, they exchanged soft, loving glances, their hearts filled with joy and contentment. 

There was something about this ceremony—this simple, joyful tradition—that made everything feel even more real. The marriage wasn't just about the grand celebrations; it was about the connection they shared, the love that had brought them to this moment.

Of course, no Haldi ceremony is complete without a little bit of chaos. As the ceremony came to a close, some of Shubman's teammates decided to have a bit of fun. 

With playful grins, they made a move to smear more haldi on his face, but Shubman, ever the competitive spirit, dodged them and retaliated by grabbing handfuls of turmeric and throwing them back at his friends.

Virat, Rohit, and Hardik joined in, laughing and chasing him around as they all got covered in turmeric. 

Thalia couldn't help but laugh at the sight, wiping the haldi off her face as she watched the playful mayhem unfold.

"You guys are out of control," Thalia shouted, shaking her head as she walked toward Shubman.

"Come here, baby, I'll get you too," Shubman teased, reaching out to grab her. Thalia, laughing, tried to dodge him, but he caught her by the wrist, pulling her close.

"No, no!" she squealed, her face lighting up with laughter. "You can't get me all dirty. I still need to look perfect for the wedding."

Shubman leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on her cheek, smearing some haldi onto her skin. 

"You're already perfect, baby. But don't worry," he said with a wicked grin. "You'll still look beautiful no matter what."

The rest of the ceremony was filled with even more laughter, playful moments, and the joyful sounds of family and friends celebrating the love and happiness that had brought Thalia and Shubman together. 

It was a day full of tradition, fun, and warmth, with the promise of a beautiful future just around the corner.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm, golden light over the ceremony, Thalia and Shubman exchanged one last, knowing look. 

They knew that no matter how chaotic life might get in the future, their love would always shine bright. 

Together, they were ready to face whatever came their way—and they had the rest of their lives to do so.

soup rants!

- hello everyone!

- I hope you guys are having a great day so far, and I also hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

- THEY'RE SO CUTE

- also comments on the chapter?

- I hope you guys liked this one!

- with lots of love, supraja 🫶