Chaitra’s two storey home was decorated with flowers and relatives were chatting and looking after the arrangements for the haldi ceremony. The small garden beside her home was decorated for the ritual and children of the family were running and playing enjoying the gathering.
Aadhi and Malini arrived early and were in the room with Chaitra helping her to get ready. Chaitra was dressed in a yellow lehenga and she was adorned with all floral accessories. Malini was munching on a box of snacks looking at Aadhi doing the final touch to Chaitra.
Rani entered Chaitra’s room and ward of the evil eyes fromt the girls and informed that groom’s family has arrived for the ritual. Aadhi received a call and answered it immediately before she excused to meet Rishi who had arrived with her parents and Vimal.
Hari and Kavitha hugged her and Vimal smiled on seeing his baby sister now carrying a baby. Rishi side hugged her before Chaitra’s father rushed to invite them and they were lead to the garden.
Rishi held Aadhi’s hand and guided her to sit beside him and Chaitra’s father passed fresh juice to them. Aadhi looked at Vimal and Rishi squeezed her palm with an assuring smile. They saw Malini and Chaitra’s mother walking on either side with Chaitra who looked so beautiful. She was made to sit on the small divan sofa and the women started applying the haldi on her cheek, arms and legs. She was smiling but Vimal and Aadhi noticed her smile not reaching her eyes. Aadhi and Malini smeared the haldi all over neck and their hands even sneaked to her waist and pinched to tease her.
Vimal received a call from a client and excused to answer it. Meanwhile the ritual was done and Chaitra’s mother informed Malini to take Chaitra to her room.
Vimal was returning to the garden still on call and he passed a smile on seeing Chaitra who was walking towards him. One of the boy playing bumped on Malini and in turn she pushed Chaitra towards Vimal knowingly or unknowingly. Vimal held her from falling down but his face, the white shirt he was wearing got stained with the haldi from her. Unknowingly Chaitra held his shirt for support and some haldi smeared on his chest too since the first button was undone.
Chaitra gasped on seeing his condition and few people who were crossing looked at them.
Chaitra: I m sorry.. I m so sorry.. I didn’t mean to spoil your shirt..I m extremely sorry.
Vimal: Relax.. its ok.. are you fine ?
Malini: Yeah, yeah she is absolutely fine bro. Let me take her to the room now. You please go and wash your shirt and face.
Malini held Chaitra’s hand and they walked away. Rishi stopped Aadhi from following them since she would have to climb the stairs and he was scared that the children running in excitement might bump on Aadhi by mistake. When Aadhi was stubborn to follow Malini and Chaitra, Rishi held her hand and decided to leave Aadhi at Chaitra’s door step. They saw Vimal and were shocked to see haldi over his shirt, face and chest too.
Aadhi: Bro, it you have a secret haldi ceremony ? How did this happen ?
Vimal: A small accident and I saved Chaitra and this happened. I think time for me to leave. I don’t want people to see me in this condition.
Rishi and Aadhi bobed their head with a smile and watched Vimal leave in his car. Rishi looked at Aadhi and cocked his brows.
Rishi: Didn’t I say, things like this would happen ? I m not leaving you alone, so take your time, talk to Chaitra and we shall return home together.
Aadhi: This is not fair Rishu..
Rishi: Everything is fair in love and war Aadhu so no more arguments. You will not descend the stairs on your own. Call me and I will be back to take you with me.
Rishi lead her to Chaitra’s room in the first floor and returned to Hari and Kavitha who were discussing about the arrangements that looked beautiful.
In Chaitra’s room Malini was helping her to remove the floral accessories to bath when Aadhi entered the room. Once Chaitra entered the washroom Aadhi glared at Malini.
Malini: What did I do now ?
Aadhi: How did Chaitu fall over Vimal bro ?
Malini: Ohh, you are asking about that accident ? You see, I was walking a little behind Chaitu and your brother was walking towards us. In an unexpected moment a boy cme running behind me it seems and he bumped on to me. I tried to balance but I fell over Chaitra to save myself, you see that was self defence or saving myself first but I didn’t expect Chaitra to be so weak. That poor girl lost balance and was about to kiss the ground but your brother like a hero caught her and saved her life Aadhi. Thank god, he saved her or just imagine her limping to the stage for her wedding. Don’t forget to thank your brother Aadhi. He is Chaitra’s saviour.
Malini sat on the bed and picked an apple from the bowl and started munching it. Aadhi screwed her ears and Malini dropped the apple and rose to her feet trying to free her ears.
Aadhi: Malu, I don’t know if that was an accident or you planned it but think of Chaitra before you do something. This is her life and don’t do something that will make people point fingers at her. I will be more happy if she ends up with by brother but not at the cost of her reputation.
Malini: Aadhi, believe me, that was an accident. But I think destiny had serious plans for her and your brother. They both had haldi ceremony today and do you think this would have happened if they were n’t in each other’s destiny ? Now I m very much clear that Vimal bro will be my bro in law or should I say Chaitu will be our sister in law.
Aadhi: Shut your mouth Malu, what if someone heard us ? Just a day is left for marriage so zip your mouth. Should I keep you locked with me until the wedding is over ?
Malini: You are the villain of your brother’s life Aadhi.
Aadhi: Malu, he is my brother and Chaitu is our best friend. I only want the best for them but things are out of hand now. She will be married in a day so lets not make things hard for either of them.
Malini: Ok Aadhi, I never did anything and will not do anything but I ship them.
Aadhi smiled on hearing her words because deep down her heart she too manifested the same though she never spoke out.
Aadhi Mv: I will be happy if some magic happens and Chaitra and bro get married. Please god, show some mercy on them.
Chaitra walked dressed in a simple pjs and started drying her hair. Aadhi got the dryer and started drying her hair.
Aadhi: Chaitu, did your fiance call you today ? I never saw you speak to him ?
Chaitu: I spoke to him yesterday.. but we couldn’t speak after that. I m always surrounded by relatives and he is facing the same it seems. Just one more day…
Aadhi: Yes, one more day..
Malini: Poor me, will be left all alone then. Aadhi give your baby to me and you plan your next honeymoon to have second baby.
Aadhi: I will kill you Malu, leave some apple for Chaitu, you have been finishing it since morning.
Malini: Are you worried there won’t be any apple for her wedding night ? How about we gift her fruits then ?
Chaitu: Malu, shut up, if you need more apples I will get from dining table.
Malu: No, now I have got some spicy topic for discussion so I don’t need them now, may be later. Now tell me, what have you planned for wedding night. Will you tell him to wait until you understand each other ?
Chaitra: Ofcourse idiot, I m not ready to rush things between us and I made it clear that nothing happens until I m ready.
Aadhi: Is he ok with that wholeheartedly ?
Chaitra: I think yes, because he said so.
Aadhi: Chaitu, why did you refuse to have engagement before your marriage ?
Chaitra: Aadhi, I did decide to move on but that is not easy as said so I just wanted to take it slowly and how does it matter if we are engaged are not, we will be married.
Chaitra’s mother called them for lunch and Aadhi saw Rishi waiting down the stairs for her. Before she could step down he rushed to her and held her hand to descend the stairs.
Malu: Bro, do you even realize that you are raising standards and I will never get married in life if you keep doing this. Let me find some normal man and get settled like normal people.
Rishi chuckled to her words and they left from Chaitra’s home after having lunch.
Vimal arrived at his flat and entered his bedroom to change his shirt but groaned on seeing the haldi on his chest. He picked a wipe and cleaned it but the haldi took a liking to him and left its color that wouldn’t disppear.
Vimal: Now I will have to button my first button to hide this. God, did they even mix some permanent ink ? This didn’t happen on my haldi ceremony. Fuck it, don’t even go to that day Vimal.
He threw his shirt on the couch and got ready for office. He drove the car and on seeing a jewelry shop he decided to buy a gift for Chaitra to present her on the wedding. He parked his car and entered the showroom removing his coolers. He walked into the diamond section and looked around the delicate jewels. He picked a platinum ring with a gleaming star which looked simple yet beautiful ring.
Vimal chose the ring without a second thought and was about to leave to bill it but his eyes caught the attention of a beautiful toe ring. He stood dumbstruck to see the exact toe ring the woman of his dream wore on her toes. He gulped reminiscing the dream, her feet pressed against his chest and him circling the toe ring tracing the diamond stuck in a beautifully carved flower.
Vimal Mv: What the fuck is happening ? If those dreams are my imagination or whatever fuck it is, how could the things exist in real too ? I m going mad. … what should I do now ?
He picked the toe ring and traced the flower design and clenched his fist.
Vimal: I will buy this and whoever wore this in my dream will never to get this in her life.
He informed the person to gift pack the ring which he chose for Chaitra before they sent both the ring and toe ring for billing. Once they were done, Vimal paid for both and placed them in the dashboard before he drove to his office.
Chaitra laid on the bed scrolling through the photos that was taken during the haldi ceremony. She smiled on seeing Aadhi and Malini dumping the bowl on her head. She saw the guest having a great time and her fingers stopped scrolling on seeing the photo that was clicked when Vimal saved her from falling. Her eyes widened in shock and gulped on seeing it. The photo looked so cozy and anyone would say they were the actual bride and groom.
Chaitra: God, what is this ? What if someone saw this ? Thank god, the photo wasn’t shared to the groom’s family. All these should happen only after I decided to move on and you are such an idiot. Why do you have to be so handsome or are you aging in the reverse ? Shut up Chaitu, delete this get over…
Chaitra Mv: But what about his things you have kept in your wardrobe still ?
Chaitra moved to the wardrobe looking for the box in which she had all the things that belonged to Vimal but was shocked to see it missing. She pulled the clothes and starting searching her room completely but she couldn’t find. She received a call from Aadhi and answered it immediately.
Chaitra: Aadhi, the box is missing Aadhi…
Aadhi: Chaitu, I know you would be searching for it so I called you to let you know that it is safe with me. You will never move on unless you get rid of that box so you will have to burn it but those are things a proof that my brother was loved truly by someone so let me have it.
Chaitra: Thank you…
Chaitra cut the call and wiped her tears before she decided to sleep to keep the thoughts away from invading her mind.
