Aakash's POV
The aroma of fresh breakfast lingered in the hallway as I buttoned my crisp formal shirt, only to have my mother's gentle insistence break my routine. Today was no ordinary day—the air buzzed with excitement and anticipation because it was Abhijeet's Haldi ceremony.
"Aakash, aaj tu office matt ja. Aaj Abhijeet ki haldi hain." Maa said, exiting the kitchen when she saw me in the formals.
("Akash, don't go to the office today. It's Abhijeet's Haldi ceremony today.")
"Par Maa mein jaldi aa jaunga." I answered, and she shook her head.
("But Maa, I will be back soon.")
"Woh tera accha dost hai, agar tu nahi aayega toh use bura lagega. Waise bhi usne mujhse specially kaha hai ki tujhe leke ana hi padega. Aur shaam ko work from home kar lena."
("He's a good friend of yours; he'll be upset if you don't come. Anyway, he specifically told me to bring you along. And work from home in the evening.")
"Theek hain." With a resigned smile, I surrendered to her request, the weight of friendship stronger than office deadlines.
("Ok")
As I returned to my room, memories swept in—days spent with Abhijeet, a very good friend of mine, just like our mothers, the laughter echoing from the corridors of our childhood. While our mothers used to talk for hours when they met, he would share his mischievous secrets behind closed doors. While others mingled easily, he had been my anchor, my gateway to friendships I hadn't dared to seek. Our hours together grew into a bond that stood the test of time; Abhijeet matured but never lost that playful spark. Now, standing at the threshold of marriage with the woman of his dreams, he entrusted me with a simple yet profound duty—to be by his side through every function, an order I couldn't refuse.
Jeet reached out a few days ago, the familiar ping of his message threading through the bustle of my day. Our banter picked up like old times, draped in the wit and affection honed over the years.
***
Jeet: Hey Aakash!! Kaisa hain? Busy ho gaya hain aaj kal.
(Hey Akash!! How are you? You've been busy these days.)
Me: Hi! Mein toh theek hu. Tu bol ki tu kaisa hain. Mujhe naya project aya hain, isliye mein jyada online nahi reheta. Busy hogaya bol bhi koun raha hain, jo sabse jyada busy reheta hain.
(Hi! I'm fine. How are you doing? I got a new project, so I'm not online much. Look who is saying that I am busy, the one who is busy himself.)
Jeet : Accha. Sahi hain yaar😁
(Ok. Right 😁)
Jeet : Aur ek baat, tujhe agle hafte chutti leni padegi.
(Another thing, you have to take a holiday next week.)
Me: Kyu?
(Why?)
Jeet: Agle hafte meri shaadi hain. Mein wedding card Meera aunty ko diya hain. Tujhe saare functions mein aana padega.
(I'm getting married next week. I've given the wedding card to Meera Aunty. You'll have to attend all the functions.)
Me: Ohho!! Congratulations!🤩🎉Yaar tu toh chupa rustom nikala. Shaadi fix ho gayi aur bataya bhi nahi. Engagement mein kehe raha tha ki abhi time hain shaadi ko.
(Ohho!! Congratulations!🤩🎉Friend, you pulled off a quiet show. The wedding is fixed, and you didn't even tell me. During the engagement, you were saying that there is still time for the wedding.)
Jeet: 😁😁
Jeet: Tu aa raha hain ki nahi?
(You are coming or not?)
Me : Yaar, guarantee toh nahi de sakta par mein try karunga.
(Dude, I can't guarantee, but I can try.)
Jeet : Try nahi, tujhe ana hi padega. Warna mein tujhse baat hi nahi karunga. And that's final.
(Don't try, you have to come. Otherwise, I won't talk to you. And that's final.)
***
Esha's POV
With Abhijeet Bhai's wedding underway, the excitement in our household was palpable. I practically skipped the academy for the week, swept up in preparations and family rituals that spun a web of tradition and belonging. Currently, we are heading to the hotel, where the Bhai's Haldi celebrations are taking place.
About an hour later, we reached the hotel. The hotel garden brimmed with energy. We saw Bua and Abhijeet bhai waiting for us near the garden. Bua embraced Mumma and Papa in a warm hug as we got there. Unlike the distant relatives found in many families, Bua shared a bond so close that it often blurred the lines between affection and friendship. Years sometimes fly by in a whirlwind of commitments—meeting Bua after a while reminded me how relationships need nurturing. Greeting Bhai, I felt a rush of nostalgia and an undercurrent of playfulness as he reached out,
"Tujhe miss kiya. Aur sabse jyada tujhe chedna miss kiya." Bhai pulled my cheeks, to which I frowned. I gave him a smile when he caressed my head. He works as a cybersecurity officer in the investigation department. As his career demanded, he would frequently be out. His career kept him moving, yet this occasion drew him firmly into the embrace of family and tradition.
("I missed you. And I missed teasing you the most.")
Inside, the hotel thrummed with activity. I watched Abhinav accompany Bhai, both lost in conversation—childhood ties mingling effortlessly with the responsibilities of adulthood. As I was done, I approached them and enjoyed their banter.
"Bhai, zyada tar aap bahar kaam ke liye hi rehete ho, aap Bhabhi se..... mera matlab soon to be Bhabhi se kab mile?" I asked with a smirk, wanting to pull his leg. He just smiled...no, blushed with his head down. When he and Bhabhi were engaged, he informed me that it was a love marriage.
("Bhai, you mostly stay outside for work, when did you meet Bhabhi... I mean, soon to be Bhabhi?")
"Mein unn se peheli baar, kaam ke silsle mein hi mila. Tab jab unhone department ko recently join kiya tha. Woh bhi mere hi department mein kaam karti thi." We sat down near the garden and chatted for quite some time. We departed to get ready for the function.
("I first met her at work, when she had recently joined the department. She also worked in my department.")
During their engagement, we met Bhabhi. She is the same as Bhai. When she is around family and friends, she is friendly and humorous. But when she is on duty, she turns stoic.
I wore a yellow lehenga with a pink dupatta with blue borders. I completed my look with a beady choker necklace, earrings, and minimal makeup. I went to the garden only to witness that everything was ready. We waited for Bhai, who was in his room getting ready.
From a distance, I saw Meera Aunty. She was talking to Papa. I was surprised. Have they known each other before? She excused herself and was coming towards Bhai. Did she come alone? I eyed the entire garden. Didn't he come along?
"Eshu, Kya tu upar se haldi laa degi?" Taking the key card, I navigated the hotel's silent hallway, thinking of how these rooms had transformed into spaces of ritual and laughter for our family. Finding the Haldi bowls carefully arranged, I appreciated the small acts behind big ceremonies. Retrieving the plate, I secured the room and stepped out, only to collide—quite literally—with the unexpected.
("Eshu, will you bring Haldi from upstairs?")
Aakash's POV
Entering the hotel, the festive transformation was instantly noticeable—the banter, the laughter, and the delicate scent of Haldi swirling in the air. I sought out Jeet, eager for a reunion shaped by years of camaraderie.
I asked Maa to go to the garden, and I would join later. In the meantime, I went to check on Jeet. I knocked on the door three times before he finally opened.
The first thing I did was embrace him in a protective hug.
"Ohhho, toh dulhe raja taiyaar ho rahe hain." I exclaimed, breaking the hug. "Yahan teri shaadi ho rahi hain, aur mujhe bohot jaldi bataya. Engagement ke din tune kahan tha ki 6 mahine baad subh muhurat hain aur ab shaadi kar raha hain." I asked sarcastically.
("Ohhh, so the groom is getting ready.") ("You're getting married here, and you told me so early. On the day of your engagement, you said the auspicious time would be six months later, and now you're getting married.")
"Pandit ji ka phone aya tha, woh bol rahi thee ki engagement hone ke baad 3 mahine baad bhi ek accha muhurat aa raha hain. Humne wahi decide kiya. Woh sab itna jaldi hua aur mein cases mein busy tha isliye batana bhol gaya. Mujhe laga ki tujhe Meera Aunty ne bola hoga." Abhijeet explained as he adjusted his kurta. I stayed for some time, and I took my leave.
("Panditji called and said that even after three months of the engagement, a good, auspicious time was coming up. We decided on that. It all happened so quickly, and I was busy with cases, so I forgot to let you know. I thought Meera Aunty must have told you.")
Heading downstairs, the phone in my hand, I barely registered the pace until I almost stumbled into someone. There, balancing on the edge of ceremony and accident, I locked eyes with Esha—her presence unexpectedly elegant, her attire bright against the subdued corridor: the Haldi accident, minor yet symbolic, colored both our hands with an accidental blessing. Without lingering, she apologized softly, swiftly returning to the room, leaving the encounter hanging quietly in the memory of the morning.
Esha's POV
Carrying the Haldi bowls toward the ceremony space, the sudden collision with Aakash painted both our hands yellow—a sign, perhaps, that some traditions begin with a little chaos and chance. The moment was brief, folded into apologies and glances, yet it lingered as a memory unique to this day.
Returning downstairs, I explained away the missing bowl, choosing to keep the earlier meeting to myself. The celebration unfolded in waves—family and friends taking turns to bless Bhai with Haldi. Throughout the ceremony, I was aware of a gaze that seemed to follow me, adding a subtle thrill to the afternoon.
After lunch, the exchange of Haldi between Bhai's side and Bhabhi's house united both families in a gesture as ancient as the tradition itself. Newly aware of the bonds connecting Aakash to Bhai, I saw how these friendships shaped the mood and meaning of every ritual. With the day winding down, evening found us retreating to our rooms, each carrying a pocketful of memories destined to shape the days ahead.
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Hey Folks!!
Is it a colour of promise? Destiny or coincidence? What will happen next? For that, stay tuned!!
Hope you like this chapter. If yes, please like the chapter and comment on your favourite part.
Also, comment on the theories you think would happen next. Would love to read them.
Thanks for reading ❤️...