The next day, the groom's family had also arrived at the hotel.Rajveer left no stone unturned in taking care of them, yet their faces remained sullen. Vijay Ji and Rajveer kept running around fulfilling their endless demands, but it seemed as if the groom's side had a grudge and were deliberately picking faults in everything.
The Haldi ceremony was underway.In Sarangi's family, the bride and groom's haldi rituals were held together, but Ajit's family insisted that the bride's haldi should be done first. Savita and Vijay Ji agreed, but Rajveer was annoyed."What kind of logic is this, bride's rituals later? What backward customs are these…?" he snapped.
Ajit's haldi was applied first.After everyone had applied haldi on him, Shikha walked up to him and said,"Brother-in-law, I'm Shikha... Sarangi's best friend. From now on, your sister-in-law... which means, half your wife!"
Ajit looked around; everyone was busy in their own world. He discreetly pinched Shikha's waist and whispered,"Where have you been till now, sister-in-law?"
"Ouch...!" Shikha cried out, drawing Savita Ji's attention.
"What happened, dear?" Savita Ji approached her, making Ajit go pale. He nervously looked at Shikha, afraid she might spill the truth.
"Nothing, aunty… just a mosquito," Shikha replied with a sly smile, and Ajit sighed in relief.
Sarangi sat elegantly in a beautiful yellow saree while her friends applied haldi on her. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and cheer. Just then, Ajit's aunt—Kamla bua—entered, managing her heavy saree and dragging a chair to sit.
When Savita Ji applied haldi on Sarangi, Kamla bua wrinkled her nose and said,"Oh dear, why are you putting so much haldi? Her complexion will darken."
Savita Ji smiled and said,"Sister, our Sarangi is already fair. Haldi will only enhance her glow, not darken her. Besides, it's an auspicious ritual—what's wrong with a little extra?"
Kamla bua smirked,"It does matter! Nowadays girls use makeup to look fair, but the real skin tone is visible when they're scrubbing utensils after marriage."
Savita Ji wanted to reply but remained silent.
Sarangi's smile faded.Since the wedding was fixed, she had been subjected to constant jabs—sometimes her nose was too small, sometimes her weight was mocked, and now her complexion. Every little thing had become a reason to belittle her.
Rajveer saw Sarangi's eyes welling up and spoke up,"Aunty, you seriously need an eye check-up!"
"Raj…!" Savita Ji scolded him.
Rajveer took some haldi from the bowl and knelt in front of Sarangi, saying,"My sister is the most beautiful girl in the world... absolutely the most!"
Sarangi smiled, tears stopping in her eyes. Kamla bua's face, however, turned sour.The people around smiled warmly at Rajveer's sweet gesture.
Vairagya was walking past.Noticing Rajveer's words, he smiled and shook his head. He wanted to catch a glimpse of the bride's face, but Sarangi's back was toward him, so he moved on smiling without seeing her.
Shikha approached and tried to sit beside Rajveer, but as he began to move away, she quickly applied haldi on his cheek.
Rajveer yelled,"How dare you touch me?!"
Shikha looked at him in shock. Realizing he had overreacted, Rajveer wiped the haldi off and said,"Sorry, everyone… Now that the rituals are done, please clean up and join us for lunch."
Shikha chimed in,"Hey, what a dull haldi ceremony… and for my best friend? Sarangi, don't you think your haldi should be more fun?"
Sarangi looked at her wide-eyed.
"Why don't we all play haldi holi? It'll be so much fun!" Shikha suggested excitedly.Rajveer was about to object but paused when he saw Sarangi smile. Otherwise, he was very close to kicking Shikha out today.
Shikha applied haldi to Sarangi, and Sarangi returned the gesture. When she moved toward Rajveer, he stepped away.
Shikha gritted her teeth and pretended to smile as she started applying haldi to Savita Ji.
Sarangi's cousins started playing with haldi, throwing it at each other. Sarangi joined in too, laughing and playing while Kamla bua sat there frowning at all the fun.
As the girls ganged up on Sarangi with haldi, she ran inside, laughing.Vairagya happened to be stepping out at that moment to check the arrangements.
Sarangi, looking back while running, collided straight into Vairagya.All the haldi on her hands smeared onto his coat.
Vairagya quickly distanced her from himself and snapped,"Whose kid is this?!"
Sarangi looked up at him with wide eyes, confused why this man was speaking to her that way.
"Listen, kid… this is not a play area. Go to your parents. You ruined my entire outfit," Vairagya said, brushing his coat and walking off.
Sarangi stood stunned, and as she turned to give him a piece of her mind, he was already gone. She glanced at the mirror nearby and muttered angrily,"Okay, I might be a bit short, but not that short… and having a cute face doesn't mean you call me a kid!"