Aarushi's POV
I looked towards Sameeksha, "Kab aaegi?" I asked with a tired face, "aaegi nhi, jaegi. Tu jaegi sasural" She said.

"Abey haldi kab aaegi?" I asked, "lene gey to hai, aa jaegi" She said. It was our haldi ceremony, which was taking place at Sameeksha's house.

Bandana, Sameeksha and I were waiting for the haldi paste to come from Sharma Nivaas.

Sumedh sent me a snap, the three brothers were coloured in the yellow paste. I chuckled and showed the snap to Bandana and Sameeksha.

Finally the bowls arrived and our ceremony started.

My relatives and friends applied haldi on my hands and face. Soon, I started feeling some irritation on the areas where haldi was applied.

"Mumma, jal raha hai" I said looking at my hands.

"Shit. Paani laao!!" Sameeksha shouted. Bandana brought some water and Sameeksha immediately washed my hands and face, which were now red.

I started crying because of the irritation.

"Sumedh ko phone lagake poocho uske saath bhi hua esa?" Sameeksha said. Mumma called him but he was fine.

They came to our place in no time. Everyone was worried.

"Ham teeno ko to kucch nhi hua" Abhishek said, "haan, hamne haldi lagai. Aur uske theek baad aap log le gey" Manjot Bhai said.

Sumedh was just looking at me with pain in his eyes.

"Ab rasam kese poori hogi?" Sumedh's mother asked.

"Sameeksha aur Bandana Bhabhi woh haldi nhi lagaengi" Abhishek said pointing at the other bowls.

"Rasam hi hai na, kar lenge" Manjot Bhai said, "kese?" Sumedh asked a bit annoyed.

"Jo haldi hamne lagai hai wahi inko laga dete hai. Rasam ko poora karne ke lie thodi si laga denge" Manjot Bhai said.

Everyone was quiet, Manjot Bhai looked at every single face for a reply to support his idea.

"Bhai sahi keh rahe hai" Sumedh said. Finally everyone agreed.

Sameeksha's POV
Abhishek touched his right cheek, the paste was still fresh. He got it on his fingers and applied it on my left cheek.

A smile came on my face, he was standing in front of me. I lowered my lashes to avoid eye contact with him.

"Sameeksha" I heard Maa's voice, I startled, Abhishek looked away.

"Beta khana lagado" She said. I nodded.

"Me bhi help karta hu" Abhishek said, "arey beta tum to ghar ke hone wale damaad ho, tum kese help karoge..." Maa said, "arey koi baat nhi. Shaadi ke baad yeh mere ghar ke kaam me help karegi to me bhi kar sakta hu na?" He said.

I left for the kitchen and he followed me.

"Aaj itna sharmaa kyu rhi ho?" He asked, "Mrs Sharma ban'ne wali hu na iss lie" I replied, he chuckled, "I liked it" He said.

"Arey tumhari dusri cheek pe to haldi lagai hi nhi, aao laga deta hu" He said and pulled me towards him.

He held my elbows and got close to me. I didn't dare to look in his eyes, he got closer, close enough to make me feel his breath.

He finally rubbed his cheek with mine, we heard someone's caugh. He immediately left me and I turned around to find some work to do.

"Ho geyi help?" Manjot Bhaiya asked Abhishek. My back was facing them, I laughed silently.

"Bas thodi aur help chahiye usko" Abhishek said, "really?" Bhaiya asked, "yeah, really" Abhishek said.

"Jaldi khana ready karo, me Bandana ki help karke aata hu, yeh baat apne beech rahegi, okay?" Bhaiya asked. I widened my eyes.

"Cool" Abhishek said and Bhaiya left.

I turned and found him smiling at me.

"Teeno ek jese ho?" I asked surprised, "Mandy lagta bhola hai, andar se woh bhi tharki hai" Abhishek said.

I started laughing, "sabse bada tharki Sumedh hai. Fir Mandy. Fir me" He said.

"Haan haan, tum to duniya ke sabse bhole insaan ho" I said, he nodded.

Bandana's POV
Manjot and I started setting up the dining table, "chammach to kitchen me hai, me leke aati hu" I said and was about to leave when Manjot held my wrist.

"Arey ruko ruko. Waha mat jaana" He said, "kyu?" I asked, "woh...Abhay aur Sameeksha hai na waha..." He said, "umm...aur?" I asked.

"Aur woh le aaenge. Tum idhar aao" He said taking me to the other side of the table, "yeh plates lagao" He said. I nodded.

Sameeksha and Abhishek brought everything that was cooked for the night and we started having dinner.