As Nivi looked at tired and sleepy eyes of Viren, she cancelled her plan
to spend some time with him. Hugging him and kissing his cheeks for the
last time, she bid him goodnight earning a small smile from him in
return. He went back to his sleep. Nivi came outside his room and tip
toed towards the Sood's mansion entrance.
Sighing in relief, she closed
the front door of the Sharma's house. She moved towards her room. She
froze in her track when she saw Aditya romancing Niyati unaware of
Nivi's presence. Feeling embarrased, she ran towards her room at full
speed before they can realize anything. She opened the door to see Divya
talking to Sid blushing furiously. Divya saw Nivi at the door and hung
up the call. Looking sternly at Nivi, she spoke "may I know where you
went at this hour of night madam?" Falling down on the bed, Nivi replied
"you know my answer Di." Shaking her head in amusement, Divya retorted
"if Dadi got to know about it, she will first kill you and then me."
Looking
sheepishly at Divya, Nivi mumbled "sorry Di. " Softening a bit
at Nivi, Divya nodded and said "You know na tomorrow is Haldi and
Sangeet. Go to sleep Nivi." Wishing Nivi good night, Divya rushed out of
the room once
again dialing Sid's number. Seeing other's romance, Nivi started missing
Viren. Punching her pillow with her fists in anger, she cursed Viren
under her breath. She closed her eyes waiting for sleep to engulf her.
Next day, Viren was still sleeping when Chanchal woke him up, ordering
him to get ready for the haldi ceremony. Rubbing his eyes and yawning, he sat on the
bed. He got up to get ready. After half an hour, he came out of the
bathroom wearing a yellow kurta-payjama. The door of his room opened
again to let Niyati enter in his room.
Glancing at her through the
mirror, Viren snorted. Ignoring everything, Niyati brought a bottle of
coconut oil forward, saying "Viren apply oil on your face and
arms before coming down for haldi. It will be easy to remove haldi from
your body." Scowling at Niyati, Viren retorted "but I don't want both
of them on my skin."
Smirking a bit, Niyati replied "Ok then tell
that to Maa who is already fuming on you for getting up late and
delaying the haldi ceremony."
Viren snatched the bottle of oil from
her glaring at her. Niyati's smile widened as she saw Viren applying oil
on his face sulking. She knew that her brother always maintained a 2
kilometer distance from sticky stuffs like oil.
Seeing a wide smile on Niyati's face, Viren growled "You love to see me like this, don't you Di?"
Widening
her smile a bit more, she replied "of course Viren. But don't think
that your dear sis is that cruel. You deserve it. I still haven't forgot
how much you teased me during my marriage, remember?"
"Talking about revenge, are we?"
"You know your sis too well, my good for nothing brother. Come down soon." Patting his shoulder, Niyati went away.
After
practicing dancing steps for their sangeet, Divya and Nivi went to get
ready. Nivi hoped to see Viren soon. Dressed in pale yellow saree and
floral ornaments, they went downstairs. They all were going to Sood's
mansion for combined haldi ceremony.
As they entered inside Sood's
mansion, they saw some ladies gathered there for haldi. Vandana Taiji
and Chanchal welcomed them inside.Nivi glanced at Viren who as usual was
staring at her.
After some fornal greetings and talks, Haldi
ceremony started. Nivi was made to sit on a small stool near Viren and
Divya was sitting near Sid on the opposite side. According to the
ritual, pandit recited some mantras applying a bit haldi on the both the
brides and bridegrooms respectively. Soon, Dadasaheb and Dadi applied
haldi on them, followed by Nainatara Dadi, Vandana, Keshav, Pratap,
Hemlata, Pratap and Chanchal.
After the elders were done with
applying haldi, Niyati went towards Viren after applying haldi to Sid
and Divya. She beamed at him as she sat down in front of him. Taking a
handful of haldi in both of hands, she eyed Viren dangerously. She
rubbed her hands together in glee. Viren closed his eyes in irritation
as he felt Niyati applying haldi all over his face and arms. Winking at
him, she moved towards Nivi. She hugged Nivi lovingly as she applied
haldi on her face and arms.
Aditya, their college friends and
ladies gathered there too applied haldi on them. Sid-Divya and
Viren-Nivi were fully covered with haldi. When applying haldi on the
bride and groom was done, Viren got up and before anyone could
understand anything, he applied haldi on everyone's face. They all were
shocked but started laughed. Soon, they all started playing holi with
haldi enjoying it very much. Their faces were covered with haldi.
As
everyone proceeded to wash their face and hands, Viren grabbed Nivi's
hand pulling her. As Nivi looked at him with wide eyes, Viren wiped some
haldi from his face and applying it on Nivi's cheeks with care. Nivi
too applied some haldi on his face making Viren feel happy. He gave her
one of his brightest smile and said "That was the best gift I ever got
Nivi." Nivi looking pleased replied "I knew you will like it. By the way
did you practiced your dance steps?"
As Viren nodded in affirmative, Nivi hugged him mumbling "I missed you so much yesterday."
"I missed you too my jaan." Viren hugged her back.
When
Sharma's finally were going back to prepare for sangeet which was
supposed to be held in their house, Nivi glanced back at Viren. Soon he
got a message which made him smile.
Nivi- See you soon :)
FizaluvsKinshuk
