9. Haldi

Namaste!!

.

“Hey, baby,” Aman drawled, closing the distance between them in a few strides. Divya’s mind raced, panic clouding her thoughts.

Aman, a former college mate, had been a haunting presence in her life—a nightmare that refused to fade. Today, he seemed even more menacing as he grabbed her arm, pulling her closer.

“I heard you’re getting married,” he sneered, his hand tightening around her waist as his other hand yanked at her hair, forcing her to face him.

“Just give me one night, baby,” he whispered, his breath warm and foul against her ear. “I’ll give you pleasure.”

Divya’s stomach twisted in revulsion. Tears pricked her eyes, but she willed herself not to let him see her break.

Trembling, she felt her skin crawl beneath his touch, her heart pounding with fear.

She glanced at the steaming kettle of tea on the counter and an idea took shape. Summoning every ounce of courage, she grabbed the kettle and hurled its hot contents onto Aman’s arm.

He yelped, releasing her in pain and surprise. She took advantage of his momentary shock, darting out of the kitchen and racing down the hall.

She slammed her bedroom door shut, locking it just in time as she heard footsteps and angry voices outside. Her entire body shook as she collapsed onto her knees, her chest heaving as the reality of what had just happened sank in.

In a frenzy of emotions, she rubbed the places he had touched, desperate to cleanse herself of the feeling.

Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably, curling up on the floor, hugging her knees. The feeling of violation, of helplessness, gnawed at her soul, and she felt a familiar hollowness settle inside her.

She wanted to escape, to disappear, but all she could do was cry, hoping her pain would dissolve with her tears.

An hour passed, her cries eventually subsiding into silence. She sat there, numb, until a loud bang on her door startled her, pulling her back to reality.

“Open the door, you witch!” her grandmother’s voice thundered from outside, sending another jolt of fear through Divya’s weary heart.

Divya’s heart raced at the sound of her grandmother’s harsh voice outside the door, the anger in her tone unmistakable.

She wiped her face quickly, trying to compose herself, but her hands were still trembling, her mind reeling from what had just happened. She didn’t want to face her grandmother, not now, not when every ounce of her strength had been drained.

But she knew there was no escaping it.

“Open this door right now, Divya! Don’t make me break it down!” her grandmother shouted again, her voice sharper than ever.

Slowly, Divya rose to her feet, her body aching and her heart pounding as she moved toward the door.

She hesitated, her hand hovering over the lock. She felt like a prisoner in her own home, trapped and powerless.

Finally, with a deep breath, she turned the key and opened the door just enough to meet her grandmother’s furious gaze.

The older woman’s eyes were ablaze with anger. “What were you thinking, locking yourself in here like that? And what did you do to Aman?” she demanded, her voice filled with accusation.

Divya opened her mouth, struggling to find her voice. “He… he was—” she stammered, the memory of his touch making her shudder.

“Enough!” her grandmother snapped, cutting her off. “Aman is a good boy! You should feel lucky he even looks at a worthless girl like you. How dare you hurt him like that?”

Divya felt a fresh wave of despair wash over her. Her own grandmother was defending him, turning a blind eye to his harassment, his disgusting behavior.

She clenched her fists, trying to hold back her tears, realizing that no one in this house would ever protect her. She was utterly alone.

“Clean yourself up and come serve tea again. And don’t let me catch you acting like this again, or there will be consequences!” her grandmother barked, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Divya nodded weakly, barely able to look her grandmother in the eyes. As the door closed behind her, Divya slumped to the floor, feeling defeated and broken. Her mind wandered to the upcoming wedding.

Was this what her future would look like, enduring torment in silence, expected to obey without question?

Will her life be the same in her in-laws house too? Will she ever be loved?

She felt trapped, suffocated by the very walls that were supposed to be her home.

The Next day dawned with bright colors and a festive spirit as the girls’ Haldi ceremony began.

Ishika, Divya, Amrita, and Ananya sat together, each with her unique expression that matched her personality.

Ishika and Divya wore forced smiles, masking their inner turmoil, while Amrita wore her usual stoic expression, and Ananya’s lively face sparkled with excitement.

The sound of laughter and traditional songs filled the air, yet beneath the surface, there was an unspoken tension.

Amrita’s sharp eyes immediately picked up on the discomfort behind Ishika and Divya’s smiles. She knew her friends well enough to sense that something wasn’t right.

Leaning closer to Ishika, she asked softly, her voice filled with concern, “What happened, Mayya? What happened, Divi? Why do you both look like that?”

Ishika’s smile wavered, but she quickly forced it back into place. “Hame kya hua? Kuch nahi hua!” she replied, trying to sound cheerful.

She had dressed in a way that covered her back and shoulders, hiding the burn marks she bore from the previous night’s torment.

Amrita looked at her friend knowingly. Ishika’s attempts to brush it off didn’t fool her.

She reached out, placing a firm but gentle hand on Ishika’s. Her voice was a mix of empathy and steely resolve as she whispered, “Just one word, Isha Mayya. Just one word, and I’ll make sure they never hurt you again.”

Ishika’s smile faltered, and for a brief moment, her eyes glistened with gratitude, though she kept her silence.

On the other side, Ananya was equally perceptive, noticing Divya’s forced smile and the slight shadow of sadness in her eyes.

She sidled up to Divya, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “What happened, Divi Di? Why are you so dull today, hmm?” she asked with a soft, comforting voice.

Divya sighed, trying to laugh it off. “Arey? I’m telling you, nothing happened, yaar!” she insisted, her words coming out too quickly.

Ishika, Amrita, and Ananya exchanged a look, clearly unconvinced.

Ananya raised an eyebrow, pressing her gently, “You know you can tell me, Divi. You don’t have to keep it all inside.”

With a reluctant smile, Divya finally gave in, offering a small explanation. “Promise, meri maa! It’s nothing serious—just my dadi and her usual taunts ruining my mood a bit. Nothing else!” she tried to reassure them, but her forced cheer did little to convince her friends.

Across the courtyard, the Raghuvanshi brothers sat, their eyes occasionally drifting toward their brides, who were now covered in a playful mess of yellow haldi paste.

Each one found himself captivated in a different way.

Rudraksh’s eyes settled on Ishika, her dull expression momentarily overshadowed by her beauty in the soft, golden light.

Despite his internal warnings, he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her, mesmerized by the sight of her laughter, even if it was a little forced.

Why does this girl affect me so much? he thought, annoyed with himself.

Focus, Rudra! She’s just another gold digger!!. Yet, his gaze lingered a little longer than he intended.

Meanwhile, Daksh and Aditya couldn’t help but steal glances at Divya and Ananya, each glance more stolen than the last.

Divya’s quiet grace and Ananya’s infectious joy caught their eyes, though they tried to maintain their composure.

But it was Aaryansh who was the most open about his admiration, his face lighting up with a wide smile as he looked at Amrita.

This was the woman he was about to marry, and his heart raced at the thought of building a future with her.

His eyes never left her, taking in her every expression, her every movement, and every speck of haldi smeared on her cheeks.

To him, she looked ethereal, and he couldn’t help but think how lucky he was. His excitement was visible, and his joy contagious, drawing smiles from everyone around him.

Rishi, Aarush, and Vikrant, noticed his wide grin and exchanged knowing looks.

They chuckled quietly, nudging each other as they watched Aaryansh, clearly smitten. Even they couldn’t deny how stunning the girls looked today, each one embodying a unique beauty and grace.

Together, Ishika, Divya, Amrita, and Ananya looked like goddesses, draped in the sacred yellow of haldi, laughter and love shining in their eyes despite the hidden struggles.

The ceremony continued with joy, laughter, and playful banter. Friends and family smeared haldi on the girls, blessings mixed with jokes, and heartfelt wishes filled the air.

The girls tried to forget their pain, immersing themselves in the joy around them. Ishika and Divya’s struggles momentarily faded, and their smiles became a little more genuine as they shared these moments with their friends.

As the day wound down, the families gathered for a final group blessing.

Rukmini and Geeta, the matriarchs, blessed the girls, and the Raghuvanshi brothers watched, knowing these women would soon be part of their family.

Underneath the laughter, there was a silent, unspoken understanding between the girls—a promise of support, no matter what lay ahead.

.

.

Don't forget to VOTE!!

SPREAD HAPPINESS EVERY WHERE YOU GO! ❤️