The open garden is drenched in sunshine. Yellow marigold strings sway in the light breeze. A low stage has been set up in the center with floral seating for the bride and groom. Bowls of turmeric paste are placed around, some decorated with rose petals. Kashish and Kabir sit side-by-side on a low platform, dressed in traditional yellow outfits, laughing and chatting quietly. The ritual begins with the elders. Abhimanyu, Kabir's father, began the Haldi ceremony, applying turmeric paste to Kabir's cheeks with a warm smile. Akriti, Kabir's mother, followed, gently cupping Kashish's face as she applied haldi, blessing her with, "Stay happy, always." Ranveer, Kashish's father, playfully placed turmeric on Kabir's forehead, declaring, "Now you're officially my son, not just my son-in-law." Avni, Kashish's mother, with a teary smile, applied haldi to Kashish, whispering, "My little girl is all grown up." The grandparents continued the blessings, generously applying haldi and eliciting laughter from the couple.

Rajeev and Nandini arrived together, their faces glowing with joy. They gently applied haldi to both Kashish and Kabir, blessing them with warm smiles and affectionate words. Next came Aman and Sandhya, carrying the same warmth in their touch, followed by Arjun and Jeevika, and then Raghav with Natasha, each taking their turn to smear the golden paste and shower the couple with blessings.

Jay and Diya arrived with Avir and Kiara. Diya, her face lighting up at the sight of Kashish, gently applied haldi to her cheeks. "My beautiful devrani," Diya said warmly, "may your life with Kabir be filled with joy." She kissed Kashish's cheek, leaving a trace of haldi. "Thank you, Diya bhabhi," Kashish replied, smiling. "Your blessings mean a lot." Kiara giggled, holding out a bowl of haldi. "Chachi, I want to put haldi too!" she exclaimed. "Come here, princess," Kashish laughed. "You can put as much as you like." Meanwhile, Avir playfully dabbed haldi on Kabir's nose. "Just wait, champ," Kabir joked, "I'll get you back during your haldi"

Sayoni arrived with Rishi and their little Jahaan, who was already wriggling in his father's arms at the sight of the bright haldi bowls. "Kashish!" Sayoni's voice was full of delight. "Look at you you're glowing more than these marigolds." Kashish laughed. "It's the haldi, didi, or maybe  due to the love I am receiving." She reached out to little jahaan saying. "Come here, Jahaan, maasi will protect you from all this chaos." Jahaan leaned toward her, giggling, but Rishi raised a brow. "Protect? Please, once he's with you, he won't come back to us." Kabir, who had been listening with a grin, stepped closer. "That's fine," he said, looking at Jahaan, "I could use a partner in crime around here." Sayoni dipped her fingers into the haldi and applied it gently to Kashish's cheek. "May your life be as bright as this color." Rishi followed, smearing a light streak on Kabir's face. "And may you learn to survive Kashish's sarcasm," he teased, earning a round of laughter. Jahaan then clumsily pressed his tiny hand, full of haldi, onto Kabir's kurta, leaving a golden handprint. "There," Sayoni laughed, "official stamp of approval from the youngest in the family."

Shourya and Tanushri stepped forward,  Dipping her fingers into the haldi, she reached for Kabir first. "Ah, my favourite devar," she said with playful emphasis, smearing a generous streak across his cheek. "Today, you're my target more than the bride." Kabir chuckled, tilting his head to make her job easier. "And here I thought this function was for Kashish," he teased. Shourya shook his head with mock seriousness as he applied haldi to Kashish's hand. "Don't mind her, Kashish. She's just trying to claim you both before the rest of us get a turn."

Riaan and Paridhi made their entrance hand in hand, with little Krish toddling between them like he owned the place. "Make way, make way," Riaan announced in mock grandeur, balancing the haldi bowl in one hand.  Krish, oblivious to the attention, made a beeline for Kabir, his tiny hands already reaching. Paridhi laughed as she scooped some haldi. "You know, Kabir, Krish was practicing this morning, he's going to apply haldi to you like it's a wrestling match." Kabir leaned down to the little boy. "Come on then, champ, show me what you've got." Krish slapped a bright patch of haldi on Kabir's jaw with the unfiltered enthusiasm only a toddler could manage. The crowd burst into laughter, Riaan adding, "Ah, he's starting young—first haldi, next takeover of Singhania hospital." Kashish shook her head, still laughing as Paridhi gently applied haldi to her. "With Riaan's smartness and Krish's energy," she said, "we might all be out of a job soon."

Raiansh and Piyali joined the circle. Raiansh, ever the picture of composed elegance, carried the haldi bowl with steady hands, while beside him Piyali swept in like the self-proclaimed star of the function, her dupatta draped just so, her expression already playing to the crowd. "Move aside, amateurs," Piyali declared with mock drama, dipping her fingers into the bowl. "It's my turn to make history." She pressed a bright smear of haldi onto Kabir's cheek, tilting her head as if inspecting a painting. "Perfect. You're welcome," she said, then turned to Kashish and gently but theatrically dabbed her face. "And now the bride—ah, breathtaking." Kabir chuckled. "Remind me to hire you as my PR manager." Raiansh, shaking his head with an indulgent smile, quietly applied haldi to both Kabir and Kashish without a word, his calm presence a foil to Piyali's theatrics. "See?" Piyali announced to the room. "Balance. One Silent husband, one fabulous wife—it's how life works."

Just as the laughter from Piyali's theatrics settled, the crowd parted to welcome Kashish's elder brothers. Samrath arrived first with Soumya by his side, their little Hridhaan perched on his hip, waving shyly at the crowd. Right behind came Shivansh with Nurvi, and Abhir with Prisha, three couples walking in together, the kind of presence that instantly added a layer of gravitas to the bright chaos. For a moment, the teasing faded. Samrath placed the haldi bowl aside and pulled Kashish into a careful hug, his voice low but warm. "Our little sister... finally a bride," he murmured, blinking away the glint in his eyes before anyone could notice. Shivansh followed, his hand resting gently on Kashish's head. "Be happy, always," he said simply, his usual firmness softening just for her. Soumya and Nurvi each applied haldi with affectionate smiles, while Hridhaan giggled and smudged a tiny patch onto Kabir's sleeve. Prisha, ever the cheerful one, lightened the mood, saying, "Alright, enough of the serious faces—we're here to celebrate, remember?"

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Kabir's sister Ishika swept in with her usual burst of energy, Sanaya right beside her. Their husbands, Mayank and Ahaan, followed with haldi bowls in hand, grinning like they were part of a secret mission. "Oh no, no more tears," Ishika announced, her voice bright. "This is haldi, not a farewell ceremony!" Without waiting for a response, she dabbed a generous streak on Kabir's cheek, then leaned in to smear another on Kashish. Sanaya, with her graceful yet playful air, applied haldi delicately to both of them. "There," she said with mock pride, "perfect glow achieved." Mayank, seizing the chance, swiped haldi on Kabir's jaw in one swift move. "Brother-in-law privileges," he joked, stepping back before Kabir could retaliate. Ahaan, ever the charmer, applied a neat patch of haldi to Kashish's cheek and said, "For good luck and a long, happy married life."

As the laughter swirled around them and the next set of relatives lined up with haldi bowls, Kabir gently caught Kashish's hand. The noise dulled in the background, replaced by the hum of her own heartbeat. "You okay?" he asked softly, his eyes searching hers, the teasing smile from earlier now replaced with quiet concern. Kashish nodded, but her voice wavered. "It's just... seeing my brothers, hearing their blessings it hit me." Her lashes fluttered as she blinked away the sting of tears. Kabir's hand tightened around hers, warm and steady. "Hey," he said, his tone low and reassuring, "this is your day. No sadness allowed. I'm right here

Just when the atmosphere was settling into a warm hum, the doorway exploded with noise and energy. Arohi, Ivaan, Yatharth, Alia, and Dhruv tumbled in, their laughter already bouncing off the walls. Behind them, Yug and Naksh swaggered in like a Bollywood entry scene dhols in hand, pounding out a beat that instantly set everyone's feet tapping. "Move, move, haldi squad coming through!" Ivaan shouted over the drumbeats. Arohi was already at Kashish's side, smearing haldi on her cheek with an impish grin. "Gorgeous and glowing—bride duties accomplished!" Yatharth and Dhruv cornered Kabir, smearing his face with haldi until he looked like a golden warrior. Alia dabbed some gently on Kashish's chin, winking. "Picture perfect." Before anyone could recover, Jay and Riaan exchanged a mischievous glance. In one swift move, they grabbed Kabir and Kashish, ignoring her mock protests, and hauled them to the pool. With a dramatic countdown "Three... two... one!" they splashed them both in, sending waves across the courtyard. That was all it took for chaos to erupt. Women tossed fistfuls of colored powder into the air, covering each other in pinks, yellows, and greens. Abhir crept up behind Shivansh and dumped an entire bucket of water over him, earning a rare roar of laughter from the usually composed elder. Elders, not to be outdone, started playfully dabbing haldi on anyone in reach. The younger boys dashed after their wives, haldi bowls in hand, while the kids claimed the mini pool, splashing until their clothes were as soaked as their smiles were wide. In the main pool, Kashish tried to flick water at Kabir, but miscalculated and ended up splashing herself instead. Kabir caught her wrists mid-splash, grinning with that dangerous twinkle. "Oh no, Kashish, he teased, "now you're in trouble." Before she could react, he swept her into his arms, spinning once before dunking them both under in a shower of water and laughter. The crowd cheered, and in seconds, every youngster dove in the pool exploding into a blur of water fights, laughter, and the shimmering gold of haldi washing into the blue. It was loud, messy and  perfect, exactly the way a haldi was meant to be remembered.

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I'll pick up the story once I see more love in the form of likes and comments. Until then, happy reading and keep the love coming.

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The colors are brighter, the emotions deeper, and the drama... oh, it's delicious! 🌸
My new story, THE OBEROI EMPIRE is here— with Enemies turn into Lovers that makes your heart skip, family bonds, family secrets that tug at your soul, and twists that'll keep you turning pages till 3 AM.

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-[Pristi Scrolls]