Chapter-2

I don't know you all are liking my book or not. But still I am writing. Because I just want to do it.

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At Rajput Haveli

“Call Shivansh! Where is this boy now?” Apoorva, Shivansh’s mother, said to Subhi.

“Yes, Maa. I called him. He’ll be here in five minutes,” Subhi replied.

Five minutes later, Shivansh arrived home and headed straight to his room to change for the haldi ceremony, as his mother had instructed.

He came downstairs wearing a yellow kurta and white pajama.

First, Apoorva applied haldi to his cheeks, arms, legs, and a little on his nose. Then Subhi. Then Akanksha. Then Aryan. And finally, Harshit.

Once the haldi ritual was over, his mother called Subhi and Aryan.

“Take this haldi to Siddhi’s house,” Apoorva told them.

They reached her house and spotted Shritika at the entrance, talking to someone.

“Shritika!” Subhi called out.

“Oh hey, Subhi! Aryan! Come in,” she said, walking toward them.

Subhi extended her hand to give the haldi bowl to Shritika, but she lost her balance.

Just in time, Shritika caught the bowl before it hit the ground—some haldi spilled onto her hand.

“Sorry, sorry, Shritika!” Subhi said quickly.

“Oh, it's okay,” Shritika replied with a smile.

“Come inside,” she added, leading them in.

The haldi ceremony began for Siddhi.

First Kajal applied haldi, then Mena, then Shritika, followed by Subhi, and lastly Aryan.

The ceremony ended, and Subhi and Aryan departed for their home. Shritika was taking a shower.

Meanwhile, Siddhi was in her room talking to someone on the phone.

“Yaar, mujhe nahi karni shaadi,” she said.

“Then run away,” the man replied.

“But… my family?” Siddhi hesitated.

“It’s okay. Just run away, it’s the only option,” he insisted.

“Okay, I’ll leave tomorrow afternoon when I go to the parlour,” she said.

“Alright, I’ll come pick you up,” he replied.

Back to Shritika.

“Yaar Atulya, kal zaroor aana. Warna kasam se tera murder kar dungi, aur phir tere funeral pe ‘Lahu Munh Lag Gaya’ bajaaungi,” she joked.

“Arey haan, Shri! I’ll come. Why are you stressing so much? Feels like it's your wedding, not Siddhi’s,” Atulya said, half-joking.

“This is not the time for jokes. I don’t know why, but I’m feeling really uneasy,” Shritika admitted.

“Okay, let’s meet at a café. I’ll cheer you up,” Atulya said.

“How?” Shritika asked, knowing Atulya would pull some typical best-friend antics to lift her mood.

(Author’s note: They’re both straight. Just classic female best-friend things.)

“Just come!” Atulya said.

“Okay, I’ll be there in 30 minutes,” Shritika replied.

“Done.”

As she walked downstairs, she overheard her badi maa talking to her mother.

“Now that the haldi is done, Siddhi shouldn't leave the house until the wedding tomorrow evening, except to go to the parlour,” Badi Maa said.

“Yes, you’re right. After haldi, people easily catch the evil eye,” her mother agreed.

“Exactly, that’s why I said it,” Badi Maa affirmed.

As Shritika was about to step outside, heavy rain started pouring, as if God Himself wanted her to stay home.

Just then, her phone rang.

“Hello Shri, I can’t come. Mummy stopped me, and it’s raining heavily too,” Atulya said.

“Hmm... okay, fine,” Shritika replied and went back to her room.

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The next day – Wedding Day

“I have to get out of here somehow,” Siddhi thought to herself.

“Maa, I’m leaving for the parlour,” she said.

“Okay,” her mother replied.

She went alone because Shritika had decided to do her makeup herself.

Near the parlour, Siddhi stepped out of the car and entered. Seeing no one inside, she quickly walked out and got into a car where her boyfriend was waiting.

“Let’s go—fast!” she said.

He started the car and they drove off.

Back to Rajput haveli

Everything was ready for the baraat to leave for the hotel. The rituals before the procession had been completed. Everyone was dancing as they reached the hotel.

Kajal welcomed them and performed the welcoming rituals.

Inside the hotel, Shritika was looking for Siddhi but couldn’t find her anywhere. She informed her father and bade papa.

Rudresh noticed the tension on Neil’s face and asked him directly what was wrong, but Neil tried to avoid the question.

Everyone was asking for the bride so the wedding could begin, but she was nowhere to be found.

“Where has she gone, Manoj ji?” Rudresh asked.

“I don’t know… she said she was going to the parlour, but the MUA said she never showed up,” Manoj replied, looking down.

“Please forgive us, Hukum sa,” Kajal said, joining her hands.

“Rudresh, we had no idea she would do something like this. We even asked her multiple times if she was okay with this wedding. She said yes,” Neil added, also joining his hands.

Rudresh was about to respond when Shivansh entered the room.

“What happened? Where is she?” he asked.

“She ran away… without saying anything. She took all the jewellery too,” Kajal said, looking down. Tears streamed down her face, hands still joined.

Shivansh’s eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched.

“This wedding must happen. The media is already here. What are we going to tell them?” he said in a deep voice.

"ye shdi aaj hi hogi, abhii hogi, isi mandap me hogi” he said, his eyes narrowing toward Shritika, who was trying to console the women.