Ya Qalbi (My Heart)

Part 52

(Imagine this is Mahira, Zarin, Asad and Zaid's condition after Zoya, Saad, Yusuf and Zara covered them in complete haldi ☝️ their face fully covered with haldi)

As it is Thursday morning everyone is excited. Hustle and bustle, is going in khan mansion; the decorators were doing last moment work of arranging the flower looms for the two stages at two different sides of the lawn. One stage with yellow cloth and yellow chairs in the center for the Manjha (Haldi) ceremony, and others with green and white for mehndi function. 

Kajal was instructing everyone. Mahira along with Zarin, Asad, and Bijan was sitting having their tea and watching the preparation with love as it was just 7.30 in the morning and others were sleeping and would get up by 8, and the function would start at 10.30 am.

As yellow is in trend for Haldi function everything was finalized in yellow color. They decided to keep everything in yellow right from background to sitting arrangement to flowers, to food. As the Haldi function was in the morning so they decided to keep a brunch session and choose most of the dishes of yellow or orange color like mosambi juice (sweet lime juice), pancakes with different stuffing's, jalebi with Kesar rabadi, mango ice-cream, along with tea and coffee.

They also made a selfie section with the traditional cycle rickshaw, a swing, and the sitting bench for couples as they knew the foreign guest from all over the world who were coming would love it, as Asian countries are known for customs and different functions during the wedding. There were arrows to guide the guest.

Zoya's family, Yusuf, and his family were here. Zoya's mother Rukaiya aunty would do all the functions from the bride's side as their khala. (khala means mother's sister)

Once Rukaiya aunty came she took Mahira and Zarinwith her to the lawn who were ready in their yellow dress and light makeupwhich Zoya did for them, she made them sit on the stage.

Bijan came with Asad and Zaid. Zara brought the bowl of Haldi for brides and Zoya for the grooms. Bijan called Saad to apply Haldi to his brothers first. But Zaid stops her.

Zaid: Bijan you are like phuppo (phuppo means father's sister) to us so you will start all the ceremony first and the rest will follow.

Happy tears flowed from Bijan eyes, which Saad wipe and hold the bowl of Haldi in his hand and told Bijan to start first. As said, Bijan applied the Haldi which was prepared from turmeric powder, sandalwood, and rose water to boys and Rukaiya to the girls. 

They then switch their sides and then everyone started applying them, that is, Saima Yusuf's mother, Zara, Yusuf, Mr. Ibrahim, Zoya's twin brother Zain, her dad Mr. Rasul, etc. when it was the turn of Saad and Zoya they gave each other a devilish smile nobbing their head and the next moment Mahira and Asad's face was completely covered in Haldi. 

Yusuf decided to have fun so he took the other bowl which was kept and covered Zaid's face also. Zara took the bowl and said

Zara: princess when Zaid is covered in Haldi then how can we leave you.

Before she could say anything the Haldi covered her full face. Everyone was laughing. Dj was playing all Bollywood marriage base and dance base songs like Sajan Sajan Teri Dulhan, baby ko base pasand hai, chanda will you marry me, dulhan hum le jayege, tama tama loge, sasural genda phool, etc.

Zoya, Saad, Yusuf, Zara dance they included Asad, Zaid, Mahira, Bijan, and the elders also. Once the guest started coming they stop and allowed the guest to dance and have fun with male performers.

All of them were dressed in yellow. Rudra Oberoi, Abhinav Mehra, Yash Rathod, and their families were also invited along with the few close foreign delegates from all over the world as they like Asian weddings. Mr. Charles Smith who is the CEO of Smith's and Sons and who is also of Asad's age was also invited. He is one of the business partners of the khan staying in London.

As soon as Charles entered Jabbar wished him and took him to meet with Saad. Saad was welcoming all of them, as both his brothers were busy on the stage.

The foreign guest too applied Haldi to Asad and Zaid as they were informed by Yusuf and Saad that it's the custom where man applied to man and Ibrahim uncle showed how to apply. There were tissue papers kept for them to wipe their hands, and their wives can apply to Mahira and Zarin as Bijan showed them also hold to apply.

Charles went on stage with a beautiful woman who was dressed in yellow sari. Asad wished him with a hand shake and introduced him to his family and Charles introduces the woman with whom he has come as his wife. Her accent told that she is an Indian girl. 

Mahira and Zarin shake hands with her and she applied Haldi on them. Even Oberoi's applied haldi to the grooms. Zaid and Asad stood up to take blessings from Rudra's dadaji who also came. Isha, Hetal and Monica applied haldi to the brides.

The Haldi function went well with all teasing, dancing, and laughing. By the end of the function all the family members were covered with Haldi and it looked more like holi function.