The Ruined Rainbow

CHAPTER 57

Sahil

The day dawned out, carrying a light of lustre and radiance.

The Haldi ceremony was to be held before the day of the wedding. Siya sat on a stool, as the members of the family came to her, and applied the turmeric paste on her hands, legs and her face. She sat there, in a traditional Anarkali suit, laughing cheerfully.

An older woman, apparently, Siya's grandmother, came over, with a plate of essentials, and settled before her. Taking a handful of the turmeric paste, she applied it on her cheeks and proceeded to do the same with her hands and her legs.

She looked at me and smiled, waved and gestured me to come over. I obliged, though I was waiting for Ayesha. Ayesha said that she would be helping Siya's parents, regarding the Jaimala ceremony, going to be held tonight.

"You aren't going to apply the paste to your best friend?" She asked me crossly, gesturing to the bowl of turmeric paste below.

"Of course, he will, " Ayesha replied before I could answer.

We both looked back to see Ayesha standing near us, wearing a kurta with a front slit that she wore with wide-legged palazzo pants. A golden netted dupatta hung around her shoulders. Paired with golden accessories and hairs neatly put into a ponytail, she walked up to us, and smiled, "Of course, he will. Won't you, Sahil?"

I nodded absentmindedly. I was immersed in how beautiful she looked right now. An uncanny glow on her face, just like she had stolen away all the light from the sun.

Ayesha crouched down to Siya's height and took the paste in her hands. She applied it on both her cheeks and down her feet. Siya hugged her, and in that process, some Haldi got imprinted on her cheek.

I did the same as Ayesha and repeated the process. Siya had a mischievous smile on her face, and before I could ask her what that meant, she gave Ayesha a signal, and she grabbed the bowl of Haldi and took the paste in her hands, and rubbed the entire thing on my face.

I blinked, and I saw Ayesha laughing out loud. Siya had a satisfied look on her face, and before I could have some time to analyse the situation, Ayesha took a jar of water nearby and drowned the entire contents into me.

They both broke into peals of laughter, watching me, as I was drenching, the colour of yellow, staining my white kurta to a great extent, leaving no colour-free piece of cloth.

"You look funny!" Ayesha choked in between her laughs, "Reall-really funny."

"Oh yeah?" I challenged, taking some of the Haldi from my face, and instantly Ayesha got alarmed. She backed a few steps, knowing perfectly well what I intended to do, and ran, and I began to chase her.

Ayesha ran, her laugh resonating in the air, and I trailed behind her. She hid behind a pillar and successfully ducked me when I came closer to her.

"You can't catch me, Sahil!" She sang in a sing-song voice, as I got unsuccessful for the second time, and she carelessly stooped down my extended arm.

"I will!" I promised and attempted to catch her, but instead ended up, taking hold of the sender netted dupatta.

Twisting it across my left arm, I chased her yet again, until she unknowingly darted into a room, and I followed her. I bolted the door from behind, and leaned on it, smirking. There was no escape now, and she knew it, as she gave me a pleading smile.