I groggily woke up rubbing my eyes from my sweet nap due to the doorbell ringing. Getting up from the plush bed, I made my way towards the door of the suite and opened it revealing Sarah and my 20 year old cousin Nitya.

"Hey guys." I muttered while letting them inside.

"Hello there Bride." Nitya said in a dramatic manner.

"Is it already time for Mehndi function?" I questioned sitting down on the couch.

"We still have time. But we are here to give you this." Saying this Sarah handed me a packet.

"What's this?" I questioned.

"Food. You didn't eat anything since the morning as you directly slept after haldi. So Shivani Aunty sent this for you." Sarah replied looking through my cupboard.

"God, how much I love her." I said closing my eyes in contentment.

I opened up the packet revealing pancakes. I sighed happily seeing my favourite because I knew if I hadn't got anything to eat the next 10 minutes then the whole hotel would disrupt with my grumbling stomach.

"Did you guys eat?" I asked eating a handful of pancakes.

"When you were napping, everyone was having lunch which was organized in the garden itself. So we had it there only." Nitya replied.

I nodded in understanding and continued gobbling on my food. In the next 10 minutes I had successfully finished my meal and smiled in satisfaction.

"And I am done." I declared dramatically.

"Very well. Let's get started with your makeup." Nitya said.

"You guys won't even let me rest?" I pouted.

Since yesterday, I am not even able to sleep peacefully. If one rituals ends then it's time for the other. I wonder how I am going to look in my wedding with dark circles.

"You should forget the word the sleep for the next 2 days. There won't be any moment where you can rest." Sarah replied.

"Let's just get over with this." I muttered and sat down on the vanity chair.

It had been twenty minutes since I was sitting in front of the vanity in my comfortable clothes before the function and I was nowhere near done because my makeup and hairstyle was still left to be done.

"Why aren't you starting my makeup?" I finally asked Sarah.

"Darling I did your makeup only for haldi because it was a small function and it didn't need much work. Now as for the henna function we have a professional artist for all the work which Meera is going to bring soon." Sarah said.

"Meera came?" I questioned excitedly.

My Dad's sister's daughter who is also my cousin lives in Australia for her job. She rarely visits us and when she does we spent most of our time together as she is almost my age and we are kinda close with each other.

"Of course. Meera would never miss her favourite cousin's wedding." Nitya replied.

I smiled because I know it's true, but it also means that she lied to me about not attending the wedding. I will definitely kill her for this.

Knock

Knock

"I think it's her only." Sarah muttered and went in the direction of the door.

As she opened the door, it revealed Meera and two other women probably the artists. Seeing her after so long, I got up squealing and ran in her direction to capture in a breath knocking hug.

"Can't b-reathe." She muttered.

"Oops." I said and released her.

"You are so dead by the way." I said dragging her inside the suite.

"Why?" She asked with raised eyebrows.

"Don't why me. You said that you won't come to the wedding because your boss denied your holiday application. And now here you are." I replied crossing my arms.

"I wasn't lying Kyra. He seriously denied my application and then a day before he was like you can go. I mean I am so done with my boss. He is such a bipolar man." Meera huffed.

"Ohh. Well leave all of this now. Now that you're here I am going to enjoy double." I said jumping.

"Hello madam. You are the bride here. We are going to enjoy the functions and teasing you." Meera said and Sarah and Nitya agreed in an instant.

"Who made the rule that the Brides cannot enjoy the functions? And you know I am not someone who gets easily teased." I said proudly.

"Yeah, how can I forget that here we are talking about you." She muttered slapping her forehead and I laughed.

"Guys we will be late if we don't start the makeup and all." Nitya shouted when we all were busy listening to Meera complain about her boss.

"True. You know I can keep on bitching about him for hours so let's just end this for now." She said with a huff coming out of her mouth at the end.

We all nodded our heads and soon the makeup artists started their work. I was made to sit on the chair wearing my lehenga's blouse with sweatpants for now as it would be uncomfortable for long period of time.

They started their work and all I had to do was listening to their instructions about making different faces while they were applying thousands of products. Simultaneously, another artist was doing my hair so there was a constant of 'oomph's' and 'ouch's'. Half n hour later they were done so when I looked at myself in the mirror, I was smiling ear to ear.

The makeup was done absolutely how I like. The rose gold eyeshadow on my eyelids was perfect with the smokey look on my eyes with eyeliner. I had a nude lipstick on my lips which matched quite well with the others. A light blush of rose gold was also there on my cheeks enhancing the look. It was neither too much nor too less.

For the hairstyle they curled my dark brown hair in a neat yet messy look. I was given a flower tiara as an accessory for my hair so they attached it on my head completing the look.

"Wow. It's perfect." I muttered examining myself in the mirror.

"Is it alright Ma'am?" The makeup artist asked.

"Yes. Thank you so much." I said smiling.

"No need Ma'am. It's our job. All the best for the function." Saying this both of them got out of the suite.

I smiled inwardly. I don't know why I was feeling excited yet nervous about this situation. Earlier when I had the haldi function, I didn't even realize how much I was missing in my life. Those fake smiles and loneliness is nothing compared to the genuine laughter and happiness that I experienced. And then remembering Ahaan's words, I am confused. I should not surrender myself to him, but everytime he is near me the proximity of us makes me feel good. I don't even feel uncomfortable being in his arms when I should after what he did. I hope he tells me whatever he has in his mind this time. I cannot handle shit again.

"You done with the makeup?" Sarah asked breaking the chain of my thoughts.

"Yeah." I replied smiling at the three.

"Come on, let's get you into your dress for the function." Nitya said and dragged me into the washroom.

For 5 minutes all three of them were arguing about which way should the chain of the skirt come or how should they pin up the dupatta. I was standing there boringly listening to them bicker. Meera had to attend a work related call so she went away and Sarah was called by my Mom for some work. It was only Nitya and I in the suite now.

"Okay, listen to me carefully now. Now that both of these ladies are out and I am alone with you so I am going to attach your dupatta." Nitya said.

"You sure?" I asked because Sarah and Meera had taken up the responsibility of it and they weren't even letting Nitya say anything in this matter.

"Yeah." Saying this she started her work and in the next five minutes I was ready and I couldn't help but smile even more.

The lehenga was in light pink colour. It had various designs on the blouse with different stones and beads all over in multi colour.

"My gosh Nitya, you did such an amazing job. I should've picked up in the starting itself." I joked.

"See, I knew it that you'd like it." She replied smiling proudly.

Sarah and Meera soon came back one after the other and we all started our gossiping again because we still had time to get down for the function.

"You are looking so beautiful Kyra. I am so happy seeing you like this." Meera said hugging me.

Sarah and Nitya nodded their heads agreeing with her.

"Thank you guys. Even you are looking really nice." I replied smiling lovingly.

The three of them bowed their heads in coordination making me chuckle. Sarah told me that it was time for us to get downstairs for the function so we all got out of the room and boarded the elevator.

Reaching the ground floor, we passed through the lobby of the wing and started going in the same direction where haldi function took place. Looking at it I noticed that the decorations was different than the previous one and it looked kind of packed meaning there were a lot of guests inside already.

I saw many familiar people roaming around the garden ranging from various aunts and uncles and their kids. There were a few whom I didn't recognize at first, but as I paid attention to everything I did remember many of them. I felt that there were around 300 members and most of it was my family. If there are so many people in this function then I wonder how many are going to be tomorrow in the wedding.

A gang of people which included my cousins and friends dragged me to a setup which is possibly for the Bride. It had a big sofa in the middle with small cushions for completing the look. It was surrounded by various curtains ranging from pink, blue and orange. The top of the setup was covered in various multi-coloured fake umbrellas. Ther were some mattresses on the ground for other people and for the henna artists.

I sat on the sofa in the middle with the help of Sarah. The elders instructed the artists to start the work however they are supposed to according to the traditions. There were two artists and both of them sat a little below me and started their work on both of my hands.

The ladies were simultaneously singing traditional and old songs related to the function. My female cousins and friends were dancing around and teasing the male ones. I was sitting there joyful, admiring everything around me.

"Ma'am what name should we write on your mehandi?" One of the artist asked.

"Kyra." I replied and she frowned.

"Stupid girl. They are asking about your fiance's name." My Aunt said slapping my head lightly.

"How would I know?" I pouted at the ladies which were laughing at the situation.

"She really is something." My Mom's Aunt muttered and I smiled cheekily in return.

"Write Ahaan." I said to the artist.

She nodded and wrote his name on my hand in a way it wasn't visible easily. I would surely ask him to find it later.

Later when the artists had completed the designs on my hands, they started their work on my feet.

Sitting ideally for 2 hours, the artists finally completed their work and I was practically jumping from inside that I was finally free. My body was basically numb, but seeing the intricate designs on my hands and legs, I was ecstatic and couldn't stop smiling.

"Show me." Mom said sitting beside me.

I smiled and forwarded my hands in front of her. As she looked at it, a smile etched on her face and she patted my head lovingly.

As everyone was eating, the men themselves and the ladies getting fed by their partners I was sitting with a frown on my face. Even Mom and Dad were busy with each other and my stomach was continuously begging me to feed him something.

"If you'll keep looking at people with this expression, then they might get scared of you at some point." Aarav said sitting beside me.

"So you finally get time to see your friend?" I questioned faking a glare.

"Man, don't get mad now. I was helping Nitya and Meera with their food." Aarav replied.

I pouted.

"See, even she got help of someone and here the Bride is sitting alone waiting for someone to feed her." I shook my head.

"Don't worry. I am here now. Just for you." He smirked hugging me.

He started feeding me the Paneer Tikka and a Mocktail in which he had secretly added some Vodka for me.

"You know I was missing this so much." I muttered drinking the Mocktail, which consisted almost 75 percent vodka.

"Thank me. Only I know how I did this secretly from Dhruv." He said shaking his head.

"Nope." I said popping the 'p'.

He pouted and continued feeding me the dishes.

The henna was half dry by now and almost everyone was done with it. Various wedding songs were playing in the background as people were dancing around.

Meera and Sarah came in my direction to take me for dancing. Despite the numerous times of my denial, they dragged me to the dance floor where almost every cousin and friend of mine was present.

All of us were sweating profusely by the way we were rocking on the dance floor. The screams, laughters and chatting was continuously happening and I could see myself enjoying this to the fullest.

Later the photographer took so many photos of me and I was so done at one point.

"Damn Kyra. Why are your eyes half closed? The photos are going to look bad." Meera shouted and I jerked forward shocked.

"Whaaattt?" I drawled out balancing my weight on Dhruv as we were getting some pictures clicked together.

He pushed me away from him, straightening himself and I glared at him so deadly.

"I can't handle your weight." He said.

"Then I would say you're weak." I huffed.

He mumbled gibberish for few seconds and I took this as a chance to run away from him.

"Where to?" Sarah asked standing in front of me with arms crossed.

"Just getting some water." I replied nervously.

She nodded and handed me a bottle of water which was on the table and I nervously chuckled taking it.

Soon, one by one guest started leaving the garden as it was already late and the function was over. I could only see a few people which included the hotel staff and my family members.

"Kyra you can go to your room now. Everything is done for the day and you can rest. Sarah and Meera will accompany you okay?" Mom said coming beside me.

I smirked at Sarah and nodded my head at Mom.

"Let's go. I am tired as hell." Meera muttered and started going outside the venue.

Sarah was helping me with the dress as it was a bit heavy and I had henna applied on my hands and legs everywhere. My feet were killing me due to continuous dancing and I had a mild headache.

"Room sweet room." Sarah shouted entering the suite.

"How do you even have energy left in you?" I questioned shaking my head.

"You know I was craving for Biryani so I ate it like a pig. And now I am feeling so energized." Sarah replied twirling around.

"I think aunt flo is about to visit you." Meera said and I nodded agreeing with her.

I had changed into my night wear and was laying down on the plush bed. Sarah and Meera were gossiping in the balcony as they didn't want to sleep yet and I didn't join them because of my headache. I was continuously massaging my forehead with my fingers and it was calming it a bit.

I heard my phone vibrate so I picked it up with my eyes still closed and one hand massaging my head.

"Hello?" I questioned in a hoarse voice.

"Kyra." I heard a husky voice whisper at the other end.

"Ahaan?" I questioned.

"Yeah it's me. Were you sleeping?" He asked.

"No, I was just laying down." I replied sitting on the bed with the support of headboard.

"Ohh. How did the function go?" He questioned and I could hear him breathe lightly.

"It was so good. You know I was applied so much henna on my hands and legs and I so love it." I replied smiling.

"Won't you show me?" He asked with a husky voice causing me to shiver.

"I-- we aren't supposed to see each other before tomorrow. So how am I going to show you." I replied nervously.

"I'll video call you." He said and my breathing quickened.

"No- remember I told you we can't see other. It's a bad omen. You'll have to wait for a day." I replied.

"You don't need to show your face Kyra. Just set the camera in front of your hands." Ahaan said.

"You are really impatient. You won't wait right?" I commented chuckling.

"Never if it's a matter of you." He replied causing my heart to beat loudly.

Soon a request of video call came on my mobile from Ahaan and I placed the phone in front of my hand accepting the call.

I couldn't see his face as well because it was showing the view of his room. I smiled because he remembered my words.

"Your hands are looking so beautiful filled with this." He said after sometime.

I chuckled and yawned the very next moment.

"You must be tired. Sleep cause tomorrow's going to be a long day." He said sounding concerned.

I smiled and laid down on the bed again with the phone back at normal call on my ear.

"I can't wait to see you. Just a day more." He whispered.

"Bye Ahaan. Good Night." I whispered closing my eyes.

"Bye Ky. Good Night." He replied and hung up.

I covered myself in the quilt completely, forgetting about everything and hoping nothing bad would happen tomorrow and everything would just go like it did today.

Soon I didn't know when sleep overtook me in a dreamy night and I stilled in smiling peacefully.

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