His Obsession

Chapter 10 : She Belongs To Him

Drishti squeals as she looks at the beautiful henna pattern on her sister’s palm. “Di you know the old wife’s tale, if your mehndi turns dark in colour after it dries then your husband loves you immensely.” Mishti rolls her eyes and replies, “really Choti, you think your jiju (brother-in-law) loves me?” Drishti puts her arms around Mishti’s shoulders, “Yes Di, I can see it in jiju’s eyes every time he looks at you.” The next morning Mishti stares at the dark mehndi design on her palms, she wonders if there is any truth to the old wife’s tale, could Shivaan really be in love with her?

Mishti is looking exquisite for the Haldi ceremony. She is dressed in a lemon and white lehnga (traditional Indian wear) and matching floral jewellery. She kept her look natural with light make up. Mishti looks at her mother who has tears in her eyes as she applies haldi on her daughter’s face, hands and legs. (The Haldi ceremony is a cleansing ceremony that takes place for both the bride and groom. During this ceremony a yellow paste made with turmeric powder is applied to the bride and groom’s body. It said that the Haldi leaves a glow on the skin once washed off.) Drishti also applied Haldi for Mishti. After an hour the Haldi ceremony is over and Mishti heads to her bathroom to wash of the haldi. She is startled when she hears her room door close, her eyes widen when she sees Shivaan staring mischievously at her. Shivaan pulls her close and smears Haldi all over her face, “I told you I will apply Haldi for you baby,” said Shivaan. Mishti looks at Shivaan and raises her left eyebrow with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she pulls him close and rubs her cheeks on either side of his face causing the Haldi to rub onto him. Mishti runs into the bathroom and locks the door, she can’t believe what she just did and slaps her forehead, “What was I thinking, now this Gadha will think I have accepted him.” Shivaan leaves the mansion in a daze looking like a love-lost puppy.

Later that evening Mishti finds a white box on her bed, with a letter addressed to her. She opens the box and gasps as she feels the bile rising in her throat. She reads the letter, “B*#ch, you better cancel this wedding or I will put you in your grave and these worms will feast on your slutty body.” Mishti looks at the box filled with worms and dead roses, her hand trembles. “Di why aren’t you ready yet?” Drishti’s eyes widen as she sees the contents of the box, she snatches the note from Mishti’s hand and is fuming after she reads it. “Di have you told jiju about this.” Mishti sighs and replies, “Choti I’m sure it’s nothing.” Mishti dumps the box in the trash.

Mishti feels butterflies in her tummy as she looks at herself in the mirror. She is adorned in a burgundy and gold lehnga matched with traditional bridal jewellery. Drishti gently pinches her sister’s chin. “Di my jiju will be left drooling.” Mishti blushes and hides her face in her palms. Divi watches her daughters with tears in her eyes, she walks towards them and places a black dot behind Mishti’s ear (a black dot is said to ward off negative energy or an evil eye). Divi hugs Mishti, “My beautiful Gudiya (doll), may your marriage be filled with love and happiness.” Mishti holds her mother’s hand tightly as they proceed to the mandir (temple). Shivaan licks his lips as he watches his exquisite bride walk towards him. Mishti blushes as she meets Shivaan’s hungry gaze. “Why does this Gadha have to look so handsome” thought Mishti. Shivaan indeed looked dashing in his Gold Sherwani (male Indian traditional wear) with specs of burgundy. Mishti is seated along side Shivaan in the mandap, (a beautifully decorated area where the wedding takes place). The Pandit (Hindu priest) asks Shivaan and Mishti to exchange garlands during the Jai Mala ceremony, Shivaan decides to tease Mishti and moves his head back every time she tries to adorn the garland, this shocks the Mehra’s as they have never seen their son’s playful behaviour before. Alok lifts Mishti up so she can easily apply the garland to Shivaan. After the Jai Mala ceremony, it’s time for the Kanyadaan ritual (giving away the bride). This ritual his performed by Mishti’s paternal uncle and his wife. Mishti’s uncle places her hand in Shivaan’s hand. Shivaan notices the unshed tears in Mishti’s eyes and gently squeezes her hand to reassure her. Shivaan stands and helps Mishti to her feet because it is time to take their sacred vows around the holy fire. Mishti closes her eyes as she feels the sindoor being applied to the centre of her parted hair. (Sindoor is a red powder that’s applied by the groom to the centre of the bride’s parted hair, this is usually symbolic of the bride’s new status as a married woman). Mishti shivers when she feels Shivaan’s rough fingers brush her neck as he applies the mangalsutra (a necklace that is made with black and gold beads). After the wedding, Shivaan can’t find his shoes, he searches for them and suddenly hears Drishti giggling. “Jiju, are you looking for these.” Drishti holds Shivaan’s shoes in her hand waving it in front of him. Shivaan steps forward to take his shoes but Drishti steps back. “Jiju, don’t you know the tradition pay up or forget your shoes.” Shivaan places his hand in the top pocket of his Sherwani, but Drishti stops him by placing her hand on his. “Jiju, I don’t want money, I only want you to make me two promises.” Shivaan pinches Drishti’s cheek, “anything for you my cute tigress.”

Drishti takes a deep breath, “Jiju promise me that you will always keep my Di happy, and you will always protect her.” Shivaan and Mishti hug Drishti as Shivaan agrees to keep the promises he made to Drishti. After a tearful farewell, Mishti is welcomed into the Mehra mansion. Nisha pulls Mishti into a warm embrace. “My dear daughter I am so happy. Now we will be two roses amongst these thorns.” Yash coughs, pulls Nisha close and whispers in her ear, “I will show you who’s the thorn later.” Nisha becomes flustered even after 30yrs of marriage this shameful husband of hers still makes her blush. Nisha takes Mishti to a beautifully decorated bedroom. Mishti is seated on the bed with her knees folded to her chest. Her heart starts pounding when she hears the door open. Shivaan stomps over to the bed, grabs the back of Mishti’s neck and kisses her passionately until both of them are left breathless. He places his forehead against Mishti’s as he gently caresses her cheek. “Babygal, I know I have been a complete A*sh*le to you. I am sorry, I just couldn’t take the chance of losing you to someone else.” Mishti looks at Shivaan confused. “I wonder if Mr Gadha is bipolar,” Mishti thought. She heads to the washroom to change when she realizes that Drishti has only packed sexy lingerie in her bag. She gulps then she sees Shivaan’s T-shirt hanging on the back of the bathroom door, so she puts it on. The T-shirt ends mid-thigh, Mishti exits the bathroom and reluctantly walks towards the bed. Shivaan could feel his junior stir when he notices how sexy his baby looks in his shirt. He grabs his baby’s hand and pulls her towards him causing her to land on his chest. Shivaan holds a squirming Mishti tightly. “Babygal you are killing me here; you look so sexy in my shirt.” Mishti feels her body heat up from the warmth of Shivaan’s arms and soon drifts off into a blissful sleep. Shivaan watches her with admiration before he gently places her head on a pillow and spoons her, letting himself fall into a deep slumber.