Mehndi ceremony of Maasa was over. Now everyone was in their room. Sandhya was sitting near the window looking at the bright red mehndi in both her hands. One of Maasa's Beendnis passed her.
As she passed she teased Sandhya " Sandhya beendini kyon haathon ki mehndi dekhke Sooraj ki yaad aa rahi hai. Sandhya blushed. Soon other beendini's joined them.
They started teasing her more " Aaj tho bechari Sandhya ko Sooraj dekhno ka na mile. Maasa ne tho ladko ko mehndi ki rasm se bahar tho raka"
"Are mehndi ki lali tho dekho. Sandhya kya tum jaanthi ho mehndi ki lali se pata chalta hai patni se uska pati kitna pyaar Kartha hai. Aur tumhare haaton se yeh pata chalta hai Sooraj tho tum par martha hai
" Are are ab iske gal bhi lal ho gaya." Saying this they all laughed. Soon the eldest beendini among them told everyone that it is time for sleep. If they don't sleep now they will not able to get ready on time for tomorrow's rasam.
Sandhya started slowly removing the bangles from her hand. Without anyone seeing she had made a small tattoo " Sooraj" on her left wrist with mehndi. She wanted her beloved Soorajji to see it before it faded. She knew that even if she saw him tomorrow it will be difficult for him to see it as it will be hidden with her hand full of bangles. By the time they are back in RP house it would have been faded.
She looked around. Almost everyone had fallen asleep. She looked outside. Night was lit by full moon. She decided to take the risk. She slowly got up and moved towards the door.
Sooraj was restless in his bed. Chotu's words keep ringing in his ear " Soorajsa aaj bhabisa ke haath ki mehndi bahut khoosburat thi. Bilkul lal rang". Lucky Chotu he thought. Being a child he can enter any place. Sooraj had thought Maasa would allow them to join the ceremony atleast in the fag end.
But Maasa had not allowed telling Mehndi is strictly ladies only rasam. He wanted to see Sandhya's hand with bright red mehndi. He got up, opened the door. It was ok even if someone caught him, already everyone was teasing him calling " deewana", so this wont make much difference.
He had walked only a short distance. He saw her, walking towards him. His Sandhya. His pace quickened and he called "Sandhyaji".
Sandhya looked up. Seeing Sooraj walking towards her she didn't know what possessed her. Her happiness knew no bound and her face glowed in the moonlight. They came face to face and stared at each other.
Without saying a word Sandhya opened her mehndi filled hands towards him. Sooraj stared at her hands. They were beautifully decorated with mehndi and were glowing red. He gently took them in his hands and started caressing them. He started circling her hand slowly with the tip of his fingers. Then he noticed it. His name imprinted on her wrist. Sandhya could feel the happiness in his eyes as he lifted her wrist and softly planted a kiss. In the silence that ensued their hearts spoke thousand words.
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