‘P
19
ut your phone aside, Radhika didi. How will he apply the mehndi?’ Sweety, my eighteen-year-
old cousin, said.
Four mehndiwallahs had set up stalls in the function room. Suraj had also arranged for a
bangle stall. The function room turned into a stock exchange of hotly traded gossip as women of all
ages assembled to apply mehndi and choose bangles. Waiters served hot masala tea along with snacks
like mini samosas and jalebis. As women waited their turn, they discussed topics ranging from the
latest lehenga trends to the creepiest uncles to who slept with whom in Bollywood.
I had a dedicated mehndiwallah called Puran Singh. He claimed to be an artist who only
specialized in bridal mehndi.
‘You would not have seen any dulhan with such beautiful mehndi,’ Puran said as he went to
work at a slow pace. The other mehndiwallahs worked at triple the speed with my cousins.
‘I can use the phone with one hand, see,’ I said to Sweety.
I used my right hand as he applied mehndi on my left.
‘Who are you messaging? Brijesh bhaiya?’ Jyoti, my second cousin, said. Everyone burst into
laughter.
‘Are you excited about the first night? What will you do?’ Sweety said. Everyone giggled
again.
‘My sister is innocent. Please don’t corrupt her,’ Aditi didi said. According to her, I was
clueless about men. It was partly my fault. I hadn’t told them about my relationships. I couldn’t.
Neither Aditi didi nor my mom would get it. For them relationships meant one thing—to get married
as fast as possible.
Saloni, Aditi didi’s best friend, held my chin.
‘You know what will happen on the first night? Do you have any experience?’
Well, does having regular sex for several years count?
I shook my head. I could at least try to be the demure bride.
‘Come, I will tell you,’ Saloni didi said. She brought her mouth close to my ear.
‘Just drive him crazy. Tear off all his clothes and drive him crazy,’ she whispered.
It was supposed to be an outrageous statement. I was supposed to get embarrassed. I played
the part and blushed, so my cousins and friends could enjoy the show. I hid my face in Saloni didi’s
shoulders. I don’t know why I did that. Just to entertain the crowd? Or to make them believe I was
actually ‘innocent’? Why do I have to be this fake?
The girls finally left me alone as their turn came with the other mehndiwallahs. I checked my
phone.