Page 84 of One Indian Girl

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‘There you go,’ Puran said after two hours.

‘Thank you. Thank you so much. Can I go now?’

‘Yes. But you won’t give me any special gift?’

I gestured to my sister. She gave the mehndi guy a 2,000-rupee tip. He smiled and folded his hands to say thanks.

‘Don’t wash your hands for four hours. Will make the colour last beyond the honeymoon,’ Puran said.

‘Did you say four hours?’ I said.

I told my cousins I needed to use the restroom. I ran up to my room. Aditi didi followed me there.

‘How will you use the restroom with your hands like this? Come here,’ she said.

Aditi didi unfastened my salwar drawstrings.

‘I will come in with you?’ she said, pointing to the bathroom.

‘Fuck it. I am washing my hands,’ I said.

‘No, wait...’

I ran into the bathroom. I placed my hands under the running water at the washbasin tap. The mehndi stains were dark orange rather than the deep dark brown I could have achieved had I shown more patience. However, I needed my fingers. I had to respond to Neel and prevent another layer of chaos in my life.

‘Hey. Sorry. Couldn’t respond earlier,’ I hurriedly typed a reply.

‘It’s okay,’ Neel replied in an instant.

‘What’s up?’ I said.

He called me. I picked up the call in the bathroom.

‘Hi,’ I said.

‘It’s been so long since I heard your voice.’

‘What’s the matter, Neel?’

‘How are you?’

‘Can you hurry up, please? What is it?’

‘I have something important to tell you.’

‘What?’

‘Like I told you, it is better in person.’

‘Not possible. Just tell me.’

‘You are in Goa, right? Which resort?’

‘Neel, I am with 200 people here. Can this wait?’

‘Which resort? Or should I call your office to find out?’

‘Just tell me what you have to. I am at my wedding. You are on due diligence.’

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