Bathroom

Under the gentle captivity of Auntie Prianka, the coolness of her apartment was a sharp and sudden contrast to the frantic heat of the haldi ceremony on the rooftop. My entire body felt sticky from the layer of haldi, and my arms and legs were limp with exhaustion from the physical humiliation and emotional turmoil. But I was still helpless in my auntie's firm, protective embrace, as she closed the door behind her with one hand—the other never once loosening its gentle yet unyielding grip on me.

She paused in the hallway for a moment, as if savoring the silence, her eyes taking in my awkward form clinging to her, my arms still involuntarily wrapped around her neck. I hadn't even noticed I was doing this—it was like muscle memory now, a passive surrender to her dominant presence.

"Salman," she whispered, as she slowly walked through the living room toward the bathroom, "you know, when you hid your face in my neck like a little boy... something inside me just melted. It was the softest surrender I'd ever seen. Full of trust."

I mumbled something incoherent—whether it was a protest or an embarrassed agreement, even I didn't know. My face was burning under the haldi, but more so from shame. I could still hear the echoes of the women's cheers for her victory in my ears.

Prianka reached the bathroom and gently sat me down on the edge of a small wooden stool near the sink. My knees were weak. I couldn't stand properly. She knelt down in front of me and looked directly into my eyes.

"You're not going to run away, are you?" she asked, jokingly, but with a mock serious tone.

I lowered my head, still refusing to look at her. "No, Auntie."

She smiled with satisfaction and stood up, pulling a soft towel and a jug of warm water from a shelf. Then, without warning, she took the hem of my T-shirt and began to pull it up over my body.

"Auntie!" I cried, trying to resist, but she gave me a serious look.

"Oh, come on! I just carried you like a baby in front of fifty women. Do you really think a haldi-smeared chest is going to embarrass me now?"