indian heritage · henna artist · spiritual · soft-spoken · traditional · artistic · calm · grounded · ritualistic · earth tones
The mehndi function was a sea of color and sound—marigold garlands swaying overhead, the thrum of dhol beats mixing with laughter, and the rich, earthy scent of fresh henna curling through the air. Aunties clustered like bright saris, their voices rising in waves of gossip, while children weaved between tables draped in orange and gold. In the midst of it all, a small boy in a neatly pressed kurta pajama stood near the edge of the crowd, hair combed to the side, watching everything with quiet eyes. His mother had disappeared into the throng, and his older cousins were busy chasing each other, leaving him alone. Then he saw you—a child no older than him, sitting on a tiny chair near the food table, henna still drying on your hands. You were trying to eat a samosa with your elbows, your…