Part 3
Shrimati Pandey was taking care of her pickle jars, she was putting more spices in some jars. Maheshwari was playing chess. She herself was her opponent, she was playing from both side. Malini was reading a novel, Pandey was resting on a khatiya.
" God has been so kind to us, Malini got a good family, now Maheshwari gets married to a good man, then we will be tension free.", Shrimati Pandey said while mixing the spices.
" Yeah, let this marriage gets over, then we will find a good match for her.."
" I hope some good prospective grooms come to this ceremony, from the boys' side, may be one of them will be suitable for Maheshwari.."..
Pandey smiled ,said ," Now a days you are also having good ideas Panditain..I am so happy..".
" You leave no chance to tease me, I am serious Pandeyjee.."
" So am I..don't get hasty, Maheshwari will have a good family.Any ways..Maheshwari..", Pandey called his daughter..." Maheshwari...are you listening ?"
Maheshwari was so engrossed in chessboard , Pandey was inaudible to her.
" Maheshwari...?", Pandey called again.
Maheshwari looked up.." Are you talking to me father?"..she said.
" No , my dear, look at our tabela, a new cow has arrived, her name is Maheshwari too..you don't like to talk to me, so I talk with her now a days..", Prajapati teased his daughter.
" Bapu, you have done very wrong.."..Maheshwari said.
Prajapati raised his eyebrows, Maheshwari again concentrated on the chessboard , and said , " Shooting poor farmers is not the way to rule, people support that Thakur Ashutosh Singh, because he never tried to rule them forcefully, I hope you will not repeat this in future.."
" You want me to take every nonsense from those people whose cattle intrudes in my farm, destroy my crops.."..Prajapati was surprised.
" Making hostage of those animals may be justified, but now that you have shot Danish Mian, people are talking about you as if intrusion in your farm is very normal, you are wrong if you take any step to stop it..it is very simple..you over reacted..", Maheshwari said while taking one horse of the opposite side.
Prajapati Pandey looked at her for few seconds..then he smiled, " I always see you as my kid daughter, but you are a grown up now, I can see, so what do you suggest..how can I defeat that Ashutosh Thakur?"
" You don't need to, Ashutosh Thakur is so popular because you have given him that much footage, you have projected him as your enemy, people only watch it for fun, they give a damn which party wins, some people exploits you by instigating you against him, same story on his side also, stop giving any attention to Ashutosh Thakur.."..Maheshwari said while proceeding her pawn one step ahead.
" See..what is she saying, I am saying the same thing for so many days, you don't know Maha, every time I stop him from doing any such thing, he looks at me as if I am the biggest fool..see Pandeyjee, your own daughter is saying the same thing..at least listen to her..", Shrimati Pandey got upper hand on her husband.
" Father, he doesn't consider you as his enemy, it does not mean that he is very liberal, he is simply not giving you that footage, which is the reason that people respect him a lot.. more you will attack him by any means, more the limelight will shift towards him.."..Maheshwari finally looked up after she defeated herself, in other words she won against herself.
Malini interrupted, finally, said ," Ohho..Maha, stop it now, are you not happy that my marriage got fixed? Come, let's go to the market, I need to start shopping for my wedding.."
Shrimati Pandey got cheered up ," Yes yes, get ready both of you..Maha, you didn't go to market since you have returned from Banaras, go with your sister..and buy something for you too.."
Maheshwari got up reluctantly. She was planning for another game.
****
Malini was choosing saree, she got crazy after entering into the shop. Maheshwari was seated beside her, silently witnessing Malini's craziness. Suddenly Malini said ," Arre..Maha..look at this saree..it will look so good on you..come ..let's try it.."
Maheshwari put the saree on her shoulder, it was blue . She looked in the mirror and saw another face. It was Ashutosh, she frowned. Ashutosh was taken aback, he was not expecting to see her in the shop . His mother was ill, but she wanted to buy some sarees for the housemaids. She sent Ashutosh.
" Hello..Miss Pandey..how are you?"..Ashutosh asked meekly.
" Jijee..if you are done with your shopping..shall we go?", Maheshwari called her sister.
" Listen , Madam, I do apologise, for that day, I really mean it..I heard from Danish..I really appreciate.."
Maheshwari didn't let him complete.." I did not ask for your appreciation..now if you will excuse me..I have to go..."
" I am sorry..Maheshwari.."
Maheshwari did not look back and went back to her sister.Ashutosh stood there, hoping for her glance, but he didn't get that. Again his irritation started. He had a strong urge to throw the mannequin to Maheshwari .
Maheshwari completed the shopping silently and left the shop.
Malini was not unaware, she said ," What happened?"
" Nothing, you need to buy ornaments.."..
" Ohh yes..let's go.."
When Ashutosh went back to his mother without buying anything, Thakurain said ," I asked for only one favour, that also was impossible for you..had I been well, I would have gone myself.."
" Actually, Amma , I myself do not wear saree, I am not that expert in buying sarees, I can do one thing, I can call the shop owner here with his shop, you can choose.."..Ashutosh said.
" What happened ? Why are you so annoyed?"
" Nothing Amma..nothing...I am calling the Lala.."..
**
Days became poisonous for Maheshwari,she was not being able to digest her insult. Ashutosh Singh Thakur was playing havoc on her system. Pandey Nivas was preparing for Malini's wedding, Maheshwari was helping there, but mentally she was roaming around the temple, the matth, the lane, and the shop where she met Ashutosh Thakur again and again.
" Mahaaa...are you listening..we all are here..come.."..Shrimati was calling her youngest daughter.
" Amma..you please carry on..I am having headache.."
Maheshwari switched the light off and laid on the bed.
He was smiling, his eyes..he was doing mischiefs along with his sidekicks..he was taking sip of bhaang sharbat, he was seated on the temple entrance in a funny position. His calm yet naughty eyes, his sharp nose, mesmerising smile , that broad shoulder...
Maheshwari got up, she was not being able to concentrate. Things were getting messed up.
That night passed anyhow. The next day , Maheshwari took his father's jeep and went for a visit around the town. She wanted to get herself aquinted about her father's buisness. First she went to the agricultural lands , then she made her way to the market which was owned by her father, the shop owners pay the rent on monthly basis.
After meeting everyone in the market, she had an urge to take long drive. So she headed towards the highway, their she met a couple whose car tyre was punctured, they asked for help.
" Where are you two going?"
" We are here to stay, new in this town, I am Ramesh Narayan , she is my wife Kamla, I am the new Officer In-Charge of the local Police Station.."
" Ohh, new Darogajee..glad to meet you..come, I will take you to your place..I am an old resident of this town, my name is Maheshwari Pandey.."
Kamla gave a smile of gratitude to Maheshwari.
They had a detalied chat on their way to Ramesh's quarter.Meanwhile, Maheshwari took her mobile and called her mother and asked to send a servant to the said address .
The servant came and cleaned the entire bunglow, arranged the furnitures, the closet and served tea to everyone. He offered that his distant cousin sister can do the job of the maid. Kamla was more than happy. Eventually, Maheshwari took their leave after saying that if they need anything they must not hesitate to call her.
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