SAAT JANMO KA SAATH
(KARVACHAUTH SPECIAL)
Part 1
Chandini smiled as she looked at the calendar and realised that it was the most romantic day tomorrow. No, it was not Valentine's Day, it was Karva Chauth. Though the main idea behind celebrating the festival is to pray and wish for the well-being, prosperity, longevity of husbands. She loved it because she always felt it as a day of celebration. A day glorifying the beautiful bond between a husband and wife commemorating their love and togetherness. It was not the only reason why this festival was so close to her heart. In fact the main reason for her inclination and fascination towards it was when her mother once narrated her one such story attached with the origin of this occasion. She said that in ancient India due to the frequency of military campaigns often separated husbands and wives for long periods of time. Hence, on the day of the departure of the soldiers, their wives began to organize prayers for their husbands for their safe return. Only she knew how she had controlled her tears after hearing the story as she could clearly relate to the emotions those women felt. She was well aware of the feelings of such women as she counted herself to be one of them. She understood their pain since she herself was staying away from her husband from past 3 years.
Past
Dharam Singh Raizada and Yash Narayan Vashishth were best friends since childhood. While Dharam was an IT giant, Yash went on to become a construction magnate. They were very really close and so were their wives Meeta and Indrani. Both Raizada Mansion and Vashishth Haveli stood exactly in front of each other. The Raizadas had 2 sons Advay and Veer while the Vashishths were blessed with 2 beautiful daughters Chandini and Shikha. While Shikha and Veer were always at loggerheads but what amazed the elders was the bond Advay and Chandini shared right from her birth. As they started to grow their bond bloomed into a beautiful friendship where Advay became protective about her and Chandini naturally held him for support. When a 10 year old Chandini saw Devdas for the first time, she naively asked a 13 year old Advay to imitate the famous 'Paro running behind Dev' scene. Advay never said a no to her and always felt that her wish was his command as they ran through the lawns of Vashishth Haveli to enact the scene. She someday also wished to recreate the song 'Silsila yeh chahat ka' but little did she know that God had already written such a situation in her destiny.
At the age of 16, Advay who was at his teenage high started to feel differently...something strange..some more powerful emotion for her whereas a 13 year old Chandini who had just entered her teens secretly started developing a crush on Advay. When Advay attained the age of 18, he started to observe Chandini more carefully as she was slowly advancing towards womanhood. He started getting attracted to her physically therefore tried to maintain a safe distance whenever he was with her. But her clinginess never helped him to achieve his resolution as a result it always left a strain between his pants whereas a 15 year old Chandini found herself getting more careful with words around him and always found her cheeks turning hot whenever he leaned close to her or when their hands brushed. At the age of 19, Advay who entered his adulthood began to fantasize Chandini and allowed himself to name those dangerously deep feelings which had incited in his heart as love. Whereas a 16 year old Chandini always day dreamed about Advay and was quick enough to realise that he was not just her mere crush or best friend but someone more than that. At 17, a hopelessly romantic Chandini proposed a 20 year old Advay on his birthday. Shocked seeing her going down on her knees, he had accepted her proposal with a cheeky grin. And from there onwards began the most beautiful phase of their life wherein they enjoyed basking in the feeling of 'Being in love'
A 3 year blissful relationship without any complications as their family had no objections with their choices in fact they were happy to see their secret wish getting fulfilled. But life is highly unpredictable. A 23 year old Advay was given the responsibility of expanding their business abroad for which he had to leave India for few years. Chandini shivered when she comprehended that they were to stay apart from each other for few years. They were always together since their childhood. She had cried her heart out to him as Advay himself controlled his tears but hid them so as to not to fall weak in front of her. Gradually she realised, that being the eldest son of his family he was bound by his duty. She tried to be strong in front of him as she knew in case she becomes vulnerable he would reconsider his decision of leaving. She didn't wish to be a hindrance in his success hence put up a brave face. A day before his departure, it was his birthday. Strangely that year Karva Chauth and his birthday had coincided. She wanted to give him a farewell gift..something which he would cherish till the time he returns. She had seen this longing on his face from past few months. She thus asked him to mark her as his forever. Though Advay was shocked he tried to talk to her as he knew she was just being emotional. But she was adamant on her decision. He knew that she had dreams for her wedding night but was ready to sacrifice for him. A lump formed in his throat as he realised the depth of her love. He picked the red vermilion which was kept on her dressing table and filled her partition. He had bought a gold chain for her as a farewell gift from his side. And he tied it around her neck indicating her that it was not less than mangalsutra. And then the night witnessed the union of 2 lovers.
He left the following day and she already started to miss him. Gradually she accepted the fact and continued with her life. Initially, they talked almost every day over the phone but later both got busy one with his work and other with her studies. Advay was really tied up in setting up the business since it was not an easy task. His work required him to travel alot. Still he never forgot to wish her on her birthday or their anniversary. Thus over the years they texted each other rarely, their conversations over the phone happened just once in a week that too for just few minutes while they skyped each other once in 2 months or 3 months. But they still didn't feel insecure as they knew their love would sustain such small obstacles and that it was just a phase of life which will get over someday. The only thing that made them sigh was that they didn't know when this someday will come. She had heard from Dharam papa that Advay would be returning soon but when that was not known. She didn't even have a chance to ask Advay as he was busy with some new deal and hadn't called from past 4 months.
Present
She came out of her thoughts and stared at his photo lovingly.
"We will complete 3 years of our marriage this Karva Chauth. Like every year this year too I wish you would break my fast"
She heard a knock on the door and kept the frame inside the drawer. It was a servant from Raizada Mansion who had brought the sargi' sent by her Meeta Maa secretly. Indrani never allowed Chandini to keep the fast as technically she was still single and according to her this ritual was meant for girls who were married or were engaged. But she was a married woman who desired to fast for her husband. Thus she decided to keep the fast secretly. She requested her Meeta maa to provide her the sargi' and pleaded her not to disclose this. Meeta smiled at seeing the love this girl held for her son. Apart from Meeta no one knew that she fasted for Advay. She hid the sargi' in her cupboard and setting the alarm for 2 am and 4 am she slept comfortably.
At 2 am, she tiptoed in the kitchen to grab some food so that she can eat with sargi'. She stole some veggies, parathas, sweets, yoghurt, water etc and ran to her room. She slept again and woke up at 4 am to eat. She removed the cloth from the sargi' and her mouth watered seeing the delicacies and gifts. She ate to her heart's content and drank enough water to avoid dehydration. Next morning, there was a total hustle bustle in the Vashishth Haveli as the preparations for today evening were going on in full swing. The Vashishths held this event every year and all the ladies of the locality would come to break their fast here.
Taking a long veil and covering her face, she sat among the group of ladies to listen to the lady who was narrating the stories behind Karva Chauth as mentioned in Mahabharat. She listened with great concentration as she went to describe
According to Mahabharata's Vana Parva, Karva Chauth can be traced back to the time when Savitri begged the god of death, Lord Yama, for her husband's soul. Also, according to another episode in Mahabharata, the rest of the Pandavas and Draupadi were left without assistance when Arjuna went to the Nilgiris to pray and meditate and did not return for several days. When Draupadi sought for Lord Krishna's help, he advised her to fast for Arjuna's well-being and reminded her how goddess Parvati did the same for Shiva's safety. Draupadi adhered to the fast, observing all its rituals carefully and soon Arjuna returned home.
The mehendiwaalis were called to apply beautiful henna on the hands of pretty ladies. Chandini opted for a traditional Indian bridal mehendi and blushingly asked the lady to write an 'A' on her palm. After 2-3 hours when she washed her hands, the intricate mehendi on her hand turned a deep shade of red matching with the crimson colour adorning her cheeks.
At 5 in the evening the ladies gathered to perform some pre-rituals. Chandini joined them with the veil still covering her face. All the ladies were either dressed in sarees or salwar suits of red, orange or gold which are considered as auspicious colours. The women sat in a circle with their puja thalis and prayed to 'gaur mata' (mother earth). The ladies took a bit of soil, sprinkled water, and then placed kumkum on it, treating it as an idol/manifestation of the fertile Mother Earth. Then an elderly woman amongst the lot narrated the story of beejabeti or Veervati. The women then made Gauri, Ganesh and
Shankar idols with mud and decorated them with colourful and bright clothes and jewellery. While exchanging Karvas (earthern pots) seven times, they sang
" ...Sadaa suhagan karve lo, Pati ki pyari karve lo, Saat bhaiyon ke behen karve lo, Vart karni karve lo, Saas ki pyaari karve lo...
Thereafter, the fasters offered baayna (a melange of goodies like halwa, puri , namkeen mathri,vmeethi mathri, etc.) to the idols ( mansana ) and handed over to their mother-in-law. Chandini shifted the idol towards Meeta and slightly lifted her veil to show her face to which Meeta smiled.
Once the fera ceremony was over, all the ladies patiently waited for the moon to rise. It was still 45 mins left for the moon to rise. She quickly escaped to her room and dressed herself in a deep maroon lehenga. She stood infront of the mirror wearing all the jewelleris i.e. bangles, head gear, necklace, anklets, bindi on her forehead, her mangalsutra (the gold chain) and the red sindoor on her forehead completed her look. She looked no less than a bride. Putting the dupatta on her head, she opened the door of her balcony and waited for the moon to rise. After patiently waiting for 10 minutes, she saw the moon. She took her puja thaali and placed Advay's photo on the table. She picked up the sieve and looked at the moon through it. "I miss you Advay" she said and a lone tear escaped her eyes. She closed her eyes and turned to look at his photo through the sieve. When she opened her eyes, her mouth hung open in shock.
PS: I had very little knowledge about KarvaChauth. All the rituals mentioned above are taken from the internet.
Hope you all like it. Please hit like and comment. Happy Reading.
Loads of Love,
Naziađ
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