Hello everyone! Mona and I were chatting about how romantic it would have been if DK had shared a Karva Chauth scene 😳 so here is a little Karva Chauth gift for all my fellow Bhootnis. 😳 I hope it inspires you all to find a love like DK'S and I hope you all like it. Mona, this is especially dedicated to you jaan. 😳
Chapter 15 – Karva Chauth
Kaajjal sat watching the small hand of the clock tick by at an excruciating slow speed. Sleeping soundly in their cots, Arjun and Naina were oblivious to their mother's state. As she turned her eyes from the clock to their angelic faces she envied their quiet repose. All day she had sought to keep herself busy, but since the time they had fallen into slumber she had been at a loss what to do. For a while she attempted to read, but the incessant rumbling of her stomach had distratced her too often. Turning on the TV had been no better a plan: the first programme that came on was a cookery show. It was as if her fate was laughing at her and annoyed she had resorted to watching the clock, willing the hours to pass.
This was her first Karva Chauth fast. Up until now she had always thought it would be no difficult task for her to keep the fast. From the moment she had fallen in love with Dev she had been eagerly awaiting this day so she could fast for him. Now it was here, however, she was realising that it took all of her love for Dev to persevere. Her throat was as dry as a dessert and the growl of her stomach was a constant echo in the background. Looking at the clock she meditated on how lucky Dev was: he didn't have to spend all day waiting for her so he could eat.
"Jaane kahan tumhara Papa hai!" she addressed her children. "Dekho...kitne late woh hai aaj! 5 baje aur woh nahi aaya. He is never late, paar aaj..."
Just then Naina gave a disgruntled wail.
"Arre! Yeh kya hai?" Kaajjal asked her, picking her up and cradling her in her arms. "Kyun baar baar do you take you father's side?"
She arched an eyebrow at her, peering down with a teasing smile as she continued to make a disturbance. Instead of being pacified she began to cry more incessantly.
"Haan, mai jante hoon: you are hungry," Kaajjal sighed. "Think yourself lucky, you can feed today. I have to wait for your father to come home. Lekta hai aaj woh deliberately late ho jaaye."
So saying she glanced back at the clock and saw the hand had gone to ten past six. Her stomach gave another grumble and she looked down at Naina with a forlorn expression.
"Where is he today?" she asked her. "It's just typical! Today is the one day when he needs to be here. Look, it will be getting dark soon!"
Naina was content again so she placed her back down in her cot, running her fingers across her baby soft hair with a tender smile. When she straightened she crossed to the door and leaning on the door frame she peered out across the courtyard, hoping to see some sign of Dev. In the west the first tinges of orange were seeping into the sky and the sun was dipping ever so slightly behind the hills. The sight of this made her all the more restless. Pulling her pallu further round her she stood on her tip toes and scanned her eyes across the wide vista before her, but there was no one in sight, except two sheep grazing idly by the side of the road.
From inside Arjun's wails reached her ears and though reluctantly she ran back to tend to him. His little face was screwed up in a bright red ball, and his cries were ear piercing. Kaajjal took him gently in her arms and rocked him back and forth, trying in vain to quieten him. His cries were unsettling Naina and she could see the beginning of a tantrum wavering across her daughter's face. This was her worst fear: without Dev she could not cope with the two of them needing attention and she was already drained of most of her engery from the lack of food and water.
"Arjun, please," she pleaded with him. "Calm down beta, please, tumhari ma ke liye? Dekho, if you stop crying I promise I will take you to the market with me tomorrow."
Even the prospect of a day trip could not quieten him and he continued to wail uncontrollably. Kaajjal placed him carefully down and changed his nappy, but still he would not stop with his tears. Her head was beginning to ache and his loud screams were shattering her ears. She tried bouncing him up and down, patting his back but he cried and cried until she could not take it anymore.
"Bas karo Arjun!" she cried, tears welling up in her eyes. "Bas karo! It's not my fault your Papa isn't here! Blame him but don't take it out on me!"
Placing him back in his cot she walked away to the door and ran a weary hand through her hair, closing her eyes for a moment to gather herself. Only when she felt she had enough patience to deal calmly with the situation did she go back in and taking Arjun back into her arms she sat down and cradled him in her arms, speaking softly to him. She told him all about how she had met Dev, about their passionate arguments and the love that had gradually grown between them the more they met one another. As she spoke a glow appeared in her eyes, mirroring the amber hue of the sky outside as the sun sunk further into the earth. The sky was a soft shade of pink mingled with mauve by the time Arjun had fallen asleep in his mother's arms. By this time she was exhausted and as she placed him in his cot she felt the room beginning to spin about her at an alarming pace. She pressed her fingers to her temples, closing her eyes to try and stop the vertigo but she could feel her feet swaying under her and then they gave way altogether.
As she went tumbling to the ground two strong arms caught her about the middle and she was dimly aware of someone shouting her name in a frantic voice. She tried to open her eyes but her lids were heavy and her vision would not focus; everything blurred about her, twirling like a kalediescope. The person shook her and she gave a groan, blinking hard and forcing her eyes to open. As her name came towards her from afar the world finally stopped spinning and her heart missed a thrilled beat when she saw Dev's anxious face staring down at her, His brow was creased with worry lines and his dark eyes were haunted with fear as he called her name again.
"Kaajjal!" he shouted to her. "Kaajjal, kyun bolti nahin? Kya hua?"
"Dev," she managed to say weakly.
A small smile started to spread across her lips and she gripped his arms, looking dreamily up at him.
"You've come?" she asked in the same dazed tone.
Just then her senses came back to her fully and she remembered that she had been waiting for him for hours now. As if to inflame her anger her stomach gave another growl and her parched throat recalled her earlier irritation. Frowning she looked back up at him, her eyes dark with clouds of temper.
"Oh! So now you come!" she cried, pushing his arms away and standing up.
She went to walk off, but her head was still slightly dizzy and she nearly stumbled. Luckily Dev caught her before she could fall.
"Kaajjal, where are you going?" he asked her. "Sit down. I'll bring some water for you."
"I don't want water," she stated stubbornly, pushing his arms from her and turning to face him with smouldering eyes.
"Kaajjal," Dev began, perplexed at her mood. "Have I done something wrong?"
"Where were you till now?" she demanded of him, jabbing a finger into his chest. "I have been waiting for you these three hours! You are never normally late so why today?"
Dev opened his mouth to explain but before he could Kaajjal was firing away at him again.
"I never knew you could be so selfish! Didn't you ever once spare a thought for me while you were out enjoying yourself? Do you even know that today is Karva Chauth? Mera pehla Karva Chauth. All day I have been fasting for you and you can't even come back on time."
Shooting him a heated look she turned and folded her arms sternly across her chest, her face smouldering with her wrath. Dev stared at the back of her head in bewilderment, trying to digest the torrent of accusations that had just been flung at him.
"Kaajjal, of course I know today is Karva Chauth," he said after a few minutes.
He walked up and placed his hands on her arms. She shrugged him off and turned to him with blazing eyes.
"Oh really?" she cried. "But you still don't know what it is like to fast all day! If you did you would have hurried home today!"
She turned to stalk off but Dev caught her by the wrist, stalling her progress. Before she had time to register this shock Dev had spun her round and was looking intently down into her eyes. His were dark and unfathomable, so she could not tell what he was thinking.
"Dev, let me go," she protested.
"Nahin Kaajjal, I want to tell you something," he said in a very calm tone that strangely unnerved her. "You are not the only one fasting today. Even I have kept the fast for you."
Kaajjal was left speechless. All she could do was stare up at him in astonishment, her eyes wide and wondering, searching his as her heart fluttered in her chest. His eyes were dark but they showed his soul and she could see the truth of his words there. Her heart missed a beat and she felt suddenly full of shame for shouting at him.
"Dev, mai..." she began but he stopped her by placing his fingers to her lips.
"Ek second," he said to her.
Before she could say anything else he had brought out two red and gold kangana. Kaajjal gasped when she saw them and she looked up at him with questioning eyes. His eyes were trained on hers, deep and earnest, and they never left hers as he lifted her wrist and made her wear the kanagana. They were heavy and cold against her skin and she looked down at them in awe, struck by how beautiful they were.
"Dev, they are beautiful," she breathed. "But where was the need?"
"There is a need Kaajjal," he told her, brushing her hair back gently behind her ear. "I had to buy you a gift for your first Karva Chauth. This is why I am late."
Suddenly Kaajjal hated herself for berating him now that she knew the truth. Moisture glistened in her eyes and she felt a lump constricting her throat. Without saying a word she bent and went to touch his feet but he caught her and pulled her up.
"Kaajjal, what are you doing?" he asked her.
"Dev please mujhe maaf kardo," she said with a choked voice. "Anjaane, mai...."
"Forget it Kaajjal," he told her. "Chalo, the moon is out, let's do the rituals."
Kaajjal smiled adoringly at him and drying her eyes she let him lead her out into the courtyard. She performed the puja and held the channi up to the moon with all the devotion she had inside her for him, bringing it back and looking at his face through it. He smiled back at her, love shining as brightly as the stars in his dark eyes. She bent again to touch his feet but he stopped her and instead kissed her forehead with the most gentle touch of his lips that had shivers of pleasure running down her cheeks. Then he led her over to the terrace and made her sit. He broke off a piece of chapatti and held it to her mouth, but she stayed his wrist with her fingers. Bending she broke a piece of chapatti too and held it up to him. He smiled adoringly at her and together they fed one another. Taking the cup he held the water to her and she drunk from his hands. The water seemed to have a more vital taste than usual and she realised that there was no better feeling in the world than this. When she had made him drink he folded her into his arms. His fingers tangled in her silky tresses, stroking them in a soothing manner, and his lips found her forehead again, caressing it with their tender touch. She closed her eyes and savoured the moment, feeling thankful that she had such a caring and wonderful husband as Dev.
In the sky above the silvery sheen of the moon shone down on them, bathing them in a romantic glow. Their silhouettes were visible against the star studded skyline, the sky a deep and penetrating violet and they sitting together, Kaajjal in her red and gold sari and Dev in a red shirt. They were the perfect symbol of love and devotion and as Kaajjal turned her lips up to Dev, allowing him to claim her, they proved that no bond was as strong as the one they shared. This was their first Karva Chauth as husband and wife and it was a perfect experience for both of them.
So that was DK's 1st Karva Chauth. 😳 Sorry it was rushed to the end....I am waiting for the stars to come out so I can break my fast. 😆 Wish we all find a husband like Kaajjal one day! Do comment friends, it always inspires me reading your comments. Hope you all had a good Karva Chauth!
Anu
Edited by nimmo20 - 17 years ago
Chat Clubs
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
