'When I got married na' she continued 'I was very excited for it as it was my first time too. You know why I like Karwachauth so much? To which Navya asked 'Why?'
'This is the day when wife get a lot of attention from husband. They become their laadli's and can demand whatever they want. And you know, this time I am planning to ask for a diamond ring which I saw in Nakshatra Jewellers in Commercial. It's so pretty' she said excitedly but didn't tell main reason behind the fast.
This sounded interesting for Navya making her feel 'Wow' and started listening keenly to her pulling a cushion and folding her legs as she was also planning to buy a costly perfume which she couldn't have asked otherwise as her birthday is far.
'Pammi!' a male voice called from outside to which she said 'Accha, I need to go now. Husband calling, you see. But don't forget to eat sargi before sunrise tomorrow with lots of water. Chalo see you tomorrow. Bye' instructing Navya and left.
Navya planned to secretly fast and tell Anant only in the evening so that he becomes more happy and he immediately agrees to gift the perfume without thinking much as she knows how much he thinks before buying anything.
Few minutes later Anant entered the flat with his laptop bag and Navya asked 'Did you get the parcel which Ma sent for sargi?' she asked excitedly.
'Yes!' he replied 'It's in the bag'
Don't worry' he continued coming near her 'I will talk to ma tomorrow morning' placing his palm on her head.
'No! You don't speak' she interrupted 'I will tell her'
'Ok' he replied
They planned to order Pizza as both of them were not in a mood to prepare. Navya ordered for an extra pizza as she wanted to stuff herself today only so that tomorrow she doesn't feel hungry. While having, Anant was wondering what happened to her, why she is eating so much and thought must be she is very hungry as they couldn't eat a proper meal in the afternoon.
It's 4 in the morning and Navya secretly got up without Anant knowing and quickly went and took bath in the guest room bathroom and went to the living room. She opened the laptop bag and took out the packet and hurried to open it, before Anant could get up. See found it to be a sweet kind with lots of dry fruits in it different from the usual one which is vermicelli kheer. Since she is already full, she couldn't eat the whole thing, but drank 2-3 glasses of water as instructed by her prospective friend. She finished eating and went back to sleep.
In the morning around 8 a.m,
'Navya!' called Anant, who was preparing tea for Anant in the kitchen 'I need to rush today' to which she asked 'But breakfast?'
'Will have in office itself' he replied and gave a kiss on her cheeks 'You take care and have fun' and locked his eyes with a sweet smile and left.
Navya went and sat on the sofa wondering what to do when the bell rang and it's none other than Pammi ji. 'Arre! You are not yet ready?'
'Ready for what?' Navya asked
'We need to go now to Brigade Road' Pammi sitting on the sofa.
'Brigade for what?' Navya asked again
'In brigade, there is a place where a north Indian associations have organized a mela for Karwachath'
'But!' Navya said as she is not very keen to go for such events but then Pammi interrupted and said 'No But! You have to come. We will have fun'
They took an auto from the main road to go the Brigade Road, Bangalore's most famous shopping destination
When they reach near Mota Royal Archade, Pammi asked to stop the rick as it's a one way and autos are not allowed to go further and she got down first. While she was searching for the money in her bag, Navya already took put the money and gave it to the auto driver.
Brigade Road is full of roadside shops selling interesting things like sandals, bags, belts, junk jewellaries etc along with branded shops. It's a favorite destination of all the bangaloreans as it's a one stop for shopping, movies and restaurants. Especially on weekends, it will be crowded with youngsters loitering around. They cross the Mota Royal Archade, which is a small mall having shops and restaurants and Navya loves this place as there is a very good bag shop inside from where she usually buy hand bags. They go further, cross small shops and Rex Theatre where the movie 'Student Of the Year' is running. Navya becomes excited to see it and plans to come watch it with Anant on weekend. While they move further, they get archies and other shops and then reach a lane where Pammi said they had to take turn.
They reach a place called Kalaniketan where the mela is going on and entered there. There are few stalls where things like earring, bangles, clothes lots and lots of married and unmarried ladies are seen busy doing window shopping and few buying them. There is a hall inside which function is going on where kids are dancing to the song 'Radha teri Chunri'. Pammi sees a mehendi shop and asked Navya if she wants to put to which Navya happily agreed and went.
'Which design' the lady in the stall asked to which Navya showed an mermaid pic in her cell and asked if she can make. The lady looked at it and said 'Ok'. Pammi ji picked up a design from them and got her mehendi done in left hand while Navya got it done on her right hand instead of her palm. She got it done on her one leg also as she was wearing a paddle pusher. After that they did few shopping like bangles, earthern pots and some Pooja items. They watched the function for some time and then left home.
In the evening, at Pammi's house, the ladies got ready for the Pooja. Navya is beautifully dressed in light blue with silver jari lehenga with her hair open, with matching silver mang tila and earring. Pammi is also dressed up with a red pattiyala suit with lots of gold jewellary. She first did some Pooja by lighting the diyas and agarbattis and prepared the thali for her and Navya. While they were doing these things, Navya forgot to inform Anant that he needs to comes home early.
Navya is feeling thirsty and was continuously going to the balcony to see if the moon has risen but it has not. She thought of drinking some water and took a bottle filled with water, but then she stopped and thought 'Let's wait for some more time'
The Pooja should be followed by the Katha which Pammi started reading while Navya is made to listen
"In a village, there were seven brothers and one sister were staying along with their parents. The sister was the youngest among them, hence everybody used to adore her. She got married at a very early age. After marriage, on her first karwa chauth, she came to her mother's house. Her mother-in-law sent sargi for her and she had it in the morning before sunrise and put mehendi and kept a nirjal (without water) fast. Her brother's were very worried on how she will stay not eating anything for so long and decided to create an artificial moon for her with cowdung coal. She was called by them saying the moon has risen due to which he hurriedly took the puja items on the terrace. There in the forest one of her brother was standing with a sieve in front of a charcoal coldfire, so from distance, she thought that it's the moon behind the bush which she worshiped and offered water and came back to the house and started eating but then she got a message from her in-laws that he is seriously ill suddenly.
Navya's heart skipped a beat when she heard this.
Hearing this they rushed to see him and later came to know since she broke her fast seeing the artificial sun, is the main reason for his illness as the doctors also couldn't understand the reason of the illness. The astrologer's gave a viddhi to her that till next year karwachauth, she has to take good care of her husband and on the day she has to keep fast and exchange Karwa (Diya) with Gaur Mata and make her say 'Le suhagan karwa le' and 'De suhagan karwa de', then only her husband will live longer.
Navya bent and held her chin with her right hand
Next year she kept fast again and in the evening, while other ladies were busy performing Pooja, she was waiting for gaur mata. When the first gaur mata arrived, she touched her feet and said 'Le suhagan karwa le' but gaur mata refused to say 'De suhagan karwa de' and passed it on to her sister. Like this she pleaded everyone but everyone refused to say. Only the 10th Gaur mata with dark complexion, big teeth and horrible face, wearing lots of jewellary came and when she pleaded her a lot by saying sorry for her mistakes and saying only if she says this her husband will be fine to which Gaur mata felt pity on her and said 'Le suhagan karwa le' and the girl said 'De suhagan karwa de'. The same thing was told in reverse order then. When they said this 10 times, the girl's husband was well again and everybody touched Gaur mata's feet and worshiped her.
Hearing the story, tears started rolling down her eyes. Now, she understood the real meaning of the ritual. She was cursing herself on how she thought of not keeping the fast for Anant who loves her so much. He is the one who got married even after knowing that she wants to continue her relationship with her boyfriend. He is the one who cared so much for her. He is the one who supported her so much after her break off with Samar. How can she be so mean by saying she will not fast for him. He would have got so much hurt but didn't show as he wants to see her happy. It was actually not her mistake as she could never see her mother fasting as she was always away from them since young age.
While she was lost in all these she was interrupted by Pammi who said 'Navya! When will Anant come?
'Oh!' and wiped her tears and said 'I will call him' and took her thali and went to her flat. Pammi was wondering what would have happened.
Navya dialed Anant's number but then he was not picking up his phone. She tried many times, but still he was not answering. She became worried as all wrong things were coming in her mind by thinking that she said 'No' to keep the fast. Then suddenly she was lifted by someone which turned out to be her beloved husband Anant. A smile curved her lips and she gave him a hug and said 'I am sorry'
Anant took her out from the house on his arms to which Navya said 'Where are you taking me?' but he didn't reply to her and took her to the parking lot through the stairs and kept her inside the car and went to his seat and started the car. Navya went on asking where are they going but he was not answering at all and was driving the car.
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