Chapter 24: Faith
Ripples
Ripe colors enswathe her spirit
Ripe is the fruit of her love
She starves for his health and drinks
for his wealth
For her life is in his blossoming forever...
The
festivities of Teej brought her, a
heart so full of joy; she dressed, bejeweled, and waited for him, for her love
to reward her with love equaled.
He rose early
from bed, remembering it to be the last day of his sister's stay, for her
husband would arrive today and claim her again. Arnav wanted to remain with
Anjali for the entire day.
Anjali
received this pleasant most surprise that her brother agreed to accompany her
to the Shiv Gauri temple at his own
will..."I'll come with you, but not for your god, never. I come there only
for you." he told her.
"I can't
believe you said that dear! I have organized a big pooja today at the Shiv Gauri at chandani chowk." she replied, all smiles as she waited for her
mehendi to dry. She gazed with love
at his name etched over her palms.
Festivities
were there at Gupta house too, not quite on the same scale as at the Raizadas
though, but they were there. Madhumati had wanted her unmarried young nieces to
fast, and pray that goddess Parvati bestowed
them with a husband as noble as Lord Shiva himself.
"But
I'll die of hunger before that." complained the younger niece, all
mischief shining in her doe eyes. "Tell me, why do I keep this fast? I am
not getting married in another four to five years."
"Haye re
nandkissore, so you already know, in which year you get tied in a knot?"
"Why
Bua, do you plan to get rid of me before that?" she said her face falling,
as if she would cry any moment and then, her eyes sparked with mischief again,
"if that is the case, I have certainly no problems with that." she
cried and giggled.
"Haye re
Nandkssore, do something about this girl, re Sanakadevi, how many times need I
remind you that girls don't look nice talking about their own marriage. You can
at least pretend to be a little shy!"
"How can
I be shy when my stomach feels sick?"
"You and
sick?"
"I feel
dizzy."
"You get
me dizzy, look at the way you drool, it threatens to drop on the ground from
your mouth. Food, food, all the time as if life has nothing better to offer
than food" complained her aunt as she got from her cupboard, new saris for
the girls to wear to the temple.
Khushi jumped
first, "I'll have the yellow." leaving Payal with the green.
Yellow made
her glow golden while green enhanced her eyes. The girls prepared their 'thals' and left for the Shiv Gauri
temple. Madhumati had so badly wanted the lawyer to have accompanied them, but
he had, even after a lot of dissuading, excused himself for a week, stating he
had three back to back hearings, following which he'd leave for Lucknow to look
after some urgent issues.
****
Payal and
Khushi made to the temple at the same moment as the big car that came with the
Raizadas in it - Manorma, Mahendra, Anjali, Arnav and Akash.
Sounds of
chants, bells resonated in the air that basked in faith unmitigated, as women
married or unmarried, offered their prayers to the deity, hoping that their
husbands would be blessed with a long life while their better halves stood
beside them. Women drank water and broke their fasts near the ancient Banyan
tree, popularly known among the temple visitors as wish tree.
While
Mahendra and Manorma prayed in the temple, Anjali, Akash and Arnav made their
way to the Banyan tree. While Anjali made her wishes, Arnav glanced uneasily at
the crowd around. Too many people, too many sounds always affected him adversely;
he excused himself and treaded the path lined with small sellers who had
various worship items on display, to a secluded corner on the other side.
Akash watched
Anjali pray, at a distance was a choir singing hymns that narrated the story of
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati's union, as music swelled in the air, he tapped
his fingers on the threaded fence along its rhythm.
Senses cannot
foretell, but a lover's heart can feel the presence of its beloved much before
their eyes meet. It was perhaps just wind that prompted him to look in the
other direction, opposite to his sister, where he caught a fleeting glimpse of
those hazel eyes. For he who had imagined her in his dreams, ever since he had
seen her first, a fleeting glimpse was enough to make his heart jump leaps and
bounds.
He crooked
his neck to his left, bending his six foot three inch frame over the fence,
there she was- a thal in her hand, eyes closed in a silent prayer. As if by
god's will she opened her eyes and glanced in his direction, their eyes meeting
for the longest time before a deep red blush came over her cheeks, bringing her
gaze to ground.
Payal
remembered the face clearly for she too hadn't forgotten the appealing
sincerity of his eyes behind the specs. Akash's lips curved into a smile. Had
it been any strange man whom Payal found smiling at her, she would have
dismissed the gesture and run away, Akash was a total stranger to her yet as if
it were the air between them which was so magical that Payal did not feel any
repulsion. Instead she was attracted to this boyish looking pillar of a man.
After what seemed to Akash like eternity, she returned his gesture with a
smile, despite herself. In saner conditions, she would have never acted this
way, she didn't know him at all but what involved the two was pure innocence of
first love, one that does not require introduction, one that does not require
affiliation or acquaintance, one that only requires the sanction of a crazy
heart...
Anjali looked
around to find her brother leaning over the fence, she stepped closer, and bent
in the same manner as her brother to see the object of his interest- a light
skinned girl with hazel eyes, wearing a green sari, her hair bunched over her
shoulder in a pony tail. She need not be told the rest, from the expression in
Akash's eyes she knew it all.
"Kailash
Matching Centre is indeed lovely." she whispered into his ears catching
him off guard as she grinned at him.
On the rear
side of the banyan's parapet was Khushi, taking in the sight as much as she
could in her glances. Her being, but a novice to the world around her. It
kindled elation in her heart, to watch so many women and so much faith, so much
devotion and so much commitment in what was made in heaven and materialized on
Earth. Perhaps it was the atmosphere of the temple that was laden with such
emotions today, that she felt happy to have kept this fast. Happy to have
fasted for someone she knew not, yet it filled her heart with an unsaid
affection, for that mysterious man elusive as the wind.
She closed
her eyes in prayer, as she turned to her side, in front of her was a vacant
patch of land, relatively quieter than rest of the place. She imagined the air
to carry her message to him, wherever he was, he who'd become a part of her
life and existence in years to come. She did not realize when, the space she
had presumed to be empty save the air, had been occupied by him.
He came there
only to escape the sounds, the people and the traditions he'd never care about.
What separated the two of them was merely a fence made of colorful threads, yet
both were oblivious to each other's presence.
Tu hi bata mere maula, tu hi bata mere
rabba (Tell me my lord, tell me my god)
Tu hi bata mere maula, tu hi bata mere rabba
Phansle milon ke hain, dono hain alag
disha
(Distanced by miles, they both are the
opposite directions...)
Kabhi yeh mil payenge, nahi kisi ko
hai pata...
(Will they ever meet, who shall ever
know?)
Arnav saw her
first. Confounded by her presence in these circumstances, where she stood
merely a foot away from him. Her sight should have enraged him again, but it
didn't, his gaze simply lingered over her, for a thing of beauty is joy
forever.
Her fragile
frame wrapped in a yellow sari, in which her complexion glowed golden. Strands
of her loose hair fallen over her shoulders and forehead, swaying with the
wind, her head slightly bowed and eyes closed. A sweet, peaceful smile over her
rose bud like pink lips made Arnav unable to take his eyes off her, as his
heart delighted in drinking with his eyes, the sweet elixir of her beauty.
He, to whom
everything but pain was forced, her unforced, genuine smile was as refreshing
as dew drops on soft petals. Beneath her childlike demeanor, Arnav saw a young
woman of raw sensuality that he ached to explore...
Slowly, she
opened her eyes, her walnut widening in shock the moment their gaze met. Her
smile disappeared the very same moment, abruptly she took a step back, while
all he wanted was the fence separating them to dissolve.
Khushi's
thoughts became muddled again, how long
had he been standing there? Why was he there, while she was praying?
Suddenly she did not like the sounds around her, she heard in her ear a husky
whisper You'll soon lose yourself to me, making her heart thump loudly in her
chest, so loud that she could hear it, her head began to throb, sights, people
appeared to fade in a swirling motion, the thal in her hand slipped from her
fingers as she grabbed her head in her hands, swaying in air.
Was it her
reaction to him or she couldn't simply handle herself, Arnav had no time to
decide upon it. He jumped across the fence, catching her in his arms before she
could fall. In one swift movement, he lifted her up in a scoop as effortlessly
as if she were a feather and carried her to the nearest bench, placing her
gently over it. Adjacent to the bench was an earthen pitcher with drinking water. He poured some water in a glass kept
over it and sprinkled some on her face, acting on his instincts he placed the
rim of the glass against her lips. He slid his hand behind her neck through her
hair, supporting her head as she sipped water from his hands, unknowingly
breaking her fast from his hands.
She forced
her eyes to open, feebly and saw him holding the glass for her, with concern in
his eyes. Realization of what had just happened hit her with force.
"You...what did you do?" she gasped,
sliding away on the bench as far she get from him, "You broke my
fast!" she said angrily once she regained her voice.
"What?"
he asked in a muffled voice
"What do
you think of yourself?" she yapped, offended.
"Look
you were fainting and I didn't know you had a fast." he snapped his
concern soon changing into annoyance.
She stood up
from the bench, shaking her head, "You shouldn't have, you...jerk."
"Go to
hell." he muttered as he saw her trying to pick up pace on her wobbly
steps, he tried to ignore but couldn't as he saw her sway and stumble again, he
got to her in one long stride and grabbed her shoulders, turning her to him as
her hands involuntarily splayed over his shoulders, holding on to him for
support. Her eyes now forced to meet his gaze, that held an uncanny mix of
admiration, concern and ire as if he said a thousand words from his eyes, none
of which she could fathom.
Ek baat usme bhi hai, ek baat isme bhi
hai...(There is something about her, there is something about him)
Hai dhoop sa woh agar, woh chandani raat si hai...(If he is the
scorching sun, she's the night bathing in moonlight...)
Mil paayen kabhi dono, kya teri isme
hai raza
Kya teri isme hai raza? (That they shall meet, is it thy will my
lord...is it thy will my lord?)
Na paas aa saken, na door ja saken
(Neither can they unite nor can they bear separation)
Yun to badhe hain inke kadam, inhe rasta tu hi dikha
Inhe rasta tu hi dikha
(Albeit they have taken steps, you
show them the way my lord, you show them the way my lord...)
There didn't
seem to be an end to their protracted eye lock, with neither of them willing to
hold on and neither willing to let go.
"First
learn to take two steps on your own, then open your mouth." he said
sharply, as she removed her hands from his shoulders. He held her for a moment
longer and then let her go, slowly sliding his hands down her arms.
******
"Jiji
must be waiting for me." Khushi said to herself as she slowly made her way
around the parapet to reach her sister. She saw Payal approaching her from the
other side, looking slightly worried.
"Khushi
are you all right, you look a little sick?" she asked.
"I am
fine jiji, I just..."
"No you
are not. Why did you keep this fast Khushi, you shouldn't have after that guest
house incident, you were not well and..."
"Jiji,
buaji would have felt bad if I didn't."
Payal looked
slightly miffed, "I don't understand, why was Buaji so adamant about you
keeping a fast this time? You are not even..." she paused as she saw her
sister looking behind her with keen interest, she turned to see what...
"Akash
sir? Anjaliji..." Khushi mumbled as she saw both of them walking towards
the two sisters, "why are they together? Oh no...this cannot be..."
"What
Khushi?" Payal asked her sister confused.
Akash smiled
and slightly waved at her, "Hi Khushi" he said as they neared them.
Khushi waved back, still staring at Anjali, flustered. Anjali gave her a
knowing smile, "Oh god, yesterday's Hero. You are looking so pretty."
she said, softly pulling Khushi's cheek.
"But not
as pretty as you." complemented Khushi.
"Aww...,
you know what Akash," she said turning to her brother, "I feel like
adopting this girl. Oh God Akash did I tell you, ma'am here has nerves of
steel."
Payal turned
to Khushi, looking all confused, "You know them?"
Khushi didn't
answer, she first fired her doubt at Anjali, "You both are..."
"Well,
we are cousins." said Akash sheepishly.
"That
means you are also ASR's brother." she blurted.
"Well
technically, I am ASR as well, you know, Akash Singh Raizada." he said as
both he and Anjali grinned.
Khushi
realized she had to explain it all to her still clueless sister, "Jiji,
this is Anjaliji and Akash Sir, you know that dopatta I gave you on your
birthday, it was actually a present from Akash sir."
Payal looked
at him startled, it was Akash's turn to blush, and he did, staring at the
ground. Anjali nudged him gently.
"What
dopatta? Which dopatta? Akash whom have you been distributing dopattas?"
cried a shrill angry voice. The four of them turned abruptly to find Manorma
Raizada glaring at them. Beside her was Mahendra, as usual looking wary of his
wife's snide remarks.
"Mamiji...umm,
Khushi was just telling us that there is a very good fabric dealer near her
house, isn't it Akash?" she stuttered prodding her brother with her elbow.
"Yeah,
Mom, exactly our company could make big purchases at a negotiable price you
see, I even got a sample dopatta from there..."Akash managed to say in one
breath. Manorma continued to look at him skeptically and then threw a despising
glance at the two sisters. Payal took the hint, "I think Khushi and I
should take your leave now, and Anjaliji it was really nice meeting you. And I
am really sorry for talking badly to you over phone that day, actually I was
quite worked up and..."
"The
pleasure's all mine and it's absolutely fine Payal, we do lose our cool at
times, it's perfectly okay I didn't mind."
"That's
so sweet of you." she said taking Khushi's hand in hers and left.
****
"Di,
please break your fast now." said Arnav impatiently sitting next to her on
the Asana of the pooja room in the Raizada Mansion.
"Please
don't repeat that line, you know I won't unless MJ comes." she said
defiantly.
"Di
would you stop being so stubborn? I can't believe you can be so foolish to
follow these superstitions."
"What
you call superstition is what I call faith Arnav."
"Yeah,
right, faith which is a euphemism for irrationality."
"Anjali,
dear stop behaving like Sati Savitri,
Arnav is right, you should not wait any longer." said Manorma joining the
two of them. "And please from next time, tell MJ to take a flight from
Bombay instead of coming by road."
"You
know mami, Goddess Parvati prayed for hundred and four years to get Lord Shiva,
I can at least wait for another hour."
"One
hundred and four years!" Manorma cried holding her head, "I wouldn't
wait hundred and four seconds for your mama, do one thing, call MJ and ask him
how many years is he going to make you wait."
"I
called him, his phone's out of reach." Just then, her phone rang, Anjali
cried in excitement, "that's MJ", Arnav looked relieved.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry,
sorry...so" said he.
"Stop it
and come soon..." she said.
"One forty per hour, can't get
any faster..."
"No...drive
slow, MJ for God's sake."
"Miss the look of your face,
can't make it slow."
"Please"
"In another twenty minutes and
zoom" he chortled.
"Then I
am cutting the line, concentrate over your driving..."
"There's only one thing I have
learnt to concentrate on...you"
"You're
so cheesy." she gushed and the line went dead. "Hello? MJ?"
"What
happened Di? What did Jijaji say?" Arnav asked concern mounting over his
features. Anjali shook her head, "something's wrong" she said
nervously.
"Di, you
alright?" he said softly as Anjali grabbed his hand.
"I am
not...he never cuts the phone like that Arnav, something's not right...I am
scared..."
Anjali spent
the next most anxious fifteen minutes of her life, and then her phone rang for
the second time.
"Pick it
up Di, it's jijaji." said Arnav placing the i-phone in her palm.
"Hello?"
she said, in the next few seconds, her skin was a pallid misery, face an
agonized narrative. She shivered, her hands cold and white...Arnav watched her
in dismay, "Di?...C'mon, tell me what's wrong?" She kept the phone
down, her hands shakily taking hold of her brother's, "Arnav...that man,
he said, the car's met with an accident!" she gasped, "driver...
fifteen minutes, b...back, he's in Fortis..." she couldn't speak anymore.
****
Akash
scrambled to the co-driving seat, as Arnav took Anjali with him to the rear
seat, comforting his hysteric sister. The chauffer drove towards Fortis
hospital, the huge Jaguar cornering every vehicle that came in its way.
Once parked
in front of the hospital, Akash dashed towards the reception asking for the
recent accident case in the emergency. Arnav came with Anjali a minute later.
"It's
okay di, he'd be fine." he whispered comforting her.
A police
inspector standing near the reception came over, "DL 6423 Audi Q7, is this
the car owned by your relative?" he inquired.
"Yes."
replied Arnav.
"There
have been two emergency cases in the last twenty five minutes registered in our
hospital" the receptionist informed Akash, "one of the victims has
been revived, he has identified himself as Advocate
Shyam Manoher Jha.
****
Anjali raced
to the emergency ward, dragging her limp leg painfully, wiping her tears
frantically to be able to see the numbers over doors, despite Arnav being there
on her side repeatedly asking her to calm down. She reached his door, flung it
open and found him, a fractured leg covered in plaster, bandages over his
forehead and cheek.
"SMJ"
she breathed out...
The lawyer smiled at her feebly...
She sat
beside him on the hospital bed, touching his hand, "ouch." he said
softly.
"How did
this happen?" she asked in a barely audible whisper, cupping her husband's
cheek.
Shyam smiled,
"Maybe I was in too much hurry to see you, Rani Saheba." he said giving her one of his most honest looks.
"I
always tell you, don't I, that don't drive at such a high speed." she
said, a tear rolling down her cheek. The lawyer wiped it with his fingers,
"Shh...don't. Your tears are too precious to waste them on me." he
said lifting up his gaze to find Arnav standing at the door. He smiled at him, a
gesture Arnav returned with gratitude. Shyam observed Arnav's moist eyes, he
knew too well that his brother in law, though professed to be the toughest man
alive, was in fact all mush inside.
Arnav slowly
averted his gaze and left the two on their own, taking quiet steps out of the
room.
Heady brat, mused the lawyer as he kept on
smiling affectionately at his wife. The equation between the three of them had
been the same for past three years. Anjali was Arnav's life, the oxygen he
breathed. The lawyer had learnt that Anjali held the living chord of his heart,
and he could go to any extent to see Anjali happy. On the other hand, it was
the lawyer who held the chord of Anjali's heart. Without him, she'd be devastated. Things had been this simple and
clear between the three of them until two weeks ago, when the lawyer, to keep
up his good will, had saved a girl's honor. Little did he know then, that the
girl would eventually cause turbidity in a vaguely clear conscience. But the
barrister found nothing wrong in his doing, after all she had made him
experience the joy of letting somebody hold the living chord of your heart and
all he was doing was to follow his crazy
heart...
****
Edited by cineraria - 9 years ago
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