EPILOGUE
Almost a year later..
"Sneha! Did you make palak paneer? It's Mantu's favorite dish, isn't it?" Pushpa asked. "Yes Maa. The Palak Paneer is ready. Did you make kadhi pakode? Rama loves kadhi pakode," Sneha asked. "Yes. The kadhi pakode are ready," Pushpa replied. To a random passerby, two women talking about what food had been cooked from their kitchen windows right next door would have been strange. But the people of Banaras knew well enough the dynamics of the Mathur-Chaubey household.
Almost a year had passed since Gajanan Chaubey had passed away. At her mother's request, Sneha had given up plans of leaving Banaras, a decision that had delighted her daughters as well. Now, though the houses were still separate, the hearts weren't. The past year had whizzed by in a frenzy. Mantu had gone away to Delhi to prepare for his Civil Service Exams and Amaya had stayed back to take care of Chiklu, not wanting to disrupt his school. Rama was now a branch officer at the local branch of a national bank, his characteristic OCD helping him to be systematic and thorough with his books. Rachita was now teaching at the local college and Amaya had opened a boutique where she worked with and showcased local handiwork. Neeti was pursuing her MBA and Dimple and Sneha worked with Amaya to help her run the business.
Dev Agnihotri had been sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for the fraud he had committed. His business and other assets had been sealed and liquidated and all those who had suffered from the Scam had been suitably compensated from the money. Whatever little property, business and possessions that remained with Dev, he willed them to Sneha and Rachita and both of them denied to accept any of it. So Dev had started a charitable foundation in Rachita's name that worked to educate orphaned girls and girls from low income families. Rudra's list of petty crimes had been significant enough to warrant him 3 years in jail. Hari bhaiyya disowned him but Kaushalya Bhabhi was still in the process of convincing him to give Rudra a second chance.
Currently, the Mathur-Chaubey households were gearing up to welcome Mantu back. He was returning home after acing the Civil Services Exam. While Sneha and Pushpa were arranging a feast, Rama and Rachita were busy putting up decorations around the house. Amaya was the only one who had nothing to do but was filled with too much nervous energy to not do anything. She fiddled with her dupatta as she counted the seconds till Mantu would be back.
"Rama jiju.. What time did you say you were going to pick Mantu up from the station?" she asked. Rama stepped down from the ladder he had been standing on and smiled at Amaya, "Saali Sahiba.. You have asked me the same question 15 times in the last 5 minutes. And the answer is the same.. His train comes in at 4:45 so I will go pick him up at 4:30." "Arey Rama., Try to understand. They've been apart for a year now.. Bechaini tho hogi hi na," Rachita winked at Rama as she teased Amaya.
On an impulse, Amaya caught hold of Rachita's hand and dragged her into the room. "Amu? What's the matter?" Amaya shut the door and let out a deep breath. "Rachi di.. I need your help.." "Okay," Rachita smiled and Amaya told her about her plan.
***
Amaya had been strangely distant throughout the dinner, Mantu thought. Sure, she had greeted him with the brightest smile ever and had cast shy glances at him throughout the dinner but Mantu could tell that something was amiss. Especially because she left with Rachita right after they were done eating saying she had some important work. That was so strange. He had been dying to see her, talk to her, hold her. Had she not missed him at all? Mantu wondered. That wasn't possible. They'd spend hours and hours talking on the phone during his free time and even then she'd seemed to miss him just as much as he had. But what had happened now? Maybe he was overthinking it. Maybe she genuinely did have urgent work.
It felt so good to be back home. The welcome he had received at the railway station was almost embarrassing. All his near and dear ones had gathered with a music band and flower garlands to welcome him home. The sweetness and the gravity of his success had not felt more real than in that moment. Who would have thought? In a span of less than two years, his whole life, his entire world would change so much? All because a random girl got into the car he had hired for his tourists so she could get a few hours of sleep in air conditioning. Mantu smiled at the memory. "Kyun Mr. Abhimanyu Shrivastav, IAS? Kis soch mein pad gaye?" Rama asked and that pulled Mantu out of his thoughts.
***
"Here you go! Finally home," Rama said as he stopped his bike in front of Mantu's house. Rachita welcomed them at the door, "Come on in Mantuji. We were waiting for you." Mantu was surprised to find Rachita. Wasn't she supposed to be with Amaya at her work? Just as Mantu stepped in, Rachita blocked his way. "Mantuji.. I know you must be really really eager to meet Amaya. But before that, you have to follow a set of instructions." She reached for the bag on the charpaayi and handed it to Mantu. "Here you go! Freshen up and change into this. You have," she looked at her watch, "exactly 15 minutes! And your time starts now!" "What is all of this? Rama.." Mantu turned to Rama and Rama shrugged his shoulders smiling. "14 minutes and 30 seconds," Rachita announced. Seeing how neither Rama nor Rachita were divulging anything, Mantu had no option but to comply. He walked towards the bathroom and found the bedroom door shut. Why was the bedroom door shut? "No peeking or you'll get penalty," Rachita announced. Mantu shook his head as he went into the bathroom.
"Back on time!" Rachita declared as Mantu stepped out of the bathroom wearing a white kurta pyjama. "Now, if you want to go see Amaya, you have to give me a nek," Rachita said. "Nek? But you give nek at a wedding. Amaya and I have been married for almost a year now!" Mantu said. "Haan.. Tho you didn't have a proper wedding na? I did not get the chance to get my nek. So I am asking for one now," Rachita replied. "Fine! Fine!" Mantu said as he started to reach for his wallet. "Mantuji! I don't want money as my nek. I want something more precious," Rachita said. Mantu looked at Rachita puzzled. "I want you to promise me that you will always keep Amaya happy. I am asking you for my sister's happiness as nek." Mantu placed his hand on Rachita's outstretched hand and nodded his head, "I promise. I promise I will keep Amaya happy.. Always.." Rachita wiped at the moisture in the corner of her eye and sniffled as she said, "You better or you will have to deal with me!"
With that, Rama and Rachita bid good bye and left. As Rachita got onto the bike behind Rama, he asked her, "Waise Rachitaji, what was all this?" Rachita laughed and replied, "Just a little welcome home for Mantu that Amaya has planned." "Achcha.. Hmmm.. I hope you know that even I love surprises," Rama teased her. "Really? Is that so?" Rachita asked. "Yes. Especially ones that involve just the two of us," Rama replied. "Well, in that case, I might have a surprise for you when we get home," Rachita said, slipping her arm around Rama's waist. "Really? What is it?" Rama asked excited. "It's a surprise Rama!" she chided him and his face fell. "I could give you a hint.. Guess what new class I've enrolled in at the gym?" Rachita asked. "What?" Rama asked. Rachita leaned in and whispered into his ear, "belly dancing." Rama's eyes widened and Rachita laughed.
***
Mantu finally made his way to the bedroom and opened the door. He had never seen a sight more beautiful in his life. His Amaya, Amaya Abhimayu Shrivastav, clad in the gorgeous blood red lehenga from the fashion show, adorned in all bridal finery, sat on the bed in the middle of their room. The visual was too stunning for words. Candle flames flickered to the rhythm of their heartbeats as he walked towards her. Jasmine and rose buds bloomed in abandon, white and red - innocence and passion, standing in testimony to a love that would find fulfillment tonight. Even the moonlight that filtered in through the windows seemed to be dancing in anticipation, casting pretty shadows over her face, afraid to touch her because she was his, touch this moment because it was theirs and theirs alone.
He sat beside her and simply looked at her, drinking in her beauty to his heart's content. God he had missed her so very much! She stole a glance at him and his heart lurched in his chest. Her big, beautiful eyes. His entire world was in there somewhere, in the depth of these gorgeous eyes. "Amaya.." His voice came out in a husky whisper that seemed to dance over her skin. She raised a finger to his lips and shushed him, "Not tonight Mantu. Not tonight. I've waited for you for so long. Tonight, even words aren't allowed between us." He took the hand she'd placed over his mouth and kissed her palm lovingly. She shied away in response.
He leaned in and lifted the dupatta off her head before touching his lips to her forehead, where sindoor filled the parting of her hair as he eased the maang tikka off. His finger traced its way down her forehead and rested against the chain of her nose ring. Their eyes locked for a long second, the awareness of what was about to happen settling as a rigorous thud in their hearts as he took off her nose ring.
When the groom takes off the bride's nose ring on their wedding night, it is considered his claiming of her. Lines she had read as part of her preparation for the fashion show whirred in her head, adding to the heady anticipation, nervousness and excitement she was already feeling. She drew in a sharp breath as he turned his attention towards the delicate curves of her earlobes that he kissed as he got rid of her earrings.
He kissed his way down the side of her neck, over her shoulder and down her arms to her delicate wrist where bangles tinkled merrily. One by one, as if he had all the time in the world, he took the bangles off. With every touch of his, every movement he made, Amaya felt as if her heart would burst out of her chest from the sensations coursing through her. He nuzzled her neck as he removed the necklace she'd been wearing. Of their own volition, her hands crept up the expanse of his back and her fingers threaded through the thick mane of his hair, holding him closer and closer.
With a gentle finger, he caressed the soft, smoothness of her waist and with a swift tug, her kamarbandh broke, scattering the tiny gold beads all over. Her heart felt like it was being launched through a catapult, thudding with so much frenzy that she was afraid it out burst out of her chest in an eruption of a million colors. A gasp escaped her lips but never made it past the distance between them as Mantu covered her lips with his. The kiss spoke volumes in itself, of the love they shared, of the time and distance they'd waited, of the absolute need of their souls to be one. From shyness to artless abandonment, from slow and soft to wild and passionate, they traversed through their own hues of passion to the very edge of their being and at the daring edge of the precipice, they took the final plunge and experienced it all.
The world exploded around them in a myriad of lights and colors but all they could see, think or feel anymore was the other's heart beat or maybe it was their own or maybe it was both their hearts beating as one, they couldn't know.
***
The temple bells chiming woke Amaya up from the deep, deep slumber that she was in. She stretched languorously and was immediately made aware of the state of undress she was in. She glanced towards Mantu, sleeping by her side, his face half buried into the pillow, his arm casually tossed around her bare waist. A deep blush stole across her skin as she remembered their night together. Feeling shy like she had never before, she hurried to get off the bed. She wrapped the bedspread around her and gathered the clothes that had been discarded in a frenzy the night before and were scattered all over the floor. She tiptoed her way into the bathroom. When the cold blast of water hit her heated skin, she felt like her whole being had been transformed in one night. All she could feel on her own skin were the imprints of his love. All she could see when she closed her eyes was him. All she could see when she looked at herself in the mirror was him. Like she had been an empty canvas and he had painted her in the colors of his love and she could and would never be the same again.
"Mantu.." her voice came out husky when she tried to wake him up later with his morning tea. He rolled over in his sleep and the bedspread slipped further down from his waist. Her throat went dry as her eyes traveled over the perfect Greek God-like male specimen that was her husband. Amaya hastily turned away, blushing to the roots of her hair. How was she going to wake him up now? She gingerly placed the tea cup on the dresser by the bed and covering her eyes with one hand, she tried to pull the sheet up to cover him. "Mantu.. Mantu.. "
Mantu opened his eyes groggily. This was the best sleep he had had in years. Why was he being asked to wake up? The sight he saw made him smile. Amaya had her eyes covered and was trying to cover him up. He chuckled silently as he caught hold of her hand that was on the bedspread and pulled her to him. "Mannntttuuu," Amaya yelled as she fell onto the solid expanse of his warm chest. "What are you doing?" she asked scampering to get off of him but he held her tight not letting her move. "Why did you have your eyes closed Amaya?" he asked, tucking strands of her still wet hair behind her ear as he looked at her with an intensity that made Amaya's heart skip a beat.. Quite a few beats.
"I.. I.. I was trying to wake you up.. And you.. You rolled over.. And the bedspread.. It slipped.. I.. was just.. Trying to cover you up.." she stuttered and stammered as she struggled in his arms. "Why? There's nothing you haven't seen," he teased her. Amaya looked at Mantu horrified. "Mantu! You are so.. So.. Shameless.." she finally managed to find the words even has her thoughts jumbled into a mess as she watched Mantu's eyes darken with unconcealed desire. Mantu leaned in closer till there was hardly a breath that separated their lips and just then, her brain woke up from the big muddled mess it had turned into and she stopped him. He quirked an eyebrow at her questioningly and she said, "Not now. You need to get up and get ready. We have to go somewhere." "Amaya! Right now? Can't it wait? I have much much better plans for us for today.. Actually, the next couple of days.. The rest of our lives.. It starts with you letting me kiss you first and we will talk after I am done.." he said leaning in towards her again.
The sexiness of his gaze, his words and his thoughts almost made her want to forget about everything else but she forced herself not to fall for his charms. "Mantu.. This cannot wait. As for your plans.. We have our whole lives ahead of us to fulfill all your plans and promises. Listen to me this once, please? And I promise I'll make it up to you." The latter part was said in a husky whisper as she leaned in and placed a quick peck on his lips before winking at him. "Aha! Now you've got my undivided attention," he said mischievously. "Well then, Mr. Abhimanyu Shrivastav, you better get up and get ready. The sooner we go there, the sooner we'll be back and the sooner you'll get to hold me to my promise," she said, patting his cheek affectionately and getting off of him.
***
"Amaya, you wanted to come here?" Mantu asked as they stopped at the foothill of the temple where they'd won the Amar Jodi race. "Yes Mantu. I did not get to do the puja that day. I did not want to do it without you by my side. After all, you were my mannat," Amaya replied. "Now that my mannat has been fulfilled and I am yours, in every way possible, I wanted to come here to thank Mahadev," she said. The look of absolute love in her eyes tugged at Mantu's heart. What had he ever done to deserve her? He wondered. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. "I love you," he said, his voice choking with that overwhelming, overpowering rush of love he felt for her. "I love you too," she replied, standing on tip toe to kiss his eyes. He held his hand out to her and the two of them started the climb up to the mandir hand in hand.
THE END
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