FF: Pyaar in the Pink City Pt32/Pg106(Concluded) - Page 53

Originally posted by: wiwy

Awesome description of the festival of Teej. The lyrics of the song are beautiful. Thankyou for introducing me to something so lovely.👏

Bouquet of pencils for you from me!⭐️🤗

Originally posted by: ForLoveofBarun

Thanks to you ra Haritha, for diligently reading and commenting. Hyderabad lo inka time untundani anukunte, ikkada maa vaallu godava pettesthunnaru. Asthamanam ee laptop ni pattukoni unntavu anntu. Andhukani maa amma tho deal set chesanu. Thanu thana serials chhosthunnantha sepu neenu na laptop lo na ishtam vachinantha emaina chesukuntanu ani.😉

Any way the story will be rapidly moving to climax. I was hoping to wrap it by chapter 25, but seems like it might hit 30. But it is heading to wards the finale. I will try to post the next update soon. Pakka promise. 😃

Originally posted by: psarada

When is the next update, Are you doing it today? Not bad doing a good deal with your mom. Ante ippudu nunchi I have to beware if my girls make these kind of deals with me. Will be waiting for your update.

Dear Readers,

Thank you for your comments on the Teej update🤗 . I was pleased with the way that chapter had turned out, needless to say Chaudhary is one of my favorite songs. I am back with an early update this time.

You know the drill by now. Read, enjoy, hit like and comment.😉

Pyaar in the Pink City(English)

Disclaimer: I do not own these pictures. They have been procured from internet sources open for public consumption, and have been used here for illustrative purposes only.

Part 23

Snakes and Ladders

"For every snake, there is a ladder; for every ladder, a snake"

Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children

Dhruv scanned through the google map on his smartphone as the car sped west leaving behind their five star accomodation and headed towards the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple was only about five Kilometers away, but given it was Teej that day and that Kashi was one of the holiest of holy places, the streets were congested with every type of automobile and cramped with human bodies of every hue and color imaginable.

It was impossible to make much progress. He knit his brows anxiously and looked in the rear view mirror catching his papa's eyes; the same thought crossing their minds, "Their quest for Murli Manohar Jha and Sita Devi had yielded a big fat zero thus far." They had knocked on the doors of almost every old age home, orphanage and shelter, since their arrival in Kashi a few days back without much luck. Finally, they had given up and were planning to head back to Delhi the very next day. On Manorama's insistence they had decided to stay back for the night so she could break her fast in the holy temple of Kashi Vishwanath, which is where they were headed at the moment.

"Hello Hai Bye Bye, I cannot does arti like Anjali bitiya but dear God peleeej help us in our mission" sang Manorama as she made her way up the steps leading to the temple holding on to her husband's arm for support while Dhruv lingered at the Ghat; his eyes taking in the thronging crowds, his nostrils flaring at the pungent and acrid smell of burning flesh from the corpses being cremated on the holy ghats.

He cringed at the state of the holiest of Hindu rivers, the Ganges, which was polluted with even the life-giving oxygen being suffocated out of its waters. The biologist in him recalled snippets from a white paper he had reviewed years back on the 'Floral and Faunal diversity in middle Ganga' which had cited that it supported 356 species of phytoplankton, 114 species of periphyton, 58 species of zooplankton, 51 families of insects, eight families of molluscs, assorted group of annelids as zoobenthos and 126 species of fish, not to mention higher vertebrae such as the dolphins.

"Unfortunately, the holy river is also one of the most polluted with the highest count of bacterial and faecal coliform and the lowest levels of dissolved Oxygen per ml of water. The rapidly diminishing number of dolphins over the years is a surefire indicator of the increasing levels of pollution." He mused sadly, turning around to make his way into the temple, when he saw a middle-aged man teetering over the steps clutching his chest; his face contorted in pain.

Within seconds Dhruv had leaped over several stairs and caught him just before he fell back much to the relief of his wife who had turned around at the nick of the moment and stood petrified at the sight of her teetering husband. Within minutes Dhruv had dispatched a few of the onlookers to fetch their driver and call the nearest hospital. He quickly picked the portly man up and laying him on flat ground proceeded to administer chest compressions, pausing to check his pulse at regular intervals. Just as their driver arrived, he heard the man cough up and open his eyes while his heart began pumping at an uneven rythm.

"Quick in the car, we should not risk it. He needs Medical supervision" shouted out Dhruv hastening the crowd to pick the man up in a makeshift stretcher and rushed him towards the waiting car, leaving a bewildered Manorama and Manohar behind with a terse, "Maa, Papa, wait for me, I'll admit him in the hospital and come back for you."

************

Ajay whistled as he emerged from the bathroom, a spring in his step and a mile wide smile on his face. He pulled on his shirt and stroked the light stubble on his left cheek. He could still feel her lips imprinted on them. The memory put the grin back on his face as he hurried through his daily routine, impatient to get to the table for breakfast where he would find her. Teej had indeed been a turning-point in his relationship with Anjali, if he could call the strange tug of war between them as a relationship. He recalled their parting conversation from the previous night right outside her bedroom door.

After the festivities, they had headed back to the haveli in groups. Anjali and he had held back with unspoken consent, ending up being one of the last to ride back to the haveli with a sleeping Tashi and Ramu kaka as their co-passengers. He had stopped to put Tashi to bed while she had waited by the stairs for him to join her. She had slipped her hand into his as they slowly made their way to their bedrooms on the second floor.

He liked the fact that she had waited for him, he loved it that she had held on to his hand, he reveled at the feel of her against him as their bodies brushed against each other and if he could have his way they could have continued on forever. But all too soon they had found themselves outside her room. "Anjali" he had said in a strained voice. Her fragrance and proximity were making his head spin.

She had turned slowly and enveloped him in a wholehearted hug as she answered his mute question in a husky voice, every inch of her quivering, "Ajayji give me a little more time, and I'll give you the answer you seek." Rising on her tippy toes she had pressed her lips against his cheek in a long and lingering kiss.

"Papa," called out Tashi tentatively, walking into his room with a thoughtful look on her face, breaking his reverie.

"What's up Tashi?" asked Ajay raising an eyebrow at her solemn reflection in the mirror.

"Papa, I have made an important decision and I don't know how you will feel about it." She declared gravely, meeting his eyes in the mirror. Ajay paused, turned and drawing her in his lap sank into the wicker chair.

"That serious huh? I am all ears. Go on Tashi, spill." He said schooling his impish expression into a suitably neutral one.

"Papa, you know how I always wanted to be a boy like you, and all my clothes have been Jeans and pants and shorts, like the ones a boy would wear. I wear my hair short. However, over the past few days I have realized, I don't want to be a boy after all. Being a girl is so much cooler. Just look at Anjie aunty, Khushi aunty, Maya Aunty and Payal aunty. They are all girls, they dress like princesses but they are all so smart. Besides, Anjie aunty says that to be strong one does not have to be a boy. There is strength in flexibility, and only girls are most flexible. So papa, are you very disappointed with my decision?" she asked, her wide innocent brown eyes seeking validation from her hero, her dad.

Ajay felt a lump lodging in his throat as he pulled her into a tight hug. Stroking her hair he whispered, "Not at all. Infact, Anjie aunty is absolutely rightb. You will make a lovely, strong girl and will always be your papa's princess. I am proud of your decision. Now let's go downstairs for breakfast my lady. Your subjects await you and your papa, the king is starving."

************

Spirits were high. Laughter and conversation flowed easily around the dining table in Malhar's great hall that morning. Ajay called out a casual greeting to everyone and smoothly slipped into the chair next to Anjali, covering her hand with his under the table while nonchalantly pouring himself orange juice from the carafe. Anjali gasped and struggled in vain shooting him murderous side glances that he easily ignored.

Arnav, Akash, Maya and NK were discussing the impending press conference and sneak-peek-party of Vrindavan to be held in a couple of days. It was NK's brain child for the promotion of AR's newest resort and he had discussed the details with Nitin already. Anjali soon got into the thick of the conversation as did Ajay. The who's who of the city and their combined business circles were to be invited to the event and all major media were to cover the event to provide maximum exposure to the pre-launch promotion of the resort.

Just as breakfast was winding down, Jai Govind appeared by Anjali's side holding a wrapped gift basket and handed it to her saying "Ma'am, This package was delivered by courier late last evening. Since it was quite late by the time everyone returned back from the temple, I was unable to give it to you last night".

"That's quite fine Govindji. Thank you. I wonder who could be sending me gifts?" Anjali wondered aloud as all eyes centered on her curiously while she opened the package to reveal a leheriya saree, sindoor and bangles along with a sealed note that had written across it in a precise and a very familiar hand the word - 'Raani Sahiba".

Anjali stood up as she opened the note with shaky fingers and read through it. When she reached the end of the note she paled visibly and collapsed on her feet, even as Ajay and Arnav reached out to hold her before she hit the floor.

Khushi rushed forward and picking up the note read it out to the assembled family "Dearest Rani Sahibha. I have no doubt that you are observing a fast for my wellbeing on this holy day of Teej as you always do. And I too have got you your gift as I always do. I look forward to seeing you in person the next time my darling. With love, Shyam."

Akash swore ripely shocking the family while Ajay stalked off to question the household help for a description of the person who delivered the package, and Arnav carried Anjali to her room.

************

Shyam sipped his tea as he waited for his train to arrive, clad in a khadi kurta with a cotton bag slung across his body, the very picture of a journalist on an assignment. Stormy grey clouds gathered overhead snuffing out the brilliance of the mid-afternoon sun, but it did not dampen Shyam's happy mood. He was all smiles for he would be in Jaipur to cover the press conference of the Raizada's pre-launch of Vrindavan Resorts, and more importantly to see for himself how his Rani Sahibha was doing.

He had heard that she was heading this project on behalf of AR Group. "It would be a big day for my Raani Sahibha. How can I afford to be not there at that moment?" he chuckled at the thought.

************

"A press conference called for by Arnav Singh Raizada. Of course I'll be there. Kitten, reschedule all my appointments on that day and fetch me the complete guest list to the event within the next couple of hours." Ketaki ordered her assistant, trailing her immaculately manicured finger along the edges of the invitation.

"Where there are Raizadas and Rathods, there is bound to be a spicy story. And even if there was none, all the ingredients that go into the making of one will be present under one roof. What more could a creative media person need to spin out spicy gossip? As a bonus, I'll get to show that Anjali where I stand with Ajay. My five year wait for Rathod cannot go in vain." She resolved, her eyes hardening as she zoomed in on the video image of Anjali enjoying the Teej procession from the previous day along with Tashi and Viren Chacha.

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PS: I could not suppress my inner biologist from adding the blurb-full-o-facts that you will see in this chapter. Besides, Dhruv is an oceanographer and it's my crafty way of establishing his personality you see.😆