Sumitra looked around her son's room , tears brimming in her eyes….. it had been ages since she saw her son up close n she had never entered his room in the last 10 years ………… she trembled in shock n pain as she remembered the last time………… it had been krishna's 15th birthday n he was soon to be send to boarding school n she had sneaked into the room unable to resist the urge to see him, in the middle of the night …….. she had trouble not to succumb to emotions when she saw her son sleeping peacefully …………he was in the process of attaining manhood, puberty showing its signs ….she could see her son becoming a very handsome young man…. She stopped herself from touching him n had tried to go away as silently as possible but had slipped n grabbed frantically at the near by vase , toppling it …………. Krishna had woken up , at first in shock which had turned into confusion when he saw her trying to scramble towards the door in consternation , after he turned the light on……. That was when she had realized how much her son hated her , yet earned for her love……his eyes had widened in wonder , at first , then unmistakable yearning to come close to her ……then it changed …. His eyes were full of hatred n anger , with underlying pain , as he had sneered at her asking whether she came to kill him in his sleep……….. never before had she wished to die , than at that moment … tears spilled from her eyes like a fountain…..' beta , I…..' she began, her voice hoarse from lack of use, pleading ………. 'don't !!!... get lost u vile woman!' he snarled , coming forward n gripping her upper left arm in a surprisingly painful grip for a boy , n had wrenched opened the door, shoving her with all his might to the floor outside ……….she had looked up at him from the floor, biting down the yelp of pain …….'I am not ur son! Do ur nautanki in front of Chandu …spare me …..! ' he had hissed, his voice choking in anger n pain, but his eyes piercing her tearful ones…..she looked at him, pleadingly , trying to crawl towards him , as she sobbed …'pls….krishna….I….' …his face looked tortured as he had banged the door shut in her face…… she had heard something breaking inside the room when she called his name helplessly as Krishna swore , his fists banging on the door , shouting 'go away', his voice wrenching ….. she had spend the rest of the night n a fair part of the dawn groping at the door, crying her heart out , silent sobs wrecking her body …………..
Sumitra turned her face away from the glare of the afternoon sun as two maids started wrestling with the curtains to get them down , coming out of her memories ……she looked around the room….the cleaning was over ………one maid came to the room , her hands full of the new sheets , another one following with new curtains ……………. Two servants followed , carrying stools to help them secure the curtains …………. Sumitra sighed ……… some life for the mailkin of the house !... but she found that she liked it…. Even if she had the status of malkin , she would have done what she did …….. seeing to it personally that her son's room is ready …….. seeing to it personally that the food is alright ….. 'er…malkin' called one maid timdly , causing sumitra to grimace weakly 'yes, saritha ?' she asked , her voice kind ……..'I found this under the cupboard …' the maid gave the gunghroo over to sumitra ……. Sumitra's eyes filled with sad tears as she took it , her frail fingers caressing it …….'hmmm…' she sighed , nodding n dismissing the maid ……… he was still keeping it……or did he threw it away ? ….. throw away …. But not too far ……….she thought in sadness……….. she tensed , as Chandu came into the room , carrying 2 jewel boxes , his face contorted in anger n hurt …….he looked around the room, throwing the boxes on the now freshly made bed as he shouted 'still not ready ! what r u doing here? Lolling away ?'
a stunned n uneasy silence followed as the maids n servants stared at him in confusion n Chandu looked shocked n apologetic , his gaze not meeting any of them…… 'I ….I am sorry …. I ….am a bit stressed n …' 'its Ok chandu ….. u have too much on ur plate ……don't worry everything will be fine by the evening ….' Sumitra said , feeling weird as she haven't seen chandu this much agitated n angry , ever ……. Chandu looked ashamed 'sorry ma…I ….I was thinking something else n …..' he folded his hands , looking down ….. 'don't worry too much Chandu ….. ' sumitra patted him over his hands affectionately ……… the servants relaxed , still sending curious glances at chandu as they resumed their work……. Sumitra looked closely at Chandu , who was now busy arranging the jewel boxes over the bed side table ……… he looked disturbed n angry ……..n hurt ……… 'what happened , beta?' she asked , her hands over his bend shoulder ……. 'nothing…ma…' he told , turning n trying to smile at her , but his smile froze the moment his eyes fell on the gunghroo…….. anger n revulsion filled his face as he snatched it from her hands , saying 'why is it still here….? Just throw this thing away …..' sumitra looked on in a bit of shock as Chandu threw the gunghroo out of the room ……….. it skated through the floor just outside the room , but only to meet the boot of krishna , who stopped it with his feet , his eyes on chandu ………..
sumitra fell back with the other servants n maids as krishna bent n picked it up , his eyes hard as he wondered at the contrasting feelings now rising up inside him………he felt happiness on finding it again , the kind which he had never experienced n also anger at the same time……….. he entered the room , his fingers tightening around it ….he looked around the room in distaste ………. 'why throw it away ? I think I can find the right use for it ….' He said, his voice low , his eyes glinting in anger ...he threw it lightly over the carpet , as he sat down on the couch , not even glancing at the direction of the maids …….Chandu glanced nervously at Sumitra as he walked forward , while one servant rushed to remove his shoes … 'The room isn't ready yet , krishna …… you need to eat lunch n be ready for the evening ……. The …. ' he cleared his throat …'the traditional gift for the bride of the haveli is ready ……. ' he said , nodding at the jewel boxes …….. krishna glanced from the gunghroo on the floor to the boxes , relaxing back on the couch , a dangerous smirk on his face……….. 'out ……..' he ordered , as Chandu removed his pagadi n the servants n maids hastened to obey ……….. 'baalu, bring the lunch for chote thakur here…' said Chandu , glancing at Sumitra for one more time………..
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'I will be fine ma, don't worry …..' smiled Pratigya through tears as she fed her mother ……she had changed into a simple salwaar as soon as she came back from the temple…..this was probably the last time she will get to feed her ma….. to talk to her ma…..… 'u r lying ….' Renuka said, her voice weak ……. 'I ….' Began Pratigya …….'r they forcing u to marrying that boy who kidnapped u …?' asked renuka , trying to keep her eyes open ………. Pratigya was shocked …. So her mother was not completely defeated …she still knew what's happening around her …….. tears of sorrow filled her eyes as she hugged her mother ……….'there's nothing like that ……..he …he is a very good man….. I will be happy , ma…..don't ….don't worry ….' She chocked through her lie……… her felt revolted at herself……..how easily is she lying ….!!! 'r u saying this to appease me……?' whispered renuka , searching her daughter's face ………'no …not at all ma…. I will be happy …..I …am …happy !' assured Pratigya clasping renuka's hands ………. Renuka smiled weakly …….. 'this was not the way I wanted ur marriage beti…….. but if u r happy , then I don't want anything else…… u escape from this hell n live ur life……. That's all I want…..' she said through tears …… Pratigya grimaced in pain as she hugged renuka ………..the sudden hope in her mother 's eyes for her was sheer torture ……………
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Krishna glowed in the golden sherwaani n turban ……….. his eyes stared at his image lazily , occasionally glancing at the gunghroo still on the floor ………….Chandu dismissed the servants as Sajjan n Pratap entered the room ……… Sajjan looked at krishna , his face hard ………… he was finding it difficult to make sense of his own emotions ……….. happiness had been sucked out of his life years ago …… n the only source of his happiness now was his son……… n here when every father would be feeling proud n happy on his son's wedding all he could feel was a creepy uneasiness …………. N detachment……… may be bec , he knew that for krishna it was all a joke ……………just a necessary step to prevent an unnecessary scandal ! ………… krishna smiled at sajjan , raising his eyebrow , silently asking him how he looked ……… sajjan winked good naturedly , surprised as he laughed 'oh ! started asking my opinion now ! ' krishna looked away ,suddenly feeling embarrassed…….. since when did he asked anybody about how he looked ……….. ! his mind reeled back to the appreciating smile in her eyes while she gazed at him at the temple ……….. Stop ! …. Pratap's eyes fell on the gunghroo , n krishna noticed it …………… he walked forward n picked it up, as sajjan's eyes narrowed in confusion ……….. 'keep it safe …….. I want it when I ask for it …..' krishna said , throwing the gunghroo to Chandu ………… Chandu caught it, feeling bewildered ……. 'let's go ….' Krishna said , smiling broadly n started to walk then stopped ……… he smirked boyishly at sajjan n bent to touch his feet 'show some manners bauji, ur son is getting married …..' sajjan rolled his eyes at Chandu n Pratap n tapped krishna on his head over the turban , laughing as he said 'do it ur way then …… have fun , krishna ……..' 'I will , bauji …' krishna said , smiling ……………
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Almost all the guests had arrived n the hall n grounds of Defense Minister was thronging with people ……….. men n women flashed their richness n prestige in various degrees , trying to look important n close to either Sajjan or Shailendra ………….. media was kept away ………… Pratigya had thought that she would be trembling in fear at what's happening to her n going to happen in minutes , but oddly she felt numb ……………as though she was dead ……………. Bodies n sounds surrounded her but she couldn't see or hear them……….. she felt suffocating as some girls dragged her to the balcony when the groom arrived…………….. n yet she could feel an unknown excitement enveloping her as she saw him arrive on top of a magnificent horse ……… inspite of herself , she felt a soothing calmness filling her as she watched him look up , his eyes searching , undoubtedly for her…. She felt a jolt when she realized that she knew he was searching for her as their eyes met …………. She turned away , trying to slow down her heart which started beating in double speed……………
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Manjula welcomed Krishna by putting tilak on his forehead , smiling enthusiastically ……….. Krishna gave her a bored look , walking in …………… he saw Pratigya climbing down the steps flanked by many others…… but his eyes only saw her………. She looked breath taking in the wedding attire, he thought , before gritting his teeth n reprimanding himself in anger……he averted his eyes in confusion………. What's wrong with u Krishna ? u want her , right? Just enjoy her ……….! Her sight , taste…… Why do u keep on denying u what u want? ………. I don't know…… U don't know ? No! not again ! ……… he clenched his fists in frustration………….. which turned into pure naked desire the moment he looked up to see Pratigya accepting a garland from a nearby woman , her hands clutching at it , face drooped down , walking slowly towards him…… the vision was so sensual……n he felt odd that more than the vision , the fact that was now turning him on was the notion of her welcoming him..…
Pratigya felt horrible n excitedly shy at the same time as one woman extended her the garland……..suddenly she couldn't breathe , contrasting emotions of repulsion n excitement chasing through her mind , her heart prepared to burst….she kept her eyes down , concentrating on walking…..trembling slightly , she could see his feet as she leaned up to put the garland around his neck ….she let go immediately as she felt a horrible feeling fill her ……… it was horrible bec she had felt the same strange feeling of the world around her shrinking to him……n him alone….! She could see only him……… n she could feel happiness ! happiness ? as she felt as though welcoming him …..in her life! Life? Stop! ….. she wanted to scream….….
He fought to keep his face inscrutable as he found himself bend his head a bit , his eyes on her flushing face , to aid her to easily put the garland around his neck……….. he struggled to decipher any coherent thought that passed through his mind then n felt a jolt when he drew blank…….. although he could feel his heart beating faster …….. what's happening to him? ………. He started as he felt Chandu nudge him , thrusting a garland into his hands …… he looked at it , n then at her form , caressing his fingers smoothly over the petals for a split sec before leaning in to put it around her neck , a curious feeling filling his heart ……… he felt happiness, for all the wrong reasons ! he felt the happiness not bec he now owned her , but bec he was welcoming her to be with him……n the fact that she will be with him, from now on !……. What the hell ? he looked at her shocked, feeling strange n …afraid …n then angry ! No , he won't let her affect him!!!! … Pratigya could feel her heart roaring like drums as she felt him garlanding her , feeling even more stranger ……………. She could feel as if herself getting surrounded by a protective shield ……… she looked up , feeling scared ……… how could she feel protected when he is the one who will be turning her life to hell! when she is forever fated to be at this devil's feet…………! Forever? At his feet? U r pathetic Pratigya! Given up already? ……. No! u r going to escape with ur mother ……….. away from all the hell surrounding u….. from him! Yes! …. They stared at each other in a new found anger …………
Hope u liked it 😳
CID
