Episode 1~Past it is
"Jai jai girivraaj kishori..."
Prayed Kshitija and her sisters followed,behind whom stood the elders folding their hands in prayer.
They swayed the plate of Aarti round their beautiful Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati idol.
Lifting the folded hands up,and closing eyes in sincere devotion,each one of them called out a prayer to Ma Parvati in their heart.
"Keep my family healthy and happy Ma.Thats all I want"Vridhhi and Chandrika had the same wish.
"Ma,bless all of us with wisdom,inner strength and instinct.Let everyone reach their respective goal in life"Dev prayed.
Kalash asked,"There is nothing to ask for myself.Let our four daughters be worthy of happiness and success.Our happiness lies in their's."
"Ma,you know I have always felt a connection with you.All I want to do is to thank you,thankyou for favouring my decision and letting me come to my home.Ma,my past still scares me.I hope to vanish it through the deep love I get here.It feels they are my family,my own parents and my own sister.How had I thought I dont deserve any love!!You are magic,Maa.
Always be with me"Kshitija sighed.
'I'll,in the form of your loved ones.'came a voice from her conscience.
"You have already blessed us with a beautiful life.Still,I know there would be some or the other thing in each one of us's heart.I know,Papa,Ma,Chachu and Chachi will be all praying for us.Give them some time for their own love too,hehe.
Kshitija Di!I know she's still upset with what she had to face.But I promise Ma,she'll be loved so much everywhere.I'll do everything for Kshitija Di and Manasvini's happiness.Help Mani believe in herself and Shalu to have some more courage,else she's perfect.Give me the strength to be a support for all of them.Thats it."
"My both parents and my darling sisters,I know will always pray for all of us's welfare.I do it too.But I would also like to ask you something more.I want to be a good daughter and sister Ma,help me believe in me.I want nothing to be done that could be harmful for any of us.And now,help us find a very good husband for my Kshitija Di.Next is me naa.Help my bestie Shrijeeta fulfill her dreams.And my little sister to be more confident."
"My family tells me to be fearless.Though,I dont know why but it seems natural to me,I worry,I overthink,I judge each and every situation.And when I find any of my loved one in danger,I automatically burst into tears.That is how I am!Kshitija di tells that it is my love for them that she admires in me.And both Manasvini Di and Shrijeeta Di come up with several possible ways to tease me and make everyone laugh.But whatever they are!Let them be this jolly always.All of us have an essence,a mark we have made.And I could proudly boast about my family everywhere.So thankyou Ma!"
"I see,there's a a heavy document of prayers assigned to Gauri Ma to be read"Shrijeeta spoke as soon as everyone opened their eyes.
...
"Ah!very well."
Vridhhi smiled at Manasvini,while she cut a perfect cube of potato.
Back at the kitchen,Kshitija saw them,giggling.Chandrika came to help her in cooking,and seeing her thus,inquired for the same.She asked raising the eyebrows.
"There Chachi.Maa is teaching Mani and Mishri the basics of cooking."
"Finally!The day arrived.How much these two hate the household chores.Mishri just needs a reason to roam in the city and Mani starts studying as soon as someone calls her."
"Mani is still good.Look,she had cut the potatoes quite perfectly.
On the other hand..."
"Mishriii"Sunidhi shouted.
"What Ma?"cried Shrijeeta still trying to figure out how much energy she would require to cut the onion.
"You are not supposed to murder it?Are you?"
"I am"
"What?"
"Oh!I mean no,its a damn vegetable"
"You have to cut it into slices,thats easy."
"No its not.And why have you given me an onion?It so hard.I'll end up cutting my finger into slices."
"You havent been able to cut anything except chillies in your 21 years of age."
"Maa!22 I am!!
Well,I am leaving.We have an important assignment today.Bye"
She stood up,washed her hands and left.
"Assignment?Sunday?"
Vridhhi asked Mani to continue.
"Leave that girl"
"She's crazy,badi Maa"
...
Manasvini and Shrijeeta sat at their parked scooties.They were there,happily eating golgappas and waiting for their other friends to arrive.
"You love thrill.Dont you?"Mansavini asked Shrijeeta.
"I love everything concerned with my passion and profession!"
She enthusiastically replied.
"But you love it too,do you Mani?"
"I do.Infact,being the daresome we are,we both would love to explore life as far as we could"
"Absolutely!We are like...free birds,but with that smart eyes and strong wings,which know what is wrong and what is right."
Mani smiled,Mishri was not her cousin,but her best friend.
And Mishri knew,though Mishti was her soul sister,she would always find herself in Mani.
Both of them were Vats,and they knew how to balance all types of relations.
"The sole aim of our lives upto now.."
"...To be highly independent and look after our family"
They reapeated line after line.
...
"So when is the convocation,girls?"Kshitija asked.
"Soon.The very next month"sighed Shrijeeta.
"I cant believe you two grew up so soon.It was just a while when you gave your board exams and I had to teach you for them"
"It wasnt another while Didi,when you left to Delhi for your MBBS,only to return now."Manasvini answered,switching the channels on the telivision.
Three of them laid in Kshitija and Shrijeeta's room,with Kshitija sitting in the middle and the rest two laying on her bed by alternate sides.
"Mishri.Will I ever be able to understand your takes or decisions?You started with law and now have decided to go with management."
"It happens only with Mishri Dii"
A dozzing Shalviya said from her sleep as she laid in Kshitija's lap.
Shrijeeta took a cushion and threw it at her.
"Sleep!"
"And what brought Manasvini to engineering when she wanted to pursue what?"
"Strange ways Didi.We want to experiment with our lives.Dont know where it would take us?"
"And I know,both my sisters has the courage to counteract everything that life throws at them."
"That would be a life.But in all our experimenting,Di will you be there to look after our parents?"
"Ofcourse.I cannot partake with that responsibility at any cost."
"Umm..Didi...you know what?"
"What?"
"Mani is hesitating a lil to ask this!"
"Ask?What?"
"About your marriage Di"Mani asked.
"Oh!Tell her fast Di,she can't wait for her turn."Mishri giggled.
"I can't"Mani replied.
"Stupid,you are just 22."
"Who is telling you that I'll get married at 22?Even Kshitija Di would be just engaged by now.And marriage when she turns 26"
"I know idiot!
But Mishti Didi,on a serious note,are you ready?"Mishri asked.
"My case has always been different,right Mishri?"Kshitija gave a sad smile.
"No..I mean..ah leave it.We should never marry"
"Stop your philosphies now,Miss Shrijeeta Vats.
Didi,tell me how do you want your relation to be?"
"Not here.Lets go there,the place where universe listens to all our dreams and grants them"Mishri got up and Mani excitedly dragged Mishti to the huge balcony.
"So..!?"
Came some voice from the down end.
"Listen Vridhhi.Have your dinner.There is no benefit of skipping it"
Dev was trying to repent for yet another small argurment he and Vridhhi had.They have been this all these years.
"I want a relationship just like your parents,Shrijeeta"
Kshitija answered.
The same cool breeze blew once again.
"What?Aren't they your parents too Di?"Shrijeeta asked surprisingly.
Kshitija sighed.
"The Universe knows it all.I can't lie.
Its not that they aren't my parents,but tell me Mani,who would want a relation like MY PARENTS?"she stressed the last words.
"Didi"Mani hugged her from side.
"Di,I dont need to tellyou,you know it.Changes are lovely,though it was a big change,you've to move ahead.Love is waiting for your whole life.I know it won't be easy.We have seen you.But anything that harms your growth,your happiness needs to be rooted out."
They said.
Kshitija nodded.
"Hmm"She closed her moist eyes,whispering
"My parents"
"Your past"answered the universe back to her.
"Past it is...that makes present fragile"
Veer Hanuman
Anupamaa
