कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारम् भुजगेन्द्रहारम् ।सदावसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥
At shiv temple : ~
{A 23-year-old girl, clad in a delicate red saree, stood with folded hands before the deities of Shiva and Parvati in the temple. The saree featured a golden border running along its edge, and her matching red blouse was similarly adorned with a golden trim. Her hair flowed loose around her shoulders. On her left wrist, she wore a white bracelet, while the ring finger of her right hand bore a beautiful golden ring set with a white pearl. Sunlight streamed in from the side of the temple, illuminating her face and making it appear even more radiant, her cheeks glowed with a rosy blush.}
Priest (pandit ji) :~ apna dahina haath (Right hand) aage karo balike laal dhaga (kalava) pehnana hai taaki aapko buri nazar na lage aur aap swasth (healthy) reh sako...
Nisha (female lead) :~ ji pandit ji...
{Then, Nisha extended her right hand, and the priest tied the sacred thread around her wrist. Afterward, having sought the blessings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati within the temple and touched the priest's feet, she distributed the *prasad* from her worship to everyone present in the temple before making her way to the other side of the premises. There, her friends Shivangi and Samragni were already waiting}
{A tent had been set up to one side, and preparations for cooking were underway, a task Nisha herself was going to undertake. Since today was March 16th, Nisha's birthday, she had planned the day as follows she would wake up early, bathe, and visit the temple,.subsequently, after performing her worship, she would personally cook a meal and serve it to everyone present in the temple, both those who had arrived earlier and those who would come later. The worship ceremony was now complete, all that remained was for her to carry out the next phase of her plan}
Shivangi :~ 10 baje ka bol ke gayi thi 11 baj gaye hai kitna time lagta hai tujhe...
Samragni :~ wahi to tab se bukhe hai hum dono ab raha nahi ja raha hai aur der bhukhe...
Nisha :~ Ha ha kyu nahi mai to badhiya dosa khake aa rahi hu 😒...
Samragni :~ Hein !? To hume kyu nahi bulaya hum kya dusman hai 😭 kitni bhookh lagi hai pata hai...
Shivangi :~ Areh bhukhad wo hume tana (taunt) maar rahi hai 🤦...
{It took Nisha longer to complete her worship because she was participating in the *Katha* (religious recitation). Shivangi and Samragni had accompanied Nisha to the temple, after finishing their own prayers, they returned to their work. Since Nisha was attending the *Katha*, it naturally took her more time, she returned only after the recitation concluded and she had received the blessings}
Nisha :~ Bhai tum log kya majak kar rahe ho abhi tak kuch nahi hua hai sirf Puja hui hai khana bhi banana hai khilna bhi hai khana bhi hai...
Samragni :~ Hum apna kaam kar liye hai ab tera baaki hai, saari vegetables cut kar diye hai, dough bhi ready hai and rice, sugar bhi rakh diye hai acche se ab tumhara kaam baaki hai....
Nisha :~ Accha thik hai tum log jaake baitho mai banati hu fir sabke khilayenge, okay?
Shivangi & Samragni :~ together *ji Malkin*...
Nisha :~ Han ji deviyon 🤭...
{Then,Nisha set a large pan over the stove, the flame flickering as she began sautéing the freshly chopped potatoes and pointed gourd. The aroma of the curry spices soon filled the air. With practiced grace, she moved on to the puris, rolling them into perfect circles before dropping them into the sizzling oil}
{She was so focused on the task that she barely noticed Shivangi and Samragni approaching. They had spent the morning spreading the word about the birthday feast, and Nisha, knowing how hard they’d worked, immediately urged them to sit and rest. But her friends wouldn't hear of it. With a shared smile and a shake of their heads, they stepped into the tent, rolling up their sleeves to join her. What was meant to be Nisha’s solo service quickly turned into a beautiful rhythm of three friends working side-by-side}
Nisha :~ Areh...tum dono thora rest kar lo kitna kaam karogi ab mai kar lungi...
Shivangi :~ Haaye daiya kar diya na hume paraya...nahi rahi na hum tumhare...koi baat nahi hum seh lenge 😭...
Samragni :~ Ha sehna hi padega behan mil gayi hogi koi new friend...koi baat nahi hai 🤧...
Nisha :~ samjh gayi mai mat karo itni overacting kar lo meri help 😩...
Shivangi & samragni :~ Dhanayawad (thank you) *Malkin*
Nisha :~ Areh deviyon...
{Now, they continued to remain engrossed in their work, before long, the vegetable curry and *puris* were ready. Nisha then began preparing the *kheer*, while Shivangi and Samragni went off to call everyone. The temple was furnished with chairs for seating and tables for dining, so everyone gradually started making their way over there}
{Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the temple grounds, a car pulled up and came to a halt right near the tent where Nisha was cooking. A seventy-year-old grandmother stepped out, her expression one of quiet devotion as she arrived to offer her prayers. Following her was her grandson, who appeared preoccupied, his mind clearly still tethered to the work he had been attending to during the drive}
Grand mother ~ beta yaha tak aa gaye ho andar nahi chaloge...
Reyansh (male lead) :~ bebe thora kaam hai isiliye agar aapko koi problem na ho to kar du aap jao mai yehi hu....
Grand mother ~ mai jaanti hu beta tu kyu nahi jana chahta lekin koi baat nahi hai...mujhe yakkin hai ki ek din tu iss baat ko samjhega...
Reyansh :~ (remained silent)
{As his grandmother began her walk toward the temple, Reyansh remained by the car, which was parked at a distance due to the temple's restrictions. He opened his laptop, intending to bury himself in work, but his past acted like an anchor, holding him back from the sacred space. Eventually, he abandoned the screen entirely, his gaze drifting toward the temple grounds}
That was when he saw her. On the other side of the premises, Nisha was beginning to prepare the kheer. Her hair was left loose, the dark strands constantly dancing across her face and obscuring her features as she busied herself with the pots and jars of pickles. Reyansh watched, mesmerized by her rhythmic movements. He saw her wait for the water to heat before adding the rice, but in her focused haste, she completely forgot the sugar.
{Just as the crowd began to gather for the feast, Nisha spotted an elderly gentleman struggling to navigate the road nearby. Without a second thought, she turned off the stove, believing her kheer was finished and perfect, and rushed to his side}
{From a distance, Reyansh watched it all unfold. He saw her gentle kindness as she took the old man’s hand, but he also knew the truth, the sugar was still sitting on the counter, and the kheer was incomplete. He felt a sudden, sharp dilemma...Before he could decide, his driver appeared, having escorted his grandmother to the temple entrance}
Reyansh :~ uncle (wo reyansh ke papa ki age ke the isiliye wo unhe uncle kehta tha) wo aaj madir me kya ho raha hai uss side (jaha nisha ne bhoj banaya tha aur log aake ikkatha ho rahe the uss taraf ishara karke puchta hai) ...
Reyansh uncle :~ beta aaj ek bacchi ka janamdin (birthday) hai to wo apne haatho se bhojan bana ke khilna chahti hai saare bakhto (Devotees) ko....
{Reyansh understood the situation perfectly, yet his feet felt like lead, he had a thousand reasons to stay away. However, the thought of someone’s sincere labor going to waste weighed heavier on his conscience than his own hesitation. Stepping out of the car, he began the walk he had avoided for years. With every step toward the temple, a voice in his head urged him to turn back, but he pushed forward. Sooner or later, he told himself, I have to let go of the past}
{Though he was only on the edge of the temple premises, the air felt different, heavy with memories. He reached the stove quickly, reigniting the flame and stirring in the sugar just as the kheer began to settle. He had barely finished when he caught a glimpse of Nisha returning. Not wanting to be seen, Reyansh retreated instantly, disappearing back toward his car before she could catch more than a shadow of his presence}
Nisha :~ (to herself) yaha koi tha kya...Areh thak gayi hu na jaldi jaldi sabko bhoj khila ke kha leti hu tabhi saanti milegi mujhe....
(Then Shivangi and Samragni come, she had called everyone and brought them)
Shivangi :~ chalo ab sabko bhojan kara deta hai...
Nisha & samragni :~ together *jii Malkin"
{It was only after everyone had been served and the temple staff stepped forward to handle the cleanup that Nisha, Shivangi, and Samragyi finally sat down to eat. Reyansh watched them from his car; he was puzzled unable to fathom why they were stopping their meal so soon after such a long and arduous morning though, deep down, he felt a sense of relief knowing that the day had been a success}
{His confusion was short-lived. The three girls stood up and walked directly toward the area where his car was parked not because of him, but because of the pani puri stall standing right there. It turned out that their "small appetite" was a strategic move, they had been saving every bit of space for a feast of spicy, tangy water-bombs. As they laughed and huddled around the stall, Reyansh found himself a silent witness to their joy}
Nisha :~ tum log waha itna Kam kyu khae...
Shivangi :~ 🤨 hein !? Aur hu ?
Samragni :~ Areh yrr choro ye sab hum sab jaante hai ki hum sab kam isiliye khae hai taaki pani puri se pet bhar sake apne....
{The three friends huddled around the stall, lost in the delight of the pani puri. Every burst of laughter and every stray comment reached Reyansh’s ears with crystal clarity. Because of the car’s dark tinted windows, he was completely invisible to them, a ghost sitting just inches away. While they remained oblivious to his presence, Reyansh sat in the silence of his vehicle, his eyes fixed on Nisha. He could see the way her face lit up with every spicy bite and hear the effortless joy in her voice, a stark contrast to the heavy silence he had carried all morning}
{For the first time, Reyansh’s gaze settled fully on Nisha. Draped in a vibrant red saree that seemed to catch every ray of the afternoon sun, she was a vision he couldn't look away from. As she stood right there, just inches from his car, laughing and eating pani puri, he found himself completely lost in her presence. The world outside the tinted glass faded into a blur, his work, his past, and his worries were all forgotten}
{He watched, mesmerized, as the sunlight hit her face, making her cheeks glow with a natural, rosy flush that outshone the heat of the day. In that moment, his silence wasn't just a habit it was a state of awe. He simply sat there, a silent spectator to her radiance, unable to pull his eyes away from the girl in the red saree who had unknowingly turned his world upside down}
Shivangi :~ Aur Nishu tumhare uss boyfriend me tumhe birthday wish Kiya ki nahi....ya apni parties me busy tha...
Reyansh :~ Boyfriend, accha baat hai....
Nisha :~ Nahi yrr kiya hai usne wish aisa to mat kaha karo usse...
Samragni :~ pyaar me itna aandha hona accha nahi hota hai....ek baar uski sacchai dekh le yrr samjh jayegi...hum tere dost hai dusman nahi....
Nisha :~ tum log mere dost ho wo mera pyaar hai wo accha hai yaar bas tum log hi samjh nahi pa rahi ho...ki wo kitna accha hai...
Shivangi & Samragni :~ together *tu samjh le behan hume nahi tujhe jauart hai*
Nisha :~ yrr please usko kuch mat kaho...
Shivangi & samragni :~ (together) okay...
Shivangi :~ Accha yaad hai na hotel room me saare friends ek saath milke party karenge...
Nisha :~ Ha...papa ka bhi call aaya tha raat me wo kal subah tak hi aa payenge yaha to tum log mere Ghar aa jana mere saath...hum saath me rahenge...
Samragni & shivangi :~ jii bilkul...
{Everyone heads off to the hotel, and they arrive there}
{Meanwhile, Reyansh's grandmother returns from the temple, and subsequently, Reyansh and his grandmother leave the premises. Reyansh heads to the office, and he also had an important meeting to attend, while his grandmother returns home with the driver}
{It was 7 o'clock when they all arrived}
{The transition from the cool night air to the vibrant, pulsing energy of the hotel suite was instantaneous. As the group spilled into the room, the celebration kicked into high gear. The space was already alive, Shivangi boyfriend was waiting to greet them, and Samragyi circle, a lively mix of four girls and four guys, had already set the tone for the night with music and laughter}
{In the center of the room, a cake sat ready on the table, its candles flickering like small, restless stars. The group crowded around, their voices a chaotic symphony of cheers and prompts, urging Nisha to take the knife and lead the celebration}
"Nisha, come on! The honors are yours" someone called out over the music...
{But for Nisha, the room had gone silent. The laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the insistent calls for the cake were nothing more than a dull hum in the background. Her world had narrowed down to a single point of focus, Aarush}
{She stood there, frozen in a moment of pure, unshielded vulnerability. While the others were lost in the party, she was lost in him. Her gaze was fixed, tracing the familiar lines of his face as if trying to memorize a story she wasn’t yet sure how to tell. In that crowded, noisy suite, the most significant thing happening wasn't the party it was the quiet, steady pull of her heart toward the man standing just a few feet away}
~: Flashback :~
{12 o'clock at night} :~ (16th march)
Nisha :~ Haa papa mai acche se rahungi aap tension mat lijiye ek din to late ho raha hai aap aaram se aayega...
Nisha's Father :~ Ha beta apna dhayan rakhna pata nahi tha kedarnath aaunga to itne din yehi reh jaunga...
Nisha :~ koi baat nahi hai papa aap aaram se rahiye mai thik hu koi dikkat nahi hai mujhe...
Nisha's Father :~ thik hai beta ab aaram Karo raat bahut ho gayi hai subah uthke ke mandir bhi Jana hai tumko...
Nisha :~ Ha papa mai ja hi Rahi hu bas sone... Good night papa...
Nisha's Father :~ Good night beta soo Jana ab....
Nisha :~ Ha papa soo jaungi....
{Then her father hangs up, and since her boyfriend's call was showing as waiting, she calls him back}
Nisha :~ Hello...
Aarush :~ kisase baat kar rahi kitne boyfriend bana ke rakhi ho jo itna time laga tumhe Mera call back karne me...kitne ladko se baat karti ho...
Nisha :~ Tum ye sab kya keh rahe ho mai apne papa se baat kar rahi thi sirf 5 min hi to hue hai...aur tum mujhpe ilzam lagane lage...
Aarush :~ sorry, sweetheart jaanti ho na tum mai tumse kitna pyaar karta hu ek min bhi nahi reh pata tumse baat kiye bagir aur tumhe khona nahi chahta kisi keemat pe nahi isiliye thora sa possessive hu ab apne pyaar ko maaf bhi nahi karogi...
Nisha :~ Tum jaante ho na mai tumse kabhi bhi gussa nahi ho sakti na tumse jada der tak naraz reh sakti hu maafi ki baat kaha se aayi...
Aarush :~ Ha mai sab jaanta hu meri hoor... Happy Birthday my sweet little hoor fairy...
Nisha :~ Thank you Aarush...
Aarush :~ Waise aaj meri hoor pari ka janamdin hai to usse pyaar karne ka haq hai na mujhe?
Nisha :~ Hum ek dusare se pyaar karte hai isiliye to relationship me hai na 3 year's se...
Aarush :~ Ha aur aapne hume humare inn 3 year's ki relationship me kabhi apne aap hi haath tak nahi lagane diya hai...kya yehi hai aapka pyaar...mujhe to kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki tum sach me mujhse pyaar karti bhi ho ki nahi...
Nisha :~ ye tum kya keh rahe ho Aarush tum acche se jaante ho ki tum mere liye kitna manaye rakhte ho...mai tumse kitna jada pyaar karti hu...fir bhi tum mujhse ye keh rahe ho...
Aarush :~ Agar itna hi pyaar karti ho to kyu nahi maan jaati...kyu nahi de rahi hu mujhe haq khud ko pyaar karne ka...
Nisha :~ Aarush abhi ye sahi nahi hai....
Aarush :~ Abhi sahi nahi hai to kab tum 23 year's ki to ho gayi ho ab aur kitna wait...ya mujhe boyfriend timepass ke liye banai ho aur shaadi kisi aur se karogi... isiliye mere kareeb nahi aana chaahti ho...
Nisha :~ ye tum kya keh rahe ho tum acche se jaante ho mai tumse kit..na pya..ar kar..ti hu...
Aarush :~ Ab ye awaaz band hone ka natak mere saamne mat karo jaise tumhe hurt ho raha hai...acche se jaanta hu tum jaisi ladkiyon ko pehle timepass ke liye relationship me aa jaati ho uske baad jab kareeb aane ki baari aati hai to mana kar deti ho kyuki tumhe ek saath bhaut lago ke saath timepass karna hota hai uske baad ek bhale acche sucessful insaan se shaadi karke settle ho jaati ho...
Nisha :~ Aarush maine ye relation ke liye mana Kiya tha Maine kaha tha baad me sidha shaadi karnege lekin tumne mujhe kaha koi na mai kabhi pressure nahi karunga bas relationship me aa jao mere saath taaki mujhe yaakin ho jaye ki tum hamesha mere saath rahogi kabhi chor ke nahi jaogi...iske liye tum mujhe force kiye the emotional blackmail kiye the...aur aaj tum keh rahe ho ki mere jaise ladkiyon ko acche se jaante ho kyu kar rahe ho tum mere saath aisa...
Aarush :~ sirf pyaar ka haq hi to maang raha hu mai isme pressure kya hai kya mera meri hoor pari pe koi haq nahi hai kya mujhe apne pyaar ko apna banane ka haq nahi hai...
Nisha :~ mai comfortable nahi hu pahle bhi woh chuki hu abhi bhi keh rahi hu bas...
Aarush :~ Okay Good bye waise bhi tumne Mera saara mood off kar diya soo jao kabhi akal nahi aa sakti tumhe...
Nisha :~ suno...
{After that, he hangs up the call}
{This was not first time Aarush had behaved this way}
{Four years ago, when Aarush entered Nisha's life, he was exactly the kind of virtuous person every girl imagines. He listened to everything Nisha said, cared deeply about her dreams, and presented himself as an idealist who detested the evils of the world}
{Nisha a pure hearted and emotional girl was swayed by this artificial decency. Aarush very gradually carved out a place for himself in Nisha's heart. It was a form of psychological grooming, he made Nisha feel that he was the only person in the world who truly understood her}
As their connection deepened, Aarush began to reveal his true colors, yet he did so with such subtlety that Nisha never even realized how sinister he was. He weaponized emotional blackmail...
"If you truly love me, can't you at least do this much for me?"
"I would die without you, my happiness lies entirely in your hands."
With these few short phrases, he instilled a sense of guilt in Nisha's mind. Nisha began to feel that if she did not heed Aarush's wishes, she would become a "bad girl." It was under this very pressure that their relationship began, a relationship that Aarush gradually transformed into a prison.
Aarush's next move was an attempt to force physical intimacy. To him, Nisha was no longer a person, but a prize, a trophy he was determined to claim at any cost. Nisha, however, had always maintained an unwavering boundary. She would repeatedly assert, 'I am not comfortable with this.' For her, touch was a sacred, consensual act, one she refused to offer until her soul was truly ready.
But Aarush's 'love' had now turned into an obsession. His mind was fixated on just one thought, How could Nisha have rejected me? He turned this into a matter of his masculinity and his victory. He wanted to possess Nisha, even if it meant crushing her will to do so.
Nisha's friends tried to reason with her time and again. They could see the greed in Aarush's eyes and the male chauvinism in his demeanor. But Nisha? She was in love with the "virtuous Aarush's" she had met four years earlier.
Her mind was torn in two:~
Her Friends:~ Who kept warning her, "He will ruin you."
Aarush's Indebtedness:~ The memories of those four years and the "emotional investment" Aarush had made.
Nisha felt that perhaps Aarush had merely lost his way a little, that perhaps she could bring him around. She simply could not bring herself to believe that the man she had revered as a god had turned out to be nothing more than a petty predator.
"Love has become a source of trauma for Nisha. She cries for a man who measures her worth only by his ability to possess her. In Aarush's world, her 'no' is a whisper drowned out by the roar of his own stubborn entitlement."
~: Flashback end :~
Nisha’s hands trembled as she picked up the knife to cut the cake. On the surface, everything appeared festive, yet within her, a storm was raging. Every bitter word spoken the previous night, Aarush's pressure, and her own silent screams, everything was replaying before her eyes like an old film. Her heart was heavy, and tears were welling up in the corners of her eyes, yet, she took a deep breath and held them captive within herself. Donning a fake smile, she began serving cake to everyone.
As Nisha approached Aarush, her heart began to race. With trembling hands, she fed him a piece of cake. Aarush ate it with great affection and wished her a 'Happy Birthday' once again. There was that same old allure in Aarush voice, that same old magic. And the result was inevitable, Nisha's heart melted. She completely forgot the immense pain this very man had inflicted upon her just the day before. Nisha's love was so deep and pure that a single sweet word from Aarush was enough to dissolve all her resentment. To her, Aarush was not merely a person, he was her entire world and how long, after all, can one remain upset with one's own world?
Later, amidst the music and laughter of the party, Aarush pulled her aside. Away from the prying eyes of the crowd, he began to offer his apologies for the previous night, his words dripping with a calculated sincerity that once again began to weave a web around Nisha’s heart.
Aarush :~ My sweet little hoor fairy apne iss bhondu pyaar ko maaf nahi karogi gussa ho...naraz ho mujhse baat nahi karogi...jabse aaya hu yaha tumhara rose jaisa chehra mujhaya hua hai kyu...kya hua hai...
Nisha :~ ye tum mujhse puch rahe ho ki hua kya hai?
Aarush :~ Sweetheart chota sa majak tha mai bas majak kar raha tum sach me mere baare aisa sochti ho tumhe sach me lagta hai ki tumhara pyaar kabhi tumhare saath aisa kar sakta hai...mai kabhi bhi apni little hoor fairy ke faisle ke khilaaf jaunga tumhe aisa lagta hai...mai kabhi bhi apni Malkin ki baat taal sakta hu kya aap hukum kiya kijiye...
Nisha :~ Aarush to kal wo sab kya tha...(In heavy voice)...
Aarush :~ Chota sa majak tha meri hoor...
Nisha :~ Aarush...
Aarush :~ Chalo ab itna emotional na ho...birthday haina chalo khush ho jao warna mai nahi reh paunga tumhre bina khush na jee paunga agar itna udaas chehra bana ke rakhi to...meri little hoor fairy muskurate hue acchi lagti hai...samjhi khabardar isko uadas kiya toh...
Nisha :~ Ha to aise kaam na kiya karo...
{he apologized so convincingly that her tender heart melted. Yet, in Aarush's mind, there was no remorse, only a conspiracy brewing}
Aarush :~ ji Malkin...chalo abhi yehi baitho mai abhi aata hu Mango juice lekar...
Nisha :~ Mai bhi chalti hu na...
Aarush :~ Bilkul nahi khabardar jo meri little hoor fairy ko tang kiya to aaram Karo mai aata hu....
Nisha :~ *Blushed*
{In the solitude of the kitchen, Aarush poured juice into a glass, though his intentions were far from pure. He pulled a small vial from his pocket and added a few drops to the drink, this was the key to his "physical conquest." Carrying the juice, he approached Nisha and, with an air of great affection, offered it to her. Without a shred of suspicion, Nisha drank down that deception from the very hands of her lover.}
{When Shivangi and Samragni insisted on staying, citing the absence of Nisha's father, Aarush's manipulation reached its peak. With a practiced ease, he lied about her father's return and insisted he would personally escort Nisha home. Exhausted and unsuspecting, the two friends surrendered to his logic, leaving Nisha alone in the darkening shadows of the hotel, trapped with a man whose obsession had finally stripped away his humanity.}
Chapter End
______________________________
~ What dark chapter from Reyansh's past has driven him away from the threshold of the temple?
~ Will Aarush succeed in his sinister intentions?
~ Will the veil of Aarush's decency ever fall from Nisha's eyes?
______________________________
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