Earth and heaven reverberated alike with the tinkle of khartal and the rhythmic chants of hymns that followed.
Sweet fragrance of marigold adorned the breeze while the bright yellow flowers adorned the doors and windows alike on every alley and street.
The day of Chaitra Shukla pratipada - the state of Nandagrah was all set to welcome the new year as well as Maa Durga - the divine mother.
It was no different in Agendra's house. Decorated with beautiful flowers, his house reverberated not with the chants but with moans of agony.
Another hour had passed and daylight bode goodbye. The painful cries of his wife had only increased. Agendra grew more anxious.
With the ascent of night hours, the surroundings echoed with the prayers being offered to the divine mother.
Agendra got up from his spot - one that he was sitting on for the last many hours, and walked to the small temple cradled in the midst of the house.
It was time he welcomed the grace of divine mother in his house.
He placed a wick in the diya and poured some oil before lighting it before the idol of Maa Durga. His wife was in labor for hours. The midwives had been in and out of the room a couple of times, yet there was no news. Little Abhay was with the neighbors since this morning.
Giving another look to the door of the room, Agendra faced the idol and bowed down, seeking the divine mother's mercy.
Suddenly, he realized that the cries of his wife had stopped. Then, the unmistakable sound of the door opening reached his ear.
In a snap, Agendra was standing in front of the mid-wives. The head woman, but, looked glum.
"Agendra, son, you haven't been lucky the second time...... It is a girl."
The woman patted his shoulder as if in condolence, and with slumped shoulders, the two women left.
Infinitesimal creases graced Agendra's brow. "Haven't been lucky?! Hypocrites! They worship Maa Durga, and yet, having a girl child is not being lucky."
His angry mumbling stopped when he stepped inside the room, and his eyes met an endearing sight.
A paled Kalyani, his wife, was nursing a little bundle. Agendra stepped closer to the bed.
"Let me hold her, Kalyani."
Kalyani smiled, letting him take her in his arms. He seemed eager as he peeked at the closed eyes of the little girl.
A tiny yawn later, the little girl fluttered her eyes open, blinked a few times at the man holding her in his arms, to let him see her eyes, and slipped back to sleep, leaving a chubby smile for her father to adore.
"Not lucky, huh?! More than lucky, I am blessed. The divine mother has graced my house. Welcome...... Neelakshi!"
*
A clay horse jumped down the wooden stool and sped off around the verandah. Sat on a divan with his wife, Agendra laughed at the gallops sound that Abhay kept making while taking his clay horse round the house.
For a soldier of his stature, having such carefree moments with his family was soon becoming infrequent. "He seems eager to learn riding a horse." Agendra pointed to his wife Kalyani who was churning something in a mortar and pestle.
Kalyani peeled away her gaze from the mortar and pestle and settled it on her kids.
A pair of chubby feet hobbled behind a trotting Abhay. It was a three years old Neelakshi who was trying to catch her brother. Such sight had become common nowadays.
Following Abhay, Neela plonked near his toys.
"Play with Neela, Abhay." Kalyani had to urge him every time.
"No, I won't!" Abhay crossed his arms, he was irritated.
It was a sudden and unexpected outburst.
"Why not? She is your little sister, Abhay." Agendra was calm when he tried to assuage his eight years old son.
"Yes, she is my sister, a girl. I play with horses, soldiers and swords, pitaji. She cannot play with me! These are not meant for her! I want a brother to play with and to practice with, pitaji!" Throwing a dirty look at Neela, a prickly Abhay raced away from the verandah.
Oblivious and happily immersed in her world, Neela crawled to a small wooden sword.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
A giggle followed the thuds. It seemed Neela was enjoying rapping different surfaces with the toy.
"Our girl has chosen her toy, Kalyani."
The smile on Agendra's face was clear and assuring.
YOU ARE READING
Neelakshi
Historical Fiction"A process of transition always gets opposed at first. A little resistance, a little ignorance but eventually, masses start to understand its significance and start to accept it." * Trained secretly by her father General Agendra, the only woman warr...
