The Cinderella Of Rewa

7. Vedika

"Ganga!", Vedika called out as she came out from the kitchen. Because that was where she slept now.

"Ganga!", she called again in a tone that suggested she was calling the mother of the rivers herself and not a maid. Vedika impatiently brushed off a strand of hair from her face as she looked for her friend. She had stopped combing her long hair or even looking at the mirror. There was no reason for a servant girl wearing dirty discarded clothes to look at the mirror, was there?

But the fact remained that the girl who had stopped all efforts for beautification was still the most beautiful girl in the mansion.

"What? Why are you screaming?", Ganga finally came into the kitchen courtyard, adjusting her own old and torn saree.

"Take the prasad into the hall soon or Daju Ma will beat us", Vedika said. It was unbelievable how she could still address the woman who had reduced her to being a servant in her own house as Ma.

Outside, the early morning sky stretched out like a bright orange silk saree embroided with gold and subtle tunes of birdsong could be heard.

The young insolent priest had arrived at the mansion again, this time with an entourage to perform the ceremony for the 31st day anniversary of Yashvant Thakur's death.

One wouldn't be able to believe how much had changed in one month.

The heavenly aura of the house that her father had designed had been destroyed to it's roots. Gaudy drapes and extravagant ornate furniture now adorned the chambers of the mansion. Vedika knew her father would've hated it.

In addition, the walls had been repainted in bright colours which gave most people a headache. Her stepmother and stepsisters loved vibrant things which was diametrically opposite to their dark and devious personalities.

But what Vedika detested most about the transformation of the house was a potrait that hung at the landing of the staircase in the centre of the hall. It was a huge ugly potrait of Devoleena Thakur, the new owner of the house and every last asset of her husband (including his daughter apparently).

Daju Ma had transformed as well. She hadn't stopped wearing her silks or rubies after Yashvant's death. In fact she seemed to have started wearing more of them. Today, she was wearing an auburn coloured saree with a set of opals that had once belonged to Anjali Thakur. She had however, stopped wearing her sindoor or tying her dark mahogany hair. The curls that used to be hidden inside her braid now framed her angular face on both sides. The black kohl in her eyes exceeded the amount in the kitchen fireplace. She looked more like a sorceress than ever.

And for some reason, everyone in the house seemed to dance to Daju Ma's tunes. They did not come forward to question her. Not when she chose to stay away from widowly behaviour, not when she changed the house the way she wanted, not when she made her stepdaughter a servant in the house.

•••

Flashback :

"What happened Daju Ma?", Vedika asked, "Where is everyone?".

Daju Ma smiled widely, "Vedika", she said in a voice that Vedika did not recognise. It was not the crisp, formal tone she always used on her. This tone was vindictive, venomous. It stung. "Prepare breakfast".

Vedika then knew that her father was truly gone.

"Pardon Daju Ma?", Vedika asked, though she had very well heard what her stepmother had said.

"You can ask for pardon if the breakfast you make is not upto my satisfaction", Daju Ma smirked.

"What? But..but...where is Rudra?", Vedika stammered, feeling ashamed for being nervous.

"Oh I've asked Rudra to take rest. The shock of his beloved employer's death has taken a toll on him. I've decided to be easy on him for a while. In the meantime, you can take care of the cooking. You can do that, can't you?", Daju Ma smiled widely.

Vedika was too shocked to speak. Her father had never asked her to even bring a glass of water from the kitchen. She found her eyes blurred by tears. It did not even occur to Vedika's stunned mind to disagree. She nodded blankly. Not realising, that she had just nodded her head into a life of gloom.

•••

Vedika placed the breakfast trays on the table as Devoleena, Sonakshi and Madhuri sat down. The two sisters kept smirking at her. Resisting the temptation to pick up one of the plates on the table and smash it on their heads, Vedika quietly moved towards her own seat when her stepmother loudly cleared her throat.

"If I'm not wrong, Rudra usually serves the food as well", Daju Ma remarked.

Burning in the face, Vedika got up and took out the rotis and ladled out the gravy she had just barely managed to put together, onto three plates. She then proceeded to take a roti for herself when her stepmother cleared her throat again.

"If I'm not wrong, Rudra usually never eats with us", she said.

"But I always eat here", Vedika blurted out.

"Maybe", Daju Ma shrugged "But since you're taking Rudra's place today, it only makes sense that you do what he does, right?"

"I only cooked the food because you asked me to", Vedika protested now sounding braver, "I am not a servant. I am the only heir of Yashvant Thakur, the owner of this house. I respect your wishes Daju Ma but I have a right to sit at this table".

There was a pause for a second. Sonakshi's and Madhuri's heads went from side to side as they blinked stupidly, wondering what to do.

Devoleena looked unmoved. She looked at Vedika with a pitying smile and made a sympathetic noise, "Tch..tch..look how deluded young girls are these days. My dear, the only heir? Of Yashvant Thakur? Owner of this house? Oh look at you! You kill me", she shook her head and gave a small laugh "Let me remind you Vedika. Your father is gone. I am now the owner of this house. My heirs are Sonakshi and Madhuri. And as for you...well, I'll see if you can still stay here as a maid...if you behave well, that is. I'm large hearted you know".

Vedika didn't want to say anything more. She turned around and started walking away when she heard that devious throat being cleared again.

"You know Vedika", she heard her stepmother's voice behind her "I was just wondering...why would a maid need so much jewellery and silks? Do one thing. Take those off and change into a more suitable attire. I'll ask your friend Ganga to give you one of her sarees. It'll be easier to work in those clothes".

Vedika ran into the kitchen without looking back. She found that her face was stained with tears. She was finally crying for her father's death.

A/N : Please tell me what you think of the story so far guys ❤️

Coming Next : Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise again. Just like Cinderella's life changed after the ball, Vedika's life too might change again after that one special day. But she needs to survive the dark night before that.