𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟔 ：𝑬𝒌 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒎 𝒌𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒂 ✓

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘝. 𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘵

[Play the song from the beginning of the chapter]

Edward's heart sank as the words left Meera's lips. Every hope he had clung to shattered in an instant. He wanted to believe she was lying, that this was all some cruel joke, but deep down, he knew the truth. Meera wasn't lying.

His body and soul screamed at him not to let go, to hold onto the hope that had brought him this far. Giving up wasn't an option-not when his heart still urged him to seek her. He stood there, lost in thought, until Meera's soft voice broke through his turmoil.

"Aap ka naam Edward hai na? Ek minute rukiye, main abhi aati hoon."

{Your name is Edward, right? Just wait for a minute, I'll be back}

She disappeared inside, leaving him standing there. Moments later, she returned, holding a book in her hands with something tucked inside. She handed it to him, her expression a mix of curiosity and reverence.

"Meri mummy didi ki achi dost thi.. maa ne Edward naam ke ladke ke liye yeh andar rakha tha. Maa ne kaha Manjari didi unhe ise dena chahti thi" Says Meera.

{My mother was a good friend of didi. Mom kept this inside for a man named Edward. She said that Manjari didi wanted to give it to him}

Meera's gaze searched his face as she added, "Yeh aapke liye hi hai na?"
{It's for you, right?}

Edward took the book with trembling hands. He studied it, running his fingers over the worn cover, feeling the love he had long been missing. A bittersweet smile formed on his lips as he nodded.

Meera seemed satisfied with his silent affirmation and stepped away, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

Edward opened the book. His breath hitched as he read the bold red ink on the first page:

Manjari ki Kahani
{Manjari's Story}

Beneath it, written in smaller but equally bold letters:

Ese kisike kahani nahi padhte!
{You shouldn't read someone's story like this}

A quiet chuckle escaped his lips. Turning the page, he found a dried rose, perfectly preserved, tucked inside the book. Tears welled in his eyes as memories of the past flooded back.

He flipped through the pages, finding pictures carefully glued in-a mixture of her photographs and his own. His heart ached as he gazed at the images, their smiles frozen in time. Sadness engulfed him as he turned to the next page and saw a date scrawled in neat handwriting.

-------

9th January 1946
*Calcutta, India*

The temple of Kaalika Ma stood vibrant in the warm morning light. The air hummed with the murmur of prayers as devotees folded their hands in reverence, making their wishes to the Goddess.

Children ran and played joyfully around the temple courtyard while the priest emerged from the sanctum, carrying a large bowl of prashad-sacred offerings for the worshippers.

Suddenly, the bowl was snatched from his hands. Startled, the priest turned to see a young woman, her long braid swaying behind her, dressed in a bright red saree that glowed in the sunlight. She was running, laughing mischievously as she weaved through the crowd.

"Manju! Ruko!" the priest called out, hurrying after her.
{Manju! Stop!}

Manjari darted through the throng, her laughter ringing out like the melody of raindrops hitting parched earth. She stopped abruptly in front of a group of children, crouching to fill their bowls with prashad. With gentle hands, she began feeding them, her smile radiant.

The priest finally caught up to her, panting. "Manju, kab tak aise chalega, beta? Mujhe mandir ke logon ko bhi prashad baantna hai!"

{Manju, how long will this go on, my child? I have to distribute the offerings to the other worshippers as well!}

Manjari's expression turned defiant. "Nahi, Panditji. Prashad toh aaj bhi nahi milega," she declared.

{No, Panditji. They won't get the prashad today either}

The priest sighed in exasperation. Dekho, beta. Waha bade-bade log mera intezaar kar rahe hain! Unko gussa aa jayega. Dedo na, beta."

{Look, child. Those important people are waiting for me! They'll get angry. Please, just give it to me.}

Manjari crossed her arms, her frustration evident. "Panditji, prashad dena in bade logon ko zaruri nahi hai. Pata hai kyun? Kyunki yeh bhooke bacche mandir isliye aate hain kyunki inka koi ghar nahi hai. In logon ko toh mandir se bhagaya jaata hai!"

{Panditji, it's not necessary to give the offerings to these important people. Do you know why? Because these hungry children come to the temple because they have no home. And yet, they're shooed away!}

She continued, her voice rising with passion. "Mandir mein roz aap safai karte ho, na? Kya dikhta hai aapko? Aadhi khayi hui, feki gayi prashad! Toh aap hi bataiye-prashad kisko milni chahiye? In bacchon ko, jo uski kadar karte hain aur maa ke khane ki tarah khate hain, ya un logon ko jo usse phekte hain?"

{You clean the temple every day, right? What do you see? Half-eaten, discarded offerings! So you tell me-who deserves the prashad? These children, who value it and eat it like their mother's cooking, or those people who throw it away?}

Her words hung heavy in the air. The priest looked at her in shock, unused to seeing such fire in her. For a moment, he was silent, processing her argument. Then, with a solemn nod, he turned to the children and said, "Baccho, kal se tumhara bhojan mandir mein hi hoga. Kyunki mandir hi tum sab ka ghar hai"
{Children, from tomorrow onwards, you'll have your meals here in the temple. Because this temple is your home}

The children erupted into cheers, their laughter and joy filling the courtyard. Manjari stared at the priest, her eyes wide with disbelief. She hadn't expected her words to move him so profoundly.

She hurried to him, folding her hands in gratitude. "Dhanyavaad, Panditji. Aapne jo aaj kiya, main kabhi nahi bhoolungi"
{Thank you, Panditji. I will never forget what you've done today}

The priest smiled kindly. "Arey, beta. Tum meri beti jaisi ho. Aur koi bhi pita apni beti ki aankhon mein aansu nahi dekh sakta. Ab jaldi se muskaan lao apne baba ke liye"

{Oh, child. You're like a daughter to me. And no father can bear to see tears in his daughter's eyes. Now, bring out that beautiful smile for your father.}

Manjari chuckled through her tears, nodding. And for a moment, the temple seemed to glow a little brighter.

~~~~

Hello loves ❤

Here comes Chapter 5

Such a long chapter!!!

So I think the story is getting interesting
So what will happen in the next chapter??

Plz do comment follow and vote , it motivates me guys!!

Stay tuned for nxt chapter!

*1130 words*

•Updated•

~Nishaa♡