MY MOON

CHAPTER 3:ALEX

I hurried into the temple courtyard, already feeling a sense of impatience brewing. Elizabeth and Suman had left early in the morning, saying they were meeting with the pandit for some pre-rituals pooja today. Alya followed them too, while I stayed back to attend a conference. To me, it all seemed like an overrated formality for a wedding, but I couldn't let my irritation show, especially not to Elizabeth. She had been looking forward to her wedding for weeks. But there were so many functions, and I couldn't understand why a wedding had to be so loud and so long.

As I approached, I saw Elizabeth and Suman sitting in front of the pandit, who was setting up the ritual items. The pandit looked up to Elizabeth, "Call your father to join you for the pooja," he instructed.

Elizabeth's face fell, and she grew silent, glancing at Suman with a pained expression. Seeing her like that, I knew she couldn't answer. So I did it for her, my voice steady but tinged with the old sadness I always felt when this topic came up. "Our father passed away," I said, hoping pandit to suggest a way to continue the pooja. Elizabeth had mentioned earlier that she and Suman needed to do the pooja for their future happiness according to hindu tradition, and I knew how much she believes in superstitions and will consider this a bad sign if this pooja stops right now.

The pandit frowned, looking uncertain and thinking about what to do. The awkward silence stretched on, and I could see Elizabeth struggling with her emotions and even Suman looking confused. Alya, who had been standing near Suman, noticed the tension and stepped in smoothly with a suggestion.

"Panditji," Alya began, drawing everyone's attention to her. "Let Alex perform the pooja with Elizabeth," she suggested, making the pandit and everyone even more confused. "Elizabeth has always told me how Alex took care of her. Since their father passed away, Alex has taken on all the responsibilities of her. Her studies, her career, even now her marriage. These are things only a father can do, right, Panditji? He has been more than a brother to her. He's more than capable of performing the pooja."

"But, Alya beta," the pandit tried to interrupt.

Alya went and sat next to the pandit and said, "Panditji, the name of a relation is just a tag. What matters are the intentions of the heart, and Alex has always been a father figure to Elizabeth. So let him perform the pooja. Let's not spoil the day for the couple now, Panditji," she said.

The pandit looked at Alya, then back at me, nodding slowly. "Theek hai beta, Alex can perform the pooja in place of her father. Alex beta come and sit here," he said indicating a place infront of him.

I was too shocked to move, I never thought she thought so greatly of me. Seeing me not moving, Alya came towards me with a bright and held my hand. I don't know why, but her hand on mine felt different today. 

omething inside me felt happy. She directed me to sit down and went back to give a kiss to Elizabeth as she sat with her. I could see by Suman's eyes how proud he was. I too didn't expect a 21-year-old to be this understanding and be someone who could manage the situation this well.

As I started doing the pooja, my mind kept drifting to Alya. I kept stealing glances at her, seeing her laugh. I remembered her words constantly, the way she had spoken about me, the respect and admiration in her voice. It was unexpected. I didn't think she would be this mature. I glanced up and saw Alya laughing, her face lit up by the soft temple light. I was drawn to her in a way I hadn't felt before.

The pooja ended, and I found myself searching for Alya all over the temple. I wandered through the temple grounds, my eyes scanning the area until I saw her sitting at a secluded corner, watching the sunset. The colours of the sky reflected in her eyes, making her look even more beautiful.

I walked over and sat beside her. "Thank you," I said quietly. "If the pooja had stopped, Elizabeth would have been really upset. She was so close to Dad. She was, in fact, his favourite," I said, laughing, remembering old memories.

Alya turned to me, her expression gentle. "I know how she would feel. It's not easy growing up without a parent. My mother passed away while giving birth to me. I never saw her, but I missed her every day of my life. No matter how much Dad tried, there was always a void that couldn't be filled. Elizabeth saw her dad and tasted his love. I can understand how more hard it is for her."

Her words struck a chord deep within me. She sounded so mature, so understanding. "I'm sorry, Alya. I had no idea. It must have been so hard for you too."

She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It was. I hated hearing kids brag about their mom's homemade lunches or shopping trips in school. It hurt."

"I am familiar with that feeling. When Dad died, I was just 16. I had to leave my studies and take up a job so I could provide for Elizabeth and me. It felt like the world changed in a day, When my friends had the same life with their dad within, playing football with their dad's or going trips with them, " I said, looking at the sun.

Alya looked gently at me. "We both had to grow up fast, didn't we? You had Elizabeth to take care of, and I had to learn to live so brightly that Dad would never think he failed to replace Mom in my life."

I felt a hitch in my heart. I saw Alya in a new light. She wasn't just a beautiful woman I had been attracted to. She was someone who had endured losses and loneliness, someone who understood the pain of growing up too soon, just like me. She was more than beautiful.

"Despite everything, you've turned out not to be much of a bad person, I guess," I said, my voice soft with a little sarcasm.

She laughed at my words. "Thank you, Alex," she chuckled. "You're not pretty bad yourself, you know, Elizabeth is lucky to have you," Her words brought a laugh to me.

We sat there in silence for a while, watching the sun dip below the horizon. As the temple bells rang in the distance, I realized that my feelings for Alya were changing, deepening. It wasn't just attraction anymore. It was something more profound, something more. I was drawn to her. The feeling was beautiful yet scary. She was going to be my step-niece soon. But in that moment, those logics didn't matter. I knew that things were changing inside me. And I welcomed it silently without fighting.