Beyond The Palace Walls| ONGOING

Chapter - 11

Agastya walked into the temple, Meera was sitting on a stone bench, her eyes closed in meditation. Karanveer, who was near the idol, noticed Agastya and turned to him with a curious expression.

"Arre, Agastya! Where's your mom? Kya woh aaj tumhare sath nahi aayi?"
Karanveer asked, looking around as if expecting to see Archana standing nearby.
(Didn't she come with you today?)

Agastya chuckled and shook his head. "No, she didn't come today. She's busy with some work. Aur mein isiliye aaya hu kyuki.... Mein yaha aana chahta tha."
(And I have come because... I wanted to come here)

Agastya hesitated for a moment before responding. "I'm not here for the god, okay? I'm here for... something else"

Meera sat on the stone bench, her eyes closed and her face serene, lost in meditation. Karanveer asked, "Toh...?"
(So...?)

Agastya shrugged "It's not for you to know," he said cryptically, his eyes scanning the temple.

Karanveer sighed. "Fine, don't tell me. Magar aarti toh sweekar karoge na? Yaha tak aake anushtaan mein bhaag na le toh galat hoga."
(But will you accept the aarti? It would be wrong not to even participate in the ritual.)

Agastya thought for a moment before nodding. "Okay, sure. I'll take it."

Karanveer looked surprised. "Really? Tum toh bhagwan pe vishwas nahi rakhte. Tum aarti kyu Lena chahoge?"
(You don't believe in God. Why would you want to take Aarti?)

Agastya shrugged. "Just because I'm here doesn't mean I have to believe in everything about this place.Magar aa hi gaya hu toh aarti le hi sakta hu. Jaldi kijiye aap."
( But since I have come, I can take the Aarti. You hurry up.)

Meera smiled softly, as if she approved of Agastya's decision.

After that Pandit began the aarti and in between he even prayed for well being of Agastya and Meera. Even Meera joined in.

Karanveer's mind began to wander. He thought to himself, "Thakur ji, inki jodi humesha banaye rakhna. They're meant for each other."
(Thakur ji, always maintain this pair. There're meant for each other.)

Just as he was thinking this, a devotee walked up to the altar and rang the bell loudly, shattering the peaceful atmosphere. Karanveer smiled inwardly, feeling like his wish had been granted.

After the aarti, Agastya turned to Meera and asked , "Meera, kya aap free hai?"
(Meera, are you free?)

Meera looked up at him with curiosity. "Kyu?"
(Why?)

Agastya's eyes locked onto hers. "Kyuki mein aapke saath samay bitana chahta hu."
(because i want to spend time with you)

Meera looked at Agastya with a sarcastic expression. "Oh, wow, you're acting like we're friends now?"

Agastya sighed and rubbed his temples. "Meera , mujhe pata hai ki hum dost nahi hai. Lekin hum ho sakte hai. We could try."
(Meera, I know we are not friends. But we can be.)

Just then, Meera glanced at a clock. "Abhi Hume kuch kaam hai. We could go after that."
(I have work right now)

But before Agastya could respond, Karanveer intervened. "Arre Meera, tum chali kyu nhi jaati. Mein yaha sab sambhal lunga. Tum Agastya ke sath thoda waqt bita lo."
("Oh my, why don't you go. I will take care of everything here. You spend some time with Agastya.")

Meera raised an eyebrow. "Baat kya hai, kaka? Aap hume aise jaane kyu keh rahe hai."
("What's the matter, Kaka? Why are you telling me like this?")