Achintya had only seen Niyati in a saree once before. He still remembered that day vividly—she stood on the terrace, her hair dancing with the wind, wearing a blue saree. Even lost in her thoughts, she radiated a vibrancy as if every star in the galaxy had found a home in her eyes.
Now, dressed in a heavily embroidered yellow Banarasi saree, adorned with jewelry from his family, she stood among a crowd of people, yet she looked alone—frail and isolated. The media swarmed around them like hawks, leaving him unable to even ask her how she felt. But from the look on Raghuveer's red face, Achintya had a fair idea of the turmoil within.
"Niyati, throw the lava into your mother's pallu," instructed Manorama as Radha positioned herself behind her daughter, holding the end of her saree to catch it.
As Niyati took her final step out of her home, she tossed the lava into her mother's pallu, who cried quietly along with the other relatives. At the Tulsi alcove, she lit an earthen lamp for the last time as a daughter of the Mishra family, her hands folded in prayer, wishing for nothing but the happiness of her loved ones.
Maithili and Ranveer rushed forward, hugging their sister tightly as they cried in her arms. "Dii, don't go. You were supposed to stay with us after Shivu Dii left. Please don't go," Maithili sobbed.
"Exactly. Forget what Dadi said; she has a habit of saying hurtful things. Don’t take her words to heart—please don’t go," Ranveer pleaded, not realizing his voice had carried to others nearby.
Shivangi and Roopa, along with Radha, approached Niyati. "Take good care of him, Mitthu. Don’t let my Gola get even a little thin, or I’ll have to come after you," Niyati said, wiping her siblings' tears with her henna-stained hands.
Turning to Roopa, Niyati folded her hands in apology. "I'm sorry, Kaki, for all the trouble I've caused you."
Roopa held Niyati's hands warmly and slipped two gold bangles onto her wrists. "You never caused us any trouble, Amu. Let people think what they want; we don't need to worry about them," Roopa said, ignoring Manorama's sharp gaze. "I know the situation isn't ideal, but try to make the best of it. Achintya Babu is a good man. His approach may have been wrong, but his intentions weren’t. Give him a chance—he won’t disappoint you."
Niyati’s eyes filled with fresh tears. "Kaki, these were Shivu Dii's..." she began, trying to return the bangles, but Shivangi and Roopa stopped her.
"They’re yours now. Besides, I never liked the design much anyway," Shivangi teased, hugging Niyati and wiping her tears. "I agree with Maa. Achintya Babu saved you from the future Dadi and her sister had planned for you. You get to be with the man you love, despite everything—don’t let that go to waste."
When Radha came forward, Niyati hugged her tightly. "Mummy, I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"Shh, don’t cry, Amu," Radha consoled her, wiping Niyati’s tears and holding her face gently. "Don’t let your life be just about adjusting, beta. Live it to the fullest. And for that, you need to let go of your anger and accept things as they are. I don’t know Achintya Babu well, but he seems like a good person. He’s saved you twice—once from Vijay and now from a life of misery. Be open to him. Don’t shut him out. People need people, and you need him."
Radha walked her daughter to Achintya, who folded his hands respectfully in front of her. "She is my life now, Ma’am. And trust me, I take good care of what’s mine."
"Time will tell, Achintya Babu. Only time will," Radha replied, gently pushing Niyati towards the door. But Niyati suddenly turned around.
"Kaka...Kaka..." she cried, running towards Raghuveer.
YOU ARE READING
Begusarai - The saga continue
Action"Her love was lustrous and naive like a child while his was strong as armour and forever wild." . . A saga of the two souls who are forbidden for one another but are ready to tear apart the world if its comes to their love, a massive clash that foll...
