RESTART

Chapter 34

After the encounter with Pandit ji, Jeevika found herself struggling to process his cryptic words. The warning had shaken her deeply, leaving her with more questions than answers. She sat in the village home’s veranda, staring blankly at the distant fields, her mind swirling with the pandit’s voice echoing, "What you see and hear is not fully true."

Her thoughts were interrupted by Abhiman’s gentle voice. "Jeevika, sab tumhe bula rahe hain, lunch ready hai," he said, standing by the door.

Jeevika looked up at him, forcing a smile. She didn’t want to worry him. “Haan, main abhi aayi," she replied, getting up. She hoped that spending time with the family and eating together would distract her from the unsettling conversation with Pandit ji.

As they all gathered at the dining table, the light banter among the family filled the air with warmth. The comforting aroma of freshly cooked food and the familiar village setting slowly began to ease her mind. Abhiman’s parents had already left for their relatives' place, leaving the younger ones to enjoy a bit of freedom for the day.

"Humari Jeevika bhabhi itni khoyi-khoyi kyu lag rahi hai aaj kal?" Veer teased, nudging Abhiman, who smiled at her.

Jeevika quickly brushed off his comment. "Nahi Veer, bas thoda thakaan ho gaya tha," she said lightly, taking a sip of water.

After lunch, Veer and Riddhi proposed an idea. "Bhabhi, tumhe humari zameen dekhne jaana chahiye. Jab bhi hum gaon aate hain, wahin jaate the," Veer suggested, his face lighting up with excitement.

Jeevika, wanting a distraction from her thoughts, eagerly agreed. "Haan, chalo. Bahut time ho gaya hai aise nikalne ka," she smiled.

They all piled into the jeep, with Abhiman driving and Veer giving directions from the backseat. As they drove through the winding village roads, surrounded by lush green fields, Veer and Riddhi began sharing stories from their childhood.

"Jeevika bhabhi, jab hum chhote the na, yahan roz aake kheton mein khelte the. Dada-dadi ke saath itna maza aata tha," Riddhi said, her eyes twinkling with nostalgia.

"Haan, aur yaad hai Veer, jab main pehli baar gaon aaya tha, aur sab ladkiyan mere peeche bhaag rahi thi?" Abhiman added with a grin, glancing at Jeevika, who was listening intently.

Riddhi burst into laughter. "Arre haan! Bhaiya ke peeche toh har ladki paagal thi yahan. Sabko lagta tha ki Abhiman bhaiya unka sapno ka rajkumar hai!"

Jeevika couldn’t help but laugh. "Sach mein? Matlab ladkiyan toh aapke peeche tab se thi?" she teased, looking at Abhiman playfully.

Abhiman chuckled, giving her a sideways glance. "Tum toh ho hi mere sapno ki rani," he replied, making her blush.

As they reached their ancestral fields, Jeevika stepped out of the car and felt a sense of peace wash over her. The wide-open space, the clear blue sky, and the soft rustling of the crops in the breeze made her forget, even if just for a moment, the weight of Pandit ji's words.

Veer and Riddhi continued to share more stories of their childhood. "Aur yaad hai, jab humne Abhiman bhaiya ko zameen mein giraya tha, aur woh itna gussa ho gaya tha?" Veer said, laughing at the memory.

Jeevika laughed along with them, enjoying the carefree atmosphere. For the first time in days, she felt light, the burden temporarily lifted from her heart. These moments of joy with Abhiman and his siblings reminded her of the love and support that surrounded her.

As the sun began to set, Jeevika found herself feeling grateful for this break from her worries. She knew she would eventually have to face the mysteries and challenges ahead, but for now, she allowed herself to enjoy the simple happiness of being with her family.

They all piled back into the jeep, laughing and joking as they drove back to the village home. Jeevika leaned against Abhiman, a soft smile on her lips, as she thought to herself, For now, this is enough.