Morning.
“Hey, Rakshasi! Get up! Do you have any idea what time it is?” Janaki's voice rang through the room, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement.
“Mom, please,” Jagathi groaned from beneath her pillow, muffling her voice as she tried to block out the morning sunlight.
Janaki stood with her arms crossed, shaking her head. “Learn something from your brothers! They’ve been up for hours—finished jogging and had their breakfast already.”
Jagathi peeked out from under the pillow, half-awake, and smirked. “They’re doing all that to impress their respective wives. They’re fools. Please, just let me sleep.”
Janaki couldn’t help but chuckle at her daughter’s sass. “Well, your dad brought something for you.”
In an instant, Jagathi shot up, her eyes wide with curiosity. “When did he come? What did he bring? Where’s he—”
Before she could leap out of bed, her mother raised a hand. “If you even think about stepping out without taking a bath and getting ready, I’ll break your head.”
“Mom!” Jagathi groaned dramatically, stamping her feet like a child. But, knowing better than to argue, she grabbed the nearest random dress and trudged towards the bathroom.
Janaki chuckled, watching her daughter’s little tantrum, shaking her head with a smile. "Such a drama queen," she muttered to herself, fondly.
•••••
Srinivas sat with his brother Laxman in the living room, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Laxman, we need to head to the farm later. There’s something important I need to discuss with you.”
Laxman raised an eyebrow, a bit concerned. “Anything serious, Bhai?”
Srinivas smiled gently. “Don’t worry. If everything works out, it could be very good news.”
Before Laxman could ask further, Jagathi came running into the room, full of energy as always. She plopped down on the arm of the couch next to her father, resting her head on his shoulder. “Srinu! I missed you so much! Did you bring everything I asked for?”
Srinivas chuckled, nodding. “Yes, I did, and I must say, you’re quite the taskmaster.”
“I know, you’re such a sweet, good boy.” She playfully pulled at his cheeks, making him smile wider.
“But…” Srinivas paused for effect, his eyes twinkling, “I brought something special for you this time.”
Jagathi's eyes widened with curiosity. She immediately looked over at Laxman, raising her eyebrows as if asking, *Did you know about this?*
Laxman grinned and shrugged, playing along. “Don’t look at me. I have no idea.”
Jagathi turned back to her father, her excitement building. “What is it, Dad? Tell me!”
Srinivas leaned forward, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You’ll have to go and find out yourself. I left it in the Pooja mandir room.”
Without wasting a second, Jagathi jumped up from the couch and sprinted towards the Pooja room,
Laxman chuckled, watching her dash off. “Still the same little girl, Bhai. What did you bring this time?”
Srinivas sighed, his eyes softening. “Something that might change everything.” He leaned back, his thoughts momentarily drifting as he awaited Jagathi’s reaction.
Jagathi stood before the Pooja mandir, her eyes falling on the small gift box resting near the idols. She smiled, placing her palms together in front of the God. She gently dabbed a bit of kunkum and applied it just below her bindi, a habit she’d done so many times before. But this moment felt different, something deeper stirring inside her.
As her fingers touched the edges of the gift box, she hesitated for a second, feeling a slight tremor in her hands. Her usually carefree, confident self now felt an unusual calm, a sense of anticipation she couldn’t quite place. She opened the box slowly, revealing a delicate bracelet with intricately carved hands clasping together as its finishing touch. The simple yet beautiful gesture on the bracelet made her smile—a smile that was both warm and curious.
Her heart skipped a beat. As she slid the bracelet onto her wrist, a sudden rush of emotion washed over her, her pulse quickening. Jagathi placed her hand over her heart, as if trying to calm the wild rhythm within. Looking down at the bracelet on her wrist, she felt a wave of warmth spread through her body.
She whispered softly, almost to herself, “What’s happening to me?”
For the first time in a long while, Jagathi felt something new—a mix of joy, confusion, and a strange sense of connection. The bracelet wasn’t just a piece of jewelry; it felt like a promise, a subtle shift in her world.
Jagathi returned to the living room, her smile brighter than ever. Her father, Srinivas, glanced up from his conversation with Laxman, his eyes twinkling as he asked, "Did you like it?"
She nodded enthusiastically, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Very much, Dad! But tell me honestly, did *you* really pick this out for me?"
Srinivas raised an eyebrow, amused. "Why? You don’t like it?"
Jagathi shook her head, her smile softening. "No, no, I love it. It’s just... something about it feels different. I don’t know what it is, but I’m never taking this off." She held up her wrist, showing the bracelet with a sense of pride and affection. "Thank you so much, Srinu."
Before Srinivas could respond, she was already heading towards the dining area, calling out playfully, "Mom, I’m starving!"
She plopped down beside her bhabhi, Priya, who was in the middle of feeding Tarun and Tanuja. Without missing a beat, Priya scooped up a bite of food and began feeding Jagathi too, much to her amusement. Jagathi grinned at her, leaning in dramatically. "Bhabhi, it's so good with your hand
Her mother, Janaki, emerged from the kitchen with more dishes in hand, shaking her head with a mock frown. "You're spoiling her too much, Priya."
Urmila, carrying a plate of tiffin for Jagathi, chimed in with a grin, "Di, she’s still a kid, let her be."
Jagathi leaned back, flashing Urmila a wink. "See, Jaanu darling, learn from Chachi."
Janaki couldn’t help but smile despite herself, pretending to scold. "Urmila, you and everyone else are just adding to her stubbornness. One day she'll be impossible to handle!"
Everyone laughed, knowing well that Janaki herself was no less
Keep smiling
God bless you
Chandanakshi
YOU ARE READING
Misty Rain
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