DhruvTara: The Imperfectly Perfect Marriage

Chapter 3: Why his heart cries for her?

Dhruv now wants revenge. He tried to befriend Tara but she... what did she do? She got him punished, yeah he had fault... ok... he had fault... he deserved to be punished, but why does she run away from him and get irritated everytime!! Dhruv was thinking about all these when Kanchan came to his room.
"Dhruv bhaisa...."
"Ha bolo Kanchan"
"Mandir jana hai na aj... aap taiyar ho jayiye..."
"Hmm..."

Dhruv was getting dressed when he saw his traditional shawl is not in his almirah. He doesn't have much traditional clothes, that's the only shawl he had. Perhaps it's in the laundry.
"Birjuuuu" called Dhruv. After 4 to 5 calls Birju ultimate came.
"Ji Dhruv babu..."
"Kaha reh jata hai tu ha... mera shawl kaha hai??"
"Ohh wohh... woh to dhone ke liye diye the... Tara jiji ke pas hogi...."
"Baapre... Tara teri jiji kabse ban geyi?!"
"Nehi woh... woh mujhe bhayiya bulati hai na... to mai unhe jiji bulata hu... kitni acchi hai na woh..."
"Acchi?? Woh??"
"Haa... kitna dheyan rakhti hai sabka... kitni shant hai sushil hai...."
"Accha accha thick hai.... tu mera shawl lekar ay ja..."

Dhruv waited for 10 whole minutes and got fustrated sitting on the couch. He heard someone enter the room after 10 minutes.
"Ab hua samai apka Birju ji... ajkal sabko mujhe babuji ka daat....." Dhruv was shocked as he looked behind, it was Tara holding the shawl.
"Dhruv babu apka shawl... hum idhar rakh ke ja rahe...." Tara kept the shawl on the couch rest and turned back to leave.
"Ohhh miss chit chit suno...." called Dhruv after taking the shawl in his hand.
"Ji... apne mujhe bola??"
"Haa apko hi bola... yaha chit chit karna wali to tum ek hi ho...."
"Ji boliye..."
"Kaal tumne meri sikayat ki thi babuji se??"
"Ji??" Tara gulped.
"Jaan bujke daat khilayi mujhe?" Asked Dhruv while adjusting his shawl infront of the mirror.
Tara was afraid but when she looked up to reply, she saw Dhruv looking striking in traditional attire, just like a sassy zamindar, the silk kurta, the dhoti, the embroidered Kashmiri shawl, the long gold chain with pearl beads. For the first time she saw that his neck have a permanent plain gold chain as well, like Chandra have too, Masterji wanted to make one for Tara too but Dadi forced him not to. She kept her hand on her neck, recalling how much she liked that gold chain and even tried it infront of the mirror, her stupid heart thought that an orphan like her can expect that?? Tears rolled down from Tara's eyes. Dhruv looked at her as he didn't get answer to his question and saw her staring at his chain keeping hand on her own neck, and... and... crying??
"Ohh miss chit chit kaha kho geyi???"
"Ji... ji... kahi nehi..." Tara ran out of the room while wipping her tears.
For the first time Dhruv felt something. Something picked him. Why was she crying looking at his chain?!
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All the women have already left for the temple. The men are only left. Dhruv came to the hallway where all were waiting. Sethji was astounded to see Dhruv in traditional. Dhruv stood like an angry shy kid.
"Wah beta mera pura Rajkumar dikh raha hai..." Sethji said holding his yonger son's shoulders, "nazar na lage mere Raja pe kisiki..." Sethji pressed his cheeks and kissed on his forehead, "Mera Rajja beta... naraj hai mujhse ha..."
Dhruv moved away his face like a kid.
"Yeh neyi keya baat hai bhaisa... Dhruv to hamesha hi naraz rehta apse... umar badh geyi per bachpana na geyi..." said Dhruv's uncle.
"Ahh... Tilak... chod na... baccha hi hai abhi bhi yeh... mere liye..." Sethji patted on Dhruv's head.
Tara looked at Dhruv being loved from behind the curtains. How she wish she too had a family.. own family.. yes she loves her babuji and Chandra.. and Dadi too, however cruel she might be.. she never denied her of food and shelter.

The elder men left for the wagon. Tara show Dhruv rubbing his forehead fiercely to eliminate the kiss. Prayag smriked and nodded his head.
"Dhruv babu pita ka payar aise ghisakne se nehi mitta hai... chaliyeee...." commented Birju.
"Chup reh tu... ajkal yada bol raha hai..." scolded Dhruv in his deep tone.
"Ise keu chup kara raha hai tu... thick hi to bol raha hai yeh..." scolded Rishi, "Prayag chal..."
Rishi and Prayag left the room.
Birju looked at Tara behind the curtains, "Tara jiji ayiye....."
"Nehi mai nehi jaungi... aaplog jayiye... ghar pe kaam hai..." said Tara
"R a sab ja rahe... kaam ake kar lijiye ga..."
"Nehi... mai nehi jati... aaplog jayiye..."
"Chor Birju... isko nehi jana to na jaye itna sadhne ki jarurat nehi..." said Dhruv, "chal...."
Dhruv left with Birju.
---
After sometime Tara too went out of the mansion towards the temple. Chandra met her on the way.
"Oyeee Tara.... mujhe pata tha tu ayegi... dekh dekh yeh ghagra kaisa lag raha hai mujhpe..." Chandra went round in her new ghagra.
"Bohat sundar hai... yeh rang tujpe jaaj raha hai..." smiled Tara
"Tere upar aur bhi yada jachegi..."
"Chood na... "
The two sisters went side by side gossiping about  random things. Chandra went towards the mandir. She stopped and looked back at Tara, Tara smiled at her. How does Tara tolerate so much! wondered Chandra. As Chandra was going to ascent the stairs she slipped and feel down. Tara was shocked and ran to her for help and unknowingly stepped on the stairs. Dhruv was wandering at the edge of the mandir platform. He saw Tara on the stairs.
"Ay geyi Miss Chitchit, nakhre hai iske byas..." smriked Dhruv
"Oyeee Afsaguni larki teri himmat kaise hui mandir pranyang mai pravesh karne ki...." roared the Pandit. Dhruv was shocked.
Tara realised she's on the steps and instantly moved back.
"Mai.... maine jan bujhke nehi kiya...." Tara murmured with fright.
The Pandit descended the stairs with rage, "Tera mu kala teri niyat kali..."
"Panditji... meri behen to byas mujhe utha rahi thi... mai gir geyi thi na..." Chandra stood at guard to Tara.
Dhruv decended the stairs. He saw the two girls claiming to be sisters. The fair skinned one is wearing a beautiful skirt, her ears have gold earrings, her neck have.... hav a necklace and... and the gold chain, similar to the one he has. But Tara, her neck is empty. He saw Tara's face, frightened and teary.
Soon Dadi and masterji came out of the mandir.
"Yeh larki ferse ay geyi... tu dur keu nehi rehta afsaguni...." scolded Dadi.
"R a Mai aise na bolo... bacchi ne byas Chandra ki madad ki...." said Masterji.
"Ha wahi... jab se ise utha kar laya hai tu meri to.... chal Chandra..." Dadi hold Chandra's hand and ascended the stairs, Chandra looked back at Tara and suddenly she also saw Dhruv, staring at Tara with curiosity and sympathy. He turned his eyes at Chandra, and again looked at her attire and again looked at Tara.
"Ro mat beti ro mat...." Masterji patted her head and kissed on her head.
"Apke beti ne to mandir ferse asudh kar di... ab gangajal se sabkuch sudh karna parega... Raam raam..." Panditji left after commenting.
"Beti... tu ja... jaa...." Masterji sent her away. Tara hold back her tears and ran away. Dhruv, curious about her, followed her and saw her going to the ruined khandar. Tara stopped at a pillar, the pillar had Kanha ji's murti drawn over it. She sat down below the picture and started crying. Dhruv was mesmerised to look at the picture, it's so divine, it's soo beautiful.
Tara wiped her eyes and said to the picture, smiling
"Chaliye Kanha ji aj hum apka shringar karenge.."
Tara took the black rock and started drawing jewellery over Kanha ji. Dhruv was moved aback, he couldn't control his tears, his heart went into doldrums. How can a girl tolerate so much with a smile?! What power God gave to her?! And why God gave only powers to tolerate and not happiness to such a dedicated bhakt? At that very time Dhruv got angry with God, neither he gave him anything nor her... then why the trust, why the faith, why the belief?! He have everything yet have nothing and she have nothing over nothing, just is happy with little things she got, or is forced to be happy. He felt like going to Tara and keep hands on her shoulders, but, he's a guy, she already remains away from him. The sudden realisation striked him about how she can be abused if she befriends a rich guy like him.
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