ISHQ IBAADAT 💗

40. THE GAME OF DESTINY🧿🤍

NOTE: So This Part Is Only For Agastya And Niharika.

Author POV

Niharika had reached the pandal and was now searching for Aruhi who was dancing with Agastya and Aditya in another pandal.

Her dupatta slipped a little as she hurried, adjusting it with trembling fingers while her eyes scanned the crowd restlessly. The sound of conch shells, bells, and dhak beats filled the air, making it hard to focus. Yet her heart beat even louder in her chest. The heavy ornaments she wore clinked against her body as she moved quickly through the crowd, pushing past people who blocked her view.

Niharika met Aditya's family where everyone was standing in the pandal. The aroma of incense mixed with the sweet fragrance of flowers. People were gathering in lines, talking in hushed voices, waiting for the puja to begin. Children were running around, women adjusting their sarees, men folding their hands in reverence. The atmosphere was a living wave of devotion, yet Niharika's restless eyes could not rest.

It was now time for the puja. Niharika's focus was only on finding Aruhi. Her eyes darted in every corner, her brows drawn with concern, but no glimpse of the little girl. Her breath came uneven, her palms rubbed nervously against her saree pleats, but still, she forced herself to stay calm.

Now it was time for Puja, Agastya and Aditya also came there and Niharika was worshipping Maa Durga. She was performing Aarati of Maa Durga...

Her bangles clinked softly as she raised the thal, the golden flame of the diya flickering against her glowing face. The sacred light danced across her features, revealing the depth of her surrender. Her lips moved in silent prayers, her eyes moist with devotion. Every gesture of her hand was filled with surrender and faith. The sound of "Jai Maa Durga" echoed all around, but her heartbeats trembled in a rhythm of their own.

Agastya and Aditya were standing behind her at a little distance and once again Agastya was not able to see Niharika.

The crowd shifted slightly, someone brushed past Agastya, but his gaze remained fixed on the woman before Maa. His jaw tightened unconsciously, his body leaning forward, drawn to her like a magnet though he did not know why.

This time also Niharika's back side was towards Agastya. Niharika had a pallu of saree on her head. Agastya could see her long and thick hair but not her face.

Her hair swayed with the faint breeze from the fans above, strands catching the glow of the diya flame. Her saree pallu slipped a little from her head, but she immediately pulled it forward, covering herself fully again, unaware that the small action tightened the knot of restlessness inside Agastya. He clenched his fists, fighting the strange pull inside him.

Niharika was quite happy and since then she was worshipping Durga maa. Her full focus was on the puja and towards Durga Maa.

Flowers fell near the feet of Durga as if Maa was blessing Niharika. The idol of Durga Maa was very beautiful. It was decorated with a red saree and some jewellery. Maa had big anklets in her feet which were very beautiful.

The anklet which was in the feet of Maa Durga was shining very brightly.

The light from the diyas and candles reflected on the mirror-studded anklets, scattering tiny sparkles across the pandal like falling stars. The shimmer caught Niharika's eyes, and unknowingly her head tilted, drawn to its glow.

Niharika's eyes fell near the anklets of Maa Durga, the flowers that had fallen on them, there were small mirrors in the anklets of Maa Durga, through which Niharika could see all the people behind her.

Her heart skipped a beat. She blinked twice, her lips parting in disbelief as her gaze fixed on one reflection.

And the same thing happened, Niharika saw the people standing behind her through the small mirror and she also saw a person. Her eyes remained open, he was Agastya.