A Hundred Flukes

Break the Damned Fast

Chapter 24

Ripe colors enswathe her spirit

       Ripe is the fruit of her love

She starves for his health and drinks for his wealth

       For her life is in his blossoming forever...

The festivities of Teej brought her, a heart so full of joy; She dressed, bejeweled, and waited for him, for her love to reward her with love equaled.

He rose early from bed, remembering it to be the last day of his sister's stay, for her husband would arrive today and claim her again. Arnav wanted to remain with Anjali for the entire day.

Anjali received this pleasant most surprise that her brother agreed to accompany her to the Shiv Gauri temple at his own will..."I'll come with you, but not for your god, never. I come there only for you." he told her.

"I can't believe you said that dear! I have organized a big pooja today at the Shiv Gauri at chandani chowk." she replied, all smiles as she waited for her mehendi to dry. She gazed with love at his name etched over her palms.

Festivities were there at Gupta house too, not quite on the same scale as at the Raizadas though, but they were there. Madhumati had wanted her unmarried young nieces to fast, and pray that goddess Parvati bestowed them with a husband as noble as Lord Shiva himself.

"But I'll die of hunger before that." complained the younger niece, all mischief shining in her doe eyes. "Tell me, why do I keep this fast? I am not getting married in another four to five years."

"Haye re nandkissore, so you already know, in which year you get tied in a knot?"

"Why Bua, do you plan to get rid of me before that?" she said her face falling, as if she could cry any moment and then, her eyes sparked with mischief again, "if that is the case, I have certainly no problems with that." she cried and giggled.

"Re Nandkssore, do something about this girl, re Sanakadevi, how many times need I remind you that girls don't look nice talking about their own marriage. You can at least pretend to be a little shy!"

"How can I be shy when my stomach feels sick?"

"You and sick?"

"I feel dizzy."

"You get me dizzy, look at the way you drool, it threatens to drop on the ground from your mouth. Food, food, all the time as if life has nothing better to offer than food" complained her aunt as she got from her cupboard, new saris for the girls to wear to the temple. 

Khushi jumped first, "I'll have the yellow." leaving Payal with the green.

Yellow made her glow golden while green enhanced her eyes. The girls prepaired their 'thals' and left for the Shiv Gauri temple. Madhumati had so badly wanted the lawyer to have accompanied them, but he had, even after a lot of dissuading, excused himself for a week, stating he had three back to back hearings, following which he'd leave for Lucknow to look after some urgent issues.

****

Payal and Khushi made to the temple at the same moment as the big car, that came with the Raizadas in it. Manorma, Mahendra, Anjali, Arnav and Akash.