Reawakening

Part 2 - New resolution

The days events had taken a toll on the poor soul. Lack of food, plenty of stress, and with an abundance of insults and heartbreak, Khushi walked in trembling with fear and fever. Past the auspicious hour, past the auspicious minute, past the auspicious moment for the engagement ceremony.

Tempers raised, all had stood waiting at the door. In no time, Khushi heard abuses, "Look, maharani of our house has given her darshan (shown herself). Welcome her. Payaliya get the arti plate, let us welcome her. Look what time she has come." Going over to Shashi, while walking up and down the small, crowded lounge, she questioned, "all this is your love and pampering. She has no respect for what we say. Did she not know she had to be here by 6, did she not know it is an important day in her life? How often do we get boys like this for our daughters. Now god knows where he also disappeared. Of course, how long will he wait. This girl is a disgrace to our family. She was the reason for Payaliyas marriage and now even she is not getting married. If something happens to us, who will look after them?" and so it went on.....

Giving Devi Maiyyas prasaad to her Babuji, Khushi apologised, "Babuji, trust me, I swear on Devi Maiyya, I did leave early to reach on time. I was delayed at the temple. Unfortunately none of the autos stopped today and I walked halfway trying to get one. Sorry Babuji, I really tried.." and she cried laying her head on his lap..

Garima and Payal were immediately taken in, feeling for the little ones tears and her condition. Mention of Payal's broken marriage never was pleasant, and now the least, making all the parties present upset, they would rather nobody talked about it. Payal, though happy how she was, single, was fed up of the whole marriage issue. On one hand the younger Raizada had literally started to stalk her, irrespective of denying any amorous feelings towards the same, on the other, tension at home seem to be building exponentially. Whom could she tell, and what would she say?

Mentally thanking his Devi maiyya, happy she had stopped his daughter, Shashi slowly, very slowly, for the first time, crawled his hand towards her head, while the family watched with all eagerness. Feeling his hands, Khushi slowly opened her eyes surprised and for the second time Khushi felt blessed today. She could fight anything, anyone if her Babuji's blessings was there. She did not care if her Buaji was unhappy, or she had been insulted, she felt at peace.

Watching the scene, Payal and Garima ran to them ecstatic, not bothering to hear anymore of Buajis ramblings, who also seemed to have stopped looking at her brother. Putting her hand on her husbands, Garima also blessed Khushi wholeheartedly and said, "Bitiya, look, look, your Babuji has put his hand on your head.. look at him, he is trying to say something.." she pointed to Shashi, who was lifting his head up to thank Devi maiyya. Praying to the almighty, Garima spoke "Hey Devi maiyya, thousand thanks for making him well. Jiji (adressing buaji), if he has excused, leave her, whatever will happen will happen."

As if sudden life came into her, Khushi hugged her mum saying, "Yes amma, see he is getting better, I will make him better. Please let me try, don't force me for anything now, please please". Payal soon ran in for the family hug to second the opinion, "Yes amma, we will now concentrate on getting our Babuji well. Please stop all these talks about marriage. Lets concentrate on our Babuji "

Surprisingly enough, taking a firm decision for the first time, Garima told Buaji, "Jiji, let us think it is Devi Maiyyas wish for the engagement not to happen. As it is there were no suitable dates for the near future, let us concentrate on other things now. When things will happen it will. How much can we do?"

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Evening sun had set and gloom had descended over Raizada mansion. Nani sat in her room, taking comfort in the blanket of darkness surrounded. Her thoughts had by now settled into a cyclic pattern. "There could be hundreds of Shyam, but hundreds of SMJ's? Exactly the same name and all the description provided by her Buaji matches the very person. Orphan from Lucknow with no immediate or distant family whatsoever, working as a lawyer in Delhi, keeps travelling on client visits." Much as she tried to think of incidents when both Khushi and her Shyam were in RM at the same time, there were none in her memory.