ArShi SS : Broken Bangles (Rejected II)

Shocking

She drapped her white saree and looked her her image in the mirror. Oh how she liked Holi. She loved colours and fate has taken away her most favorite occasion from her life. She remembered how she loved playing holi with her father. It just made her very sad thinking that no one will ever put colours on her. She was after all a widow and in hindu culture a widow didnt have any right to enjoy any occasion since she has lost her husband. Tying her long silky hair in a bun she gathered herself and exited her room to make arrangements in the puja ghar.

She slowed her step hearing the voice she didnt expect to hear at this hour in the morning. Arnav! what was he doing up so early and that too in the Puja ghar she wondered.

She made her way towards the temple to find Anjali, her daughter and Arnav already preparing for the puja.

"Chachu, see i have made langoli with the colours".

"This is so pretty my koochiepoo", Arnav cuddled his niece lovingly.

"Khushi, come and help me out with the flower arrangement", Anjali chirped finding khushi leaning on the door frame.

"Bhabhi, you should have told me that you will start the preparation so early, i would have got up much before".

"I wasnt supposed to be up so early, but Arnav, probably he didnt sleep the whole night. Did you see Krishna ji? Arnav has cleaned the whole mandir area and made him were new clothes".

Khushi looked towards her Kanha ji. He was indeed looking absolutely beautiful in blue dress. She wanted to comment something but kept quite. Nothing with Arnav went well since he has arrived and today she didnt want to get into any sort of fight with him.

Arnav looked towards Khushi. And just like every other time, his heart squeezed seeing her in white. He doesnt want to bring that feeling but he felt helpless when it came to her. He knew how much she liked dressing up. She wore traditional outfits like no other girl. He still remembers her silky long hair, her churiyon ki khanak (crinkles of her bangles), her beautiful smile and those twinkling eyes. He felt a stab of pain each time he saw her bare wrists, miserable eyes and her lifeless lips.

Yestersay night he might have said that he wont eat food made by khushi but the actual reason behind him going away from the dinning table was when Dadi informed everyone in the house that Khushi wont be allowed to join holi celebration because she is a widow. He wanted to protest then and there but then looking at his brother's picture he just walked away insulting Khushi. He knows that his behavior was uncalled for but then...

"Arrey Khushi, bolo to sahi, isnt Kanha ji looking absolutely stunning in that blue dress?"

"Ji, bhabhi he is looking beautiful today".

________

Kittu sat on Arnav's lap till the puja was completed. Anjali and Khushi touched Dadi's feet after the pooja. Arnav was very reluctant about touching Dadi's feet after yesterday's incident. Khushi offered gulal (powdered colours) on Kanha ji's feet. Anjali and Arnav followed along with kittu.

"Zara humme bhi raang lagaye". (put some colours on me as well)

Anjali turned to see her husband standing with his arms spread.

"Shyam!" she flew towards him and hugged him with all her wits. "Oh my God. you are here".

"Mujhe to aana hi tha aaj", he hugged his wife tightly. "Did you miss me Anji?"

"I missed you so much hubby".

"Daddy!" kittu ran towards her father and leaped onto him. Shyam caught her mid air and smelled her hair.