Hinaako
"Aparna!"
Kaushik called her.
"Hmm?"
Aparna looked at him.
"Come. Let's light the diya."
He said with a small smile.
Aparna's expression immediately changed.
"Kaushik, I can't."
She replied and quietly walked into the kitchen.
Kaushik understood why she was avoiding the temple.
So, he followed her.
"Aparna, come. Let's pray first."
He said calmly.
Aparna looked at him.
She was about to refuse again when Kaushik stepped closer and stood in front of her.
Not invading her personal space.
Just close enough to make sure she was listening to him.
"Aparna, I know, you know this isn't wrong."
Aparna looked at him silently.
Kaushik continued,
"Look, Aparna, I don't know why people consider it impure. But according to me, what could be more pure than this? A new life begins because of it."
He looked into her eyes, and Aparna looked back at him.
"You know about the Kamakhya Devi Temple, right? So you tell me, if this is impure, then why do devotees go there with so much devotion just to receive that period cloth?"
He explained it calmly, without making her feel judged.
For the first time since the conversation had started, Aparna spoke.
"Kaushik, I don't believe it's impure either. But... Mom never let me go near the temple during my periods. And now, after doing this for so many years, it feels strange to me too."
She finally expressed what she actually felt.
Sometimes, when we follow something for years, it starts feeling right simply because it's familiar.
Whether it's actually right or wrong doesn't even matter anymore.
"So from now on, do what feels right to you. Eventually, that will become normal for you too."
Kaushik looked into her eyes.
"I'm not going to force you. If you don't want to pray, then don't.
But if you're avoiding the puja only because of this, then maybe that's where you're being unfair to yourself. And that's why... I want you to do it."
Aparna looked at him for a few moments.
Then, with a small smile, she nodded
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