Chapter 2
"Kya hua Jiji, aapki shaadi pakki ho gayee?" she asked her sister after dinner when they were both sleeping on their respective beds in their room. They were watching news on their tiny 14'' black and white TV, which a customer had given them after a wedding as a gift for making fabulous meethai.
"Arre nahi, woh buaji thora jyada hi utaawali ho rahi hain." Payal replied.
Turning on her stomach and cuddling a pillow in her arms, Khush said wistfully, "It would so much fun to get married na? I can't wait for my husband to come into my life and give me all the love there is to be had in this world. Kab hoga aisa Jiji? Kab who aayega?"
Just then a figure emerged on the TV, who was talking about the most eligible bachelor in the country. It said, "Ye hai'" And Payal changed the channel and Khushi leapt to her bed to snatch the remote and switched back to the channel saying, "Kya jiji, woh mera future husband ho sakta tha aura aapne uski shakal bhi nahi dekhne di."
Payal thumped her on the shoulder and said, "Bewakoof, woh tujhse shaadi karega, bas aise sapne dekhti raho."
But the newscaster had moved on to another story and Khushi, switched off the TV making a face and said, "Hey devi maiyya, bas woh TV wala kahin mil jaaye."
Payal laughed and said, "Pagal, so jaa, kal tumhein woh shop par jaana nahi hai kya, saari ka sample le kar?"
Nodding her head, she prayed to Devi Maiyya and switched off the lights and jumped into bed to dream of her Prince.
Khushi got ready in the morning to go to the the big boutique that had opened up in the Zee Mall in Gomtinagar and they would be specialising in Lucknowi Chikan work with zardosi thread and fine needlework. Khushi was going to show them some samples of the work she had done and was hopeful to get an order that will put her work on the map and also bring in the much needed money in the family. The sweetshop was running fine but her father had recently had to update the shop to keep the license running with the new norms for health and sanitation in the sweetshop. The updated kitchen with new stoves that were fuel efficient and emitted less gas was what the new technology brought but that came at a high price tag. The set up had meant her father having to take a loan and had mortgaged the house for the same.
If her business took off, they would be able to comfortably pay installments towards the loan and have some saving to expand as well. She prayed to Devi Maiyya for her blessing and set off to Gomtinagar. It would take her good forty five minutes to reach as she will have to take a bus from Aliganj to Railway Station and then take an auto from there to the Mall. She hardly ever went to the other side of the river, unless they were going out of town.
And this rainy season was not going to help her. July was just that, rain, rain and then some more rain. But she loved it. The aroma of the earth was what she loved to breathe in every time it rained. She loved to stand on their porch and play with the droplets as they fell from the terracotta shingles on the roof. The jangle of rain was a lyrical music to her ears and it never stopped from bringing a smile to her face.
Happy in her thoughts, she bid her byes to her parents and sister and set out with her gathri of saris to the mall. A bright salwar kameez with embroidery work that she tried on her dress showed individualistic taste and classified her clothes as being unique. Her penchant for tingling bells on the dori of her kurta added to the sound her payal made as she walked. With braid hanging by her side, a jhora slashed across her shoulder, Khushi was a woman with a mission. Mission to bring stability and security to her family and its financial condition.
About to reach the Mall entrance, she moved her ghathri from the floor of the rickshaw and started counting the money she would need to pay the driver. Just as the rickshaw stopped on the side, and she got out, she heard a screeching sound behind her and was rooted to the spot in shock.
A big black shiny car stopped two feet away from her. Terrified, the only thing she could do was glare. But not wanting to waste time she paid the driver and told him, "Bhaiyya, agli baar jaara aur side mein laga lena, aap toh jaante ho, ye bade logon ki badi gaadi ko badi jagah chahiye, hai na?" and with the smile she stepped up on the pavement.
Just then, the skies which had been threatening all morning to burst open, decided to pour, right on her. She not wanting to get her saris spoilt, ran with it in her arms and head bowed against the pelting rain. Just as she was about to reach the top step of the Mall entrance; she bumped into somebody from behind and dropped her ghathri.
"Kya aapko yahan rukna jaroori tha? Dikhta nahi hai baarish ho rahi hai joroki?"
The person turned and she looked up to see a man with eyes of a hunter, glaring at her.
"Mujhe pata hona chahiye tha, tumhi ho sakti ho jo phir se mere raaste mein aayee ho."
Edited by -RushTrip- - 12 years ago
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