Author POV :
"Dadaji hum tyaar hain " A cheerful of boyish Voice echoed through the Walls of Mansion. Every member in the hall turned their head towards the Stairs, hearing the voice of their youngest yuvraj , yug. ( dadaji, i am ready)
" Hum dekh sakte hain, yuvraj" dadaji, Adhiraj rajvanshi, patted his youngest grandson's shoulder , his tone playful . (I can see, yuvraj)
" To hum kaise lag rahe hain " Yug asked, his eyes filled with hope and excitement , knowing his dadu would compliment him.
" Joker, right dadu ?" A young girl's voice interrupted , full of mischief. She was no other than Aadhya , the Princess of Rajvanshis .
" Aadhya , aise nahi bolte, vo aapke bade bhai hain " her mother , Pratiksha Scolded her lightly. Everyone watched the exchanges like it was their daily routine, honestly it was. (aadhya, don't say like this, he is your elder brother)
"Bas 2 saal se maa sa" Aadhya replied nonchalantly like it was not even a matter to discuss, Age was just a number for her. (only by 2 years mom)
"Rudraveer aur Yuvan kahan hai, hume mandir aarti se phele pahuchna hai" Avinath asked noticing the absence of his son and nephew. (where is rudraveer and yuvan, we have to reach temple before the aarti)
"Raja sa aur yuvraj ko taiyaar hone me vakt lagega, papa" Aadhya commented, her tone playfully dramatic. (it will take time to get ready for raja sa and yuvraj, papa)
That's when they heard two foot steps on the stairs, syncing like it belonged to only one person. Suddenly the atmosphere changed, the earlier laughter died replaced by a chilling atmosphere. Even the guards straightened their back.
Rudraveer and Yuvan Stepped down, their steps syncing, their face devoid of any expression. Rudra's eyes roamed around the hall -cold and calculated. They both were dressed in a tradition kurta, the fabric clinging to their well built body.
"chalein? " Rudra's cold deep Voice echoed in the quiet hall. His tone was emotionless not even a hint of warmth in them. ( let's go?)
"Rudra, aapko aaj ki aarti karni hai" Adhiraj informed him, his tone matching his grandson's. Their eyes locked, Adhiraj gaze daring him to refuse this , Rudra looked away, nodding. He didn't said anything, It wasn't required in the first place. His grandfather's words were final and even though he was the king now, he could not go against his grandfather's words.
Everyone moved out, getting in their respective cars. The car roared to the life, moving on the familiar roads of Bananas. The aarti was kept private, No one knew that the King Himself would do today's aarti. It was early morning and not much crowd would be there at the temple.
Rudra's eyes stayed fixed on the road, his grip tight on the steering wheel. He knew why they were going to the temple of Banaras today and he also knew the reason for him doing the aarti.
Today it was his birthday and just like every year they were going to Shiv temple. It became a ritual for the family. No one wished him because they knew how much he hated the mere mention of his birthday. But still they did something on his birthday every year. No one knew why rudra hated his birthday except adhiraj.
The cars stopped at the footstep of the shiv temple, all the family members got out of the car.
They moved inside the temple, their face calm, the serenity of temple touching them. A deep feeling of devotion and peace stirred in their heart. The temple's calmness and divinity wrapped around them, making them forget all their worries.
Rudra stepped out of his car, the gentle breeze hit his face, calming him. As he stepped inside the temple, the rich aroma of sandalwood, agarbatti and dhup hit his nostrils.
Rudra closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling the smell of the divine temple.
He walked on the stairs, his steps steady and light as he moved inside the temple. All the family members were already in front of the idol of shivji, their eyes closed, hand folded in a silent surrender to the almighty.
Rudra folded his hand, his head bowed infront of shivji. His eyes were closed but his didn't asked for anything, he never did.
Yuvan stared at the idol of lord Shiva, his eyes unblinking. He didn't didn't folded his hands infront of the God, didn't prayed like others, didn't closed his eyes to feel the divine power.
He just stood, staring at shivji like he was the reason for all the pain in his life, honestly he believed the God was the cause of his misery.
He stopped believing in God from the moment he lost people close to his heart, not just his parents but also the people he lost at the age of 13 years.
He believed that God was never fair to him, he always snatched the people he truly loved.
On the other hand.....
"Finally, everything is done" The girl sighed, washing her hands. Some strands of hair fall over her face from her messy bun, fanning her face.
"I can't go to the temple like this..." She muttered, looking down at her kurti which was now half covered in the flour. She quickly went to her room, to change her clothes.
She took out a red anarkali, simple, full sleeves. She changed into that, the dress little loose just the way she liked. She didn't liked sleeveless or fitted dress, she hated the very idea of showing her body to others, it disgusted her.
She adjusted her dupatta neatly and braided her long hair. She wore a small jhumka and took her phone, going downstairs.
Just as she was about to cross the dining area, a voice from behind stopped her.
"You haven't paid the rent of this month yet" her mother, said, her voice cold and mocking. Ruhani stopped in her track, her first clenched her dupatta.
Yes she had to pay rent for living in her own house, well her parents house, interest isn't it?.
She felt a pang in her heart, her heart clenched every time they said it.
"Mom leave her, let her manage her own needs first. She isn't capable of that in the first place" her sister, Riya mocked. She looked at ruhani , head to toe, her face scrunching in dis taste.
Ruhani's heart stung seeing the disgust for her in her sister's eyes. Her eyes went to her father, who was quietly eating his breakfast, totally unbothered.
She felt her eyes burning looking at him. He never said anything, never showed his love to her. She sometimes wondered she she was really their daughter.
Every time they humiliated her, he stayed quiet , like she didn't mattered to him and that's what hurts the most. A girl expect love and care from their father but here he was not even bothering you look at her.
Ruhani gulped the lump forming in her throat, blinking her eyes few times to control her tears. This wasn't new for her but it broke her every single time.
She was used to this from the age of 12 but still it stung when they dismissed her like she was no one. At last she was human too, she took have heart that bleeds, break and pains from their actions.
She did all the chaos of the household. Mopping, cooking, washing clothes even earning for her survival but they never appreciated. They treated her like a maid who was doing her work, never acknowledged her as their child.
"I-I will pay till tomorrow" she whispered, her eyes down casted, fingers twisting the hem of her dupatta. Her mother cutely nod and they went back to their breakfast, turning their back to her like she was invisible.
Ruhani stared at them for a moment, her heart clenching but she forced her feet to walk out. She wanted to shout at them, to ask why they always treated her like she wasn't their daughter.
She wanted to share her pain with someone, but she didn't had anyone. She didn't had any friends, any bestfriend who would hug her while she cried, whou would console her, who would give her hopes for future. She had no one except her grandfather. And he too left her alone in this cruel world.
"Bhaiya, mandir le lijiye" she said getting in the auto. (Brother,please drive to the temple)
Today was Monday, her shivji's day. She always went to the temple on Monday, no matter how busy she was.
But today was little special, not to her but it was. Today it was her birthday which she doesn't even remembered.
She didn't remembered her won Birthday because no one ever wished her. Her own family stopped wishing her when she was 12. With time, she started forgetting her own birthday because there was no one to remind her about this day.
One does not wants to celebrate his birthday and one does not have anyone who would remind of her of this day. Interesting, isn't it?
She paid the bills, and turned to the temple. She walked forward, a strange kind of relief and calmness washing over her as her feet touches the stairs of the divine temple.
The earlier pain was forgotten, locked somewhere in the back of her mind. Now she was feeling a peace and strangely happy and this peace can only be brought by her shivji.
A smile appeared on her face as the cold wind blow on her face. It was like a balm to her wound.
She ranged the bell above her head, standing on her toe to reach it. The bell sound ranged through the the quiet temple, echoing through the walls of the temple
Ruhani folded her hands, head bow infront of her shivji, eyes closed but she didn't prayed for something, didn't asked for something.
She just closed her eyes, folded her hands to show her respect, her faith, her devotion to her shivji. She never asked for anything because she knew whatever her shivji will give to her, will be the best for her.
She was ready to accept whatever he will give to her, let it be pain or love.
"Om Namah shivaya" she whispered, her voice full of devotion and quite surrender. She opened her eyes slowly and got startled to see a Aghori standing infront of her, smiling.
She moved back, afraid.
"Dar mat, mai tere sath kuch nhi karunga" his voice rang out - firm, steady and knowing. Ruhani's breath caught in her throat. The Aghori stared at her with a calmness and a smile like he knew everything she was hiding, everything she was afraid of. Like he could read her story hidden from the world.(Don't be afraid, I won't do anything with you)
"Kuch chahiye aapko baba" Ruhani asked, her voice trembling a little. Aghori shook his head, his eyes still fixed on her, reading her like a open book. (Do you need something, baba)
Ruhani adjusted her dupatta lightly, the action earning a chuckle from the Aghori which sent a chill down her spine.
"Dard to bahut hai teri Zindagi mein magar tu himmat wali hai. Biswas rakh uss Bhole par, teri saari dard mita dega vo" he said, his voice loud enough to carry a value in them.
(There is a lot of pain in your life but you are strong. Keep faith in God, he will erase your all pain)
Ruhani blankly stared at him, not saying anything, just listening to him.
"Uspe biswas rakhna, vo apni bhakto to niras nahi karta. Safar muskil hai, kaate har kadam par honge par biswas mat chhodna, haar mat mana. Vo aayega, teri bigadi Zindagi savarne. Tu bahut himmat wali hai, uss durga ki pratik hai tu. Teri liye bhi ek shiv aayega, jaldi aayega. Vo Bholenath teri zindagi mein ujala jald bhejega. Jo de uspe biswas karke apna lena. Teri Zindagi ka vakt badlega. Vo Bhola teri saari dukh har lega" His voice rang out through out the temple, growing with each word. His words carried a weight like he was saying something that was going to happen, like finally her life was going to take a U - turn.
(Keep faith in him, he never disappoints his devotees. The journey will be hard, thrones will be at every step but never lose your faith, never give up. He will come, to mention your ruined life. You are brave, you are a symbol of the goddess Durga. For you too one lord Shiva will come, he will come soon. The lord bholenath will send a source of light in your life soon. Whatever he gives, accept it keeping faith on him. Your life will change. That lord will erase your all pain.)
Ruhani stared at him, his each word echoing in her mind. His word's weight pressed down on her, forcing her to look just more than her broken life.
Every word felt a whisper of truth the world didn't knew, the truth she could not deny. His ever word explained her life, the pain she carries with her, the ghost of her past which haunts her every night.
"Kab ?" just a word managed to come out of her mouth. (When?)
The single word, small but it carried weight. Weight of her hope, weight of her pain, her tiredness from everything. It was like she was questioning the God himself, when would a beam of light enter in her life?
"Jald, vo jald aayega. Sayad parso, sayad kal ya ho sakta hai...aaj. Ho sakta hai vo yahin kahin ho. Ho sakta hai vo tujhe aaj he mil jaaye. Tera aur uska milna likha hai, khud uss shiv ne likha hai. Teri zindagi badalne waali hai, tujhe koi apna milne wala hai. Uss shiv ka haath hai tere sar pe, Biswas rakh teri zindagi mein bhi pyaar aayega. Bas bharosa rakhna aur haar mat mana. Vo teri zindagi badal dega. Alakh niranjan, Har Har Mahadev " he walked away, canting his lord's name all the while.
(Soon, he will come soon. Maybe day after tomorrow, maybe tomorrow or maybe...today. Might be he is near, here only. Might be he meets you today itself. You meeting him is written, the lord Shiva himself has written. Your life is going to change, you are going to get someone of yours. The lord's blessings is with you. Keep faith, love will enter in your life too. Just keep faith and don't give up. He will change your life.)
Ruhani stared at the place he once stood. Her mind still replaying his words, clear and loud. She didn't understand how he read her like she was an open book. How did he get to know what she was hiding.
The bell rang, bringing her out of her thoughts. She moved inside the temple though the aghori's words never left her mind.
She looked up, spotting a family and a man doing the aarti. She wanted to do the puja but she choose to quietly stand in a corner, not wanting to disturb then.
She was a man doing the aarti, his back facing her. He was tall, his shoulder broad. He rounded the holy fire around the idol of Shiva in a circle. She could not see his face but her eyes caught a glimpse of a trishul tatto on his right wrist.
Rudra did the aarti, his eyes closed. As he completed the aarti, he gave the taal to the priest. The priest gave him the aarti and applied a tilak on his forehead, between his brows.
The priest gave everyone the aarti and then went to ruhani. He smiled giving her the aarti.
"Janamdin ki hardik shubhkamnaye beta, hamesha khush raho" he said, placing his hand on her head as she bend down to touch his feet. (Happy Birthday, child, Always be happy)
Ruhani smiled, she now remembered it was her birthday today. She took the prasad and left from there, going towards the Ganga ghat side.
The priest stared at her disappear in figure, his heart filled with sympathy for her.
" Bhagwan isse saari khushiyan de" ( May God give her all the happiness)
Rudra stood with his family, praying for one last time before dispersing. They turned, ready to leave but Rudra started heading in a different direction, to the ganga ghat.
"Kahan jaa rahe hai aap, Rudra" His grandfather asked stopping him mid-step.
"Aap log chaliye, hum thode der mein aate hai" he said and getting a nod from his grandfather, he left towards the ganga ghat. (you guys go, i will come in sometime)
Adhiraj stared at his grandson's disappearing figure. HIs concern growing for his grandson. Rudra's cold behavior, his distant behavior was bothering him. He didn't liked his grandson like this. He knew he had to do something.
"Vakt aa gaya hai aapki zindagi mein kisi ko laaya jaaye, jo aapko phirse jeena sikha de"
(time has come to bring someone in your life who will teach you to live again)
Ruhani sat on the top stair, gazing at the gentle flow of river ganga. The mandir was quiet as it was early morning. She ate the last bite of parsad, her mind still racing with the earlier words of aghori.
"Kya kahna chahte the vo, kon aane wala hai hamari zindagi mein" she thought, gazing at the river ganga as if answers of her every question was hidden in the gentle flow of the river.
Her phone rang breaking the trance of her thoughts. It was her colleague, Nia, who worked with her in the cafe and in the club at night.
"Yes nia?"
"Ruhani, where are you. It's already 8 and you were supposed to come at 7:30" nia said, her tone gentle and friendly. Nia was Ruhani's friend, not too close but they were good friends.
"I will be there in 10 mins" Ruhani said getting up and cut the call. She dusted off her dress and turned around only to get startled by a towering figure standing just behind her.
She stepped back in reflex but standing by the edge of the stairs, her foot slipped. About to fall back, a shriek left her mouth in panic and fear.
Rudra, who was standing infront of her, grabbed Ruhani's wrist and pulled her closer before she could fall. Ruhani placed her hand on his chest, fisting his kurta to steady herself. Her head hit his forehead because of being pulled abruptly.
She groaned in pain, closing her eyes. She opened her eyes, looking up in his eyes. But Rudra's eyes were fixed on her hairline. The kumkum of his tilak got smudged on her hairline, glowing like a destiny's plan, destiny's mark.
Ruhani's eyes widened as she recognized who was standing infront of her. She quickly withdrew her hand from his chest, panic taking over her.
Rudra's trance broke, he left her wrist. His eyes still lingered on her hairline where the smudged kumkum glowed like a mark of future, mark of their fate. He felt a weird emotion stirring inside him but he quickly shook it off , as if it was never there.
He moved back, maintaining a distance between them. Ruhani kept her eyes downcast, too afraid to meet his cold gaze.
"Ha-Hame maaf kariyega Raja sa, hamara dhyaan nahi tha" she whispered, her voice barely audible but he heard it. (Forgive me raja sa, i wasn't paying attention)
The loose strands of her hair fall over her face, covering her beauty from his eyes like a curtain. His eyes dropped lower, a smile red anarkali without any work, that's what she was wearing. Somehow her simplicity intrigued him.
He nod, giving her a last glance, still not able to see her face clearly. He turned around and left from there, her image still lingering in his mind.
Ruhani looked up, sighing in relief as she heard the sound of his footsteps going fainter. She rubbed the area where she got hit. As she pull down her hand, her eyes caught the sight of the kumkum in her hand.
She again touched her forehead to confirm it. She opened her phone's camera and saw the kumkum smudged on her hairline. She frown and she quickly whipped it off with her dupatta.
"Na jaane kaha se lag gaya ye sindoor hamare mathe pe" she whispered, clearly unaware. (don't know from where this kumkum got on my head)
She checked the time on her phone and quickly left for the cafe as she was getting late.
On the other hand....
Yuvan was sitting in his car, driving with one hand while with the other hand he typed a message to his pa. He looked at the road, suddenly a dog came, running in the middle of the road, attempting to cross the road.
A girl ran, scooping the puppy up in her arms. Yuvan applied the brake instantly, the car drifting in a circles around the girl. He held the steering wheel, his eyes getting locked on the girl.
The girl kept her eyes closed, holding the puppy close to her. Her orange dupatta flowed in the air, covering her face from yuvan. The car finally stopped with a screech sound. The girl none other than Kaira, opened her eyes, staring down at the puppy in her arms.
She bend down, releasing the puppy who quickly ran away to his mother. Her white kurti got some dust on them but she didn't noticed it, more like she cared less.
She got up, a rage stirring up inside her. She marched towards the black SUV and knocked hardly on the window. When she didn't get a response, she banged her fist on the window.
Yuvan who was lost looking at her came out of his trance. He slide the window down, looking at her through his black shades.
He opened the door, coming out making kaira move back. He stood infront of her, his figure towering over her. Kaira's eyes widen as she realized who he was. The position he held.
But for now it didn't mattered who he was, it didn't mattered that he was the yuvraj of Banaras. Her anger got better of her.
"Kya samjhte hai aap apne aap ko? Aapko pata hai uss puppy ki jaan bhi Jaa sakti thi aapki wajah se. Kon itni speed mein gaadi chalata bai, vo bhi aise public road pe. Kya aapko pata---" her ranting was cut off by his cold deep voice. (what do you think of yourself, do you even know the puppy could have died because of you. Who drives car this fastly and that too on a public road like this. Dou you know---)
"Kya aapko pata hai aap kisse baat kar rahien hai?" Yuvan asked, removing his shades, his deep black eyes meeting her hazel eyes with an intensity that made her shiver. (do you know who are talking to)
"Hume pata hai, yuvraj " kaira stated firmly, highlighting the word yuvraj to make it clear that she knew who he was, her anger still on surface. (i know, yuvraj)
Even though he was a prince, it didn't gave him the right to drive this fast and kill everyone on his way.
Yuvan stared at her while kaira stared back, not ready to backdown. Their fierce gaze got locked, the defiance clearly visible. They stared at each other, neither of them ready to back down.
Yuvan was amused to see kaira's confidence. No one ever dared to stare back in his cold eyes, his one glance made people tremble but she?, she was staring back at him, her hazel brown eyes carrying the same fire as him.
He took a step forward but kaira didn't backed away, she stood firm in her place.
"Koshish kariyega dubarra kabhi aap hamare raaste mein na aayen, muskil jo jaayega wapas jana" Yuvan muttered, his voice sending a shiver down kaira's spine. He turned ready to leave but stopped hearing her words.
(try to not come in my way again, it will be difficult for you to return)
"Koi wapas jaane nhi aata, yuvraj. Sab koi maksad ke saath aate hai" yuvan stopped but didn't turned back.
(No one comes to just return, yuvraj. Everyone comes with a motive.)
"Phir hum aasa karte hai, aapko aapki maksad jald mil jaaye" with that they two left on their own respective way but the fire between them stayed.
(then i pray, you get to your motive soon)
This was just a spark, the fire was yet to be burned.....
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