Charu groaned as her mother, Kajal, barged into her room, yanking the curtains open, letting the harsh morning light flood in. She pulled her blanket over her head, protesting like a stubborn child.
"Maa, it's Sunday! Let me sleep!" she whined.
"No arguments, Charu! Aaj Mahashivratri hai. Get up, freshen up, and get ready quickly," Kajal ordered, clapping her hands to shake off Charuâs laziness.
Charu mumbled curses under her breath as she dragged herself out of bed.
Her brain was still foggy from the late-night research she had done on Abhirâs case.
She had barely gotten any sleep, and now she was being dragged to the temple. Just great.
As she sluggishly walked down the stairs, still half-asleep, she spotted Kiara already dressed in a beautiful traditional outfit, her face glowing with excitement.
Charu frowned, yawning as she eyed her younger cousin.
"Tu itna saj-dhaj ke kahan ja rahi hai?" Charu asked, still rubbing sleep from her eyes.
Kiara twirled happily. "Aapke aur bua se ke saath mandir!" she chirped.
Charu blinked at her, confused. "Tu toh aise excited hai jaise mandir nahi, mall ja rahe hain⦠Mandir mein aisa kya hai?"
Kiara hesitated for a second before looking around and whispering, "Aapna kisi ko batana mat, par maine pehli baar vrat rakha hai!"
"Oh, okay..." Charu mumbled, not fully processing the words. Then suddenly, realization struck her.
"WHAT??!!" she shrieked, making Kiara jump.
"Shh! Dheere bolo!" Kiara scolded her.
Charu narrowed her eyes. "Kiske liye?" she asked, already getting an idea but dreading the answer.
Kiara blushed slightly and twirled a strand of her hair. "Apne hone wale pati ke liye... Aisa bolte hai aaj ke din jo bhi yeh vrat rakhta hai, usse bhi Maa Parvati ki tarah mann chaha varr mil jata hai." She said it dreamily as if she were already lost in her filmy fairytale.
Charuâs jaw dropped. "Acha? Aur kaun hai tera yeh mann chaha varr?" she asked, crossing her arms.
Kiara's smile turned mischievous. "Koi bhi ho sakta hai... Par main chahti hoon woh... Abhir ho..." she admitted shyly.
Charu almost choked on her own breath. "Kya?!"
Kiara continued dreamily, "Socho naa, aaj shaam waise bhi usse milenge... Pehli baar nahi, shayad paanchvi baar mein hi solid pyaar ho jaye mujhse... Phir main aur Abhir shaadi kar lenge!"
Charu smacked her own forehead, groaning. "Tujhe woh psycho hi mila tha sochne ke liye? Us pagal ko itna sar pe chadhana band kar. Itna attitude deta hai tujhse, dhang se baat bhi nahi kartaâ"
"Toh?" Kiara cut her off. "Woh thode reserved type hai, lekin dil ke bure nahi hai," she defended.
Charu rolled her eyes, about to launch into a full-blown lecture about how utterly stupid this whole idea was, but before she could, their mother stormed into the room.
"Bas, bas! Tum dono chalo abhi! Pooja ki thaali le kar aa rahi hoon, gaadi mein baitho!" Kajal ordered, effectively ending their discussion.
Charu sighed, glaring at Kiara one last time before following her mother.
This day was already starting on a headache-worthy note.
-----------------
Charu sat in the backseat of the car, arms crossed, staring out the window while Kiara excitedly chattered about how auspicious the day was. She was still half-asleep and completely uninterested in this, but her mother had dragged her along, so there was no escape.
When they arrived at the temple, the air was thick with the scent of incense, and the sound of bells ringing filled the surroundings. Devotees dressed in traditional attire moved around, offering milk, flowers, and bilva patra to Lord Shiva.
"Itni bheed hai tumdono ko bola tha jaldi aao.." Kajal said annoyed with the girls who caused her to get late.
Kiara hopped out first, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Come fast, di!" she urged.
Charu yawned but followed her mother and Kiara inside.
As they entered, their eyes landed on the shivling where abhishek was taking place. And there, right in the center of it all, was Abhir.
Dressed in a crisp white kurta and dhoti, his hands folded in devotion, he was pouring milk over the shivling while chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra with unwavering focus. His deep, steady voice resonated through the temple, creating an almost magnetic aura around him. The usual carefree, reckless Abhir was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there stood a man radiating sincerity and faith, deeply immersed in the divine ritual.
Kajal, Charu's mother, observed him with admiration. "Yeh toh Abhir haina mujhe nahi pata tha yeh it.. Itna sanskaari aur dharmik hai"
Charu, on the other hand, was utterly stunned. This was Abhir?! The same arrogant, annoying guy who barely took anything seriously? This was not what she had expected at all.
Kiara, meanwhile, was completely smitten. "Dekho naa, di! Kitne concentration se kar rahe hain pooja! Inka naam bhi shayad issiliye Rudra rakha yeh Mahadev ke bhakt lag raha hai!" she whispered, eyes shining.
Charu scoffed, crossing her arms. "celebrities aise bohot karte hai publicity stunt kya pata koi photo lera ho ?" she muttered under her breath.
Kajal shot her a look. "Charu, kabhi toh achhi baat bola kar. Aaj kal ke ladke mandir jaane se katrate hain, aur yeh yahan itni bhakti se pooja kar raha hai kuch seekho usse"
Charu sighed but remained silent, her eyes still on Abhir.
For a moment, Charu forgot all the arguments, all the fights. He looked... peaceful. Almost unrecognizably calm.
And for some reason, that bothered her more than she liked to admit.
---------------
The mandir was alive with the sounds of temple bells and the rhythmic chants of Om Namah Shivaya.
The air smelled of sandalwood and fresh marigolds, thick with devotion.
It was Mahashivratri, and inside the temple, Abhir stood before the shivling, dressed in an ivory kurta and dhoti, his long hair neatly tied back.
His posture was composed, his gaze fixed on the deity as he poured milk and honey over the shivling, his lips moving in silent prayer.
This was his ritualâhis moment of solitude.
For as long as he could remember, Mahashivratri had been special.
His dadda, Abhimanyu Birla, had instilled this devotion in him.
Despite the chaos of his public life, this day was sacred, untouched by fame, untouched by the world.
He wasnât here to ask for anything.
Mahadev had always protected him, guarding him like his own child. Today, he was simply here to offer gratitude.
The priest, watching him, smiled. "Beta, aap kisi ke liye prarthna kar rahe hain?"
Abhir opened his eyes slowly and shook his head with a soft smile. "Nahi, Pandit ji. Mahadev ne bina maange mujhe sab diya hai. Bas apne parivaar ki khushi maang raha hoon. Jab tak Mahadev mere saath hain, mujhe aur kuch nahi chahiye."
The priest nodded in approval, placing a blessing hand on his head. "Aap jaise sacche bhakt kam milte hain, beta."
Abhir gave a small nod, his expression unreadable, and turned back toward the deity, ready to continue his abhishek.
He didnât notice the three pairs of eyes watching him.
---
"OH MY GOD! ABHIR!"
A loud, excited squeal shattered the peaceful temple atmosphere. Several devotees turned in alarm, but one person, in particular, stiffened at the sound.
Abhirâs hand, mid-air as he reached for the next offering, froze for a split second before he sighed, barely masking his exasperation.
He turned his head slowly and finally noticed themâCharu, Charu's mom, and Kiara, standing near the entrance of the temple.
Kiara looked absolutely starstruck, her hands clasped together, her face glowing with excitement.
Charu, on the other hand, looked utterly unimpressed, arms crossed, staring at him like she couldnât believe this was the same man she had labeled insufferable.
And then there was Kajal Bansal, her expression of genuine admiration.
Kajal asked warmly, walking closer"Beta aap yahaan miloge socha nahi tha..."
Abhir shifted uncomfortably to run into them here no one had seen this side of his him this was something so personal.
His devotion wasnât meant for spectacle or admirationâit was his own quiet space.
"Namaste Aunty," he said politely, his voice reserved.
His fingers instinctively clenched the rudraksha mala in his hand.
"Tumhari maa ne kitne acche sanskaar diye hain tumhe aur Abhira ko!" Kajal continued, beaming.
"Shukriya aunty. Aap bhi pooja karne aayi hai?" he said, offering a small, awkward smile.
Kajal nodded, her smile widening. "Haan beta, par itni der hogayi hai. Bheed bhi bahut hai. Lagta hai ab humein bahar se Mahadev ko dekhna hoga."
"Aap mere saath chaliye." He then led them to a special queue, where he spoke with the pandit ji, requesting that they be allowed to sit closer for darshan.
Kiara, Kajal and Charu were allowed to sit near the idol.
Kajal was so touched by Abhir's kindness, and she beamed with gratitude.
As the pooja began, Abhir chanted with a soulful voice that resonated through the temple.
His devotion was evident in every note and the women were mesmerized.
Charu, found her gaze fixed on him. She had never expected Abhir to see this side of him that made her rethink everything she thought she knew about him.
Also Kiara wasnât done staring at him like he had just descended from the heavens.
"Kiara whispered " Abhir kitne deeply devoted hai? Kitni acchi baatein karta hai me!"
Charu groaned audibly.
What she didnât realize was that while Kiara was openly falling for Abhir, his eyes never lingered on Kiara for more than a second.
It was Charu who had his attention, her conflicting expressions, her irritation, her curiosity.
Not that she had noticed.
Yet.