012

Sitting inside the innermost sanctuary of the temple, Niyati looked at the calm face of the goddess Durga. A beautiful ancient art piece, the idol of the goddess was made up of the brass giving the idol a golden shine. The goddess was sitting on her lion in the lotus position with her six hands.

The sacred idol symbolises the MAA in a peaceful form evoking the gentleness and tenderness in one's mind. Just by looking at it, one could feel the immense peace, the temple usually always full of the devotees was now empty safe for the girl.

Raghuveer thrusted the responsibility of closing the temple on her since he was summoned to the Mr Jha's house for some important information related to the Pooja that will be performed tomorrow.

Wiping the tears that just won't stop flowing from her eyes, she raises her folded hands and prayed reverently.

Praying for the solace of the hearts she shattered, praying that..what she has done would be the right decision.

__

That terrible day, people saw the wrath of the Achintya Chaudhary when he shooted the man without even blinking for he was turned out to be the scumming cheater who was planning to elope to a foreign country after stealing a large amount of the Chaudhary's money.

The crimson bleeds from his face as he stood there, wiping his bloodied knuckles in the man's shirt.

"Clean the mess ." Mithilesh barked to two nearby men, observing his brother and the beast behind those eyes.

__

"..I'm worried for Achintya Babu." Nupur said, lying on the bed patting Abhay.

"Him..! Him..! The one you should be worried about is, me. Not that unhinged bastard. " He mutters furiously. Minding the soft weight on his chest, his daughter sleeping there.

"Hm..he is acting weird-"

"He is born a weirdo. "

Giggling at his words and the expression Nupur said "the pot calling the kettle black. You are not that sane either. Calling Achintya Babu a weirdo is a bit of the stretch..he usually is not like that."

They both know it was not true. Achintya always had been the idiot, difference was he was best in pretending to be not a idiot. He holds his violence well behind his charm, his good looks and sweet talks enough to bring the greatest to their knees so he usually prefers that.

Wisdom over war. Is what he and their father prefers.

But that does not meant he was not capable of it. Hell, Mithilesh inherited his father's violence, Achintya his mind and Guddi his good nature.

But his brother was acting weird for few days. He was being extra charming -he only do that when he is trying to hide his true mood- smiling a lot -but none of them are genuine - even his playfulness seems to be forced.

Ofcourse, no one noticed that. Achintya was a damn good actor in playing the character. But those who knows him, really knows him, and -Mithilesh prides himself in that- could see the minuscule changes and that is why he shared his worries with Nupur.

Should he tell Nupur about the girl for whom Achintya is getting serious? Will it be right to speak about something he himself is not that aware or will it be too early?

Before he could made up his mind Nupur said, "I think..i- I think I know the reason behind Achintya Babu's moodiness"

"Hm..what?"

She has heard about it. From the possible chain of the gossipers, that Pandit Ji's daughter's proposal has been fixed.

It reminds her of the talk Achintya had with her weeks ago, could it be-

"Don't go berserk..and tries to listen with a calm mind-"

"I'm always calm."

"And I'm the queen of the Begusarai -" Nupur snorts. If her husband is a calm man than the sun sets in the east.

"One day you will be."

Smiling at his words she proceed ".. I'm not sure myself, and this is simply a speculation and I could be wrong-"

The fumbling of the words irritates him, he prefers cut to cut conversation and Nupur's fear was being contagious. "Be forward Nupur."

"Achintya Babu..I think he likes Pandit ji's

daughter." Trying to gauge his reaction she sit up and looked at him. His face was blank like he didn't understand so she explained further and told him about the conversation she said with Achintya some times before.

"...I met this girl-"

"She belongs to the Raghuveer Mishra's family-"

Whenever those words rang in her ears it brought along the unpleasant feelings in Nupur's stomach.

She stop, and stayed where she was distancing herself from Abhay knowing the silence coming from her husband is lethal. She was right, as Mithilesh gently put Laxu on the bed beside Abhay and stand up suddenly-

"No..what-"

"I'm fucking going to kill that bastard -"

"No.. please..no..I said I could be wrong..don't take my words so seriously..it could be something else.. - she pushes her husband taking the pistol from his hand and throwing it on the sofa, bearing in the mind to put it away before her children woke up.

"Something else...you think it could be something else..? " Mithilesh snorts. "Achintya would laugh in the face of the death so if he is being grumpy and moody it has to be reason beyond the wordly affair. The bastard indicated about some girl he is being serious about and now-..I'm going to kill that insolent-"

"Calm down before you wake up the children." Mithilesh did. Looking at the sleeping peaceful faces of his children, huffing he sat down on the floor near the bed pulling Nupur along, his back to the bed frame. "Sorry. But I'll kill him."

"Yeah..do that tomorrow. But for now, please calm down. " Putting her head on his chest she murmurs and felt him exhale. His arms pulling her closer, so much so, she sat in his lap.

"I'm sorry."he rests his cheeks on top of her head and sat like that for a long moment thinking about what she said.

Achintya liking Mishra's daughter. If it is true, it will the biggest blunder, the biggest scandal of the Begusarai in the decades.

Achintya being Achintya might not see the problem and decides to chase to fulfill his obsession but it was something, something that could not be fulfilled. Even thinking about the union of those two clans is forbidden and his brother "Give me some time and soon I'll introduce her to you. " Is thinking to introduce her to him.

Seeing her as potential partner-

No..it just can not happen. Simply can not. It is a disaster in the making, a scandal that will.shook the Begusarai and for forever taint their reputation. Not to forget the girl belongs to a such renovate priestly clan, the sin Achintya will create just by thinking to bring her in his world will be enough for him to rot in the hell.

"Pray Nupur pray..that what you said is indeed wrong and not even a semblance of it will be true. Or otherwise, the sky will soon burst on our family."

__

But as the day passed, Mithilesh starts thinking that Nupur's speculation was not entirely wrong.

Achintya bounces back to his usual form, the playful charming lad that even the devil fears. He busy himself in the work of the campaign, putting his blood sweat and tears in it as well as managing the property feud in the Bareli and freeing the land in a two days of the time.

Everything was going along smoothly. No bumps or stop breakers and yet, yet Mithilesh's suspicions just could not be ruled out. He tried to raise the topic of the girl yesterday and how he would like to meet her soon and Achintya - nothing shows on his face that will indicates heartbreak -the girl will be engaged day after tomorrow.- or any other same sentiments.

Infact he was relaxed and chill when he replied "soon bhaisahab. But not now."

What that mean? Not now? Then when?

Questions after question but no answers.

Everything is right, and still Mithilesh knows his hunch is not wrong either and his brother is indeed planning to get himself in the trouble. A trouble that will not be worth to fight for.

__

On the Wednesday, Manorama asked "have you invited the Chaudharys too?"

Raghuveer looked above keeping the cup down "no. I was thinking but then we are not doing anything big so-"

"So? So you think to not invite them? What you are thinking Raghu? Living in the lake and having enemity with the alligator is not advisable. "

Raghuveer turned to the Roopa whose face show that she too thinks the same as the Manorama. She nods her head and said "Choti Thakurain came to the temple yesterday, she hinted how lucky we are to find the suitable match in the first try. If we won't send the invitation it will look bad on us. Beside, coming or not is upto them but we must invite them."

Sighing, Raghuveer stand up and went towards the door. "Then I shall take my leave, right?"

Manorama and Roopa both nods their head and Roopa said " Take Gola and Mitthu along. They will appreciate getting the early break from Radha teaching maths to them and pulling their ears."

Chuckling he went outside and makes his way towards the house.

__

Raghuveer only planned to take Ranveer and Maithili with him but once he reached the house he met Niyati, sitting on the sofa keeping eyes on the tution students while Radha was in the kitchen.

"I'm taking Gola and Mitthu with me." He informed Radha when she comes with the tray of the water.

"But bhaisahab..they are in the middle of solving the problems. I think we should not force them to aboanded their studies-" behind Radha both the children looked more than eager to throw their notebooks and run away outside. They even folds their head, Maithili touching her forehead on the floor that Raghuveer said,

"They will do it later. It is important where I'm going."

Glaring Radha turned to them but find both of the children's heads lowered and focused in their notebooks.

Raghuveer was looking at her expectedly and so she murmurs "If you say so."

And find both the children standing behind her brother-in-law in the speed of the light.

"You both wait..later I'll make you solve extra chapters." To which they both nods enthusiasticly.

"Fine. Now, Amu- I can teach you embroidery since the tution will soon end and I have enough time since they both will be gone."

And Niyati gives such betrayed look to Raghuveer like he left her to the wolves. "No Maa..I think I know enough -"

"Knowing how to put the thread in the needle is not enough. Come here at once." Scolds Radha and with tears in her eyes Niyati turns to the Raghuveer.

"Kaka..let's take didi along with us or otherwise Maa will kill her with the new found talent called embroidery." Maithili said from the sideline pitying her sister.

Radha thinks Niyati is being lazy or has too much of time in her hands that she wasted it on simply being in her room or sleeping so she thrusted the task of the embroidery on her and Niyati, the dearest, could not do anything.

"Amu, you too come with us." He sigh at last, weaken infront of his daughter's eyes that lits up like the hundred fairy lights.

__

"So where we are going Kaka?" The auto has left them to the main road of a upper class place. The houses around here all looked like it belongs to the high class and Niyati felt awe. For an instance, she felt she has seen this road before but then telling herself that all the roads looks same she stumped on that thought.

Truth be told, she was not feeling very active these days. Staying in her room or sleeping is how she would spent her days if it is not spent in the temple. It was s the only place that brings the momentarily peace to her, peace she can't find anywhere.

In the morning, she do not want to travel on the same road to see the vacant place and each morning she told herself that today she will not cry about it, or that it will not affect her only for to be proven wrong.

Wipes the tears as she waits for the auto or simply refuses to turn her head in that direction so she could pretend, pretend that everything is fine.

There is nothing exciting to look forward in the day, no one leaning on the jeep wearing the cocky expression, the warmth of the smile that is simply directed to her, the warmth of the arms that promises to wad off any danger that this world can cause.

There is simply..just nothing.

"Oh..Amma reminds me to invite the Chaudharys, so we are going there."

Her heart thumps loudly, as she stop in the middle of the road. Chaudhary house?

The place where everything started. The damn place that put this curse upon her heart. They are going there? And what if..if he will be there too?

No. Just..no.

She has no courage to face him, to be in his presence or to be simply around him. The storm she is forcing insides her could not come out. Definitely not infront of both of their family members.

"Oh didi..just walk. Do not be intimidate of these tall buildings, I'll protect you." Ranveer pulled her along clapping her forearm and pulling her.

__

Raghuveer did not wanted to bring Niyati along with him. Or any of the children. He has thought to leave them at the main market place so they could buy anything they want but then he saw the unnecessary rouge crowd around the area promoting different parties and thought better of it.

And now, he is forced to bring the children along with him.

But it would be fine, from little bit he knows, the Chaudharys usually are busy people so it would be given that they won't be spending a Wednesday evening sitting inside the house idly.

He will simply give the invitation to the badi Thakurain or anyone who will be available and then he will be free.

It will hardly take more than ten minutes, they will understand that he couldn't stay long since tomorrow is his daughter's engagement.

It will be fine. He assures himself.

__

"Thakurain.. Pandit ji is on the door." The maid informs the five women sitting in the aangan. Durga Devi on her swing, Rukmani on the chair, Meena sipping the tea and Nupur and Gayatri playing with the Laxu.

They all stop in their work and looked at the maid, "bring him in. Bring him in, don't make him wait." Durga Devi instructed and then turning to his family said "I wonder what brings him here?"

"He must be here to give the invitation for tomorrow. Remember jiji, I told you about his daughter's engagement."

"Ah..yes yes..that must be it." Durga devi stand up from the swing making her way to the large living room where the guest must be. "Badi dulhan..tell the kitchen to brings the refreshments in the new utensils not in the used ones."

They left, no one noticing the blood draining from the Nupur's face. The Mishra's is here, to give the invitation of the engagement. On the day Achintya is at the home.

It could be the coincidence. A mix match of the situation that has nothing to do with the direction her mind was running in. But then, it is too big of a coincidence then.

Achintya who was in the Bareli for the last two days suddenly coming to the home in the morning and on the same day the Pandit ji is here too.

Praying to the almighty, Nupur made her way to the kitchen "dear God, please hear my plea. Do not let Achintya Babu come in the hall untill the Pandit ji is here."

__

Stretching his body, Achintya yawns and sat up on the bed. Checking the time in the clock on the wall he realises he spent the half of the day sleeping in his bed.

But it was expected.

He had been pushing his body and mind to the far, more than he can take, to keep himself busy just so he could forget about that terrible day.

Sleep nowdays, has become the liability to him for he do not close his eyes in the fear of seeing her face. Fear, because he himself do not knows what he will do if she comes near him.

Even in the dream.

But yesterday, he gets so tired that even the thought of keeping his eyes opened felt like the torture not to forget the throbbing headache thumping his head. His shoulder wound atleast has been good. Healing.

He remembered, seeing his bed and just closing his eyes as his head touched the pillow and now he was here. A whole day passed.

Still in the clothes he was in yesterday, his hair getting longer and soon he will need to trim it. But that can wait, he had no energy nor he any wishes to do that, for now.

Deciding a bath is necessary he made his way to the bathroom and locked the door.

Fresh and clean, he came out of the shower. Dressed in a loose black sweatpants and in a looser muscle shirt he sat down on the bed, answering the calls he missed during his sleep.

He has work, lots of it and he was taking more on top of it to keep his mind busy and so he should be focusing on that. But he had no idea, why the fuck he wanted to go to the downstairs.

He shouldn't. He has to make necessary arrangements for the upcoming rally, has to call the Kanpur CA about the report, need to check the share market and the talk with the lawyer is on the standby for the property -

Fuck.. throwing the phone on the bed, he made his way to the downstairs.

__

The house looked splendid in the evening light. Last time she was here, she didn't get to see this portion of the house- a huge hall, the walls painted, Sofa in the middle, and behind it on the wall was the huge frame of the family. Durga Devi in the middle, her two sons on her either sides and their family.

She took one glance at it and refuses to look at that direction again. Any reminder of him..is simply not advisable when she was sitting in his home, meeting his family after what she..

It would be better for her not to let her mind go to that direction. Her heart could only take so much.

"This place is so beautiful, na didi?" Mitthu said from the side, eyeing the house. When they entered the Ally this house was the most grand one in between all of the houses.

The iron gate infront of which two men were standing on either side with rifles in their hands, the front yard storing multiple vehicles, of all shapes and variety -Gola has to collect his jaw from the floor- , then the tall mahogany door welcomed them from where they were lead to this splendid living room.

"Hm." Her sister simply nods her head not sharing the same excitement as her, but Maithili did not let that go affect her mood. She turns to Gola and asked. "What you think? This house? Those cars? Won't you want to spend your days here?"

"Days! No, I want to spend my whole life here. Ordering people to do my things and roam in those expensive super cars." Gola replied eyes still holding that mesmerized look in them. "I wish..I was the girl who can get married in this family."

Which makes Maithili laugh but she quickly shut her mouth when feeling Raghuveer's gaze. "You are an idiot, Gola. "

She turns to share this idiocy of their brother to Niyati but found the girl lost in her own thoughts. Eyes down and fingers clutching one another in her lap.

"Dii you fine?" But before Niyati could answer, they heard the sound of the footsteps and gone silent.

Raghuveer stand up from his seat and following his suit the other three did the same as he greets the women "pranam, badi Thakurain."

"Pranam pandit ji." Durga Devi motion for him to sit down as she takes her sit in the middle sofa along with Rukmani and Meena on her sides. "For what we had done to find your auspicious steps in our house."

Smiling he replied "tomorrow is my daughter's engagement, badi Thakurain. I came here to invite all of the family for the ocassion."

"Congratulations. Many many congratulations pandit ji. It is indeed a big news-"

Raghuveer wanted to hurry up the matter but got distracted when badi Thakurain starts asking about the potential groom's family and here there things. The two maids brought the snacks lead by Nupur who motion for them to keep it on the glass table.

Gola and Mitthu's eyes zoomed on the piping plates of the delicious snacks and sweets but they both waited for Raghuveer's and only when he very reluctantly hold the cup of the tea in his hand that the both children too dig up, carefully holding the plates of the samosas and chutney.

As the adults talk, Nupur kept throwing the look above her shoulder on the door which leads to the aangan and thus to the room of the Achintya. By god's grace, he must still be sleeping and won't come downstairs untill later and till then the guest will be gone.

She knew it was the wrong of her to think that, but at that moment that was the only thing she could think.

In all of this, no one noticed the way Meena kept looking at the young girl. Dressed in the traditional attire of the simple soft purple coloured suit and hair drawn back in the simple fashion and tied up in a plait, she had nothing on herself that could highlights her. And yet, she manages to easily catch the attention of the people.

There was a weird attraction around her, an innocent charm and something more, that just drawn people to her. 'Who is she?' Meena thought.

Just as she was about to ask about the whereabouts of the girl, the bane of her existence and the younger and darling son of the mansion walked from the door.

He froze for the second he entered the room. But quickly regained his composure and walked in the room.

That explains the weird sensation he was having to come downstairs.

Walking easily he stood beside a frozen Nupur and the expression on her face was screaming, that she somehow had made the connection but only few of the dots are connected rightly.

And he is going to leave her at that. There is simply no need for him to correct Nupur now, knowing the doubt for her could be beneficial for him in the long run.

Eight days, fucking eight days and he is seeing her now.

For eight days, he devoted himself, his body and mind in the work so she could forget the face of her and here she was- in his house, sitting with his family and not an ounce of regret on her face.

Does it not affected her as much as it affected him. For she sat there, not raising her eyes or acknowledging his existence.

"Achintya Babu.. w-what you doing here?" Nupur asked nervously. Her eyes wide and expression flabbergasted.

"Do not be worried bhabhi, I woke up and wanted something to eat. Nothing much." He replied easily. Returning to his usual self, he catches the eyes of badi Amma and winked at her.

"Badi dulhan..tell the maid to serve him." She instructed.

Achintya touches the feet of the pandit ji who blesses him -sneaking a glance of her face in a closed proximity - and straighten up. "Pranam pandit ji. How come you are here at our humble abode?"

"Please, Achintya Babu. It is my fortune to be able to come so freely in the haveli. " Raghuveer replied. " I'm here to invite you all to my daughter's engagement."

Nupur waited for the explosion, for Achintya to loose him calm and do something so horrifying no one would have thought. It is surely the last blow, pandit ji announcing the engagement, engagement of the girl Achintya likes-

With bated breathe, she looked at him but he only smiled in the polite way, smiling , he replied "congratulations pandit ji. We will make sure to come there. Na, badi Amma? "

Badi Thakurain give him a look but didn't comment further. She was thinking of not going to but to send the gift by the hands of  someone -pandit ji said about the engagement being a small function and not a big occasion - but Achintya promising now turns the table.

She somehow understand his decision, it was all must be done for the election,a good publicity stunt, Achintya who finds his own benefit even from someone else's misery.

"Definitely. We will come. " She nods. Holding his arm when he stood behind the sofa, leaning on it.

Raghuveer was not hoping for this turn of the event, Achintya Babu and his decision does not explains anything. Why would he want to come in a family function of his house, a small event where nothing will be special.

But then his mind went to the market and it connected the dot ; a publicity stunt. That's what he is doing.

It still astonished him just how much clever this man is, no wonder they treat him as the next lord of the Begusarai. God forbid, if Raghuveer ever has to see this cunning side of his against him. He surely won't stand the chance to even won the battle.

__

Ranveer and his timing could be described in only one word: awful.

Niyati watches from the sideline, standing beside Raghuveer when Ranveer's eyes won't stop oogling at the expensive vehicles lining in the front yard and he, out of the all people has to be the one to noticed that.

"Preety, isn't she?" Achintya asked crouching beside the plump boy who was short for his age. "Wanna ride in it?" The boy's eyes lit up like the thousand bolt of the bulb as he nods his head vigorously making Niyati face palms herself. Mentally ofcourse. She can not show her emotions infront of the man, who is standing there like the hawk waiting for one chance to see the chink in her armour.

She nudges Raghuveer slightly, bringing his attention to the side and he shouts "Ranveer, come back here." And Niyati felt so bad for how Golu's eyes dimmed down but she has to do it. Has to stomp his plan before they start taking shapes.

The boy walks back to his family, knowing very well that a lecture is in awaiting for him later at home for his act. He mumbles his apology to his father before standing with his family, seeing his dream of sitting in that luxurious car breaking infront of him.

Only for that handsome man to say "my apology pandit ji. But I don't see anything wrong with giving a ride to the children. If only you permits."

And he said it in such a polite way that Raghuveer holds no ground to refuse. Because refusing him means offending badi Thakurain who was also present there and that was the last thing he wanted.

Living in the lake and having enemity with the alligator is not advisable. " his mother's warning come back to him and he nods his head.

Achintya usher the plump boy and the miniature form of the Niyati towards the car. "Jeetu..bring the key."

All this time, not even sparing a glance at her. Not even acknowledging her existence, nothing. And despite this being exactly what she wanted, Niyati's eyes glisten and she blinked those tears away.

She holds no right to cry over this man, when she herself was the one who shattered this beautiful dream from her own hands.

These unshed tears and unspoken sadness now her only companion.

__

Poor Niyati. The girl has to face everything alone without able to tell anyone anything.

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Achintya in his mind - should probably start bonding with my in-laws.

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The engagement is about to happened, with Niyati, Achintya and Vishal all under the same roof. Let's see what will happen then. ƪ⁠(⁠˘⁠⌣⁠˘⁠)⁠ʃ

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Like, follow and comment. It is the only thing motivating me to continue this story despite the busy schedule of mine.