005

A new day brought new hope.

Except for Niyati, whose hope had been crushed. As she left home with Shivu dii, her mind was blank, the events of the previous day long forgotten—well, not entirely forgotten, as the thought of those nights made her heart race. But that was okay. She had control over her heart now. Her parents hadn’t raised a coward.

Yet, when she glimpsed that man from the classroom window, her heart started pounding again. In broad daylight, clad in a white shirt and light blue denim, he looked less like a human and more like a deity. The sunglasses obscuring his eyes were a blessing for Niyati; otherwise, she might have been lost forever.

How had she never noticed this before? Where had her mind been these past few months?

“Is that scene actually normal?” she asked. Asha and Richa were also glancing out the window.

“Yes and no. Gayatri usually gets dropped off outside the gate, but whatever,” Richa replied. Sitting on the windowsill, Niyati noted the crowd surrounding him. In a girls' college where men were a rare sight, a handsome man would naturally attract attention.

No one approached him directly; their eyes followed his every move.

A sigh escaped Niyati’s lips. Last night, for just a brief moment, she had hoped to be noticed by that handsome man. It wasn’t ideal, nor would she ever admit it, but the tiny hope had ruined her sleep.

“He is just so handsome, god!” Asha exclaimed dreamily.

“You have a boyfriend, remember?” Richa reminded her, jumping slightly as Asha slapped her wrist. “Have you lost your mind? Don’t say that out loud. If anyone hears and the news spreads, I’ll be in big trouble.”

Niyati rolled her eyes. Back in Indore, people gossiped about relationships all the time. But here in Begusarai, just seeing a girl and a boy together could become the next hot topic. Having a boyfriend and talking about it was a big no-no.

Asha had only mentioned it because Niyati had seen a message from her boyfriend on Asha’s phone when she went to the washroom.

All they knew about him was that his name was Mukesh, he was a college dropout, and worked in a local garage. He had seen her on her way to college, followed her for days, and eventually, they got together. Also, the phone Asha was using had been given to her by Mukesh—another detail.

“Wait, is he looking for someone? Why is he circling the premises like that?” Richa asked, and Niyati looked down to see that the sunglasses were dangling from his hand as his eyes scanned the area.

“What is he looking for?” Niyati wondered aloud.

“Oh no, I think the rumor was true,” Asha said dramatically, a hand over her mouth.

“What rumor?” Niyati asked before she could stop herself.

“That... our college is going to undergo a much-needed renovation phase,” Asha said. Niyati blinked, once, twice, then three times, staring at Asha.

“Did you forget to take your anti-crazy medication today? The college just celebrated its silver jubilee. They already renovated the entire building for that. We complained about the noise daily. How could your memory be so bad?” Niyati asked.

Asha looked part embarrassed, part sheepish. “I’m sorry. Okay. But I told you what I heard.” Clearly, Asha wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.

Grabbing Asha by the shoulders, Niyati shook her. “Stay away from those gossip mills.”

“Okay, okay, let me go,” Asha said.

When Niyati turned to catch one last glimpse of him, she found him staring straight ahead at her. In a sudden, irrational impulse, she leaped away from the window, hoping against hope that he hadn’t seen her.

__

Achintya had visited Guddi’s college with the hope of catching a glimpse of Niyati. The name suited her so well.

But, alas, destiny was not on his side. Although he thought he’d spotted a hint of blue on the windowsill that might have been her, it vanished too quickly for him to be sure.

“I’ve seen that look before,” Nupur said, serving hot parathas on his plate. It was late breakfast, and only Nupur and Achintya were in the hall.

“What look, dear Bhabhi?” He tore a piece of paratha with his hand and took a bite.

“That hungry look—it only appears when you want something badly,” Nupur replied. She had seen Achintya grow up; she married into the family seven years ago, and in that time, she’d witnessed plenty of family dramas.

From her husband covered in blood after a violent clash to Vijay breaking bones without a second thought, the family’s tumultuous history was well-known. But the most terrible moments always seemed to involve Achintya.

She remembered vividly the night when goons attacked them, killing their guards. While Durga Devi hid the female staff and children in a safe room, Achintya and his father emerged from nowhere, axes in hand, fighting off the attackers. It was Achintya who saved Nupur’s marriage that night.

“Now you’re being delusional, Bhabhi. There’s no such look,” Achintya said, pulling a chair and sitting down.

Nupur served another paratha on his plate. “Dear Achintya, I take pride in knowing every family member. Don’t make me doubt myself.”

Achintya chuckled. It was true; he and his sister-in-law shared a bond where Nupur was more of a friend than a mere Bhabhi. Her level of maturity and understanding was impressive—perhaps that was why she fit so well with his emotionally constipated brother.

Mithilesh Chaudhary, the stoic man who rarely smiled, and Nupur Chaudhary, the ever-bubbly woman, made an unlikely yet perfect pair.

He could trust her. After all, Nupur was an excellent secret keeper.

“So... I met this girl—”

“Really? Wow... Oh, god! I’m so happy. Finally, your days of womanizing are over. My religious fasts are paying off!” Nupur exclaimed, her excitement barely contained.

Achintya knew she wouldn’t like what was coming next. “Shh... let me finish, Maate.”

Nupur sat down, her expression now a mix of curiosity and anticipation. “So... I met this girl yesterday at the function—”

Nupur clapped her hands. “That’s such good news! How many times has a girl caught Achintya’s eye and heart?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“Let me finish,” Achintya said patiently, knowing Nupur wouldn’t like the next part.

“The girl I’m talking about... belongs to Raghuveer Mishra’s family.” Nupur’s mouth dropped open in a silent gasp. Her hands covered her face, and horror danced in her eyes.

He waited until Nupur composed herself. Finally, she shook her head, her mouth opening and closing without sound.

“Babu... Achintya—” She took a deep breath. “Achintya, you’re aware it’s forbidden, right?”

“Yes, that’s why I need some advice on how to handle this.”

“Advice? Achintya, I’m telling you clearly—any girl, and I mean any girl from a Brahmin family, is off-limits to you.” Nupur’s voice was firm. The bored expression on Achintya’s face was worrying; he was calm, but his blank look suggested trouble.

“Achintya, I never objected to your relationships with women because I knew you were responsible. But this... I’ve never seen her, but I’ve heard she’s very pretty and wonderful. But there are other girls. You will find another one. Forget about her.”

Achintya couldn’t deny Nupur’s concerns, but he couldn’t lie to her either. “Explain it,” he demanded.

“Huh?”

“Explain why. Is it because of our different castes? That my Kshatriya caste is superior to her Brahmin caste?”

“Yes, all of that. But there’s more. The caste issue is only part of it. The Brahmins' respect and honor are significant. They are considered holy, and even imagining them wrongly is a grave sin.”

“Second, the Mishras might not be as powerful or wealthy as us, but they hold the greatest treasure in society: respect and honor. Finally, girls raised in their families, who have never seen violence or feuds, do not belong in a world of chaos and violence. They are brought up believing in a world of rainbows.”

“So please, drop this thought from your mind and let it go. I’ve always treated you like my own child, and I can’t bear to see you commit sins that you do not deserve to be punished for.”

The pleading in her tone was clear. “You will do that, right? Say something, please.”

A look of relief crossed Nupur’s face when Achintya nodded. “Do not panic, Bhabhi. I only mentioned a girl. We haven’t even exchanged greetings yet. There’s no need to get so anxious.”

“I know it might seem like exaggeration, but I just want you to be fully aware of the consequences if you pursue this. I only want what’s best for you.”

Achintya smiled—a sincere smile that put Nupur at ease. He was right; there was no need to panic. He was someone who easily got bored of people, and this girl, whoever she was, would likely not hold his attention for long.

Everything would be fine.

__

They say Adam ate the forbidden apple only because it was forbidden, which led him to lose his senses and commit sin.

The same allure captivated Achintya.

It became a ritual for him to drop Guddi off at college and pick her up, hoping to catch a glimpse of those big eyes.

So far, destiny had not favored him. Until Tuesday evening, when he was parked just outside the college gate, he caught a glimpse of purple. Instinctively, he turned his head and saw her—Niyati.

She was waiting for a rickshaw with a few other girls. The interesting part was that he caught her sneaking glances at his side, her head turning away quickly as if afraid of being seen. Little did she know, the predator had already marked his prey. But he decided to let her enjoy her peace for now. It was fun this way.

Gayatri snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Hello! If you’ve gathered enough material to boost your ego, can we leave?”

Her brother had become a nuisance. Since he began dropping her off at college, her life had become a hellish mess. At least half of her college peers had asked her to set them up with him.

Her ears were about to start bleeding from the incessant nonsense she endured daily because of her brother.

Gayatri knew that Achintya had ulterior motives for dropping her off. Her brother was not someone to waste time on matters without value.

“Seriously, what’s the issue? Tell me, bhai! I swear I won’t tell anyone. Promise!” Gayatri pleaded.

“Exactly like how you informed Papa about me smashing his new Jeep, or how your stupid mouth spilled about my Goa trip to Mithilesh bhaiya, or how you let Amma know I sneaked money from her almirah. Make me aware, Guddi.”

Gayatri was the biggest snitch Achintya had ever known. It was a miracle she could digest her food when she couldn't keep a secret.

“Don’t stress your tiny brain too much, or you’ll lose the two working brain cells you have left.” Huffing, she turned her head away. When would her family see her as a grown-up and not just a child?

Achintya scanned the crowd for the dash of purple but found her gone. It was fine, more than fine.

Truth be told, he understood where his Bhabhi was coming from, but he wasn’t about to claim sainthood in the battle of the heart.

He didn’t believe in love at first sight, only attraction. His attraction to her was heightened by the fact that she was forbidden. If there was anything Achintya Chaudhary loved more than his family, it was a challenge.

And that girl, Niyati, was just that—a new destiny for him.

_

“Bade Malik, the cartons are being unloaded under Chote Malik’s supervision,” the godown manager informed Mithilesh.

Hearing this, Mithilesh raised an eyebrow. “Vijay is there?”

“He also asked you to come to the godown. He has some questions regarding the case.”

Sighing, Mithilesh closed the file and followed the manager to the godown.

“Bhaiya, come here,” Vijay called, his eyes fixed on the cartons being unloaded from the truck.

“Checked everything? Nothing wrong?” Mithilesh asked.

“Everything is as we demanded—fifty lakhs in exchange for the builder’s grandson.” Vijay opened a carton lid to reveal dozens of garlic cloves covered by grass. Kicking the carton, he took out a small knife and cut through it, revealing bundles of high-denomination bills.

“Good. Send the boy back home by evening. Now that he’s tasted fear, he won’t question the Chaudharys again,” Mithilesh said, thumping Vijay’s back before walking away.

_

“For the election, we need something big, something grand to make Chaudhary Babu the next CM of Bihar,” one of the party members announced.

“I completely agree. Chaudhary Sahab deserves to be the next CM. If he doesn’t become it, who else will?” another added.

The Jan Seva Party (JSP) was the party led by Bahubali Phoolan Chaudhary. The upcoming election was crucial, with JSP and the rival National Democratic Party (NDP) facing off. JSP’s advantage was Phoolan Chaudhary himself—a man who was untouchable in Bihar, ruling the towns from afar with his family as both shield and weapon.

“It's guaranteed. When the party wins, the throne will go to the Chaudharys,” one member assured.

_

“Bhaisahab, my man informed me that the decision is final. Your name has been chosen,” Lokesh told his brother.

Abhay, struggling with a math problem, glanced at his giggling sister in his grandfather’s lap and then at Lokesh’s face. His grandfather, Phulan Chaudhary, didn’t seem annoyed despite it being the sixth mistake. “That’s fine, Babu. Be patient. Try again,” he encouraged.

Phulan Chaudhary then turned to his brother. “Good to know. After all we’ve done for the party, it’s high time they start paying us back.”

“Of course, Bhaisahab. Who else would they choose?”

Phulan Chaudhary clapped for Abhay as he finally got the correct answer, his face lighting up. “There is nothing a man cannot achieve if he puts in complete dedication.”

Phulan Chaudhary patted the boy on the back, who jumped from the khaat, showing off his work. “Good job. Now go show this to everyone.”

As Abhay ran off, Lokesh’s mood sobered. “There are still some thorns in our path.”

“Handle them as always. Use wisdom first; if that doesn’t work, the weapon can always bend a man to his knees,” Phulan Chaudhary advised, tickling his little grandchild who giggled, tugging at his white beard.

_

“Maa, I’m leaving,” Niyati called from the hall. Radha, busy in the kitchen, frowned at the clock showing 6:45.

“Where are you off to this early?” Radha asked, coming out of the kitchen with a ball of dough in her hand.

“I have early classes this whole week, Mumma. I told you yesterday,” Niyati said, hopping on one foot while trying to put on her sandal.

“What about Shivu? Does she have classes too?” Radha inquired.

“She’s a year ahead of me, Mumma. So no. Now, if you’re done, I’m leaving.”

Niyati was almost out the door when her mother stopped her again. “But you’ll come home with Shivu, right?”

Niyati rolled her eyes. Her mother treated her like a newcomer, imposing restrictions that made her feel suffocated. College meant going with Shivu, returning with Shivu, and even going shopping or to the library with someone. Her mother’s constant reminders of how different Begusarai was from Indore made it hard to breathe.

“Yes, Mumma. After my classes end, I’ll wait for Shivu dii’s classes to finish and then we’ll come home together.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm.

Radha’s face changed, realizing the underlying tone. “Don’t talk to me like that, Amu. I only asked a question, so answer me properly.”

Niyati’s temper flared. “I already did. If my classes start early, they’ll end early, won’t they?”

Their first class was with Rawat sir, and being late would mean standing outside.

With a sour mood, Niyati left the house, thinking about how fantastically her day had started. She had woken up early and now had to walk to the main road to catch a rickshaw, hoping to avoid a long walk to college.

Praying fervently, Niyati balanced her bag on her shoulder and ran.

__&__

The streets of Begusarai were silent, with only a few passersby visible. The chirping of birds filled the air as Niyati walked down the street.

By sheer luck, she hadn’t found a rickshaw near her street. So, here she was, navigating the road to her college on foot.

It was all her mother’s fault. If Radha hadn’t interrupted her and let her leave on time, none of this would have happened.

A loud honk pierced the morning calm, followed by another, and another.

Niyati groaned internally. On a road so empty that not even a bicycle was moving, how could anyone be so blind or inconsiderate to honk so much?

But the honking continued, intensifying her frustration. First, her mother soured her mood, then she couldn’t find a rickshaw or bus and had to walk the whole way, and now this obnoxious driver was pushing her temper to its limits.

Another honk made her stop in her tracks.

“That’s enough. He must either be blind or deliberately annoying me,” she muttered. Her hand reached inside her bag and retrieved a small bottle of pepper spray.

She continued walking, her steps deliberately slow, the pepper spray ready in her hand. As soon as the driver came into view, she planned to spray it directly into his eyes and then run full speed toward her college.

She turned, her hand gripping the spray tightly, and froze.

Strong hands gently but firmly captured her forearm, twisting her wrist so that the pepper spray dispersed into the air.

She looked up to see Achintya’s brown eyes meeting hers.

“Niyati,” he mumbled.

__&__

Maate :- mother

Khat:- wooden bed

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Finally..! It took me five chapters to actually made them interact with each other. Ahhh...

Also, the drama has started in the Begusarai and its people's life.

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Fun fact :- few things between Nupur and Achintya's talk are actually true and not made up. Like,the caste thing.

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If you guys have more questions, comment them and feel free to ask. I'll explain so do not hesitate.

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Vote and comments are appreciated. Welcome to Begusarai.

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