7.

DHARA

✨

The music system kept in the corner of the room kept playing while he kept moving. His hands perfectly in sync to the way he kept tapping his foot as the thick loud Ghungroo kept playing according to the beats in perfect co-ordination leaving me speechless. The flair of his white Anarkali kurta spread like wings of a beautiful white peacock as he danced to the tunes senselessly. It was beautiful yet had a lot of angst and pain, the way he tapped his feet or took circles.

And then I witnessed magic. I had learned the basics of Indian classical form during my childhood days and I enjoyed Bharatnatyam but every time my Guru performed Kathak, it was beautiful. Of course I couldn't let Daarji spend extra from his pocket for my expensive hobbies while this could help one of my siblings in their annual fees or uniform hence I quit and never really got an opportunity to pursue it later but seeing him do what I had heard from my Guruji today left me speechless.

He did the Ikkis Chakkar which means 21 spins in one go and that by far is considered one of the most beautiful and one of the most difficult pieces in Kathak. I was just standing there and admiring when he suddenly noticed my presence and froze. He was standing a little far away from me and I couldn't see him properly. Looking at me he said 'You...you shouldn't be here!!!'.

His voice was worry laced with anger. I must not have entered this place without his permission. Maybe it angered him.

'I am not angry. It's just...Baba... won't like it!!!' he said softly putting his head down when I smiled and said 'We had Durga Pujo downstairs, before Aniruddh and my wedding invitation got distributed to others it was offered to the family goddess. I've brought you the Prashad (offering).' saying I took a step forward when he chuckled keeping his palm upon his mouth as he said 'I know...the reason why I asked you to leave. They don't want me to be a part of anything to do with the Chakraborties' while he simply grabbed his long hair and tied it into a bun. I hadn't noticed it all along. He was also a very tall and handsome man like his brothers just a little different, probably due to his attire.

'Mr.Parth.. I am still not a Chakraborty. And I would love for you to have this Prashad please...' I offered when he smiled. A deep dimple flashes on his left cheek making him look adorable. He looked so much like Nivedita Didi' and I couldn't help but speak up 'You look so much similar to Nivedita Didi...' and he smiled again as he slowly walked towards me. The Chan Chan sound of the Ghungroo echoed in the room while he stood in front of me.

One hell of an attractive man who dances like wind and fire. He had fair skin, beautiful brown eyes, clean shaven, a little red Kumkum placed on his forehead like a red bindi. He slowly prayed something and took a piece of Laddoo and took a bite only to moan and close his eyes.

'Hmmmmm!!! Heaven!!! I'm sure Nibbi Di made them!!! She's the best' he said as he took another bite when I narrowed my eyebrows saying 'Di??? But she calls you Dada!!! Aren't you the eldest?' I asked when he narrowed his eyebrows saying 'Will tell you if I get another Laddoo' and I chuckled and handed him the entire box when he smiled saying 'Wow!!! Okay thanks...you seem to be my current favorite Chakraborty right now' saying he placed an entire laddoo in his mouth closing his eyes relishing it like a little child.

I chuckled saying 'Well for those Laddoos, at least I deserve a decent 'thank you' and for that we need to know each other's names!!!' to which he looked at me saying 'I know you asked Oni to invite me for the Pooja and the wedding. You convinced Daadu too. You already know my name, don't you?' he asked when I narrowed my eyebrows saying 'Well!!! You are going to be my brother in law and what I've heard from my sister Anika is that, the more you are friends with your brother in law, the better you are in control of your husband' to which he burst out laughing palming his mouth. I giggled too when he suddenly put his hand infront offering a handshake as he said

'I am not that powerful but if it helps...I was extremely touched that you convinced Daadu that I would be a part of your wedding celebrations. Thank you for making me a part of my own family! Hi I'm Parth!!!' he introduced himself when I smiled a little. His words hurt me too. Our pain was distantly similar. I didn't have a family and was an orphan, he had one yet he was orphaned by them.

'I am Dhara. Dhara Balraj Puri' to which he narrowed his eyebrows and his eyes widened in shock saying 'A Punjabi? And my family accepted you? I mean...I'm sorry but you know how they are!!! I mean I don't mean they are bad people, just a little orthodox' he was still trying to cover up for his family yet even his words left me shocked and I nodded saying 'I am shocked too. I am not just a Punjabi but I'm also an orphan child accepted by my Daarji as his own. Honestly even I don't know how your family accepted me so easily'

He looked at me and we shook each other's hands saying 'I am glad they did. This family isn't so bad until you stay in their boundaries. Once you cross them they will never accept you back again' he said with a distant look when I wanted to divert the topic. We were meeting for the first time and I didn't want us to have such a heavy conversation so I suddenly asked 'You didn't fulfill your promise though' when he suddenly looked at me asking 'Promise? What promise?' and I said 'Hawwww didn't you tell me that you'll tell me why you call Nivedita Di as Didi while you are the eldest?'

And he smiled saying 'I will need another Laddoo for that one!!!' he tried to take another one from the box while I hid it behind my back saying 'Uhhhh!!! Answer me first!!! Then I'll think about it' and he smiled sweetly saying 'Okayyy!!! Well that's because I'm not the eldest. She is!!!' and my eyes widened when he said 'She is exactly 1 minute 39 seconds older than me. We are twins' he confessed while I was shocked.

'But you both don't look alike' to which he rolled his eyes saying 'Not every twin is a Ram aur Shyam or Sita aur Gita' he said and I nodded. But I was still confused 'Well then why does she call you Dada?' and he smiled saying 'Well!!! That's cause everyone else calls me Dada. And also, she says she feels loved and cared for. She tries to find that fatherly love in me which most of us never got from Dad!!!' he said as his eyes went moist. My heart went out for him. I was only trying to get him off the topic and yet my stupid questions drowned him deeper into his sorrows.

But then quickly he blinked through a thin layer of tears saying 'But now she has you too. She always tried to be close to Oni but he was never available ever since Dad burdened him with the responsibilities that I refused to take. He's always traveling but now she has you. Mishka and Tapsee are too young, at least now Nibi Di has someone like you' and I suddenly felt the weight of a lot of new relationships and I gulped.

'Woah I didn't mean to put you under stress Dhara...wait...is it Dhara or Dhara Boudi? What would you prefer? Ideally I'm like 5-6 years older than you. So I can call you by name but if you want me to call you Bou-' he was about to ask when I interrupted saying 'Dhara is good. And then like said I want a friend in this house. Like you said Mishka and Tapsee are practically teens and Nivedita Didi doesn't live here, I need a buddy too you see. Even that Krissh fellow doesn't talk!!!' I said making a face when he chuckled again saying 'That's a birth defect. At times even we wonder if he even has that muscle that helps you stretch your lips. Because his witty brains are always ready to crack a lame joke unfortunately he never smiles or laughs at any of them.' he said in a serious tone while we both looked at each other and the next second we both burst out laughing. Well looks like at least I found one good friend in this house.

After a couple of minutes, I realised I was already getting late. Daarji and Anika must be waiting for me. I bid him a bye as I handed him the box of Laddoos and his eyes shone like diamonds. He thanked me warmly and I quickly started walking outside the room to take the stairs when he stopped me saying 'Nope. Not that!!! Thakuma must be in the living room with Dad discussing business . It's their routine and they won't like it if they see you exiting my room.' and I narrowed my eyebrows saying ' Doesn't matter Parth...I hope Parth is good or you want me to also call you Dada?' I asked when he shook his head saying 'Parth is great. I wanted a friend too' he said and I smiled.

When he added 'Well then my dear brand new friend, although you don't care I do...you are going to be the new bride of the Chakraborty household. Don't be on Thakuma's radar already. You don't want your life to be an episode of a tv serial everyday right?' he asked making me chuckle again but then I asked 'Then how do I go back home? It's already late' when he said 'Come with me' and then he took me towards the end of the room which had a small balcony and an old-school spiral iron staircase that took me to the backyard.

I giggled seeing the same as I asked 'You take this? No wonder I saw you in the house' I said as he smiled sadly saying 'Well that's because I'm banned from entering that house. This is a backyard entry that I've been offered only so that I don't ask them for a property share tomorrow. They think I'm that cheap' he said with a sad smile and I gulped. It hurts when your dear ones don't trust you. I know it. When I ran away from my wedding the last time, Daarji lost faith in me. It took me really longer to gain his trust again but this was horrible. They didn't let their own son be a part of their household. Was choosing your own dreams so expensive?

I slowly started walking down the stairs when he asked 'Would you want me to drop you? I mean it's too late' and I smiled saying 'I drive. I have my two wheeler. I will be just fine' and he smiled saying 'Wow!!! A Chakraborty daughter in law. That too the great politician Aniruddh Chakraborty's would be wife on a two wheeler. Wow!!! I'm already a fan. You are a total no Shoo-Sha' he said trying to control his laughter when I asked 'What do you mean? Chakraborty's daughter in law doesn't mean I'm a queen of a palace LOL !!! I mean what's wrong with riding a bike?' to which he laughed out loud and said 'You really don't understand the weight of being associated with this family? Don't you?' and I gulped. His words suddenly felt oppressive and heavy on my chest.

He probably understood seeing my expressions and he said 'Hey! Relax. My Oni is a gem. He will take great care of you. And then you also have your new friend now. Of course you just bribe him with Nibbi Di's Laddoos and I'd bring three worlds together for you...Shotti (Truly)' he said while I giggled. We had reached the backyard. I had never seen this side of the mansion. At a distance I saw a small wooden gate. It looked very dark and there stood a tall structure which was hidden by tall trees and greenery that was almost invisible in pitch dark.

'That way?' I asked when he immediately stopped me saying 'Nope! Not there.' there was a sudden panic written on his face and his fun loving cheerful voice now laced with seriousness.

'Not there. Never there!!!' he said and I was confused. I was about to ask him but he immediately interrupted saying 'Take the usual gate to exit the mansion. This backyard one is our old gate and...and no one takes that route.' I was about to ask more but he immediately shut me up saying 'You are getting late. Let's meet soon. I'm sure you'll keep visiting here and after a week you will be a permanent member of this household.' he said with a smile and I blushed.

I bid him a bye as the little electric vehicle came to pick me up. I sat as I waved him a bye however the little wooden black gate that kept lurking on my mind was still visible behind him. Why did he ask me not to take that route. If that was the backyard, won't taking that gate literally let me exit faster from this huge compound that literally needs an electric vehicle for entry and exit. Are rich people really that stupid or are they hiding something more from me?

Is something hidden behind that little wooden gate? Or am I just overthinking?

But then why did Parth say those words...

Not there. Never there.