Rudra was at the meeting with some village officials, but his focus and senses were not on it.
Rudra took a deep sigh, His brain and heart kept thinking about Sugandha, constantly.
Indra noticed this, and it formed a smirk on his face. He excused himself and signaled Rudra to follow him.
They both were walking near a field while feeling the fresh air on them.
"Are you missing Sugandha?" Indra asked.
Rudra's head bolted towards him with his brows raised in astonishment.
"No bhaiya, why would I miss her?" Rudra said.
"Don't lie to me, the loneliness is etched all over your face." Indra said with a low chuckle.
"W..woh, I'm just tense about Nalini's marriage." Rudra tried to lie.
"It is after 10 months. And your lies don't work with me." Indra spoke while patting his shoulder.
Rudra fell quiet, Indra was right, and he couldn't even dodge the fact.
"You're finding love for the second time, don't miss it. And... don't turn out like me, that's the best gift for your wife." Indra said.
"No, bhaiya. For me, you're a god. You took care of me and never said no to anything that I've asked." Rudra said.
"You also did too many favors for me. You don't realize how much of a gem you are. I wish I wasn't our father's favorite as well. Maybe... just maybe, I would've turned out like you." Indra said.
They both let out a sad smile at the same time and hugged each other. At that moment, all they could think of were their wives, and lives respectively.
On the other side, Sugandha was reliving her memories. She was swinging on a rope and tire that was attached to the tree. Poor Raghu is the one pushing her.
"Didi, abh ghar chalte hai na." Raghu said.
(Sister, let's just go home.)
"Nahi, abhi toh maaza aaraha hai." Sugandha said.
(No, I'm just starting to get the joy.)
"You've been saying that for the past 30 minutes. I'm super tired." Raghu said.
Sugandha sighed and got off the swing. She dusted herself off first and looked at the peak of Durga temple.
"Raghu, chalo durga maata ke mandir chalte hai. Waha ka prasad bohut accha lagta hai mujhe, muh mai paani aaraha hai soch kar hi." Sugandha said.
(Raghu, let's go to the Durga temple. I love the food there. I drool just by thinking about it.)
Sugandha started walking towards the temple, and Raghu followed behind her while groaning in frustration.
As they made their way towards the temple, there was a gang of men who were smoking 'beedi' under a tree.
Sugandha noticed this and tried to keep a safe distance between them. She covered her face fully with the veil and clutched onto her sadi.
"Eey chori, kidher jah rahi hai akele?" One of the guys said.
(Hey girl, where are you going alone?)
Raghu started walking in between, trying to hide his sister's figure from those creepy men.
"Chori toh bohut nakhre dikha rahi hai. Tere rang roop ko dekh, hum hii zyada hai tere liye." One man commented and everyone started laughing.
(She's displaying too much attitude. Look at your skin color, we're more than enough for you.)
Sugandha was very used to these kinds of comments. She first used to cry about it, but then she slowly got a grip on her heart and became immune to it.
"Oyyy, chup reh! Nahi toh khopdi todd dunga Teri." Raghu spoke with anger.
(Heyy, shut up! If you don't, then I'll break your skull.)
"Kya rey chotu, ek phuk maaru toh udher girega samjha? Aur.... Puch teri didi see ki woh aapni bistar garam karna chahti hai yah nahi." A man says while winking at Sugandha.
(What, kiddo? If I blow once, you'll get flown by it. And.... Ask if your sister wants to warm her bed or not.)
Raghu was fuming, he was about to hit him but Sugandha held his wrist and dragged him away from those bastards.
They still kept whistling and making vulgar comments about Sugandha's body.
"Didi! Why are you quiet...? Let's teach them a lesson." Raghu said.
"Raghu, gusse mai bhul raha hai ki woh baade ghar ke naukar hai. Aagar humne kuch kiya toh fir... tujhe pata hii hoga." Sugandha said.
(Raghu, you're forgetting that they're the people of the rich owners. If we did something then... you know exactly what will happen.)
Raghu sighed in annoyance. Sugandha really hated the crimes against the poor, it's like they're the prey to everyone and everything. Even the police don't give them any support.
"Ek din itne paise kamaunga ki aapko rani ki tarah rakhunga. Aagar aapke pati ne aapko chor diya toh mein khada rahunga aapke sath." Raghu said.
(One day I'll earn so much money and treat you like a queen. If your husband leaves you, then I'll be with you.)
Sugandha smiled at his words and she felt really happy to hear them.
Soon, they reached the temple and the priest immediately recognized her. He was an old man, and he didn't have any daughters. So he used to adore Sugandha when she was a kid.
They chatted for a while and also got the darshan of the Durga maa. People of the lower caste weren't allowed too close to the idol. They can only pray from afar.
"Jaane see pehle ek gaana toh ga doh, beti." The Priest said.
(Can you sing a song before leaving, my child?)
Sugandha tried to refuse, but he was persistent. She finally agreed and he escorted her to a room. He handed her the microphone and Sugandha held it with caution.
She kept looking at it with amusement. Any type of technology baffles her and she is looking at it like it's some candy.
"Isme gao." the priest said.
(Sing in this.)
Sugandha nodded with Joy. She was really excited for this opportunity.
She started singing in her melodious voice, and it was so soothing. People in the temple and outside were mesmerized by her singing that was being played by a speaker outside, on the tree.
As soon as she finished, people around her started clapping for her. She became so shy and covered her face with her hands.
"Ek din baadi gaayika banogi, meri beti." The priest said and blessed her.
(One day, you'll become a singer, my child.)
Rudra's pov
He was currently on the bed, facing the roof. He kept staring at it with his thoughts swirling inside his head. It was 9:30 pm, and he had no appetite to eat or sleep.
In this short period, she carved herself in my heart with ease. Am I that weak…? But I was an expert at ignoring women.
It's only been a day, and I'm missing her crazy. When did I become so dependent on her? Is it… love?
But how can it be possible in such a short time? But… I'm sure that I still love that woman from years ago. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find her. It's like she just vanished without a trace.
Maybe… she was not written in my fate. Ughh, I'm so confused and frustrated. Why am I starting to get so affected by sugandha?
I tried to sleep, but I just couldn't. I looked beside me, where she used to sleep. Every morning, she ends up in my arms. She moves a lot in her sleep.
I didn't say or do anything because I didn't want to embarrass her. Or maybe… I just wanted it to be that way.
An hour or so has passed, and I was still wide awake. I got really tired of these thoughts and sat up.
Then my gaze fell onto the closet. I got up and opened it.
There were sadi's of Sugandha. 'It's only for two days, and she'll never know.' I thought.
I pulled a sadi of hers, but others fell on the ground because of my force. I groaned in frustration and crouched down to pick them up.
When I was picking them up, my eyes locked onto a piece of cloth that was under her red sadi. I immediately pulled it out to take a better look at it.
As soon as I saw the cloth… A shock ran through my spine. My hands started shaking as I stared at it in disbelief.
I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. How's it possible??? There's no way!
I was utterly perplexed, and I was left speechless. My mind was abuzz with possibilities.
My thoughts were churning like a stormy sea, and I just couldn't get myself to accept the truth because it was almost unreal.
This was the same kerchief that I gave to the girl that I loved on the last day.
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