Chapter 4
Chandini collapsed against the floor next to her bed once Indrani left her room. She knew she was meant to be married this year, just didn’t realise it would be within a month. Tears welled in her eyes. She was hoping …waiting for Dev to turn up and claim his right to her.
She buried her face in her hands, panic and despair gripping her heart.
“Banno.’
She let out a sob the moment she heard her Niru Mama’s voice.
“Banno,’ He called out to her again as he walked towards the bed.
“Mamaji.,’ She sobbed with her head on his lap the moment he sat on the bed next to her.
“I know Banno … Hence why I came to see you.’
“Dev … Mamaji,’ She choked on her tears.
“If he had to come my dearest…. He would have by now,’ Mamaji removed his glasses and wiped his tears. How was he meant to tell her that Dev was never coming back?
“I was hoping Mamaji,’ She choked as Mamaji stroked her hair. “Some things are beyond our control… my child,’
“He has not forgiven me Mamaji,’ She sobbed, “If only… if only he would have let me explain myself…. Just once.’
“Chandini…,’
She straightened herself and wiped her tears the moment she heard Advay’s deep comforting voice.
“Are you okay?’ He asked, looking at her with concern. Her tears we surely going to be his ruin.
“Is everything Okay?’ He asked again, looking at Mamaji this time.
“Yes,’ Mamaji let out a sigh, “She is going to be married soon….’
“Oh,’ Advay said, “Why are you crying? Is something wrong?’
Mamaji chuckled as he stroked her head, trying to deflect the question.
“She is sad, as she will be going away from all of us,’ He stroked her head again, “Hain naa Banno.’ He asked her with kind eyes as she nodded, trying to blink her tears away.
She won’t be going anywhere if I marry her, Advay smiled to himself.
“Sorry,’ Mamaji straightened himself, “are you Mr Advay Singh Raizada .. Jiji was telling me about you.’
“Oh yes,’ Advay shook his head, “Sorry I didn’t introduce myself. I am Advay Singh Raizada and am here to work on the temple.’
“Did you need anything Mr Raizada?’
“Please call me Advay,’ He smiled, “Sorry and you are?’ He asked Niru on purpose just so he didn’t raise any suspicions.
“I am Niranjan, Indrani’s brother … Chandini’s mama.’
“I see,’ Advay nodded his head, “Are you the one I need to speak to with regards to questions relating to the treasury.’
“Yes,’ Niru nodded shifting on the bed, “I look after the Temple accounts. Do you want to go through them now?’
“No… No Mamaji… I hope it’s okay if I addressed you as Mamaji.’
Niru Mamaji smiled and nodded.
“I just wanted to look around the temple and was hoping Chandini could show me around.’
Chandini glanced up at him and then at her Mamaji.
“I know it’s almost six and getting dark, but I just wanted a quick tour of the temple, so I know where to start from tomorrow.’
Advay gazed down at Chandini hoping she would agree to spend some time with him. He knew the temple like the back of his hand, there was nothing she could tell him that he didn’t already know.
“Chandini… why don’t you show Advay around?’ Niru got up from the bed. “We don’t want him complaining that the Mahants weren’t co-operative.’
Advay chuckled to himself, he knew Mamaji was in a pickle the moment he had mentioned the accounts.
“Ji Mamaji,’ Chandini whispered as her Mama gave her a nod of consent.
She wiped her face and walked out of her bedroom with Advay at her tow.
They walked around the courtyard in silence, it was a quiet day. The preparations for the Maha aarti was over, now it was just the clam before the storm.
“This is the door that leads to the treasure,’ She said as they walked past a heavy door carved out of pure granite, embellished with rusting metal handles and hinges, decorated with strings of marigolds.
Advay didn’t take his eyes off her, temple tour was only an excuse to spend time with her.
He watched her with intent, as her eyes flickered with a hint of sadness. She was unhappy, Maybe, she is forced into marrying this PP, he thought to himself as they walked towards their Banyan tree.
“Can we sit here for a while?’ She asked him as she sat down on the exact same stone where she always had, next to her Dev.
Advay too sat against his stone, a shiny black goldstone even before Chandini could stop him. She flinched to watch Advay perched next to her on Dev’s stone. No one had ever sat there, next to her in sixteen years. She looked away finding it impossible to imagine anyone other than Dev, sat next to her under the Banyan tree.
“Something wrong?’ He asked sensing her frustration.
“No, it’s just…. Never mind,’ She shook her head.
They sat in silence for a while, watching the river gushing down the ghats, glimmering against the setting sun.
Advay felt at peace in a long time. He was home, back to being who he was, with Chandini perched next to him playing with her duppata.
Everything was like how it used to be, he thought to himself, except that nothing was the same. He turned to his side to look at Chandini. She had always leaned on him. That’s what’s changed.
He sighed as he found her leaning against the stone compound, encircling the tree behind her.
Her gaze darted around the courtyard and back towards the river, as she continued fidgeting with her dupatta.
“What does he do?’ Advay finally broke the silence, sensing her nervousness.
She raised her brow not sure who he was talking about.
“Your fiancé.’
“Oh,’ She let out a sigh, “I am not sure…. Hmm, I think their family own a few properties and a few businesses, I am not sure.’
“Your family wants you to marry him and you don’t know anything about him?’
“I only met him once, when he and his mother came to meet me.’ She shrugged as she brought her knees up to her chest taking care that her saree covered her toes. She hadn’t bothered to make an acquaintance with PP, as she was certain Dev would come for her.
“Do you like him?’ He finally managed to ask, dreading her reply.
“Maa likes him,’ She whispered.
Advay nodded, the blank look in her eyes had said it all.
“Marry me,’
He looked her in the eye. It was an order.
She felt a shiver in her spine, but instead smiled at him in a futile attempt to diffuse the tension, “Why should I? What do I know about you?’
“Oh, so that’s the problem,’ He chuckled.
“I am Advay Singh Raizada, I have lived for most of my adult life in the UK… Cambridge to be precise. I am a mathematician … a fellow at Trinity College Cambridge and am here to research on the mathematics surrounding the mystery of this Temple.’ He smiled as he went on, “I have never been married, I am single, alone I mean. My parents passed away many years ago,’ She noticed how he flinched ever so slightly at the mention of his parents. “I have an aunt who lives near London. I owe my life to her, but…. we are not close.’
He pressed his lips in a thin line. His aunt had taken him in and helped him in life after his parents had passed away. She had organised for him to move to London. But the trauma had never let him get emotionally attached to anyone.
“Your parents passed away?’ She whispered as sadness took over her heart, “My mother too passed away when I was a baby.’
He nodded, he knew. There was nothing he didn’t know about her.
“So… now, tell me about yourself?’ He asked trying to cheer her up.
“There is nothing much to say …’ She giggled as Advay watched her with a sense of pride. She was his Chandini, his beautiful girl.
“I am the oldest daughter of Mahant Yash Narayan Vashisht. I have lived in Allahabad all my life and the only other place I have ever visited outside of Allahabad is Banaras.’ She let out a sigh. Her life had been sheltered, with the perpetual pressure of playing the role of a proper, cultured, well brought up girl…. A good girl…sanskaari.
“I love to watch the Sun rise behind the river in the morning, while sipping on my tea.’
He chuckled, she was still the same. “and I love the smell of earth after the first rains.’
“Hmmm,’ He sighed. It had been a while since he had smelt the earth after the first rains.
“I have a Phd in Sanskrit…from Allahabad University… but looks like it is a worthless qualification in today’s modern times.’
“You have a Phd,’ He looked at her with surprise. He hadn’t expected her to be so smart.
“Yes,’ She sighed, “I was sat at home after my masters… bored… so I decided to get a Phd in Sanskrit…. Niru Mama convinced Maa. But trust me it’s of no use.’
“Why do you say that?’
“That’s sad state of India today,’ She sighed, “Waisey bhi, it will be frowned upon if the oldest daughter of the Mahant was to take up a job.’
“And maybe now you will have get your in-laws’ permission to pursue a career,’ He winked.
She nodded, “Yes… But I don’t think my mother-in-law to be is too keen on that.’
“I wouldn’t mind if you took up a job… and ….,’ He chuckled, “You won’t have to answer to a mother-in-law. So that’s another reason why you should marry me.’
She chuckled at his resolve.
“You don’t give up … do you?’
He leaned against the banyan tree and shook his head. “I am a strong-willed man Chandini. I won’t stop till I make you my wife.’
Chandini shivered at the cocky tone of voice and at the darkness that shimmered in his eyes. This conversation had to end.
“It’s getting dark’ She said as she looked around the temple. It was also getting quieter.
Advay narrowed his eyes, anger flashing through his body, she was not in charge here, he was. The conversation was not over until he ended it. She was going to have to stay.
“Is there anything else regarding the temple that you need to ask, Adva……’
She yelped in pain even before she had finished her sentence as he grabbed her hand and twisted it behind her back.
“Just because I have been smiling,’ He hissed, twisting her arm roughly, “Does not mean you forget your manners Miss Chandini Yash Narayan Vashisht.’
“What did I do?’ She choked on her tears as she struggled to release her wrist from his steel grip, she knew she would end up with a bruise. What had happened? What had changed?
“How many times do I have to remind you that you SHALL NOT CALL ME ADVAY?’
She shook at the darkness that had taken over him. He seemed like a different man, not the carefree Advay who had been chatting her up a few moments ago.
“You never said that.’ She whimpered in pain.
“Well I am telling you now… Don’t ever call me Advay… I am not Advay for you …Do I make myself clear.’
“I…I am sorry,’ She whispered as she looked at her feet, tears welling in her eyes.
Advay smirked to himself, pleased with her submission. “What do you want me to address you as.. Mr Raizada?’
“No…Exactly like how you would address your husband,’ He murmured as he let go of her hand.
Chandini jolted up to look at him with disbelief, “What makes you think I would agree to marry a man like you?’
“And what exactly do you mean by a man like me?’ He raised a brow, she had always managed to amuse him.
“Someone who wants to force a girl to marry him.’
“Excuse me,’ He chuckled, “Someone like your Maa… you mean?’
Chandini narrowed her eyes and tilted her head, where was he taking this conversation?
“What do you mean?’ She asked.
“Just like how your Maa is forcing you to marry someone you don’t love.’
Chandini looked at him with horror filled eyes. She had never given it a thought.
“It’s different,’ She blurted, “Maa is my mother. She knows what’s right for me. She has a right on me and can demand me to do her bidding. I will do anything for her.’
“Okay,’ He let out a throaty laugh, “So what you are telling me, my pet …my cute little squirrel, is that you will marry me, if your mother told you to do so.’
“No,’ She snapped as he raised a brow, “and I am not your pet…squirrel.’
He was beginning to irritate her beyond measure, trying to put words in her mouth and challenge her intelligence.
“I am not like your Maa Chandini,’ He finally told her in a firm voice, a coldness replacing the mirth in his eyes. “I will wait till you agree to marry me of your own accord….’
He swept her hair away from her shoulders and brushed his thumb against her cheek.
“And I know for a fact, that you will agree to marry me.’
She shuddered at the conviction in his voice as he winked and walked back into the Haveli, leaving her standing under the banyan tree clutching her pounding her in her hands.
Murli had unpacked the suitcases before Advay got back to him room.
It was almost nine, as Advay sat on his father’s antique easy chair, out on the terrace, waiting for Murli to serve dinner. Memories of his father flashed before his eyes, as he looked around the terrace. Of the times when his Baba had chilled on his easy chair, with Advay sat at his feet doing his homework, and of the times when he and Chandini had played together on the terrace with his Baba singing hymns in the background. This house had raked back everything that he had carefully tucked away. Every memory, every smile…every laughter … everything… came back to him. Where were they? It felt like yesterday that they were all here… but here he was alone…bereft of his loved ones… bereft of a reason to live. At least she was still there, a voice whispered in his head, Dev’s voice.
“PP,’ He sighed, he was going to have to do something about him.
“Shilpa,’ He said answering his phone, “Do you have any info on this PP?’
“Hmmm… How did you not know about him? …. I don’t like surprises Shilpa. I need the info ASAP please.’ He ended the call and threw the phone on the coffee table in front of him.
“Bhiayya… your pasta salad,’ Murli walked in with a bowl and a fork. He poured him his glass of wine and placed it next to his bowl.
“Did Chandini have her dinner?’
“Hmm,’ Murli smiled to himself, ‘The family have gathered at the table.’
“Bhaiyya … what made you change your mind,’ Murli whispered, hoping he hadn’t stepped the line, “About Chandini Bhabhi I mean.’
Advay smiled at him, “I am glad you have gone from Didi to Bhabhi…. It’s my Maa’s wish, was her wish that I make Chandini my bride. I had forgotten that… had allowed my revenge to blind me…. But Maa has corrected the situation now.’ Advay dug his fork into the pasta.
“Were the two of you engaged.’
“No,’ He said, “not officially. We were kids Murli. But it was agreed upon by the elders that we marry when we grow up. I always wanted to marry her. She was too young to understand such matters. But I know she loved me…. just like I loved her…love her.’
He sighed as he went back to eating his dinner.
“If Maa was alive, I would have been married to Chandini, a long while ago and would have had a couple of kids by now.’ He chuckled as Murli wore a pained look in his eye. His Bhaiyya had not deserved the life he had been forced to live.
“Isi liye Murli,’ He blinked his tears away, “Isiliye what she did to me is unpardonable. I was her best friend and she was the girl I loved…is the girl I love. My Maa Baba should have been alive, Chandini should have been my wife, I should have been the next Mahant….’ His voice trailed as tears finally rolled down his cheeks at the golden life that had been robbed away from him.
“What happens next?’ Murli asked with a confused expression. “after marriage, I mean.’
“Let the marriage happen Murli.’ Advay raised his brow, “Meeting Chandini in person has opened up a lot of options. Let’s see how things go. I first need to find out more about PP.’
They glanced at each other at the soft knock on the door.
“It could be Shilpa. Ask her to come in please?’
“Ji Bhaiyya.’
Advay looked away towards the river as he sipped on his wine.
“Woh …. Suniye,’ He closed his eyes at her sweet voice, and her sweeter words.
“Hmmm,’ He said as he turned around to look at her with a broad grin.
“We made Kheer for dinner,’ She looked at the bowl in her hand, unable to look him in the eye, “I thought you might like some.’
She walked up to him and placed the bowl on the coffee table.
Advay held her hand, suggesting her to sit on the chair next to him.
He noticed how she flinched as soon he grasped her wrist. He pushed her bangles to see the bruise on her hand.
“Does it hurt?’ He asked her as he rubbed his hand against her wrist trying to soothe the pain.
She nodded.
“Keep this in mind …Chandini,’ He looked her in the eye, “You will get hurt if you mess with me. I will hurt you if you defy me … Samjhi.’
She nodded her, tears welling in her eyes as she tried to take her hand away from his only for him to tighten the hold and massage her wrist.
She looked down at the glass of wine.
“I drink…love getting stone drunk……Hope you don’t mind a drunk man in your bed.’ He asked as he gazed at her, a dark lust taking over his senses. How was he meant to control himself, when she sat so close to him?
Chandini tried to pull her hand away in vain.
“Please…,’ She squirmed, tears glistening in her eyes.
Advay held on to her hand, “Have you had your dinner?’
“Yes.’
“Did you make the kheer?’
“Hmmm,’ She whispered.
He dipped her finger in the bowl of kheer and sucked it, gazing at her.
“Hmm… it is really good.’ Chandini looked at him in horror as panic coursed through her heart. She wrenched her hand out his hold and ran out of his room, clutching her heart in her hand, as Advay chuckled to himself.
Chandini locked her bedroom door shut, and slumped against her bed, holding Dev’s stone against her heart. Advay was affecting her in ways she was not able to fathom, and she had barely known him for a day. There had been an instant connection with him, how she hoped he was Dev. That he would chuckle and say. “Don’t you recognise me…I am your Dev.’
“He is not Dev…Stop hoping for the impossible,’ She consoled herself as she wiped her face. There were other pressing matters she had to think about for now.
Author’s note
This is such an early chapter. This is the first time the Banyan tree comes into picture. The first time we get a glimpse of Advay and his dark volatile side. Along with a glimpse of the sweet forgiving side of the moth, forever flying towards her flame, even if he here to burn her.
The kheer part was the sweetest, with Chandini turning up with a bowl just for him, despite what he did. It speaks volumes of how she has already hopelessly fallen for him. SIGH!
Do comment guys and let me know your thoughts.
Love Chitra
