Forbidden To Love

12. The Moon

Though the sun sank down, drowning the sky in black, the bloom of city lights had the sky glittery. They awaited the smile of the moon, for it to paint the sky with it's lunar light, the beauteous serenity.

"Guddan Beta, mehmaan aate hi honge, tu jake taiyaar ho ja." Dadi reminded her, who had herself snowed under work.

"Ji Dadi." Guddan smiled her a nod, turning for her room.
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Lakshmi dropped to her knees, gritting as she fixed her pleats, while she oscillated like a bob. Stop it! I am not your maid to bear with your tantrums. She yelled in silence, helpless over her authority.

Guddan curled her lips into a smile, coloured in red. She had herself decked in maroon embroidered saree, her hairs worn into a side braid bun, complimenting the high neck blouse. Glittering with few ornaments, she descended down the stairs, all eyes turned to the beauty.

"Rukiye Durga ji, isbar hum vratkatha parenge!" Guddan announced before she could start.

"Par main is ghar ki badi bahu hu..." Durga trailed.

"Durga Bahu, thik hi toh keh rahi hain Guddan. Vratkatha use parne de!" Dadi cut her off.

While all sang praises of her, be it the enactment or recital, Durga hissed at her seize. Her authority, her family, her place! She had outsmarted her with her designation. But I won't sit back and swallow your dominion.
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"Guddan Beta, Lalla shayad aaj der karega aane mein. Tu ek kaam kar, vrat khol ke tu kuch kha le." Dadi suggested dryly, sunken in gloom. Did she expect too much of him, that it failed her wants?

"Dadi agar hume vrat aise hi kholna hota, toh kab ka khol chuke hote. Hum niyam anusar hi vrat kholenge, bas Uncle aate hi honge. Aap fikr mat kijiye!" Guddan assured, despite her poor stomach wailing for food.
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"Tum kitni bhi koshish karlo Guddan, par Aj tumhe kuch nehi maante! Vratkatha toh par li par ab Aj aayenge bhi ya nehi? Dekha, yehi anjaam hota hain jab tum kisise uska hak cheenne ki koshish karte ho. Aur isliye, aaj toh Aj ke haathon vrat kholne ka tumhara yeh sapna, sapna hi reh jayega!" Durga taunted, smirking. I knew it, but I would like to enjoy her troubled state.

Turning her a deaf ear, Guddan mounted up the stairs, the fatigue washing over. She could endure anything but hunger!

"Yeh Uncle haina, khadoos ke khadoos hi rahenge! Matlab yaha hum bhuke hain, unka intezaar kar rahe hai ki kab woh aakar humara vrat khole, aur woh? Unhe toh koi parwah hi nehi hain! Woh kya samjhenge, bhuk se toh hum mar rahe hain! Hey Lord Krishna, yeh kaise se ek Apple Juice ke saath fasa diya hume?! Woh toh nibhaana pad raha hain shaadi isliye.. Warna is khadoos ke saath hum, poori zindegi?! Chiii, kabhi nehi! Pata nehi kab aayenge yeh khadoos... Hum bata rahe hain, agar hum bhuk ke karan mar war gaye na, toh is khadoos ke khilaf hum case file karenge! Par hum toh mar chuke honge na, haan toh?...... Humari aatma badla legi! Chorenge nehi us Uncle ko!" Guddan babbled, as another hour passed by. This Uncle could make her bite nails out of sheer anxiety!

"Guddan beta, rehne de, Lalla nehi aayega. Tu vrat khol le. Main hi pagal thi jo tujhe vrat rakhne ko bola...... Mujhe maaf kar de beta! Sab kuch jaante huye bhi main tujhe.." Dadi trailed, entering the room.

"Ek second! Kya kaha aapne? Sab kuch jaante huye bhi? Hume aisa kyun lag raha hain ki aap kuch chupa rahi hain humse?" She asked, furrowing her brows.

"Guddan, wo..woh.."

"Dadi, aap itna nehi bata sakti apni gudiya ko?"

"Woh maine subah se bahot baar Lalla ko phone kiya, aaj jaldi aane ko bolne ke liye. Subah jaldi chala gaya tha woh, mujhse na mile. Par woh phone hi nehi utha raha hain."