Lakshmila: Time Travel

Where is Urmila?

It was one of the most important days of Lakshmila's life. They will be starting a new life together, where they won't have to meet like thieves. Both were on cloud nine but also were very nervous. That day also Urmila woke up late, some things never change.

She quickly apologized before rushing to do her morning routine before she had to get ready. Both her mothers were there to do her solah shringar. She was wearing a red lehenga that came in shagun. Sunaina was braiding her hairs while Chitrabhaga was putting red chudis with gold bangles in her henna decked hands.

Janak came and he bent down to put anklets on her ankle. "Pitashree aap ye kya kr rhe hai?" She asked pulling her legs behind a bit and bending down to put her hands on his shoulder in order to stop him. "Putri, mujhe tumhe ye payal pehna lene do. Phir mauka mile na mile." He said with tears in his eyes. Urmila agreed hesitantly and all three of them readied her.

Just after she was ready, Chhaya came bursting in with a puja ki thali in her hands. "Urmi chal jaldi ja Gauri mandir." She said handing the thali to her friend not even looking up in the process. She was constantly looking at her to-do list. "Maya tu taiyar nhi hui." Urmila asked her softly. "Arey yar mujhe taiyar hone mein kitna time lagna hai. Tu meri chinta na kar. Tu itne Gauri mandir ja ke aayegi itne main taiyar ho jaungi." Chhaya said still not looking up at her.

Urmila pulled her face up and made her look at herself. "Tu ro rhi hai?" Urmila said and then started laughing hysterically making Chhaya pout at her and the three adults to roll their eyes at her.

"Acha main chali." Urmila said after calming down and after she went, Sunaina held Chhaya by her ears. "Ow!" She cried. "Kyu, kab taiyar hona hai?" Sunaina asked her strictly while Chitrabhaga took the notepad from her. "Baki kam hum kr lenge tum jake taiyar ho jao. Jao." She said motioning her towards the door and looked at the notepad, there were ticks against almost all the columns and those left were of the duties when the wedding would commence.

She smiled at the retreating figure of Chhaya who was rubbing ber ears mumbling something at a top speed. "Lao to lao bhai. Kya kaam krna hai." Sunaina said tucking the pallu of her saree on her waist. "Kuch nhi. Sara kaam vo kr chuki hai." Chitrabhaga answered pointing towards the direction where Chhaya went. "Sachi?" Sunaina asked taking the notepad from her and taking a good look at it. To say she was impressed was an understatement, she was grateful beyond measures to Chhaya. For what you ask?

For being there for her daughter, for handling all the responsibilities skillfully and at top of all that, she was a kaliyugi just like Urmila was but still was so respectful and gentle. She wished that her daughter could also be gentle and this made her scowl as Urmila was everything but gentle.

Time skip;

Barat had arrived and Lakshman was sitting in mandap looking as handsome as ever and had a smile on his face while he waited for his bride, his Urmila to come. He saw Chhaya enter with a smile on her face but worry and panic in her eyes. "Umm, Urmila mandir se nhi lauti." She announced.

"Kya?" echoed throughout the hall. "Haan, jo bhi uske saath gya tha abhi koi nhi lauta. Shayad time lag gya hoga." She said scratching her head. "Haan." Everyone agreed. She again went outside but this time Sunaina also followed her. After 5 or so minutes they came with Urmila, who had a very long ghunghat.

"Urmi, ye ghunghat khol do." Ram said finding something suspicious. It was very uncommon for a bride to do ghunghat and that too this long. "Haa main bhi to vhi kh rhi thi. Par ye maan hi nhi rhi. Ab dekhna sindoor daan mein kitni dikkat aaegi." Chhaya said.

"Kya yaar Chhaya kuch nhi hoga." came a voice from inside the ghunghat that made Chhaya stop in her tracks. "Kya hua?" Sunaina asked her. "Ye Urmi nhi hai." Chhaya said making everyone shock. "CHHAYA! Tum aesa kaise keh skti ho?" Sunaina yelled at her.

"Haan shi baat hai." said Angad who had also noticed something off and Hanuman nodded beside him. "Angad, Maruti aap dono bhi yhi soch rhe hain!" Urmila said. "Dekha." Hanuman said. "Haan." Jamavant said.

"Jamavant kaka aap bhi." Urmila said turning to him. "Jamavant kaka boli!" Ram, Lakshman, Sugriv, Angad, Jamavant and Hanuman said in unison. "Urmila kabhi mujhe "Jamavant kaka" nhi bolti. Ye ek bahrupiya hai." Jamavant said and Chhaya removed the viel from her face and what they saw shocked everyone.

There was Indrakamini, yes the apsara there. "TUM!!????" yelled everyone. "Tum yaha kaise aur Mila kaha hai?" Lakshman asked her standing up in rage. She didn't say anything. "Bolo. Ab avaj kaha gyi tumhari." Chhaya said grabbing her hairs. She hissed in pain but didn't speak. Chhaya left her hairs in disgust.

"Vo ab tumse bhot dur ja chuki hai." Indrakamini said smirking. Chhaya bound her as they all left to find Urmila but guru Vashisht stopped Lakshman from leaving.

"Parantu gurudev Mila-"
"Hume pta hai kumar parantu aese mandap se uthna shubh nhi. Tum yhi rho baki sab dhund rhe hain. Urmila mil jayegi." Gurudev said and Lakshman sat down looking at the door with worry all over his face.

Everyone returned empty handed after searching everywhere but couldn't find Urmila. Tears were falling freely from their eyes. Lakshman was heartbroken by this and he just sat in the mandap praying to God that his Mila returns his to him in one piece.

****

A twist in the story! Let's see what happens in the end.

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Will meet you in the next part, till then,
Stay Healthy, Stay Safe, Good Night, Jai Hind.