Durga | ✓

43. Her Dark Past

Five months passed so quickly. Tomorrow is my payday, I will be able to gift him from my savings, thought Durga.

She felt as someone was watching her closely. She turned to find none behind her. Who could be that?

Durga wiped sweat beads on her forehead as stood under the scorching sun in the temple line. Today, it seemed whole Mysore had gathered to take blessings of Devi Chamundeshwari. There was separate line for women and men.

From the line where men stood, sweating like horses, stood Rudra, watching his lady luck. Yes, his lady luck. From the day she stepped into his office, he thought it was the best day in his life.

In that same line, Rishab stood staring at Durga with eyes that spoke volumes of rage and hatred. The line was seeming to take it's own pace. Amidst the crowd, his memory jogged to an incident in his past.

Or rather their past.

"Look at that girl, Rishab," said Vicky, one of Rishab's friends.

"Where?" Rishab asked. He hated to attend a wedding but due to his father's insistent pressure, he agreed to came.

His eyes fell on a woman. A young woman, to be more precise. Her yellow cotton silk saree with orangish golden border. A string of white jasmine flowers adorned her neat hair braid. Small earrings on her ears glittered like tiny stars. Her anklets produced little sound which he surprisingly heard among the loud music.

But his face fell when he saw her mangalsutra sat on the crook of her neck. Her supposed husband came next to her adding profound sadness to her already dull face.

'Why is such a beautiful woman like her is sad?' Rishab thought.

He saw her husband leaving her alone and going away with his friends. Vicky remarked, "Rishab, have you fallen hard for her?"

Rishab remained silent. 'Let him think whatever he wants.'

He continuously stared at her as she tried to mingle with people around her but they were least bothered. He decided that the time was ripe to talk to her.

He walked to her and faked a cough. She turned around to see Rishab. He asked, "What is your name, pretty lady?"

She gulped. She replied, "Du-Devi, I mean Devi."

"Devi? Which devi?"

"Actually my mother was a big devotee of Devi Shakti."

"So she named you Devi?"

"Exactly," said Devi.

'I hope he leaves after knowing my name, Devi. I like this name too. But I like my original name, Durga,' she thought.

Rishab cleared his throat. "So, Devi..."

He tightly gripped her wrist. Durga recoiled in fear and tried to free her from his grip. Till now Indrajeet hadn't started domestic violence against her. That nineteen year old Durga had no clue where her husband was.

She slapped him. It was not a tight slap but it did turn few heads of the people. Humiliated, Rishab went from there swearing to take his revenge.

The line reached near main deity. Durga closed her eyes. She sensed immense love and intense hatred directed towards her. Confused, she opened her eyes and looked towards her left. Then she turned towards her right to find Rudra smirking at her.

How did he come to know that I am here?

Ignoring that question, she closed her eyes. She thanked Devi Chamundeshwari to bless her with Rudra. Yet, she sensed someone staring her. Intensely.

Finishing their prayers, Durga and Rudra stood in line for prasadam. This line was comparatively smaller. Durga whispered, "You have started following me?"

Rudra shrugged. "Who me? I am not following you."

Durga shook her head. She sat on one of the steps in the sanctum sanctorium. Rudra sat next to her. "So, why did you suddenly come to temple?"

Durga blew softly the steaming vapour coming from her prasadam. The prasadam that was offered was called as kesaribath in Kannada. It was supposed to be eaten while it is hot.

"I just felt like coming here so I came. And you?"

"I felt like seeing you so I came near your house but I saw you going somewhere. I followed you and look I am here."

Durga rolled her eyes. She took a small morsel from her prasadam, and ate it. "This is perfect."

Rudra smiled and started eating his. Rishab was standing close to them. That day I didn't knew Durga and Devi is the same woman. Otherwise her chapter would have finished that day itself. It is quite surprising that I happened to glance at the wedding photo while I was in Mysore.

No sooner did Durga turned her neck than Rishab turned back and left the place. Durga looked around and then at Rudra. "Rudra, I don't know why I have a feeling that someone is watching me. Closely."

Rudra said, "Did you see that person?"

"No."

"Then you are imagining things."

Durga sighed and placed her head on his shoulder. "Maybe you are right."

*****

Glossary:

Devi Chamundeshwari: Main deity of Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysore.

Kesaribath: A sweet dish made of semolina. Turmeric used in cooking gives it an yellowish orage look hence kesari.

This particular chapter is partly inspired from the telly serial, Baazigar- Rishton Ka Saudagar. This chapter was not in the main plot but I have added it to give this story a better ending.

Thank you for reading.