PRAKRUTHI
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I slowly walked into her room. I knew she had noticed my presence but she did not react. I smiled and sat next to her but she started looking for her tablets. I smiled and pulled out the tablet box from another drawer and kept it on her lap. She rolled her eyes and still didn't say anything.

'Looks like Bapama(granny) is really really angry with Amma(mom). She is not even looking at Amma's face. Looks like now Mumma and babies have to get Bapama's favorite Bella(jaggery) candy to soothen her mood...Doesnt she know Amma can't see Bapama's face so dull. It makes Amma feel like her world is in itself collapsing' I said pretending to talk to my baby bump when my Mom suddenly said

'Babies...stop telling your Mumma that Bapama isn't angry on your mother but if she won't stop enacting some cringey bollywood movie scene with those super cringey dialogues your Bapama might definitely collapse!!! Drama Queen!' she said and I chuckled and hugged her sideways sitting next to her saying 'Mom...I know you can't be angry with me... please Mom...she is my sister!' I said and Mom rolled her eyes and said

'I know she is...but you must also understand that I don't like her.' and I smiled looking at Mom and said

'All this just because she said no to Neil?' while Mom looked elsewhere saying 'No!!! Because she doesn't have the basic courtesy to say no to people with decency!!! And she gave no concrete reason till date!' and I gulped in. How I wish I could tell Mom why she said no to the proposal. After all which girl would say yes to the man who got her pregnant, then didn't trust her meeting a terrible dead end.

'Infact I'm happy that she denied from marrying my Kedar. She isn't worth being a part of my family. So much arrogance? I mean...Okay! Accepted that she is beautiful, successful, independent but you know Charda (child) there is one quality which is beyond all this. It's called being polite, humble and down to earth and that is missing in your sister.' she said and I didn't say anything. My sister isn't arrogant she has just distanced herself from family and friends. She has fought her own battles and she wants to stay away from everything.

'And it is not just that Pakku...You know Neil is also going to come and I don't want them coming face to face again. I had told so many relatives that I wished to marry Neil and Avanthi...I don't want mouths gossiping.' she said when Kedar said 'Mom... Neil isn't coming!!!' and Mom was shocked.

'But he said...he-'

'Mom he had some foreign investors visiting and that is the reason he wouldn't be attending the function as well.'

Listening to this Mom looked extremely upset. I had kept a Pooja tomorrow at our ancestral temple tomorrow thinking our entire family would be together. This is so upsetting Kedar. Neil has turned into a workaholic. I don't like this change in him. I liked my irresponsible son better than this typical robotic businessman.' Mom complained and Kedar sat next to Mom and placed his head in her lap saying

'We are here na...even your grandchildren are here...let that robot stay in US. Who cares!!!' Kedar said and I looked at My American husband trying to be a Dal-Badlu (switching teams) like a pro to impress his mother while I pushed him off Mom's lap and lay on her lap. She smiled while Kedar frowned saying 'Jealous bollywood villain' and I huffed and said 'She is mine!!! Now that we are a team of three...she is definitely mine!!!' I said and Mom burst out laughing at our antiques.

After some time I looked at Mom saying 'Mom... please...It's just a matter of two days. Please Mom!!! Avanthi isn't so ba-'

And before I could say further she said 'I don't have any problem with anyone staying here. This is also your house Pakku. You can invite anyone. It's just that I don't like her. She is our guest. I will behave civilly with her. No special treatment!!!' she said and I hugged her warm while Kedar hugged us both.

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AVANTHI
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'Yes... Don't worry Abhi...I reached home safe. You don't worry about all these. Did you get the papers signe-' I was talking to Abhijeet when someone knocked at the door and I saw Mukta Vanni and Prarthana walking inside. They had got trays along with them which consisted of food items and I felt extremely uncomfortable. I don't like it when I happen to bother people. It makes me feel guilty.

'Why did you folks bring it here...I would have-'

'Relax Ava...you had such a long travel. Just have a warm shower and eat some yummy food and go to bed. Tomorrow morning is going to be a long day. To add on you are single, successful and beautiful. You must particularly hide from aunties.' she said.

'Dont worry... I'm never going to marry!!!' I said while Mukta Vanni said 'Well all the best then. Hope you survive the aunty tsunami tomorrow!!!' and I narrowed my eyebrows.

✨

'Mukta Vanni was so right. I could see hungry vultures like aunties looking at me and my neck like they are hangmen planning to kill me right away.

'Vanni this is so uncomfortable!!!' I said to which Pattu said 'Ava don't worry relax!!! You haven't worn a saree which means according to them you are an ultra modern NRI and you have no manners or good upbringing. Don't worry you will only get old rich uncle's proposals which your dad will happily deny' she said so casually and I looked at her with shocked expressions while she winked at me and left from there.

Man she is dangerous.

I kept looking at Pakku and Kedar Bhavaji sitting for Homa and performing rituals. Pakku looked extremely happy and content. I pray God always keeps her happy and smiling. However her mother-in-law didn't like me much. Sharada aunty only tried to behave well with me but I knew she didn't like my presence. I decided I will leave for my new apartment immediately after the rituals however Dad and Pranay asked me to stay. Dad was feeling tired so Pranay decided to take him home. Both of them wanted somebody from the family along with Pakku. Even Pakku wanted me by her side. So I stayed. There were so many judgmental people muttering thousand things under their breath but I gave it all a deaf ear. I was here only for Pakku and nothing else mattered. I stood by her side, kept feeding her food, took care of her comfort. Time and again I saw Sharada aunty's unwavering cold gaze on me. She definitely doesn't like me.

By the time the function got over it was already late evening. I decided to leave when Kedar Bhavaji offered to drop us home. They had to go to their ancestral temple to offer prayers as per Sharda aunty's orders. They asked me to tag along. Sharada aunty did not object. Probably she was happy that I was leaving. My apartment was on the outskirts and it looked like they were already getting late so the driver insisted on first reaching the temple, dropping everyone. Post that he would drop me home. I had no objections.

However when we reached the temple we noticed the Pooja had begun. Pakku grabbed me by my wrist saying 'Come...it's auspicious to get god's blessings during a Pooja!!!' she said while I hesitated to join. I don't believe in god. I have lost my faith in him years ago after he took away something priceless from me. I noticed Sharada aunty's cold gaze again and I didn't want more drama so I half-heartedly joined along.

The Pooja was performed. Once done, everyone to get Lord Krishna's blessings as the temple was a small Krishna temple built by Sharada aunty's father in law. Everyone stood near the Garbha Gudi (innermost chamber of a temple) and the priest started blessing the entire family post which the priest gave coconut and banana along with some sweet beaten rice offering to Kedar Bhavaji. Sharada aunty took the coconut on which there was a little sandalwood paste which was also a holy offering which you apply on everyone's forehead after the Pooja.

Sharada aunty being the eldest applied it to everyone and each one took her blessings. After applying it to even the Driver Anna(brother) she hesitantly looked at me while Pakku nudged a little.   I didn't know if I should go but I did. She applied it on my forehead as well and I touched her feet. Sharada aunty took a few minutes however kept her hand on my head. I smiled. I didn't believe in these rituals but her keeping hand on my head felt nice. I don't know why it made me emotional. It reminded me of my mother. My eyes filled up. I smiled through my tears but suddenly those happy tears turned into fierce angry ones when I heard a name from Sharada aunty's mouth

Neil....

My heart dropped and my feet went cold. My ears went deaf as only one name kept recurring in my ears. My hands were already shaking.

Suddenly Sharada aunty walked past me and I heard her say 'Oh my god!!! I knew it that if my son promised he would be there!!! My Neil never breaks his promises!!!' and yet another time I heard her calling his name. Is he here??? Is he really here???

I was apprehensive to turn around. It is probably a nightmare. It's a nightmare!!! It's a bad dream!!! I was trying to console myself when I heard

'How could I break your heart Mom. You know me!!!'

And in one go I turned around saw Sharada Aunty applying the sandalwood paste to a well built man's forehead.

He didn't look anything like Neil from far. He was thin, fair, chic hair, clean shaven and preferred jeans and T-shirts but this man who was taking Sharada Aunty's blessings was a gigantic man, huge muscular frame like he ate two elephants's morning breakfast, wearing a white Veshti (Traditional south Indian wear, white cotton cloth wrapped around waist.), off white shirt, thick beard and long hair tied into a big hair bun. I couldn't see his face properly as he was still taking blessings from Sharada Aunty however suddenly he stood up and the first thing that my eyes noticed were those cat eyes!!!

A tint of hazel...a tint of green... those which mesmerized me at one point of time... today was nothing but... haunting me.

My biggest nightmare was standing infront of me after 7 big years.

Neil Nayak...the Demon I ran away from was here in a temple. He was taking blessings from his mother and praying to the god. I wondered how this happened? Are demon's permitted to enter a holy place?

Now what should I do?

Run??? Or maybe...errrrrrr... Vanish???