Amrit's POV

Next day, Rukmini Bhabhi woke me up at almost during sunrise.

"Bhabhi , it's too early. I am still sleepy" I said in frustration.

"Uff oh. Amrit, we have to the pooja today. And for that, you will have to take a special bath today" she explained.

"Special bath?" I asked with my eyes closed.

"Yeah. So get up." She ordered.

I finally got up and went for the bath.

That was the strangest bath of my life.

The dasis applied haldi, besan and so many things on my skin.

I guess they are applying everything they found in the kitchen.
After this, I just wish they don't eat me up. All the things applied in my body are eatable.

I wonder if there is laal mirch on my skin as well.

And after that, eatable bath, I was made to wear a plain green saree.

I like it's colour.

As I was combing my hair, every lady who was to go with me entered my room.

It is a crowd.

I mean 8 wives of Kanha, 2 wives of Karna, Panchali,Subhadra, Radha Kaki, Devaki Maa and Rohini Kaki. And believe me, my room is not that big and I am already irritated with that bath.

I feel I still smells like a very richly prepared limited edition dish.

What the hell am I thinking!

They all were complimenting how good I look.

Now I feel like goddess.
This much compliment can totally boost my ego.

And then Kanha entered.

"You will come with us,Kanha?" I asked hoping that he does.

"No, he won't. The only male there would be the pandits" Devaki Maa told me.

"But--" I tried to object.

How the hell will I even do without Kanha?

I don't even know how to do a pooja.

My interest in doing the poojas were lost when I was 10 and saw a few people sacrificing goats in the temple. That's when I understood that all these are just show off.
If one really wants to please the god, they don't need to harm his own creation. They just need to show true devotion to god. And that devotion is not something, which you can only get by meditation, or going to temples, or by doing poojas and all. You can get the devotion by just simply loving him and his creations.

Kanha, how will I manage?

"Don't worry I will be there for you, Amrit" Kanha whispered.

I smiled on hearing that.

After that, I with all the other ladies went to a Shiv temple.

"Why are we praying to Lord Shiva?" I asked Satyabhama quietly.

"Let me tell you all why we have come here" Rohini Kaki said.

"I am eager to know" Subhadra said.

I want to  know too.

"In Dwarka, every unmarried girl comes to this temple before her marriage to pray to Lord Shiva and to ask for a groom just like him. And the married women pray for a happy married life."She continued.

That explains. But do I really want my groom to be like Lord Shiv?

What can I even do now?

Wait for my future lover to elope me?

That reminds me...

I started looking for someone as everyone else prepared for the pooja.

"Whom are you searching for?" Vrushali asked.

"My future hus--" I was about to say absentmindedly "I mean I am just seeing the surrounding."

What the hell am I saying?
Kanha, where is he?

The only men I can see here are the pandits and a few saints. But they all are too old for me.

At last, I sat at the corner as the ladies were still preparing for the pooja.

And soon the pooja started and ended.

Yay! Now we can go back.

I even started getting ready to go.

"Now our bride, Amrit will sing a devotional song for us." Devaki Maa said pointing at me.

Hain?

What is she saying?

I am not going to sing?

I can't even sing properly.

I don't want to make a fool of myself.

"No I--" I tried to object.

"Oh come on Amrit. We all want to hear you sing" Rukmini Bhabhi insisted.

"Yeah" Panchali added.

But I don't wanna hear myself sing.

"Believe me Amrit, you will sing really well."

I looked around.

That was Kanha's voice but he is nowhere.

Others looked unaffected.

"Only you can hear me, Amrit"

Ok that explains.

But I am not gonna sing. I can't make a fool of myself.

"Just believe in me. You will do well"

Ok

I sighed.

"Ok I will sing" I said

They all sat surrounding me.

"We are waiting" Subhadra said.
I feel like a singer doing some concert.

Wait what am I going to sing?

I hardly know any devotional song.

The song coming to my mind is "Laila Main Laila"

Oh I forgot that one completely.

I  closed my eyes and started singing.

(Play the video and imagine Amrit singing it)

"O paalanhaare, nirgun aur nyaare"

Wow!
I sing good.

Wait now I remember the boon which Kanha gave me.

Was he talking about this boon?

That means I will not be eloped?

"O paalanhaare, nirgun aur nyaare
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin
Humri uljhan suljhaao bhagwan
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin"

This song..
I don't even know if this song is from a movie or just a devotional song.

"Tumhe humka ho sambhaale
Tumhe hamre rakhwaale
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin"

I just feel I connect with this song. I remember, my mom used to play this song daily in her phone.

"Chanda mein tumhe to bhare ho chaandni
Sooraj mein ujaala tumhe se
Yeh gagan hai magan, tumhe to diye ho isse taare
Bhagwan, yeh jeevan tumhe na sanwaaroge
To kya koi sanwaare"

I know I was given the boon.

But I can't believe I could sing so well.
I will like I sound like Lataji.

Thanks Kanha.

"O paalanhaare, nirgun aur nyaare
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin
Jo suno to kahe prabhuji hamri hai binti
Dukhi jan ko dheeraj do
Haare nahin voh kabhi dukh se
Tum nirbal ko raksha do
Reh paaye nirbal sukh se
Bhakti ko shakti do"

Wasn't this part supposed to be sung by a guy?

Well I am not doing a duet so I suppose I will have to sing that too.

"Bhakti ko shakti do
Jag ke jo swami ho, itni to araj suno
Hai path mein andhiyaare
Dedo vardaan mein ujiyaare"

Well which god is this song dedicated to?

"O paalanhaare, nirgun aur nyaare
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin
Humri uljhan suljhaao bhagwan
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin
O paalanhaare, nirgun aur nyaare
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin
Humri uljhan suljhaao bhagwan
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin"

As a kid I used to hear O gopal hare instead of O paalan haare.

"O paalanhaare, nirgun aur nyaare
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin
Humri uljhan suljhaao bhagwan
Tumre bin hamra kaunon naahin"

I opened my eyes and saw them clapping.

"Well done" I heard Kanha said.

And that made me smile.

To Be Continued

Author's Note

Hey Guys!

I hope you all like this chapter and thanks for 2K+ reads.

And that ritual thing that the women in Dwarka prsy to Lord Shiv is just a fictional part and I don't know if it happens in real. It is there just to add fun.

And the thinking of Amrit regarding the poojas are just my personal belief. And that topic will come in the srory again later.

And that singing part, Amrit sings for the first time.

Do you think she will still be eloped?

Guys this part was really tiring to write so I hope for some comments and feedbacks.