"I'm sorry but your brother has so much debts to pay then how will he able to take care of our daughter" the middle aged women spoke having the sip of tea, making my elder sister's eyebrows furrowed in concern.
"But my brother is a really good person, he is a priest through which he earns well ,he's honest humble,doesn't drink or smoke, has his own house your daughter will be really happy you don't need to worry about it" my elder sister said serving her sweets.
"My words may sound bitter but kindness don't fill empty stomach, moreover what can I do if my daughter doesn't like a man who is less qualified that her" she said passing a pity smile
"I think you should find a girl who less qualified than him so than they'll be a good match, and if I see someone like that I'll surely inform you" saying she got up and started leaving my sister went outside to see her off
After some time Kavita didi came and held the snacks tray aggressively and went inside the kitchen
"These people are fond of money" Kavita said
"What does she think of herself , does she even know the spelling of qualification? And her daughter she failed her twelfth-"
Chaya was about to speak further when I cut her off
"Chaya we shouldn't talk bad about people" I said getting up from the chair
"And what about her she was demeaning you and your qualifications at least you didn't fail in any standard,you had to quit studies because of our parents death and all our all responsibilities went on your shoulders." Chaya said as tears almost gathered in her eyes.
"It's okay, I don't mind them" I shighed
"You don't mind them but we do, because we've seen you sacrificing your childhood so that you could give us a better future ,
I still remember how you use to do multiple part time jobs for my and chaya's marriage preparation and you still do so that you can pay the loans which you took to give dowry.
I don't understand why you don't take any help from us , we're your sisters "
Kavita said almost breaking down.
"I know you both care about but I can't take your help , when I'm capable of paying my debts" I said caressing her hands and made her sit on the nearby chair
"I know that's why we wanted you to get married so that someone will be there with you , take care of you , be with you in your tough times" Kavita said and started caressing my head making me sit on the ground.
I chuckled slowly " No women wants to be with a man who is struggling to have his own meals" I said closing my eyes
"You are really a gem Keshav, I know how caring are you and you will take care of your wife just like you take Care of everyone around you.
You help everyone selflessly but these people they don't deserve you and your kindness , they just use you according to their needs and then talk bad about you behind your back" Kavita said still caressing my hair.
"I Don't help everyone because I want them to be nice to me, I do it because it makes me happy, I don't care how they treat me,
Okay now I've to go to the temple , for the preparations of Aarti" I said as I stoop up to leave.
"You guys should leave too or you'll reach your home late"
"let me prepare your dinner and then I'll leave" Chaya said moving towards kitchen.
"It's okay I'll prepare it myself"
"But-" Kavita was about to say something but I cut her off
"Don't worry about me , you should go home" I said and suddenly her phone started ringing
"See your kids came back from school , you guys should leave first they will be hungry too" I said and left the house
I made my towards the temple,As I step through the ancient wooden gates, the cool evening air greets me. The murmurs of devotees blend with the rustling leaves of the peepal tree nearby. I look up to see the temple, its intricately carved pillars and towering spire standing majestically against the twilight sky. Approaching the temple, I pause at the entrance, bowing my head in reverence before stepping inside.
As, I enter the temple, the flickering flames of oil lamps casting dancing shadows on the walls.The air is thick with the fragrance of sandalwood and camphor.
I approach the altar, taking the fresh flower garlands and placing them on Radha Krishna. I take the aarti thal, its brass surface gleaming in the soft light, and begin the aarti.
As I move the lamp in circular motions before Radha Krishna,
"Shree Krishna Govind Hare Murare,
Hey Nath Narayan Vasudeva,"
The devotees join in, their voices rising in unison.. The sound of the mantras fills the temple.
As the aarti reaches its end, I shout, "Radhe! Radhe!" and the devotees echo after me, their voices filled with devotion. I place the thal in front of Madhav and ring the temple bell.**
"Did your marriage got fixed?" Sweeper Uncle asked to which I shook my head
"But why, your sister Said they really liked you then why-" uncle asked in concern
"They don't wanna marry their daughter with someone who is illiterate and also have loads of debts in their shoulders" I said giving him panchamrit
"Who told you that you're illiterate ? You have knowledge of every "ved" and "purans" uncle argued
"Only if people nowadays considered them as literacy" I replied with a chuckle and continued doing my work.
"But you could've simply lied about your qualifications" uncle said sighing
"Just now you said that i have the knowledge of all our veds and purans then how are you expecting me to lie?
And I don't want to start a relationship based on lies , and even on the top of that I don't wanna force things, if something is not meant for me then I'm okay with it
If god doesn't want me to have a family then it's okay , I'm fine with that" I said moving my head towards him
"And everyone here is my family, you are my family, this whole village is my family" I Said smiling
"Even you know that they don't feel the same for you they just use you for their own benefits" uncle said as his mouth escaped a sad chuckle
"It's okay I'm just fulfilling my duty as a human, I makes me feel good" I replied
"Tum sabhi ko apna samajhte ho , mai chahta hu ki tumhare zindigi mai koi aisa ho jo tumhe Apna samjhe"
["You consider everyone as your own, I want there to be someone in your life who considers you as her own."]
"And I will prey to God that you soon meet someone like that in your life, who is soft and cultured just like you"
I smiled at him as he went away, i moved my eyes and saw a kid trying to reach the bell but his hands were top small for that so I went towards him and lift him up and after ringing the bell he turns towards me and smile.
I caress his head and he runs towards his mother ,
"Excuse me young man"
I suddenly feel a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I see a girl standing in front of me, wearing an off-white suit with gold floral embroidery. As soon as I look at her, everything else fades away. It's just me and her.
My heart skips a beat as I look at her. Her brows are furrowed with anger, though I don't know why. She is saying something, but my whole attention is on her eyes. Her hair moves effortlessly in the breeze, causing a strand to fall across her face. She struggles to move it aside, and as she does, her earrings jingle softly with each movement. I just can't take my eyes off her.
After a moment she waves her hands infront of my face taking me out of my reverie.
"Can you hear me?" She asks as I gulp in Nervousness.
"I'm sorry..?" I speak blinking as the only thing I was able to hear since last 4 minutes was my racing heartbeat.
"God.... everyone is deaf here" she speaks in a frustrated tone ,rolling her eyes and then starts to leave from there.
I see her figure approaching the person who was distributing the prashad, she grabbed his coller and pushed him aside and snatched the patra (the container In which prashad was kept) and went towards the poor people and started giving them prashad one by one.
I smiled at her actions . I kept watching her until she was done and was about to leave. My heart felt heavy watching her figure leave as I knew she was not from here and I will never be able to see her again.
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