Maitree ; Dadi please I want to study ahead .
Dadi : You had enough studies here and now your whole aim is to please Gandharva only. Go and light the lamps at Gandharva Mandir of backyard tonight.
Sudha : Gandharva Mandir !! Maa mandir mein sirf bhagwan hote hein ,koyi gandharva nahin basta….And you are sending Maitree to backyard of house were that so called mandir have not any diety, not any idol , not any worship practice. That’s just a fort only which was made by our ancestors which is been surrounded with so many trees and bushes. At night if she goes there alone may be any insects or even snake can bite her…..
Maitree feels scared .
Dadi ; Gudiya rani meri gudiya rani …..You just think about Gandharva….Iski baaton mein mat aa….
Sudha : Maitree you come with me ….If you stay here long you will never get progress in life..
Dadi : Maitree remember if you disobey you will also become another Kalyani…..Don’t listen Sudha ….You know why Sudha is not having any children ?Because she didn’t devoted her life to Gandharva . Instead of it she got married .
Sudha : But that marriage proposal was bought by my bhaiya Indar .
Dadi : Shut up. Indar who married a woman from another caste and bought here you are calling him as bhaiya ….I agree you married at the same caste of ours but Gandharva cursed you because you choose marital life instead of Gandharva and that’s why you are not able to conceive a child.
Sudha fumed in anger : Maa!!!!
Dadi : Truth sounds bitter , Kalyani disobeyed Gandharva ,she didn’t went with him and see she died and Gandharva took his child from her and you disobeyed Gandharva and that’s why he cursed you that you can never become a mother. You are a big sin Sudha….
The argument was going so high and Maitree felt extreme fear hearing all these.
Maitree ran inside when Dadi and Sudha were arguing . She closed the room and took the water jug at her hand. Within a second she swallowed the whole water.
Maitree thought : All these are happening because of Gandharva. Today I will ask that Gandharva what he exactly want from me ? I will clearly tell him to leave me .
Suddenly lights went off and the room became dark….Maitree lighted a candle .
Maitree : I am not scared of you anymore Gandharva. Don’t think that I am very weak girl. Your games are over.
Oh Really !!!
Maitree saw Gandharva who was staring her in anger.
Maitree : You are wearing normal clothes like humans . What does it mean ?
Suddenly Gandharva changed himself into white celestial dress and extended his arms.
I am Gandharva. I can change myself in any form of living being , may be I can comes as parrot , I can be a pet cat and wearing a human dress is just a silly thing Maitree.
Maitree : Why you are behind me ? What do you want ?
Gandharva : I told you your nights, dreams are mine . So just come to me in nights .
Maitree : I won’t come anymore…..
Gandharva ; You have no other choice Maitree. Maitree our first meeting of yesterday night you enjoyed everything…I showered the rain of flowers on you , you felt something deep at my touch.
Maitree : Stop it please….You are trapping me just like you trapped other girls of our family. Maitree won’t become any other Kalyani , Gandharva…
Suddenly Gandharva forcefully grabbed Maitree’s hand and Maitree was unable to release her hand from his handhold. He started taking her away from there…
Maitree screamed : Help Help some one help me please…Dadi,Buwaji help me…..
But no one heard the scream of Maitree…Maitree closed her eyes in fear and she was praying to God while walking whether some one will come and save her. Suddenly she heard a car sound and a voice ..
Aapko meri gaadi hi mili kya subah subah yeh drama karne ke liye ?
She slowly opened her eyes and saw a youngman who was standing infront of car.
Maitree looked beside and gets shocked that she has reached at road and Gandharva was also became invisible…..
Maitree : How I reached in road ? Gandharva kahan gaya ?
He : Hey bhagwan Subah subah yeh kya dikha rahe hein aap mere naseeb mein ? Do I look like an idiot ?
Maitree : No you looks good . Why are you saying like that ? Please batayiye naa where that Gandharva has gone ? Did he fly away at the sky ? Did he harm you ?
He : I guess love failure has affected you deeply . I feels sorry for you….That boy might have ditched you and still you are in that depression. Better you consult ..
Maitree : Excuse me !! I am not mad. I am saying truth Gandharva grabbed my hand and bought me here because I refused to go with him….
He thought : I guess this girl is very innocent and still she hasn’t moved on.
Maitree ; How I will go back home ? Yahan se ghar toh kaafi door hein…
He : Don’t worry I will drop you home…
Maitree : No…..I will go myself . How can I believe a stranger ? But how can I walk that much distance ?
He : How ? You are not carrying any purse or handbag so how will you catch a bus or rickshaw without money ? Do one thing please make a phone call at your home from my mobile. Talk to them and if they grant permission I will drop you. Is that okay for you ?
Maitree nodded her head. He gave his phone to her and she dialed Sudha Buwaji’s number .
Sudha : But how you went away from home ? We didn’t hear your scream beta .
Maitree : Buwaji I screamed a lot. But seems Gandharva is so powerful. He will harm me I feels so …
Sudha : Beta you come soon with that guy. He seems to be nice else he wouldn’t have gave you his phone to talk .
Maitree : Yes Buwaji. I will be there within some time.
Maitree cuts the call and handovered the phone..
Maitree : Thanks.
He : Welcome. I hope now you have no problem if I drop you.
Maitree smiled and said : Thank you so much for helping me…
He : I guess you won’t say thanks to any one else today. You are thanking me twice…
Maitree : Thanks.
He laughed and Maitree also smiled
He dropped her at home.
Maitree : Please come inside and have some tea or coffee.
He : No thanks. I am in rush actually….Bye…
Maitree : Your goodname
He : Ashish !! And yours
Maitree : Maitree….
Ashish smiled and left the place.
To be continued…..