Chapter-4

The Next Day

Shivansh's pov

I am standing in front of the temple of Lord Shiva ( One of the Supreme Gods in Hinduism) and waiting for my mother. It's been hours since she has gone for Puja(worship) and hasn't returned yet.

I didn't enter the temple for Puja as I have lost my faith in God 4 years ago. Once I used to be a great devotee of Lord Shiva but now everything is gone.

Well, I came to Pune to join as Chairman in 'Singh Enterprise'. My mother came here to worship Lord Shiva. There is a big and famous Shiv temple in Pune and my mother wanted to visit it. That's why I have to bring her with me.

I think I should go and check her. I don't know why she is taking so much time.

I started climbing the stairs without thinking anything further. It took five minutes for me to climb all the stairs.

" Ouch!! Blind uncle. Can't you walk seeing properly? All the flowers are now scattered on the floor. How am I going to offer them to God?" I heard a baby voice.

I just reached the temple when I bumped with someone. I was amused seeing the person. Actually, it was a baby girl and her age wouldn't be more than 5. The girl looked extremely pissed off. I also noticed some flowers scattered on the ground beside her.

" Mommy will scold me," She said pouting her lips and I couldn't control my chuckle after seeing her.

The girl was so cute with red chubby cheeks, doe-like eyes and beautiful hairs. I was amused after seeing her eye colour. Her eyes are very similar to mine. Same deep brown colour eyes. I have to admit that the baby girl is extremely cute.

" I am sorry, dear. I didn't notice you," I apologised and bent down to her level.

She replied making a sad face," Shiv Ji(Lord Shiva) will be angry with me. I wasted all the flowers."

I felt something inside my heart seeing her sad face. Her innocent face reminded me of that woman's face. The baby girl was looking very similar to that pathetic woman. I don't know why I am seeing that slut into an innocent baby girl. I also met that woman in a Shiv temple 4 years ago. Maybe that's why.

Flashback

"Bhai(brother), let's go. If we get late then ma(mother) will scold us," My younger sister said and climbed the last stair of the temple.

I will just climb the last stair when I bumped with someone and the person fell on the ground with a thud sound. I looked at the person and its none other than a girl whose face is now covered with her long silky hairs.

" Andhe ko kya? Dekh kar nehi chal sakte( Are you blind? Can't you walk seeing properly?)" the girl asked very angrily and looked at me with her innocent annoyed eyes.

I was fascinated to see her face. Is she a real person or a apsara(fairy) from heaven. I was speechless to see her.

" Shiv Ji will be angry with me. I have scattered all the flowers and holy materials in the ground and everything happened because of you," She blamed me before collecting all the materials from the ground.

I chuckled crouching down to her level," You were not watching your steps."

" Huh!!" She frowned her brows. " Are you talking about youself?"

I replied forwarding my hand towards her," Myself Shivansh Raichand. Everyone calls me Shiv. You just wanted to know about me."

I teased her and laughed loudly. I noticed her angry face.

" Gawar kahika( ill-mannered)," She said annoyingly and started leaving this place.

Flashback ended

A smile formed on my lips remembering that day when I first saw her. I never imagined that I was meeting a witch in form of an angel.

" Shiv Ji won't be angry with such a cute baby girl," I told the little girl pulling her chubby cheeks affectionately.

She replied making a confused face," Is it true, uncle?"

" It is true. By the way, what's this cute doll's name?" I asked touching her nose playfully.

She replied with a cute smile," I am Neela. But, my papa calls me pumpkin and sometimes sweet candy."

" Such a cute name. But, why are you alone? Where are your parents?" I asked her worriedly as I am not seeing any adult with her.

She replied smiling brightly," I am here with my Mommy. And mommy says Shiv Ji will protect us from every harm." 

" Seems like your mommy is a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Just like Ni......." I murmured but couldn't complete the sentence.

Then, I took out a pendant that is made of silver and looks like Lord Shiva's trident. That woman gifted me this pendant and I am still carrying it with me. I just can't get over of her.

" It's a gift from me for you as I have scattered your flowers on the ground," I told this cute doll giving the pendant in her hand. I can't carry it with me anymore. The more I carry it, the more it will remind me of Niyati.

She replied with too much happiness," It's so beautiful."

" I hope you liked it. It's a gift from your uncle. Always keep it with you. Shiv Ji's trident will protect you from every harm," I told the girl very affectionately.

She is going to say something when I heard my mother's voice from behind. I looked at her and she signalled me to go towards her.

" I am coming," I said and looked frontwards. I became a little bit sad seeing that the baby girl has left without saying me anything.

I looked here and there but couldn't find out her. After searching for some time, I saw a glimpse of her. I saw that she is holding a woman's hand. Because of too much crowd, I couldn't see that woman's face. Maybe the woman is her mother.

I smiled and said," I hope you keep smiling like that always, pumpkin."

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Niyati's pov

" Why do you keep running here and there without my permission? What if someone harms you?" I scolded Neela and shoved her inside the car very angrily.

I sat beside her and ordered the driver to start the car.

" I went to bring flowers," She replied looking down and I saw something in her hand. I am wondering what's she holding. I just hope it's not something harmful.

I asked her curiously," What's in your hand?"

" Nothing," She replied hiding the thing behind her.

I didn't say anything further. I will come to know anyhow whatever she is hiding. After all, I am her mother.

" Don't roam here and there without me. It's not safe for a baby like you," I told her softly and stroked her hairs gently.

She nodded her head and looked outside through the window.

At Night

" How many times I have told you that you don't have to give me any house rent," Ranvijay said becoming pissed off and stopped drawing.

I replied keeping the money on his table," I have taken enough from you. I just don't want to be a burden on anyone. Please, accept this money."

" You are not any burden for me. You are my wife," He declared and looked at me annoyingly.

I replied sighing," I am your wife just in papers. You know very well on which circumstances you married me."

" I remember everything. But, I just can't accept this money. You are not an outsider for me," He said and held my hands.

I smiled and told him," Consider it as my gratitude towards you. Please, accept this money. I just can't live inside this house in free. You have already done enough for me."

" Fine. You win," He said and gave me a cold stare.

I chuckled looking at him and said," Ok. Good night. See you tomorrow. I hope this time you will be able to complete her portrait."

Saying that I looked at the incomplete portrait and saw her incomplete face. It's been year's since Ranvijay is trying to complete it but every time he is failing.

" I hope so," He said taking a deep breath.

I am now ready to leave the room when he asked me suddenly," What if he comes into your life again? What if he asks for forgiveness? Will you forgive him?"

" No. He didn't crush my heart. He has crushed my self-respect and humiliated me in front of everyone. And, I will never forgive him," I declared wiping a lone tear from my right eye and left the place.