Anvita's POV

I took out the wooden box from my closet that had all the memories enclosed in it. Taking out the pair of ghungroos, I began wrapping them around my feet with much delicacy. As I was in the middle of doing it, Suhana walked in and sat on the bed while I was sitting on the floor.

"These ghugroos are really pretty. I have never seen them before. Did you get a new pair?" She asked as my gaze was fixated on my feet that were now adorned with the strings of bells.

"My husband gifted them to me on my birthday," I replied moving my hand over the bells that caused them to make some sound. "I don't know why I felt like wearing them today." My eyes refused to move away from my feet.

"Do you still miss him?" she questioned, and I lifted my gaze to look at her.

"Yaad to unhe kiya jaata hai jinhe bhula diya gaya ho, aur unhe to kabhi mein bhooli hi nahi," I said with love filled eyes.

(You remember those whom you forget, and he never left my memory that I need to remember him.)

"How do you still love him when you have broken all the ties with him? And why do you remember him when it pains you so much?" She pried and I chuckled listening to her line of questions.

"Kisne kaha rishte tootne par pyaar khatam ho jaata hai? Meine unko chhoda hai, unka pyaar to mein saath le aayi hu," I paused for a moment, taking another look at my feet. "Ghungroo ki har jhankaat mein unhi ka sur sunayi deta hai mujhe. Agar mein aankhein khuli rakhu to kisi na kisi roop mein vo mere sahmne aa jaate hai. Aur agar band karu to unhi ka chehra sahmne aata hai. Unhe yaad karne se dard nahi hota Suhana, unki yaad bhi pyaar se bhari hui hai. Agar unhe bhula diya to dard hoga," I said answering her every question.

(Who said that the love ends when a relationship comes to an end? I have left him but always carry his love with me. I find his essence in the sound of the bells. If I keep my eyes open, something comes in front of me, reminding me of him in some way. And if I close my eyes, then his face comes in front. It doesn't pain me to remember him Suhana, because his memory is also filled with immense love. If I forget him then it'll pain me.)

She nodded being unable to understand the depth of love.

"Can you help me with packing later? I have to leave for Mumbai soon" she said as she got up to leave.

"Sure. Where's my Vi by the way? Have you seen her?" I asked with concern.

"She's sleeping in my room. Princess Vi is taking her midday nap," she said, making me giggle.

After she left, I went towards the garden and decided to dance my heart out under the evening sky. My heart was feeling heavy, full of emotions, yet relieved somehow. Something was different in the air today, but I couldn't point out what.

Author's POV

Anvita turns on the music and slams her feet on the ground, letting the bells make a rhythmic sound.

Jab sayyian aaye shaam ko,

To lag gaye chaand mere naam ko.

She pointed towards the sky and slowly brought her hand closer to her heart, placing other one on top of it, referring to the sense of pride that she'd feel upon the arrival of her huband.

On the other side, Adhyay landed at the Mumbai airport, unaware of the fact that his destiny is taking him closer to something precious.

Sar pe rakh ke naach phiri mein,

Har jalte huye ilzaam ko.

Anvita formed a crown with her hands and placed it over her head while remembering all the accusations.

Deewaron dar, chaukhat vaukhat,

Ban gaye hain sab saheli.

She spread her arms, moving them in a circular motion, referring to the walls and doors that have become her friend in the times of her loneliness. She used to sit alone sometimes in the garden and sometimes in the balcony and sometimes just at the door, gazing outside in his memories.

Ye kuchh poochhe, wo kuchh poochhe,

Kitne jawab du mein akeli?

She would answer all the questions that arose in her own mind against her husband, always defending him. She would feel remorseful of her lies. Where love is void without trust, it also demands patience, which she failed to give. Many times, she would just get frustrated with all the questions, so she would busy herself in looking after Adhvita, who was no less than a reflection of Adhyay himself.

Hazaaron kaam mil gaye hain,

Yun baithe bithaye iss nakaam ko.

She hit her head with the palm of her hand and sit down, placing her knees on the ground. She imitated performing house chores and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand to remove the imaginary sweatbeads.

Adhyay came out of the airport after collecting his bags and breathed the air of Mumbai that made him close his eyes extempore. The air smelled of Lilacs, his favourite scent. It was the same scent that helped him to spot his wife even under the strong smell of coffee when she used to work at the café.

Khudko dekhne tak ki bhi fursat mujhko nahi milti,

Unke ishq ke noor kea age shamma nahi jalti.

Anvita brought her one hand in front of her face that signified a mirror. She corrected the small silver bindi on her forehead while looking in the palm of her hand that was a mirror for her at the moment. She remembered the days when she did not even feel like dressing herself up because her Maan would not be there to admire her. Today, she dressed herself up in a light blue suit and wore every piece of shringaar on her body that she owned because she couldn't fight the urge to look beautiful today for some reason. Her neck was adorned with mangalsutra, and her hair partition was lined with sindoor.  While her ears were holding an extensive pair of silver jhumkas, her arms were covered with silver bangles that clanked with the movement of her hands as she danced to the rhythm of the song. Her long hair was braided and was decorated with jasmine flowers that were spreading a different aroma into the air. The loose strands of hair were graciously settled on the side of her face and teased her as she swiftly twirled around with the music. Her eyes were beautifully lined with kajal as a silver nose ring delicately circled her nose.

Putting down the hand- mirror, she chuckled lightly thinking that all this shringaar is futile in front of her husband's radiance. When the light emitted by thousand lamps cannot match up to his glow, how can she?

However, her husband would beg to differ on this as nothing brought more light in his life than her. And since she left, his life has been filled with darkness; she took away the rang from his life. Adhyay sat in the car with Yash and the driver began driving towards the house he had bought to stay in during the length of his stay. He captures the hustle and bustle of the city, and his heart was slowly finding some peace in this chaos.

Laakhon naaz lag gaye hai phir guroor ke iss badnaam ko.

Her kajal filled eyes became teary in the memory of her husband, who is her pride, her maan. She ends her dance in a sitting position, letting some tears out.

Adhyay arrived at the mansion and captured its entirety before stepping in. His heart was constantly recalling Anvita as if she is closer to him than ever. He had covered the distance of several seas but was unsure why he felt a pull towards this place.

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Some translations:

-       Shringaar: makeup

-       Mangalsutra: Nuptial chain

-       Sindoor: vermillion