22. Diwali

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Aditi's point of view

Today is Diwali and whole house was decorated with Flower garlands and lights. Atul bhiya decorated house with lights and I did the other decorations. Other than this, I also made sweets, rangoli and prashad for Pooja.

Tear fell from my right eye when the picture of Dhruv and Priya, hugging eachother come in front of my eyes. Whole day I keep myself busy so I could not think about yesterday's incident. I also didn't go Divya's house so I could not see him and Priya again.

Divya came to my house in morning with Nikhil bhiya and Anuradha aunty to give sweets and gifts.

Thanks to God he did not come because I could not stand in front of him, without shedding a single tear.
When Atul bhiya and mummy went to his house to give sweets, they asked me to accompany him but I declined because I know Priya is also there.

I saw her in morning, went into his house with lots of gifts and sweets.

So whole day I keep myself busy to divert my mind from him because now I don't have any right to like Dhruv because he has someone in his life. If still I love him and want my future with him, it's a sin. But what should I do, there is not a single moment went when I didn't miss him or think about him. It was like, not thinking about him, I commit a sin.

Yes, it was a sin for me not to think about Dhruv, that's how much I love him. He is in every beat of my heart and my heart only takes his name whenever it beats.

It's already evening and I was preparing for evening Pooja.

"You are still here. I thought you are at Divya's place." I wiped my tears immidately when I heard mummy. I was chaopping carrots for salad. She walked inside and took a glass from the shelf. She pored herself a glass of water and then drink it.

"I was busy, preparing for evening Pooja. I will meet her later." I speak in a dull and sadden voice.

Everyone wears new clothes for Diwali but I was wearing my old dress. Because mummy didn't buy for me any new dress and I don't have any saving to buy a dress myself. So I wore a red anarkali suit which was my all time favorite.

"Hmmmm....you can go to her house after Pooja. Her mother told me to send you there." Mummy throw the empty glass in wash basin, for me to wash it. Every Diwali my family visits to Atul bhiya or Papa friend's house for dinner and leave me behind so I could look after the house. I got bore to be alone in festival but from past years I went to Divya's house to celebrate Diwali with them.

"Okey.." I said without looking at her and keep doing my work.

I don't know how I will face him after yesterday's incident. It feels like someone stabbed directly in my heart and it's stop beating for sometime. When I saw Priya in Dhruv's arms, my heart broke and I started having problem in breath. I didn't want cry in front of Dhruv but I couldn't stop my tears. I didn't want to disturb Dhruv and Priya when they were alone in his room. Though many thoughts were eating me from inside thinking that they were alone in a room but when Anuradha aunty asked me to give snacks to both Dhruv and Priya, I couldn't resist her request and went to his room, even though my heart was stopping me.

My heart again proved right and I witnessed the seen which I didn't want to seen, even in my nightmares.

I saw other girl in my Dhruv's arms.

Though his eyes were telling the different story but that time I was too broken to see anything. I ran from there with my broken heart.

But from now on atleast I confirmed one thing, Dhruv can not be mine because he was already someone else.

I know one thing, no one loves me but I could not love anyone else other than Dhruv because my love for him is pure and forever.

Since morning no one wished me Diwali from my family, not even Divya. When she came to my house with her family, mummy kept me busy to prepare snacks for them and they left without wishing me. I felt little bad but it's okay, I am used to it.

"Before going anywhere, wash all the dishes and I don't want to see any garbage on kitchen slab." Mummy ordered.

"Mummy can I asked you something?" She was about to walked out from the kitchen when I stopped her.

"You would not stop if I tell you so you may ask." She said in her bitter voice. It always like this when she talk to me.

"Am I adopted?" A lone tear fell from my left eye when I asked without looking at her and keep myself busy in work so I could not look into her eyes when she glared at me.

"Of course not. Who told you this? You are my own blood. You looked much similar to me." I can sence the anger in her voice.

It was true, I am a younger version of my mother. Many says that I am her carbon copy but I don't know why this thought always bothers me that I am not her real daughter. Maybe because the way they treat me.

"Why did you ask?" Mummy asked me.

"Nothing, just curious." I said in a low voice without looking at her.

"You always talked nonsense. Finish your work soon and don't forget to clean the kitchen after you done with your work." After saying this mummy walked out from the kitchen and I followed her order.

......................................................................

Dhruv's point of view

"Bhaiya fill the colours carefully. You are running my rangoli." Divya stopped Nikhil to fill rangoli colours in design which she made on the floor.

"I'll be careful sister." Nikhil took the green color and fill it carefully while Priya laughed on both of them.
It's been morning to evening but I have not seen her yet. It's Diwali and I remember every Diwali she came to our house to celebrate Diwali with us and spend her whole day in my house. But today I have not seen her since morning.

Is this a truth that she get affected seeing me with Priya? Did I hurt her? Did she really misunderstood me with Priya? But there is nothing between me and Priya. We are just a good friends.

But why should I explain to this to Aditi. She is nothing to me. She is just my neighbor and best friend of my sister but why I am feeling bad for her. Yes, I care for her and wanted to protect her but why I am feeling a heavy stone on my heart, since she ran out from my house after seeing me and Priya together.

I looked at my sister, Priya and Nikhil making Rangoli together and I was watching them from couch. They are making rangoli in living room because we don't have enough space in our porch. This year, Priya also join us for Diwali. Priya was blushing whenever she looked at me but she doesn't look cuet like my beautiful neighbor when she blushed looking at me. I like her cheeks when they turned red because of me.

"Dhruv, you also come here and join us. It is really a fun." Priya invited me to join them.

"I am fine here." I said with my poker face. My mood was off because since morning, I didn't see her.

"Leave him Priya he is the most boring person in this world." Nikhil laughed and continue his work.

Suddenly door open of the living room and familiar tinkling voice of bangles and anklets reached my ear. I raised my head and my beautiful neighbor walked inside the livingroom with all his glory. My eyes stuck only her when I saw the red beauty walking inside my house. She was wearing a beautiful red simple anarkali suit and her bangles and long tinkling earrings making her more beautiful.

"Aditi where were you? I was waiting for you a while now. For a second, I thought, you won't come." Divya said with excitement.

"Sorry, I was busy with house chores." There were a sadness fill in her voice when she speak in a dull voice.

She looked at me but before our eyes could hold the gaze she averted her eyes from me.

She never did this before.

Divya pulled Aditi down by her hand and insist her to make rangoli with them. In all the time, while making rangoli Aditi didn't even glance towards me and stealing her eyes from me whenever I caught her gaze.

"It's already evening Pooja time. You all are still making rangoli." After sometime mummy came and started scolding everyone for being late.

"Five minutes mummy. It's almost complete." Nikhil said while filling the green color in same leave which he was trying to fill from past half an hour.

"It's okay bhiya. You guys go and get ready. I will complete the remain." My beautiful neighbor said in her beautiful voice.

"You sure...?" Divya asked.

"Yes..." Aditi nodded her head.

After getting a positive reply everyone went to their room to get ready. Divya took Priya in her room to get ready and I was keep sit there, adoring my beautiful neighbor when she was making rangoli.

After every one left to their room and only me and Aditi left in livingroom, I got up from the couch and walked to her. She sensed my presence near her because she stopped filling colors in the rangoli. But soon she recovered and continue her work without looking at me. I also sit beside her, waiting for her to speak something.

"Why did you ran from my room yesterday?" I broke the silence and pick the red color to fill in the flower.

"I came to your room to give snacks to you and Priya. I don't want to disturb both of you so I left." She said without looking at me but I can hear the sadness in her voice. I know she did not come to my room just to give snacks. There is something more than that. I still remember her tears full eyes when she saw Priya in my arms. Her tearful eyes didn't let me sleep in the night.

How can I tell her that there is nothing between me and Priya. We are just friends, nothing more than that. Yes, Priya likes me but I don't feel same for her. But why I want to clarify all this misunderstanding to Aditi. There is nothing between us.

Then why..?

"Okay.." This is the only thing, I managed to say before I don't understand what should I say. I wanted to clear everything between us and tell her that Rahul no more bothers her but I don't know, from where I should start. Again silence fell between us.

"Stop, You are running it."

"Excuse me..?" I looked at her confusingly.

"You are filling the wrong color in the leaf." I looked down in the rangoli and saw I was filling the same red color in the leaf.

"Sorry." I through the red color and Aditi improve my mistake by filling the right color.

"Thank you.. " I looked at Aditi when suddenly she thanked me. I should be the one to thank her because she clear my mistakes otherwise Divya would kill me for running her hard work.

She sensed my confusion and then continue, "Thank you for helping me that day and saving me from Rahul."

"Don't thank me. I have done nothing. I am happy that you are safe. He couldn't harm you much." I said looking at her. She looked at me for a second and then again looked down to the rangoli.

Today I noticed one thing. She is not meeting her gaze with me and if she looks there is a guilt in her eyes.

But for what?

Why is she feeling guilty?

"He could, if you didn't come on time."
She whispered in sadness.

"Did he bothers you often?" I aksed and she nodded her head positively.

"Then why did you not complain about to your family?" I asked her firmly.

"I am afraid that they don't believe me." She said while looking down but I can gear the hidden pain in her voice and I know she was hiding something from me but I don't want force her until she does not tell me herself.

"Don't worry..he no more bothers you in future. His father sent him to London for further studies." I assured her and she immediately looked at when the words leave from my mouth. I can see the relief in her eyes.

"Yesterday..when you came to my ro...."

"I think Anuradha aunty is calling. I should go and help her." Before I could complete my sentence, Aditi made an excuse and went from there and I was sit there like a fool. I also got up and went to my room.

*****

I came downstairs after an hour when mummy called me for evening Pooja. When I entered the Pooja room I saw, Aditi was helping papa with the preparations of pooja while Divya, Priya and Nikhil were clicking the selfies. All the while Aditi has smile on her face which I never saw. She laughed heartedly when Papa cracked some jock.

Priya and Divya were wearing a beautiful lehnga but they could not match the beauty of Aditi.

They are not even close to her when it comes to the beauty. Aditi was wearing a simple red anarkali suit with long earrings but she was looking the most beautiful person in this entire house.

"When your family did the evening Pooja?" Papa asked to Aditi.

"At 7:00 p.m in the evening. We did evening Pooja early every year because after that my family went to Atul bhiya friend's house for the dinner." Aditu said with a smile while pouring oil in Diyas.

"Then why you stay back? Did you had your dinner, dear?" Papa asked her with concern and I also curious to hear her answer.

"Someone has to stay back to look after house and I already made my dinner. I'll have it latter." I can hear the sadness in her voice when she said that while looking down and pretend to busy in work.

"Don't worry dear. You have your dinner here." Papa said in a fatherly manner and hearing this I saw a different emotions in Aditi's eyes. They both started talking in random things and papa shared our funny childhood story with her ti cheer her mood. I also don't know I was smiling too until papa saw me standing at the door of Pooja room.

"Arree...Dhruv, why are you standing there? Come join us."

I nodded my head and removed my slippers before entering the Pooja room when papa asked me to join him in Pooja. Though I don't belive in this but I do all this for the happiness of my family.

"Priya, Divya, Nikhil, enough of the selfies session. Come, It's time for the Pooja." Mummy also joined us in the Pooja room after calling everyone for the evening Pooja.

Priya gave me smile and I smiled hwr back while giving her a space to sit. One by one everyone took their seat except me and Aditi. But Aditi sit beside Divya. I looked for the space for me to sit and saw there was some space beside Aditi. So I decided to sit beside Aditi.

As I was about to sit beside Aditi, she got up abruptly and I looked at her with confusion.

"I think, I forget to bring the candles." She didn't looked at me and stealing her eyes from me.

"It's okay dear. I already bring them with me. You sit." Mummy said to her. But instead of sitting beside me she exchanged her place with Priya and sit beside Nikhil whol was looking at me mischievously and winked at me when I glared at him.

"Hiii.." I looked at my right and saw Priya was looking at me with a shy smile. But I ignored her and focused on Pooja with frawn face.

But all the time only one question is buzzing inside my head.

Why is Aditi ignoring me?

******

After evening pooja mummy asked us to lit diya and candels in every corner of the house. All the time Priya clinged to me, helping me while Aditi was with Nikhil and Divya.

Ring...Ring...Ring

Priya's phone started to ring. She checked the caller Id, it was from her dad and she has to attend it.

"Excuse me..I have to take this." She went to the corner to talk to her dad till then I walked to, where Divya, Aditi and Nikhil were lighting the candles.

"Nikhil bhiya Please take Aditi's picture in your phone. My phone is dead." Divya came to me and asked me to click Aditi's picture.

"Divya, It's okay. I'm fine."

"You shut up Tripathi. No one ask you."

"Malhotra Pleases..."

Aditi declined but Divya was adamant to click her picture. I liked when they both mentioned each other with their surnames. It shows how closed they both are.

At the end Aditi give up and ready to click one picture.

"Sit there." Nikhil asked her to sit on a small table. Divya pouted when I give the direction to Aditi because Nikhil never give her directions for the perfect picture. He just clicked her picture. Aditi sit there slowly and looked at the camera with a sweet smile on her face.

Click..

It was indeed a beautiful picture. I saw it when Divya was showing it Aditi.


"Aditi, Divya...look towards the sky." Suddenly Nikhil shouted and pointed towards the sky.

We all looked towards the sky where Nikhil was pointing. There were lots of lighting kandeels were flying in the sky. It was rare to see such beautiful sight in this city but was really breathtaking.

"Beautiful.." I looked at my right and saw Aditi was standing beside me and admiring the view of the sky. She was the one who complimented this beautiful sight.

"Happy Diwali." I wished her with a smile.

She turn her head to me when I wished her but instead of happiness, her eyes were filling with unshaded tears.

"What happened? Did I do something wrong?" I asked her in concern but she shake her head as no.

"You did nothing wrong." She said while controlling her tears.

"Then why are you crying." I asked with concern.

"You are the first person who wished me today."

I looked at her with schok and with pitty. I could not help myself pitty on her. How could someone not wish her on this day. Everyone deserves atleast a good wish from others.

"Not even you family." I whispered. I could barely heard my voice when I asked her.

"No.." She said in her shaky voice and looked down in embarrassment. Her reply broke my heart. How could her family did something like this to this innocent girl?

"Aditi come here." Before I could say something to her Divya called her. She wiped her tears, hiding from me and then went to Divya with a sad smile on her face.

This girl is so strong. Never let her pain to show anyone. She is fighting with every single person in her life but never let her pain come on her face, in front of everyone.

Then why I am able to see her pain through her beautiful orbs?

I am damn sure Divya also doesn't know the real face of her family.

*****

After having our dinner, we all burst the crackers, well except me and my beautiful neighbor. We both stood far away from everyone and watched them bursting all types of crackers. Priya left to her home after having dinner because her father wants her at home, so she left. All these time Aditi stays away from me as much as possible and ignored me like a plague.

When we get tired we all sit in the livingroom and mummy-papa was sharing some story of their old days with us and we all are listening to them like they are going reveal the hidden treasure.

Aditi is in kitchen making coffee for everyone. She gave coffee to everyone one by one but when she was about to give me our livingroom door open with thud.

Our heads turn to the door and we saw three person walked inside the livingroom with rage like they wants to kill someone.

"Aditi...."

Atul screamed Aditi's name in rage.

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