Always And Forever

Lakshmi puja

"Amit tumhare showroom se accounts book aa gayi ho toh pooja me rakh do jaldi" Ridhi said.

Sumedh came there with a book in his hand. Amit read the titles of those books 'Family law', Law of crimes, Land laws etc.

"Tum toh bas divorce karwate ho.. Yeh Family law chhod ke baki sab ki jaroorat nahi" Amit said.

"Agar tumhe yaad na ho toh tumhari aur Vahini dono ki bail maine karwayi thi.." Sumedh retorted.

Amit made a face looking at Sumedh. Sumedh disparagingly looked at him "Grow up" He said.

"Aur kisiko kuch rakhna hai pooja me?" Ridhi asked

"Yes" Prithviraj came there with four bundles of cash.

"Laxmi maa aa gayi" Amit folded his hands.

"Bhaiyya Saheb baithiye pooja me" Ruturaj said "Pandit ji aa gaye hai"

"Main kaise? Sumedh ko baitnne do na.. Uska ghar hai" Prithviraj said.

"Are nahi.. Aap bade hai pooja aap karenge" Sumedh said.

"Haan Bhaiyya Saheb" Ridhi said "Pooja aap karenge"

Prithviraj looked at Swamini "Agar iss ghar ki lakshmi ji bolengi toh main baith jaunga pooja me"

Swamini smiled "Aap ka maan hai.. Pooja me aap hi baithiye" She said.

"Thik hai" Prithviraj said.

Sumedh looked at Swamini. How beautiful she looked! Sky blue cloured saree was making her blue cloured eyes look more radiant. All the ladies were wearing many gold jewellery pieces as it is believed that wearing gold on diwali is auspicious and a good omen.

Swamini also was adorned with gold from head to toe. A chocker, a long necklace along with the mangalsutra he had given her on their wedding! Green bangles with some golden bangles in between them. Her ankelts were usual thing which always annonced her arrival even before her entry.

Lately, Sumedh had started feeling different kind of butterflies in his stomach whenever he saw her. Whenever she smiled or laughed. He remembered the serene feeling he had when he broke down in her arms. How peaceful he felt when she ran her fingers through his hair!

Everyone took their seats for pooja as pandit ji started chanting mantras. Sumedh went a few steps ahead and sat down beside Swamini. Her eyes were closed and hands were folded. Sumedh kept looking at her.

"Tumhari hi biwi hai.. Itna kyu ghur rahe ho" Amit whispered in Sumedh's ear.

Sumedh looked at him and said "Meri biwi hai na.. Kisi aur ki biwi ko toh nahi ghur raha"

Amit rolled his eyes and looked ahead.

"Kya hua?" Swamini asked.

"Nahi.. Kuch nahi" Sumedh suddenly said.

"Aapke pati.." Amit was saying when Sumedh fed him a gulab jamun.

"Iski baatein mat suno tum" Sumedh said "Pooja dekho"

Swamini furrowed her brows but decided to ignore.

After half an hour pooja was done and it was time for aarti.

"Main roshni wala sabse bada wala pataka jalaunga" Amit declared.

"Nahi. Main jalaunga" Sumedh argued.

"Nahi.. Wo pataka Rudransh jalayega.. Sabse chhota wo hai ab.. " Ridhi said.

Both Sumedh and Amit became sad.

"Aap dono mere sath chal sakte ho" Rudransh offered.

"Aap dono se samjhdar toh yeh hai" Purvi chuckled.