Seven Vows Part 1- Published

The Ajmer Stop over

As they entered Sandhya's house they could see, Sandhya's two sons aged twelve and seven come running.

" Sreedhar Mamu, What have you bought for us "

" Exactly Sreedhar tell me what all have bua sent " came in Sandhya just behind her kids

Suman and Poorni were taking sweets bag from behind, while Aakash carried a large cover

" Didi this is all for you " told Suman as she gave the sweet bag to Sandhya, while Poorni gave the sweets bag to the kids

" Bua, Dadi has sent this also for you" said Aakash as he gave the large cover in Sandhya's hand

" Sandhya will you keep them outside only" came Sandhya's MILs voice

"No Maa bringing them " told Sandhya as they ushered them in. Sreedhar went and touched Sandhya's MILs feet. She blessed him and others followed suit. Sandhya's bhabi came with water for everyone.

" Sreedhar your jeeju and jethji will be coming at lunch time" told Sandhya. Her family was into jute business.

" Suman are you connected with Mandavi in anyway" asked Sandhya's MIL

" Mandavi, who Mandavi Maaji. I do not have any Mandavi in my family"

" Maa are you talking about the IAS officer Mandavi" asked Sandhya

" Yes Sandhya her only. She was Mandavi Rajput before marriage right, look at Suman, the same straight nose and similar facial features. Even I would say she has semblance of Meenakshi . But Meenakshi is far more fair and her face is more round"

" But Maa Sulakshna Rajput was thrown from her family for having girls only right. Suman has gone to college. She has stayed in hostel. How can the family that send its daughter to the college can throw a woman in the name of just having girls. It might be some other Rajput" told Sandhya's Bhabi

" Didi can I meet Sulakshna Rajput. Maybe she is a distant relative. I have not heard anyone with that name in my family" asked Suman

" No Suman Sulakshna aunty is not here now. She has gone with her daughter Mandavi to Mussorie. She  used to stay in the next lane. Most of the people knows her very well. She stitches blouses and salwars beautifully. She worked in the dargah also. Now you have come here first time. Maa is asking so many questions. You come with me, let me show you the house" urged Sandhya

Poornima tried to follow Suman but was stopped by Sandhya's MIL. " Beta you and your friend Vaishnav sit with Maa for sometime. I want to talk to you "

" Ji dadiji " and Poorni and Vaishu sat beside Sandhya's MIL and she started talking to them affectionately"

Sreedhar was called by the kids to play cricket as they had kept everything ready. Aakash and Adwaith followed him. Nami also sat with Poorni and Vaishu.

Sandhya took Suman and showed her the house taking her to the balcony and showing her the Ajmer city from there

" Look Suman you can see the dargah from here. Ajmer dargah is very famous. Many people find solace in the dargah. The kitchen of dargah helps many woman who are no longer wanted by their families. Since every day the dargah has good rush of pilgrims large quantity of food needs to be prepared for them. Many earn their living working in the kitchen of dargah"

" I know didi. I have heard about it. Happy that I can visit the place today "

" By the way Suman I have heard you are doing fabric painting and embroidery" told Sandhya

" Yes didi in the package Aakash gave you can find sarees painted by me for you and your bhabi. I have also done light embroidery for a shawl for Maaji" told Suman

" Really, then come let us go and see" told Sandhya as they went down

Meanwhile Poorni, Vaishu and Nami started roaming the place, while Sandhya went down and opened the package, taking out the sarees.

" Arrey Bhabi look what Suman has done, Maa see this is for you" told Sandhya

Sandhya's Bhabi Latha and her MIL admired Suman's handiwork.

" Beta you have done this so beautifully" told Sandhya's MIL. " I am so happy that boy Vaishnav made you do the house warming. You know how sad I felt when after Sandhya's marriage she came I couldn't even stand in a distance to watch my younger son's bride's Grihapravesh. This society doesn't understand a mother wants to be part of every happy moment of her child as long as she is there."

" Suman now Maa goes to temple every evening. We have stopped making her wear white also. Now she wears pastel shades" told Latha

As they talked Sandhya's husband and his brother came. Everyone who were playing outside also came inside. The chatter continued through the lunch with Sandhya's husband and brother in law thanking Sreedhar immensely for bringing joy to their mother who was very happy on being able to go to temple.

Sreedhar's brother in law Piyush took all of them to Ajmer Dargah. They roamed the place for about an hour and then came back.

Soon it was time for them to go. Sandhya gifted Poorni and Nami both lehenga choli's, then she gave Suman a light pink semi silk saree with thin golden border and a light kundan necklace with matching earrings and Kankan. Suman looked at it, not sure whether she can wear it. She had only worn cotton's not silks

" Suman don't look like this. Here we make Maa wear such silks. Plus I heard you are going to some of your friend's wedding. Don't think about Maheswari bua or what people will think in Jodhpur. It is perfectly fine. I will tell bua I gave you this saree and set. She will be fine I know and Jodhpur you will understand that place when you reach there " told Sandhya

" Didi everything for the ladies. We are always neglected " told Sreedhar

" No my dear brother. You are not neglected" telling it Sandhya gave T-shirts to Sreedhar, Aakash, Adwaith and Vaishu

" Always on the losing end of bargain " told Sreedhar smiling which Piyush agreed to.

Soon they got into the open van with Sandhya giving sweets and snacks to be taken to Jodhpur

Once they were on the road Sreedhar asked Suman " Sumanji are you sure there is no Sulakshana Rajput in your family"

" Sreedhar I seriously don't know, I haven't heard " told Suman. But as the journey continued towards Jodhpur with chatter and music the question hung in Suman's mind. Who is Sulakshna Rajput. She knew her family very well. They can throw out a woman if they wanted to. Only surprising thing was how did the second daughter survive.