[Little context: So, since there is a particular devotional song about Shiva in this chapter, I just thought of giving some context. In the Hindu mythology, there is a trinity of male Gods. Shiva, the destroyer, completes the trinity. Though Shiva is called the destroyer, destruction is taken in a positive sense, akin to a phoenix, which symbolizes eternal cycle of birth and rebirths, the cornerstone belief of Hinduism.
As the stories tell us, Shiva is a recluse who resides in the Himalayas. He doesn't follow the norms of the society, has long matted hair, wears animal skin for clothes, doesn't hold much store by wealth or any material pleasures, is absorbed in deep meditation most of the time, loves dancing occasionally, and also consumes bhaang, which is a sort of narcotic. Shiva, though feared for his terrible temper, especially when he opens his third eye, is a god who is pleased easily by his devotees. An offering of milk and bel leaves is all that takes to make this god happy, which is relatively easier compared to offerings/fasts for other gods and goddesses. Females, especially pray to Lord Shiva for a good husband who emulates his qualities, because apparently Shiva was deeply in love with his wife consort, Goddess Parvati.
The various names for Shiva are: Shiv, Shankar, Bholenath (also shortened as Bhole, the word Bhola in itself means innocent), etc.Of course, Shivaay, Omkara and Rudra are also names for Shiva.]
Gauri was still processing what happened yesterday, on her way to her workplace. She never expected to see him there. What was he doing in Jahnvi aunty's bungalow? The Jagraata was for ladies, so what even was a man doing there? Maybe she was thinking too much, after all he came there after the Jagraata concluded. Maybe he was a business partner, or the relative of some guest there, or maybe....maybe he was related to Jahnvi aunty's family? No, Gauri dismissed that thought. That can't be possible. Although there was no reason why it couldn't be possible, Gauri just didn't want to consider that possibility. Considering that possibility would mean that Gauri could never meet Jahnvi, or Soumya, or Annika ji again, because she couldn't take the risk of coming face-to-face with Omkara accidentally.
She had already taken a huge risk with that Chulbul gamble, she didn't want to take any more chances. But what was she going to do about agreeing to meet with Omkara and his brothers on the weekend? She didn't want to meet them at all, not because she disliked them, but because she didn't want to cheat to any more people. Omkara's elder brother himself, came to her humble house, to ask her, rather Chulbul, to meet them. He wasn't as polite as Omkara, and looked a bit at discomfort, but surely the elder of such a rich family he was bound to have airs. Even so, he drove himself to her chawl, he must be what? A decade or so older than Gauri. Gauri's mother always taught to never insult her elders, and here she was thinking of not turning up when she herself, told the man that she would come there, rather she would tell Chulbul to go there. All this deception was weighing heavily on Gauri.
What should she do? Should she keep avoiding Omkara like she was doing all these days? And also tacitly insult his brother by refusing to visit them after she had accented? And for what? They were all being nice to her, it was she who was fooling them all.
The questions were eating her up, and there was only one entity that could help her.
Gauri climbed the steps to the temple, to bow her head in front of the idol of Maatarani (Goddess Parvati), seated next to her beloved husband, Gauri's favorite, Shankarji.
What should I do? Should I come clean about everything to Omkaraji?
"Gauri beta, how are you?" came the panditji's voice, from behind her. Gauri turned to greet and touch the panditji's feet to take his blessings.
"Jahnviji phone me today. She and her family, especially her mother-in-law, Kalyani ji, were very happy with the Jagraata, and praising your singing. It has been many days since you sang at the temple. Please sing a Shiv bhajan, since you are such a bhakt of Bholenath." requested the priest.
Gauri smiled and nodded, eager to comply to the request.
Shivji suniye aachana, kare jo yeh tumse prarthana
Shivji please listen to the request, to our prayer
Maine Shiv ko manaaya, Shiv maan gaye (2)
I coaxed Shiv, Shiv was pleased
Mere mann mein kya hain (3) Bhola jaan gaye, Shiv maan gaye
What is in my heart, Bhola came to know, He was pleased
Maine Shiv ko manaaya, Shiv maan gaye....
I coaxed Shiv, Shiv was pleased
Jai Shiv Shankar!
Hail Shiv Shankar!
Shiv se saral dev na dooja, Shiv ko bhaaye prem ki pooja,
There is no simpler god than Shiv, Shiv is pleased with the worship of love
Maine sona chadhaya, Shiv ne usse thukraaya,
I offered gold in prayer, Shiv rejected it
Maine diya motihaar, Shiv ko nahi sweekaar,
I offered a necklace of pearls, that was not acceptable to Shiv
Jai Shiv Shankar!
Hail Shiv Shankar!
Maine sona chadhaya, Shiv ne usse thukraaya,
I offered gold in prayer, Shiv rejected it
Maine diya motihaar, Shiv ko nahi sweekaar,
I offered a necklace of pearls, that was not acceptable to Shiv
Maine bhaang chadhaaya, Shiv ne usse apnaaya,
I offered bhaang, Shiv embraced (used in the sense of acceptance) it
Pal mein Bhola bhola jaan gaye, Shiv maan gaye,
In a moment, Bhola came to know my innocence, He was pleased
Maine Shiv ko manaaya Shiv maan gaye...
I coaxed Shiv, Shiv was pleased
Aaayaaayaaaa...
(alaap, or humming aaa, in hindi songs)
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Omkara was in a trance as he listened to her voice. He recognized her voice from yesterday. How could he forget it?
He had come to the temple with the sole purpose of meeting her. He didn't know why he was so desperate to see her, but he had to. She had left her anklet behind yesterday accidentally. Omkara was just looking at the anklet, when Jahnvi came up behind him.
"Om, I'm so glad to see you back so soon, but...?" Jahnvi looked at him questioningly
"I forgot my watch that day, I came to take that, Mom. Mom, who was that girl?" asked Om
"Oh, she was the same girl I was telling you about Om, the girl I met in the temple, the one who..." Jahnvi was about to repeat the story again.
"Yes, yes, Mom, I remember, I know. So she sings at Jagraatas also now?" asked Om, amused
"Well, I don't know whether she does or not, but the first time I met her she was singing a bhajan to Maatarani, so I thought who better to sing at our Jagraata? And I was right, Dadi and everyone was so pleased, even Pinky, she's still swaying slightly." said Jahnvi, smiling
"That reminds me, I better get my watch, and leave before Chhoti Maa sees me and her good mood evaporates." said Omkara, as he hurried to get his watch.
Well, that anklet gave him the perfect excuse to see that girl again. And here he was, at the entrance of the temple, listening to her voice, singing a bhajan to the Shiv Parvati idols. He had found her.
It was not just the voice that her voice was like dripping honey, there was a haunting and serene quality to her voice, which seemed to knock at Omkara's very soul. It felt like she was singing to him, the words were speaking to him. He walked towards her slowly as the song ended.
She was about to leave, and walking towards the stairs on the other side of the temple.
"Suniye (Listen)" Omkara called out. She stopped.
"You are that jagraate vaali girl right? The one who sang at Kalyani ji's residence yesterday?" Omkara asked, just to confirm, though he knew already it was her.
The girl nodded, but didn't turn her head.
"I have something of yours." said Omkara, feeling for the anklet in his pocket. But before he could take it out, someone called him from behind.
"Omkaraji" greeted the pandit. Omkara turned to greet the pandit, and exchange pleasantries with him, though he was clearly eager to talk to that girl. When he turned, after a few minutes, the girl was gone.
Poof! It looked like she had disappeared again.
When was he going to finally see her?
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Rudra saw Soumya's phone buzzing for the third time. Soumya ignored it again.
"Why don't you pick it up, Sumo?" asked Rudy, a little annoyed, because he knew it was Rehan's call
"I don't want to." said Sumo, getting straight to the point, yet her tone indicated she didn't want to talk about it.
Should he ask why? Well, Rudy was never able to contain his curiosity anyways. "And why is that?" he asked her
Soumya looked even more annoyed at this, but calmed after a bit and replied, "Rehan wants to get serious with this relationship. He proposed that we get engaged before we pursue our studies abroad, in fact he wants us to study in the same university, or in same State/country in the least."
"And what do you want?" asked Rudy, cutting to the chase
"I don't know what I want." said Soumya fed up
"Meaning what? You don't want to get engaged now, or you don't want to study in the same place as him?" asked Rudy
"Either. Neither. I can't envision a future with Rehan. We tried, thrice, but its not working. I like him, but I think my first blush of feelings for him faded away when we broke up, rather he kind of dumped me, the first time. I always hesitant when we got together again, and its just never been the same again. I have to tell him, I can't let him go on with this." said Soumya
Rudra couldn't explain it to himself, but he was inexplicably cheered at the thought.
"So, when are you going to tell him?" he asked, trying to sound uninterested.
"Soon, I just don't know how to. I should, considering I give advices to everyone over the radio, but its difficult when you have to do this in real life." sighed Soumya
"Well, I could come with you, you know, just for moral support." said Rudy, helpfully
"Lets see" said Soumya, smiling slightly, and internally glad that Rudy didn't say anything stupid but reacted almost mature.