~ Author's POV
As promised, Dev visited mandir next day. And this visit followed by so many days.
~ Aishwarya's POV
So many days passed, Dev babu comes to meet me frequently nowadays. We talk, laugh, pray, eat together.
I'm preparing puja thali for starting sandhya arti. As I was doing so, I see Pujari babu approaching me very happily and excitedly, I smiles at him, "Pujari babu, you look so happy. What's the reason, hmm?"
"You'll get happy too, Aishwarya." He chirps.
"Really? What is it?" I asks curious.
"Dev Thakur, Sarpanch's son's marriage is fixed with my daughter, Ahiri." He smiles, tears of joy prickles in his eyes.
But my smiles falters before I quickly smiles widely, but I know it's fake one. I don't know why, but my heart is not happy with this announcement.
"Pujari babu, I'm so happy for Ahiri didi. Um.. I've a question." I says.
"Yes yes, ask." He says curiosly, but excitement and happiness in his voice is visible.
"If we can't get happy on the thought getting away from someone, what feelings do we have for them?" I asks, but my eyes get wet unknowingly.
"It is love.. But why do you ask?" He asks confusedly and curiosly, but his lips still curved in smile which shows whatever he's saying or doing, he's internally so happy for his daughter and that's the most obvious thing.
I quickly nods in no, and smiles softly, "Nothing, just curious."
I turns and starts Sandhya aarti. After sandhya aarti, first time in years, I straight goes to my room without even glancing around to others or even exchanging any words with others.
In room,
I sits in bed, "That's why, Dev babu didn't came today. He must be busy with his family and preparations. But I.. Pujari babu said it's love... I..i love him.... Why..why I didn't controlled myself.. Devdasi's are not allowed to love..." I feels lumps in my throat, it pains there, an unknown pain. My heart beating in my chest in a way which makes my chest hurt.
Tears streaming down my cheeks on its own as if it has its own brain.
The night goes sleepless for me.
Next morning, I sits up on bed, my eyes hurting. I baths and gets ready for mandir. After puja, I was in bhog ghar (Temple's kitchen), when Pujari babu comes in and says, "Aishwarya, you have to go in town to big temple... As Devdasi head, you have to go there, there's a big puja in upcoming days.."
"Me?? Pujari babu.. You know na, I never went out of Gram and now suddenly in town?? No no.. I can't.."
"Aishwarya, you have to.. At any cost.. And why are you afraid, Dev bau will accompamy you."
Sudden mention of him made me feel sick unknowingly. I can feel clotts in my throat and knots in my stomach.
"Oh.. Ok"
Pujari babu leaves, I resumes working but my eyes streaming the tears down my cheeks on its own.
Whole day goes like this only. Dev babu didn't visited mandir in these two days, rare thing since he came from town. Maybe he forgot about me.
Next day, after puja, Pujari babu comes out my room with my tin trunk in his hands.
"Aishwarya, go safely ok. Dev babu is waiting outside mandir, go."
I takes the tin trunk from him and comes outside mandir, and sees a car..his silhouette inside the car is visible through the window.
He turns his head and sees me.. And comes out and gives me a pleasant smile, which made my heart, stomach everything flutter. I smiles back.
Soon, I'm inside the car beside him. The way to town was quiet.
We reached in town by evening, puja will starts soon.
By night, puja ends.
Dev babu takes me to the room allotted to him, despite my disagreement.
As soon we enters, I sees a great vision in front of my eyes. There's a small verandah attached with the room. I smiles unknowingly. It's Purnima (full moon) tonight. Moonlight is working as lamp in dark night sky.
Dev babu takes my hand in his and takes me there and looks up to the moon, "Aishwarya?"
"Ji..."
"Will you marry me?"
And then, my feels my world stopped. My brain stopped working, I can only think what did he just said? He'll marry me? But his marriage is already fixed. Don't he know about it. But how can it be possible, him not knowing about his own marriage.
"What?"
He looks back at me, "Yes, I love you, Aishwarya.. Since the first time I saw you.."
"It's not possible, I can't.."
"But you too love me, Aishwarya, I know.. Then why.."
I cuts him off, "Because your marriage is already fixed with Ahiri didi, Pujari babu's daughter. Don't you know..."
"What? It's not the truth."
"Pujari babu informed me about this. Why'd I lie..and how can it be possible that you don't know about this."
"Because I was not in gram for two days, I was in Durgapur gram, in my friend's house."
"Oh.. But I cant.."
To be continued....