019

Times files when it is only the happiness one is surrounded with.

Niyati felt that everyday, day by day passed infront of her all filled with laughter of her family, sweet moments spent away from the world with him,and now the festival of the diwali bought the vacation hand in hand.

The children of the Mishra's family will run around the house whole day, cleaning the two houses took most of their time "also because you all are wasting time instead of doing actual work" Radha reminds them all the time as the children would put the song on the sound system and dance more than doing the chores.

Whitewashing of the both houses were done for the upcoming wedding as well as for the festival as well as the colorful lights are hanged on the terrace of every houses making them illuminates as the sparkling stars in the evening.

Special prepration of the Gujiya, murku, buniya are done by both Radha and Roopa along with homemade gulab jamun. Raghuveer bought each of the children gifts according to the likes of each of them with Shivangi, Niyati and Maithili each getting silver anklets and a watch for Ranveer.

On Dhanteras, Roopa and Radha went along with Raghuveer and Manorama to bought the silver coins and steel plates for the auspicious day. In the evening, Niyati, Shivangi and Maithili put the traditional rangoli motifs outside of the houses with colourful artificial colors. Small footprints of the Devi Laxmi were drawn inside the houses from vermilion and rice powder.

A grand rangoli made of up only rice powder was drawn outside of the temple by Maithili who finds the most joy in doing the work of art.

In the evening, Raghuveer lit up the Diya in the temple. The burning diyas are burnt ritually outside of the every house of the locality as few children ran outside of their houses with firecrackers in their hands.

With a warning Niyati ran outside of the house along with Ranveer and Maithili in her toe "Amu, be careful" burning the firecrackers and bombs giving heart attack to Shivangi who feared them as Shivangi run up and down with Niyati and her two minions after her.

"You three...I will see you later." Growled Shivangi hiding behind Raghuveer who was trying his best to not laugh as Maithili was keep indicating him to step aside. "Remember that."

"First you come out of the house..then we will see." Niyati provoked motioning Gola to go behind Shivangi as Maithili tackled Shivangi from the front and they all fall in a heap laughing and rolling on one another when suddenly Gola starts crying.

"What happened? You got hurt?" Shivangi asked frantically sitting up examining his head, face and body.

"I told you all to be careful..see now..come her Gola.." Radha and Roopa come from the outside where they were chatting with the neighborhood ladies but Gola didn't left as he hugged a flabbergasted Shivangi in the middle sobbing even harder.

"What happened to you beta," ask his sister tapping him as the other two of her siblings looked worried also.

When Gola said "Y-You..you will..be gone..dii- you won't be..be here next..year" Maithili gave one look to Niyati and then to Shivangi before colliding in her sobbing along with her brother.

"Dii..don't go dii..we will ask jiju to come here. He can stay with us. We will give him my room..don't go didi.." the little girl said hysterically as the eldest hold those two to herself, tears glistening on her face as well as on every other members.

The start reality that next year, Shivangi won't be here drawn on them. That their will no more yelling for Shibu across the house, no birthday celebration of her name, the chair of her at the dinning table will be empty for forever, that, soon Shivangi will have another family, people around herself to call her own, for she will have to forget the house where she spent her childhood, the house that will not be her anymore.

Radha consoles a sobbing Roopa as the four children cries together clutching one another not wanted to be separated from one another for ever.

No one noticing Raghuveer who left the house with moist eyes standing on the threshold of the temple he prayed for the love that is between the siblings to stay forever like this no matter where they all will end up in the life later.

__

The only downfall of this vacations were that, Niyati didn't get to see Achintya as much as before. Having no college meant not having any opportunity to leave the house and spent some previous hours in his presence.

The code of the conduct has been imposed on the city for a month before the election and she had thought that this will relief some of his work only to know that it will all the more work.

"We are going to lay low and work behind the scenes, Jaan. It is now the real game will begin, the rolling of dice that will decides many things. " Niyati had some inkling of what Achintya's words meant as Raghuveer told them three days before about their being some commotion across the street in the main market that he heard from his friend. That Vijay Chaudhary was the part of it.

The pamphlets of the minister from the opposite party have the black paint splashed over them overnight, the obvious power struggle between the parties that she got know from Raghuveer are all part of that.

Amidst it all, Niyati didn't get to see him. Didn't get to ask whether he is taking care of himself or simply ignoring it for the sake of his work. When she heard the 'Chaudhary' being involved her heart almost stopped thinking it meant him only to felt relieved knowing it was Vijay Chaudhary which truth be told she didn't cared much about .

Achintya has hinted it multiple times in their conversation about how much he dislikes Vijay, his habits, his way of doing things that even though Niyati haven't met or see him -his face was almost blurred in her memory from the one time she saw him in her college premise- she felt the same dislikes towards him.

Which was such a wrong thing to do, to make a image of someone by taking other person's words but Niyati can't help herself feeling that everytime she would see the obvious detest in Achintya's eyes.

" Achintya.. thankyou for keeping my words and not imposing your presence on the guests." Niyati was hiding behind the curtains with Achintya's tall figure hiding her petite form from the lady's eyes "I don't have any personal problems with you, you know that right? It just if you would be there things wouldn't have gone in the right way and that's not what we wanted, no?"

When she asked him later who that lady was and what she meant -the want to push that woman away from him- he simply shakes his head replying "she was Meena kaki.. Vijay's mother. She asked me to stay from the hall untill the guest are there-"

"Why..why would she? How can she tell you that, when it is your own home?" For a second forgetting that this not her own home where she can yell and shout and demands but the backyard of his haveli. "If she is worried about that she should not have been here ." She thought Achintya was with her because he wanted to turns out it was because he was banished from the hall by his own kaki.

And Niyati was not even angered on that, but the fact Meena kaki seems so happy with the fact Achintya wasn't there and what she meant if you would be there things wouldn't have gone in the right way.

It was whar made her angered, the obvious mistreatment of his, the disrespectful way she talked with him patronizing him. No one holds the right to do that, and it just didn't sat well with her.

Now coming to present, Niyati walked to the calendar looking at the dates, a whole week was still left before her college will open and she would get to see him. Her eyes went to the red circle, he didn't even knew about her birthday. She never get to tell him that, the most obvious things seems obscure in his presence making her forget half of the words that stuck in her throat whenever his eyes is on her.

Huffing she put the duvet to her chin, the winter finally arrived in the Begusarai. Closing her eyes, she prayed to the goddess Durga that just once, somehow she get to see him and that is all she wanted for her birthday.

_

"..her mother came to my home to ask why Asha is acting up but I couldn't tell her anything, could I?" Said Reecha on the phone to Niyati.

"Hm..what you would say yrr..I just don't understand is she not thinking about her family? Or has that Mukesh becomes her everything?"

"Definitely. There is no two thoughts, it is what she is thinking..I tell you. "

Niyati holds her hand to Radha who came out of the kitchen with the rolling pin in the hand. Her mother indicates towards the clock and that she was on the phone for more than half of the hour .

"Yeah and now water has reached above the head and we couldn't do anything about it. We tried to show her ways,but if she herself not want to see what we can do about it."

"Yrr..still, you know her mother was looking so sad and I felt so bad for her.."

Radha was still on her head, glaring now, and so even if she wanted to discuss this topic more Niyati was forced to cut the phone wishing Reecha happy diwali and a nonchalant bye.

"Who you were talking about? Who you tried to show the way and she didn't realise?" Radha ask following Niyati to the kitchen as she open the can and take out the Gujiya from it.

"You Mummy. I have tried to tell you many times before to not put your nose where it don't belong and still I find it there most of the times." Replied Niyati before walking away from the kitchen towards the bathroom to take the bath as Shivangi has told her that they will leave for the Gauri temple soon.

A frowning Radha looked at her disappearing back, having the strong intuition that her daughter is getting involved in the unnecessary drama, something she will have to put the full stop on before that escalates.

_

Shivangi has observed the fast on the Narak chaudas on the demand of her in-laws which she was supposed to break by doing the Pooja in the Gauri temple. The tem,ple was an half hour ride from their home but since it was the day of the diwali the traffic was so bad that it takes three hours for them to get back to the house.

Upon reaching home Niyati was in such a hurry to get inside the house away from chilly winds that her attention didn't went to the jeep standing on the gates of the Singhs.

They both did the quick breakfast of the ghati helped their mothers in soaking the diyas in the water, putting new bedsheets and sofa covers, tying toran on the door and only after that they meet again on the threshold of Niyati's house first to put the grand rangoli along with Maithili and Gola bringing colors and water to them.

Making their way to Shivangi's house to do the same.

_

He had no want to visit anyone when Lokesh first mentioned, but knowing that it is the Singhs, and just by some chance he can get lucky and see her made him hum his confirmation to go along with his Kaka.

But seemed like, it all went to the vein. Because two fucking hours has passed with Achintya listening the politics between the Lokesh and Mr Singh and still there was no sign of her.

"Chai.." the timid daughter of the house asked. Irritating him further, he has refused her not once,twice but already three times. And she still was in his vision, serving the tea. Achintya wasn't a fool, he knew it was part of the big plan that now the news of Vijay being booked has reached the ears of the people, their next target was Achintya himself.

And with the obvious tilt of Mr Singh towards them to know the topic of the conversation happening between his daughter and him was the final stamp on the paper.

"I'm allergic to the tea leaves " a snort comes from his kaka's side and Achintya glared, so he is aware of this all and still choose to do nothing about it.

He is surrounded by traitors from the four sides.

"Oh..should I bring you coffee, juice or soft drink-"

"I'm actually observing the fast today. " He cut in the middle smiling at her as the red splotches covers her whole face.

"Oh..that..if -" he didn't paid attention to her turning to the amused looking Lokesh who has mirth shining in his eyes at the situation.

"Kaka..I'm outside. "

"Why? Do we bore you?" Lokesh asked having too much fun of his nephew expense. The girl is fighting the losing battle, Achintya was clearly not at all interested in her but it was entertaining to watch and so he choose to not comment.

Glaring, his nephew replied "no. But since I have kept the fast..I'm going to temple to offer the Pooja." gritting his teeth he left the house.

"Achintya Babu has becomes so spiritual. I didn't know that-" Mr Singh said looking after the young man's back.

"Oh yeah. It is the effect of the company he is in, nowdays."

_

The goddess was with him because the moment he came out of the door his eyes went to the four hunched figures infront of the gates of the Mishras and his foul mood instantly lighten up.

He leaned by the jeep observing the figure clad in a pink suit and the even pinker cheeks bundled up in the white coloured sweater. Her hair was open and it was his first time seeing those tresses not being tamed in a braid or by clips.

His hand itches to be buried in them and he has to mentally stop himself from letting his want take over his rational side.

The trio of the sisters were putting the grand rangoli on the gate that looked complete, with the way their brother was cleaning up the small polythene of the colors from the site. She still haven't noticed him, how strange it was because whenever Niyati comes anywhere near, he always knew about it without having to confirm or even see her face.

But even that wish was fulfilled because the next moment she raised her neck looking directly at him, multiple expression blooming on her face from shocked to disbelief to elated happiness as she smiles widely completely forgetting the presence of the others around her and shying away when he reminds her by revolving his finger once.

_

"Achintya Chaudhary is here?" Shivangi asked looking at the man leaning on the jeep absorbed in his phone, sunglass covering his piercing eyes. "He must have came to the Singhs."

"Achintya bhaiya is here.." Gola looked at him waving his hand frantically despite his sister telling not to, and upon receiving the friendly wave back the plump boy happily skitted towards him as he called him.

" Oh no..that idiot." Shivani groaned aloud.

"Why dii? What happened?" Maithili inquired curiously not understanding Shivangi's worries. The man however handsome and imposing was also a very kind human. He gave them a ride in his expensive car, bought them the choclates and ice-creams, and in his house he took such good care of her lost gift.

"Nothing. But Gola is inviting attention and I really do not need MAA to come out of the house with sweets in the hand for Achintya." The habit her mother has to fall in the feet of any of Chaudhary she will see really irritates Shivangi. "Beside..the man scare me." A goosebumps evokes on her arms that has nothing to do with the chilled air.

"Why would you say that?" Niyati opened her mouth not able to stop herself from asking that.

"Why would I? It is because you have not met him directly-" the obvious lie made her lower her face so Shivangi wouldn't realise the sheepish expression on her face "-but I tell you. He is just..so intimidating that..I know people call him charming and everything but his eyes scares me."

Niyati watches Gola getting in the jeep along with Achintya as he started the engine and left the locality. Shivangi wasn't that wrong..he really was intimidating as well as charming but he never scared Niyati.

Despite the flaws of his nature his sometime obsessive behavior and the controlling way of making her bend to his will , Niyati never get scared of him.

Her heart never allows that.

_

Niyati was putting the flower rangoli in the inner sanctum of the temple when she felt the presence of the person she wanted to felt so badly around her for days.

"Finally remembered me?" She asked without turning knowing he is their hanging on her words. The temple was empty, the locality too with people busy inside their houses in the prepration of the evening. Her siblings too went inside the home with Shivangi resting after her fast taking Maithili with her for the lunch. She asked Niyati to come too but she delayed it giving the reason that the rangoli of the temple is still left and she would rather do it first.

"I didn't forget you Jaan so remembering you makes no sense ." He answered coming closer still maintaining the distance learning by the walls with his hands folded. "You were running in my mind 24/7 that forgetting you is not an option anymore."

"Liar. " Niyati scoffed at his words. Forcing herself to not turn or otherwise she wouldn't able to control herself from running straight in his arms. "Then why you didn't find the ways to see me?"

Sighing, he runs his hands in his hair staring at her back. She has removed the sweater and the pink kurta inside was sleeveless giving him the clear view of her full arms on the display. " Well..now I'm here."

Achintya couldn't let Niyati knows about the brawl happened few days before where Vijay was involved. It took Achintya's three days cleaning that bastard's mess after her stabbed the son of the minister from their own party in the influence of the alcohol.

She has nothing to do with it, and telling her these depressing things holds no meaning. "And you still haven't looked at me."

Niyati was as still as the idol infront of her and then his hands were full as she collides in his chest with Achintya gripping her close to himself her feet in the air. "Fucking missed these coconuts suffocating my sense."

"Shh..don't curse. We are in the temple-"

"Jaan. God is everywhere. It doesn't matter whether I curse in the temple or in my bedroom he will hear and see me still fine from everywhere."

"Still..don't curse. Atleast for me." She looked at his face creating the tiniest gap between each other. Why it is that everytimr Niyati sees him, the man only get more and more handsome.

Even now, he looked almost breathtaking in his grey hoodie and black jacket on top of it. Finally, having the decency to trim his beard and hairs. The shorter cut highlighting his sharp cheekbones and jawline.

"Anything for you jaan-"

"Uhm.." she made the tiny noise at his choosen endearment for her, making him chortle as his hands finally find their way around her neck as she buries her face shyly.

"When you get used to it? I've been calling you that for months and you still get all shy." Achintya teases making her squirm as he tries to bring her preety face away from his neck with Niyati wanting the opposite.

"Jaan.."

Stomping her feet, Niyati get out of his embrace her face hot seeing the gleeful expression on his face "you-" she pointed to him "you go away. I'm banning you to come anywhere closer to- yaah..I said go away not to-"

As Achintya bring her back in his embrace with Niyati fighting to get out of it -even she was aware that her punch hold no power in them- "you love teasing me, don't you?"

"Ofcourse. It is my sole joy in this mundane world. Seeing those cheeks becoming the apple-" and Niyati hit him agai this time with force on his stomach making him stop but still grinning ear to ear.

They both stay silent as Achintya sway them gently with Niyati clutching his jacket tightly content and satisfied with the situation.

"Happy diwali." Niyati wishes him at last creating distance she went towards the idol's feet where some coconut was as the offering and bringing it to him. She offers the small piece in his hand but him being a stubborn idiot refuses to take it making her put the coconut in between his lips by her own hand, "you are such a jerk."

"Hm..your jerk."

"Hm. " She hummed leaning to him watching, "why you look tired?"

He thought he had done the good job hiding that behind his usual cheerfulness from his family that no one noticed but trust Niyati to know things he do not want to disclose.

"Nothing. I missed you all night and couldn't sleep."

Smiling she pats his cheeks "sweet. Now the truth" Niyati demanded.

He sighed at her demanding tone, she is leading too much from him "nothing really. I was busy cleaning that bastard's mess and couldn't get much sleep during all of that."

Frowning she touches his eyebrows with the tip of her fingers, those soft hands caressing his cheeks, nose, forehead "does his mother knows about this?"

"Niyati..let that go." Her eyes were on him not liking what he said.

Her nimble fingers clutches his face "No. Now answer my question."

"She did. "

"Did she express the gratitude the same way she expressed her detest towards you?"

"Only when the sun will start rising from the West Jaan. Achintya had many people in his life who stood by him against every situation, against Meena's obvious dislikes towards him ;badi Amma, choti Amma, papa, kaka, Mithilesh bhaisahab, Nupur bhabhi,even Guddi too. But seeing the anger on her face in his behalf made him feel something very close to relief.

Like, seeking her validation over others was more important to him than anyone's else.

Niyati didn't said anything after that. Bringing his face closer to her she put their foreheads together "don't worry. If it comes out to you..I will make sure that the sun rises from the west."

_

The celebration of the evening was extra special to Niyati as the gajra bought by him was in her hair.

Wearing her mother's yellow saree she clicked many pictures in the camera with her siblings, her family, the neighbours, few solo shots in the hope that she will show them to Achintya when the next time she will see him.

__

I'm writing them fast as I have some free times in my hand before my Internship starting from August.

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Anyone having any query with the Hindi words can ask freely, I'll be here to explain them.

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