Chapter 7: chapter 7

Urvashi was breathing intermittently. There was chaos in her chest. Her eyes were deceiving her, who had been seeing Anantsen again and again. Urvashi grew up playing with boys and has done her weapon training with boys. During sports or weapon training, she had contact with men several times, but she never felt restlessness like this before. It was a new feeling for Urvashi.As there is no custom of using a veil in front of men in Kumbharwada, girls and boys enjoy the same right and have the same restrictions in life. On the whole Agyatpur love is forbidden, and Kumbharwada is no exception. People here believe that marriage is not just a bond between two people. It binds two families into one family. Therefore, apart from caste, religion and culture, the financial status of both the families are considered for marriage. They believe that marriages outside the community or mismatched marriages bring misfortune and disgrace to the family. But love is unstoppable like a river. How hard one tries to stop it, it finds its own way.Urvashi had a sleepless night. All night long, she remembered the moment when Anantsen grabbed her by the waist and saved her from falling. At that moment, their eyes met for the first time, and she felt his touch on her uncovered part of the waist that raised an electrifying sensation in her body. But, she could not understand what it was.Whenever Urvashi feels restless, she goes to her ancestral house on the outskirts of the village. For being on the outskirts, the house has been lying desolate for a long time. Though abandoned for a long time, Urvashi often visits her ancestral home and spends time there. Urvashi loves the serenity of the place. There is a lake near the house. Whenever she visits the house, she spends most of her time by the side of the lake gazing at its calm water. In winter, when many migratory birds make this lake their habitat, she enjoys watching those birds too.After a sleepless night when the first ray of sun-kissed Kumbharwada, Urvashi set off for her ancestral home to find peace of mind. On the way, she finds Anantsen and Chandravardhana enjoying the sunrise from a secluded place. Seeing Anantsen, Urvashi stopped. The one who has given restlessness may give some peace too. Urvashi thought.Anantsen and Chandravardhana both were surprised to see Urvashi so early in the morning. After the formal greeting, Urvashi sat down beside Anantsen. Though Anantsen gets surprised by her unexpected behaviour of Urvashi, he signals Chandravardhana to leave them alone. Both Anantsen and Urvashi's hearts were pounding fast. They could not find words to start the conversation, but they were happy for the sudden meeting. However, Chandravardhana was worried, thinking about the consequences of this budding love.From a tiny ball behind the mountain, the sun comes out of the shadow of clouds, increasing in size. People have started going to their respective jobs. Oblivious to the surrounding, Anantsen and Urvashi sat silently beside each other. They wanted to speak a lot but could not find words. When worried Chandravardhana called them, they realized that the sun had risen much higher, and its time to part.Saying goodbye to each other, they went their own ways, hoping to see each other in solitude again.(Continued ................... )