Aratrika

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"Bhoori Bhoori Aankhein Teri..
Kankhiyon Se Tezz Teer Kitne Chhode..
Dhaani Dhaani Baatein Teri..
Udte Phirte Panchiyon Ke Rukh Bhi Mode."
˚⊱🪷⊰˚

"Kab aa rahe? Aur kitne din tak?"
(When are they coming? And for how long?)

Nirvaan turns the page to his newspaper as he sits on the wooven charpai under the early morning sun. Aarna walks out of the kitchen, dressed in a floral print, cotton anarkali. With a plate and cup of tea in her hand as she walks towards her father.

Gayatri, sits on the step of their home mandir as she rolls the cotton balls into long 'bati.' Her green pallu covering her head to block the sunlight as her grandson sits beside her with is textbook in his hands.

Varsha turns to gaze at her husband, "Aarna ke Janamdin wale din. Aur kitne din rukhenge, woh pata nahi. Pr bol rahi thi ki ek Mahine ki chhuti li hai usne.)
(On Aarna's birthday. And I don't know how long they'll stay. But she was saying that she's taken a month off.)

Aarna takes the newspaper from her father's hand, a pout on her face as she places the plate on his hand. "Pehle nashta."
(Breakfast first.)

Aarna brings out breakfast for everyone, when handing food to her brother, she taps his head lightly. "Abh toh Bhagwan hi tumhe pass krwa sakte hai."
(Only God can help you pass now.)

Giggling she walks over to sit with her father, giving him a cheeky smile when he takes a Cadbury from his pocket and placing it on her plate. Varsha sits in front of the two, the sunlight reflecting against her shiny hair as she bates a bite of her breakfast.

"So this friend of yours. Yeh wahi hai naa, the one you grew up with pr shaadi ke baad lost touch?"
(So this friend of yours, it's the same one that you grew up with, but lost touch after getting married?)

Aarna a watches her mother smile, the most genuine one she's seen in a while. Feeling happy for her mother, Aarna shows interest in the conversation. "Toh phirse kaise aaye? Touch mein?"
(So how did you guys get back in touch?)

Varsha's smile doesn't fade, in fact it grows as she looks at her daughter. "Tumhari Nani se Milne aayi thi Sneha, pichle saal. So, we got back in touch."
(She came to meet your Nani last year.)

Varsha continues to tell her family about Sneha and her family and how happy she is for her and how far she's come.
"She has two sons. Her younger one in studying business and her older one is the CEO in his father's company. They're looking for a bride for him."

Fear fills Aarna, an unsettling feeling she's become used to lately. She looks away, zones out of the conversation, looks down at her plate.
She thinks about how her mother has been focused on just one thing lately, and she worries that this time her mother may be successful in getting her married.

Nirvaan and Gayatri feel the happy, radiating energy leave Aarna as she eats her breakfast. Her brother puts the book away and takes the plates from everyone. With a quick change of clothes. Atharva walks out ready for the day.

It's Sunday, so he is going to his mother school to tutor. Not wanting to stay home, Aarna ells her father that she'll like to join her brother for the day.

The morning glory slowly fades away as the sun rays become gentle, taking mercy on the melting snow. Fixing her embroidered tote bag on her shoulder, she drops a kiss on her father's head before walking out. Gayatri smiles at her grand-children as they hurry out.