Never a daughter been recognized to sit where I sit right now. I'm wearing a plain white Kurti, yet a center of attraction.
Dhiraj is assigned to ensure my safety and indeed he can't interdict my misery. Papa is sitting beside me performing the rituals, which I am instructed to do as well.
Agni Kund demands for Ahuti as Pandit Ji chants mantras. The coldness borrows itself from the Ganga river, which is merely steps away from me. I will have to let go of my mother's remaining in that very river.
How shall I let it go?
As the tone of the Pandit Ji gets closer to the moment of the closure, my pulse increments. I can not breathe properly!
I'm reminded of the days I've spent with my mother. Her smile echoes in my head, her sweet, and gentle voice is turning into a mimic, that it's hurting my head now!
The smell of burning woods soaked in Ghee, and the freshness of yellow marigolds, press my head to dizziness.
I watch my sister tearing up as she sits afar, with a bunch of guards defending her weak figure. The pain is oozing out from her eyes. Yet to occur to me.
The somehow soothing morning of Haridwar, known as the gateway to God, is building a knot of discomfort inside my stomach.
"You shall skim your head after!" Pandit Ji reports it to my father. I can't polish my vision to figure out what is arising in front of me. My breaths unsettle more and more!
Where is she? I'm looking for my mother!
I'm nearly on the bridge of panic when I hear my Papa. "Are you alright, child?" Breath! I recite it to myself. "Yes! Yes, Papa!" I exhale.
My eyes are witnessing my mother taking off for the last time, streaming with the coldness of the Ganga. That's all I had of her! And it's about discovering the conclusion.
Will she be at peace?
"She's in peace now, beta!" My father claims as we both feel the water striking the shore and up to our knees.
Dhiraj helps me step out from the water, gripping my hand tighter to inform his presence. His silvery kurta rushes in the air, narrating the upsetting weather around us.
Maybe, even the sky is crying today!
"It looks like it'll rain soon. We should leave at once!" He implies. "Yes, we should!" I agree.
I'm sitting in a separate car from my father and sister. I have to leave for Mr. Chatterjee's party at 8 pm. Thus, Dhiraj shows no delay and drives us to our house.
With our four black cars, three of us in two separate, and two filled with our bodyguards, take our leave. I watch the Ganga river one last time.
I'm never coming back here again!
It's 3 pm. I've spent my time silently in my room since I came back from Ganga Tatt. Neither my sister nor father has dared to step out from theirs as well.
Past our sorrow, I informed my father. "It's time father, I'm leaving for Delhi!"
"I wish success for you on your first business meeting!" He said, comforting me with a warm hug.
And now, it's time I meet my sister. We haven't talked since the bad news.
I inhale sharply as I step inside after knocking for a few seconds. "Nirja!" I pronounce. She has tears coming down her jaw. Her brown skin, a lighter tone than mine, and her black eyes opposite mine have an unfamiliar sight today. Her long, black, frizzy hair is hiding her face from me.
She wipes her tears away at my sight and stands tall from the window she was sitting nearby.
"Are you alright?" I ask as she invites me to sit with her. "Are you leaving for Delhi?" She asks as I softly nod. "Yes!"
"When will you come back?"
"In two days, I suppose?"
Our conversation remains short, highlighting the silence between us. The death in our family has made my chirpy sister so quiet. Which is heartbreaking!
"I have decided something!" She booms. My eyes are enough to ask her. What? "I'll move to Delhi after Preta-karma."
Her decision is unpredictable, and bothersome for me. But I show her no negligence. "Then, I'll arrange everything in our Delhi house, to your comfort!" I softly speak, agreeing with her decision half-heartedly.
I am about to step out when she asks me another question, freezing my feet two steps apart from the door. "Didi, do you think she's at peace now?"
My father is standing at the entrance of our house, and my sister's eyes stare at me through her window. It reminds me of my speechlessness when she asked me that question. I look up at her to bold myself in the hunt for an answer.
I will find the answer to your question, sister!
It was a long drive and a long waiting hour in my hotel room. I couldn't dare to unbolt the doors of our house, that we own here as well.
Dhiraj unlocks the door of my car, helping me step out. His black tuxedo is a fine match for the party, as well as my red dress.
I'm not very comfortable. Flourishing myself on a day like this. May God never does this to even my enemies!
The nameplate boldly says, Mr. Narayan Chatterjee. "So, this is the farmhouse?" Dhiraj nods, as impressed as I am.
The enormous white bungalow indeed has an amazing welcome. Guards are courting guests to the hotspot of the day.
Same as others, we are being guided by the guards. His physic is impressive; tall, muscular, and disciplined. The politician has spent a lot on them! What a showoff!
During our brief visit to the courtyard, many familiar faces welcome me with their pity. They try hard to be sorrowful and generous towards me. But they are not mournful enough for me to believe them! Yet I show gratitude!
Female dancers, a bar, food court, decoration, and a fine sitting arrangement. This politician has left nothing to question.
The open garden area, well guarded, and high-profile guests are enough to blur anyone's eyes. But I don't even know him and from what I've learned, never trust a politician.
"Keep your eyes open. I do not trust this man!" I warn Dhiraj. I keep my posture maintained, well aware that Mr. Chatterjee can approach me at any moment. I still do not see him anywhere yet or a person who looks cunning, enough.
Twenty minutes into the party and nothing has passed yet. I see a middle age man welcoming everyone, a cunning smile appears to be his weapon. He's wearing a typical politician attire. Kurta and Sadri fit perfectly to his fuller shape.
He's smart with his way, keeping the conversation short. He establishes an intimate connection through his soft touch on their shoulders; respectful to women and quirky to men.
It's him!
I convey this information to Dhiraj as he asks. "You learned all this through a mere observation?" I give him a look of unbelievability for his obliviousness as I notice a female approaching our way.
Her hips sway with the soft jazz music, playing now. Her big catty eyes dig deep into our faces. Her big grin follows both me and Dhiraj as she greets us both in her squeaky voice.
She shows a friendly side, greeting me and Dhiraj, but her keen interest is in him. Her body language keeps changing as she tries to build an eye connection with Dhiraj and laughs at his meaningless jokes. Just then, I notice Mr. Chatterjee passing me a glance.
His glass is empty. The waiter just passed by him, yet he didn't refill his glass, nor did he got rid of the empty one.
There's rustle around him, he's ignoring the man who's talking. And I'm suddenly crowded!
It's a trap!
When the female is distracted by the waiter, I slip this information into Dhiraj's ear. As we both panic into an alert mode!