In her sleep Riya was dreaming.
" What wrong I ever did to you didi( elder sister)? Why did you spoil my life?"
Gunjan was sobbing bitterly. A cat like beauty stood in front of her. She looked satisfied and happy.
" You took him away you witch. Srikant was mine. But he left me. Because you were pure. Huuh", she scoffed.
" I , I..", Gunjan looked at her battered body. King had ravished her in front of his soldiers.
" My Mangalsootra, my vermillion ", cried the girl.
Her husband wiped off her vermillion and snatched away her Mangalsootra.
"Chh chh chh chh", mocked Reshma
." Fallen woman Prepare yourself for the life of a consort", she smirked and said.
She clapped. A couple of girls arrived.
" Meet Chandbai", she said. " Get her ready for her first dance".
She walked away swaying her hips leaving Gunjan in her misery.
" NO", cried Riya. " DON'T TOUCH ME..I AM NOT A COURTESAN.PLEASE", she pleaded.
Tears came out of her eyes.
" Riya", cried Vicky.
" I am your wife Sahib", she cried. " Let me be your slave for life. Take another wife if you want. Don't let other men look at me", Riya was sobbing.
A deep pain hit Srikant. " Gunjan", said his tortured soul
" Reshma didi why did you do it"?
Riya was still crying. Vikram engulfed her.
" Riya", he softly whispered in her ears.
" Good morning little love. Wake up".
Her green eyes fluttered open.
" Sahib", she cried.
" Shhh bad dream", he said. " All is fine".
She nodded.And washed her face.
After breakfast he dropped her home.
But Riya was in turmoil. What exactly happened to her? The temple. Yes that is where she will find her answers.
Dipti and Vinod accompanied her.
" I wish to pray for a child", she said shyly.
They reached the temple. Vinod and Dipti tied their bell.They all performed puja. And then the couple left. Riya couldn't. She should find pundit Agnisharma. She found him under the tree cleaning the idol. She quietly joined him.
" I see you have questions again Gunjan", said the ascetic.
" I always bother you", she replied politely. " I am sorry."
He smiled gently.
" It does not bother me", he said.
" I heard the devil", she said.
He looked at her.
" Vicky feels it too".
" He is the leader who will lead the warriors of virtue", said Agni. " And you are his guiding light". You both need to know and feel yoour enemy".
She nodded.
" Its the king right. The one on the side of devil", she asked.
" You are right", he said.
" And the monster"?
Agni told him the story of Aditi and the two brothers.
" Ohhh", she halted. " In Dasavtar temple someone called for Aditi", she looked enquiringly.
Agni looked at her keenly.
Then he said
" It means Gunjan Aditi waits for justice too. And you will give it to her".
" Why me", she asked.
" Because the playright sits right above us", he said. " And HE decides to right the wrong we mortals did".
She showed him the wooden Chakra.
" Vicky was holding this as he came to rescue me. It scared the monster."
" The protector blessed him", said Agni nodding.
" That's what I thought", she said. " Punditji were you a part of m.my.. I mean Gunjan's story. Can you tell me about a woman who wronged her"?
" I was not a part child. I was just an observer. I could not change her fate at all", he said sadly. "We all are weak when it comes to FATE. And I can tell you. But its not my story. Its yours and his. Srikant should be the one telling you". Agni remained quiet.
At that time a girl came walking towards them.
" Pranam Punditji ", she said maliciously.
" May Shiva bless you", said Agni.
" Hello Riya", said Shalini.
" Oh Shalini", Riya said cheerfully. " Were you out of town"?
" Dance tour", shrugged the other girl.
Riya nodded.
" I would like to interview you if you don't mind", she said.
" Of course", said Shalini. " I photograph good on right side", she said.
Riya's smile widened.
" Sure will remember that".she said giggling.
" So whats this interview all about", asked Shalini polishing her nails.
" Your work, your life, your family", said Riya. " I can get you a feature in magazine too". Riya knew Laxmi was managing one.
" Somehow you don't look like a page 3 journalist to me darling", said Shalini. " Well no offense ".
" None taken", said Riya. " I am a research student in history", she said. " I am researching Deepjyoti palace".
" Are you now", Shalini's eyes twinkled.
" Second chances are hard to come by", they both heard a voice. It was Agni who spoke.
" What does it mean punditji", asked Riya.
" It means a curse can be redeemed but only when you surrender the sin in your heart to lord".
" Are you speaking about Srikant's curse", asked Riya. Shalini flinched hearing that name.
" We are getting married punditji but sometimes he is the love of my life and sometimes his face overlaps with that of my tormentor", said Riya.
" As if both of them are one and the same", said Shalini haughtily. " Can you imagine", she smiled deviously.
Shalini thought..
SO YOU ARE MARRYING HER AGAIN MY BAANKE( HANDSOME MAN). LETS SEE IF YOU CAN.
" Riya", came a voice.
They all turned. A young man was walking towards them. Riya's face lit up.
" Vicky", she called him waving her hand.
Shalini froze on her spot staring at him.
Vicky was giving Riya a wide smile. She ran to him. He hugged her tightly. He did not even glanced at Shalini. Her eyes smarted.
" Who told you I was here", asked Riya.
" I am not a stalker", he replied. " I came to meet punditji". He touchedAgni's feet.
" Pranam punditji".
" May Shiva bless you".
Riya remembered Shalini.
" Ohh I forgot to introduce you to my new friend Shalini", she said.
It was then he looked at her. At first his eyes widened in surprise. And then they narrowed with anger.😡 He stared in anger without speaking whereas she smiled deviously batting her eyes at him.
" Vicky", Riya shook him. " Say hello".
He did not.
Shalini moved forward.
" Ohh its fine", she brushed Riya off.
" Hello Mr. Oberoi", she said to him in a lazy s*xy voice. " Its been a long time right".
His eyes turned stormy. 🌬🌫
THE WIND BLEW STRONGLY.
Shalini touched his arm.
" I miss you", she whispered. " You stopped coming to me han", she winked.
THIS WAS IT FOR SRIKANT.
He pushed her violently. She fell far away. He floated to her. And took her neck in a strong grip. The entire atmosphere turned chilly and gloomy . His eyes glowed with blue fire. ❄❄ The wind became a storm 🌪Thunders shook the area⚡⚡. Shalini started suffocating.
" Srikant stop", said Agni.
But as if he could not listen.
Shalini was wriggling with lack of breath. But Vikram's grip just tightened.
Riya lost her demeanor for a minute. Shalini's legs were giving away now.
" NO VICKY. STOP", screamed Riya.
He did not.
" Sahib", she said as he looked at her. " For me for your Gunjan. If you love me. Let her go. Don't spoil our future. Please", begged Riya.
His grip loosened and he just threw her. She fell on the ground hiccuping as her eyes turned red. Vikram did not spare her a glance. He went to a nearby tap and washed his hands.Then he hugged Riya closing his eyes and feeling her vitality again. After some time he opened them. The storm subsided.
But the chill was still present in his eyes as he looked at Shalini.
" You disgust me Reshma. You not only have a filthy body but also have a rotten soul. Neither your despicable profession nor the malicious feeling in your heart went away. Keep your filthy self away from me".
" I was not filthy when we spend those lovely nights in my bed", she said crying.
" Really", he scoffed. " And how many men have the pleasure of doing same. I am not the only lucky one", he said insulting her.
" I I am I was your..", she tried to say.
" You were a courtesan, a fallen woman, a piece of meat I tasted . You were okay early on until I realised what germs you carry", he said.
" I.I .. I have germs..", she sobbed.
" A million", he said."Keep yourself a hundred feet away from me RESHMA", he said. " I belong to Gunjan mind body and soul. Hell will freeze over before I let you near me again".
He pulled Riya to him and touched Agni's feet.
" Pranam punditji ", he said as he left with her.
Riya looked behind. Shalini has fallen on the ground. Her body was shivering. She was wailing her hearts and eyes out. Vikram did not care. He put Riya safely in car and drove off..
Agni took pity on the girl. Even fallen ones are Shiva's children. He offered her water and made her sit on a bench. She gulped the water.
Agni then said,
" Stop provoking him Reshma. There are matters bigger than your ego in this world."
" Ego", she said weakly. " Have you ever been in love Pundit Agnisharma. With a mortal".
" Shiva chose the ascetic life for me", he answered.
" Then you don't get my plight. The plight of one sided love".
" I knew he was married and I was ready to share him. But I was supposed to be his first priority",she said.
" Control yourself", said Agni.
" I can't", she said. " I am human too. I loved him but I was just a body to him. Interchangeable. He broke my heart💔💔"
" I am sorry for you. But Gunjan was still innocent. Involving her in your vendetta earned you the ire of Shiva and His curse".
" What shall I do now"?
She did not look like a powerful courtesan but a lost girl to Agni.
" Make right choices Reshma", he said.
" May Shiva guides you".
Next day
Shalini was preparing the morning tea as her bell rang.
She opened the door in hurry. She was just wearing a s*xy night gown.
The person in front of her stunned her.
" May I come in", asked Riya politely.
" To this filth", she pointed to herself. " Aren't you afraid of germs?"
" I am sorry for what Vicky said", Riya looked guilty." He crossed a line".
Gunjan was not guilty. She was.So she made a right choice. She chose redemption.
" I too have crossed many lines girl.Come on in", said Shalini.
Riya walked in changing her destiny.