पल-भर ठहर जाओ, दिल ये सँभल जाए
कैसे तुम्हें रोका करूँ?
मेरी तरफ़ आता हर ग़म फिसल जाए
आँखों में तुम को भरूँ
बिन बोले बातें तुम से करूँ
अगर तुम साथ हो.........
"The Night We Met"— Lord Huron
This song is dedicated to those readers who are not familiar with Hindi.
Har Har Mahadev
Bhowmik Mansion – Night
A gleaming black BMW halted at the entrance of the Bhowmik mansion. The heavily guarded gates swung open immediately, as if the car's very presence was command enough. The vehicle rolled forward slowly, crossing beneath the watchful gaze of the stone lions stationed at the threshold.
This house—each brick seemed to carry stories of the past—of pride, of legacy, and of an unnamed emptiness.
“Bade Malik, hum ghar pahunch gaye hain.”
"We have arrived home, Bade Malik."
At those words, Anurag opened his heavy-lidded eyes. It wasn’t sleep that had gripped him; it was more like an escape—from reality, from memory.
He glanced at his watch. Eleven o'clock. His breath caught just a little—
It was late.
But he had to return. Something had compelled him.
The gatekeeper, who had been waiting silently at the main door, opened the car door without a word and raised a black umbrella above Anurag's head. Anurag simply nodded toward the parking space in silent instruction.
As he stepped out, a sudden gust of cool wind ran over him, and beneath the umbrella, he paused—drawing in a long, uneasy breath.
Since evening, a steady drizzle had persisted, but now the night had taken a wilder form. Thunder cracked in the distance, the rain lashed against the stones, and the silence within the house seemed only to deepen the storm brewing in Anurag's mind.
Before he could ring the bell, the door opened.
Seemantika—one of the house’s oldest and most trusted staff—stood aside quietly. She said nothing, just nodded and stepped away.
Anurag’s eyes went straight to the center of the living room. There she sat.
Ashwini.
The new bride of the Bhowmik house. Eight months into the marriage, and yet she seemed like an outsider.
She was sitting on the stairs, a soft pink shawl wrapped around her—the same one Anurag had gifted her once, long ago. Her eyes, however, were on the glass window, staring at the storm. As if trying to look through it—to see the chaos inside her, reflected in the storm outside.
He knew she had noticed his presence.
Yet, not a flicker of reaction crossed her face.
To announce himself, Anurag cleared his throat gently. But Ashwini remained unmoved. Her face held no softness. No recognition.
Finally, he stepped forward.
"Itni raat ko yahaan kya kar rahi ho?"
"What are you doing here at this hour?"
His voice held concern… and buried beneath it, guilt.
"Aapko kya farak padta hai?"
"Why do you care?"
Her voice was cold. Razor-sharp.
"Tumne dinner kiya? Medicines li?"
"Did you eat dinner? Did you take your medicine?"
"Itni raat ko aap ye poochhne aaye hain? Mujhe kya khilaya, kya pilaya—ye aapko ab jaanne ki zarurat nahi hai."
"You came this late to ask if I’ve eaten? Whether I took my meds? You don’t need to know that anymore."
Anurag said nothing. He just stood there. Still. Silent.
Every word from Ashwini hit like a verdict—each line spoken like a right she had earned through months of silence.
His toes scratched lightly against the floor—subtle, restless.
His body was beginning to show what her voice refused to say.
_______________________________________________________
_________✨
Eight Months Ago
BNB Bank, 2:57 PM
"Madam, did you call for me?"
Ashwini startled at the voice. It was Mr. Basu, her senior. She had been focused on her computer, entering data.
Without looking up, she replied sharply:
"Sir, kitni baar kaha hai, mujhe 'Madam' mat bulaiye. Main aapki beti ke barabar hoon."
"Sir, how many times must I say, don’t call me ‘Madam.’ I’m your daughter’s age."
"Kuch rishton mein umar matter nahi karti, Madam."
"In some relationships, age doesn’t matter, Madam."
She turned her face in mild irritation.
"So you're never going to stop calling me that, are you?"
"Not at all. Here, Madam, take this."
He handed her a file.
Ashwini took it with a grateful expression.
"Thank you, sir. I really needed this. You did it just after one request!"
"Thank you, sir. I really needed this. You did it with just one request!"
"It’s my duty, Madam. No need to thank me."
And with that, he walked out.
Ashwini looked at the clock.
Almost 3:00 PM.
"Nahi, ab aur der nahi kar sakti."
"No, I can’t delay any further."
She began packing her bag. Just then, her phone buzzed.
A message had arrived.
On the screen:
"I am waiting……."
Her heart skipped a beat.
A familiar message. From a familiar person.
And yet, each time it came… it felt heavier than before.
To be continued........
Ruhi🌷
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Har Har Mahadev
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