Ch-2 ~~ Gauri 💫

|| इस लिये तुझसे प्यार करूं
के तू एक बादल आवारा
जनम जनम से हूँ साथ तेरे
के नाम मेरा जल की धारा.... ||

Author Pov:

A girl was shouting on customers to get aside in order to clear the way who were bustling around the shop asking for various colors bangels demanded by their loved ones at home.

An old lady was walking towards her shop with her 2yrs old toddler grandson Yash unknown to her who was eager to have his wrists filled with small bangles made by Gauri di only after their worship in nearby temple as it was kind of ritual for them.

The bangel's shop was small just occupying required items only. Evening street lights were illuminating the interior because the electricity connection was not working properly today in the village, also the opening timing's of the shop was short simply from 5 to 7pm daily to aid financially in the family hence, she was managing in low light.

Yash walked towards her barely managing his swayed steps one by one with the help of his "Dadi maa". He called "Goi di! Goi di!.. ban..bang..ban..peawz" showing his small little chubby wrist to her.

Gauri turned & immediately got happy as she was expecting their visit today. She gestured the old lady to sit on nearby chair comfortably for sometime as it was hard to communicate with them in this crowd around her shop. She quickly completed all the orders of customers, gave them their bangle-sets and waved them bye.

"Namaste Amma!" She joined her hands together in front of her greeting the old lady. Lady blessed her "Jeeti raho bitiya.", then they heard incomprehensible voice again "Goi di!..."

"Ohh.. Yashu!.. you are here too. You want bangles?" She asked. Toddler nodded way too enthusiastically showing her, his wrists again.

She laughed after watching Yash's antics and turned back going inside the shop to fetch Yash's favourite pair of little Mogra flower bangles with addition of rose in middle (kind of Kada), one for each wrists as it was not safe to wear glass bangles for him. She made him wear it delicately.

Yash squealed in happiness after wearing bangles, shook his hands in air to his heart content. After his play he made grabby hands towards her to pick him up. He wanted to give her reward as usual.

She picked him up in lap, he instantly gave her a sloppy peck on her right cheek as it was his way to give her rewards for bangles on usual basis. Both women laughed noticing his affection then he laughed too together as it seems their group activity to him.

A devotional song was heard to all of them from the temple in background as it was almost 7pm - the time for evening aarti as well as shop closing along with Gauri's departure to home after aarti.

"राधे-कृष्ण की ज्योति अलौकिक

तीनों लोक में छाए रही है"

"Ari maiya!.. aaj to mare.. yaha dukan badhane ka time ho gaya aur hum khi khi kar rahe h... Maa ghar par intezaar kar rahi hongi humara aur hamare prabhu bhi yaad kar rahe h hume." She remarked, quickly shifting Yash back to his Dadi maa safely from her lap.

"भक्ति विवश एक प्रेम पुजारिन

फिर भी दीप जलाए रही है"

She wished them bye and gave a kiss to Yash on his tiny nose. She put all the items on place inside the shop and hurriedly closed it with mechanical perfection ensuring that everything was on the expected place and fine.

She headed towards the temple locking the shop. She washed her legs, hands & put the scarf on her head. She started lip syncing the song.

"कृष्ण को गोकुल से, राधे को"

Gauri rang the temple bell. She stood in front of the Radha-Krishna idol by joining her hands together. She sang the full song with whole devotion along with others now.

"कृष्ण को गोकुल से, राधे को

बरसाने से बुलाए रही है

दोनों करो स्वीकार कृपा कर

जोगन आरती गाए रही है

दोनों करो स्वीकार कृपा कर

जोगन आरती गाए रही है............."

When aarti was done, she took the aarti by rotating his both palms then touched her eyes and move it over head. Pandit ji also blessed and gave her prasad afterwards as she was a frequent visitor here, known to most of the people.

She came back to home, announcing her presence "Maa! Maa!". Placing the shop's keys on the hook she moved forward "Maa is not at home didu." said her 17 yrs. old younger sister Keshavi who has completed her 12th two months before.

"Ok Keshu... come let's complete all remaining household chores then I'll tell you today's happenings of college & shop in our room."

They both moved to kitchen, finished all the tasks at hand. Their family came to have dinner. After dinner all headed to their respective rooms.

"Didu, jaldi se hume bataiye ke aaj kya kya hua" Keshavi said excitedly like a little child.

"Haan meri Keshu, let me just change my clothes then I'll be here to talk with you." saying it Gauri moved to washroom.

As said both sisters talked with each other till they both slipped to their slumber for today in hope of a new upcoming day with new energy & adventure holding themselves close on large cot.