When Mrinali came out of her room, she saw Amma and Cheeku sitting in the courtyard. She went up to them and said to Amma,
“Amma, I am going to the temple and to see the Ganga aarti with Kumud. I’ll be back by 7.”
Amma replied, “Okay,”and went back to her room. Seeing her walk away like that, Mrinali asked Cheeku what was wrong. Cheeku told her everything that had just happened.
Mrinali said nothing in response and left for Kumud’s house.
Tripathi Niwas
(Mrinali knocks on the door. Kumud’s mother, Mrs. Radha Tripathi, opens it.)
Radha ji:
"Arre Mrinali bitiya! Aao andar aao?"
("Hey Mrinali dear! Come inside, come in!")
Mrinali (smiling while walking in):
"Namaste aunty ji, kaisi hain aap? Aur uncle kaise hain?"
("Namaste aunty ji, how are you? And how’s uncle?")
Radha ji (smiling):
"Khush raho beta, main toh theek hoon. Tumhare uncle bhi theek hain, andar hain apni kitaabon ke saath baithe hain."
("Bless you, child. I’m fine. Your uncle’s fine too—he’s sitting inside with his books.")
Radha ji makes Mrinali sit on the sofa and goes to the kitchen to bring her water. While she returns with the glass, Kumud comes rushing down the stairs.
Kumud (in a hurry):
"Mummy! Aapne meri red wali kurti dekhi kya? Jaldi se dhoond do, Mrinali aati hi hogi!"
("Mummy! Have you seen my red kurti? Please find it quickly, Mrinali must be about to arrive!")
Radha ji:
"Aati hi hogi nahi, aa gayi. Mrinali tumhari tarah late-lateef thodi hai."
("She’s not ‘about to come’, she’s already here. Mrinali isn’t late like you!")
Kumud (laughing):
"Arre tum aa gayi Mrinali! Hume do minute do, hum tayyar ho kar aate hain."
("Oh, you’re here Mrinali! Give me two minutes, I’ll be ready.")
Mrinali (smiling):
"Haan haan, koi baat nahi. Abhi time hai, tum araam se tayyar ho jao."
("Yeah, no problem. There’s still time, you can get ready calmly.")
Kumud (turning to Radha ji):
"Mummy, jaldi se kurti dhoond do please!"
("Mummy, please find the kurti quickly!")
Radha ji:
"Tumhe sab kuch time par milta hi kahan hai? Khud ka room hote hue bhi nahi milraha,Dhoondhne ke liye aise keh rahi ho jaise main tumhari naukrani hoon! Bilkul apne papa par gai ho"
("You never find anything on time, even with your own room! And you're asking me like I’m your maid. Just like your father!")
Kumud (laughing):
"Toh kya karoon mummy? Aap hi toh kehti ho ki main aapki rani bitiya hoon!"
("So what can I do, mummy? You’re the one who calls me your princess!")
Mrinali smiles hearing their conversation. At that moment, Kumud’s father, Keshav Tripathi, enters the living room with his books, having overheard everything.
Keshav ji (placing books down):
"Arre main kahaan beech mein aa gaya! Rani bitiya ko toh subah se hi maa-beti mil kar sajate hain! Mrinali, dekh rahi ho na yeh drama?"
("Oh, what did I do? These two have been dolling up princess daughter since morning! Mrinali, you seeing this drama?")
Mrinali (laughing):
"Ji uncle, bahut hi mazedaar hai aap logon ka ghar. Ekdam filmy!"
("Yes, uncle! Your home is so entertaining—just like a movie!")
Radha ji (playfully turning around):
"Filmy toh tumhare uncle hain! Jab dekho Kumud ki tarafdaari karte hain!"
("The real drama king is your uncle—always taking Kumud’s side!")
Keshav ji (mockingly raising nose):
"Ab beti meri hai, tumhari tarah daantna toh aata nahi mujhe!"
("Well, she is my daughter—I don’t know how to scold like you!")
Kumud (delighted):
"Love you papa!"
Keshav ji (smiling):
"Love you too beta!"
Radha ji (pretending to be angry):
"Haan haan, main hi toh buri hoon!"
("Yeah yeah, I’m always the villain here!")
Keshav ji (teasingly):
"Arre naraz mat ho, sabse pehle tumhi ko bola tha love you, fir se bol dete hain! Beti se kya jalan. I love you Radha ji!"
("Hey don’t be mad, I said 'love you' to you first! I’ll say it again. Why be jealous of our daughter? I love you, Radha ji!")
Radha ji (blushing):
"Kya aap bhi, bachchon ke saamne!"
("Oh stop, what are you doing in front of the kids!)
All three burst out laughing and Mrinali smiles seeing their sweet bonding.
Mrinali (softly):
"Aap teenon ko dekhkar lagta hai jaise pyaar, takraar aur apnapan ek hi chhat ke neeche rehna seekh gaye ho."
("Looking at you three, it feels like love, arguments, and togetherness have learned to live under one roof.")
They all smile at Mrinali’s words. Radha ji goes to help Kumud get ready, and Keshav ji starts talking to Mrinali about her studies.
A little while later, Kumud comes down, ready, and leaves with Mrinali after bidding her parents goodbye for temple and Ganga aarti.
After visiting the temple, the Ganga aarti was to begin at 6:30 PM.
At the ghat, the aarti has begun. The light from the oil lamps is shimmering on the waves of the Ganges. The air resonates with the sound of bells and chants. Kumud and Mrinali are sitting together on the steps. Their faces are lit with the glow of the aarti flame. As the aarti begins, Mrinali stands with folded hands in reverence, while Kumud watches the aarti in awe.
The aarti plates sway, and the diyas are gently floated into the river. A calm, devotional moment.
After the aarti, the crowd at the ghat thins out. A cool breeze flows by the Ganges. Kumud and Mrinali walk home together.
While walking, Kumud says to Mrinali:
“Tumhari Malini didi to din-ba-din aur bigadti ja rahi hai. Uncle-aunty kuch kehte kyun nahi?”
("Your Malini didi is getting worse by the day. Why don’t uncle and aunty say anything to her?")
Mrinali smiles faintly, then responds seriously:
“Kumud, aisa kyun keh rahi ho? Woh badi hai, apne tareeke se cheezen sambhal rahi hai. Humein har baar uska galat matlab nahi nikaalna chahiye.”
("Kumud, why are you saying that? She’s older, she’s handling things in her own way. We shouldn’t always take it the wrong way.")
Kumud stays quiet for a moment, then nods and says:
“Tumse toh kuch kehna hi bekaar hai, tumhe toh sab sahi lagta hai… Humne unhe kisi ladke ke saath dekha tha. Ladke ki shakal toh nahi dekhi, par hamara mann keh raha hai kuch gadbad hone wali hai।”
("It’s pointless talking to you, you think everything’s okay… We saw her with some guy. Couldn’t see his face, but I have a feeling something’s not right.")
Mrinali’s steps halt after hearing this. After a pause, she says,
"Shayad koi dost hoga unka… Tum bhi na zyada hi soch rahi ho।"
("Maybe he was just a friend… You’re overthinking it.")
Kumud replies:
“Kaash jaisa tum keh rahi ho waisa hi ho।”
("Hope it’s just like you said.")
Then they drop the topic and continue walking. Their pace is slow, but their hearts carry a new worry.
When they reach home, Mrinali sees Amma and Papa talking, and Cheeku using the phone. Mrinali quietly goes into the kitchen to help her mother.
By the time dinner is ready, Malini also arrives home, cheerfully after shopping. Seeing her, Ketki ji tells her to wash up and come for dinner. Malini takes her bags and heads to her room.
dinner time, Malini seems happier than usual. Seeing her so cheerful, Cheeku asks,
"Kya baat hai didi, aaj badi khush lag rahi ho?"
("What’s up didi, you look really happy today?")
Malini (snobbishly):
"Kyun, hum khush nahi ho sakte? Waise bhi aaj shopping karke maza aa gaya, isiliye khush hain. Waise bhi tumko kab se hamari khushi se farak padne laga?"
("Why? Can’t I be happy? Had fun shopping today, that’s why. And since when do you care about my happiness?")
Cheeku:
"Bilkul ho sakti ho khush, lekin yeh shopping wali khushi nahi lag rahi na!"
("Of course you can be happy. But this doesn’t seem like ‘shopping happiness’!")
Malini ignores him.
Cheeku:
"Yeh khushi toh aisi hai jaise tum shaadi karne wali ho… kya didi, bhaagne ka plan hai kya?"
("This happiness feels like you’re about to get married… didi, are you planning to run away?")
Everyone stops eating. Malini becomes uncomfortable. Before Sharma ji could say anything in anger, Mrinali interrupts sharply:
"Cheeku, yeh kaisi baatein kar rahe ho didi se? Chup chaap apna khana khao!"
("Cheeku, what kind of talk is this with your didi? Eat your food quietly!")
Seeing Mrinali upset, Cheeku quickly apologizes:
"Sorry didi, hum toh mazak kar rahe the. Sorry Malini didi."
("Sorry didi, I was just joking. Sorry Malini didi.")
Seeing Chiku apologize, Malini say it's ok and quietly continued eating. Sharma ji also calmed down, and everyone resumed their dinner—except Amma ji, who mumbled to herself while making a face:
"Ka galat bol diye hamar Chikuwa? Ee ka ke lakshan ta dekh ke lagat ba ki aisan bhaagi, ki seedha shaadi ke mandap pe miliye!"
("What wrong did my Chikuwa say? The way she's acting, it seems like she’ll straight-up elope and meet us at the wedding altar!")
*********
That’s all for today. Tonight or tomorrow, something explosive is going to happen at the Sharma residence.
Stay tuned with my story — Mrinali.**
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