2: Acquainted

"Tell all the florists in Prayagraj to arrange for as many flowers as possible - especially marigolds, in the maximum quantity they can arrange." Khushi narrated to her sub officials in the temple office as they nodded.

"Get all the silver diyas washed properly, I will get the gold ones soon from the temple lockers. And beware, I shall personally count all the diyas and get their authenticity checked. Dae anyone steal or relace them, I will make sure we outcaste them, got it?
Anything else, have I forgotten anything?"

"Khushi ji, you were going to send invitations..."one of the officials said.

"Oh yes! Send the MLAs and MPs of this region a special invitation for the temple mahotsav. The chief minister was also asking about this year's mahotsav, so I will myself go to invite him and his family. Make sure he gets to do a special aarti with his wife. Anything else left?"

"No Khushi ji other all arrangements are done , just those tiered gold lamps and little ornamented idols which you have to........."

"That I know , now please excuse me ..." she said as got up from her chair and left the temple premises.

As she left the officials started talking to each other

"She is so beautiful right , I couldn't help but just keep on looking at her. My mother had asked me yesterday what type of a wife I would like ..... I am going to ask her for someone as beautiful as Maam if not Maam herself." A young official said dreamily looking at Khushi as she elegantly gathered her yellow saree pallu and walked away

"Arre you toh have just come ,you don't know her ......She is more beautiful from her heart than her looks and the food she makes ...yummm..out of the world...but you know what .....no one has any chance on her. A perfect wife who doeant want to be any one s wife."

"What!! Why ?" The younger official stared at her retreating self in awe.

"She was engaged years ago and yet she doesn't want to give up on that alliance ................You know why?" The older official said as he stacked the files.

The younger one was inquisitive to know why.

" That alliance is what makes her what she is today , the heiress to the temple property , its sole surviving owner."

The young official gasped covering his open mouth with his hand .

" What happened about that alliance?"

" Yhat whole family was destroyed .Her fiancé , where he is , dead or alive , only mahadev knows."

"So will a young beauty like her never get married....?"

"Arre she will of course , which woman can live without a husband ....I mean I know that this is modern society and all but come on we all know in the last she does need a man , she cant handle everything as wisely as a man however smart she might be ."

"I completely agree sir." Nodding the two men walked away.

Khushi who had overheard the conversation sarcastically laughed at the situation of this "holy" city.....where the place of worship has a  sort of matriarchal heredity system ......but the men here yet didn't have an ounce of respect for any women .After all what they say is true , this is a male dominated world.

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" Khushi have all the preparations started for the temple mahotsav this year ...we are hosting this after so many years , I want it all to be perfect ...!" Indrani said to Khushi as Khushi handed her cup of tea.

"You can be sure of that maa, it shall be grand this year, like no one has ever witnessed before."

Indrani spat out her tea.

"How did this get cold khushi?"

"Cold? But maa I made it just now and gave it to you....I don't think this might have got so cold by now........"

"How many times have I told you to learn to accept your mistake!"Indrani roared aloud making Khushi sigh and close her eyes.

"I am sorry !" she murmured.

"Khushi , don't take illicit advantage of the rights you are getting .You are the luckiest among the luckiest to have a fate like yours. Don't open your mouth unnecessarily and always accept your fault because you ( pointing towards her ) are at fault."

"Jee maa " Khushi said with her head bowed down as tears brimmed her eyes.

"Now go make me one more tea and Shilpa ! I think I heard the bell ring , go ! See who is it?"

**************

I made sure that the tea remained hot as I took it to maa this time ,in fact I took one more as there must be a guest out. I was very careful that I don't trip on the plaits of my saree. However much I love my saree , I cant help but be scared of the high probability of me tripping on these plaits even after so many years of practice . I looked down and walked towards the hall .I saw that some man in a navy blue suit , his back facing me , was having a conversation with ma. By maa's expression I could say that she was very happy to meet this man , maybe he wanted to give some huge donation to the temple trust .bah! boring alert ! Again I have to pretend , I , the heiress to a temple filled with gold have to pretend , oh how grateful I am !

" Arre Khushi bitiya , come here ,meet him." Maa smiled to me .hadnt it been years since I saw this smile. But alas , this one was a fake smile , yet again.

I turned to have a look at this boring guest expecting some toothy middle aged man who would smile cheaply at me. Instead I was acquainted to Arnav Singh Raizada's smirking self as he checked me out once again.

He is handsome , notoriously , devilishly , maliciously handsome I cant deny that. But why did he come here , following me is he?

Oh let me serve tea to ma before it gets cold and I get scolded ek baar phir.

You make me blush you really do,ASR!
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Hello everybody ......so here I introduced Khushi and what people around her think of her.

Just keep in mind one thing I said sort of matriarchal heredity and not exactly matriarchal heredity.
You shall soon know why I said so.