Eyes narrowed in concentration, Nandini scrupulously studied every line of the training manual she had drafted based on the information provided by her seniors. 

Her nose scrunched up in irritation when she found mistakes. Since Monday morning, she had spotted several cringe-inducing mistakes in her work while proofreading. So she had started to come to work earlier than usual to devote more time for writing as well as reviewing the documents before sending them to the main office.

In the evening, Nandini continued to work for an hour after the others had left. Then she shut down the computer, pushed back the monitor and keyboard on the table, and leaned forward wearily to rest her face on her crossed arms.

She had not been pulled up yet for any errors, but if she continued to be so distracted, she would be taken to task soon.

And if and when that happened, she would have to find a better excuse than the truth that she was struggling to live a normal life at present...because she'd had somehow been split into many different selves on the inside. And those multiple versions of her were taking turns to drive her insane.

There was a Nandini who was sickened by the cruelty and foolishness she'd displayed that afternoon. She shivered to think that he could easily have assumed that she wanted to reconcile with him. The virulent hate and repulsion she'd seen on his face later were proof that he considered it to be a huge lapse in judgement, and she was certain that he would still be castigating himself for...responding to her briefly. But what if - what if he had reacted differently. What would she have done then...

There was a Nandini who felt only gratitude for having gained more priceless moments to treasure for the rest of her life, and who smiled often to herself without knowing why...

A Nandini who focussed her energies on recalling every horrible thing he'd said and done in order to feed her anger and forget her pain momentarily at least, and who felt fury and contempt towards herself for having broken down like a weakling in front of him and clung to him pathetically in spite of the disgusting, sadistic things he'd said earlier.

A Nandini who was still blissfully immersed in those exquisite moments, when his arms had been around her, crushing her to him, and ravishing her lips...and she had held him tighter, pushed by painful desires, as undulating waves of pleasure flowed through her nerves...

A Nandini who had begun to spend more time in front of the mirror, trying to view herself through the eyes of an onlooker, and who had started purchasing beautiful silver-coloured jewellery from tiny roadside shops - dangling earrings, beautiful, delicate necklaces, thin and chunky bangles, and packets of pretty bindis, and was also eager to buy prettier dresses...

A Nandini who remained awake late into the night, feeling a mysterious heaviness and ache in the pit of her stomach and being intensely aware of her body. 

And the dreams were making it so much worse...

Nandini sat back in the chair with a hot face, heart thudding.

Then a deep despair swept through her.

This was the Nandini who was bearing the brunt. She was the most wretched of the lot...being hauled forcefully in one direction and then the other every other minute. She was acutely aware of the disparate versions existing simultaneously within her, but felt helpless at dealing with the emotions being experienced by each of them.

Sometimes, she wasn't any of those Nandinis...and sometimes, she was all of them.

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

Sankatmochan scuttled past a few rooms, and then jumped into one and locked the door. Panting, he quickly took out his phone and started to call up a number. But just as his index finger was about to tap on a name, he paused unsurely.

Was it right to scare Nandini about this before he had any solid proof, Sankatmochan mulled distractedly. She had become a tough woman in many ways over the years, but he could stake his life on the fact that she would be shattered by the mere possibility of another woman coming into Prithvi's life.

And the only evidence he had about a threat to her love was that Prithvi, who once couldn't speak to a girl without saying insulting and hurtful things, had talked nicely with a young lady, joked with her and had a pet-name for her.

With his mind racing, Sankatmochan looked absently around the room. It had a large billiards table, and a well-stocked bar by the corner, and several comfortable chairs arranged tastefully. His eyes longingly dwelled on the beautiful bottles of alcohol and he smacked his lips. Then he shook his head violently with a whirring sound. He had to focus...

Turning his back on the bar, he looked at the door and tried to think more calmly.

He did not want to hurt Nandini's feelings needlessly. So he had to ponder seriously if it was worth scaring her about this.

He had known about Prithvi having a good group of friends. If there was something more to Prithvi's relationships with the girls in the group, he would have gotten a hint about it from Sumer Singh. He'd felt so shocked only because he'd rarely heard Prithvi speak courteously to women, not even Nandini. The only exceptions had been the queen, Rajeshwari, Sarojini maa, and Kadambari.

But if he could view the conversation without colouring it with the past, hadn't it just been a simple and harmless talk between two friends? And Nandini had male friends too, didn't she? Young people these days had friends of both sexes. It was natural.

And if Prithvi had learnt to talk well to women, it would be good for Nandini too once they were back together, Sankatmochan thought with growing enthusiasm.

And they would get back together, he swore with a manic glitter in his eyes.

In his mind, Prithvi and Nandini's bond held an otherworldly status. For him, their relationship was sacred...divinely ordained.

Their paths had diverged momentarily, that was all. And it was okay if they travelled alone for some more time. The wounds were deep, and healing would take time. But neither of them would be able to escape their destiny for long.

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

Prithvi glanced up at the door and frowned on seeing a plump face peeking in anxiously through the door.

"Go away, Mochi," he said irately.

Gulping, Sankatmochan hurried into the room while scratching his head and meekly saying, "I wanted to apologise to you."

Prithvi looked at him unsmilingly.

"I know it was an overreaction," Sankatmochan said morosely. "But I only got upset because - because there is a picture in my head, and I need it to stay intact," he bewailed in real despair.

A faint pity appeared in Prithvi's eyes. After some seconds, he rose and walked around the table, and gave a playful rap on his friend's head on the way to the door. "Come, let's go explore this place."

Baffled, and then thrilled, Sankatmochan limped quickly after him, enormously thankful that he had been forgiven.

"Really? Yes! That's more like it," he crowed happily. "You know...I thought about it seriously. Why shouldn't you have female friends. Everyone has friends of both genders these days," he said wisely while walking out the door that was being held open by Prithvi. "Nandini too has male friends. And I know they are good men, and they care deeply for her. And if this Grimy woman – "

Sankatmochan hollered as a sharp thump nearly knocked his head off his shoulders.

When the world around him finally stopped spinning, he gaped at his friend while holding his head and indignantly asked, "Why did you do that?"

"Wasp," Prithvi said seriously.

Sankatmochan stared at his friend suspiciously while vigorously rubbing the back of his head. This was the first major hit he'd received from this new version of Prithvi, and it had been very familiar to the ones he'd received abundantly back in the olden days when he had routinely crossed lines while talking about women. And he'd received it just when he'd referred to the woman named Grimy...

"That's the same look my brother gives me when he thinks I'm lying," Prithvi noted with interest.

"Indrajit is not your brother, I am," Sankatmochan yelled, forgetting what he'd been thinking about. "He is being nice to you only because he knows there are more people on your side now. And he knows he will not be spared if he harms you. But he's just waiting for the right chance. I know he is," he nodded malevolently.

"Yeah, yeah," Prithvi said disinterestedly, and put an arm affectionately around his friend's neck. "Now let's find that murderous peacock and teach it a lesson."

Sankatmochan yelled in glee at the idea. "What are we going to do? Are we going to kill it? No, that would be wrong, I suppose," he conceded grudgingly. "But we could tie its ugly feet to a tree and watch it go round and round for hours. Or we could encourage its girlfriend to mate with a better-looking peacock. Or the guards could hold that creature, and you could box its face," he imagined enthusiastically, punching the air with his fists.

Prithvi stared at his friend. "Thanks for that chilling tour of the fully functioning lunatic asylum in your head. Unfortunately, my violence is reserved for males of my own species."

"Five or ten strong blows won't cause much harm," Sankatmochan insisted.

"I'll keep that in mind the next time you get on my nerves," Prithvi assured. "But what I have in mind for the peacock is a lot more lethal – it's going to be a dance-off, Mochi."

Sankatmochan roared with laughter. Whatever else might have changed...his best friend was still that same funny little boy he remembered from their childhood...

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

Sumer Singh entered the large, aesthetically designed living room of the mansion. It was chilly, but the thick sweater helped him feel comfortable. He sat down tiredly on the lushly upholstered sofa, and was soon absorbed in unpleasant contemplations.

He jumped slightly when someone dropped down on an adjacent armchair a few minutes later.

"You look disappointed. Were you expecting someone shorter, older and of a different gender?" Prithvi asked with a grin.

Sumer Singh looked at him sternly.

"No scolding? You're more worried than I'd thought," Prithvi deduced thoughtfully.

"I'm not worried," Sumer Singh denied feebly.

"Baba, throughout dinner, you looked like you were about to be called into the dentist's office," Prithvi said dryly. "So, tell me whatever bad news you have, and then I have to leave for the stable."

"You're going riding at this time?" Sumer Singh asked with a touch of unease.

"There's enough moonlight," Prithvi said unconcernedly.

"At least promise me you will stick to the trail."

"I promise to think about it very seriously," Prithvi said solemnly, and grinned at Sumer Singh's expression. Then to forestall more cautionary notes, he soothingly said, "There is no need for you to be worried. I couldn't have any nasty accidents even if I tried. All of the horses are very obedient," he said glumly.

Forgetting his melancholy briefly, Sumer Singh laughed at the discontent on Prithvi's face. His mind had flashed back to a gloomy 12-year-old boy telling him nearly the same thing with the same disappointment that the horses available for riding were not ferocious, violent beings that had minds of their own.

Prithvi grinned sheepishly, then mildly said, "And now it's time for the blood-curdling news bulletin"

Sumer Singh smiled ruefully. "There are actually a few updates from Devgarh."

"Is Maa okay?" Prithvi asked sharply.

Sumer Singh's heart constricted at the deep concern in the young man's gaze. He should have expected the question since Prithvi had barred him from talking about the inhabitants of the Devgarh palace unless it was about his mother's health – mental and physical. Or unless she had come up with new ideas to make him miserable.

"She is perfectly fine. But she has conveyed some...requests through Rajiv," Sumer Singh said reluctantly, and felt dejected on watching the concern in Prithvi's eyes fade, and coldness take its place.

"The queen mother has issued orders for me, you mean," Prithvi said indifferently.

Sumer Singh bent his head. "The queen has said she expects you to go to the airport to receive your friends whenever they arrive. She believes it is the best way to make them feel that you are glad about their visit. And you will have to spend time with them every day, and you will also only work for a few hours each day until they are here. And she will be sending a portion of your team to this place, so you will have sufficient spare time."

"Fine," Prithvi said briefly. "How's Indrajit?"

Sumer Singh felt puzzled by the unexpected question, but answered, "He's fine too. He has been travelling extensively across the country since some days on the queen's instructions to evaluate the state of the family's properties."

Prithvi shook his head faintly. "I doubt he's okay. He must know I'm back at work. But he hasn't called or sent messages to berate me for desecrating the family name by not treating the rest of humankind as dirt."

"I'm sure he's just busy."

"He's never too busy to give me lectures about the importance of being insufferable and blood-thirsty," Prithvi snorted. "Okay...any other updates?"

"Yes. Kadambari will not be able to come here immediately. There is a family problem that she needs to attend to," Sumer Singh lied. Driven by a strong instinct that Prithvi needed more time alone before her aggressive maternal affection was unleashed on him, he had insisted that she should stay put in Devgarh for some more days, and had also forbidden her from calling up Prithvi. It was very unlike her to accept his diktats, but she had done so this time, albeit with immense reluctance.

"Alright," Prithvi muttered, looking away. He knew Sumer Singh was lying, but he only felt grateful and relieved. And then he felt guilty. But the relief remained stronger. As much as he loved Kadambari, this was not a good time for her to be around him. With the purest of intentions, she would want to know exactly what had happened in Shamli and what he was going through, and she would want him to share his thoughts and emotions with her, which was the last thing he wanted to do.

Sumer Singh felt hesitant to share more disquieting information with Prithvi, but the prince was bound to find out sooner or later.

"There is one more news. The queen is hosting two guests at Devgarh. Mr. and Mrs. Garewal."

Prithvi looked at Sumer Singh with a frown. "That sounds as innocent as a boa constrictor inviting two bunnies for tea," he frowned. He didn't want to know what had prompted his mother to do this, but he had a strong sense he would find out soon.

"Should I have arranged for someone to watch over them?" Sumer Singh asked. It was known within the family that the queen heartily despised the Garewals. But she appeared to have  eventually accepted that they were going to remain a part of Prithvi's life, and had subsequently made efforts to be more polite towards them. Nonetheless, it was odd that she had shown the large-heartedness to invite them to the palace.

"Not necessary," Prithvi dismissed. "By now she knows better than to mess with people I care about."

"That's true," Sumer Singh agreed with a grim smile.

"And what else are you trying not to say, Baba?" he asked drolly.

"There's nothing more," Sumer Singh said hastily.

"There is. And from your expression, I'm guessing it's about the team in Shamli," Prithvi inferred lightly.

Sumer Singh felt too ashamed to meet his gaze.

Five years ago, Prithvi had asked him to set up a security team in Shamli to protect the Bharadwaj family. At the time, the prince had told him bluntly that no updates needed to be shared with him as long as the family was fine. He'd initially followed up with the team frequently for a year, and there had been no worrying events, and then the conversations had become few and far between and had eventually ceased. Immersed in his concerns about Prithvi's emotional state, and the deterioration of the relationship between Prithvi and his mother, he had forgotten about the team. And he'd remembered them again only because Prithvi had asked him about them on Sunday and pointed out that they would have informed him about Rajeshwari's and his visit if they had been doing their job.

"Don't beat yourself up, Baba," Prithvi told him calmingly. "If the queen mother had wanted to harm the Bharadwajs back then, she wouldn't have waited for more than a few months."

Sumer Singh looked at him unhappily. "You were right. They were dismissed from the job a long time ago, and were warned against contacting me or you. No one in the team is willing to talk to me. They are too afraid. But I don't understand. If it's the queen who got rid of them, why didn't she....do anything later."

Prithvi didn't respond to the question. He could think of a few reasons but the answers would be incomplete until he figured out exactly what she was up to...

Instead, he casually asked, "The new team is in place?"

"Yes. Everyone in the family will be guarded at all times."

"Good," Prithvi murmured.

Sumer Singh tentatively asked, "They have been fine without security for a long time...so why did you think it was necessary to install a new team?"

"Mochi told me someone was annoying the ghostbuster," Prithvi answered. "His intention was to get a reaction out of me, but he did seem nervous about it. And he has a good instinct for danger. Mainly because he has spent most of his life running from it." Then his gaze turned more incisive. "Is the matter resolved?"

"Yes," Sumer Singh said with a slight uncertainty.

"You don't seem sure," Prithvi remarked, brows knit.

On seeing Sumer Singh's extreme discomfort, Prithvi amusedly said, "You don't have to get so stressed. Mochi told me what the problem was about. He just didn't know who was doing the pestering," he adjoined casually.

Sumer Singh vacillated for some moments, then unwillingly said, "There is a small business family in Shamli with affiliations with local political parties. The son of the family saw Nandini somewhere and he set his mind on..." he halted, looking more miserable than before.

"Marrying her," Prithvi completed the sentence impassively. Then he gave Sumer Singh a faint smile. "You don't have to think so much before talking about it. I admit it was troubling to be back in Shamli after a long time. But I'm fine now."

Sumer Singh wanted to believe him, but couldn't. Nothing about Nandini was going to be easy for Prithvi to hear. But he couldn't keep protecting the prince from bad news.

"They were pestering Bhoothnathji to agree to the proposal," Sumer Singh muttered. "He refused to consider it for a moment because the boy is known to be a degenerate idiot. The sidekicks of the father were the ones who were hounding Bhoothnathji, and their calls had been getting aggressive. But Bhoothnathji had showed them that he is tougher than he looks. He'd dealt with them fearlessly from the start."

He glanced cautiously at Prithvi, and saw him gazing reflectively at the beautifully carpeted floor.

"What are you thinking about, Prithvi?" he asked warily.

"Just something you said," Prithvi said vaguely. "Baba, you've been using the past tense, but you're still anxious. Why?"

Sumer Singh hesitated, and then uneasily said, "The family was warned. And the calls to Bhoothnathji stopped immediately. But...I have a bad feeling about the son. He is apparently refusing to listen to his parents, and is being adamant about...." He paused. "I have a suspicion that he's not fully right in the head."

Prithvi continued to look lost in thought for a minute, then nonchalantly said, "Do whatever is necessary to resolve this permanently. If there are any issues, let me know," he murmured as he rose to his feet.

"Prithvi, I don't want you to get involved in this matter," Sumer Singh said urgently.

"Baba, I'd prefer to settle down permanently in Devgarh than get involved in this," Prithvi said ironically, walking away.

Distressed, Sumer Singh watched Prithvi leave, then realised the young man was not going towards the main door. "Aren't you going riding?" he asked confusedly.

Prithvi turned around fleetingly. "Don't feel like it anymore," he shrugged, and then continued to head towards the office room.

It was a lie. The simple wish to go riding had become an overbearing need by the end of his conversation with Sumer Singh. It was one of the few things that could help him regain some peace and subdue the volcanic rage bubbling in him.

But a stony obstinacy refused to let him give in to the impulse. He'd slipped into an old mode when he'd been in Shamli. But damned if he was going to be pushed around once again by the whims and desires of his mind and heart...

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

Nandini looked in the direction from which the bus would arrive, and then she glanced uncertainly at the brightly lit dress shop nearby.

The clothes she owned were turning uglier by the day...

Pursing her lips, Nandini tentatively started walking towards the store, then halted.

The anklets she'd worn during Prithvi's visit would have triggered her mother's suspicions, and those doubts would treble if her mother found out she had suddenly begun purchasing things that she'd not cared about for years. That is why the artificial jewellery she'd bought was currently hiding in a corner of her cupboard. It would be more difficult to conceal new dresses, Nandini thought resignedly. It would be wiser to wait for some time to pass before she overhauled her wardrobe. Or the universe would have to help her out by giving her a good excuse for purchasing pretty outfits.

She was startled by a hand on her shoulder, and spun around with a fierce anger.

A middle-aged woman with short, straight hair and laughing eyes, clad in an attractive red and cream salwar kurta, was smiling lovingly at her. Next to her was a man in a dark suit, without a tie. There were grey streaks in his hair. He too was smiling at her very affectionately.

Nandini's expression turned to one of utter shock. Then she squeaked loudly and clapped her hands to her mouth.

"Rajeshji, my Nanhi was about to beat me up, I think," Aruna Garewal laughed.

"You should do that, Nandini," Rajesh Garewal encouraged, eyes twinkling. "Take revenge on my behalf."

Dazed with happiness, Nandini laughed with a pure joy that lit up her beautiful face, and then she hugged Aruna fiercely. As Aruna held her tightly, tears flooded Nandini's eyes.

Rajesh Garewal kept a loving hand on Nandini's head. Nandini let go of Aruna, whose cheeks too were wet, and tearfully embraced him.

Aruna put her arms around them, and Rajesh hugged them both to him.

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

The festive chaos in Vrindavan lasted for almost an hour, beginning with warm hugs and happy tears and followed by continuous excited talking, with almost everyone speaking simultaneously and then laughing at themselves.

Looking happier than he had in days, Bhoothnath conversed eagerly with the Garewals and asked about their journey back to India. Prakash too was eager to find out about their long flight, and to also learn more about their life in the US, while Sarojini conversed with Aruna about the hard work involved in wrapping up everything in another country and returning home.

The Garewals shared that they had arrived many days ago but had needed time to settle down and make plans for the next few months and had also needed to visit some relatives before coming to Shamli.

Nandini participated in the conversations with liveliness but mostly she was content with silently enjoying the presence of her favourite couple. Their visit was the one thing that could have actually pepped up her mood, and she could almost feel her father's role in bringing them to Shamli at this time.

Rajesh Garewal seemed to have become a little more serious. Aruna Garewal too had changed a bit. She had become more exuberant and lively. But probably because the families had been apart for so long, the tender affection that flowed from both of them felt even stronger than before. Love and gratitude welled up as tears occasionally in Nandini's eyes but she fought them back each time without anyone noticing. And her happiness surged manifold when Rajesh Garewal informed them that they had returned to India permanently.

Aruna kept Nandini and Prakash close to her, hugging them and showering boundless affection on both. She refused to let them sit with her husband, arguing that he had spent more time with them since she had not accompanied him on the last visit. His grumbles about the injustice elicited chuckles from everyone. But after a short while, Nandini put her arms around Aruna and squeezed her warmly, and then walked over to sit down by Rajesh's feet.

"Ah see, she didn't let you get away with the unfairness," Rajesh said triumphantly, patting Nandini's head.

"She has always been more partial to you," Aruna complained with a playful glower.

Nandini laughingly said, "No, no, I love both my little babies equally," drawing more mirth into the living room.

As snacks and tea were consumed with gusto, Aruna gave a vivid description of how she had instantly recognised Nandini on the roadside while her husband had not.

"I told Rajeshji it was Nanhi who was standing on the pavement, but he didn't agree. I shouted at the driver and made him stop by the roadside. And I was right! But you should have seen this girl's face when I touched her shoulder from behind. She looked prepared to give me a few slaps," Aruna chuckled.

Nandini giggled in embarrassment.

Sarojini looked at her daughter with a faint annoyance. "I'm sure she was. You don't know how hot-tempered she has become. And she has also learnt to create scenes in public for the smallest problems."

The lightness vanished from Nandini's features.

"I create scenes when I need to," she told her mother coolly. "And I will keep doing it whenever required."

"Nandini was right to react strongly on those occasions, Sarojini," Aruna said firmly. "No woman should put up with harassment."

"Yes, and now that I'm back, anyone who harasses my daughter will have to face some scenes created by me too," Rajesh said determinedly.

Sarojini gave a weary smile. No one would understand her concerns...

Bhoothnath uncomfortably said, "Oh what is all this seriousness. So...errr..Rajesh...if you had told us you were coming, we would have prepared a grand feast for you tonight."

"We were planning to go home actually," Rajesh confessed, talking about the palatial house he owned in the most expensive part of the town. "In fact, most of our bags are in the other car that went straight to our house. Two of those bags are full of things we've brought for all of you, and we had wanted to drop by tomorrow with the gifts and give all of you a big surprise, but then Arunaji saw Nandini and our plans changed instantly," he laughed.

"I'm sure our house must have established a record for surprise visits by now," Prakash grinned, then he eagerly told the Garewals, "If you had come last weekend, it would have been even more amazing! Do you know - "

"Yes, we heard that Prithvi and Rajeshwari were here," Aruna said brightly, and as she gazed happily at everyone, her eyes lingered tenderly for a moment on Nandini, who was busy picking up the small crumbs of a mix of salty snacks that had fallen on the floor near the short centre table.

"How did you find out? Did Prithvi tell you?" Bhoothnath asked warmly.

"No, we haven't spoken to him or Sumer Singh in a while," Rajesh said regretfully.

"But we will definitely be meeting Prithvi soon," Aruna smiled, an exuberant gleam in her eyes. Once again, her eyes flitted unconsciously for a second towards the young woman who was walking to the kitchen.

Rajesh glanced at his wife with a slight wariness.

"So how did you find out about his visit?" Sarojini asked.

"Prithvi's mother told us," Aruna smiled.

"His mother?" Bhoothnath asked, astonished.

"Yes...it was a wonderful coincidence, you could say," Aruna replied. "Prithvi's mother, Priyamvada, had invited us to stay at their pal – house in Devgarh," she revised quickly. "We're actually coming here straight from Devgarh."

They had learnt about Prithvi's royal antecedents only four years ago. And Sumer Singh had told them at that time that Prithvi disliked any mention of it and he also did not want the Bharadwaj family to find out about his aristocratic ancestry. And on hearing that they would be heading to Shamli next and meeting the Bharadwajs, the queen too had made the same request for the sake of her son's wishes.

Nandini stood near the kitchen door, frozen with shock. The Garewals had stayed at Devgarh, the place that had been a silent witness to Rajyavardhan Singh's atrocities on Prithvi, for two whole days. Why had Priyamvada invited them? And that also just before they were to visit Shamli... 

"Prithvi's mother is friendly with you?" Sarojini asked curiously.

Bhoothnath tried not to frown. He wanted to ask a few questions but couldn't right now.

"Initially, she was very reserved with us," Aruna confessed. "But later, we began to interact frequently, and she's actually an amazing human being," she said appreciatively. "And we couldn't refuse when she invited us so sweetly to Devgarh. We had a wonderful experience at the – at their house. She was so gracious and hospitable towards us. The family is...much above us in terms of status and riches, but Priyamvada is very humble and down-to-earth."

Bhoothnath looked perceptively at Rajesh, who had donned a stoic expression.

In the kitchen, Nandini's clenched her teeth. What magic had Priyamvada cast on Aruna aunty, she thought with anger and frustration.

"You both stayed with Prithvi bhaiya's family?" Prakash asked, awe-struck. "How big is their house? Is it as large as a stadium? Like the ones we see in movies?"

Rajesh smiled while Aruna tousled Prakash's hair and laughingly said, "All of their homes are bigger than stadiums and absolutely beautiful."

Striving to keep a placid face and taking deep breaths, Nandini walked back into the room.

Aruna let out an exclamation on seeing her.

"What's is it?" Sarojini asked, startled.

"I just remembered. Priyamvada has sent a gift for all of you," Aruna said breathlessly. "Rajeshji, the present she sent for them...is it in this car?"

"I don't know," Rajesh replied without much enthusiasm. "I'll have to check." He knew what his wife was thinking. If the gift was indeed in the trunk of the car outside, and not in the one that had gone straight to their house, she would add it to the list of "divine signs" that she had been compiling for months.

Prakash excitedly asked Aruna, "A gift? What is it, aunty?"

"I don't know, Pikku. It was wrapped up beautifully when she gave it to us, and I'm also curious to find out what it is."

"But why has Prithvi's mother sent a gift for us?" Sarojini asked uncertainly, looking at her father-in-law.

Bhoothnath was silent but his face was grave.

"Priyamvada said she has heard such lovely things about all of you," Aruna beamed. "She's very grateful for the love and care you showered on Prithvi when he was staying here. And she has fond memories of this family from the times that she used to visit. So she wanted to send a special gift to express her gratitude for everything."

"That is very kind of her," Sarojini responded with a tentative smile, still unsure of the right way to react.

Aruna looked at her husband and urged, "Please go and check."

Rajesh sighed and rose to his feet.

Nandini had not trusted herself to speak politely so far, but she couldn't remain quiet anymore. The idea of Priyamvada's gift coming into Vrindavan was so intolerable that it made her sick to think of it. She wouldn't let her family accept it even if it was a portion of heaven.

"I'm sorry for saying this, aunty, but I don't think we should accept a gift from someone we don't really know," she said sombrely.

Highly disconcerted, Aruna perceived the unusual gravity on Nandini's face. "But she's not a stranger, Nandini, and not just because of the past...she's Prithvi's mother," she reminded gently. "And she has sent it with the nicest of intentions."

"I don't care whose mother she is," Nandini said evenly. "And I also don't feel we can know for sure what any person's intentions are. I'm really sorry, but we cannot accept her gift."

"Di, you shouldn't speak like that," Prakash said awkwardly.

Nandini glared at him angrily. Cowed, he shuffled back on the sofa and tried to shrink into the cushion.

Appalled, Sarojini glanced at her daughter furiously and then looked at Aruna's bewildered face. "Look at how she's behaving. Do you understand now why I complain about her?"

"Nandini is just being protective about all of you," Rajesh intervened peacefully.

Shocked, Nandini looked at Rajesh Garewal. How did he know...

He smiled reassuringly at her, and then looked at the others in the room. "I'm sure we all remember how Siddharth wouldn't accept gifts from people he didn't know very well. And if he thought the gift was expensive, he wouldn't accept it even if it was being offered by his closest friends. Nandini is reacting exactly as he would have."

As he spoke, a loving understanding and compassion dawned on Aruna's face. And an emotionally charged silence filled up the room.

Nandini felt hot tears pushing harder against her eyes. A powerful feeling arose in her heart that her father was standing before her in the form of Rajesh Garewal...

Rajesh looked at her. "Nandini, you trust my judgement, don't you?"

She gave a shaky nod.

"Then believe me when I tell you that you can accept this gift without any reservations," he said comfortingly. "It was given with good intent. I wouldn't have accepted it if I sensed otherwise. And though I don't know what the gift is, I can tell you it is not expensive. But it is invaluable. You see...it was made by Prithvi."

The shock on Nandini's face was submerged beneath loud utterances of astonishment.

"We were supposed to tell them that after opening the gift," Aruna complained to her husband.

"Sorry, desperate times..." Rajesh smiled remorsefully at his wife.

Bhoothnath, who had maintained a studied silence so far, jumped up from his chair. "It was made by Prithvi?" he cried delightedly. "What is it? Why are you waiting here, Rajesh? Go and check the car. I hope it's there in the trunk," he prayed happily. "I can't wait to find out what it is. Prakash, go and help him! Wait, I'll come with you too."

Laughing in amusement, Rajesh said, "No one has to come with me. If it's in the trunk, the driver will bring it in."

"Okay, but hurry up," Bhoothnath urged.

Chuckling, Rajesh went out of the house, followed by Prakash who was too impatient to wait.

Nandini followed them in a haze, and stood at the door. Behind her, she heard Aruna Garewal inform her mother and grandfather that Priyamvada had asked Prithvi to make it for her many months ago, but then she had felt it was a piece that ought to be gifted to a worthy family. And during the Garewals' stay at Devgarh, Priyamvada had apparently felt that the object would be a perfect present for the family that had given her some solace when she had been devastated by the loss of her husband.

Lies...just lies packed together, Nandini judged inattentively. And manipulations too. Priyamvada had deliberately sent something created by Prithvi, knowing that it would not be rejected, she thought numbly. But she didn't feel any anger or bitterness. Her entire focus was seized by the large box that the driver, who had politely insisted on having his tea and snacks in the yard, was bringing into the house.

Nandini stepped aside and watched the rectangular parcel, wrapped in a lovely paper that had silver roses on a white background, being placed on the table. The driver left, and everyone crowded near the table. Nandini walked towards the group but stood behind her mother.

Prakash and Aruna removed the wrapping quickly but carefully and opened the box.

Rajesh stepped forward to help Prakash pick up the heavy object inside it.

As they lifted it up and placed it on the table, gasps of amazement filled the room, and then a hush fell over everyone.

Silent, Nandini gazed at the exquisite Ram Darbaar that had been crafted out of pink marble. The deities of Shri Ram, Sita Devi and Lakshmana, stood on a single, polished base of marble, with Lord Hanuman kneeling reverentially. The dress, weapons and jewellery of each figurine had been carved with exceptional skill...the minutest detail taken care of...

But the attraction they possessed went beyond the external.

The idols seemed to be emitting a strange lustre. And benevolence, grace and compassion radiated from the outstandingly beautiful and lifelike features.

Flames of love and adoration blazed in Nandini's watery eyes. She folded her hands and touched her forehead to the fingertips

From far away, she heard Rajesh Garewal murmur in awe, "This is an exact replica of the image that is worshipped in their ancestral shrine..."

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