CHAPTER 16 #2
The women repeat after him, praising the Goddess and showering white lily petals at the idol’s feet. Then an absolute silence follows as they all pray sincerely. Even I step closer to the idol, fold my hands, close my eyes, and pray.
“You’re blessing all these women tonight, Maa… giving them the freedom to choose the man they want and the life they desire.”
My throat tightens at his words.
“I want that too. I don’t want to marry Parag. I don’t want the life that’s being forced on me. If I ever marry, let it be someone I choose. Someone my heart chooses, not my circumstances. So please… do something. Anything. Just don’t let me marry Parag.”
My fingers press together tightly as my eyes sting with unshed tears. I stay there for a moment longer with my head bowed before stepping back. Esha gently pulls me along towards the open grounds beside the temple, where the entire atmosphere changes.
There’s music, laughter, and movement all around. Tourists mingle with locals, food stalls are lined up, several small bonfires crackle, and groups of women are already dancing in circles.
The energy is infectious. Then suddenly there’s a stir near the entrance. The shift is subtle at first. Attention moves. A few of the village elders straighten up, their faces lighting up as they look towards the main pathway.
“There he is…” one of them says, and soon people begin to shift, making space.
I follow their gaze and find Raghav walking into the temple grounds.
He’s wearing black again. For a moment, I simply stare.
There’s nothing traditional about him tonight.
Nothing that blends with the vibe here. And yet, somehow, he fits here just as naturally as everyone else.
Haider walks beside him wearing his usual stern expression, but all eyes are on Raghav.
“What is sir doing here?” Esha whispers, leaning closer to me. “I thought he wasn’t coming. He had already declined the invitation.”
He had? Then did he come here for me? Because once again, I’d ditched my guards and risked my life?
A few girls standing near the temple steps suddenly straighten up the moment Raghav walks in. They all watch him with open admiration, hoping to catch his attention.
Esha probably notices my displeasure because she laughs softly.
“You have no idea how well-known he is here,” she says. “Not just in Shivtara Valley. Even the people in the neighbouring towns know him and respect him a great deal.”
I am sure. I notice how the villagers surround him near the entrance, greet him warmly, and thank him for attending despite his busy schedule. And strangely, he doesn’t seem uncomfortable amid the crowd.
Reserved, yes. Distant, definitely. But not uncomfortable. He responds to all of them politely and respectfully with a small nod and a faint smile.
“He has done a lot for the people here,” Esha continues as she looks at Raghav.
“RK Estate was already successful before, but after he took over completely, things changed. He created jobs for the local families, tourism increased, businesses started thriving around the valley, and people began earning better livelihoods. Even the schools and medical camps here…” She smiles proudly.
“Half of them run because of his funding.”
Wow. An ex-mafia prince involved in social work? Who would have thought?
“Most unmarried girls in this valley probably have a crush on him,” Esha adds, “but nobody dares to approach him. He’s too reserved, too intimidating, and closed off.
But he’s never taken advantage of it. He’s never led a woman on or played with anyone’s feelings.
In fact, I don’t think he’s ever paid much attention to any woman at all. ”
I don’t know why that last line affects me. That’s exactly when Raghav’s eyes find mine from across the crowd. Heat rushes into my cheeks as his eyes travel lower, taking me in. For a second, I can’t understand why he’s looking at me like that. Is it because of this dress?
The villagers around him continue to talk, but he barely reacts. A nod here. A half-hearted response there. He’s hearing them, but he’s not really listening. His full attention is still locked on me. My stomach flutters so suddenly that I almost lose track of Esha speaking beside me.
What is this feeling? How can a man simply looking at me make my heartbeat turn like this? Raghav is literally devouring me with his eyes. And somehow, the most terrifying part is that I don’t want him to stop.
“Come,” Esha says excitedly, grabbing my wrist. “The folk dance is starting.”
Before I can protest, she pulls me towards the open grounds near the bonfires, where groups of women have started dancing together.
The beat of drums echoes through the valley, while the flutes play somewhere nearby.
Women dance around the bonfires with bright smiles on their faces, and we join in.
I quickly fall into the rhythm of it, and soon I’m laughing freely with the other women.
Despite everything happening in my life right now, I’m enjoying myself.
But whenever my eyes collide with Raghav’s, he is already watching me. Not the other women. Only me.
Sometimes I break the eye contact first. Sometimes he does. But after every few seconds, our gazes seem drawn back to each other beneath the full moon of Shivtara Valley, and those butterflies in my stomach flutter a little harder.
We are still dancing when one of the local women comes rushing towards Esha, asking for her help with some work near the temple. Esha immediately looks at me apologetically.
“I’ll just be around,” she says. “Don’t leave from here, okay?”
I nod lightly, and once she leaves, I continue dancing with the other women.
Eventually, all the spinning and dancing leaves me slightly breathless.
Deciding to take a break, I step away from the crowd and head towards the side tables arranged near the temple steps.
There I find disposable paper cups, trays of sweets, and a large clay water pot for everyone.
I pour myself a cup of water and take a slow sip when I hear a familiar voice nearby. It’s Kriti. I turn towards the sound and spot her standing only a few feet away with two other young women. I’m not surprised to see her here. She’s one of the locals, after all.
Just like me, she’s dressed in traditional attire. Thankfully, she hasn’t noticed me yet, and honestly, I’d prefer it that way. Ignoring her, I’m about to put the empty cup into the bin when Kriti’s next words make my entire body go still.
“I’m finally going to put the garland around Raghav’s neck,” she says with a shy smile to the other two women.
The smile fades from my face instantly. I don’t even understand why those words affect me the way they do.
“Really?” one of the women beside Kriti asks with an amused smile.
“Of course,” Kriti replies confidently, adjusting one of her long jhumkas. “When has Raghav ever attended an event like this before? He usually avoids these gatherings. This is the first time he’s actually shown up.” She lifts her chin proudly. “I’m sure he’s here for me.”
Urgh! So I was right. Kriti does have feelings for Raghav.
Does he feel the same way about her? No. Impossible. Because if he did, he wouldn’t have been looking at me the way he was earlier.
Either way, the thought of Kriti standing in front of Raghav with a lily garland in her hand suddenly feels unbearable. Now that I know what this ritual means, I cannot stand the image of Kriti claiming him in front of everyone.
“But what if Raghav rejects you?” one of the women beside Kriti asks, her tone teasing.
“He won’t.” Kriti rolls her eyes confidently.
“Come on, Raghav has never shown interest in any woman here. Not even once,” the woman presses, clearly enjoying herself.
“That’s true,” the second woman agrees. “He barely even talks to them.” Then she lowers her voice slightly before adding, “Except maybe that new guest staying at RK Estate.”
My breath catches, knowing they are talking about me.
Kriti immediately waves the thought away.
“Oh please,” she scoffs. “Whatever happened between Siya and Raghav, I was literally there for most of it. He was just helping her when she almost slipped in that vat. There are no feelings involved. Raghav isn’t interested in girls like her.”
Girls like her? Seriously? What does she mean?
Kriti continues smugly, clearly enjoying the attention.
“And honestly, if Raghav had feelings for someone, trust me, I would know first. I’ve known him ever since he came to RK Estate.
I can read him better than any other woman in this valley.
Besides, once I put the garland around his neck tonight, this ridiculously rich and handsome man is officially mine. ”
The women around her burst into giggles.
Kriti only smirks wider. “And then I’ll become the queen of RK Estate. Imagine that.”
Something hot burns through me at her words. She’s dreaming the impossible.
Kriti smiles again, looking far too confident.
“Even if Raghav rejects me tonight, I still don’t care.
Because I have other ways of making sure he accepts,” she adds proudly.
“You all know how close Kailash Uncle is to my father. He already treats me like family. And everybody knows how attached Raghav is to his Baba.” She smiles smugly.
“If I cannot reach Raghav directly, I’ll reach him through Kailash Uncle. ”
The women giggle excitedly. Kriti’s smile widens further. How can she even think of using Kailash Uncle to pressure Raghav into accepting her? The nerve of this woman!
“One word from Kailash Uncle and Raghav would never refuse him. Sooner or later, I’ll find my way into Raghav’s life anyhow,” she adds.