46 The Pooja
Part 46 The Pooja
The next day
Queen Medha was arranging the Pooja so grandly. Why not, after all, it was for Prince Aparajith's better future. Padmakshi and her friend Arunima were also with her. Queen Medha ordered her to be with her entire pooja. Being a Princess, Medha wanted Padmakshi to know the Royal customs thoroughly.
There were various jewels, gold and silver coins, new clothes, flowers, garlands, vermillion, turmeric, fruits and sweets, and a few more auspicious things kept before Devi Maiya Idol. Loads of grains were ready to donate. Pandits were chanting hymns pouring ghee in the holy fire.
Medha went to Devi Maiya's idol. Closing her eyes, she prayed for her son's happy life. Opening her eyes, she removed a particular chain from DM's neck solemnly. Medha also was wearing the same design chain on her neck. She kept it on a plate, displaying it. Padmakshi frowned seeing that. She didn't know why Medha removed the chain from DM's neck. She had been seeing the chain on DM's idol from her childhood. That was the first time, she saw the chain being removed.
"Why did you remove it from the Devi Madha idol, Mother? Is there any reason?" She asked.
"This is our custom... I wore this chain to Devi Matha's neck when Prince Aparajith was born. Now, Aparajith will wear this chain to Khushi's neck on his wedding day. This is what the Pooja is about"
"Oh..."
"Yes, if Khushi gives birth to a SON, she will wear the next chain to Devi Matha's neck..."
"Oh... then her son will wear the chain to his wife on their wedding day, right?" Padmakshi caught the point.
"Exactly"
"What if it is a girl baby?" Arunima asked the question like a good student.
"She doesn't have to wear the chain to Devi Matha..."
"What if she gives birth to twin boys?" Padmakshi asked.
The Queen chuckled.
"She has to wear two chains to Devi Matha... simple..."
"Oh... if our kingdom gets its heir, the mother of the prince will wear the chain to DM and the chain will be used at his wedding. Right?"
"Yes..."
"This is interesting... so, this Pooja is for removing the chain from Devi Madha idol..."
"Yes... it's because this is not just a chain but a Mangal sutra"
"Oh... I see, that's how the King also wore it in your neck?" Padmakshi asked pointing at the chain on the Queen's neck.
"Yes..." she smiled.
"That's nice but why didn't you tell us this story before?" Padmakshi asked.
"I wanted to tell you that when you are of marriageable age but I didn't get a chance and you didn't question me about it ever before."
"What about brother? Does he know about it?"
"I wanted to tell him about it but he didn't stay at the Palace because of Chandrika... So, he too unaware of this chain"
That was when the king came for the pooja.
"Is everything ready?"
"Yeah... in a few minutes, the Yaga will be completed. Then we will start the Pooja,"
"Where is my daughter-in-law?" The King asked.
"What's the matter, Mother? The king is inquiring about his daughter-in-law instead of his son?" Padmakshi asked.
The king smiled.
"He is so impressed by the way Khushi managed Chandrika. That's why" She smiled.
"Oh...! Did you tell him about it?" Padmakshi chuckled.
"Of course, she would have to... do you know how relieved I am?" The king huffed.
They saw Chandrika coming. They became silent.
"I have decided to return to my kingdom," Chandrika said.
The king looked at her and then Medha.
"Don't forget one thing, Princess Chandrika, whatever we did is for your betterment only. You are a brilliant girl. I hope you understand," Medha said.
"I trust you, Queen Medha... I have sent a message to my father. I'm leaving with my retinue," She touched their feet.
"Live long..." Medha touched her head.
Chandrika looked at her.
"We want you to live long... happily..." Medha said and the king looked somewhere to control his smile.
Chandrika nodded yes.
That was when Khushi came there with Kiran. People present there were awestruck, seeing Khushi in the queenly clothing. She looked like a PRINCESS... correction, she looked more Royal than the princesses. Though Medha was the one who sent the outfit to Khushi she didn't expect it would suit her to this level. She wanted to hug Khushi but she controlled herself as she didn't want to irritate Chandrika.
Khushi also got stuck to see Chandrika there. Even though Chandrika changed her mind Khushi was not ready to conclude because it was about Prince Aparajith. Somewhere in her heart, Chandrika might feel hurt. Khushi made up herself to deal with the situation.
Khushi came to Chandrika and smiled at her. Chandrika reciprocated to her, a bright smile plastered on her face. The king and the queen were looking at them all tensed whereas Padma and Arunima were in exhilaration.
"Do you know why I'm here?" Khushi asked.
Chandrika looked at the queen and said,
"For the Pooja..."
"Yes, but for your marriage," Khushi said, making a sad face.
Chandrika who didn't expect it struggled to make herself up. She didn't know what to say.
"I understood your feelings. I can't see you distressed. I don't want to build a relationship burying your true love"
Chandrika looked at her frowning.
"I had a talk with Prince Aparajith. I made him understand your love for him. More than that, I'm a foreigner. I'm a complete stranger to this culture. People will not accept me wholeheartedly. But, you are not like that. You were born and brought into this culture. It will not be hard for you to follow the royal custom. So, it's you who should marry him" she said with a soft smile on her face.
Chandrika was horrified. She looked at her maid Parvathy gulping down.
"I wanted to tell you this before the Pooja starts... Thank God, it has not started yet and I got the chance to convey the matter. I put so much effort into changing Prince Aparajith's mind. Finally, he understood the reality that a foreigner like me should not become a Queen. Only you deserve it, Princess Chandrika..."
"No no... no... I don't want to marry him" She almost shouted.
"Why are you panicking?" Khushi asked making an innocent face.
"Oh... I mean Prince Aparajith loves you only. I had seen it in his eyes. I think replacing you in his heart will not happen"
"I just did..."
"No, Khushi... he might have agreed to it because of the circumstance... but, what will I do if he will not forget you?"
"As time passes, he will forget me... he will definitely do that because you are so beautiful. Then why won't he forget me?"
"No... no... you don't understand..."
"What don't I understand? I understand your pain, your feelings, emotions, everything. That's why I want you to marry him"
"No, Khushi... Please don't compel me... I'm not ready to marry a man who is in love with someone" she said strictly.
"But, my heart doesn't let me do this," Khushi said emotionally.
Chandrika looked at Queen who was having a tough time controlling her laughter, seeing Chandrika's struggle.
"Maharani, please make her understand" Chandrika pleaded.
Before Medha said anything,
"Please, Queen Medha... don't make me do the sin of killing Princess Chandrika's heart..." Khushi said feeling sad.
"Maharani..." Chandrika pleaded.
"Even Prince Aparajith agreed to marry you... then why are you hesitating?" Khushi asked.
Padmakshi whispered something in Arunima's ear. She looked at Padmakshi with confusion. Padmakshi gestured her to do it. Arunima who didn't know about BEHIND THE SCENES, said,
"Khushi is right... when Prince Aparajith himself is ready to marry you, why do you back off?"
"No... I'm going..." Chandrika tried to leave.
At the same time, Arnav entered the Pooja hall. He was stunned, seeing Khushi in a Royal attire. The man who was already bewitched by her lost himself completely.
"See, Prince Aparajith also arrived... he will give his acceptance to you... am I right?" Khushi asked Aranv.
Arnav who was not in his sense nodded yes robotically.
Chandrika joined her hands and said,
"I can't... please leave me" She ran out of the hall and her maid Parvathy rushed behind her.
Khushi controlled her laughter, seeing her running like a maniac. She heard a few chuckles from behind and the king laughed, throwing his head back. Arnav came out of his trance due to the laughing sound and looked at them with confusion.
"You are so naughty, daughter-in-law..." The king said.
Khushi smiled mildly. Arnav raised his brows and Khushi blinked her eyes.
Padmakshi came to him and said,
"When you were enchanted by my sister-in-law's beauty, she made Chandrika run away from our palace"
Arnav looked at Khushi and asked,
"How?"
"I will tell you after the Pooja" Padmakshi said and left the place smilingly.
Arnav smiled at Khushi.
"You look breathtakingly beautiful"
"Thank you"
"I didn't expect you would be wearing this kind of dress"
"The Queen sent it to me"
"Are you comfortable in this dress?"
"Of course..."
"Really?"
"Yeah..."
"You look so divine"
"Is it?"
"Could you wear it often?"
"I will... because I too like it very much... this dress makes me feel so greater you know..."
"Yet, you are so simple"
"Can't help... it's my trait" she smiled.
"I know..."
Khushi ran her eyes on the Pooja setup.
"The Pooja is arranged grandly..."
"Yeah...after all, it's Prince Aparajith's wedding"
Khushi's eyes got stuck in the particular chain that was being displayed on a separate plate.
"Wow... what a beautiful chain..." she smiled.
Arnav looked at the chain and then at Khushi.
"Do you like it?"
"Yeah... it's so beautiful..."
"Wait..."
Without thinking about anything, Arnav took the chine and wore it to Khushi's neck, making everyone shocked. Arnav didn't know what was wrong.
To be continued...
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen3h.Co