'Ma, Baba, I'm going to mandir, I'll be back soon,' said Ashika, bouncing down the stairs and fixing her dupatta.
'Ok. Come back soon and stay safe.'
Her parents called out. Both of them were working in the kitchen. Her father was helping her mother get the lunch ready. Ashika peeked into the kitchen before heading out.
She stepped out of her home and closed the door behind her.
The gate creaked slightly as she opened and closed it.
Ashika was dressed in a light pink chudidhar. A bindi between her perfectly curved brows. Her hair was tied back with a loose clip. A few strands flew with the breeze, grazing her face. Two dimples formed as she smiled sweetly at the kids who were playing nearby. Her lips, a shade of bright pink. Her hair bounced slightly as she made her way to the temple.
She greeted the panditji, who was walking out from the temple after the regular pooja. She bowed before him reverently and smiled. He blessed her and smiled back. He had seen her many times.
Ashika rang the temple bell and stood before Lord Krishna and Lady Radha's idol with joined hands and bowed her head with closed eyes and prayed.
She prayed for peace and happiness in the world. She prayed for her parents. She prayed for her extended family. She prayed for everyone.
She prostrated before the idols and sat down in the corner, looking at the idols.
Hi Kanha, Long time no see. I'm sorry I haven't spoken to you much lately. I was kind of busy applying for a job. Well, no luck yet. I know you will lead me to my perfect job.
She looked at the idols, a breeze softly brushing her face.
Aahana and Swasti came by a few days ago. She chuckled softly. They wanted to fight my ex-boss for kicking me out. I know funny girls, right? Swasti has asked her parents to look for a man for her, and Aahana and Akash are going to tie the knot soon, I guess. Akash hasn't proposed to Aahana yet. I don't think he'll wait for long now. Both of them are doing well in their jobs. Swasti's doing well, too.
She paused for a while before continuing.
They think I should start dating, too. I'm not sure if I'm ready or not. What do you think, Kanha? Aahana has already registered me on a couple of dating platforms now. AAAHHHH!!! I don't want to worry about that.
She ruffled her hair slightly as she thought about this.
Kanha, you'd better find me a good man, or I'm going to complain to Radha di for troubling me, and I know she will give you a hard time at Golok Dham. I know she will, as I can't trouble you much.
The idols glowed warm. In that moment, nothing else in the world mattered, for it revolved under Ashika, Lord Krishna, and Lady Radha.
You know what, Kanha, forget about the serious stuff and my crazy delusions. I'm going to tell you something funny. Last night, I tried to make chapattis, and guess what? I made round ones on my first attempt. Ma and Baba were so shocked. I laughed my head off just by looking at their faces. I even attempted to make mixed vegetable sabzi and pulav yesterday. I burnt both of them slightly and even messed up with a couple of spices, and you know what Ma and Baba said? They said that this is the best sabzi and pulav that they have ever had. Ma told me that I made better pulav than her. I know she does that to cheer for me. They love me so much. The same evening, I mixed salt instead of sugar in my Baba's chai. He drank it uncomplaining. When I took a sip, I spat the whole thing out and asked Baba why he had continued drinking the salty chai. He looked so peaceful while drinking it. He said, My precious princess, whom I consider as Ma Lakshmi herself, made chai for me with so much love; I found it very sweet. God! I swear I could feel my eyes tearing up, Kanha. Even now, before coming here, I saw my parents bickering happily while cooking, just like they used to when they were newlyweds. I hope no evil eyes ever fall on them. I hope I can be a worthy daughter for them. I hope I can keep them happy. I have yet another piece of good news, Kanha. Guess who is coming after a really long time? Yes!!!! My uncle, my favorite uncle Niru Bappa, is coming home after so many months now!
She smiled, rocking back and forth like an excited five-year-old kid who was being offered a candy.
Ok, I should get going before Baba summons the entire neighborhood to find me.
She chuckled softly as she remembered one time when she had gone to a shop to get a couple of stationery items and had been held back because there were too many customers at the shop. When she came back clutching her new goodies, she found her father instructing her neighbors with his hands on his hips and fire in his eyes to find her. Her mother stood back with fear and determination in her eyes. When she had called out to them, she felt her mother let out a small gasp, and both her parents launched themselves on her, smothering her with kisses and hugging her, refusing to let go. The neighbors stood back, hands on their hearts, melting into the scene.
She returned back to find her father ready to call out their neighbors, her mother right behind him, clutching a hem of her saree. The moment they saw her, they felt their hearts ease.
Ashika entered, looking at her parents and asked them, grinning, 'Were you going to summon our neighbors again?'
Her father awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck while her mother just strode past him and held Ashika.
'Of course, you had been gone for so long; we were worried. Chalo, let's go in.
Saying this, her parents guided her in and locked the main door.
'What time will Niru Bappa arrive, Ma?'
'He said he would call when he gets near,' her mother said.
'Ok. I'm going to get changed.' Saying this, Ashika bounded upstairs to her room.
Her parents grinned behind her, clearly knowing something she didn't. Ashika was in too much of a hurry to notice the shift in her parents expression.
Ashika opened the door to her room.
'SURPRISE!'
Ashika screamed before coming back downstairs and hiding behind her parents. Her parents were laughing out loud, though.
'There's someone in my room. Why are you guys laughing?'
She tried to tell them, but her parents were busy laughing.
Right then, her uncle walked downstairs, laughing his head off.
'You should have seen her face, Bhabhi. I scared the hell out of her. God, my stomach hurts so bad.
'Niru bappa,' Ashika looked confused. She stared from her parents to her uncle.
He was her father's younger brother. Nirav, who was fondly called Niru Bappa by Ashika, was unmarried. When asked about why he had not married, he would scoff and say that he was too good-looking and that he just couldn't find someone who would match his standards.
'Hi, kiddo,' her uncle smirked.
'What? 'You told me he wouldn't be arriving until late evening,' Ashika asked her parents, looking at them accusingly.
'I wanted to surprise my favorite niece,' her uncle said, one hand in his pocket and another ruffling her hair fondly, and he bent slightly to look her in the eye. He was taller than Ashika. Her head would reach his shoulder when they stood together.
'NIRU BAPPA!!'
Ashika yelled once before chasing her uncle. Her parents laughed watching their daughter run behind her uncle. The hall echoed with happiness and yells from Ashika and Nirav that day.