The Blessed Pratibimb

Chapter-7

"Are you...real?" Arihant was shocked at her reaction, but he played along and replied, "No Ma'am, I am your imagination."

Isha didn't replied and Arihant was confused to get this reaction but after some time she started to laugh and said, "Oh, how fool I was. You know I had a dream about drowning and saw him coming and saving me. But he would never do that, though he loves me, he never wants me..."

It pained him to see this much disappointment in her tone and also the words pierced through his heart, but he didn't replied. She said, "Anyway, I think I am just in too much love with him. I mean look at you, you look so real as if he's right here."

Arihant was now shocked at her naiveness, she just couldn't realize that the one who was in front of her was indeed her lover, Arihant. She giggled and said, "Wish you could be him."

Arihant smirked at this and replied, "Granted."

Isha looked at him with complete confusion. But he grabbed her by her forearms and hugged her tightly to make her realize it was real and as soon as the realization hit her, she shrinked into an ant. The heat travelled from her chin to the forehead and she was just too embarrassed to say anything. 

Then another realization hit her, that she had nothing more than a not-so-transparent single layered cotton clothe on. She hugged it as if her life depends on it and pushed Arihant back.

But instead of pushing him, her foot again slipped and she fell into the water. This time Arihant grabbed her by waisted and pulled her up in his arms.

As Isha came out of water she was struck by the deep dark brown orbs, which had their own world to show her. As for Arihant, he had his scenery of light brown ones. They both looked at each other's, but not in the eyes, but at the souls. No words were exchanged this time, but it was pure bliss. None of them have felt this deep ever. Both of them felt like they could spend the rest of the eternity here, like this, looking in each other's eyes.

But the sun decided to invade their quality time by entering the cave and lighting up the whole cave, soon Arihant came out of trans as he said, "Ahh..."

Before he could utter anything Isha pulled away and turned her back to him, trying to hide herself she asked, "W-What are you doing here?"

He looked away and replied, "I lost my way and ended up coming into the cave. I didn't know you would be here, I-I am sorry."

Her cheek which were already read flushed more and she replied, "W-Wait outside I'll take you b-back."

Without wasting anymore time to prove him a p*****t he mutter a thankyou and went out of the cave.

"What do you think you were doing i***t, you sure proved her you are stalking p*****t. What will she think of me now? Wait is she hurt by any chance? I should ask her..."

Saying this to himself he started to go inside the cave but stopped himself and mentally slapped, saying, "f**k you i***t, you sure want to lose your love!"

But suddenly he heard, "Whom are you talking to?"

He stood froze to his place hearing her voice. As Isha made her way to him, he looked at her wet hair and freshly bathed body, she looked another level of beauty, but not beautiful than before. He again mentally slapped himself for being a real p*****t. And smiled replying, "To... To the air... It's my friend you know."

She frowned and was about to ask but he said, "You don't talk to air? She is just as beautiful as you."

When he realized what he had said he bit his tongue, he was about to apologize, but Isha started to laugh out loud. She was laughing so freely, so lively, it made Arihant smile too. 'At least she is smiling now.' he thought to himself. And in between her laugh Isha said, "You sure know how to make something funny."

As she calmed down she said, "Thanks for the compliment by the way." He nodded and she said, "Before I take you the city, tell me how you were able to come from such a slippery way?"

He made an oh face and replied, "Maybe because I was wearing the army shoes. They are specially made to walk on slippery surfaces as the battlefield has many slippery things."

She nodded understanding that he is talking about dead bodies. She said, "Come with me, I'll show you the way."

He started following her and soon they reached near the city but Arihant stopped and seeing him like that Isha asked, "What happened?"

He replied, "You go, if someone find you walking with me, it wouldn't send a good message in society, especially when you look freshly bathed."

She giggled and said, "From when our mighty king started thinking of society?"

He avoided her question completely and replied, "Isha you're a girl and I am a guy, no one would blame me. They would say things about you, moreover I am a king. Character of king can have as many girl as he want, it doesn't match to a Brahmin girl who is also meant to be purest."

Isha smiled and said, "Thanks for caring about me your majesty. I would have been very grateful to you if I would have been the old Isha. But I am not that anymore. I love you and I cannot go back now. I don't care about society or people anymore. All I care about is my love. So, my love, what your idea about me this?"

He frowned and replied, "Isha look, I have already told you my decision, I cannot marry-"

But she cut him by, "I am not asking for marriage, my love, I am asking about your opinion on me going with you."

Arihant sighed giving up and replied in a defeated tone, "Isha, I would like you to obey your duties and society's custom. That's my opinion."

Isha smiled and replied, "If that's what your wish is then be it like that." With that she started walking towards the town but Arihant couldn't help himself so asked, "You okay? Did I make you upset?"

She smiled looking at him without hiding her teary face and pained eyes. She said, "Yes, I am hurt. Not because what you said, but because the person who made me follow my heart forgetting about the worthless opinions, is now going on the same stupid path which I used to follow. I am hurt, not because what you chose, but because what I have made you. I made you lose Maharaja."

With that she turned on her heels and get away from there, refusing to confront him again. As she was out of forest she wiped her tears and made her way to the temple. As she reached the temple's gate she saw a very concerned Mina and Hina.

As they both saw her coming they ran to her and hugged her. Not feeling her hug back, Hina asked, "Is everything okay?"

She didn't reply making Hina understand something has happened. But she said, "High priest is about to come anytime, if he don't get to see you doing puja he would be very angry."

She nodded understanding their situation and went to the temple to do her puja. Everything was already prepared for puja by Hina and Mina and she just had to do the puja.

With a very heavy heart she grabbed the plate and started her puja. As she was doing her puja, priest came there and joined them, following other disciples.

After puja was done, Isha was giving everyone the prasad. As she gave it to the priest he said, "Isha why are you here? You should be at the ground."

She gave him a confusing look and he replied, "Today is your cooking competition. How can you forget?"

She was about to reply but Hina said, "She didn't your excellency, she was going there, but then she thought of getting Devi Adishakti's blessing."

He smiled at hearing this and said, "Really, how can I forget that you love your Maa so much. Sure take your blessing, but don't forget to be late for there."

She only nodded and then the priest and his disciples went away. Hina asked, "Now, tell us what happened?"

Isha's eyes again started to fill with tears as she told them everything that he said. Hina was in complete shock but Mina said, "You're so lucky!"

Both Hina and Isha frowned at her and Isha asked, "What are you trying to say?"

Mina smiled and said, "Isha he loves you so much. He cares about you. Can't you see he see he did all this for you."

Isha looked down and said, "I know, he thinks I still care about the society and it's rule and my love is just mare attraction."

Mina smiled and lifted her chin, she said, "Isha, you're wrong. He completely understands how much you love him, but he is much concerned about the society you live in. He don't want you to face all the bad things that's why he do what he did. He know how much you love him, but he also knows that you're not strong enough to take all that yet. So he's waiting for right time."

When Mina ended her speech Isha and Hina both were out of words and in complete shock. Hina was the one to come out shock first and she said, "M-Mina I didn't know you are this smart."

Mina giggled and said, "Neither do I."

Suddenly they all started to laugh and Isha said, "You always shock me Mina."

She nodded and replied, "Now can we focus on the competition please?"

They both nodded and joined her to go to the ground.

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As they reached the ground their eyes bulged out of their heads. They saw girls from different region of the country and some were also princesses of the other kingdoms.

Hina asked, "Are you sure this is a cooking contest not a swayamwar of Mahraaj?"

Hearing this Isha eyes started to fill with water and Hina regretted it instantly and she said, "I was just joking. Come on Isha don't cry. Even if he had any swayamwar he wouldn't have invited you, after all he rejected you on his own."

This time Hina was hit by Mina on the head and Hina bit her tongue. Isha was now shedding big tears hearing this and she started crying like a baby. Hina and Mina looked at each other for help but couldn't help their friend after making her cry by themselves.

But God thought of something else and Isha heard, "Why are you crying?"

She looked at the voice only to find a very concerned Adhrit, he bowed saying pranam and asked again, "Why are you crying bhabhishree?"

Before Isha could reply Mina told him everything and Adhrit looked at Hina with face of 'really?' look and embarrassed Hina looked down with a small sorry.

He nodded and said, "Bhabhishree, why are you worrying yourself with the win. I know you gonna win it anyway."

Isha looked at him and said, "Even if I win, I am sure I won't be able to win his love."

Both Adhrit and Mina sighed together and Mina said, "Isha trust me, he loves you more than anything. Now don't try to prove it to him. Just be strong and prove that you can take whatever comes your way, but you won't give up on winning."

Isha was not sure now what he think of her, but she sure know one thing that she had to win the match anyway. And anyway means anyway, by hook or by crook...

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Swayamwar: A function organized for someone to openly choose his/her spouse among the people present there.