Page 79 of The Redemption
“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 likethis 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 aboutme.
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.
The women burst into laughter, but something inside me snaps. I know exactly what kind of person Kriti is.Manipulative.Every word coming out of her mouth sounds less like affection and more like strategy. She isn’t talking about Raghav the way a woman talks about someone she loves. She’s talking about him like he’s something she wants to acquire.A prize to be won.Andthatbothers me even more.
The drums around the bonfires begin to beat louder. A massive banyan tree stands at the centre, decorated with hanging lanterns and sacred temple threads. Beneath it, long wooden tables have been arranged in neat rows, with the white lily garlands spread across them beautifully.
Kriti walks towards the tables confidently and picks up one of the lily garlands, twirling it in her hands before winking at the two women beside her.
My breath catches. She’s actually going to do it. I shouldn’t care. Maybe I should walk away. None of this ismyconcern. Raghav’s life has nothing to do with me.
My pulse begins to pound violently. Before I can stop myself, before logic can return, before my own mind can catch up with whatever my heart is thinking about doing, I walk towards the table and pull out a garland.
I don’t even remember deciding to do it. One moment, I’m standing there staring at Kriti. The next, I’m walking through the crowd, clutching a lily garland in my hands, searching for Raghav in the crowd.
Up ahead, I spot him near one of the bonfires. His back is turned towards me while Haider stands facing him, saying something that appears to be serious. Both of them are completely unaware of Kriti’s intentions tonight. She’s still a few steps ahead of me, heading in the same direction, when an older woman suddenly catches her by the arm and stops her to ask something. Kriti turns to chat with her.
Without even realising what I’m doing, I hurry past Kriti. I almost race towards Raghav before slowing down again.‘What the hell am I doing?’I ask myself. The priest’s words from earlier at the temple echoes in my ears.
“On this night, your feet will move before your mind understands why. Do not think of the man you desire. Do not let your mind interfere. Instead… let your heart choose the man it cannot walk away from. Love is not something that is given to you. It is something you discover. And when your heart finds the man it chooses… you will place this garland around his neck. That moment, that choice, will be witnessed by Shivtara Mata herself.”
And then my eyes find Raghav again.
