Prerish || What it should have been

The festivities begin

Kukki?

"Main maasi se baat kar lunga waise bhi hum raat ko laut aayenge"

Prerna sat in the car and was thoughtful when she realised, they had reached a very old part of Kolkotta where Durga Puja preparations where going on. Rishab parked way out left his coat his phone rolled up his sleeves and got down from the car. Prerna also got down looking confused.

"Yaha se chalna padega gaadi nahin jayegi."

As Prerna and Rishab were walking she saw that many people greeted him. Children wished him until they reached a house big but in battered state. Just then someone shouted-

"Yeh waqt hain aane ka. Pura pandal lagana baki hain kaun lagayega."

Prerna was surprised to see someone shouting so badly with Rishab. It was on old lady.Rishab just made a face.

"yeh maharani kaun hain" in a taunting tone.

"Prerna. Ek aur worker laya ho aapke liye. Khana bahut acha banati hain."

Prerna did namaste.

"Acha chal theek hain. Ab jaake pandal lagwa."

Prerna was surprised and gave a questioning look to Rishab but before he could say anything that lady took her and she started giving instructions.

It was almost afternoon when she got some free time and went to eat. She didn't know what was going on but all the hard work was making her relaxed took her mind of her things. It was an amazing group of women and it almost felt like a festival at home.

While she was eating the same old lady came and sat down to eat with her. She could see Mr.bajaj working with people to install the pandal. He still had the same authority as before but was more relaxed.

"Kya dekh rahi hain. Puch le jo puchna chahti hain. 12 saal ka tha Rishab jab main use is ghar main lekar aayi. Uski maa ki death ko 1-week hua tha. Hamare pandal ke bahar betha tha akela. Roz maa ke liye jo prasad milta uske hi kha leta. Maine ek din khana diya to mana kar diya. Mujhe laga 2din main akad chali jayegi. Par nahin 4 din tak aise hi raha. panchwe din maine use pandal ka kuch kaam karne ko kaha tab usne kuch khana khaya."

She nodded continuing– yeh ghar he uska. 7 saal tak yehi raha tha woh aur phir chala gaya. Kya? bina kisi Rishte ke maine use yahan kaise rehne diya, is ghar main rehnewale har insaan se mera khoon ka Rishta nahin hain but they have seen bad times so I bring them here taki who phir uth sake and then they move on. Par yeh pagal hain ki jaata hi nahin har Durga Puja pe aa jaata hain pandal lagane. Waise I won't lie but iski Maa ko main jaanti thi to mere jyada kareeb hain. Mamooni bulata hain mujhe tu bhi bula sakti hain."

As she left Rishab came was eating with the same plate as everybody else.

"Agar aap thak gayi hoon ti main aapko ghar chod deta hoon.Mujhe nahin laga tha mamooni aapse itna kaam karwa lengi."

"Maharani nahin hoon. Apne Maa papa ki beti hoon. Aur Ab aapne worker bana diya hain itni tareef ki so I have to live upto my name. Pandal bahut sundar lagega."

"Even I have to live upto my name."

"Ghar ki halat kharab hain. Itne sare log itne chote se ghar main. Why don't you help them?"

"Aapke baba Mr basu ke itne ache friend the phir bhi unke upar itna loan itna chota ghar unhone MrBasu se madad kyun nahin mangi"

Prerna nodded and understood.

"Are chalo chalo bhog baki hain. Kya kar rahin hoon."

"Main aati hoon" Prerna left.

Mamooni – "waise achi hain. Dekhne main sundar hain theek thak ghar ki hain. Kaise majboor kiya shaadi ke liye"