Om Parvati pataye Har Har Mahadev
The Mehra house was glowing with early-morning brightness. Everyone was busy—decorating, arranging flowers, prepping for the Mahashivratri pooja.
The air smelled of incense, marigold, and excitement.
At the Entrance
Isha, dressed in a deep red embroidered suit, sat near the entrance, making a rangoli.
Her soft curls were tied in a loose half-up style, a few strands framing her face beautifully.
Red bangles clinked lightly as her steady hands created the patterns.
Her calm, focused expression made her look ethereal.
Just then, Shivanya walked in from the gate.
She wore a mustard-yellow straight suit, light mirror-work catching the sunlight.
Her hair was open, straight and silky, falling perfectly over her shoulders.
Small oxidised jhumkas and a bright smile completed her look.
"Waah di, kitni pyaari rangoli banai hai aapne!" Shivanya exclaimed, bending down to admire it.
"Thank you, Shivu.
And you… you're looking really pretty in this suit," Isha replied, smiling warmly.
Shivanya's cheeks lifted into a grin.
"Shrii kaha hai?" she asked, scanning the house.
"As usual… abhi tak nahi uthi." Isha sighed dramatically.
"Uth gayi hai, ready ho rahi hai," Nisha said while passing by with thaal in hand.
"Tumhe kaise pata?" Kavya asked, raising one eyebrow.
"Arey… main hi toh gayi thi uthane—"
Nisha paused mid-sentence, realising what she confessed.
Kavya gave her a look.
"Pata tha mujhe… bigaad diya hai tumne usse."
Isha and Shivanya burst into soft laughter.
"Shivu, tumhare dada-dadi nahi aa rahe? Aaj pooja mein aana tha na." Kavya asked.
"Aunty, thodi der mein aa jayenge." Shivanya replied politely.
Kavya nodded with a smile.
"Main Shrii ko dekh kar aati hoon."
Shivanya said and walked upstairs.
---
Shrishti stood in front of her mirror, putting on the final touch of kajal.
She wore a bottle-green Anarkali, soft golden embroidery sparkling whenever she moved.
Her hair was styled in loose waves, flowing freely down her back.
A small bindi, nude lipstick, light golden jhumkas—she looked effortlessly stunning, the kind of beauty that didn't even try.
Shivanya entered and stopped at the door dramatically.
"Aree waah!
Aaj suraj kahaan se nikla hai? Madam ready bhi ho gayi bina gaaliyaan khaye!" she teased loudly.
"Tu chup kar." Shrishti glared at her playfully.
"Mandir chalna hai, isliye jaldi ready hui. Mandir jaake ghar ki pooja bhi attend karni hai." Shrishti explained while adjusting her dupatta.
"Haan… aaj Malhotra bhi toh aa rahe hain—"
Shivanya said casually… but the moment the word Malhotra slipped out, Shrishti froze.
Her dupatta stopped mid-air.
Her breath hitched.
A tiny pause—barely a second, but enough.
Shivanya noticed immediately.
"Kya hua? Chal, late ho raha hai tujhe." she said softly, nudging her back to reality.
Shrishti blinked, forcing herself to breathe normally.
"Haan… chalo."
She whispered, picking up her phone and walking out of the room.
But the slight tremble in her hands…
that gave away everything she was trying to hide.
Namish paced in the hall, adjusting cushions that were already perfectly placed.
"Jaldi, jaldi karo… sab aate hi honge!" he said, his voice carrying the familiar fatherly urgency.
Nisha came forward, wiping her hands on her dupatta.
"Sab ho gaya, sab ready hai. Aap tension mat lo."
Just then—
Ding Dong.
The doorbell echoed through the house.
Everyone froze for a micro-second… and then excitement burst like confetti.
Kavya rushed first, Nisha right behind her.
The moment the door opened—
Reunion After Years
"Kritikaaa!" Kavya gasped and immediately pulled her into a tight hug.
Years melted in that one embrace.
Ishika entered next, and Nisha hugged her so tight it almost lifted her off her feet.
Both women instantly teared up, voices choking.
"Aree aap log ro kyun rahe ho?" Karan laughed lightly, wiping the corner of his eyes—trying to hide his own emotions.
Kritika sniffled, smiling through the tears.
"Itne time baad mile hain… Khushi ke aansoo hain. Aap nahi samjhoge."
----
The air around the ghat was filled with the sound of temple bells, conch shells, chants of "Har Har Mahadev!"
The sun shimmered over the Ganga, and soft wind played with the dupattas of the three girls standing together.
Isha, Shrishti, and Shivanya stood in front of the shivling, offering milk, water, and flowers.
The moment felt sacred, heavy, and pure.
One by one, they folded their hands and closed their eyes.
---
Isha's Prayer
Isha's fingers trembled slightly as she touched the brass kalash.
She closed her eyes, her face soft but full of conflict.
"Shivji… mujhe nahi pata kya sahi hai, kya galat,"
she whispered in her mind.
**"Aaj main Rudraksha se milungi. Sab keh rahe hain vo mere liye perfect hai…
par baat ye nahi hai ki vo mere liye perfect hai… baat ye hai ki kya main unke liye perfect hoon?
Kya main dono responsibilities sambhaal paungi?
Kyuki ye sirf meri life nahi… unki life ka bhi sawal hai."
She swallowed hard, her heart tightening as she continued.
"Aaj poori family bohot khush hai… unhe aise hi khush rakhna, Shivji.
Aur jo sahi ho, wahi karne ki himmat dena."
A soft breeze brushed her cheek, almost as if blessing her.
---
Shivanya's Prayer
Then Shivanya stepped forward. Her eyes glistened slightly as she folded her hands.
"Main kya hi maangu aapse, Shivji…
mujhse jitna liya hai, utna hi diya bhi hai."
Her voice trembled inside her heart.
"Bas… dadu-dadi ko khush rakhna.
Aur jo mujhe doosri family mili hai—Shrii ki—unhe bhi humesha khush rakhna."
A silence settled in her thoughts before she added softly,
"Aur mujhe himmat dena…
10 din baad vo din phir aayega…
jis din mera sab kuch le liya gaya tha.
Us din mujhe sambhaal lena, Shivji."
She opened her eyes quickly, hiding the storm she never showed anyone.
---
Shrishti's Prayer
Shrishti stepped ahead last, her steps slow but steady.
Her green anarkali fluttered in the breeze as she bowed her head.
"Main toh wahi maangungi jo humesha maangti hoon…
meri family aur usse humesha khush rakhna."
Her throat tightened; she didn't let it show.
"Aaj vo aane wala hai…
7 saal baad pehli baar usse dekhungi."
Her breath hitched for a second.
"Bas mujhe tootne mat dena.
Main nahi chahti ki use…
ya kisi ko bhi… kuch pata chale."
She opened her eyes, masking her fear behind a practiced smile.
---
After the Prayer
The three of them walked out of the mandir and sat together on the stone steps of the Banaras ghat.
Ganga's calm waves reflected the morning sun, making everything around them look golden
For a few minutes, none of them spoke.
They just breathed…
letting the peace settle in their hearts before the chaos of the day could begin.
Krish lifted his brows dramatically.
"Ab andar bhi chalna hai ya saari baatein yahi stand pe karni hain?" he said, amused.
Everyone laughed lightly and moved toward the living room together.
After a few minutes, chai aur nashta table par aa gaya, and the whole room filled with warm chatter.
Nisha looked around.
"Vaise Kritika… Yuvika nahi aai?"
"Nahi Nisha, uska competition hai. Usme hi gayi hui hai," Kritika replied, adjusting her dupatta.
"Vo bhi badi ho gayi hogi… kaafi Shrishti jitni hi toh hogi," Kavya said with a soft nostalgic smile.
"Haan… waise Shrishti, Isha, Yuvraj kahan hai?" Ishika asked, scanning the room.
"Vo Shrishti aur Isha mandir gayi hain… aur Yuvraj out of town hai," Kavya explained.
"Achha…" Ishika nodded slowly.
Ritvik, who was quietly sipping tea, leaned toward Dhairya with mischief glowing in his eyes.
"Mujhe honestly shock laga… Shrishti mandir bhi jaati hai?" Nahi, lagta nahi ,tha uske baare mein sunkar," he whispered dramatically.
Dhairya narrowed his eyes.
"Tu chup kar," he said in a warning tone, but the corner of his lips twitched—hiding a smile.
Ritvik ignored that and smirked.
"Waise bhaiya…" he shifted his attention to Rudraksha,
"aapko curiosity ho rahi hogi na… bhabhi se milne ki?"
Rudraksha's brows pulled together instantly.
"Kaun bhabhi?"
"Aree… Isha bhabhi," Ritvik said with full teasing energy.
Rudraksha rolled his eyes hard, leaning back on the sofa with a silent this boy needs help expression.
Dhairya couldn't stop the small laugh that escaped him.
Rudraksha slowly rolled his eyes, shoulders stiffening a little as he leaned back against the sofa.
"Tum log serious nahi ho sakte ek second bhi?"
His voice was calm, but the irritation was clearly there.
Dhairya looked at him and pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh.
"Isko mat chidhana… already frustrated hai," he said, shaking his head lightly.
Ritvik raised his eyebrows, a teasing smile spreading across his face.
"Reaction dekh liya? Naam sunte hi yeh haal…" he said, gesturing toward Rudra.
"Milne ke baad kya hoga… imagine."
Rudraksha turned his gaze toward Ritvik sharply.
"Bakwas band kar, Ritvik," he said in a low, controlled tone.
Ritvik held both hands up in surrender, grin still very much there.
"Okay okay… main chup.
Bas moment aane do…"
---
-----
Har dua ke peeche ek kahani hoti hai…
Aaj teen kahaniyan Shivji ke saamne khadi thi.
Ab dekhte hain — kismat kiski sunegi.
— Shrii
Isha–Rudraksha ki pehli mulaqat…
Shrishti ki 7 saal purani dhadkan ka wapas lauta ehsaas…
Aur Dil vs Destiny ka pehla war —
Bas shuru hone hi wala hai.
Stay tuned ❤️