"But their gaze isn't just limited to the face..." Mauli's voice quivered.
After a brief argument, Mauli agreed to take her along. She brought out her bicycle.
Since Advika knew how to ride, she quickly covered her face and sat in front while Mauli sat behind… and the bicycle began its journey...
Riding a bicycle on village paths isn't easy—bumpy, uneven roads… and on top of that, a men's cycle. Advika was barely managing to keep it going.
Suddenly, a jeep approached from the front, causing her balance to falter, and the cycle crashed into it.
Both Mauli and Advika fell into the fields, which were full of slush due to the paddy cultivation.
Anay Thakur stepped out of the jeep and said,
"Hey Rajan, check if they've gone straight to hell…"
Rajan quickly jumped into the fields and extended a hand toward Mauli, but she preferred the mud over his hands. Rajan stood there ogling lecherously.
Mauli stood up on her own, and so did Advika.
Their clothes, soaked in the muddy water, clung tightly to their bodies.
Seeing Advika's figure, Rajan now moved toward her, but Anay's voice echoed—
"Rajan!"
Rajan immediately turned and replied,
"Yes, Bhaiya Ji…"
"They're alive?" Anay raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, Bhaiya Ji…" Rajan nodded.
"Then let's go…" Anay said and got back into the jeep.
Rajan, disappointed, followed him.
Advika and Mauli stepped out of the field, but all eyes working in the fields were still on them.
Anay glanced once at both the girls and then at the men—everyone immediately lowered their eyes.
"Hey, listen…" Anay called out.
"Yes, Bhaiya Ji…" Mauli responded with folded hands.
"Get in the jeep…" Anay said, eyes closed.
"But we have to go to work…" Mauli mumbled.
Anay opened his eyes—he recognized the voice instantly. He looked away and said,
"Go home today… we won't deduct your pay…"
Mauli gave a slight smile. Advika kept staring at Anay. When Mauli signaled her, both got into the jeep.
Rajan was eyeing them in the mirror when Anay's voice thundered,
"If this vehicle bumps into even a pebble, I'll shoot all six bullets of this pistol right into your..."
He glanced back at the girls and held his tongue.
"…right into your chest. Understood?"
"Yes, Bhaiya Ji…" Rajan said, trembling.
Anay could feel the second girl's gaze on him again and again, but turning around was beneath his pride.
He looked in the mirror—fierce, red eyes lined with heavy kohl. At the same time, Advika noticed him looking and turned her gaze away. Anay forgot to even blink.
After a while, they arrived at Mauli's house. The girls got off.
It was as if Anay woke from a trance. Flustered, he looked at Advika and asked,
"Hey, what's your name?"
Advika looked at him and walked away, ignoring him.
Anay's eyes narrowed. Mauli began trembling. She held his feet and said,
"Bhaiya Ji, she's a distant relative… she doesn't know the rules here… we'll make her understand… she won't do it again… please forgive her, Bhaiya Ji…"
Anay looked at her and asked,
"Name…?"
"Advika…" Mauli replied, scared.
"Hmm…" Anay muttered, putting his sunglasses back on and signaled Rajan to drive.
As soon as the jeep left, Mauli breathed a sigh of relief. She ran inside to Advika's room, who was still in the bathroom.
Mauli also bathed quickly and changed clothes. By then, Advika had come out.
"Di, you shouldn't have done that…" Mauli whispered as she approached her. She didn't want this to reach her father.
"What?" Advika asked.
"You ignored Bhaiya Ji and walked inside. It's a good thing his mood was calm today, or else… defying him means only one thing—death," Mauli said, frightened.
Advika said nothing and kept looking outside.
Mauli looked at her and said,
"Di, since neither of us has any work today, why don't we go to the temple?"
"Hmm…" was all Advika said, lost in thought.
At the temple, Advika was offering prayers when suddenly a voice came from behind:
"Har Har Mahadev!"
Advika saw everyone stepping back and moving to the corners. Mauli also grabbed her hand and pulled her aside.
A commanding man entered, accompanied by a woman draped in a Banarasi saree, her hair adorned with a garland, and heavy jewelry marking her status. A troop of men followed behind.
Advika whispered,
"Mauli, who is that?"
Mauli muttered,
"Di, not now… I'll tell you later…"
Everyone folded hands. Only after the couple passed did the crowd move again.
Advika kept looking at them walking away. Mauli came close and said,
"Di… they're Bade Thakur and Badi Thakurain… and that man in the red kurta, he's their nephew—Daksheet Thakur." Her voice tinged with bitterness.
"Daksheet Thakur…" Advika repeated.
"Stay away from him, Di… he's not a good man," Mauli said softly.
"What do you mean—not a good man? Then what kind of man is he?"
"Let's go home, Di… this isn't the place to talk…" Mauli said, quickening her pace.
Too be Continue.....