vii.

Geetanjali kept sitting in her chamber, lost in her thoughts. Her sister, whom she'd bid farewell a few hours ago, had asked her to come over their home. She wanted to visit her parents too, she missed her mother. And about her father, despite he being distant towards her, she still missed him.

It's not that, her in-laws don't allow her. It's just her father and his orthodox views. Only if her father was a bit considerate towards her feelings. Only if he hadn't gifted her to the king of Gauravgarh, then she would've been in her home by now.

But then, she wouldn't had experienced, what love feels like-

Just then, the man of her thoughts appeared in the chamber. She smiled at him, as he sat beside her, " Haven't you eaten yet? "

" I just didn't have the appetite. " now she couldn't say that her stomach was full of his mother's bitter words, could she?

" Are you sad because of Princess Mrinmayee's departure? " she nodded leaning against his shoulder, " Alright then, why don't we go for a tour of the kingdom? Your mental state will also improve a bit- "

" I'm all ready. " she stood in front of him, jumping with excitement.

He chuckled before continuing, " If we go like this, all the attention will be drawn to us. We need to wear ordinary clothes to disguise ourselves. "

Saying so he called an attendee, asking her to help Geetanjali in getting ready, and went out to prepare a few things himself.

A few minutes later, they're already on the way to the main town of Gauravgarh. Dressed as simple as ever, Geetanjali hold her stomach and burst out laughing, while Mrityunjay glared at her.

" I didn't know that you're also afraid of Her Highness. " he glared at her more.

" If she find out that we're traveling dressed as ordinary people, disguising ourselves like ordinary citizens, do you think she would spare our lives? That's why I- "

" -escape from the back door of the palace? " she giggled.

" Okay! You can laugh at me later as much as you want. Now tell me, where do you wish to go? " he covered her face a little with the dupatta and adjusted his fake moustache.

" What about the Bhairava temple? " she'd visited that temple before too, but today it'll be like a common citizen, with no royal treatment.

When they reached the bustling town market, passing through which the temple of Lord Shiva is located, she hold his hand in nervousness, " What if someone recognises us? "

" When people nowadays doesn't even have time enough to give to their own family, then who will waste their time recognising us? Don't worry, nobody will. " he guided her through the market, and like a child in awe, she kept looking here and there.

From the stalls to the fruit vendors, everyone was busy calling customers to their shop. She could also see a few girls ogling at her husband. Shooting daggers by her eyes, she scowled at their audacity, and wrapped her arms around his, possesively. As they keep walking among the crowds, a disturbing scene caught her attention.

A man, who seems like a vendor, was yelling at a skinny man, who was folding his hands in front of him. Suddenly, the vendor took hold of a stick and hit the fellow, but his painful scream was swallowed by the noisy crowd. She didn't get to know what happened after that, as Mrityunjay walked themselves out of the mass of people, now to the visible pathway of the temple.

They joined the long line of devotees going towards the temple, and after waiting patiently, they got the blessings of Lord Shiva. After taking the offerings, they sat near the stairs to have a moment of peace, in the serene environment of the temple.

" Do you know- " she turned towards him, " -that another name for Lord Shiva is Mrityunjay. "

" Woah! It seems you too, like other girls, had observed the sixteen Mondays fast, that's why you got a husband like Lord Shiva himself. " she smiled at his words, accepting that, he's no less than any God for her.

Their happy moment got interrupted, when they heard a commotion outside the temple gate. Reaching there, they saw one of the priest scolding a woman, who'd a little girl by her side.

Involuntarily, Geetanjali moved forward and heard their conversation, " Sir, I beg of you, please let us enter the temple. I've have come with my child- "

" Foolish woman! Don't you even know this? Only devotees with pure and sacred hearts are allowed to enter this place. Low caste people like you, with evil omen surrounding them are prohibited from coming here. "

" I'm begging you, please let me- "

" Leave this place immediately, otherwise we have other means to deal with you. "

The woman cast a longing glance at the old priest, and the people surrounding her. But, upon getting no response, she started walking back holding the hand of her child, when she was stopped midway by a voice.

" Stop " all the people including the priest, look at Geetanjali as she stepped out of the people towards the gate.

" Do you even realise what you're doing? " the priest blocked her way.

" I know, and I also know that they have the right to seek God's blessings. And you have no authority to deny them their God. " Geetanjali said with firmness and led the woman to the temple.

Once coming out, she told the woman to return to her home. The woman bent to touch Geetanjali's feet.

" Please, don't do this. It's my duty towards humanity. "

The priest scowled at her, " Now the entire temple needs to be purified." and started chanting some prayers.

" It's your mind that needs purification, Sir. " not letting him say a thing, she continued further, " I know that you're the chief priest of this temple and have been entrusted with its management. And that it's indeed a noble work. But I request you, Sir, not to judge anyone's actions or anyone's caste. That's for God to decide. Forgive me if I've spoken to you disrespectfully, or if my words are crude, but it was necessary to make you understand a few things. " Geetanjali joined her hands, and started retreating, leaving a fuming priest behind, when a stone hit her hard on her elbow.

She hissed, holding her elbow, where a bluish bruise was slowly forming.

" How dare you to raise your voice against the head priest! You imbecile! " the man who'd thrown the stone, took predatory steps towards her, but before he could as much as touch her hair, he was thrown back forcefully.

The man, raging like a bull, tried to throw a punch at the intruder, but was hit back more brutally. Wincing, he hold his nose and look up at the man, whose eyes are enough to burn down his whole existence.

" Aren't you ashamed to raise your hand against a woman? " he went towards Geetanjali and checked her bruises.

" Who the hell are you? " the priest narrowed his eyebrows in suspicion, since the man seemed somewhat familiar.

Discarding his moustache, Mrityunjay fully turned towards the people and the priest, " Will you still ask who I am, respected head priest? "