5 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧.

As the early morning light peeked through the curtains, Tara, Kusum, and Meera hurried about the kitchen, preparing the prasad for 1st day of Navratri. The men of the household were busy outside, adorning the haveli with marigold and mango leaves, turning it into a colorful spectacle.

Inside, the kitchen buzzed with activity, the women working together to make the bhog. Despite the early hour, there was a sense of excitement in the air as they prepared for the festivities.

The sound of utensils clattering and laughter filled the kitchen. Each dish was crafted with care and devotion, a symbol of reverence for the goddess.

Outside, the haveli sparkled with decorations, the vibrant colors adding to the festive atmosphere. The puja hall, in particular, was transformed into a sacred space, with flickering diyas and fragrant incense creating an aura of sanctity.

As the preparations neared completion, Tara, Kusum, and Meera shared smiles of satisfaction.

With the prasad ready and the sun rising in the sky, they looked forward to the blessings and abundance that Navratri would bring.

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As the sun rose higher, the preparations for the puja intensified. The air filled with the delicious scent of freshly cooked bhog, lovingly arranged by Tara, Kusum, and Meera on shiny silver plates.

With the bhog ready, everyone gathered in the puja hall for the kalash stapna, signaling the start of Navratri. The women adorned the kalash with flowers and sacred symbols, seeking blessings for the days ahead.

Today, everyone in the household, including the men, fasted in honor of the occasion, setting aside their regular meals. Only the youngest children were exempt from fasting, their innocence adding to the purity of the day.

Outside, villagers arrived dressed in their best clothes, eager to join the celebrations. The courtyard buzzed with excitement as neighbors exchanged greetings and shared in the festive spirit.

As the priest chanted ancient prayers and bells rang out, a sense of tranquility settled over the gathering. Together, they embarked on the spiritual journey of Navratri, united in prayer and devotion.

After the prayers, villagers sat together in the spacious backyard, where they were served the special food prepared for Navratri. This food was made using ingredients that align with the fasting rules of Navratri, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and nuts. As the villagers savored the tasty dishes, they shared laughter and stories, enjoying the sense of togetherness that Navratri brings.

After the villagers left, the living room buzzed with laughter and chatter of the family and the children as Tara, Meera, and Manvi arranged the bhog for serving. They worked together, setting out the dishes with care, ensuring everything looked appealing for their family.

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It had been 5 months since Tara's marriage, and although their relationship remained unchanged still maybe something changed, Tara felt a shift in her emotions. Despite her disappointment with Prithvi, his small gestures still managed to stir something within her.

One evening, as Tara spent time with Manik, Prithvi approached them and tucked a flower behind Manik's ear. Surprisingly, without a word, he also placed a freshly bloomed red rose behind Tara's ear before quietly leaving with Manik in his arms. Tara felt an unfamiliar sense of happiness wash over her, her heart fluttering at Prithvi's unexpected display of affection.

In those brief moments, Tara's heart raced with excitement when she saw Prithvi's unexpected show of affection. Just the simple act of putting a flower behind her ear made her feel special and filled her with warmth and a desire she hadn't felt in a long time. As Prithvi walked away with Manik, Tara couldn't help but smile. The image of the red rose tucked behind her ear lingered, giving her hope that maybe, despite their struggles, there was still a chance for their relationship to grow.

In these 5 months, Tara learned about Prithvi and Manik's food preferences and habits. She noticed that both father and son shared a dislike for lauki.Manik made faces whenever he saw lauki, and Prithvi wouldn't even touch the bowl of lauki, showing his aversion to the vegetable.

In these 5 months, Tara didn't receive any news about her mother, Aruna, nor did anyone from her maternal side come to meet her but for the past few days, she had been feeling uneasy internally about her mother. Deep down, she was desperate to meet her.

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It was an evening of Navratri, and while the women were busy working in the kitchen, the men sat on the terrace engaged in conversation. Meanwhile, Manik sat alone near the kitchen area on a khatiya, lost in his own world of imagination.

Tara kept a watchful eye on Manik from the kitchen window, her concern evident in her gaze.

The great iron doors stood open, allowing a small black puppy to wander inside. Excitement sparkled in Manik's eyes as he spotted the puppy. Hastily climbing down from the khatiya, he dashed into the kitchen towards his mother.

"MAA!" he called out to Tara.

"What's the matter, Manik?" Tara asked, gathering him in her arms.

"Come with me, Maa, I have something to show you," Manik said eagerly.

"But I'm still working, beta," Tara replied.

Despite her protest, Manik persisted until Kusum intervened, saying, "Tara, go with him. When he's insisting so much, there must be something special."

With no other option, Tara reluctantly stepped out of the kitchen with Manik.

"Look, Maa, there's a puppy! I want him, Maa. I'll play with him, and he'll be my friend or brother," Manik exclaimed excitedly.

Tara glanced at the puppy, who was busy sniffing the floor.

"Do you want him?" Tara asked, noticing Manik's excitement.

Manik nodded eagerly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. Tara gently took Manik by the hand and approached the puppy. At first, the puppy retreated in fear, but Tara crouched down slowly and extended her hand. With cautious sniffing and licking, the puppy gradually relaxed, allowing Tara to pet him gently.

"Mata Rani has sent you a gift, Manik. Let's take him and give him a bath, and then he'll be with you, okay?" Tara suggested, her voice filled with warmth.

Manik's eyes lit up at Tara's words, thrilled at the prospect of having a new companion.

After giving the puppy a bath and wrapping him in a towel, Tara placed both the puppy and Manik on the khatiya. She quickly changed her clothes and then resumed her work in the kitchen, keeping a watchful eye on Manik and the puppy as they played together. Despite her busy schedule, Tara couldn't help but smile at the sight of her son's joy, grateful for the simple moments of happiness that filled their home.

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Tara was deeply engrossed in her work when she heard the piercing cry of Manik. Her heart raced as she rushed outside, followed by Kusum, Meera, and Manvi. They found Manik with a bleeding head, and Tara's heart shattered at the sight.

"Manik!!!" Tara exclaimed, rushing to him and gathering him into her arms. Prithvi arrived soon after, his face filled with concern as he joined them.

"Manvi, bring my medical bag from the room," Prithvi instructed urgently, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.

Meanwhile, Atharv, Meera's son, stood nearby holding the puppy, wearing a disgusted expression as he observed the commotion around Manik.

Prithvi swiftly cleaned Manik's wound and bandaged his head, bringing a sense of relief to the tense atmosphere. Tara couldn't contain her tears as she watched Prithvi tend to their son's wound.

Amidst the chaos, Meera demanded answers from Atharv.

"Atharv, tell us exactly what happened," Meera demanded, her voice tinged with urgency.

Atharv, still wearing a disdainful expression towards Manik, reluctantly spoke up.

"He got hurt because of him only. If he had listened to me, he wouldn't be suffering like this," Atharv replied, casting a blaming glance towards Manik.

Meera pressed for clarification. "Be clear, Atharv. Explain what happened," she insisted, her gaze unwavering.

"I asked him to give me the puppy, but he refused. He said I could play with the puppy but couldn't take him with me at home because it's his puppy. So, I pushed him," Atharv explained, his tone unapologetic.

Meera's disbelief turned to anger. "Why did you push him? Manik is your little brother," she admonished, her frustration evident.

"So what can this poor boy do with a puppy? 𝙃𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨. He can't even hold it. Why should he-?"

Before Atharv could finish his sentence, Meera's patience snapped. Without hesitation, she delivered a swift, resounding slap across his face, silencing him mid-sentence.

Listening to Atharv's hurtful words, Meera felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She turned towards Tara, intending to apologize, but the cruelty of Atharv's remarks left Tara speechless. Without hesitation, she gathered the unconscious Manik into her arms and swiftly departed from the scene.

Tears blurred Meera's vision as she attempted to convey her apologies to Prithvi, but he too left, following Tara's lead. Kusum, meanwhile, instructed her second son Suraj to fetch the doctor quickly, before hurrying off to prepare some herbal drink for Manik.

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As midnight descended, neither Tara nor Prithvi left Manik's side. Despite the late hour, there was no sign of sleep in their weary eyes. Tara sat vigilantly beside Manik, gently changing the wet wipes on his forehead, while Prithvi remained by his feet, rubbing them in a soothing gesture.

Since the evening, they hadn't stepped out of the room, their concern for Manik consuming their every thought. Each passing moment felt like an eternity as they anxiously waited for any sign of improvement in Manik's condition.

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On the third day of Navratri, there was a slight improvement in Manik's health due to the medicines Prithvi had given. The morning after the puja was calm, with Tara by Manik's side, praying for his recovery.

Suddenly, chaos erupted in the haveli. Tara stepped out into the corridor and saw Kusum, Meera, and Padma trying to prevent a woman from entering. Kusum pleaded, "Please, don't interfere in our lives."

"Why shouldn't I? I heard about Manik and I'm going to see him," the unknown woman retorted, pushing past Kusum and barging in.

"Stop her!" Kusum shouted, but the woman quickly climbed the staircase, heading towards Manik's room. Tara, fearing for Manik's safety, shut the door firmly and stood guard outside.

As the woman approached, she demanded, "Get out of my way and let me see Manik."

"No, Tara, don't let her in!" Kusum cried out.

But Tara stood her ground. "No," she firmly replied.

"Who do you think you are to block my path?" the woman snapped in anger.

"I'm Manik's mother," Tara declared.

"Oh, I see. So, you're the slut that Thakur married," the woman sneered.

As tensions escalated in the haveli, Prithvi's voice boomed through the corridor, demanding answers. But as the woman turned towards him, Prithvi's expression darkened, a mixture of anger and disgust evident in his eyes.

"Namaste, 𝙅𝙞𝙟𝙖 𝙟𝙞," the woman sneered, her words dripping with malice. "I hope you haven't forgotten about us."

Prithvi's jaw clenched at the mention of the woman's relationship to him. He braced himself, ready to confront the sinister presence that had invaded their home.