Banaras, at 4:45 am .

The first light of dawn unfurled across the skies of Banaras, painting the horizon in soft hues of saffron and crimson. On the steps of Assi Ghat, she sat quietly, her dupatta brushing against the ancient stones, her kurti flowing in the morning breeze. The river before her glistened like molten gold, carrying whispers of eternity.

The air grew thick with devotion as the mangala aarti began. Priests clad in saffron dhotis lifted massive brass lamps, their flames dancing with the rhythm of the river wind. The sound of conch shells broke the stillness of morning, and voices rose in unison:

✨ The bride to be ,✨

"ॐ नमः शिवाय।

ॐ नमः शिवाय।

ॐ नमः शिवाय।"

The mantra echoed across the waters, bouncing off the ghats, entering her very bones. She closed her eyes, her lips moving with the chant, her heart swelling with a strange, indescribable pull-as if Lord Shiv himself was near.

जय गंगे माता, मैया जय गंगे माता ।

जो नर तुमको ध्याता, मनवांछित फल पाता ॥

(Transliteration (First Line): Jai Gange Maata, Maiya Jai Gange Maata. Meaning: "Victory to Mother Ganga, O Mother, Victory to Mother Ganga." "The person who meditates upon you, receives the fruit of their desires.")

The Universal Mantra (Chanted Towards the End) After the Aarti is performed and the camphor is lit, often hear a chant that invokes universal peace and welfare, giving the ceremony a grand, all-encompassing conclusion.

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः ।

सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु ।

मा कश्चित् दुःखभाग् भवेत् ॥

(Translations:

Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah.

Sarve Santu Niramayah.

Sarve Bhadraani Pashyantu.

Maa Kaschit Dukh-Bhaag Bhavet. Meaning: "May all beings be happy." "May all be free from illness." "May all see what is auspicious." "May no one suffer any sorrow." )

She is lost in the divinity of the place, the peace, the aura of the energy.

Then

Her trance broke when a hand pressed gently against her shoulder. She turned to find her childhood friend, eyes sparkling, yet with a touch of impatience

"Chal, abhi bhi yahi baithi raho gi  ho? Shaam ko teri shaadi hai, aur tu yaha Ganga ghoor rahi hai," her friend teased, though her eyes softened with affection.

( "Come on, are you still just sitting here? You're getting married this evening, and you're just staring at the Ganga.")

✨ Her friend ✨

The girl gave a faint smile, rising slowly, her eyes drifting one last time to the river as though it carried her secrets away.

They walked through the narrow gullies of Banaras, alive with the scent of masala chai, incense sticks, and fresh flowers being strung into garlands. Their footsteps, however, halted before the towering Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, where the chants of devotees filled the air:

"हर हर महादेव!

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्।

उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥"

(Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam,

Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat)

Inside the sanctum, the air smelled of sandalwood and ghee lamps. The girl bowed deeply before the Shivling, her forehead touching the cool stone. Her heart raced, and her palms trembled as though some unseen power coursed through her.

She take the duptta and wrap over her head then

She took a tamba kalash and filled water in it and pour it on the shivling and wishpers the mantra and after pouring she sit down and close her eyes and praying for the upcoming life and asking for lord Shiva blessings and then walk towards maa gauri and sit down and pray and ask for her blessings and guidance in the upcoming and new life as she going to be a wife.

Then

The old priest, his forehead marked with ash, looked at her as though he had been expecting her. Placing his hand gently on her head, he whispered words that lingered heavy with mystery:

"Shiv ki kripa tum par hai, beti... lekin yaad rakhna, jo aaj shuru hoga woh sirf ek shaadi nahi-ek yatra hogi. Tumhe chunauti milegi, aur tumhara raasta samanya dulhan jaisa nahi hoga."

( "Shiv's grace is upon you, my child... but remember, what begins today is not just a marriage-it will be a journey. You will face challenges, and your path will not be like that of an ordinary bride." )

Her breath caught, confusion and unease flickering in her eyes. And she thinks how he knows about the marriage. But before she could question, the priest stepped back, his gaze steady yet unreadable. The temple bells rang louder, drowning the silence between them.

As she stepped out into the morning light, the city of Banaras seemed different-as if it too had heard the prophecy. And somewhere deep inside, she knew-this day would change her forever.

As she stepped out of the temple, the clang of bells still echoed in her ears, mingling with the fading vibrations of the mantra. The priest's words clung to her mind like shadows she couldn't shake off.

"Ek divya yatra ka aarambh hoga... tumhara raasta alag hoga."

Her footsteps slowed, her friend walking ahead, unaware of the storm rising inside her. She pulled her dupatta tighter around her shoulders, as if shielding herself from something unseen.

Why did his words feel so heavy? It's just a wedding... isn't it? she thought, her heart thudding against her ribs.

The city around her was awake now-vendors calling, conch shells blowing, pilgrims dipping into the sacred waters. Life moved as it always did in Banaras. Yet, to her, everything seemed different. The bright marigolds hanging from doorways looked almost too vibrant, the chants of "Har Har Mahadev!" seemed to echo with a hidden warning, and even the river, her beloved Ganga, flowed with an intensity she had never noticed before.

She glanced back at the temple, its spire piercing the sky. A shiver ran through her. What if... this marriage is not just about vows and sindoor? What if it binds me to something larger... something I cannot yet see?

Her friend called her name, snapping her out of her thoughts. She forced a smile, but deep inside, unease lingered like a silent prayer unanswered.

Am I walking towards happiness... or into a destiny I cannot escape?

The morning sun glowed brighter, blinding her vision for a moment, and in that haze she felt it again-that strange pull, as though Shiv himself was watching her, waiting for the evening that would change her life forever.

While walking and descending the stairs lost in her thoughts she bumped into someone and almost loses her balance "Ouch oo " but then she grip the railing on the side of the stairs and she turned to see a man standing their his upper body is naked  a red colour dupatta draped around his neck and wearing a red cotton dhoti.

She can only see the back of the man and some tattoos , who is just few steps away tall , muscular and having a unyielding aura which can not be ignored.

She came out of her thoughts chants are all around them and then she said to the man

' I am sorry, wo mera dhyan nahi tha .,'

The man who was standing their looking straight and after hearing what she said a smirk came on his lips like waiting for her response and said

" Hmm, lagta h aapka dhyan kisi or jagah tha , ya kisi or cheez me , yah phir kisi or shaksh me "

( "Hmm, it seems like your attention was somewhere else, or on something else, or maybe on someone else.")

On hearing this she is totally confused yet something is true in his words but she said " huh sorry..?"

But his smirk change into a slow smile that can make any person scared his smile is like he knows everything, but he didn't say anything he just stars walking and left her

She was totally confused she said

" What was that , ajeeb Aadmi h kuch bhi bol k gya mere to palle hi nahi pada .

Khair choddo .."

( "Such a weird guy he said whatever came to his mind, and I couldn't make any sense of it

Anyways." )

Then she again turned and come out her friend and she both are going towards their car BMW M5 which is on the road when suddenly out of nowhere a car comes in full speed and going to hit their car on which her friend almost choke up in panic she scream " oh noooooo....."

But the car which is the none rather than Defender didn't hit and long and treating sounds of break pull up and the car stop just inches away ..

She didn't get time to understand what just happened and her friend whom she comes her breath stops for a moment.

For a moment no body moves their are only few people because she parked the car away from mandir .

Then an instant her soul come back to her body she moves towards the car while saying

" Abe madar...."

Before she completed her sentence the bride to be and put her hand on her mouth and said

"Language,...? Pagal h kya tu , kya bol rahi h "

(Are you mad what are you saying)

Then her friend said loudly

"abee hattt , meri gaadi thok deta ye kon h aadmi ya aurat ruk tu mujhe dekhne de ise ye asee kese kisi k samne gadi la ke gadhi kr sakta "

( "Hey you shut up , what if he had hit my car, who is this person, a man or a woman? Wait, let me see. How can he/she park their car like this in front of someone?" )

She is talking loudly to her friend complaining about the car and the person sitting inside the car wearing black goggles can hear her and their a low tempting smirk on his face

Looking at both of them but they both can't look at him all the glasses of the car is black and they are standing few fits away

Then her friend look at the defender trying to sneak in through glass but couldn't come towards the car and said

"andhe ki aulaad dikhta nahi h kya itni badi gaadi kadhi h or tuffan mill ki tarah is gaadi ko udda ta hua le kr aa raha abhi meri gaadi thok jati to .."

(Are you blind or what? Can't you see such a huge car standing here? And you're driving so fast, like a storm. What if you had hit my car right now?" )

she was too loud but the person sitting inside the car didn't bother himself just silently watching or observing she is towards the front passenger seat and then see knock on the window glass " bahar nikal abee , bahar nikal k apne thopde ( face ) k darshan do "

(Come out now, come out and show me your face.)

She seems very very angry 😡.

She hit her leg light on the front tiyer and said

"bahar nikal ye to bta tu h kon ... "

But the other person sitting their calmly one hand on the gair while other on stairing wheel finger taping like this should he go out and shut her mouth? Or just enjoy her yelling?...

(Come out and tell me who the hell you are...)

But in instant she again speak "tu ashe nahi manega na ruk , " she look here and there then she see their is a iron rod is placed on the outside of the building she go towards it to take it ..

( You won't agree like this..., wait )

The man sitting their thinking where she is going and what she will do , Even her friend also thinking the same but can't say anything because she knows how much she loves her car .

She took the iron rod and walk towards the defender the man saw it and he knows what she gonna do "Shit !" He curse under his breath change the ghair before she hit the front glass of the car the man immediately reverse the car

And turned the car and run away before he completely run she threw the iron rod and it hit the back of the car and the headlight of the car broke but he didn't stop the car he just run away...

to be continued.....

What do you think about this chapter?

"What do you think the priest's words meant? Are they a blessing...

or a warning about her future? 👁️"

"If the Ganga witnessed her prayers today, will it also witness her pain... or her love story? 🌊"

Let me know in the comments.....