ARIV'S ROSTER

Love find a way

- Sarika Katti

The Rajarajeshwari temple complex shopping market had grown so crowded that it had become challenging to cross the road. A range of shops, from beauty services to everyday essentials, made this place very lucrative for every dweller in this area to shop here. Carts stood at every corner of the crossroads, selling flowers, vegetables, and fruits. A few kilometres from the complex is the Rajarajeshwari temple, built in the 1960s; it is a serene place that attracts many devotees worldwide.

On a hot summer noon, Ariv glimpsed a lady in a ghagra with a heavy tassel rope gold necklace and danglings in Rajarajeshwari Nagar temple. She was sitting alone and in tears. She looked at Ariv and turned away. Ariv recognised her as his schoolmate, briskly walked toward her, and asked, "Are you Shilpa?" "Yes," she muttered, bent her head, and turned her face to avoid him. She smelled of vomit.

"Is there anything I can help you with? You seem preoccupied with something," Ariv said, kneeling on his knees. "Tantrik energies," people were whispering!

"I believe he just vomited on me because of a stomach upset before tying the knot. So he walked out of the marriage hall, and I followed him," Shilpa spoke with her eyes red and her hand shivering.

"Where did he go?" Ariv questioned "To the doctor," she responded "What would you do now?" Ariv asked inquisitively. "He said he would come back, but he didn't. So I just spoke to him; he ain't coming," saying Shilpa broke down, "People in the marriage hall believe the marriage got cancelled, but that ain't true. Now I have no proof to show anyone that I am married. People believe I have become hysterical." "Well, why don't you talk to him again?" Ariv asked.

"I did; he said the marriage is jinxed, and not accepting the marriage made more sense. His mom doesn't want to go ahead with the marriage." "What about his ethics. How can he marry a woman and deny it?" Ariv asked, surprised.