When some sort of light ray reached my sweaty face, I slowly opened my eyes. My eyelids were not opening as if they had much weight. My body was numb and weak, the effect of chloroform you know.

I slowly opened my eyes but the surrounding was unknown to a great extent. It was a dark basement I think with lots of cartons and waste materials piled up. Dusty, dark room with broken window panes. A layer of dust had accumulated on the pane.

When I tried to sit straight, I realized something is wrong. I was gagged up, unable to make a free movement.

Severe headache occurred as if I am on a mari go round. Everything seemed to rotate in front of my eyes.

I recalled the moment before I fainted

I entered the temple and placed my ears to the door to hear what were they talking about.

"Logo ko aise hi bhakti k naam pe bewakoof banayenge" they all laughed hearing which my eyes widen and I tried to hear more diligently.

"Abh ye saare dhan aur us ladki ko leke bhag jayenge" said the other.

Which girl were they talking about suddenly someone from behind pushed me inside and I fell on the floor.

"Prabhu ye ladki chup chup k baatein sun rahi thi" said the one who pushed me in.

I stood up and glared at them, "jhoote log, sharam nehi ati tum logo ko?"

Pandit Triloknath laughed at me, "peheli bar dekha hain ki chidiya khud pinjre mein ayi hain".

"Ruko tumlogo ko aisa sabak sikhaungi ki saat pushte yaad rakhenge" saying I tried to leave but a man held my hand and I immediately slapped him, "Don't you dare to touch me"

"Mein tumlogo ka sach samne laungi!" I yelled and was about to leave but a firm hand held my mouth from behind.

I struggled to free myself but it was chloroform that started to intoxicate me as it reached my respiratory tract.

Everything started to blackout in front of my eyes

And then.....

My breathing became heavier, my thoughts were clouded by the unknown; I have already faced such a situation earlier and it still traumatizes me.

A man entered with food and sat beside me, opening me up, "ye khalo" he commanded.

"Tum log kaha leke aye ho mujhe!" I said with rage and threw the food away which angered him.

He stood up in anger and tried to approach me but I forwarded my feet and he fell on the floor.

"Hahahaa!" I started laughing, "gira huya insaan girega hi. I held my stomach and laughed at him unless the door opened and a familiar voice said, "kya ho raha hain yaha?" Which made me go quiet.

I boarded the train to Haridwar. Is she fine? Why she always lands herself in trouble?

But why would they kidnap her? They didn't even ask for a ransom.

I took out her picture, "tumhe maza aata hain kya mujhe satane mein, apne apko musibat mein dalne mein? Bolo chup kyu ho? Humesha to bak bak karti ho?

Many bhakts were on the train along with me. One group of people were gossiping that reached my ears.

"Arrey devi ki darshan karenge, sakhshat manushya avatar".

What nonsense!! People still believe all these. I am least interested to meet that Devi. All am I going to do is find Bondita.

Pandit ji walked in seeing whom my blood boiled. Seeing him all my fun vanished. Yes, I am scared of her but I will not show my fear. I am a strong Bondita.

I was sweating, breathing hard and rambling. He looked at the other man and then at me, "tujhe yaha mazak suj raha hain?"

I looked away and ignored him.

"Dekhiye Prabhu is ladki ne sara khana gira diya phir mujhe gira k mujhpe hasne lagi" complained the man.

"Kya ye sach hain?" He asked me.

"Ha sach hain aur mein phirse karungi" I argued.

He held my hand firmly.

"Hath choro!' I glared at me, "mujhe dard ho raha hain".

"Tu humare liye devi banegi aur hummey paise dilaigi" he held my hand more firmly.

"Mein galat jam mein sath nehi dungi aur mein kyu sunu tum logo ki baat bhala, pagal hu kya mein?" I said and tried to free my hand.

A woman brought another plate of food, "khana kha le, baad mein humare liye devi bhi banna hain" saying this he left my hand.

"Mein koi devi nehi banungi" I picked up a fruit and took a bite, "mein daarti hu kya tum jaise bandaro se, mein bhi dekhti hu mere iccha k virudh kaise banate ho mujhe devi

That woman made me have food.

After a few minutes, I realized something was wrong with the food when I started to feel weak and dizzy.

Little did I know they had drugged me.

I could barely open my eyes and fainted immediately.

Few women made her dress up like a goddess while she remained unconscious.

Lakhs of people were waiting to have the darshan of their goddess.

Finally, an unconscious Bondita was on the stage and made to sit on a throne with support. She wore a red benarasi ornamented with golden jewellery and a forehead filled with sindoor.

"Devi Sati ki Jay!" Screamed the crowd. They threw flower petals on her and sought her blessings.

They put on garlands on an unconscious Bondita. People placed money in the daan peti to see her.

Rich merchants presented gold and jewels to have her darshan.

Bondita had no idea that she was used as a means of exploiting the poor.

"Bhakt jaana maa sabko ashirwad dengi" said Triloknath.

Anirudh entered the temple but couldn't see her due to the crowd. He was desperate to meet that bastard pandit and confront him.

He knew some kind of puja was going on but whose, he had no idea.

He made way through the crowd, pushing the people away, towards the temple.

As he approached the stage, he was numb....

Bondita?

"Bondita!" He yelled, "Roko ye sab natak!"

Hearing his shout, all went quiet.

"Ye sab kya ro raha hain!" Saying he tried to approach Bondita but a few men stopped him. "Humare devi k samakhsh jana galat hain" said those men.

"Devi?" He now addressed the crowd, "Bondita patni hain meri, koi devi nehi'.

"Jhooth!" Yelled Pandit ji, "devi hain ye"

All crowd shouted, "Ha ha devi hain ye".

"Bondita utho na!" He understood she was drugged, "Bondita hosh mein ao" he cried.

"Mere pas saboot hain" he said sternly and took out both of their picture from their Pocket.

Pandit ji gestured something to a man and before he could show the picture the man snatched it and tore it apart.

"Murkh manushya, jaa yaha se!" Ordered Panditji.

"Mein Bondita ko liye bina kahi nehi jaunga" now he again addressed the crowd, "ap logo ko dikh nehi raha wo behosh hain...Bondita utho na".

Gurudev suddenly saw Bondita's hand moving, "agar is ladki ko hosh a gaya to ye sab bata degi".

"Bolo har har mahadev!" He yelled.

His disciples started singing, people started to clap, the sound of bell and Sconch overpowered Anirudh's painful scream to reach her ears.

"Bondita utho na!" He cried but the sound of Arti overpowered his voice.

Few women took Bondita inside.

When he tried to approach her, a few men held him, "choro mujhe! Bondita maat jao please, utho na Bondita!"

They dragged him out and threw him out of the temple, "wapas humare pawan mandir aur humare devi pe ankh utha k bhi maat dekhna" they warned him and closed the main gate.

"Bhakto" Panditji called the innocent crowd, " manushya ka sabse bara dusan hain irsha, us nadan ladke k jhoot ko hum apne pawan devi tak aane nehi denge".

"Ha ha hum rakhsha karenge apne devi ki" cried the manipulated crowd, "ussey apne devi tak aane nehi denge".

Pandit ji made an evil smile.

I was feeling weaker. I woke up slowly and found myself dressed in a red saree and heavy jewellery. I held my head, "pati babu abh tak kyu nehi aye? Wo mujhe bhul gye hain kya? Bhul hi gye honge warna abhtak a jaate.

Few men and women entered. "Tum logo ne mere khane mein kuch milaya tha kya?" I glared at them.

One woman smiled, "Bondita shant ho jao"

"Jao chai lao, mera saar dard ho raha hain" I ordered them.

"Ae ladki tujhe utha k laye hain hum, ye hotel nehi hain" the man looked at me furiously.

"Chai lao chai lao chai lao!" I screamed at them.

"Accha accha latey hain, chillana maat samjhi" saying they went away.

As soon as they went away something mischievous crept into my mind. I saw an oil's can so I spilled it all over the floor. As soon as they entered, they fell down.

I clapped and laughed, "bewakoof banaya!"

Those men groaned in pain holding their back.

"Bandar kahike!" I giggled and laughed at them.

Just then Pandit ji entered, "kya tamasha hain ye!"

"Dekhiye prabhu ye ladki afat hain" complained one man while rubbing his back. "Jab se ayi hain nak mein dam kar rakha hain" said another.

"Bohot hasi a rahi hain na tujhe" he looked at me furiously which scared me and I immediately stopped laughing.

"S...s..sorry" I whispered softly.

He came near me and held me by my hair, "agli baar badttamizi ki to anjam bura hoga".

I cried in pain, "choro mujhe!"

He pushed me to the floor.

Those two men whom I disturbed and made fun of grinned at me, "jaisi karni waisi bharni" they taunted me.

"Mere pati babu k gusse se pura Tulsi pur kaanp ta hain, jab wo ayenge dande se sidhe kar dende tum logo ko pit pit kar fir ana mere pas langra te huye" I made silly faces at them.

Pandit ji glared at me and I immediately retreated out of his fear.

"Par tere pati aye hi nehi" said Panditji.

Hearing these words broke my heart. Kyu nehi aye wo? Bhul gye kya mujhe?

"Kyu abh kaha gyi tera tark" he taunted me. Tears brimmed my eyes, "nehi aye?" I asked him in a shaky voice.

"Nehi aye, aur ayenge bhi nehi samjhi."

My soul shrunk in pain and agony. Why he didn't come? Unhe meri chita nehi huya? Parwa nehi huya? Zaroor nehi huya hoga warna aate wo.

"Firse badmashi ki na to anjam bura hoga samjhi" saying they left me alone.

His words were ringing in my ears. I know he doesn't love me par he is my rakhshak babu, ana hi parhega unhe par kyu nehi aye wo mujhe dhundne?

I started to cry, "ap bohot burey ho pati babu...apko meri parwa nehi".

They lied to her as Triloknath knew the only way to control her stubbornness and mischiefs was to break her emotionally.

On the other hand, Anirudh tried to enter the temple several times but he was not allowed to.

It was night by now

Anirudh sat beside the river and started to throw stones in it. The stones shrunk in water just like his hopes.

"Mein kaise waha se bahar nikalu the Bondita" he weeped. "Tum thik to ho na?"

Suddenly something crept into his mind

Next morning

When all the people gathered into the temple, Anirudh again came, "Bondita mein a gaya hu!" He yelled.

Bondita was again drugged and was in the room.

"Ye firse a gaya" murmured Pandit ji.

"Hum tum jaise logo ko apne devi tak pohoch ne nehi denge" said someone among the crowd.

"Wo patni hain meri, ye log ap logo ko bhakti k naam pe bewakoof baba rahe hain" he said.

"Pakro issey" cried the crowd, "hum karenge apne devi ki rakhsha".

"Ruko!" Said Pandit ji and all stopped.

Anirudh glared at him.

"Andar ane do ussey"

"Ye ap kya kar rahe hain" whispered one of his disciples, "maza lenge hum thora, bass dekhte jao" he whispered back.

"Andar aane do!" He said again.

A smile of relief crept on his face, "Bondita" he murmured and walked into the temple without thinking twice and boldly faced him, "Meri patni kaha hain?"

All the villagers were asked to empty the mandir.

Pandit ji smiled wickedly and gestured the guards to close the door.

"Babu moshai, andar to a gye ho josh mein par bahar kaise nikloge".

Anirudh creased his eyebrows, "matlab?"