Handsome Ravana

Lucknow Public School, India

Batch 1999

The Annual Ceremony was going to be held in minutes and everyone looked in the haste. This gathering has its charm. The evening here was going to be very hectic and filled with lots of fun. Almost every student from the batch 1999 has been gathering for the Annual Ceremony of their final year in the school.

The hall looked packed with everyone and filled with the chirping noises of all students while teachers shouting on them. With the decoration of orange and yellow flowers along with small lamps was spreading the ethnic and cultured aura of the stage for the play. The excitement was reached to the peak.

Vice Principal of the school arrived and everybody stood up to show respect to him. With a small ritual of lightening a lamp in front of the Goddess Saraswati was done by him and the ceremony began.

Since the play has been declared to be the Ramleela, it has attracted many student's attention in the school. From taking auditions to choosing who will play which role, every student took part in it and tried to fit in the roles they wanted to do.

The main role of Lord Rama has given to the topper student of the batch 1999 Nikhil Ahuja. He walked on the stage wearing the proper costumes suited for Lord Rama and everybody cheered up for him. It didn't take him much effort to impress the teachers for the role of Lord Rama. Because of being a topper, he was already a favourite of them. Many girls were drooling over the way Nikhil looked as the Lord Rama.

After Lord Rama was selected, every girl fought for the role of Sita but only one girl held that simple and strong aura in her presence and she was Durga Shastri. She walked on the stage elegantly. Many boys whistled but she ignored them. Every girl who wanted to be in her place envied her while almost every other boy in her batch including Nikhil was infatuated by her beautiful look of Sita. Durga has freshly stepped in the pure age of womanhood. Her face looked soft and innocent just matching the vibe with Sita.

Then came the role of a villain, The Ravana. The most important and the evil role in the play without him the Ramleela was incomplete. But nobody came forward to play this role.

Except one boy, Devansh Agnihotri.

A below-average student in the studies and disliked by many teachers because of his mischievous acts. Who often got bullied because of being an obese boy, but he was the only student who looked fit in the role of Ravana.

For him, the only reason to take part in this play was the girl named Durga. The moment he came upon the stage wearing a similar costume and jewellery as Ravana students present there started laughing and teasing him.

But who had time to notice others when Durga was standing in front of him?

The teenage phase of first love was hitting hard for him. In the play, he was feeling powerful being Ravana.

During one scene, he held her hand to drag her, he felt a spark radiating through his body.

Everybody became intrigued by watching the Sita Haran scene in front of them. The silence was showing the effect of the play.

When the scene acted properly the other scene of Vanarsena started when the boy ran over the stage who was wearing costumes of monkey. Everybody cheered again.

The fight between Lord Rama and Ravana began. Everyone watched the fight between them with an interest. Those teachers who set up the scene was getting appreciated by other teachers.

The act ended on the note where Ravana lost the fight and died.

Everybody stood up and started giving a round of applause for the performers. The curtains fell closing the act. But behind the curtain, something new was ready to begin. Teen Devansh immediately held Durga's hand to stop her from going away.

“I want to ask you something,” Said Devansh.

Durga stood quiet looking confused. He gulped thickly gathering his courage. His legs trembled, his palms became sweaty as he was still holding her hand. His ears turned deep red shade and a little hint of it reflected on his cheeks. He felt shy even to make eye contact with her forgetting everybody was started to gather around them to watch.

He took a deep breath and said it in a one go, “I love you Durga will you be my girlfriend?”

Durga's eyes widened. She immediately removed her hand from his hold and gave him a stern reply, “No”.

Everybody started laughing on Devansh. She looked nervous and ran away from there.

While Devansh was still processing the rejection he got. He felt his heart was breaking into pieces. His batch mates started booing him down. Suddenly he felt hurt and powerless. Nikhil was still in the Lord Rama's costume walked at him to rub salt over his wounds.

"Tsk tsk tsk What you even thought before proposing her fatso? That she will say yes to the topper from the last?" Nikhil mocked at him. "Loser Devansh Loser Ravana both couldn't get a girl. Poor oh so poor. Girls love a boy who is like me and not a fat boy like you. So better luck maybe next time " saying this Nikhil walked off, crumbling Devansh's feelings like a trash.

It hits hard on Devansh's mind. His breathing started getting heavier as rage has been started taking place within him. He heard everybody teasing him by calling Loser Ravana. He looked at Nikhil walking away from him in the Lord Rama's costume, and then he looked at himself in the Ravana's costume.

"I am not a loser. One day I will win. Even if I have to become the Ravana!"

Devansh said wiping his tears and ignoring the bashful words coming at him. Something changed within him.

The rage which was kept hidden deep inside him because of taking constant bullying and pranks was now looking for the way to come out and with it the seeds of ego was started to plant within his mind. He walked ahead taking each step with a determination to be someone that no one can deny.

The new journey has begun.

---

Ten years later

Lucknow, India

Shastri House

Durga's POV- The Wedding Bells

“Durga you are not going anywhere, have you forgotten only two days left for your marriage and so many preparations are still pending”

I heard my mother shouting from the top of her lungs. I let out a sigh while picking up my earrings.

“Don't worry Mumma, I know the list of pending work and two days are still there to finish my office work” I knew she wasn't easy getting calm after what I said to her. I can listen to each and every word of how my mother was bickering and complaining to my baba about my behaviour.

My mother Lakshmi Shastri, never leaves any chance to taunt her husband Anand about his ways of upbringing his daughters, which is me and my younger two sisters, Riya and Simran.

When my mother always wanted to do the things in specific ways, I have always chosen the way I wanted. It irritated her a lot. But baba always supported me throughout.

Right now also he is being all cool and calm while reading the newspapers, waiting for his morning tea. I walked out from my room adjusting my dupatta over shoulders.

A sound boiling milk grabbed my attention and I saw how milk ready pour out from the pot. I hastily ran straight to the kitchen and turned off the gas knob. I let out a sigh after saving the milk from wasting it. Then I picked up the milk pot forgetting it was still hot like lava and immediately kept it down when I felt instant burning sensation over my bare fingers. I started the tap water and held her fingers under it. I hissed when the cold water made contact with my burning skin.

"Careful careful" I heard my baba, though he looked like busy reading the newspaper but seems like he has watched my stunt. I poured some milk in the glass for my younger sister Simran. Then from the remaining milk, I made tea and poured each cup for everyone. Holding the tray I walked at the table noticing my mother has pulled out an album of my school memories from the old case. I peeped to see what she was looking at while giving the cup to baba.

“Who knew one day their names to be written in the destiny for each other!” My mother said looking at the teenage photo of Nikhil and me during the annual ceremony.

I kept the tray down on the table and glanced at the photo of the annual function where I had become Sita and Nikhil was standing beside me who became Ram, whom I am going to wed soon. He looked so different back then and my hair was reaching to my shoulder which I remember attaching the extension to it during the play.

My mother wasn't believing in the fate while baba has engrossed himself sipping the tea.

“You two looked so good as Sita and Ram now I have only one wish to see you both marrying just like this then I will go to Kaashi,” My mother was having this dreamy look in her eyes. About my marriage and baba hummed while enjoying the tea.

They were more excited about my marriage than me.

“Yes wait for two days then your wish will be complete and you can go anywhere you want,” I said shuffling the letters as I was uninterested in my mother's conversation, which has always starts from my marriage and ends on her Kaashi Yaatra (trip).

“Yes I will wait for the day too,” Baba said teasingly to her. I held my laughter back when my mother immediately threw a glare at him. Baba chuckled hiding his face behind the newspaper. Both of them were still behaving childish.

“Well, Durga who is this boy? The one who is standing right behind you, in the Ravana's costume, the fat one”

Mumma asked pointing at a boy who was standing in the group photo.

“Who?”

I narrowed her eyes, tilting my head and looking at him.

Who is he?

I couldn't remember exactly about him.

“Don't know Mumma, how can I remember it's from ten years ago” I told her knowing I was getting late for my work.

"Then how did you remember Nikhil?" Mumma asked wiggling her brows at me. I rolled my eyes at her. She still thinks we were lovebirds since the college. When it was nothing like that. Yes, we went to the same school and college but we weren't romantically involved with each other.

"Because he has always stayed in contact with me. Perhaps that's why"

I made up something. Though my reply didn't satisfy my mother because she replied immediately "Or perhaps the love between you two!"

"Oh please Mumma, he is a good man, earns good, besides he is a doctor will be soon having his clinic. He is everything as per your expectations." I said feeling a little bit shy every time I talk about him. I saw Baba looking little tensed after hearing my words. Mumma noticed that and tried to change the topic. What is brewing in between these two?

" I wish the man would be richer. I mean Nikhil is a good man but not that rich. Well what can one do now, it's your choice, and we are fine with it" Mumma said making a face. Her expectation are always higher, I don't understand how Baba adjusts with her.

I noticed Baba wasn't paying attention at her neither he could finish his tea. He just looked tensed. I rolled my eyes on my mother's words.

No matter how a good person is, Mumma has always judged anyone by their financial status. She wanted to marry someone rich but then fell in love with an over-ambitious Baba who was just a casual government servant back then. But when we were born.

My mother's desire to get rich came back again to life again. Baba never liked her attitude towards money and tried to make her understand. But my mother snapped him too saying, he should be doing some well-paid job and complaining about her desires getting unfulfilled. Because she was his loving wife and being an understanding husband, my Baba took all wrath of her with all smiling.

I was very much aware of my mother's money desires. But I also knew my mother can only profess her desires in front of them and do nothing which a person can do in greed. She was still sticking to my Baba and that's why I decided to learn high and earn something good which will make them happy. After being a chartered accountant, I remember Baba became joyous but my mother was still unsatisfied.

Then a day came when Nikhil proposed me and confessed his desire to marry me. My mother became very happy while I was confused. She somehow convinced me to marry him looking at his profession. But after some days my mother got to know about Nikhil's financial status. He was still practising in a government hospital which has a limited amount of payment. I have no issues but my mother still has.

Now she was back to the route as she had a realization about Nikhil. I have a doubt that Mumma and Baba were hiding something from me. Perhaps it is about the wedding arrangements. I remember how Nikhil's mother was keeping demands in front of us and how much she wants a big fat wedding for her only son. But I had made it clear to Nikhil the wedding will be simple otherwise it's not happening. I can't pressurize my Baba to arrange money beyond his limit for my wedding. He has already done so many things for me, I can't give him more troubles.

My eyes moved towards the clock and suddenly a panic surged through me. I am getting late for my work.

"Oh no the time is running out, you two always make me late," I complained to my mother.

Keeping the childhood album aside, I immediately started getting ready for the work. I saw from my peripheral vision, my Baba taking something to my mother in a low voice so I couldn't hear.

When I wasn't near, my Baba took a chance to talk to my mother. I sneakily moved closer to them showing I was busy packing my stuff.

"Lakshmi, I'm going to Agnihotri's trust today. Maybe they will lend us some money on loan" He said murmuring lowly.

"Don't tell anything to Durga" Mother said.

"What you two are discussing to not tell me anything about?" I asked walking past by them and faking to find my other belongings.

"Hun? Nothing we were just talking about the surprise" I knew my mother was lying to me. The way my Baba gave her a look it was clear they were definitely hiding something from me but my Mumma was being a typical Mumma.

"Ahan I see! And Baba you are not going anywhere for asking money."

I heard some part of their conversation about asking a loan. Baba coughed a little after getting almost caught by me.

"But Durga it's for your marriage! Lots of guests will come, our relatives will also visit us, their living expenses, food expenses all of it only we have to look after. "

Mumma was being unreasonable. There wasn't any need of all this. I am managing it from savings and it would be enough.

"Didi, can I get some money? I want to participate in an event in the college," My younger sister Simran walked towards me. I forgot in the mess of wedding preparation that she needed some money for her event.

"I also want money for my project, " Riya asked me. She was the middle sister. They say middle sibling adjusts in every situation but Riya was an exception.

"No, you won't get any money. We need it for your sister's marriage which is in tow days " Mumma scolded to Simran and I saw her looking down in sadness while Riya looked frustrated and said "But my project"

"No you are not getting any money, think about the situation" My mother was scolding them which I disliked.

"Mumma I have told you I want simple marriage and not like those big fat weddings," I pulled out my purse and gave two notes of five hundred to both of them.

Simran gets happy. Riya immediately kept it in her bag.

My mother looked clearly disagreed to me.

"But Durga" She looked at me in a shock.

"Think Mumma how much it will be a waste of money and baba you will not call any unnecessary guests please. My marriage will be simplest. "

I declared. Baba stayed calm but I was sure something was going in his mind.

"Durga didi is right. "

Simran took my side.

"Durga is always right," Riya said.

"Shut up you two and Riya she is elder to you, call her sister, and what is this." My mother started scolding them again, "What's right what's wrong you two aren't big enough to decide it! Don't talk in between two old people now go" She yelled at my sisters.

Baba chuckled overlooking at the chaos in the house. He shook his head in disbelief. He knew this home was facing some financial issues but I am sure he was quite proud of how I was trying to handle little things. His eyes told it so.

" And you! What are you laughing at? We have to call our all relatives otherwise what will they say? They had invited us in their functions and if we don't invite them then they will mock at us"

My mother when she didn't have anything to say she snapped at my Baba.

But before Baba could talk, I replied to her.

"Mumma I'm telling you final! My marriage will happen as per my ways, simple, subtle & fewer people that's it.

Otherwise, I don't want to marry" I stated it clearly. I saw Mumma getting furious.

"Don't say like this Durga! What should I do with you"

My mother facepalmed. Baba didn't fall in between them and got up to get ready.

"You don't have any idea how much I wanted to see you getting settled down now, it's high time. Your age is running out. If you don't marry now then who will marry you in the future? " My mother started giving a lecture.

"I'll stay single for a lifetime, " I voiced out firmly. I could see my mother was getting even more furious over me. Perhaps I touched her wrong nerve.

"What? Your marriage is on next two days and you are talking like this!" She scolded me and I ignored her.

"So Mumma, Didi will not marry ever? "

Simran asked naively. I laughed. She was the youngest and she was being scolded the most by my mother.

"Durga can do anything"

Riya said hanging her bag on her shoulder, standing in front of me, all ready to go college.

I pinched Simran's cheeks looking at her innocence. While my mother gasped in a shock after hearing Riya's words.

" She will marry, of course, she has to get married in two days otherwise I'll leave this house," My mother warned us.

"Really? Promise? " My Baba asked walking out of the room and looked at her with his eyes sparkling with mischief and raising his wife's anger.

She glared at my Baba.

Before they burst on each other I, Simran and Riya walked towards the door.

"Mumma I'm going now, take care of yourself and baba take your medicine on time and don't you dare to ask money from anyone else," I said leaving the house behind me, Simran and Riya too left.

I have faith in my Baba, that he will not take a burdon my wedding and do it in a right way. I smiled and left he home with this one hope heading towards my workplace, Agnihotri Industries.

---

When I reached at the Agnihotri Industrial building, I hurriedly ran inside.

A bing sound came and the lift door opened. I walked out from the elevator checking the time on my wristwatch.

I sighed out in relief knowing I was on time and walked towards the receptionist.

"Hello I am Durga Shastri, an accountant by profession. I have an appointment for today "

I said showing her ID card.

The receptionist checked on her computer.

"Sir isn't here yet. Please wait" She told me.

Well, the boss himself is not on time. Great day ahead Durga! I murmured to myself and plopped on a bench in the waiting area.

---

Author's note

Thank you for choosing my story to read. Here are some meanings of few Indian Terms I mentioned in my story.

Ramleela- Ramleela is a Hindi word, short for Ram ki Leela, that is Ram's play, or to be more clear, a play about Ram's life.

Lord Rama and Sita- Hindu Deity

Ravana- Ravana is the mythical multi-headed demon-king of Lanka in Hindu mythology.

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