Author POV

Amidst the soothing and healing abode of Narayana's grace, sat a beatific figure, embellishing the Aarti thaal with fresh redolent parijaat flowers, and untainted Lotus buds.

The saffron dupatta reposed exquisitely over her voluptuous head, with squelchy strands of hair frolicking on the fringes of her begulling face.

The breeze is enwreathed with the euphony of her mellifluous bhajans.

श्रीमन नारायण नारायण हरि हरि

श्रीमन नारायण नारायण हरि हरि

स्वामी नारायण नारायण हरि हरि

तेरी लीला सबसे न्यारी न्यारी हरि हरि।।

Crooning the melody delightfully, she held the Aarti thaal in her velvety palms, and upraised herself. The devotional chants sounded far more ethereal when they were chanted by her, so a portion of townlet preferred visiting the temple, when she worshipped there.

Encircling the Aarti thaal with a gracious smile on her face, she started chanting Narayan aarti. The public gathered behind her, initiated clapping and humming without any efforts.

A few of them were carrying small worshipping bells, and their tingling sound added extra tranquility to the surroundings. Within moments, the fellows were enchanted, entirely.

The main priest was also swaying his head sideways, wondering why his voice couldn't cater the attention of everyone in the way as hers used to do. Maybe this was the power of real devotion.

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे

हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे।।

The gathering hailed Sri Narayan in unison. The Priests began doling the prasad out, amongst everyone present there.

"Beti?"

"Daughter?"

The chief priest called

"Ji Pandit ji!"

"Yes, Pandit ji!"

The empyrean girl responded, who was none other than Ragini Singh, daughter of a poverty-stricken farmer, Guddu Singh, who was very well known for his irascible behaviour.

"You don't seem to be his daughter!"

The priest poked her, and she beamed.

"It doesn't matter, Pandit ji. No one can change the fact that I'm his daughter, atleast not for this birth."

The Priest forwarded a part of Prasad towards her, and muttered

"Take this for them."

She accepted it with a grin, and performed a dandvat before Sri Narayan before leaving the temple premises.

Sauntering the path to her home, with Prasad and flowers in her grasp, she came across a few cads, gossiping and passing deplorable remarks on the women strolling from that way.

She decided to change the route, and take the longer one, but her fate didn't seem to support her today, as one of them called out her name.

"Oyee Ragini! Kaha ja rahi humse bachke chhammak chhallo."

"Hey Ragini! Where are you going girl?"

Ragini amplified her pace, to escape those rascals, but her motion got hindered, when she felt her dupatta getting stuck somewhere behind. She turned around, and to her shock, the loose end of her dupatta was crushed under one of those scoundrel.

Adrenaline rushed within her veins, her voluptuous bosom started rising and settling, and breath hitched, with tears accumulating on the horizon of her dazzling moon-eyes.

The man snatched her dupatta, blatantly, sending shudders all across her body.

"Are you guys mad?" Ragini bawled, pretending to appear resilient, which she certainly wasn't.

"Dekh tera baap to waise hi harami hai, kabhi na kabhi tujhe bech daalega. Saale ko ache se pata hai ki uske paas ye heera hai. To Aaj tu khud hi hamare paas aja. Thakuro se dosti hai hamari. Aaj raat hume khush karde, aur hum tumhare baap ko saal bhar ka rashan maal de denge."

"Your father is a rascal. He will surely sell you to someone, some or the other day. The bastard is very well aware of the diamond he possesses, so come to us tonight, on your own. We're friends with the Thakurs. Make us happy tonight, and we'll provide your father with ration and groceries, for the upcoming year."

Another man imparted. Tears escaped Ragini's moon-eyes, and she shook her head uncontrollably.

"My father is not such a person." She sniffed.

The other man clutched her hair, meanwhile the first one was macerating her dupatta under his feet, signalling her to understand the imminent scenarios. The Prasad and flowers fell down of her grip, and she kicked the man, who had clasped her hair.

He bellowed, giving her some moments to run away, that she utilised wholeheartedly. Gushing speedily, she escaped their vicinity ensuingly. Her hair was disoriented, cheeks flushed red, a slight pinkish tint evident on her nose, with hastened breathing.

"Kaha se muh kala kara ke aa rahi hai?"

"Where did you lose your dignity?"

Her father, Guddu Singh, yelped at her, witnessing her perplexed condition.

"No baba! I had gone to visit the temple. Those men, the son of the Sarpanch, and his friends....they....they attacked me, but I was successful in saving myself."

Ragini exclaimed, sobbing miserably.

"What did they say?" Guddu interrogated, pulling out the leather belt from his pant, that was hung on the hook, lodged in his room.

"They said, that you would sell me someday."

Ragini sniffed, while sobbing

"And they were offering us ration and groceries, in return of a night from me."

She informed her father, with a hoarse and tear-filled voice.

"And you refused it?" Guddu inquired

"Yes, Baba!" Ragini answered, expecting a few good words from Guddu.

*Thud*

Guddu thrashed the table, placed before him. His eyes infuriated, and nose flared with anger.

"Jab tumko bhagwan ne itni Sundar chamdi di hai to Kam se Kam baap ke kaam ao. Kya bigad jata agar chali jati unke paas to."

"When the Divine has given you such a beautiful body, use it for your father's benefit. They could've helped us."

Ragini's eyes became wide with shock, astonishment quite perceptible on her face.

"What are you saying, baba?"

Ragini mumbled.

"This woman is beautiful, and her beauty could help us becoming rich, but her ideals are bullshit."

Chhuttan interrupted, and Ragini frowned at her words.

"Don't worry, my baby boy. I'll punish her for depriving us of the grandeur."

Guddu smirked, and strode to Ragini, with furious steps, holding the leather belt in his hand. He smacked it on the ground, making Ragini flinch.

"Daughters are curse to the family."

Guddu uttered, and thwacked Ragini with the belt.

"Anhhhhhhh!" A melodious shriek escaped her mouth, and she fell on her knees.

*Twack*

*Twack*

*Twack*

Guddu thrashed Ragini, uncountable times. The thin fabric covering her delicate skin, got torn at multiple sites, enkindling her to break into uncontrollable tears.

"I wish I could sell you to some millionaire!"

Guddu growled, and went inside his room, leaving Ragini whimpering, under the open sky, in the veranda.

"Why Narayan why? Am I so unfavorable? What sins did I commit to bear all this?"

Ragini's mind engaged in silent talks with her deity, and she managed to collect herself, to walk inside.

"Samay se khana Banna chahiye."

"The food should be prepared on time."

Chhuttan yelled, approaching the entrance of the hut, with a broken wooden bat in his hand.

Ragini went inside the bathroom, and unclothed herself of the shreded kurta. A plain white cotton bra was still covering her noticeable and sensual boobs. Filling the old rusted steel mug with water, she poured it on herself, and winced unendurably.

She had be quick, since her father and brother would punish her again, if she couldn't serve them the lunch on time.

Discarding her pain, she enhanced her rapidity, and finished off bathing. Wearing a soft and thin kurta, along with a loose salwar, she went straight to the kitchen. Tying her wet, water dripping voluminous hair, in a bun, she started chopping off the veggies.

Another day! Another reason to beat me! Another shocker for me, but the reason for hatred remains same - I am a daughter, a girl, a female - the unneeded.

Ragini kept pondering while preparing the lunch for her 'so-called' family.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Are you liking the story?

So these two chapters were the introduction of our main leads. The story is going to be a proper 'beauty and the beast' type. I know, Dhanraj is going to be hated to the core, in the beginning, but the man will transform himself into a gem. Also, people who are wondering why Ragini couldn't leave her rapist, should continue reading the story to understand the circumstances she will be subjected to.

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