KASHI'S POV

It's been so long since I have heard such a good news. Baba and Rao are returning back home. It's the time for double celebration in the wada. First reason for the celebration was the Peshwa has made a successful negotiation at the Maratha-Mughal treaty where as they are coming back home after such a long time. The whole wada has been decorated with beautiful red rose flowers and bright yellow genda flowers. And all the corners of the wada was giving out a fresh sweet aroma.

The kitchen ladies were occupied since the morning preparing all types of rich delicious traditional delicacies. The dining table was laid with shrikhand Puri, kheer, kesar bhaat , laddoos and etc. Everyone including the girls and the wives whose husbands were away for these years were getting all dressed up beautiful in the golden bright color sarees.

"Kashi Vahini you can finally meet Bhau today" smirked Bhiu.

Who was still busy draping her satin blue saree. Bhiu Tai looked beautiful but when she did her whole hair, jewellery and makeover she could make anyone drool over her.

"Haaa" I smiled while wearing my mango shaped nath with red ruby encrusted in it. I was not able to control the excitement. There was so many times a day the thoughts about Rau crossed my head. And yet apart from all that he was not here with me. It was difficult being a soldier's wife, but the fruits of patience have always been sweet. He would have grown up too.

More strong, gallant and handsome.

"Ohh how I wish this time fly soon and I see you"

I said in my head.

"Kashi Tai Peshwa saheb and Rao saheb are here. Pehswin Bai is asking for the bahu Rani" Janki kaki came in to inform me about the pleasant arrival of my husband and father in law.

Plucking in the red rose near my chudamadi and adjusting my red shalu. I stood up from the chair, admiring my whole get up. My long tresses were beautifully adjusted. And the decorative flower beeds held my hair in a bunch. My hands full of green glass bangles, fingers with two three rings...heavy necklaces adorned my whole look on the green colored saree.

"Bhiu Tai I am going out with the Pooja thali..hurry up" whispering this in Tai's ears I ran towards the verandah, passing the corridor...carrying the Aarti thaal. It seemed my smile wasn't ready to vanish from my face inspite of all the trying and my legs won't stop until I reach the chaukhat of the wada.

Sasu Aai took the plate from me and all the ladies gathered around the door. While I stood behind trying to catch a glimpse of my Rao. I was dying to have a look at him during the aarti, and this samman satkaar samaroh was not coming to an end. Ohh, how I wish you were also dying to see me!

Why are these ladies not assembling in a proper line? I am trying to get one glimpse and I think it's impossible as of now. Tired I turned around and decided to walk away towards the kitchen to see all the preparations were done properly. My Rao was very fond of the most normal diet. Hence I had prepared the meal of roasted gram curry, along with matar hing rice. In addition I had asked my mother to send the best quality of gur, the one which I and Rao used to enjoy eating with the gram seeds when ever we visited Chaskaman in childhood. Good old days and happy kids! Adulthood comes with responsibility, duties, stress, pressure, hormonal imbalances etc. While the childhood days become the sweetest memories of all time.

The evening went by in a flurry. I didn't accompany the family at the dinner table as I was busy serving all the delicacies myself. Every time I came near my Rau Swami, I could feel his twinkling gaze over me. While I looked down working on ignoring his behaviour as if nothing happened. I only knew, How much my heart thumped every time I was near him.

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"You should control your emotions Kashi, or else people will assume you are mad" I whispered to myself patting my head.

"Laadu Bai is all grown up"

He was here, Rao Swami was here and I was not ready to meet him in this way. I was all messed up after working in the kitchen. I had made so many plans about meeting him for the first time at our favourite place in the backyard near the grapevine, under the moonlight. I had thought about wearing a different saree, and should have applied a very nice fragrance. But currently I am all tired, smelling like spices after the day work.

"Kashi"

The moment the words escaped his lips, I turned around to face him. He stood there...all tall, dark and handsome. His eyes had those piercing gaze which were enough to look deep inside my soul and know the amount of tension I was feeling at the current moment.

"Laadu Bai " this time he snapped his fingers at me. And to his action I gave up a very different reaction.

"I am called as Kashi Bai now"

"I see, but I still remember the girl crying for her dolls, mother, father and siblings when she married me" he said and had a small cocky smile on his face now.

"Rao" I tried to hide my blush while controlling my laugh.

"Kashi" And he burst out laughing.

"Aap bilkul bhi nahi badle na" replying back I smiled at him.

You didn't change right?

"Tum bhi to nahi badli na Kashi bass thodi badi hogayi ho aur bahut hi jyada sunder"

You too have not changed, you have grown up and are very beautiful.

And suddenly his voice was deep. A different sort of emotion was exchanged between us at the moment of time. Rao was appreciating me, he was happy to see me, he was feeling the same way inside his chest the way I was feeling. It was the actual exchange of tension, love and affection between a couple that we were experiencing. Distance taught us how much we mattered to eachother and how much love was there between us. My wait was giving me good fruits and his patience too. Being away from the people you love is difficult but we made it till here and with his companionship I can make it to any further.

"Kashi I have bought you gifts which I will gift you when we will meet for our first night" And he smiled at me.

"Thankyou for the gifts then" I chuckled adjusting my saree over my ample curves which I am sure had caught Rao' s attention for a split second.

"Aai saheb has already given you nice lessons I see, and she has also asked the astrologer about the dates of our auspicious night" He looked at me, again bringing up the topic about our consummation..which I ignored carefully in the earlier conversation.

I was confused how to answer him ? I was excited about the news of our first night together but it was difficult expressing it infront of Rao.

"What happened may I help you with something you are struggling with?" He kept his both hands on his hips, staring at me.

"Naahi. (No) I ask you to take your leave and rest well. It's my job in the kitchen and let it be alloted to me only" I smiled keeping both of my hands on my hips.

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While Radha Bai prepped her paan, sitting on the swing in the verandah. She could feel the buds of love sprouting between her son and daughter in law which was giving her absolute amusement.

Majhi baji ani kasi hubehuba viththala ani rakhumai sarakhi disate

My Baji and Kashi look exactly like Vitthal and Rakhumai. (Lord Krishna and Mata Rukmani)

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