Chapter 11: Seemantham of Shadows
The temple courtyard bloomed with color and life on the day of Parvati’s Seemantham(Bridal shower) ceremony. Women in vibrant sarees filled the space, their laughter mingling with the scent of fresh marigolds and camphor. I had been careful never to appear as Lakshmi in Shankarpally itself.
My hands trembled as I carried the tray laden with fruits, sweets, and a new silk saree for Parvati. I moved through the crowd with the slow, graceful sway I had perfected. When I reached the decorated chair where Parvati sat, radiant and round with our child, I lowered my head and hid my face behind the pallu. I offered the blessings quietly, then slipped away before anyone could look too closely.
Tears burned me. Joy and crushing guilt collided so fiercely I nearly gasped aloud. This was my child growing inside her—and here I stood, disguised as a stranger, unable to touch her belly or whisper my love. I blinked rapidly, adjusting my pallu to hide the tremble in my shoulders, and retreated among the older women.
For one wild moment, I wanted to rip off the disguise, fall at Parvati’s feet in front of the entire village, and beg for forgiveness.
God, what a fucking mess I’ve become.
Parvati’s eyes narrowed slightly as she scanned the crowd. Our gazes met for a heartbeat. Recognition flickered across her face.
I slipped out of the courtyard before the moment could break.
That same night Raghu summoned me. His impotence frustrated him. I gave him the laced herbal pills and rode him until he suffered a fatal heart attack. I cleaned the scene and used his phone to send a message that led to Rao’s elimination the same night. No loose ends.
I shed the Lakshmi disguise, returned as Uma, and knelt in the temple until dusk, sobbing for every mask and every life taken.
I shed all my diguises.
I returned to my small house as Uma, washed away the tan and silver streaks, removed the mature makeup, and walked barefoot to the empty temple courtyard. I knelt on the cold stone until dusk, sobbing for every mask I had worn and every life I had taken to reach this point.
Meanwhile, the police investigation into Raghu Reddy’s “heart attack” uncovered old fingerprints belonging to Inspector Vijay on a glass and documents in the cottage. Combined with the earlier murder of Mr. Lee, the entire syndicate’s collapse was now being blamed on the rogue cop who had turned against his partners.
The forged email I had sent earlier only strengthened the story. Vijay would kill anyone who tried to grab temple land was the final myth that people settled on.
Back in the present, Parvati’s hand rested gently on my belly.
“You carried so much for us,” she whispered, her voice thick with affection. “You think that disguise worked on me? I recognized you the first time I saw you… but I knew you were on a mission.”
I tucked my head against her neck, smoothing the edge of her nightie with a tender gesture. “I was breaking apart right in front of you. And still I couldn’t stop pretending.”
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