●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●Author's Pov:-

Location:Varanasi,Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi at Brahma Muhurat does not look like the Varanasi people usually know.

There are no loud temple bells yet. No crowded lanes. No vendors calling out. The city breathes differently at that hour.

A faint mist floats above ancient rooftops. The Ganga moves quietly in the distance, as if even she respects the silence before sunrise. The air carries a cool softness - almost sacred. Somewhere far away, a lone conch shell blows once, low and stretched.

The sky is neither dark nor light.

It waits.

And inside one of the old yet grand mansions standing proudly among the winding lanes... a room light turns on.

A girl who does not fit into the loud definition of beauty people often chase.

Her skin is deep brown - not hidden, not lightened, not apologetic. It carries the warmth of sun-soaked earth after rain. In the faint yellow glow of her bedside lamp, it almost looks like polished bronze.

Her features are sharp but calm. Not fragile. Not loud. Just steady. Her eyebrows naturally shaped. Her eyes - deep brown - almost black in the dark, but capable of turning honey-gold when light touches them. In the glow of diya, they don't shine dramatically... they warm. A small mole rests near her collarbone.Another faint one near her left cheek. She wakes without an alarm. No dramatic stretching. No complaints.

For a moment she simply sits there, listening. Large houses hold a different kind of silence deeper, heavier. The corridors outside her room are still asleep.

She gently pushes the blanket aside.

Before placing her feet on the marble floor, she bends slightly and touches it."Maa...." she whispers remembering the Bhoodevi Only then does she stand.Her movements are unhurried but precise. She folds her bedding neatly. Walks toward the washroom. Cold water flows over her skin. She does not gasp.

She never does.

By the time she steps out, her dark hair is neatly braided. Thick. Curly Slightly heavy when wet. She wears a simple white cotton suit - clean, comfortable. Dupatta placed properly over her shoulders.

No heavy jewellery. No perfume.

Just discipline.

She is "Annu mishra".

She opens her bedroom door, the mansion greets her with dim yellow lights and long corridors wrapped in sleep.

She walks downstairs quietly.

At the entrance, the old driver 'Agam Kaka' is already waiting inside the car. He has been driving her to the ghats for years.

As soon as he sees her, he straightens slightly.

"Beta, chalain?" he asks softly.

Annu smiles"Haan, Kaka."

The car rolls through the sleeping streets of Varanasi.

Closed shops. Stray dogs curled near doorsteps. A tea seller beginning to light his stove. The sky slowly shifting from deep blue to grey.

Soon, the stone steps of Assi Ghat appear.Annu steps out.

Removes her jhooti.

Walks down slowly.

The Ganga stretches endlessly before her. Dark. Quiet. Powerful.

She folds her hands.

"Jai Maa Gange."

And steps into the water.

The cold wraps around her instantly.One dip.

She rises, pushing her wet braid back.Second dip.Third.Fourth.

Fifth.

Each one calm. Intentional. Devoted.

She stands still for a moment, eyes closed. When she opens them, the faint early light touches her gaze, turning the deep brown into something softer... almost golden.

She asks for nothing.

Just gratitude.

She steped out from Ganga and proceed towards the small enclosure. After changing into yellow cotton suit inside the small enclosure, she joins the early aarti.

The priests lift the lamps. Bells echo across the water. The sky begins turning orange at the edges.

The flames dance in her eyes.

She stands quietly. Hands folded. Completely present.

When the aarti ends, the ghats begin waking up.

An elderly woman sitting near the steps coughs lightly.

Annu notices immediately.

She walks toward her and kneels down.

"Maaji, aaj kuch khaya apne ?" she asks gently.

The woman shakes her head in disagreement with weakness.

Annu opens her cloth bag she daily carries with food and hands her neatly packed food.

"Garam hai. Dhyaan se hm..."

No pity. No display.

Just care. The old women smiled with tears " Bitiya! Tera naam kya hai ? Yeh yese hi degi? Woh kya hai na mere pass paise nahi hai" she cried while passing back to Annu who's eyes gets filled with thine line of tears " Aree waah ! Beti kaha aur dusre hi pal mei paraya kar diya hm..yesi hoti hai Maa Haa? Aur bhala mei kyu paise lu?

Yeh khana meine nahi banaya toh jisne banaya hai use Dana samajhi maa" she tried hard to say clearly although the women's helpless cry did pained her soul.

The old women smiled with tears

" Bhul gai thi tu beti hi toh hai! Abhi abhi bani hai woh baat alag hai. Par Tera naam kya hai mei bhi toh jaanu meri Bitiya ka naam ?"She asked while cupping annu's chin with her wrinkled fingers.

Annu smiled " Annu..".

The old women smiled " Annu...matlab ek aisi atma jo shaant,gehri aur andar se mazboot ho" the women's voice fade down as she just adored her.

Annu smiled " accha Maa mei kal aati hu hm..abhi jana hai" she said with ease.

The women smiled " hm..Mei idar hi rahungi thik hai".

"Haa mei aati hu..khayal rakhna " Annu said while standing up" Radhe radhe " she joined her hands at the women who replied her with same.

Further ahead, small children's spread to sell out with their tiny collections.

"Didi, bangles le lo..." a small little girl came towards Annu.

Annu pauses and smiled "Green wali dikhao."

She buys without bargaining.

After walking a little further, from one child she takes peacock feathers.

And from another, pairs of oxidized earrings.

Not because she needs them.

But because she understands effort.

Because she respects their work.

By the time she walks back toward the car, the city is fully awake.

In mean time,When she reaches the mansion, the large gates open silently.

Inside, everyone is still asleep.

And yet... she has already lived a full morning.

Before going to her room, she stops at the temple area in the courtyard.

She lights a diya.

Performs a short aarti again.

Alone.

The flame glows steadily in the quiet air.

Annu closes her eyes once more.

Grounded. Disciplined. Kind without noise.

Completely unaware...

that somewhere far from the sacred calm of Varanasi, a pair of yellow-tinted eyes will one day meet hers-

And disturb the peace she rises so early to protect.

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Author's Note

Hello everyone,

Thank you for giving your time to read my work. I'm still learning and growing as a writer, so your support truly means a lot to me.

I write because it makes me feel alive, and sharing my stories with you is something very special to me. I hope you stay with me throughout this journey and watch these characters grow along with me.

Your feedback, love, and patience mean everything.

With gratitude,

-Author_Radhapriye

Have a good day and enjoy🤍.

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