Their father supervised with his sharp eyes, making sure everything was done correctly. He handed Aman a packet of kumkum and turmeric, which he dutifully smeared on the truck's front bumper in tilak marks. A coconut, its fibers slightly charred from the oil lamp's flame, was placed in front of the truck, ready for the final ritual.
Inside the temple, the priest, an elderly man with a serene face, had already begun the Ganapati Homam, invoking Lord Ganesha to remove any obstacles from their path. The rhythmic chants of Vedic mantras echoed through the temple, blending with the soft ringing of bells. The five-faced idol of Lord Hanuman stood majestically at the sanctum, its divine presence filling Bani's heart with a strange sense of peace.
As the priest moved toward the truck, carrying a brass plate with a camphor flame, he signaled for the family to join him. Bani and Aman held the edge of the plate while their father offered coconuts, bananas, and sweets to the deity. The priest recited Sanskrit verses, circling the truck with the plate three times before sprinkling holy water from the temple well onto its tires.
Then came the final moment—the breaking of the coconut. Aman held it firmly, whispering a small prayer before smashing it onto the temple's stone floor. It cracked open with a sharp sound, spilling pure white flesh, a sign of a good omen.
Their mother, who had been standing aside, wiped her eyes discreetly. "May this bring us prosperity," she whispered.
Bani looked at the truck, now blessed and ready for the road. She had her own silent prayer—that this new beginning would bring them out of financial hardship, that their struggles would finally bear fruit.
As they drove the truck out of the temple premises, with fresh prasad in their hands and faith in their hearts, a gentle breeze carried the scent of jasmine from the temple gardens. It felt like a whisper of reassurance from the divine—a sign that, perhaps, better days were finally coming.
The road stretched ahead as the truck rumbled along, the warm afternoon breeze carrying the scent of fresh earth and distant blossoms. Bani leaned back against the seat, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. She glanced at Aman, who was focused on the road, his brows slightly furrowed.
"It's a good day," she said, stretching her arms. "We've already visited the temple… why not start our business today?"
Aman blinked, momentarily taking his eyes off the road to look at her. "Today? But… the flowers will take a few more days to bloom, right?"
Bani grinned, her eyes twinkling with a secret she had come to cherish. "That's true for a normal field," she said, tapping her fingers against the truck's window. "But in my space, the flowers have already bloomed. We don't have to wait."
Aman's hands tightened on the steering wheel. He had heard bits and pieces about Bani's mysterious land, but every time she mentioned it, it felt more unreal. "You're serious?"
She nodded. "We can start today. We don't need to do this every day—just three days a week is enough to get things going."
Aman let out a breath, shaking his head with a smile. "You really are something else, Bani."