Chapter 11

At fourteen years of age, Shiv knew about the birds and the bees, what was going on, and where the new items at home and those that adorned his mother’s body arrived. It wasn’t rocket science for a guy as intelligent and perceptive as himself.

However, if he pretended to turn a blind eye, the gossip around where he worked part-time or in the fields didn’t let him forget. As a result, his mother was labelled characterless, and the villagers often pitied him. His heart fell at the jibes thrown at his mother, more so in his presence, but there was nothing he could do. However, his mother was the only constant in his life, and he couldn’t afford to antagonize and lose her.

But he knew his mother didn’t sleep around, as was claimed. She wasn’t loyal to her marital vows, but Mujumdar was the only person she had been with. Shiv was sure. But the gossip mill kept going, and he turned a recluse. He gradually lost the minuscule friends he had.

He didn’t eat well enough, and around the same time, his father’s calls to him grew lesser. Then, finally, his father had stopped visiting altogether. Everything took a toll on him, and he was now skinny, and depression engulfed him in its folds.

He had stopped talking to his mother for months now; he came home only to sleep at night and left early the following day. He barely made any money and spent the evenings working in the mango grove. Trees gave him immense satisfaction, and he loved to get lost among them. He loved turning into a shadow and only wished he could stay in the shadows permanently to escape from his problems.

Almost a year later, he was once busy in the mangrove when he heard faint noises in the usually calm environs. So he stayed in the shadows and watched through a gap in the outer perimeter.

His mother stood shaking in anger with a hand on her hip and her hair messed up. She was facing a tall man with his back towards Shiv. But Shiv was sure it was Majumdar.

“How can you just shirk off responsibility like this?” His mother screamed, a rare occurrence when his father wasn’t around.

The man only shrugged and didn’t say anything angering his mother further.

“You son of a bitch, you dare to tell me to get rid of this…?” His mother spoke, touching her belly. “…I ignored all the insults and jibes thrown at me because I thought you reciprocated my feelings. I stayed in the dark because you were married, and your career couldn’t tolerate slanders. But I have had enough…”

“You bitch… I haven’t taken anything for free… On the contrary, I showered you with wealth. Don’t forget you have a husband too.” Majumdar’s deep voice roared, and Shiv shivered in a combination of fear and anger.

“What do you mean? Did you think I was a prostitute? I loved you, goddamn it… I could never love my husband despite having a son from him, and all you can do is shrug when I need you the most?” She was panting now.

“Have you lost it, woman? Do you expect me to leave my family and stay with you? Or take you and that bastard of yours to my bungalow? Are you mad? Stay within your limits. The entire village and the Koini province know the likes of you. How can you even say this is mine?” He bellowed, pointing towards her belly

Shiv had enough. He scrubbed his tears and tiptoed his way back into the central clearing, his perennial hideout till it became dark. The voices continued for a while, waxing and waning, providing him with the staccato of audio he wanted to shut off. He placed his palms on his ears and lay on the muddy ground. The rustle of the trees piercing his senses through his palms lulled him to sleep.

He woke up with a start and realized it was well into the night. His father had warned him never to get close to trees in the dark. So he gathered the mangoes dropped around earlier in the evening into his basket and covered it with straws so they could ripen. He would sell it tomorrow in the village market and get him food for a couple of days. From what he had witnessed, his mother would not be in a mood to cook anyway.

Stretching his lean body, he walked outside the grove towards his house. The grandfather’s clock that was forever on the uneven outside wall chimed 3 AM. Something felt odd…

His mother didn’t call out to him even though it was so late. Despite everything, she was always keen on getting him inside the house and shutting the main door every night. Not that they had anything valuable to steal, but she was particular about shutting the door at night.

Tonight she hadn’t come looking for him; neither was the door closed. But, though the outside lights were switched on, something didn’t sit right. So he sauntered towards the house and crossed its thresholds. The light inside was switched off. Was his mother sleeping already?

Impossible…

His hand touched the adjacent wall as he tried to feel the switchboard. Finding it, he switched on the light bulb even as the room was lit up in the yellow glow of the bulb, blinding him with its hues. He shut his lids and slowly opened his eyes… only to see his mother hanging from the ceiling, her saree tied like a noose around her neck.

The grotesque image before him stunned him to the core. He screamed as he tried to grab her legs, but nothing happened. He ran out screaming hoarse into the village and banged the doors. Some sympathetic villagers soon accompanied him along with the village doctor, irritated at being woken up at the ungodly hour.

His mother was taken down and made to lie on the floor. Then, after the doctor certified her dead and the lone police constable in the dead of night cleared it as a case of suicide, the couple of women covered his mother’s body.

Despite all that transpired, young Shiv didn’t shed tears. He didn’t know what he felt. He went through the motions on autopilot.

Slowly the other villagers gathered in the little courtyard where the body was placed on a hearse and his mother’s face; the only body part visible was smeared with ‘Sindoor.’ He realized his mother was so beautiful… but tears refused to flow.

He only wished his father could come… to perform the rituals as some villagers spoke. He wanted someone other than him to do the honours. He couldn’t get himself to cremate his mother.

But still, tears didn’t fall. Had his heart turned into a stone? It probably had. He was emotionless… there was no guilt, too, now that the initial shock had waned.

He was a horrible son, not good enough for his mother or father. While his father had left him earlier, his mother needed others in her life for a void he couldn’t fill. Was it all his fault?

His mother had once said she was stuck in the marriage with his father because Shiv existed. Though she later hugged him and prepared his favourite food, her words never left his mind. In the wee hours of the morning, as he sat staring at his mother’s mortal remains, the white cloth covering her cascading with ripples in the early morning breeze, he wondered if he was indeed cursed.

There were hushed whispers about him being the curse of his family. Did calamity befall on anyone he was associated with?

He sat still on the hard ground with a few villagers watching over his mother even as people trickled in and left after paying their respects, more curious about the outcast woman who had killed herself. People talked about the funeral, and he couldn’t hold it anymore. He ran into the grove, and the clearing sucked him into its bosom as he sat holding his folded legs close to his body, hunger and thirst forgotten. He stared at the mango basket. What would happen to him? What would happen to this grove?

Suddenly the emotions that were held at bay surfaced upwards… he was officially all alone in this world. He craved company and only lost everyone in his life. Maybe he was destined to be alone.

He began to sob but soon recovered when he realized he wasn’t crying for his dead mother. How could he be so selfish and only be bothered by his loneliness when his mother lay dead waiting to begin her final journey?

Right then, little Padma had stepped into the clearing, and her kiddish banter had made its way into his heart. Something about the cherubic angel with missing upper incisors brought out an emotion he didn’t know existed in his heart. It was as if the stone within began to melt. Someone had shown him genuine kindness for the first time.

He later found out the Queen had come, and she had made the funeral arrangements through the NGO she ran. He was glad he didn’t have to go through the motions.

He spent a night in his house on the rickety charpoy, unable to shut the doors and staring at the oil lamp lit in memory of his mother. Some villagers had sent him food that remained untouched in a corner. He had only eaten a couple of mangoes, and his mother’s blurring face in his mind was soon replaced by the angelic face of the little girl who sought his sorry self… till sleep claimed him.

The gleaming sparkle of her eyes cleared the darkness that bequeathed me

The shower of blessings drove away emotional drought making my heart tidy….

©priyagole

Chapter 10

After shutting the door, Shiv Ranjan Chouhan, alias ‘Shadow’, walked out of the infirmary and took his place right outside. He let go of the breath he didn’t know he was holding. The beautiful, inquisitive doe eyes belonging to the only woman who had stolen his heart had hunted his dreams. And he had to be face to face with her… He didn’t know it would be so difficult for him, the mighty Shadow known for his self-control.

He didn’t know he had a heart until he was fourteen and till little Padma had innocently made her foray into its chambers. He still remembered the day in the mango grove as clear as yesterday.

Born to an absentee father, he had craved his father’s attention growing up. His father Abir Kumar Chauhan had migrated to Koini and settled on a piece of land bordering Koini and the province ruled by King WamanRao Raje. He had barely been a baby then. His father had run away from Lucknow to escape the Zamindar system he belonged to. Abir Chauhan considered himself a warrior and wanted to serve the royals. He was well-versed in the use of firearms and a top-notch fighter. He was trained briefly along with Waman Rao Raje and had since sworn loyalty to the would-be King.

Once he settled in Koini, Abir Chauhan soon got a call and joined the security detail of the palace. He prevented a major tragedy involving the little princess a few years later and further caught the eye of the King, who trusted him more than life itself and was soon promoted to serve in the security detail of the King’s unit. The following year he was transferred to serve the Queen and was quickly her driver cum personal bodyguard.

While this promotion brought in a lot of fame and money to the Chauhan, Shiv Ranjan missed his father. The man was rarely home and held his money with a tight fist.

His father’s memories were of a bearded man who played with him whenever he came home in his childhood.

Shiv often heard his parents fight whenever his father visited them. Initially, he couldn’t figure out the reason for the fights, but later on, he realized it was all about money and a little more….

“Why don’t you give me more money…?” His mother would ask.

“Rati, I am saving it all for our Shiv and his future…” his father would argue.

“Then, what about my life? Don’t I have any needs? Because of your job with the royals, we live in this secluded location. We can’t go to the province as you don’t want anyone to know about us…”

“…that will put you and Shiv in danger, and I have to do my work as a bodyguard diligently without worrying about you two. It’s a dangerous world out there, Rati.” His father explained.

“Why don’t I move back to Ghaziabad? With my parents? At least I won’t have to be lonely.”

“Rati, you knew this is what I wanted even before we eloped. I had warned you about this life… My position in the Royal household is of utmost importance. I am constantly on the move. Only the Queen knows about your existence. If anyone else gets wind of you two… your relationship with me, they may use it as leverage against me, which may cost the Royal family their lives. I can’t take the risk, nor can I put you both in danger…”

“Then let loose your purse strings. I want to live a life of luxury. I want to dress well, dress up Shiv, send him to the best school…”

“I am saving money for Shiv… But, given my line of work, it won’t be long before I have to retire, if not lose my life in the line of duty. What will happen to Shiv, then? So, I am saving up, so he receives a good education and a good and comfortable life.”

His mother would only sulk till his father left again,

His father taught him martial arts and fighting techniques, but the best gift he got from his father was the technique to blend well in his surroundings without anyone knowing about his existence. His father taught him the importance of staying low and observing every detail in his surroundings.

You will be consumed by your light and glow

Provided you self-search and nurture your shadow…

Little Shiv had always wanted to grow up and join the Army, a dream that his mother hated but his father encouraged.

“You have something unique about you, Shiv; you are born to achieve greater heights. You are Lord Mahadev’s blessing to us all.” His father would always say.

His mother loved him in her own way. She didn’t talk much, just went about the daily chores at home while he attended the local Gram Panchayat school. The school was in name only and attended by only those who couldn’t afford schooling. She didn’t cook much, but whatever she did, he would wait for her to pamper him and coax him to eat. He loved Diwali for the brightness and because his mother would often dress well and dress him up in his favourite blue Kurta; his papa had got him once.

He remembered a particular Diwali where she had got him sparklers, which was the first and the last Diwali he had celebrated with his mother. For years after that, he had longed to celebrate the festival but didn’t bother to ask his parents about it. Instead, he joined his school friends in lighting oil lamps and an occasional firework donated by some or the other political bigwig…

The mid-day meal scheme offered by the government was a significant attraction to those who attended the small school. Though his mother prepared something every day, Shiv loved to eat in school and in the company of his friends. Moreover, most children were sons of local labourers or farmers, primarily daily wagers. So no one bothered about why such a well-built kid attended a school with a building with a roof that leaked torrentially along with the rain every monsoon.

His dark skin tone and simple clothes didn’t make him stand apart eventually, and he was glad because his father would approve of it.

One day, when he was around twelve, he came home early from school in the afternoon since he was down with a fever, a rare occurrence. The entrance to his house was open, and he was surprised. His mother usually had her nap in the afternoon. His house wasn’t very big or attractive as per his father’s wishes, so it didn’t call for attention n. It was on a tiny hill away from the nearest village, and the land was barren.

His father had somehow managed to get them a constant water supply through his contacts and influence in the palace via the government scheme. They initially had a small mango grove, but Shiv had taken over the care of the place, and the grove had grown. He often got his school friends who weren’t working in the fields, and they worked on the grove. Some trees had yielded fruit recently, and he had distributed most of the fruit to his friends.

That afternoon he walked into a silent home. Where was his mother? He was burning with fever, and his head pounded. The only place that gave him solace was the mango grove. He walked in there, hoping to lie in the shade when he heard some chuckles and giggles.

Keeping up with his training in stealth, he walked without a sound to a clearing in the middle of the grove and was shocked to the core. His mother lay on a thatched mat with another man. Her saree was strewn at the side while she held the man’s face, constantly kissing him. With his paunch hanging out of his briefs, the man hugged her too, digging his head into her shoulder.

Shiv lost focus given his health, and at the sound of the twig cracking, the couple moved apart. His mother was wide-eyed, and she rushed to cover herself with the discarded saree. The man sat up too and pulled his clothes together.

His mother rushed to him and held his shoulders.

“What are you doing here, Shiv?” She asked, still panting.

Shiv was a child, but he knew whatever was happening wasn’t right. He didn’t say a word.

The man stood up and rubbed his huge belly. As he dressed, his handlebar moustache struck Shiv along with the red tilak on his sweaty forehead. Who was this man? He looked familiar.

“Shiv…” his mother spoke. “… touch Saheb’s feet and take his blessings.” She indicated to the large man while still adjusting the saree she had worn hurriedly.

Shiv stood still, glaring at the man, anger rising in his little body.

“Rati, your son is very stubborn. It would help if you taught him some manners.” He dusted his clothes and walked out of the grove.

His mother dragged him out of the grove to their house and pushed him to the bed. Then, placing her hands on her hips, she stared at him, fire blazing in her eyes.

“Do you know who that man was?” She asked, clenching her teeth.

“No maa… But he wasn’t papa.” Shiv back answered for the first time. The slap across his face caused him to fall back on the bed with a thud.

“How dare you say that, Shiv? You know nothing about all this. I have given up so much for you and your father; you will never understand. You are just like your father. If you ever say a word about this to your father, I shall leave you forever.” His mother threatened him.

That was Shiv’s greatest fear. While all his friends feared drought, hunger, and poverty, he feared loneliness. He couldn’t lose his mother… So, he would keep his silence. He went to bed hungry that night, and miraculously, his fever had broken.

He was a changed boy from that day on and decided not to rely on his mother anymore.

Shiv often returned home to find the same man leaving the house. At times the man patted his head or pretended Shiv didn’t exist. While, his mother wore beautiful sarees and got new clothes for him too, something about that man, didn’t feel right.

Two years passed, and Shiv now knew what happened in the grove that day and now blatantly in his house. However, he didn’t hold it against his mother since she was happy, which meant she wouldn’t need him around or keep tabs on him, not that she did anyway. He was glad to be left alone.

It was a summer when he had just turned fourteen, and the school grounds were abuzz with something they all called an election rally. He was one of the volunteers. He had lost weight and had become skinny and lean. He stayed away from home as much as possible, helping around the fields with his friends. The hard labour made him strong, and he kept up with his martial arts practice from whatever his father had taught him.

Just a year more, and he could escape this place. His father had arranged everything for him. At times he wondered if his father knew about his mother’s indiscretions. But his father too rarely came home. Shiv counted three times in the last two years.

Instead, his father called him occasionally at school or whenever he volunteered at the post office.

That evening the dignitaries sat on the dais, and the Sarpanch announced.

“We welcome the young and dynamic leader of the Kalyankar party, the son of this soil, and future MLA, Shri Rajendrabhau Majumdar. Everyone, please give him a round of applause…”

Shiv pried away from his eyes from the swelling crowd and looked upon the dais. His heart skipped a beat.. The man being honored was the one who frequented his home… the one who had an affair with his mother.

©priyagole

Chapter 9

The solid antiseptic redolence wafted through her olfactories, jarring her from the deep sleep she had after ages. Padma stirred and tried to open her heavy lids. Her left shoulder throbbed, and the excruciation reminded her of what transpired.

Her coronation, the sense of being watched, the hit on her shoulder, followed by being carried away, all rushed back to her. She finally opened her eyes to the pristine white ceiling. She knew she was in the palace infirmary. She looked around the movement of her neck causing pain, and she gasped. There was movement and Aarti rushed towards her.

“Padma… oh my God… Are you alright? We were so scared… all that blood, noise…”

“Padma, is it paining?” Keshav spoke on her other side.

Where was her father?

Aarti helped her sit up a bit on the inclined bed while the royal physician checked her vitals. Padma looked towards the door to see two security guards standing outside, and by the murmurs, she knew there were more. Her room would now be a fortress, she sighed, thinking about the new sanctions on her freedom. Frustration caused her eyes to fill. She had enough… who wanted her dead? And why?

Aarti held her as she cried. Keshav patted her head, and she was grateful for these blessings. At least she had these two with her, the only constants in her life. Her father stayed away whenever she was hurt or needed him ever since her mother had passed.

Suddenly there was some movement outside, and a guard whom she knew to be her father’s closest security personnel walked in, indicating everyone else to clear the room. Aarti, Keshav, Padma’s special attendant Seema, assigned to her a couple of years ago all left the room with the doctor and the nurses.

Within a minute, the King entered the room. Her heart fell, as she saw his haggard profile. It looked like he had aged even more in a day. He was still in the special robes he had worn for her coronation. The beautiful silk was now creased, and she even saw a tear at the seams. What was he doing? Padma felt remorse creep up her spine as she wondered about the multitude of duties her father had to perform while she constantly expected his attention.

His guards left the room, shutting the door, and they were alone.

“Baba…?” She wondered what was happening.

Her father held up his hand, and she could see the tremors in them. He must have been so worried…

“Padma, my child…” He began, fatigue evident in his voice. “…Given the dire circumstances. I have decided something for you.”

“Baba… what is it? Did you catch the shooter? It was a gunshot, right?” She was desperate for answers fiddling with the green hospital gown she was wearing.

The King sighed as he sat on the chair next to her bed. He held her hand that didn’t have the IV.

“Padma, your life is something I cannot compromise anything with. You… my child, are far too important to me than anything else. Be it this legacy or wealth… everything pales in comparison…” She heard his voice crack even as emotions engulfed her. “…Padma, my child, my angel, you are my everything. Just remember, whatever I have decided is for your good… So please trust me, OK?”

“What is going on, baba? You are scaring me…” She tried

He stood and walked towards the lone window of the room. She saw his clothes were loose-fitting. When had he lost so much weight?

He put his hand in his trouser pocket and removed a plastic ziplock pouch. It held a crumpled letter. Bringing it closer, he held it up in her view.

Her heart stilled as a chill crept up her spine.

‘THE NEXT BULLET WILL NOT MISS THE HEART. GIVE UP THE CROWN.’

The alphabets were distorted and not from the same typewriter. Instead, they were cut from different places and clubbed together to form a sentence like a linear collage.

Padma stared at it, both angry and filled with fear. She barely had powers as a queen even when she took over the reins, and there was still time. So why was the person after her life? She had to talk to Keshav and get to the bottom of this, whether her father liked it or not.

As if hearing her thoughts, her father spoke.

“I am not taking any more chances…”

“…So now what? A house arrest?” She knew she sounded sarcastic and rude. But the throbbing in her shoulder, accompanied by frustration surrounding everything that had transpired in the past five years, was getting to her.

Her father stared at her.

“Padma, don’t think I don’t know about your… activities. I am not a King just in name. I am a warrior before everything else and have a keen foresight. Just because I haven’t been there in person doesn’t mean I don’t know what’s up with you.” His stern voice was back.

Padma’s heart raced… did he know about her night rendezvous?

“Padma, my child, I will be… gone away often from now on. I have to work on stuff… Not many know about the plans. A handful of select ministers from the royal cabinet and Keshav’s father Devraj Chitnis from the treasury will be in charge of the administrative duties till then. Keshav will be going about his duties as well. I have been training him to be along your side when you become the queen. He will be a strong support to you Padma…” Her father looked away and sighed.

What on earth was he talking about? She was stunned to silence.

“Padma…” He continued. “…there is one more thing. I have assigned a… bodyguard for you.”

“But … I already have so many guards around me…”

“…Listen to me, child…” Her father held up his hand, irritated at being interrupted. “… I am not arguing on this point. This guard will stay with you 24/7 and accompany you on all your… er… adventures. I am not restricting anything, but until I get the perps responsible for the dishevel in our lives, I can’t let my guard down.”

Oh no… this wasn’t good news. Padma shook her head….

“This bodyguard…” her father continued. “…is a special one. He came well recommended, and I trust him with you. He is here right now…”

“…but baba…” She tried to speak, ignoring the pain in her shoulder.

“…he will be your Shadow, and you won’t even know he is there. Only Seema and Aarti will be allowed into your room to accompany you anywhere you wish to go. I am aware you want to pursue your B.Ed program and for that, you will have to visit schools too. But a large group of guards will call for attention, so it’s just this person. He is equivalent to many and very good at his work. He saved you last night….”

The rest of his words faded away, and Padma’s heart fluttered. She wanted to scream and make it known that it probably wasn’t the first time that man had saved her… But at that moment, she only had to get control over her breathing. Instead, a gush of emotions threatened to drown her into their depths.

Her father walked to the door and rapped upon it. The doors opened, and she felt him before she looked up.

A tall, dark, well-built, muscular guy in a hoodie walked in and bowed to her father. Her father nodded and gestured towards her.

“Padma, meet ‘shadow’ your new bodyguard.”

The man turned towards her, and her heart stopped a beat. The black orbs that had inhabited her dreams, that had been the source of her strength and calm stared right back at her.

The world faded away as a soft tuft of vanilla fragrance made its gentle way into her nostrils, and she had to grip her bedsheet to get a hold of her emotions. He was far more handsome and rugged with his beard and slightly dishevelled look. Her heart picked up a pace she couldn’t control.

He bowed before her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, princess. ‘Shadow’ at your service.” The baritone sent shivers down her spine, and she only slightly nodded as she looked down at her bedsheet.

Her father came towards her.

“Padma, I probably won’t be seeing you for a while, so please listen to ‘Shadow’ and do as he says. I trust his judgment when it comes to your safety….” He then looked at ‘Shadow’ and continued. “…and ‘Shadow,’ I leave her in your able hands. I… I …” he looked away, and Padma thought she saw the moisture in his eyes. She hadn’t seen him cry even when the queen had passed.

“Don’t worry, your Highness…” Shadow spoke. “…I shall protect the princess with my life if necessary…”

The King turned towards the man and held his shoulders. The King was a tall man, but Shadow was taller, so his hands were raised, covering Shadow’s broad shoulders.

“I trust you, my man, but you have to be alive to protect her. So, stay well so she will live too…” the King spoke, and Padma blinked back tears. Why did it feel that this was some farewell?

Shadow nodded, and the King walked away without a backward glance.

Shadow walked around the room, checked the walls, and touched the switches as if he were investigating her surroundings. Padma saw he was dressed in a figure-hugging black T-shirt that left nothing to the imagination about what was underneath. The trousers too fluttered loosely close to his toned glutes, occasionally as a second skin, and Padma looked away as she felt heat rise up her cheeks.

She mentally scolded herself… her life was in danger, and all she was interested in was how hot her bodyguard looked.

“Princess, tomorrow morning, you will move back to your room. I have checked it already, and it’s clear. Seema will bring you everything you need for a week till you recuperate. After that, you can venture anywhere you want, and I shall accompany you. Here…” he handed her a phone… wait, it was her phone. How did he have it? “…This phone now has a tracker so I would know where you are at any given time. I can monitor your calls…”

“…Wait, hold on…” She interrupted him. “…why? Isn’t this a breach of privacy? Can’t I even speak to anyone without you hovering over my head…?”

“With due respect, princess, your life is in danger, and I promise you I will never invade your space. True to my name, I will remain in the shadows, and you wouldn’t even know. Is there anything you would like to ask? Otherwise I shall take your leave. I will be right outside…”

“…Just one question.” She said softly and looked up at him. “…it was you, wasn’t it?”

“I beg your pardon, princess?” His solid rectangular face with a well-set jaw held no expression. If he was perturbed, he didn’t show it.

“Three years ago… on my 18^th birthday night at that club and later at the temple… you saved me, didn’t you?”

Shadow didn’t answer. Instead, he nodded to her.

“I will be right outside, princess, and your new watch has a tiny sensor. If you press on the dial, I will be alerted of danger. Also, your phone has me on speed dial number 1….” He nodded again and walked out of the door.

It was then Padma released the breath she had been holding, and she looked at the watch she didn’t know rested on her wrist!

©priyagole

Chapter 8

Two years later

Present day

Padma stood before the full-length mirror she had acquired from her mother’s room last year. It was her twenty-first birthday and also the day of her coronation. She adjusted the saree pleats of the specially ordered ‘paithani’ Her long lustrous mane was rolled into an elegant bun touching her neck and the corner locks were joined at the top of her head to form a loop. Floral chains of the ‘mogra’ specially ordered from Karnataka adorned her crowning glory, also spreading their fragrant hues all over her body and soul.

The maids stood watching the dresser arrange her pleats as she finally tucked in her saree. The saree itself was woven in silk and golden ‘zari’ highlighting its traditional border and a grand Pallu. This mesmerizing piece was in midnight black shade with an elegant designer blouse in scarlet red to add a classy appeal to it. The raised motifs adorning the blouse’s arms were custom made for today’s ceremony, studded with rubies and golden embroidery. The shape of the adjoining saree part moving towards the palloo was fixed so that her fair hourglass waist was accentuated.

She had worn her mother’s Kundan set. The neck piece had huge leafy round and oval shape golden metal with flower pattern tinted in cream, red and green colour while the opposite face had pure kundan. The necklace had dangling grey pearls. At the centre was a dense triangular pendant with a hollow in it. The hollow probably nestled a stone…

Aarti had commented how the missing stone was an eyesore but the Padma had wanted something that belonged to her mother on this special day. The triangular pendant resting a little above her nape line lay next to her turquoise pendent that she refused to part with even for this day.

The adjustable back golden nylon threads of the necklace embedded a dangle of pearls and acrylic red-green stones.

The chandelier-shaped dangling earrings also had the same pattern as the necklace.

The bangles she wore were handcrafted to match her necklace and earrings. The only difference being each of them had a couple of classic black onyx gemstones to match with her saree.

Her make-up was very light with a dab of rouge and blush while her fishtail eye-liner design brought out the shape of her eyes. The bright vermillion of her lips was radiant and bold, a sharp contrast to her soft heart.

As everyone left the room, letting her stand alone, she slipped her feet in the specially ordered heeled ‘mojri’ with delicate embroidery with dancing peacocks and radiant flowers all over.

She stood staring at her fascimilie in the mirror blinking back tears as she missed her mother the most. She still had time before Aarti would come in to escort her to the coronation hall. She could hear the beats of the assorted drum essemblage and the traditional trumpets being blown. Her heart paced in anticipation of what was coming up…

Today evening was her coronation and she would be officially the legal heir to the province, after her father.

The last three years flashed past her eyes.

She remembered that night of the puja, when she had been escorted back safely to the palace. She had thought her father wouldn’t speak to her as usual but to her surprise he called her to his chamber the very next evening.

She remembered taking the painful walk down the East wing towards her parents’ study. She had never been there after her mother had passed except to collect some of her mother’s paraphernalia.

That evening after dinner, she knocked on the wooden brass door and the king hollered her in.

She walked in with trembling legs partly because of what had transpired the earlier evening and partly because of her memories in the wing… she could feel her mother’s presence and missed her even more. Blinking back tears, she stood before her father with a huge mahogany table between them. Her father was seated on the massive revolving office chair specially ordered by her mother. The study set was different from all other pieces in the room but her father never refused his wife anything…

He indicated Padma to sit, and she tried not to show her fear as she took a seat on one of the two soft cushioned chairs.

Her father stared at her and she realised he had aged beyond his years and more so in the last two. She wished she could comfort him and be of help but knew the archaic royal blood running in her father’s veins wouldn’t let him do that.

The King sighed. “Padma, my child… I am sorry that you had to face it all.”

She quickly glanced up. Was her father apologising?

“I understand baba… It’s not your fault…”

Her father raised his palm indicating her to stop.

“Hear me out, child. I am not only apologising for yesterday… its… it’s for your fate for having born into this household….” Padma watched stunned as he continued. “…If not for being a part of this family and heir, you would have led a better life and had all the freedom your heart desired. I know you aren’t happy with the engagement announcement but child, besides being your father, I am first and foremost the King who has a lot at stake if things go wrong…. There are things you don’t know and at this juncture I can’t reveal anything….”

The king’s hand was up still and it was then Padma saw his middle finger missing its ring… the untanned ring area was prominent. She always remembered seeing the handmade ring on sterling silver with greenstone. It was a gift from the Turkish ambassador when he had visited them years ago.

“…Baba… your ring?” she pointed towards his finger.

The king was taken aback at the subject change and watched his hand. He then looked up at Padma.

“Just remember child, you cannot trust anyone around you. But the bearer of this ring will be authorized and endorsed by me… at a personal level. So, you can trust the person blindly.”

What was her father talking about?

The king must have sensed her restlessness. He stood and walked around the table and touched her head. He then moved towards the large window and stared at the blackness ahead.

“Padma, my dear, your mother and I always wanted the best for you. We wanted to give you a life free from the bindings of the royal rules, but your safety is of utmost importance. And no matter what, I won’t compromise on that. What happened yesterday wasn’t a mistake, and I don’t want to hide anything from you. We were attacked despite everything and we lost three of our guards. So, in the wake of things heating up, I have made some decisions….” He turned towards her. “… From now on you will NOT venture out of the palace grounds without permission… you will go out only when things die down and when I feel it will be safe enough…and …there will be no more discussion on this.”

The king resumed his reading from the multiple files and folders on the table and it was a clue for her to leave.

Padma walked back in a daze, unsure of what the future held in store for her. The palace walls were suffocating, and that night she cried herself to sleep… desperately wanting the comfort of those strong hands.

She barely saw her father after that night. As expected, she was not allowed to venture out again. So instead, she plunged into her studies and began her quest to gather knowledge on finances and administrative issues pertaining to the palace with Keshav’s help.

She also found that the police suspected Majumdar to be involved in the attempt on her entourage in the temple but without evidence, he was let off. She had no updates about the man later…

Aarti started her graduate studies as a day scholar in the plains and rarely appeared. Keshav helped Padma gain access to social media using an alias. Though she didn’t chat with anyone, she was in tandem with whatever her classmates were upto. Keshav turned to be her best friend and now that they had sorted their relationship boundaries, they were comfortable with each other. He took her once in a while to a nearby plantation on his motorbike, and a security entourage followed them from a distance. It was close to the palace and on the hills, so it was relatively safe. She looked forward to those outings as she could enjoy barrier-free sunshine. She got the needed ‘me time’ as Keshav left her alone for a couple of hours.

The two years of the pandemic were very bad as far as the revenue was concerned. Despite Keshav’s Herculean efforts, the revenue had dropped drastically and they were forced to release some staff. The King had arranged for their employment with his acquaintances in other provinces so they didn’t suffer. But overall, it was bleak.

In the last few months, however, things looked up with good crop in their fields and Keshav hoped agricultural yield would sustain them for a year till things got back on track.

Padma smiled as she continued to stare at her form in the mirror. There was a secret no one knew, not even Keshav. Her clandestine escapes into the wild, behind the forest. She had learned to ride a bike with Aarti a couple of years ago and had arranged for one, which she hid in a cove-like structure painstakingly made over a period of time using dried foliage. She kept adding more dried branches to it and no one suspected a bike to be hidden there. She often rode late into the nights at least once a week. She hated hiding it from Keshav but she couldn’t help it. It was blissful during the nights as there was rarely anyone on the road. She felt the thrill like never before.

She often visited the fort where her mother was found murdered, but her fear got the better of her and she couldn’t cross the perimeters marked shut by the law enforcement tapes. Her father had insisted on the closure of the place strictly, and there was nothing she could do.

However, the sense of being watched irked her and at the same time gave her a sense of security as well. In these two years that she had escaped the palace clutches late into the night while the world slept, her trips had been uneventful. She had tried to visit the hospital her mother had started, but it was difficult to seek information without revealing her identity. Her father’s dikkat also proved to be her path’s impediments.

Her nights that were often filled with the usual nightmares were now replaced by the calming black orbs. She read a lot of romance novels stealthily brought into the palace and to her surprise Keshav encouraged her to read all she wanted and do whatever she wished to. He went out of his way to arrange stuff she needed. Whether for her occasional painting interests or embroidery. It was sad that she didn’t feel for him the way she was to feel even after three years of her supposed engagement.

Was she destined to marry him? What about the feelings like those heart flutters or being buoyant in mid-air,  like those mentioned in the books? She didn’t know these even existed in real life till she had experienced it with the mystery man who had saved her twice… the man was a ghost and she was half in love with the enigma. Would she ever see him again?

She was expected to marry whenever she had to ascend the throne officially. Fortunately, her father was living and there was no hurry. But someday, she had to take over, and the royal laws’ amendment to remove the marriage clause was still not in place. She hoped it would happen soon now that regular functioning had resumed.

Aarti entered the room along with a group of Padma’s special attendants and they escorted her to the hall brimming with people. The palace was decorated like there was no tomorrow.

As she descended the round carpeted stairs towards the coronation hall, Padma recognized some of the faces. There were ministers from the state cabinet, sitting MLAs, the sarpanch from the villages in their province, and also the neighboring regions. Everyone assembled roared as they welcomed her amidst the cacophony of the myriad instruments playing juxtaposed by chants in the glory of Maa Bhavani and also ‘Long Live the King’, ‘Long live the Princess’…

Padma looked around, even as she was showered with marigolds and rose petals and saw the crowd swelling, the hall bursting at its seams. Did the King invite so many people? Was the security in place? She felt like a sitting duck….

Shaking her head to drive away untoward thoughts, she walked towards the specially designed dais with a ‘throne’. The golden throne studded by precious stones belonging to the Maratha regime was displayed only on special occasions.

She sat on the velvety cushion flanked by Aarti and her attendants; she felt that sense of being watched yet again. She felt the goosebumps rise on her arms. Was the person watching her all these years present in the hall now? Why didn’t he show himself?

The royal family priest chanted the holy ‘mantras,’ and she saw an attendant holding the golden plate on which was placed a Diamond-studded Tiara. Was this the one Keshav had mentioned all those years ago? The one she had to protect? The dazzling beauty of the tiara blinded her and the world went still as if she was having a private conversation with the head adornment.

Right then she felt movement in the corner of her eye and before she could react and turn she felt a piercing pain in her left shoulder as she was jerked behind. She touched her shoulders which had turned numb with pain and her palm drew back with a wet redness… Blood… she was bleeding.

She didn’t know if there were screams all over, but a heavy hand dragged her away, and she was hoisted up on someone’s strong shoulders… familiar shoulders with that overly familiar vanilla essence.

That was the last thought amidst the excruciating agony and the world went blank…

©priyagole

Chapter 7

The following week Padma was visiting the Maa Bhavani temple in the plains. It was a special invitation to her father for the ‘Mahapuja’. But the king asked her to visit with her ‘beau’ Keshav.

Padma was awkward, especially since Aarti was barely visiting her and she couldn’t reveal her arrangement with Keshav to anyone. She hated that she was all set to lose two of her closest friends.

Since the puja was at night, a special security entourage was put together. Padma had texted Aarti about the visit and she hoped her friend would make it tonight. She missed her…

Padma couldn’t forget the man who had saved her a week ago and wanted to talk to someone about her feelings. Usually, Aarti would be all ears and give her advice on what she could do. But tonight, she felt lonelier than ever…

The dark orbs mesmerised her

Clouded her waking Chimeras

The fathomless pool of melancholy

Life showering distressful volley

Dressed in the traditional Navvari (9 yards saree) she walked next to Keshav. They approached the bottom of the 35-step stone stairway built during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The stairs made from stones were steep, and today they were covered by a thick red carpet to welcome the princess.

Padma looked up at the visible temple’s dome with an orange flag proudly flying atop in its royal splendour. The crescent moon smiled down upon her, and she shut her lids, breathing in the fresh mystical night air. Instantly the narrowed dark orbs gleamed in her mind’s eye, and she shuddered as she opened her lids.

The temple was the lone structure on the top of the hillock surrounded by a dense growth of wild trees and bushes spread around the boundary walls. A part of the security moved and checked for any danger signs. On their clearance, she began her ascent along with Keshav, holding the ‘puja thaal’. The silver plate held a coconut, a betel leaf with a round betel nut and a floral garland. The marigold fragrance reminded her of when her mother would string a garland for their in-house temple.

Little Padma would sit nearby as the select help and her mother and grandmother who would be visiting them during occasions, dished out baskets of floral bliss. The help would speak about different topics and her mother would advise them on various queries, be it a simple marital squabble or health concerns.

A drop of water fell on her jerking her out of her reverie. Padma blinked and came back to the present. It looked like it would rain soon, just like her life the weather was unpredictable.

The climb was tedious with her saree. She had worn light pearl jewellery vetoing the palace tradition of donning heavy gold jewellery and the only precious piece on her was the ‘nath’, the nosering an heirloom from her mother. The queen had always worn it for any religious or royal event.

A large mother of pearl in the centre surrounded by rubies flanked with golden leaves sought the design by leading jewellery designers. Her maternal grandmother handed down the intricate pattern to her mother, and now Padma wore it. She was expected to wait until her marriage but the piece felt as if her mother was with her. Padma blinked back tears as she missed her mother… The crescent-shaped red bindi completed her traditional look.

The temple was lit up and Padma was enthralled by the ambience. It was a welcome break for her given her turmoil these days. Padma presided over the puja as Keshav accompanied her, keeping her distance as she went about the rituals. He was dressed in dapper clothes that made him look like a thorough politician. Padma’s heart went out for her friend who was probably struggling in every way just like her but was doing his best for the palace and the province.

The beautiful eyes of the idol spellbound her. Her mother often described the idol to her. As a child, she wasn’t taken along because of security concerns. And today her wish to see the Goddess was fulfilled… if only her mother were here.

During the ‘Aarti’ Padma stared at the mesmerizing eyes of the idol as if the stone sculpture was having a conversation with her. Padma was in a daze as the cacophony of the temple bells and the hymns engulfed her. The visual blizzard of the oil lamps all over, and along the perimeter of the temple, the staccato of the decorative electric lights, all but consumed her.

She was on auto-pilot as they walked outside and strode along the heavily guarded perimeter. Keshav was a little behind her with the security guards spread like a halo. Padma felt claustrophobic and wanted nothing more than to escape the little gathering.

A group of villagers was waiting for a glimpse of their future queen, and she couldn’t disappoint them. It would help her father’s cause as well. The support of the tiny villages in their province meant a lot for them.

At the backside of the temple, as she continued to walk barefoot, there was silence, the jingling of her anklet the only piercing sound accompanying the nocturnal discordance by the creatures of the dark… how she wished to see them. Her love for nature she had inherited from her mother now threatened to strangulate her. She wanted to go… just for a while. But cutting loose was next to impossible.

She looked towards the wall and her eyes fell on a little opening. The rains must have damaged the wall and the cemented part looked fresh. As she thought of a plan, the lights went off, surrounding them with darkness. Only a couple of oil lamps glistened dutifully as the security guards on that side scampered towards her. She heard them and saw their silhouettes.

Then, as if there was some celestial interference, it looked like a tuft of breeze stormed upon them, blowing the lamps off and plunging them into total darkness.

As she grappled with keeping a footing on the ground with the ongoing chaos, she heard some clicks and felt a thud next to her. That was followed by another thud, this time accompanied by a groan.

“What the hell is going on? Padma…?” Keshav yelled somewhere behind her. Fear of the unknown surfaced, and she was reminded of that night on her birthday.

The cumulation of sensory overload from the evening closed in upon her, and her heart raced. She rarely got anxiety attacks these days though they were rampant for a few months after her mother had passed. But now she was losing the reins…

And what were those sounds? She heard a couple of thuds and screams more. Were they attacked… wait… were they gunshots? Yes, they were. She sat on her hunches even as she got hit by a couple of running bodies and she fell. She thought she would be trampled to death… but suddenly someone held her arm and pulled her up.

Her voice caught in her throat as she couldn’t make out anything but it was a strong silhouette of a man probably covered in complete black. The man hoisted her on his shoulder as if she barely weighed anything and ran towards the wall. She heard the crashing of the wall part, newly repaired and soon he was running through the trees.

The haphazard growths of bushes pricked her flailing arms but what held her attention above everything else was that tinge of the vanilla deodorant. Oh God… was it him again?

He kept moving, and she could no longer hear the chaos in the solitude of the dense growth.

Somewhere deep in the outgrowth, he put her down and she stared at him trying to figure out his face in the misty redolent darkness. He pointed towards her hip. She looked down and gasped, her saree pallu had fallen, exposing her blouse-covered bust. She was top-heavy, and her chest heaved as mixed feelings of embarrassment and desire shot through her body. She was stunned and glued to the ground, unable to move. Before she could react further, he bent down and lifted the pallu, placing it around her shoulder, and covered her upper body.

Holding her pallu end close to her as if her life depended on it, she shivered. Suddenly it grew darker and the petrichor earth drew her attention. It was about to rain…

It didn’t just rain; it poured… and she was drenched to the core. He dragged her towards a huge tree and turned her so that her back touched the tree trunk and he stood facing her, his arms above her head as it covered her. He was a tall man, and though it reduced the impact of the downpour, she still was drenched.

She looked up, trying to read his face, rather than the eyes visible through the slits in that thing he had worn over his face. She raised her hand to touch him, not knowing what she was doing.

He grasped her wrist and shook his head. Suddenly there was a flash of lightning and in that brief staccato, she saw his eyes… the same black orbs that had her under their spell. And at that moment, they bored into her. The thunder rattled around her loudly and suddenly, she felt the energy drain out of her. She hugged him tightly.

She felt him still under her arms and, after a few seconds, felt his heavy arm on her back as he patted her. Was he trying to console her?

She inhaled his fragrance mixed with the rain and felt safe in his strong presence. It felt like she knew him for ages.

Slowly he moved her back and the rain had reduced to a drizzle.

“Do…do I know you?” She asked him, her voice filled with tremors due to fear and cold.

He didn’t reply.

“They were gunshots, weren’t they?” She asked again.

She felt him nod.

“You were there last week… in that club too…?”

Again, no answer. But she wasn’t someone to give up.

“Just… who are you? You have saved my life twice already… I would be dead if not for you…”

Just then she felt him stiffen and turn around as if hiding her behind him. It was then she heard the footsteps too.

“Princess? Are you there?” She heard Keshav call out. The footsteps were more, indicating he had come to look out for her.

Suddenly her savior moved away from her and disappeared…

She was united with Keshav and safely escorted back to the palace through some hidden route she hadn’t known existed before. No one spoke to her about what had transpired… she was escorted to her room.

Later as she slept, the enigma in dark overalls hovered in her mind.

Who was he? Why was he there… everywhere?

©priyagole

Chapter 6

Padma’s smile dropped. She stared at the floor trying to figure out what to say.

“How…? I mean…I was right here…” Padma tried to fib.

“Stop that, Padma. Do you even know what you have done? First, our engagement was announced, and you ran away as if your room was on fire. Then when I came to look out for you just an hour later, you were gone…” he rubbed his face removing his glasses, and for a brief moment, she saw her childhood friend hidden behind that mask he had put up.

“Keshav, I ….”

“…This is not done Padma…” he abruptly spoke. “…it was humiliating. I… I came to this room later, but something told me you weren’t here….”

“Keshav…”

“…I am not finished Padma. I couldn’t sleep all night. Today morning I took a walk this side to check on you and saw you sleeping on that bench. Do you know how scared I was? What if the palace staff had seen you like that? I was about to come to you when Aarti reached there. What were you doing there Padma? And I got a glimpse of that dress you were wearing… what is going on?”

Padma stood and walked towards her window and stared at the fountain. She hoped the cumulative turmoil in her heart would find some solace in the soft gurgle that reached her ears once in a while.

She felt Keshav walk behind her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she stiffened. She tried to move, but his hold got stronger.

He turned her to face him and held her shoulders lightly.

“Padma, you aren’t happy with this alliance, are you?” Keshav asked softly, his eyes boring into her soul.

Guilt overwhelmed her.

“I am so sorry, Keshav. I didn’t know … I mean… my baba, it was so unfair for us. He shouldn’t have sprung an engagement in that manner.”

“Don’t blame nanasaheb, Padma. Besides being a father, he is also the King. He has certain duties towards this province and he has been working very hard all these years. He has only faced hurdles like that MLA, Majumdar. The son of a bitch has been gathering forces within the government circles to put a permanent end to your father’s rule….”

She gasped as Keshav continued. “… yes. Though monarchy doesn’t exist, your father has a legacy to keep. YOUR legacy, Padma, and that includes this palace and its contents. Nanasaheb has never bowed before the government and has fought tooth and nail against policies detrimental to the people. If the government finds loopholes in our functioning or the majority of our population votes against us, then we may lose this palace and everything else to heritage protection. It will no longer belong to you….” He walked around her towards the window. “…Padma, aaisaheb gave up her life fighting for what is right. She lived all her life for the benefit of the population, mainly women and young girls. When she passed, nanasaheb was completely broken, yet he has held up so far…”

He walked back to a stunned Padma. “…look Padma, I am forever indebted to nanasaheb for funding my education and being a great friend to my father. He has always helped my family through thick and thin. So I am here now with all my qualifications to ensure this palace and all your estates run smoothly from the financial point of view, and trust me, it’s very bleak now. This palace needs very expensive upkeep and given the current treasury status, this won’t last for more than a year. So I have to step up my game Padma. I have to involve myself in estate affairs, and I can’t take charge unless I am related to the royal family. So Padma…”

He stopped and sighed again, looking at her sombrely.

“Keshav…” Padma said, swallowing the lump in her throat. “… I knew things weren’t so good but didn’t know the gravity of the situation. But marrying for this purpose doesn’t sound right for both of us.” She looked away, blinking back tears. Her heart felt a strange void.

“Padma, I need 2-3 years to streamline stuff. After that, I shall form a company that your father will officially outsource the palace upkeep in partnership. He has already drawn the papers and needs the approval of the royal trustees. But this will all take time, and meanwhile, our alliance will help this to proceed.”

“What do you mean Keshav? We will be…”

“…Yes, Padma, we will be engaged in name only. So keep up this farce for the next few years. Complete your studies till then. Let me get things on track… we can then officially break up.”

“But Keshav, what if the royal trustees refuse to pass the decision in favour of the partnership?” Padma asked

“I hope my work will do the talking and convince them…. For instance, I have convinced nanasaheb to rent out the tiny cottages in the outer perimeter of this enormous estate. I have also suggested the visitors will get a free guided tour of the palace. This would add to the income. Then I have got on board a couple of horticulturists who will guide us on the beneficial plantations around the enormous estates and other land belonging to your father.…” Keshav beamed

Padma blinked back tears.

“Keshav, I feel bad about this… I think I am just taking advantage of you.”

“Don’t worry Padma, you know I have adored you for ages. You will always be my good friend irrespective of the outcome of all this. Just promise me one thing.”

“What is it?” Padma asked, sniffling tears away.

“Promise me that you will protect the special crown…it’s beyond all jewels.”

“What crown are you talking about? Even aai didn’t use one. I don’t even know if she had one.”

Keshav sighed.

“Padma, aaisaheb was a simple woman and never the one to go after opulence or any show-off. There is a special crown made entirely of diamonds passed on from generations. It was last handed over to aaisaheb by her mother-in-law after marriage. The crown has a special significance. It has the blessings of Maa Bhavani. The bearer of the crown has many rights which if fallen into the wrong hands can bring about destruction…. I thought you knew about all this.”

Padma wondered how much her parents had protected her. Even Keshav knew so much more than her.

“Keshav, I have no idea about where the crown is. But I will check with baba soon.”

Keshav nodded. “Good. It should be with you on your coronation day on your 21^st birthday.”

Padma shivered and hugged herself at the very thought of what awaited her in 3 years. She knew nothing and had to up her mettle.

After Keshav left, she stared at the fountain. She clutched the turquoise pendant feeling her mother close by.

‘Aai, what should I do? Please give me some hint… where is that crown? Why didn’t baba display it along with other pieces if it were here? Why did I never see it in the jewellery room? Why was I never told about it?’ she spoke into the air.

As she went to bed that night staring at the speckled moon gleaming brightly, she touched her lips. Who was that man? How did he appear out of nowhere…?

She last saw those beautiful black orbs eager to play hide and seek with her as sleep claimed her…

Silver-streaked hues smiled upon them

Spreading a canopy of amorous solace

He dragged her off absolute cataclysm

The veiled buzz of flutters set to surface.

©priyagole

Chapter 5

Padma had only heard and been warned about sexual abuse… Was that her fate tonight?

Her heart was now pacing like there was no tomorrow. Fear of the unknown gnawed at her insides as she felt the intense thudding of her heart.

The giant stranger placed the phone aside and pulled down the sleeves of her dress his nails leaving painful scratches and she knew they would be visible on her pale skin sooner than later. Her seamless strapless bra was revealed, and he further pulled the dress downward exposing her matching undies.

Humiliation engulfed her as she felt violated already. But she felt powerless to push him away. She realized she couldn’t utter a word, let alone scream and her limbs were still as she trembled in fear and cold.

As he was about to tear off the last scraps of her modesty, the door slammed open, and someone barged in. She didn’t know what had just happened, but the giant was removed from above her body. She heard some grunts and bangs and suddenly she was warm again… her dress was back on her body, and a coat covered her. Her chills reduced instantly.

She felt strong arms lift her as if she weighed nothing. It felt familiar, but she didn’t know what she thought or felt, given her haze. Then, finally, she felt him carry her out in the open, and she saw the night sky spread above like a black sheet sprinkled with diamond-like stars. The evening breeze provided the needed balm to soothe her trembling soul.

She felt him open a car door and bend towards the backseat. Right then her sharp nose, despite the ordeal she had been through, caught on a whiff of that scent. The one she had felt back in the groves outside the palace.

Padma tried to look at him as he placed her on the seat… was her mind playing tricks with her? She thought she saw those same black eyes, the endearing eyes from her dreams blurring on and off. How could it be? Was she drunk? But she had never consumed alcohol in her life.

She didn’t know what took over; it was probably the adrenaline. She tightened her grip around his neck and pulled him down towards her. He resisted a bit, but she thought he just gave in. He came closer, and she felt his warm breath on her face. His rough stubble touched her as she lifted her chin, brushing his lips with hers.

Her heart raced… she just had her first kiss…

It was merely a peck, but the softness of her lips against his semi-soft ones caused her heart to flutter. This time there was no inner voice that told her to move away. She had never felt alive before this moment though her brain was fogged. She probably wanted to forget the ordeal she had just been through.

Was he the sliver of sunshine after the dark clouds that had just, hovered, above her head? She sighed, and her lips parted. She hoped his tongue would take over just as she had read in the romance novels smuggled into the palace. But to her utmost disappointment, the man moved away, his slight tinge of the vanilla a whiff of which she had from close quarters, suddenly disappeared. He didn’t say a word.

He just pulled the seat belt across her, and even though he tried to avoid it, his arm grazed her chest. Her heart paced up again, but it was due to the surge of attraction for this specimen, which was just a blur. She felt him still a bit and stiffen as well. Why was this giving her a sense of déjà vu? Did this happen before as well?

He shut the door and moved to the driver’s seat. Then, starting the car, he drove away from the club. She didn’t know where she was headed, nor did she think of her safety which moments earlier had burdened her thoughts.

The gentle rocking of the car as it cruised along some smooth road coddled her to sleep. She tried to stay awake for the sole reason of knowing this enigma who saved her virtue and probably her life. At that moment, she didn’t worry about what lay in store for her back in the palace. However, the more she tried to keep her lids open, to glare at the mop of hair visible above the driver seat…. gosh, the man was tall, her eyelids grew heavier, and soon she slipped into oblivion.

Someone sprinkled water on her face; the cold graze stunning her out of her slumber. But instead of her soft bed, she was on something hard.

“Padma… wake up… quick….” Aarti’s whispers close to her ears irritated her. “… you scared me. Where did you disappear…?”

Wait, what was going on? Padma’s head pounded like crazy. Where was she? Still in the party? No… wait. The chill breeze hit her bare legs, and she sat up immediately, the move sending a jolt of agony racing through her dizzy head.

She held her head to stop everything from spinning. It was then everything came back. The giant man walking towards her, dragging her away, and then the other guy saving her. So how did she land up in the palace? correction… the palace lawns.

Strange were the ways of the world. Padma had been found precisely in the exact location, on the same iron bench close to her side of the palace two years ago. At this rate she felt she would go crazy. She had no memory of what transpired two years ago, and last night was a haze. But her gut instinct told her there was something common between the two.

She realized Aarti was talking to her in hushed tones, looking wearily around. Padma followed Aarti’s gaze and realized it was very early in the morning, and usually, no one came to this side of the palace that soon. There was a canopy of branches overhead, which saved them for the moment. She had to get back to her room and out of these clothes before anyone found them.

Aarti helped her as they stumbled their clumsy way into the palace, towards Padma’s quarters.

Later as they freshened up and had the breakfast brought to her room by unsuspecting maids, Padma finally spoke.

“Aarti, what happened last evening..?”

“Padma, I was about to ask you the same. One moment I saw you standing with the fruit punch looking at me dance, and the next moment you were gone. I thought you must have gone to the washroom, but when you didn’t turn up even after 10 minutes, I went looking for you. Imagine my fright when I didn’t see you anywhere…” Aarti held her hands. “… where did you go, and how did you land up here…?”

Padma tried to recall whatever her hazy mind could and gave a gist of everything to Aarti, who looked stunned. But, of course, she omitted details about her saviour or that she was fiercely attracted to the guy. Likewise, she didn’t tell Aarti about the similarities between the incidents from last night and two years ago. No use stressing out the poor girl, especially when Padma didn’t remember anything.

“Aarti, I don’t know what went wrong, but I think there was something amiss with my drink.” Padma voiced her doubt.

“But we had the drink together Padma, and I was fine.”

“But how did you come back and find me here?”

“Padma, I rushed back to tell Nanasaheb. I panicked when we couldn’t find you. Fortunately, I found you on that bench. Whoever that man was, we should be thankful; he saved you. Imagine what would happen otherwise…”

Padma nodded, and just then, the attendant arrived, announcing Keshav’s arrival. Padma felt Aarti stiffen and hated her father that moment for creating a wedge between friends.

Keshav strode into her room and halted in his tracks the moment he saw Aarti. Aarti inturn excused herself and walked out of the room.

Padma smiled at Keshav, trying to ease the tension and invited him over to the couch. Then, she belled for tea to be brought.

“Keshav, I um….” She didn’t know how to begin the conversation. Especially when Keshav intently stared at her.

She realized Keshav had grown into a handsome young man, and considering his lean muscled physique; she was sure he worked out. His fancy rimmed glasses perched on his straight nose gave his boyish face a charm of its own. He wasn’t clean-shaven, and his day old stubble was something she should have found attractive. However, it didn’t induce the same feeling she had felt last night with that stranger. On the contrary, it further strengthened her resolve that she and Keshav weren’t meant to be together.

“Keshav…”

“Padma…”

They both spoke together. Padma gestured to him to continue as she was yet to frame her words.

Keshav, however, didn’t smile… his facial expressions like a chiselled stone.

“Padma, where did you go last night?”

©priyagole

Chapter 4

There isn’t freedom

Till there’s no free will

The lure of freedom

Makes chained restraints keel

Her mother’s words rang into her ears as she panted her way to her room. Her saree caught in her heels twice, almost tripping her. But Aarti had been there to support her as always. The latter had, however, been silent throughout.

The poor girl must have been shocked to hear about the impending royal engagement. Padma wanted to console Aarti, saying she wasn’t interested in marrying Keshav and would talk to her father later when things cooled a bit. Her father was also stressed by the MLA’s unforeseen visit that evening, and she didn’t want to burden him before the guests.

But at that moment, both Aarti and she got busy changing into their casuals. Padma had warned Aarti to wear black, and finally, they covered their respective beds with pillows and blankets to give a sense of someone sleeping. They then tiptoed their way to the west side exit.

They made it to the groves uneventfully. The added bag containing their party ensembles made movement complicated in the darkness, very often the bag getting entangled in the low boughs of trees, but somehow, they managed. Unfortunately, Aarti was still silent and Padma didn’t know how to convince her and put her at ease.

Aarti drew her mobile phone, and for once, Padma was envious of the girl’s freedom. Her phone calls back in the palace were monitored, and that knowledge brought down her guilt about tonight. As Aarti placed a call to her friend about helping them when they arrived at the venue, Padma felt she was being watched.

She turned around, but there was only blackness with a minimal rustling of leaves in the night breeze. But, wait… was there some subtle scent in the air? Padma had a strong olfactory sense and raised her nose to figure out the fragrance. But it disappeared as quickly as it breezed its way into her nostrils.

She turned towards Aarti, who completed the call, but the feeling of unease didn’t dissipate. Did her father have any inkling about her escapade that night? She shuddered at the thought but realized that if it were true, the King wouldn’t have sat still. She wouldn’t be here in the depths of the woods but instead, locked in her room.

Fortunately, there was no rain that night, and they trekked their way down the hill slope with only Aarti’s phone torch occasionally for illumination.

As promised Aarti had arranged for a motorbike parked in the wild buses with two helmets. Padma wasn’t sure, but Aarti turned out to be a pro, and as they strapped the helmets, she started the bike and drove down the hill, the road a blurring black strip, moving towards the dark plains.

As they neared the town, Padma was mesmerized by a different kind of atmosphere, filled with lights, and from her line of vision, they resembled the sequins on her evening saree. She had rarely been here that too, only during the daytime, and her visits were restricted and heavily guarded.

They rode for about half an hour. There was barely any traffic except for a few bikers and a couple of cars. No one seemed to be bothered about the two young girls on the bike. However, the strange sense of someone watching them never left Padma. It felt eerie, but Padma didn’t want to let it bother this rare opportunity. She didn’t know when she would get to escape… till the hole in that wall wasn’t discovered….

A while later, they arrived at the nightclub nestled in the dense flora on the city’s outskirts to a waiting group. None of them knew Padma’s identity. Aarti had a tough time arranging for fake IDs for both of them. Padma for hiding her true identity and Aarti for her underage. They quickly went to a changing room along with the waiting group and changed into their party wear. Aarti helped her with the make-up and Padma was unrecognizable in the smoky eyes and bright nude wet shine lipstick, the brownish dazzle highlighting her non-existent pout.

Soon they were grooving to the latest Bollywood hits on the dimly lit dance floor. Padma didn’t feel claustrophobic despite the crowd swelling.

She felt liberated. She felt free… for once in her 18 years, she was living life as per her free will. No rules and regulations, no security entourage choking her, and no judgments about the royal family etiquette since no one here knew her. She felt like she was in a different world.

The music changed to soft tunes, and she took a water break with Aarti.

“Want a fruit punch, Padm… I mean Ria?” Aarti corrected immediately.

“Yes, sure Mona…” Padma giggled as she addressed Aarti with her pseudo-name.

As she sipped the punch, the cold drink passing through her food pipe calmed her soul. Aarti went back to dance while she waited to finish her drink. A couple of guys approached her for a dance, but she politely refused them. They weren’t bad looking at all, but strangely, she wasn’t interested…

A minute later, as she finished the drink, she decided not to dance as her new heels were biting into her feet. She bent down to loosen the strap of her footwear when she felt someone watching her… yet again. Instantly she stood to her total height and looked around. The world spun as the drink she just had threatened to rise in her food pipe.

The dim lights weren’t helping, but she thought she saw someone move behind a pillar a little ahead of the bar. She turned around and saw Aarti dancing with her friends and decided to check on the person. It wouldn’t do any harm, would it? No one knew her here.

Just then, someone strutted before her.

The giant of a man reeked of alcohol, and she was immediately put off. But wait… he seemed familiar. That crooked nose… where had she seen it? Was he the one following them?

He chuckled unsteadily.

“So, the high and mighty princess is here amongst us lesser mortals?”

Padma was stunned. Who was he and how on earth did he know her?

It was time to leave before anyone else got a whiff of her true identity. She turned around but couldn’t see Aarti anywhere. The strobe lights now began to play havoc with her senses. Why was she suddenly seeing double?

She felt she was swaying. Her head grew heavier by the second as if someone was continuously loading something on it. Nausea rose yet again. Finally, the man came closer and held her hand. She didn’t want to go with him but found herself being dragged along. His hands dug painfully into her biceps, and she knew she would have bruises to show. Panicking, she wondered what was happening. Where was Aarti? Was she alright?

Her father would be outraged for sure…

She didn’t have a mobile phone on her. She found herself walking along with the man, stumbling with him, and they went towards the pillar. Why was she unable to resist? He dragged her to a room behind that. Was he watching her all the time? The door shutting with a loud bang as he pushed her in sent a tormenting headache shooting up her skull, and she grasped her head. The lightbulbs around her seemed four in number, and they were dancing.

The lights were switched off, plunging the room into the darkness with just a stream of light tiptoeing through the window. Padma saw a double bed… no it was a single bed… what was going on?

Her body wasn’t under her control anymore.

She felt the zipper of her dress being lowered, and a pair of hands groped her derriere while a wet pair of lips nipped her neck. The man’s pungent odour made her gag. She didn’t like it at all. It didn’t feel like what she had read in books, and she wasn’t ready for this. No… this wasn’t right… nothing was right. She only wanted to leave. This was a nightmare.

The man pushed her on the bed, and she bounced on the mattress. The world was reeling around her… NO … no this shouldn’t happen… NO… who was this man? He knew her. He pushed her further as she sank into the mattress, and she felt powerless to move as if she was paralyzed. She wanted to scream, but her voice was lodged in her throat. He held her hands above her head even as tears slipped down the corners of her eyes.

Then, he suddenly released her hands, and her blurring swimming vision saw him hold something above her. Oh God was that… a phone? Was he clicking her picture?

She was doomed…

©priyagole

Chapter 3

Padma walked back quickly to the palace, knowing there would be a search party out for her if she delayed any further. Her beautiful memory was now pushed back to a mind’s corner like she always did. She barely remembered the boy anymore. However, those pitch-black eyes seated on the brown face returned to torment her once in a while.

These days though her heart fluttered whenever she thought of them.

Shaking her head, she passed through the hole in the wall back into the dandelion bush and was glad for the bright morning sun that had dried up traces of her immediate rendezvous.

Standing on the pavement, she looked at the now camouflaged wall. She knew what she had to do tonight. She had the invite in her inbox. Though her email was monitored, no one knew she had another account she operated secretly with Aarti’s help.

There was a party in the neighboring province. A new nightclub was being launched, and though Padma didn’t drink, she wanted to let her hair down and groove to the music for once. She had convinced Aarti to accompany her and through her had purchased a low black dress and make-up as well. Aarti had been against the idea initially, but Padma had been persuasive.

She once wanted to feel ‘life’ without upping her guard all the time.

The cake cutting ceremony was to get done with by 8 PM after which Aarti and she would escape from the secret place in the garden to the groves. The vast estate ended on the hill slope that let to the lone mountain road. Aarti had arranged for a motorbike to be placed there. There was nothing a wad of cash couldn’t do; she had told Padma. The thrill of coming alive… shot down every other apprehension. Padma couldn’t wait for the evening.

The palace named ‘Devi Bhavan’ was partly built by the Marathas and the British. It eventually was handed over to the ancestors of the current King WamanRao Raje following a pact signed with the British. Today monarchy no longer existed in democratic India; however, the honorary kings performed specific duties towards their subjects. They held court and helped absolve local grievances, and also pursued philanthropy. Like many palaces in the country, Devi Bhavan was also built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, distinctive domes and turrets, and exceptional works of art from different corners of the world. The three-storey palace also had several courtyards, two durbar halls, four Hindu temples, presided by different deities, and even an inbuilt state of an art swimming pool.

However, Devi Bhavan wasn’t outsourced to corporates for upkeep or converting to a five-star hotel, unlike many other palaces. Though Padma’s mother had once come up with an idea of converting a part of the massive palace as a B and B, the King had vetoed the same. A rarity, but he had been concerned about Padma’s security. The queen had given in as well.

Today’s bash was being held in one of the durbars. The Belgian crystal chandeliers had been mounted high and polished, to be lit up in the evening. In addition, the King had arranged for an exhibit of a collection of antiques, weapons, statues, and manuscripts for the visiting guests. The second floor housed all the exhibits that weren’t touched for the last couple of years. Padma’s mother had collected more than half of them. Padma only hoped to get through the evening unscathed. The day brought in a paradox of memories….

The first floor of the palace was entirely residential. The King’s quarters lay in the east wing while Padma had moved to the west wing last year. The East wing housed too many memories of the late queen.

The room adjacent to Padma’s was empty while the next room, a spare one was used by Aarti whenever she stayed back, which was more frequent than not ever since Keshav had returned. Padma knew Aarti had feelings for Keshav, but the latter didn’t reciprocate.

That evening Aarti helped Padma drape the offwhite georgette saree. It was specially ordered for her and adorned by golden sequins. The blouse was sleeveless and low back, and she had let her luscious hair fall cascading down her back. The make-up was light with just a touch of rouge and kohl. Like her mother, Padma had a broad lower jaw and large eyes. However, unlike her mother’s natural black, Padma’s eyes were speckled with brown hues. She loved horseriding and swimming and had developed a good physique not to mention the right curves. She loved reading romance books that Aarti smuggled into the palace.

As she stared at her profile in the mirror, Padma wondered if she would ever have the kind of romance she had read. She didn’t know if she even had the right to ‘want’ it…

Padma often wondered if romantic love ever existed. But whenever she thought of it, those sobbing black orbs from a decade ago danced before her mind’s eye. She failed to understand the reason, though. She pushed those feelings away as they only caused heartburn. She didn’t know who he was or where he was… was he even alive?

The bell-ringing indicating the start of the bash brought her back to the present.

“Wow, Padma you look hot and sexy…” Whistled Aarti as she admired her.

“You look amazing yourself Aarti…”

Aarti blushed turning a shade of crimson, matching her baby pink salwar kameez.. Padma knew Aarti wanted to get closer to Keshav.

Though they all played together as kids, the dynamics had now changed, especially since Keshav had returned.

“By the way…” Padma whispered though the maids were out of earshot. “…Is the bag ready?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, it’s all arranged. Wait for my signal, and we shall make our escape.”

Padma walked ahead and moved towards the Durbar, followed by Aarti and the maid entourage.

Everyone stood applauding and Padma descending slowly along the spiral staircase looked around wide-eyed at the show of opulence that she despised. Her father walked towards her in his royal grace and taking her hand led her to the bejewelled satin-covered couch.

Once everyone settled there was a cultural program to entertain and Padma could feel all eyes on her. She hated that they made her uncomfortable. Her mother would never have agreed to this, definitely not in the name of tradition. Suddenly there was silence and Padma heard heavy footsteps.

She didn’t have to look up to see who it was. The MLA of the nearby province, Koini, Rajendra Majumdar strode in with his cortege. He was her father’s perennial nemesis, and there had been many instances of exchange of words over the development of the provinces. Both the provinces shared the breathtaking Dabhosa waterfalls and the MLA always butted heads with her father against the use of resources for tourism. He had also been against the fort restoration and had fought tooth and nail with her late mother. Padma hated the guy since her parents often stressed and argued because of him.

That evening he walked in with a massive bouquet and held them up to her. On her father’s nod, she accepted them. The MLA’s obnoxious perfume made her gag, and she wanted nothing more than to flee…

“A very happy birthday to the beautiful princess Padmavati Raje. God bless you, child, with the best of everything… You were a gift from Devi maa, and we hope you live up to the large expectations the people of your province have from you….”

He laughed over his statement and walked towards the food counter.

The large three-tier cake was wheeled in and Padma cut the cake amidst singing and clapping.

The King took the mic in his hands and stood, calling for everyone’s attention.

“With Maa Bhavani’s blessings, my daughter Padmavati is officially the crowned princess from today. At the same time, I have decided to arrange her marriage with a very eligible boy who will help her with the duties of a queen after her coronation once she turns 21. So Keshav, come up here please…”

Padma watched with her mouth hanging open, and she felt Aarti stiffen next to her as Keshav who looked equally bewildered walked in dressed in a beige-colored Shervani. Keshav looked handsome, but Padma couldn’t help that she had no feelings for him besides friendship. He stood smiling as the King continued.

“… meet Keshav Chitnis, my future son-in-law. He is a post-graduate….” The King drawled on, and everyone clapped and congratulated Padma and Keshav.

The rest of the hour was a blur, and Padma made her excuse to drag Aarti out of the Durbar.

Petrichor Earth invited her into her fold

Under the rhapsodic sanguine firmament

Her heart set on renewed voyeur

Hope is just a sunshine sliver.

©priyagole

Chapter 2

Padma freshened up and walked towards her window overlooking the most beautiful garden around the palace. The ornate fountain stared back at her. The glorious marble foundation surrounding the fountain had been specially commissioned when Padma was born. It had the hardened imprints of her palms and feet embossed on its edge.

Padma blinked back tears as emotions threatened to engulf her in their tentacles. It had been like this as everything around her reminded her of her mother.

Sighting movement in the corner of her eye, she looked towards her right to see Aarti chatting with the royal cook’s daughter, probably reprimanding her about the extra spice in the curry last night. Padma smiled and thanked her blessings.

When Padma was born, she was the inevitable heir to the province, the future queen. There was a boy, her older brother who was kidnapped as an infant and later found dead floating in a pond near the plains below. The perps were never found though there were rumours that someone who didn’t want an heir apparent had done the gruesome deed.

As a result, her parents were forever overprotective following suspected threats to her life. She wasn’t allowed to venture outside the palace walls and barely had friends. One was Aarti and the other was Keshav, Devraj Chitnis’s only son. Chitnis was in charge of the royal treasury and accounts. Back after finishing his post-graduate studies in Business Management in the UK, Keshav had been involved with the administration of the vast palace estate. The King had also inducted Keshav into the royal advisory committee.

Padma knew that the King intended to make Keshav his son-in-law to keep everything within the family. Keshav, too seemed interested in her romantically, for a long time, but she had always fended off his subtle advances. Nevertheless, Padma didn’t want to lose her childhood friend and the beautiful memories of their growing-up years.

A sudden pocket of air hit her face, bringing her back to the present with a jolt. She could feel the walls closing in on her and knew she had to get out… out of the palace.

Dressing up in her black jeans and black t-shirt, tying her luscious mane into a high ponytail and rushing it into a black bandana, she quickly wore her sneakers and rushed downstairs stealthily. She looked around for guards and exited her end of the enormous palace, finding no one. She ran across the lawns staying in the shadows and hiding from the CCTV. She knew the blind spots well, having practised this drill umpteen times. She sprang into the specially grown Dandelion bush, taking care not to trample on the flowers, but her sneakers sunk into the wet earth.

Swearing under her breath, she made her way to the end of the garden, where she had slowly and steadily made a hole in the wall for the last couple of months. Every time she made a hole it would eventually get repaired and she had to start all over again.

This time she had been careful to hide her craftmanship well. This was her only secret kept from Aarti. The rain had worsened the job, and the soil was wet, making it very slippery, but Padma didn’t care. She had to get out.

She slowly stepped out, half her outfit already muddy and probably her face too. But vanity was the least of her concerns, and she was glad to get camouflaged. She sprinted across the tree groves, more than half of them planted and nurtured by her mother when she had arrived as a new bride in the palace. One of them in particular, a mango tree right at the centre of the artificial forest, was planted where they had buried Padma’s pet dog years ago. For the last two years, she wasn’t allowed to visit this area and hence she had to resort to coming in hidden.

She climbed up the tree swiftly, glad that her skills hadn’t gone rusty in the last two years. The ruffling of the heavily laden tree leaves welcomed her amidst the boxwood fragrance of their freshness. Her restless heart calmed down instantly but suddenly, there were some strange flashbacks. She had ventured into this place two years ago, that night… she had set out to look for her mother…..

The branches of the trees lumbering downward had brushed her as she had run; the heavy rain had made the ground slippery and slushy. Her birthday outfit was ruined and wet, sticking to her body, the shivering giving her a premonition of something wrong.

But why was the rest of it a blur? Padma only knew she had woken up the next day on the cold bench in the palace lawn, and the royal maids had carried her back to her room. The King and his trusted staff had been busy looking for his wife and had not noticed her missing.

Unfortunately, Padma remembered nothing beyond this grove. Her nightmares often had bleak black and white images that were somewhat pixeled and blurred. She couldn’t make out anything clearly, but just that she was scared to death.

What were they?

She settled onto one of the branches watching the vast expanse of the wet earth and the trees around her, the shining dew on their leaves smiling at her like long-lost friends. A faint memory from her childhood surfaced when she had newly learned to climb up the tree along with Keshav and Aarti and some palace helps.

As she bit into a juicy mango after rubbing the stalk free of the sap, she was thrown back to that day in her childhood when she had first learned to bite into the fruit directly. Those glorious dense black eyes high on the proud tanned face resting heavily on the tall lean body stayed with her….

She had once accompanied her mother during her rare visits outside the palace to a house in the adjoining province. There was some crying, and people had gathered, she now knew was a funeral, but she was barely eight years old then. She remembered the lone house though cozy; it lacked the richness she was used to seeing growing up.

She had slowly walked towards the adjoining garden, mesmerized by the rose shrubbery adorning the borders. In the reigning chaos, she had given her guards the slip and ventured into the area inside the garden. She saw colossal mango trees all around and continued to walk, glad to be away from the scorching sun.

Hearing muffled cries she had walked towards the direction from where she thought it originated. Instead, she saw a young boy huddled into a tree sobbing uncontrollably.

“What happened…” She asked, gently touching him and moving behind as he startled. “…Why are you crying…?”

Those shiny wet black orbs pierced her little heart as they stared at her, tears still streaming down his cheeks. She went close to him and sat next to him on the boulder, unmindful of her spotless salwar kameez getting dirt on it.

The boy didn’t answer, so she continued.

“If you tell me what happened, I shall tell my aai and baba. They will help you and… they will drive the ghosts away…”

The boy shook his head and smirked at her. But she was persistent.

“Do you want to eat mangoes?” she asked him, and he looked at her as if she had grown two horns.

“I don’t want anything. Just… go away from here.” He spoke in a voice that bordered between a high and a low pitch, something like between an adult and a child. She saw his tears begin their journey yet again.

“Do you want to be my friend? I have only two friends, Aarti and Keshav. You will have fun too… you will not cry then.” She blurted out.

The boy shook his head yet again. He was much older than her, and as he stood up, dusting his clothes, she saw he was taller as well.

“Go away from here before anyone sees you. Here take this….” He gave her a mango from a basket nearby, rubbing the sap. “…you can directly remove the top portion…like this here and chew the rest. Go…” He turned to pick the basket wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his thin cotton shirt.

“But why were you crying?” She couldn’t contain her curiosity.

“My mother died today… anything else?” He abruptly said, and her heart fell. She couldn’t imagine being without her mother, and her eyes filled.

“Come home with me…” She said tearfully, holding his thin hand. “…Be my friend. You shouldn’t be alone.”

The boy tightened his grip and sobbed aloud as she held his hand and cried with him. Finally, he dropped her back to the rose shrubbery after a while.

“Go on….” He said hoarsely. “…Everyone must be worried about you, dear princess. You have been gone for long.”

Before she could reply, he disappeared back into the thicket. It was then she realized she hadn’t even asked his name…

That she thought was a memory thread

Turned out to be a façade instead.

Was there an ounce of reality

Or just an illusion with no clarity?

©priyagole