A Sneak Peak into the Life of a Queen: Raga FF, Ch 19: Pg 49, 19/01/16 - Page 18

Chapter Twelve

In a dark room, the evil trio were discussing:

Kunwarji was speaking in a subdued and angry voice to Badi Rani ma, "When are we going to do anything, Badi Rani ma? Her coronation as the official queen of Amerkot is over. My son Lakshyraj is rotting in some unknown place while Ranaji and Co. are making merry. They are becoming popular day by day. The number of their supporters is growing day by day while we are becoming weaker and weaker. Till now all the queens in Amerkot history were crowned because they happened to be the king's chief consort. But here the people themselves elected their queen. You can remove a king or queen who was born as one with political maneuvers but how can you remove a queen who rules over the hearts of the people."

Badi Rani ma said, "Kunwarji, have some patience. We will strike, and strike when the time is right. Now it's their time. Let them enjoy and make merry. We will soon have the last laugh. Just trust your mother!"

Ko-kila also said, "We have to trust Badi Rani ma, Kunwarji. All eyes are on us at the present moment. If we do anything, the suspicion will go on us. Heaven forbid! If we too get caught like Lakshraj, we will have no opportunity of even taking our revenge."

In another room, Rajmata handed a pink invite to Gayatri:

"I take great pleasure in inviting Rana Indravadan Singh Deo and Rani Gayatri Devi to a ball which will be held in our house today evening to felicitate the ascension of the new queen to the throne of Amerkot."- Miss. Lily Willkinson.

Rajmata said, "All of us have received invitations for the ball. I, Badi Rani Ma, Kunwarji and Kokila will be unable to attend as we have some important official work. I have intimated Miss. Lily Willkinson about this. But you, Ranaji, Swarnalekha and Aditya will attend the ball. Hope all of you enjoy yourselves."

Gayatri demurred, "But Rajmata, I don't know ball room dancing. Wouldn't it be better if I too stayed back with you?"

Rajmata thrashed aside the idea saying, "Miss. Lily Willkinson is the sister of the British Resident of Amerkot. Moreover, this is a ball being held to commemorate your official crowning. So you cannot refuse to go. As far as learning dance goes, you have the whole morning and afternoon before you. I'll ask Swarna to teach you how to dance."

Gayatri and Swarnalekha were practicing dancing:

Swarnaleka was telling, "It's like this: One, two, three, four! Got It!"

Gayatri shook her head, "We have been practicing the last two hours but I keep forgetting my steps. My hands and legs just refuse to coordinate. I will make an excuse. It will be embarrassing for Ranaji if I don't dance properly at the ball."

Swarnalekha warned her, "Have you ever thought how embarrassing it will be for Ranaji to go alone to this ball without you? Whether you dance properly or not, you have to be present. You just cannot back out or let down your partner at the last moment. Practice the steps I taught you. And one last thing, just believe and trust in Ranaji, and let yourself go during the dance. Bhai sa will take care of everything..."

Swarna did not even complete what she was saying when they heard a woman's blood curdling cries of wailing. Gayatri and Swarnalekha went running to the spot. They found that Ranaji and Rajmata had also hastily come to the spot on hearing those cries. Those were the cries of a servant maid of the palace. Her husband was also working as a guard. But now he was in a drunken state, and in that condition, he was mindlessly thrashing her away.

Ranaji was very angry and said, "How dare you engage in such an act in my palace? I dismiss you from service. Bring this man to me after he revives from his stupor. (Ranaji turned to the distraught maid and addressed her) You are safe. If ever he troubles you, you can come to me. I will take care that..."

The servant maid said, "Sorry Ranaji for interrupting your words. Please do not dismiss my husband or punish him. It's my fate. If you punish him, it will ultimately be like punishing me and my children. After this, my husband will never accept me as his wife. What will I do without my husband? We barely make a living with both our salaries. Now if he is out of work, all of us will starve to death."

Ranaji had nothing to say after this. He ordered that the guard be warned not to repeat this act in future and the servant maid's wounds be taken care of. He walked away from there looking greatly disturbed. Gayatri followed him. He was in his billiards room furiously ticking away the balls at random.

Ranaji could feel her presence behind him. He said, "Come! Do you also have something to say? A man in my palace flogs his wife almost to death, and I cannot even punish him. (Ranaji broke the billiards stick and threw it away in frustration) Damned if you do, damned if you don't! Pathetic! If this is happening in front of my eyes, just imagine what the general condition of women in my kingdom must be."

Gayatri unclenched his fist and said, "I understand your sentiments. All these are well-entrenched social evils and they will not die in a single day. We have to think up of a solution which will be permanent. You and I cannot be present in all places. The women themselves have to be empowered to fight against such evils."

Ranaji looked interested in what Gayatri was saying, "Yes, but how? This woman was not even ready to let me punish her husband for fear that her marriage would break. How are you even going to empower women like these?"

Gayatri said, "Ranaji, please give me a day's time to think. This is not the only evil against women. We have child marriages...purdah ...and many such customs which undermine the position of women in the society. We'll talk about this tomorrow. I've to get ready for the ball. I'll join you in an hour."

After an hour:

Ranaji was getting highly impatient waiting for Gayatri who was taking her own sweet time to get ready. He looked up at the stairs when he found Gayatri descending them dressed in a beautiful white ballroom frock. He was taking in this beautiful vision with unblinking eyes that he had not noticed when she came and stood in front of him. She snapped her fingers to bring him out of his reverie. Ranaji cleared his throat to hide his confusion and hurriedly said, "So you're ready at last. Aditya and Swarna have already left for the venue. If we don't start now, we'll be late."

Ranaji and Gayatri were seated in the car beside each other. Ranaji was stealing glances at Gayatri when he thought Gayatri was not looking at him. He wanted to compliment her on her looks but the words would just not come out of his throat. The whole car journey began and ended in silence. Both Ranaji and Gayatri had a lot to say to each other but could not bring themselves to be the first to break the ice.

At Mr. Willkinson's Bunglow:

Miss. Lily Willkinson, the sister of the British Resident, welcomed both of them warmly. Ranaji and Gayatri were supposed to lead the ball. Ranaji held his hand to her for a dance. Even before she knew what she was doing, she was in his arms dancing to a soft, slow and romantic ballroom dance. He pulled her close to himself and tightly held her waist with one hand while his other hand was on her tender shoulder. They continued staring at each other as they continued dancing. She tried to lower her eyes and move away from him but he pulled her back with his hand.

It was the beautiful melody that was being played. Time stood still between them. It was as if a magical spell held both of them together. He held her softly as though she was a feather which he had to cherish and keep close to his heart forever. Both their hearts were beating at the same instant, every cell in their bodies vibrated in unison with each other. They had that perfect harmony between them which is present only in a couple truly in love with each other.

Though Gayatri was an amatueur in ballroom dancing, she could not help but observe how well Ranaji danced and also made her dance. This morning she was unable to put even two steps together but now both of them had been gliding in and out for the past half-an-hour. This was more than what Gayatri had expected even in her wildest dreams. She was out of breath by now and feeling the heat of being the cynosure of all the eyes.

Ranaji suggested they just take a short walk outside the ballroom. While they were outside the ballroom, they heard somebody arguing in a loud voice from a side room. It was their hostess, Miss Lily Willkinson and her brother. She was saying, "It's good that I caught you spiking the drink of Rani Gayatri. Don't forget that I'm the mistress of this house and this is my ball. Don't you spoil it! You can play your politics elsewhere but not here."

Mr. Willkinson said, "What does it cost you if Ranaji and Rani Gayatri get embarrassed a bit by this?"

Lily said, "It costs me a lot. It costs me my ethics of what is right and what is wrong. I know you will never understand it. Do you even realize what a loss of face it will be for me if my guests go away from here feeling insulted?"

Willkinson continued, "You live with me Lily. Just imagine what will become of you if I don't keep you with me?"

Lily retorted, "I'd like to see you do that. I'm not dependent on you for myself or my needs, nor am I your puppet. I have a life and will of my own. If you refuse to keep me, I can as well support myself with all my education. Don't forget that I was the headmistress of a girl's school in London!"

Ranaji was very angry that Willkinson had been planning to shame his queen and was about to accost him for it when Gayatri pulled him back saying, "Ranaji, I've got the solution for what we were discussing a while ago about the condition of women. Please give me the permission to start a Higher Secondary School for Girls in Amerkot. All the evils against women will be eradicated in a couple of years, gradually, and on their own. Just look at Lily and that servant maid. What is it that Lily has and the servant maid hasn't? It is education. Lily is empowered by the knowledge and education she possesses. Let's go now. We've no time to waste over small roadside obstacles like Willkinson. Our mission is big and on it depends the whole future of our Amerkot. "

Originally posted by: JazzyM

Nice update...

High school for girls in the ear of 1940s...Wow!

Originally posted by: Krishna_Sourav

Superb part

loved it

loved the moments between RaGa..

Gayatri choose right thing ...education only can give woman to think what is right or wrong n help them to stand for themselves...

Rana ji is falling loving this phase between RaGa

continue soon