FF: Power, Conspiracy, Jealousy&Lust,Ch30&Epi,p40 - Page 8

Bani stifled her cry and ran out….

Radhe looked uneasy, he was fiddling with fingers….

Jai got up, putting his feet inside his slippers he strode towards the door…

Kaha ja rahe hai aap….

Police ko khabar dene…..

Agar apne marzi se koi chale jaye, police kya kar sakti hai, woh bhi ek bude admi

Suicide? Jai exclaimed….

Nehi nehi, Bade Thakur left us…I mean I thought you knew that he had gone to the Himalayas and became a sanyasi, today morning when Gangaiya went to check on him, saw the room empty…..

And she assumed he is gone back to the Himalayas, I mean he can go to so many other places….

Yes he can but then he has gone to the Himalayas

So he wished you all goodbye….

No no…he went un-noticed….

You mean to say he walked out of the Garh yuhi, even the security did not notice him….

Yes, you see Bade Thakur could move like a shadow, I have seen many a times….you see him walking at the other end of the Garh and then suddenly you see him behind you….

Just then Shashank knocked…

Good morning Shashank or should I say not so good money, the schemer has left…

Shashank gave a feeble smile so I hear….

Seems to have left for the Himalayas….what crap….Jai gritted his teeth….

No Thakur sahab it is true, he has taken his deer skin sitting on which he meditated alongwith his kambal & kamundal, he always said if these things went missing from his room it means he has gone to the Himalayas………

Jai flopped on the chair….he left on his own free will, that too putting him in such a soup….getting him married suddenly to his brother's widow…..good god he did not even see the need of speaking to Jai before going, there are so many things he is yet to know and of course settle the score of marrying that woman to him suddenly….

Damn damn damn he cried….

Shashank looks at Radhe who turns and leaves quietly…

Jai, Shashank came and touched his shoulders….

Leave me alone, Jai cried….he left without explaining his actions, I was married off when I was not in my senses and now I do not even have the password to his laptop or has he taken it with him….

What will he do with a laptop in the middle of some cave….no it is I am sure lying in his office…

Just then another wail of Gangaiya reached his ears…

Will you ask that bitch to shut up before I throw her out of this Garh…Jai stood up shaking with anger….

Yes Thakur Sahab, Shashank bowed……….

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Jai strode along the long corridors towards Bade Thakur's office, it was as same as ever, the laptop atop the plain wooden desk, Jai opened it & pushed the start button, after it booted he realized all data was cleaned and it also did not ask for password…it was empty and as good as brand new….Jai became speechless, too stunned to be angry, he remembered Bade Thakur saying when he was giving him only a gist of what is there, the details will be explained later when he takes over….to know those you should be under oath…Bade Thakur had stated….

Is it so? I mean I heard…

Yes I am not under oath but I am the caretaker and I assure you I only touch those accounts when I cannot avoid it….

Is it so? Jai somehow had felt difficult to accept it….

Well you necessarily don't have to believe me but then you do not have any other option…he got up, making loud noise with his khadao he went to the other side of the room, opening a drawer showing him the various vaults they had in banks containing vital documents etc., details of each key is catalogued and you will have no problem ….Jai scampered up, went to the drawer, it was locked then he remembered Bade Thakur all office keys and some vital keys of the garh are kept with the Thakurain of the Garh, now it is with Sita Devi, after you get married it will be your wife…

Why so?

Practice or lets say during those days woman seldom came out in the public, access to them was also not easy, moreover being the wife it was automatically assumed she will be faithful and guard her husband's property diligently….does that mean the keys are with Bani now…..Jai recollected yes during the Tilak ceremony alongwith him, she too was handed over various articles….infact Gangaiya had come panting to say bahut mushkil se mila handing over a pouch to Bade Thakur….

Jai strode out met Shashank who was waiting outside the office waiting for his orders….

The notebook is empty, all data erased…..

Not to worry, all important data's have a hard copy, you will have no problem to finding it but the office keys and the small diary containing details of the vaults will be with …with the Thakurain…Shashank added hesitantly….

Jai glared at him, Shashank bowed his head….what are you standing here for, do I have to tell you to go and get the same…..Jai barked at Shashank…

How can I go there….I mean I am not allowed to….

What? Jai looked at him

I am an outsider…. why me even the Co-brothers need permission / invitation to go there…

Such laws still exists….

In the Garh yes….

Then look for Gangaiya ask her to get me the keys….

I don't think Gangiya will get it….

She will defy me? Jai snarled….

She will not defy you but then customs says the Thakurain will hand over these keys to nobody other than her husband, Gangaiya was allowed to act in between as Bade Thakur did not have a wife and he was also not the true Thakur of the Garh and inspite of her husband being dead Sita Devi continued as there were no other inheritors…..

Jai wanted to kick himself, stupid man you should have known about all these customs but then did he ever know he would be married off all of a sudden….after giving a dirty look at Shashank Jai walked out…

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Krishna put down her chisel and hammer, she was upset and despite of her best efforts she could not concentrate on her work…there was a deadline to meet but then when your child is in distress how can you stay away….

Her father was not keeping too well but then as a co-brother you cannot retire until you are bed-ridden or dead, since he was neither, he had to continue and was now entangled in the fight of power between the brothers of the Garh….

As she had tea and breakfast, she heard her father complaining but papa you are not that old…Krishna protested…

I will be 60 and if I was in service, old enough to retire…..now all I want to do is to sit with your mother in the garden and chat with her…aab bahut ho giya….

Lets do it this way Babuji that I take over, my course will be over within next 3 months and I plan to come home and work from here, that is the advantage of being an artist you see, thanks to you and the Garh I have seen the world so I am educated too and I think time has come for the Garh to accept some co-sisters

Her father stopped chewing, he knew some co-brothers of his generation are also thinking the same away

Are you really interested Krishna?

Why not Babuji?

I agree with you beta, you are educated and intelligent, logical too, times are changing but beta understand one think, this work is tough, there are some job you have to do in discretion, at times meet people with questionable repute and in all times you will see and know many things but cannot speak about them….

I know babuji I have seen you in action too remember and being an artist I have an eye for observation…

Yes you do but my girl remember then there will be no time for your artistic pursuits…

Lets do it this way Babuji since the brothers are already fighting for succession, let me also undergo such a test, if I pass I become a co-sister…Krishna's eyes twinkled…

Beta how can you undergo such tests, there are many physical activities involved…..some tests are impossible for women…

Fine Babuji ask them to devise something for women, tough but achievable, I want to test my endurance if I can do it….

This is not a game….

I am serious Babuji, I would love to do it….

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Looking back Krishna thought it was possibly the worst mistake she made in life but then without it she would not have had Jai. Later during the day she had gone out to explore the land as she was coming home after a long time, she took her sketch book…

The water reservoir was a favourite spot of hers, it was a restricted area, public bathing and washing was not allowed and guarded by the guards of the garh, she showed her symbol and walked in, taking a place under the tree, she admired the greenery, the flora and fauna and noticed a man sitting with his head bowed holding a fishing rod, unknowingly she started sketching him and its surroundings, as she was putting finishing touches to her sketch, she saw a shadow on the paper….ho giya my neck is paining and I cannot pose anymore….

TUM ? I mean how do you know I belong here…

Pata lagana parta hai, after all not every day you see an attractive woman who is also very intelligent, beauty with brains…

Why are you used to dumb headed ones…

Well sometimes choices are not much, the dumb headed ones are those falling on you….

Krishna smiled as she sketched, she was thinking whether to make a mould out of it and make it in terracotta, he sat and observed her, when suddenly a drop fell on her sheet of paper…oh no….come...he pulled her picking up her bags etc…in no time they reached the small kothi next to the water tank which the Thakurs' used for amusement…Krishna cringed but she had little option…to keep her uneasiness at bay, she started speaking and found out the man was well read, updated with latest events, Krishna made coffee as she handed over, their fingers touched, a shiver ran through…..

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When Krishna got up next, the sky was clear, stars sparkling and he was sleeping next to her, she crept out picking up her clothes and putting them on hurriedly….

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In the meanwhile her father had put up her case, obviously it created a huge uproar, how can a woman take such a position, what will happen when she will marry and move out, then her first family will be her husband's and she cannot divide her priorities as such a position is for life etc etc, Krishna and her father countered each attack…in the meantime she visited the reservoir in such of the stranger only to be told Chhote Thakur is staying here with his friends, discussing issues of succession, nobody is allowed in….

But I am the daughter of ….

I know who you are but orders are such….

God thought Krishna, feudalism ki bhi haad hoti hai, the reservoir is meant for whole Bulandgarh lekin yeh toh apna hi samaj baitha hai…..Krishna returned home and wrote an article then took the paper to the press, Bulandgarh had its own newspaper, small and informative mainly dealing with seeds prices, cattle diseases, or if someone had to sell something, at times it posted sketch or a poem by the local people, children….Krishna's sketch was always posted in the past, even if she did not come home, her father carried with him…the owner cum editor knew her, he decided to post the article as it did not point out the Garh written as if Krishna encountered the problem in some other place, including the questions she had asked…..all the residents bought the paper as a practice, some read, some did not read, price was negligible but it was informative if you are looking for something locally….

Next day during breakfast, the steward announced Chhote Thakur will like to have a word with didi, he is waiting in the hall….

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