FF: The Beautiful and the Condemned (Completed) - Page 4

"Parvati!"

The sound of her name echoed through the corridors of the home. Even as she sat on the terrace, she could hear it so clearly. It was as if the originator of the voice was standing there with her.

"Parvati! Hurry and come down! Don't you want to go to the market?"

She stood up and yelled into the house, "I'm coming mami-sa!"

Parvati lifted her lengha and ran down the steps, through the halls, and in front of the entryway where he mami-sa was waiting patiently for her, her anklets and bangles chimed in tune with her steps. Mami-sa needed to go to the market for some sabzi, and Parvati wanted to tag along to buy some new bangles to match her new outfit. She grabbed her small satchel from mami-sa's hands and followed her out the door. The small market Birpur never lacked in customers. The hustle and bustle never ceased from open to close. Being a small town, everybody knew everybody there. So when Parvati and her mami-sa entered the market, they were immediately engaged in a conversation with the local women and shopkeepers. The latest topic of discussion was Parvati's marriage.

"When is the wedding?" a woman asked.

"A date hasn't been decided yet, but we are hoping as soon as possible," Mami-sa answered.

Parvati blushed at the thought of her wedding. She reminisced about how a month ago the proposal came for her. The man's name was Varun Kumar. He was a simple man who wanted to live a simple life with a simple wife. There didn't appear to be much more to him than that. His gentleness was something that had touched Parvati, along with his honesty. When he asked for her hand, Varun only asked that she be patient with him and that in return he would love her and keep her happy. There was still some hesitation in her, but upon seeing her mami-sa so eager about the alliance, Parvati couldn't help but accept. Now that she was engaged, she was both excited and nervous about her wedding.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice calling for her, "Paro!"

Parvati looked around and found her bubbly friend Bindi running up to her. Her beloved friend had the ability to light up her world with her cheerfulness. Her friend halted in front of her, gasping for breath as she held on to Parvati's arm. Bindi finally caught her breath and looked up at her friend, who was looking back at her with curious and questioning eyes.

"What happened Bindi?" Parvati asked.

"Paro, come with me to the bangle seller," Bindi ordered.

"I will but in one minute."

"No. You have to come with me now."

"But why?"

"Oh ho, will you stop asking these questions and just come with me?"

"Okay okay," Paro turned to her mami-sa. "Mami-sa, I will be back. Bindi and I are going to buy some bangles."

Mami-sa nodded. Bindi grabbed Paro and practically dragged her as they ran to the bangle cart. Parvati didn't understand why they were running or why there was such a need for a rush. The bangle seller would be there all day, and she would like to make it in one piece. She didn't understand why Bindi was so adamant on running the entire way there. She was thankful when she saw the cart in sight. When they finally reached, Paro was out of breath. The elderly bangle seller looked at the disheveled state of both woman. They were both leaning against the cart, trying to catch their breath, staring at each other all the while.

When Parvati's breathing finally regulated, she looked at Bindi and said, "What was the need to rush over here?"

"I had to. It was a reason for you two to see each other," Bindi answered.

"What are you talking about?"

A male voice came from behind her, "Parvati."

Parvati turned around and blushed seeing Varun standing behind her. He was smiling as he looked away in nervousness. Parvati held the dupatta over her head and played with the edge of it, suddenly shy at seeing her fiance. Her eyes noticed the small wrapped package in his hand. It seemed that he noticed what she was looking at because he looked down at it and then handed it to her.

"This is for you," Varun said.

"For me?" she questioned disbelievingly.

He nodded, "I hope you like it."

Parvati took the small package and opened it slowly. Inside was a set of olive green bangles. The circular glass pieces glimmered in the sunlight as she picked them up in her hands. Then she looked at the smile on Varun's face, the glimmer of hope in his eyes. He was waiting patiently for her to tell him what she thought of the gift. Parvati was overwhelmed with the sweet gesture, but she didn't have the heart to tell him that she didn't like this olive green color. It was one of the few colors Parvati refused to buy. However, this was the first gift she received from the man who was going to be her husband, and she simply couldn't reject it, especially when he looked at her as though he had just handed her his heart instead of bangles.

She smiled and said, "Thank you."

"I'm glad you like them," Varun replied.

"Did you ask Bindi to bring me here?"

"Yes, I hope you didn't mind. It's just...I really wanted to see you."

Parvati blushed.

"I also wanted to tell you that I talked to a priest, and he's going to find the soonest auspicious date to have us married."

There was a moment of silence between them as they looked away from each other, shy. Parvati noticed how they weren't able to continue their conversation with each other. She wondered if this is how it would be once they were married...mostly silence. She hardly knew anything about him. How were they going to get to know each other if they barely spoke? She was suddenly startled when she heard the ringing of a phone. It was Varun's. He pulled his mobile out of his pocket and answered it.

"Hello?" he said.

Parvati watched her fiance's face tighten. His gentle demeanor immediately disappeared, only to be replaced with a serious disposition. He glanced over at her and continued to focus on the conversation on the phone.

"Yes thakur-sa," Varun said. "I will be there...yes. I am coming right now."

He hung up and turned to Parvati, who was curious as to who he was talking to. It was then he realized that she didn't know who he worked for.

Varun grinned and said, "I'm sorry. I have to go. That was my boss, Thakur Param Singh Tejawat."

"You work for thakur-sa?" Paro asked.

"Yes. I actually help manage his money. He trusts me highly."

Parvati was amazed to know that Varun worked for Tejawat. The thakur was well known in Birpur because of all the good deeds he had done over the years, such as donating money and building new temples. He was well-liked and cared for the citizens of Birpur greatly. It was something that made him popular among the people, and highly respected. Little did she know about the real face of the thakur behind the facade. She was surprised to know that her fiance worked for such a honorable man, and that he was trusted by the thakur, meaning that he must've done some great deed to earn Tejawat's trust.

"I'm sorry I have to go," Varun repeated. "I hope to see you again soon."

Parvati smiled, "Thank you for the bangles."

He smiled once more before walking away. She watched him as he made his way down the road, and only turned away when he turned the corner, disappearing from sight. Parvati then turned her attention to Bindi, who was now by her side, slyly smiling.

"So this is why you were dragging me here?" she said.

"Sorry, but his request was so genuine that I couldn't decline," Bindi replied as she grabbed her ears.

"If you are done we have to go. I have to get back to mami-sa."

Bindi laughed as Parvati tried to avoid talking about the matter anymore. Only a fool wouldn't be able to see the redness in her cheeks after talking to Varun. The two women left the bangle cart and began making their way back to mami-sa, all while discussing the gift Varun bestowed on his beloved fiance. However, they were unaware of the peeping pair of eyes that had been following them since their arrival.

Hiding in a distant corner, was Bheema, silently observing everything. He watched as the beautiful maiden with the dark brown hair and alabaster skin stopped at the bangle cart and spoke with Varun. The young man seemed to have turned into a sheep the minute she arrived. He became a soft and innocent looking man, who was incapable of doing anything wrong, but Bheema knew better. If the man hadn't done anything wrong, then Tejawat wouldn't have had him followed. He heard bits and pieces of the conversation, each word shocking him more than the previous one. Bheema took a quick photo of the strange woman before leaving. He didn't need to finish listening to what the beautiful stranger and Varun were discussing; he got all the information he needed. Bheema dialed a number on his phone and held it up to his ear.

"Hello?" came a familiar voice on the other end.

Bheema smirked, "Thakur-sa, the boy has been quite a fox. I believe I have found something very interesting and helpful in breaking him."

**********

Hmm...interesting. What do Bheema and Thakur-sa have up their sleeves? You will find out in the next update!

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