ArHi SS: Inertia [Completed] - Page 7

Nobody is right or wrong, but heres the thing. La can be in the wrong but she will have people (Arnav, maybe Aakash, or Payal even) who will still take her side. While there is no one to even understand Khushi's predicament, let alone stand up for her. Thats loneliness.

For now, I reserve my empathy and understanding for her.

04. Summer learning

In the glorious beginning of her career as a part time driver, she found one tiny wrinkle that could bring it all down. Venkat was a super peppy and chirpy morning person who wanted to start the drive at five in the morning. Khushi was mostly a night person, reading through most part of night or writing this and that or dissolved in a video game till three or four in morning. She suddenly found herself in bed at ten in the evening, her parents' eyebrows touching their hairline when she told them her latest bedtime. Payal wasn't even home yet.

By the time she pulled the car into deserted highway, it was quarter past five. There was a new icebox filled with several bottles of water, lemonade, chocolates, flavored milk and popsicles as a present from her parents. The action had made her giddy with happiness making her hug them too tightly and for too long. They were the best parents anyone could ask for. Her mother had thrust a notebook with green leather and asked her to put her thoughts down whenever they bothered her. "There is no need to contain words in your head like a buzzing bee inside a glass jar. Instead, allow them out. Let them free. If they cannot make it outside, then let that be their fate. At least, give them an opportunity to explore their fate." She found herself nodding at the memory of that and she already knew what the entries are going to be.

The sky had lightened when she parked the car few feet away from Venkat's personal mobile office.

"Why are we here this early?" Khushi whispered. Except for noise of birds and distant hum of flowing water, there were no other sounds. She couldn't bring herself to speak in normal tone in lieu of maintaining nature's peaceful moments.

"I like to go through the catalog of all the things found since I last visited this site. And then I make notes, work a bit on my research and plan next steps. As there are five sites where we are excavating, it's important to be organized." He replied. Khushi hummed in response and let the good doctor be.

Three hours later, Venkat slipped a breakfast plate in front of her making her look up from the book she was engrossed in. He snorted at her exuberated reaction and handed her a thermos filled with coffee.

Khushi cleared her throat clearly breaking the silence that had settled between them once the breakfast had begun. "Why archaeology?" She asked.

Venkat looked startled. "You mean why I am an archaeologist? Or...?"

"I mean why would anyone spend so much time, money and human resources on things of past? Isn't it better spent elsewhere?" She winced at the bluntness in her tone. "Sorry. That came harsher than I intended." She said sheepishly.

Venkat waves his hand. "You are more polite than many so no worries." He took long sip of coffee and smiled at her. "Archaeology gives physical proofs for historical or scientific hypothesis."

Khushi perked up at that. "I don't understand how its related to science. History, yes I understand because here we are trying to find about some people who lived here centuries ago. How is science a part of this equation?"

"During excavation we find things from the past or things that are hidden which otherwise would have gone unnoticed. It's not just finding artifacts but also finding out what they are made of. You are a student of chemistry, right? So you understand more than anyone about structural integrity of a compound. Isn't it academically interesting to find how a ceramic pot made centuries ago is found intact?"

"I suppose so," Khushi replied thoughtfully. She had mostly waved off the subject as soft in a historical context. She did know how excavations were important in paleontology.

Venkat smiled at that. "As I said before, we provide proof here. And it need not always be sciences or be associated with material benefits. Sometimes these excavations unearth humane stories that should never be forgotten for they have the capacity to inspire millions; like this site for example."

Khushi immediately took notice of that. "What's the story behind this?" She wanted to hit herself for asking this question so late. "Serves you right for indulging yourself in teenage angst," her mind supplied helpfully.

Venkat looked amused at her general disposition. "The five excavation sites that we have identified around the city are all part of the same kingdom. They are at least six centuries old and had already been on decline before Moghuls arrived at this part of the country. They didn't care for a kingdom that was already in half ruins and left it that way. The surrounding villages fell into same fate and led an isolated life from changing world."

"Sounds romantic." Khushi sniggered.

Venkat shrugged. "It's about to be, actually. The princess of this kingdom was probably called Leela."

"Probably?" Khushi frowned.

Venkat nodded. "There are brief mentions of her in history - hardly once or twice, mainly about how she decided to get trained as a prince instead of princess and incurred the wrath of elders in the court."

"Woohoo!" Khushi cheered. "I guess it didn't end well for her."

"It isn't easy being different from the rest. A society with constricted norms dictated a stringent gender based role play that couldn't be broken. Toeing out of line not only attracted bad reputation but also inflicted political brouhaha. It's not that she wanted to be a man, as some of the texts we found tells us but wanted to experience things that boys of her age did - like learning to hunt and dress like a boy."

"What's so bad about it? Weren't princesses trained and stuff back then?" Khushi was intrigued.

Venkat shook his head slightly. "But it wasn't for public consumption. They were taught in private and when they did display in public, it wasn't for fun. It was a performance that served political and military purposes and required lot of foresight."

"But Leela generally liked to dress like a boy and that pissed people off." Khushi said dully, already knowing what was coming.

Venkat nodded. "Her father was the last king here. After him, the palace fell to ruins and there isn't much historical evidence to suggest what might have gone wrong."

"Did the mystery surrounding the downfall of the kingdom fascinate you or was it Leela?" Khushi asked with a strange emotion in her tone.

"A bit of both I suppose. Imagine how hard it was for a girl to be what she was in those days when culture and tradition were more important than personal choices. Imagine how lonely she would have been, unable to tell anyone what's going on in her mind or have a friend with who she could share the struggles she was undergoing." Venkat replied, sadness lacing his tone.

Khushi smiled softly. "I do understand." She said not looking at him.

They didn't talk much for the rest of their stay on the site. Venkat didn't say anything when she requested to read his notes on history of the kingdom and existing evidence on Leela. He simply pointed to the filing cabinet and instructed her to maintain his filing system and not mess with the organization.

After couple of hours, Venkat found her sitting in a shaded area near the fort and scribbling in her green leather bound book.

When she lay her head to rest that night, she vaguely came to a realization that she hadn't thought about anything else besides the book she was reading and the princess. For first time in days, there was no ache in heart or brittleness in her bones. "Should talk to Payal tomorrow," was the last thought before sleep took over her completely.