FF: Shades Of Love last part pg 91 dt 28.12.15 - Page 30

Shade 14

Pune.

It was around eight in the evening when we finally reached the guest house. The train journey was for around four hours but for two hours we were stranded on the railway station because the train was late. Sahab had an early meeting the next morning so he suggested to order dinner in our respective rooms because he didn't want to waste time in going out for dinner and wished to go off to sleep as soon as possible.

I sighed deeply.

Here I was sharing the room with tayi. Though I would have preferred an accommodation for the servants but it wasn't possible. Small rooms were available but only for males servants and drivers.

My eyes traveled around the room it was modest as per tayi' standards and way too lavish for my standards. I grinned. It was bigger than our quarter. Folding my arms I leaned my head against the huge window and gazed out. In my thirty years for the first time I had stepped out of PV. It felt odd to see roads busy and both girls and boys freely hanging out at this hour. This world was so different. People here were in control and seemed to be actually living their lives. I blinked my eyes in amazement. For tayi all this wasn't new. She'd been out on college trips but for me these two days would be quite an experience.

" nakku yaar get me my suit." Tayi' sudden call from the bathroom broke my reverie. I didn't know for how long I was gazing out of the window, lost in this city life. Opening her bag I retrieved her night clothes, knocked at the door and handed her. The thought of unpacking her bag crossed my mind. We were here for just two days and Tayi had packed as though we were planning to spend weeks in Pune. I shook my head as I picked up her pile of clothes and another bag that contained her cosmetics. After arranging her make up items on the dressing table I opened the cupboard to put her suits.

The bathroom door clicked open. " what's this nakku, you have started working here also? We have come here on a holiday." I remained silent and continued to fold her suits. My gaze fell on a blue suit. I turned around.

" tayi this suit looks familiar." She combed her wet hair. " hmm. It's the one I chose for you in the mela. Keep it. It's for you."

I stared back at her reflection. " tayi I told you I won't take it."

She rolled her eyes. " nakku it's a simple suit. Why are you making such a big issue?"

I crossed my arms. " you bought it behind my back?"

" no. Yes. I mean can't I gift you something?"

I opened my mouth to argue but just then there was a knock at the door. " who's there?" Tayi asked.

" room service."

Tayi dropped the comb. " oh the food is here. I am so hungry."

I opened the door and found a guy standing with a huge tray. I extended my hands to take the tray from him.

" leave it nakku. Let him carry the tray. He will serve."

I furrowed my brows. Serve? In my presence someone else would serve Tayi and me? Tayi took out some money from her purse and handed him. He smiled and bowed slightly. Now this was getting weird. Someone lowering his head before me in respect?

I started uncovering the dishes. There was kofta, paneer rice and paranthas. So much food for just two people. Nevertheless I lay out a plate for Tayi and handed her.

" sit."

I crouched to sit on the floor.

" sit on the bed nakku."

" Tayi how can I sit opposite you on the bed?"

Tayi kept her plate aside and came to me. " nakku this not PV this is Pune. Just forget that you are a servant." I dropped my gaze. " I can't forget who I am and neither should you."

" all I am saying is that as long as we are here you can afford to behave normally."

" I am behaving normally. This is how I have behaved all my life. On the contrary you are asking me to change."

There was silence between us. " okay first nakku drop this veil. I don't wish to talk to your eyes."

I didn't and turned my head away. " nakku are you pulling down that dupatta or should I ? It's not that I haven't seen your face before."

Reluctantly I tugged at my dupatta and glanced at her. " better."

" now listen to me carefully. Just for two days don't follow those damn rituals and customs."

" those customs are an integral part of me. Why shouldn't I not follow them?"

" because you don't believe in them and nobody will question you if you break those rules."

" that's cheating."

" that's not cheating. That's called living your life with freedom." Tayi's arguments failed to impress me. She held my shoulders and peered at me. " tell me you don't wish a life like this?"

" there's so many things that one wishes for but..."

" but you always don't get what you wish for. I know that nakku. I can't change how things are back at PV. But here no one will look down upon you. In these few days you can be yourself without caring about the world." Still holding my shoulders she pushed me down and made me sit on the bed.

" now please can we eat before the food gets ice cold." I glanced at the dishes warily. Someone who lived on boiled rice and dal, how could she eat this?

" c'mon on nakku eat. Or should I serve you?"

" no. I'll...eat." The food was spicy and...tasty. My taste buds had forgotten these tastes. I ate slowly and very slowly. It might sound cheap but my tongue wished to relish each and every morsel. Finally I was done.

Tayi wished to order some dessert but I refused. Thankfully this time she didn't argue. Tayi asked me to keep the plates outside the room. Someone would carry them to the kitchen. Tonight I wasn't supposed to clean the dishes not even my own. Another surprise. This trip would be so different I hadn't imagined.

" nakku shut the light and for god's sake sleep on that bed and not on the floor." Tayi pulled up the blanket and turned her back to me. I stared at the empty bed for sometime before laying on it. I didn't remember for how long I tossed and turned on that soft bed because I just couldn't sleep. I gave up and got out of the bed. Too much of comfort was discomforting me.

I went back to the window and sat down pressing my back against the wall. At eleven in the night the roads were still buzzing with cars. I peered down at the people on the roads. Weren't they expected to get back home? Weren't they answerable to anyone? They looked content because they could lead their lives on their own terms. They didn't have to follow any orthodox traditions. Nobody ruled them. They were free.

I inhaled deeply. And tonight I was one of them.

I turned to gaze at Tayi and smiled. She wasn't even related to me still she understood me and offered me these few days to enjoy. And back home my parents never cared. Never thought of giving me a moment of happiness. How strange life and relationships were?

**********************************

I shifted uneasily in my seat as sahab sat right across the table to have breakfast. Yes he was supposed to leave early but my bad luck, his meeting got postponed so here I was sitting before him.

I am a maid I know that but suddenly being treated as any other normal person, someone as equal to him and Tayi was both overwhelming and disconcerting. I didn't know how to react. I really felt out of place.

" so supriya what will you have?" He asked Tayi when the waiter approached us to take the order.

" cold coffee and Grilled cheese sandwich ." He nodded then glanced at me and raised an eyebrow.

I hesitated. " anything."

He peered up at the waiter. " do you have anything?" The waiter gave out a faint smile and kept quiet.

" sorry they don't serve anything."

I exhaled deeply. Why was he always so irritating? " bread butter."

He made a face at me. " how boring. Let me order for you. Hmm one mushroom patties for the lady and one chicken patties for me." The waiter nodded and left.

I gazed at him from the corner of my eye. He and his love for non veg. Now what was wrong with bread and butter? Tayi had also ordered Grilled sandwich , was it very different from my bread and butter? No. He just had to disagree with me. I looked away.

" supriya you slept well last night?"

" oh yes I slept like a baby."

" good."

" what about you dutta Ji?"

" ah it took me a while to sleep. In fact I was awake till midnight. You know I have spent my younger years in pune." He smiled slightly then continued. " last night I became quite nostalgic. Sitting next to the window I was thinking and reliving those old memories."

What a coincidence, like me he was also sitting next to the window, lost in his thoughts.

" oh god. Dutta Ji I forgot my cellphone in the room." Tayi got up.

" I'll get it."

" it's alright nakku. No worries I'll get it. You sit."

Uff here I was again stuck with him. No matter how much I tried to avoid him, some how or the other he would come before my eyes. I lowered my head and fidgeted with my dupatta. Unwillingly I had to admit that in the past few days he had been...good to me. Especially when I got hurt. Thinking about the day when we went for the fair, he was still somewhat annoying. I didn't like the way he teased or challenged me.

" this suit is looking good on you."

My head snapped up. Was he appreciating me?

" Tayi bought this for me. She insisted that I should wear it today." He blinked his eyes and smiled. I averted my gaze. We both kept silent. But I could feel his gaze on myself. I turned my neck. Yes he was looking at me. Wait. He was staring at me. But why? I gulped.

And then it struck me, my face. I immediately pulled my dupatta to cover my face.

" don't nakusha. It's okay."

" you don't have to hide your face from me. I know...everything."

" excuse me?"

" err supriya told me about...you." It took me a moment to understand what he meant. And then I was upset with Tayi. Crossing my arms I looked away.

" listen don't be mad at supriya. I forced her to tell me why you hide your face." I glanced at him sharply. So now was he happy and content after knowing the reason?

" it's really sad that you have to..."

" please sahab. I don't need anyone's sympathy."

" nakusha I would be the last person to sympathize with you. By doing so I don't wish to demean you." Oh really? I dropped my gaze and tugged at my kurta to straighten it. Though it was already straight.

" you're a strong woman. Facing and tolerating these stupid rituals is not easy. Your life is extremely tough and in my eyes you're a survivor."

His words compelled me to peer up. " sahab I don't know what to say and I also don't know why we are having this conversation. It is needless and pointless." I looked around for Tayi, what was taking her so long?

" I know sometimes I have been a little mean to you. My comments have been hurtful." Now he was talking sense.

" so I wanted to apologize." He gazed back at me. I was stunned.

" look nakusha like you, words sorry and thank you don't slip out of my mouth easily. But trust me when they do, I really mean them."

For the first time I saw him and found his words genuine. It wasn't a pleasant sight to see someone of his stature apologizing to a servant. I didn't need an apology from him. In fact I didn't need anything from him. Opening my mouth I wanted to stop him but just then the waiter came with the order. After laying out the food items he was gone.

I glanced at Sahab he was digging into his patties and I thought of waiting for Tayi.

" one more thing nakusha I don't regret pulling your leg. In fact I enjoy it and will continue doing that. Whether you like it or not." He winked at me.

I wanted to glare back but didn't. This man couldn't be serious for long. Perhaps at his age guys are like that... Carefree and happy go lucky.

I tapped my feet. Why wasn't Tayi coming back? These days Tayi had been quite obsessed with her cellphone. I wondered why?

" nakusha lets start afresh." I shot him a helpless look. Why couldn't he be quiet for sometime? He was talking and eating at the same time. God!

Suddenly he stuck out his hand. " friends?"

My eyes darted from his hand to his face. Now from where did this come from? And why?

He was grinning and staring back at me. Just then his cellphone rang. We both dropped our gazes.

It was AS.

His outstretched hand slowly came down to take the call.

thanks for reading

Rose

Shade 15

Clutching the shopping bag I walked outside the shop in a daze as Tayi busied herself in trying out different sandals.

" friends?"

Was he serious or was it his another way of teasing me? Perhaps he was joking because immediately after ending his conversation with AS he coolly went back to finishing his patty. And when Tayi returned with her cellphone he didn't even throw me a second glance. He was happily chatting with Tayi telling her about his meeting and suggesting her the places we could go for shopping.

Good he wasn't serious about we being friends because that was impossible. I was his house maid. There was a huge difference between our social status. We came from different backgrounds and had absolutely nothing in common. At the most we could be a little more cordial with each other but beyond that I didn't think we could eliminate our differences. Moreover I didn't find the need to bridge this gap. Although today for a moment I found him genuine when he was apologizing for his misbehavior but still my mind didn't wish to think more about him and what he said.

" hey nakku should I go for heels or flats?"

I stopped in my tracks and looked down at her feet. I pressed my lips to suppress my grin. Tayi was wearing a flat in her left foot and a heel in the right foot. With both her hands on her waist she was trying to balance herself. I swore she looked so funny.

Couldn't she try out heels in one time and flats the other time. What was the point in wearing both at the same time?

" ah Tayi I think you should pick flats they are more comfortable."

She glanced down then looked at me. She seemed disappointed. " really? But I thought pencil heels looked better."

" definitely they look better but are you sure you can manage without tripping?"

" I guess so. Besides tall men like tall girls?"

I frowned at her. " tall men...tall girls..what are you talking about?"

" err nothing..forget it. I'll try for shorter heels." With that she carefully turned around. At every step her foot in high heel shook badly. Even the customers around were giving her weird looks. The old salesman who was attending her looked terrified seeing her walk like that and I feared that if by chance she lost her balance and fell on him, the poor old man would definitely suffer a heart attack.

I laughed at my not so innocent thought.

God nakku you don't think like that.

Turning around I caught my reflection in the mirror. And I froze.

My face uncovered and I was smiling! The sight stunned me.

Rarely did I find the need to look at myself in the mirror. Dressed in shabby clothes with the compulsion to hide my face, there was never anything worth looking at. As a matter of habit even today while getting ready the thought of seeing myself in the mirror didn't cross my mind. But now when I gazed at myself, I felt different.

The new suit, it's light blue color and my face uncovered made me look different.

Sahab said that I looked nice.

I stepped closer to the mirror and raised my hand to feel my face. Was I really looking nice? A sudden shiver ran down my spine and I moved away from the mirror.

All this was nonsense!

I gazed at Tayi, finally she was paying the bills. Thank god .

My eyes traveled around. People enjoyed themselves so much while shopping.

Strange.

My gaze stopped at a small family. The mother was excitedly showing her little daughter different dresses while the father was playing with another toddler in his arms, a girl again. Two daughters yet the parents seemed happy. They didn't appear financially well off still they were smiling and looked content. A close knit happy family. A family where daughters weren't considered a burden.

Such families existed!

The scene pricked my eyes.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. " nakku lets go. Dutta Ji must be waiting for us." I nodded and gulped the emotions I was feeling down my throat.

**********************************************

I sat at the footsteps of the shaniwar wada fort leaning my back against the wall waiting for sahab. Tayi was trying to get in touch with him to know how far had he reached.

The sun was slowly going down the horizon. The sun's orange was mingling with the light blue color of the sky and it produced a vast contrast of different colors. My eyes softened at the sight. There was also something cute, the howler monkeys hung with their tails from the branches to reach the sprouts from the edges of the branches and carried their babies under their bellies, besides the males emitting their characteristic howl that didn't scare her, it was something really amazing that brought a smile on my lips at the same time witnessing the pure selfless love twisted something in my heart.

God today I was getting too emotional and I wasn't liking it.

I averted my gaze and saw a married couple walking hand in hand. I guessed they were newly married because the girl was wearing red and white bangles in her hands. Tilting my head slightly I watched her closely. Her face was glowing and she couldn't stop smiling. Wow. So this was how one felt to have someone who could read your eyes and hear your unspoken words. Someone to whom you could bare your heart out without any hesitation. Someone who could captivate your mind body and soul.

I forcefully shut my eyes. No these feelings were not meant for me. I could never experience them, so even thinking about them was futile. There was nobody for me!

The light breeze blew and hit the long bells hanging at the entrance of the fort. The soft sound of the bells echoed in the deserted place and compelled me to open my eyes. Peering up I found sahab standing. He was smiling down at me. Once again he extended his hand. My gaze dropped. I curled my fingers and stood up on my own.

Sahab walked in and Tayi and I followed him. My head shot up to admire the architecture of the fort. There was a beautiful garden with fountains.

There was a sound and light show. It was hour long and trust me it was just wonderful. I was totally mesmerized and wanted to jump and clap like a child. It was an unforgettable sight. I glanced at sahab from the corner of my eye, a part of me was really glad that he brought me I mean us here.

Later We spotted a group of visitors who were being lead by a tourist guide. The guide described the fort like when it was built and by who.

I gazed at Tayi, she was yawning. All this wasn't exciting for her but I was deeply interested. Even Sahab was listening intently.

Strange.

So the guide continued to tell more about this historical place.

" On the night of every new moon the fort becomes a place of horror. Where local people often hear a sound "KAKA MALA VACHWA" (uncle save me) from the Fort in the new moon niht. Where the spirit till now utters its last words of his past mortal life. This is the story of the Shaniwarwada Fort. Behind the Fort's paranormal activities there are story of the assassination, greed for power and betrayal. Narayanrao had been just sixteen years old. He became Peshwa on that very young age. Due to his age his uncle Raghunathrao was in charge of state on behalf of young nephew.

Raghunathrao's wife Anandibai became very jealous. She had the burning desire to be the queen of State. Narayanrao started to control the power of Raghunathrao and arrested him in his house.

A group of assassins entered in the room of sleeping Narayanrao at night removing all securities. Narayanrao woke up and understood he was going to be killed. He ran towards Raghunathrao' chamber and shouted to him "Uncle save me". But he was caught by assassins and brutally assassinated by them. Hacked into pieces and then dumped in the river.
The Ghost of the young Peshwa still now resides in there with his painful agony. Every new moon night he cries for saving him."

" oh my god today is Saturday!" Tayi turned wide eyed. The shopping bags dropped from her hands and all its contents spilled out. Tayi clamped her mouth shut with her hands.

I bent down to collect her shopping items. Sahab too crouched to help. I whispered. " couldn't you find a better place for us to visit?"

He shrugged and flashed a confused look. " I had no idea."

Clenching my jaws I picked up the shopping bags.

" oh ho Supriya so what if it's Saturday?"

She was still petrified. " is it a Newl moon night?"

Sahab rolled his eyes. " we are not staying here till night. We are leaving. Relax."

She nodded and looked somewhat relieved. " but Dutta Ji why did you bring us here?"

" listen during my school times this was the only place I hadn't visited. So thought why not give it a try? But tomorrow I'll take you to a place that is worth visiting."

Both Tayi and I stopped dead in our tracks. Enough of sight seeing!

" which place?" Tayi eyed him curiously.

His gaze shifted from me to Tayi and then he grinned. " that's a surprise."

I flared my nostrils. I didn't think we were prepared for any of his so called surprises. " Sahab just because you happen to be a heart specialist that doesn't mean you will play with our hearts."

He threw his head back and laughed. I was serious there was nothing amusing about what I had said. He stopped laughing and peered at me.

" nakusha I will never play with your heart. Trust me."

thanks for reading

Rose