CHAPTER 54
"Sir, ...um," a constable stuttered a few feet away from the couple. Paro turned red and swiftly tried to move away. Rudra grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him. They hadn't done anything for her to be embarrassed about. "What is it?" he asked gruffly. The constable knew he should have waited but they were already delayed. "The storm has passed. We can proceed with our journey," he told them.
Rudra looked at his watch. It was late and his family would be tired. They would be more comfortable in the warmth of their Jaipur haveli. "Fine," he said and followed him to where his family was dining. "The weather has cleared up. Once everyone finishes their dinner we'll continue our journey," he said. Paro placed her hand in his. He entwined his fingers with hers and whispered, "We'll have desert in Jaipur." She shook her head. She didn't want to go just yet. "I think we should stay," she told everyone loudly.
Mohini chocked on a piece of roti. Why was she trying to stop him when he was doing something sensible? "The power is still not back here. It would be insensitive of us to leave now. Ian bhaisa would need our help," she said hating the idea of young children in the dark. Her words made sense to Rudra but he didn't agree with her. "Paro, dacoits who prefer operating such times especially when you are cut off from the rest of civilization," he replied. Maithili grabbed her daughter tightly and went to Samrat. Rudra was right.
"Fine, I will stay here. The rest of you carry on to Jaipur," he said looking at his wife's downcast eyes. She met his gaze with mixed feeling swirling in its depths. "No! We are not going without you. What if someone attacks us on the highway?" Mohini pointed out. Danveer glared at her in warning. "Maasa, Paro's guards will be with us na. Don't worry about us," Sumer answered for his cousin. Shatabdi saw her sister's gaze linger on Rudra. She wanted him close. "We can't go anywhere till the roads are cleared. We can either wait for the news on the radio or send someone," she suggested. Rudra and Paro both looked at her gratefully and he went to talk to his men.
An hour later Rudra was prowling around the backyard. "Bhabhisa, where is Paro?" he asked Maithili and Sunheri as they moved about giggling. "She must be with Shatabdi bhabhisa. We are having a camp fire in the backyard, like you and Thausa used to have," his cousin replied excitedly. He smiled back wistfully. It brought back some of his happy memories from Jaipur. Dilsher and his motley crew used to meet in each others houses on summer evenings. They used to sing, play cards and tell stories around the camp fire. They kept him busy, content and most importantly away from the bottle. VK Singh had even taught him to play the mouth organ so that he could join along. Maybe he does the same with these boys, he thought. That's when he realised, they were missing too.
His gait quickened as he rushed back inside. He looked about frantically. He heard voices upstairs and raced up taking two stairs at a time. He saw a small light at the end of the corridor."Jeeja, school is not for everyone. Most people study to get jobs. We are already employed. Pretty soon we will make enough money to support Ian uncle instead of the other way around," he heard a boyish voice. He went in to see a dejected Ian and his boisterous charges. "They asked her if she knew of some place where they can get a job," their host explained. Rudra nodded thoughtfully. They obviously wanted to be independent financially. With no backing, they were thinking of securing their own future. School only fills your head with numbers, equations and latitudes and longitudes. Where does all that come to use, one of them asked.
"Life will always teach you new things but to handle its challenges, proper schooling is important. Think about it, if you need to purchase something, you have to apply mathematics. If you need to go somewhere, you need to use your geographical knowledge to jusge how to go. If there is a problem, you will know whom to approach. Every decision you make big or small will be easier if you are well informed. Take it from me, if I had not dropped out of school. I would have used my head better when things got rough," she answered remembering how she and Mamisa let Thakursa decide what was best for them.
Rudra knew she meant well. But when people lack security, they don't think beyond their next meal. They needed a solution that would cater to both long term and short term goals. "Why don't let them work in your orchard with Hazrat kakasa?" he suggested. The three boys jumped of their perch in their excitement. Paro was annoyed. He was of no help. Rudra held out his hand to them and turned to Paro, "Listen, kakasa needed good apprentices to help him around his job if he has to work for a three more years or he has to retire now. These boys can go there after school and help him every day," he explained.
Paro beamed at his suggestion. This could work well. By the time Kaka retires, they would have matriculated. And if they were interested, they could stay on as her employees. "That is a great idea. I will pay you a stipend, but you must go back to school. After school you will be picked up and spend your evening at my orchard. When it gets dark, you can come back here," she proposed to the young boys. They gave her an odd look which Rudra understood perfectly. "I get you three bicycles," he offered and they visibly brightened. They wouldn't be the unfortunate ones who had nothing of their own. They would have cycles and an after school job giving them a better status among their peers. They won't be charity cases anymore. No one would look down on them anymore.
"We have to go downstairs. Everyone is waiting for us," Rudra told his wife. She nodded and let him lead her out. He felt her stop. "Why don't you join us?" she asked Ian. He replied that they will come down after their evening prayers. They had plenty to be thankful that day. She nodded with a smile. She understood well, feeling grateful herself for being presented with an opportunity to take her uncle's work forward.
At the foot of the stairs, she stopped again. "Now what?" Rudra asked exasperated. She pointed downstairs. He shook his head, "I have to show you something first." She stayed close as the step crumbled under their weight. "I won't let you fall," he assured. She was more worried about him, being the heavier of the two. A door creaked as he pushed it aside. She felt the cold wind freeze her skin. She tugged the pallu out of her ghagra and wrapped herself. "Ouch" she said stumbling over the threshold.
He scooped her in his arms to avoid further tripping. He walked to the edge of a terrace and carefully set her down. She placed her hands on the railing and looked at the endless darkness. The storm had passed leaving emptiness in its wake. What could she possibly see here? She peered down where their family had gathered around the warmth of the fire three floors down. Page leaned in as she heard their laughter.
She gasped when the rusty metal crumbled under her fingers. "This place isn't safe Rudra. Let's go down she said looking around for her husband frantically.
She felt a warm hand around her waist. She relaxed, recognising the touch. "I didn't bring you here to show you a black night. She felt his hand move up her arm and wind blow between their form. He placed a pair of binoculars in front of her. "It's too dark. Let's come here some other time when there is daylight. You can show me everything you want," she said stepping back closer to him. This wasn't the place to return. "This place is like that bus stand where we first met. You can go left towards Chandangard," he said showing her the twinkling lights of their home town. His past, his painful childhood. "That's the road to Sumer's house, the haveli we lived in while in Jaipur," he showed motioning to a brightly lit highway on the right. His dreams and aspirations to be a better man.
She gently pushed away the apparatus. "When it is brighter, you can see better," he said apologetically. Her eyes won't be trained to see well in the dark like his. She turned around on his arms and cupped his cheeks. She raised herself on her toes and he held on tightly to her waist. She kissed his brows in adoration. "I can see everything when it comes to you, Rudra," she whispered. That was true, he thought to himself. He kissed the eyes that could see right into his soul and revel in his strength and embrace his weakness. She trembled and drew him closer. He stepped away from the low parapet wall and backed her to the closest wall.
"Not now. We... um... we have to go down," she told him, her voice barely a whisper. He shook his head and moved his fingers tracing the contours of her face. "Rudra..." she warned softly placing her hands over this thundering heart. He stopped confused for a moment. Did he want her to stop or go on? Her eyes drooped down bashfully as she bit her lip. He smiled as he bent his head. That was all the hint he needed. As soon as his lips touched hers, all rational thought flew out of her mind as it shut down completely. Her body kicked in and took over, her mouth moving in response to his and her hands that were moved up grasping the collar of his jacket.
He pulled away and she whimpered in protest. His lips moved to her neck as his hands sought the silken tresses that adorned her head. Rudra! Where are you?she heard voices below. She held him away, "Something must be wrong Bapusa is calling for you." He shook his head. If something was wrong his men would have found him instead of his father shouting from somewhere. He pulled her close and peppered kisses on her collar bone. She wriggled out giggling. "Ranavat is not alone. Sumer or Samrat will handle it," he repeated annoyed. She looked away. "What? You want to go down so badly," he asked beginning to get angry.
Paro fisted her skirt as she tried to find the right words. "What? Are you scared?" he asked lifting her chin to meet his eyes. "I didn't want to continue with this," she mumbled. He placed his hands on his waist and waited for her to continue. "Jeeja picked a pretty lehenga for the reception and I want to look nice," she told. Rudra was confused. How was that a problem? "You didn't shave," she accused remembering the marks he usually left across her delicate skin. He twirled his mustache proudly as he understood her predicament.
"Jallad!" said Paro as pushed him out of the way and walked past him with a pout. She saw the family below play anthakshari. Bapusa was using a bucket as a drum and Shanti was trying to copy the steps of the older children. The rest of them clapped at the children's antics. She laughed and turned to race back down. She stopped, her fingers going to the place where Rudra's stubble met with her skin. What if she wasn't presentable enough for company? She glared at Rudra and turned about once more in a huff.
She felt soft leather on her shoulders. She realised that she was wearing his jacket and smiled slightly. Encouraged, he wrapped his arms from behind. "You are the love my life, the air in my lungs, my reason for existence. I would never take you in a place where you won't be comfortable or relaxed. I am sorry I got carried away," he apologized. She shook her head as she placed her hands over his. She had gotten carried away too.
Chand Sifarish...sang Sumer drawing Shatabdi closer to him as they danced in the firelight. She laughed gaily as he twirled around. While the rest of the Ranavat smiled indugently at the new couple, Mohini was thoroughly disappointed. These city girls were so bold. How could she behave like this in front of her in-laws? She felt Suneheri place her head on her shoulder. She thanked Bholenath for making sure this particular beendini lives far away from her impressionable daughter.
"Sumer bhaisa sings well doesn't he?" Paro observed. She turned around slightly when she didn't get a proper response. Was he annoyed to hear his wife praise another man? But Rudra was too focused on something else. A hint of silver in one of the boys' pockets. His heart skipped a beat as he fathomed a guess at the metallic object. How was it possible? 
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