At Kishan's celebration mansion
Azeez stood frozen for the second time in a short span of time. Someone close to the prince of Manswar a spy in Parnagarh Haveli! Who could that be? And attempts to defame and kill the Ustaad! Ya Khuda! He strained to hear some more but the voices slowly receded. Perhaps it had been audible because they were possibly standing close to the wall while talking and had then moved away.
He signalled to Lana but she stood fixated to her spot. worry etched on her face. "Why would anyone want to harm Khan Sahib!" she whispered!
"Politics and powerplay can get down to any level Sahiba. We must leave immediately and inform Khan Sahib what we overheard."
They hurried to their uncle's house to leave.
At the Parnagarh Haveli
"How is she feeling Vaid Kaka" inquired Heera.
"Much better bitiya. She would feel a little weak for a couple of days. Should feel perfectly alright in a week with your antidote bitiya."
"Gauri, till then either ask her to rest or give her some light tasks in the Haveli. She can take up her stable duties when she is fully well."
"Baisa, the a message from the Sahib" rushed in Dhani with a scroll." Vaid Kaka took leave as Heera unrolled the scroll.
Heera smiled as she read it, but her face must have been more radiant and redder than she meant it to be.
"i know i ought not to ask,
But i'm curious as to what makes my Baisa glow
Is it about a gift or a special task
Or about some sweet nothings that in memory lane flow." quipped in the chirpy Bindiya.
"Nothing like what you imagine Bindiya. Mansabdar Sahib is going to discuss about the canal with the builder and requires my presence. Bas"
"But why would that make Baisa blush" muttered the girl.
"Did you say something Bindiya?'
"Nothing Baisa"
Heera was amazed at how well her maids knew her. Or her face must have been veey revealing. For she had been traveling down the memory lane indeed ...thinking of the first day when Khan Sahib had spoken to her about the canal construction possibility and what happened at the hilltop then. How much her feelinhs had changed since then.
At an inn on the way.
"Sahiba, are you still worried about the spy and VanRaj's words! Khan Sahib can save himself and all around him as well. At present it is me who has the greatest danger looming over my head."
They were both halted at a small travellers inn on the way to Parnagarh. They had left as early as they could manage to after a profuse farewell from Lana's uncle. He simply adored his warm cheerful would-be-jamaisa. He announced his plans for a big wedding as soon as his Rajender Beta returned from the '4 month urgent business trip'. The two of them had left with lots of gifts and a heart burdened with guilt.
Naaz had slightly injured her legs and had to be treated and hence the retinue had taken a break at the inn.
"How are YOU in danger Azeez?"
" Didn't you have a look at Kuki's expressions when she marched into the mansion? I think she was also present at the fair yesterday. Her pan is going to fly towards me in a smooth trajectory when i get back." Chuckled Azeez.
Lana too laughed out. "And you find it funny Azeez? Should have looked at your face as you ran into the bushes. It us true that it helped us stumble upon vital information. But so much fear?..."
" Had she created a ruckus there Sahiba or called me by name our pretense would have been unveiled. Your uncle too would have been misundersood and called a traitor by his business friends. As such we are playing upon his affections by our drama. Didn't want to hurt him more"
"That was very thoughtful of you. But aren't you upset that Kuki followed you all the way? But i feel that you ought to have told the truth regarding the nature of your work."
"Not sure of that Sahiba. it might endanger her more or maybe i ..." he didn't complete his sentence because of some loud noises outside.
Earlier at Kishan's celebration mansion
A soldier hurriedly whispered into VanRaj's ears. "Stop her immediately" he ordered. " Kishan Ji, some girl has been inquiring about an Azeez to the guards. Azeez...a mughal name! And the Mansabdar's stolen scroll has been stolen once again from us from this mansion...it all adds up. Doesn't it?"
The soldier walked to Kuki near the doors and said, "Azeez Sahib wants to meet you at the chamber in the far end. " Mistrust, anger and hurt had blinded the girl to any reasoning and she followed the soldier immediately.
At the flower farm
Kalgiakka was seated in front of the huge mirror in her room. Her mind had always wandered like a butterfly on many different things, but had hardly bothered about her appearance, though Lana had always insisted she be more attentive. Today she was going to follow her friend's advice. She was going to meet the gentleman whose voice and manners had caused her heart to flutter. "Goodnight and goodbye Kalgi..." the words kept echoing in her mind.
She tried different apparels and styled her hair in a dozen different ways. After she was finally satisfied she left on her pony, her face shining more brightly than her attire.
In a dark room in Kishan's mansion
Kuki's eyes widened in horror as she was gagged and chained. A group of men entered the room carrying torches and the one who seemed to be their head pulled over a seat and sat across the trembling girl.
"Tell me who Azeez is and what a Mughal was doing in our place" demanded VanRaj.
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