EPISODE - 14
At Kishan's mansion
"Azeez is my fiance..." blurted the petrified girl.
"And what was he doing here in our festival?"
"That is what i was wondering too..." her voice was still trembling.
Kuki closed her eyes, her mind still numb at the quick developments. Azeez was very much here yesterday at the fair and at ease with the people of this place. And even a short while ago he had walked out smiling and waving to many. Yet they don't seem to know his name. Did he give them a different name? A Hindu name? But why would he? And what was that businesswali doing with him?
" Whom does your fiance work for?"
Kuki was still lost in her thoughts. There was something different about the way he looked. Yes. He was wearing Marwari style clothes. Was he in a disguise. Or was he wearing clothes to match the lady's clothes?
"I asked whom your fiance works for." VanRaj's voice seemed to be losing patience.
"Clothes...i mean a cloth merchant." Kuki tried to think fast. Whatever Azeez was doing, these men didn't look like good men. "He works for a cloth merchant. I thought i saw him here among the crowd. So i just wanted to surprise him. But who are you and why did you tie me up?"
"How does he look?"
"A little short...chubby and very fair. But why do you want me and why do you want him?"
VanRaj and Kishan looked at each other. "We'll check out and get back to you." VanRaj said as he moved out. "Is she telling the truth? " whispered the host. " Possibly not. Ask the men to look out for someone short chubby and fair or someone tall thin and dark or wheat complexioned. Either the girl is truly innocent and naive or extra smart. Till we find it out, keep her locked"
At Parnagarh
Khan Sahib and his Sahiba were engaged in a long and serious discussion with Jaswant in the Mansabdar's office. Dhani and Bindiya stood outside the closed doors with the refreshments that were ordered for, unsure if they should disturb the meeting. Just then Ibrahim hurried towards the chamber carrying what looked like a bunch of maps.
"Come along one of you" he said as he entered. Dhani carried the tray within and spread the refreshments on the table. Heera smiled and nodded. The talks were still going on with Ibrahim joining the group as Dhani turned to leave.
" I gather that you are a family of builders. Your grandfather had constructed the river bridge at Dariabad, a few towns from Aidabad. A fine piece of work." complimented the Mansabdar, "Are you aquainted with Aidabad as well?"
"No Sahib. Our family moved north soon after. Hardly been there since."
"We ought to visit the canal site tomorrow. Ibrahim will..."
Dhani softly closed the door. " Looks like they are going to soon start the canal work. I remember Gauri and Heera Sahiba speak about it earlier. Do you know what it means Bindiya. Parnagarh need not suffer from water shortage henceforth. What a thoughtful person our Mansabdar is."
" i always knew that he was such a nice and capable man. " Bindiya joined her " right from Aidabad."
At the inn
Azeez was about to move out to see what the noise was about when one of the boys of their retinue rushed in to report. "Azeez Sahib! An old man wa s dragging along a pony and as he crossed the inn the pony rushed towards us on seeing Naaz tied outside. It refuses to move and the old man insists on towing it along."
Azeez and Lana reached the place where Naaz was tied. "Isn't this Kuki's pony Azeez!" exclaimed Lana, " but where is the girl?" Azeez turned to the rugged scrumpy old man." Where did you steal this pony from?" he demanded.
" It is mine..." the old man couldn't complete his sentence as he was thrown to the ground with a firm punch from Azeez. "Okay fine...i saw this pony outside a celebration mansion...unattended till evening...so i thought i could give it a home.." he flinched as he saw Azeez's raised fist, " ...okay okay...i thought i could sell it in the next village because the owner might catch me there."
"What did you do to the girl?" Azeez was still enraged.
"What girl...i saw no girl...just this little obstinate devil that has only landed me trouble"
Where was Kuki if the horse was outside the mansion till evening? Did she step in to enquire? Oh no! Did she talk about him to someone there? The nag grew louder in Azeez.
"Tie him up till i give further instructions." he ordered and moved into the inn. After pacing around in deep thought he seemed to arrive at his decision. "Lana Sahiba, it is important that i bring Kuki back. Not just for my personal reasons and concerns about her safety, but i cannot risk her revealing my true identity there. I'll leave immediately with that man to the mansion in a different disguise and find out about Kuki. To YOU Sahiba, i entrust the important job of conveying the details of what we overheard to Khan Sahib. Warn him of the spy planted in the Haveli by the Kunwar of Manswar. Speak of it to nobody else. Absolutely nobody. "
In Jaswant's room"There is no way i can reach the documents room in the pretext of verifying site maps or details regarding the canal" Jaswant slumped on his couch a little exasperated. "Ibrahim will fetch you every paper you need. You only have to ask him or leave him a note." the Mansabdar had told him. Things were very organised and Ibrahim always on the alert. He had to find out other means to carry out his plans.
Inspite of his intentions Jaswant had to admit that he was impressed with the Mansabdar. He was simple, extremely capable and looked very honest. Was he right in what he was planning to do? The tiny question had stubbornly made its way into his resolved mind. No. He wouldn't move back. He had made a promise. He would uphold it.
That reminded him, he had also given his word to Kalgi that he would meet her that evening.
That evening by the riverside.
Kalgiakka had waited for Lana many times when they played together. But this waiting was different.
The minutes refused to move and she couldn't admire anything around her as she normally used to when she was alone. And that made Kalgiakka angry at Jaswant and more at herself.
"Looks like the gentle cool winds too are inept in keeping the lady's hot temper in check" came the genteel voice from behind her instantly cooling Kalgiakka.
"No no...i was just observing the... butterflies!"
"Like them very much, do you?"
That gave Kalgiakka the opening she needed. "Oh yes. I must have loved them ever since I was a child. That is why my grandfather got it tattooed on my hands" she stretched out her hands and continued, "Lana always used to tease me about it and say that I am as volatile and effervescent as the butterfly on my tattoo. And I used to retort asking her if her gardener keeps swimming because he has a fish tattoo on his arms."
"Does everyone in Parnagarh have something tattooed on them?"
"Not all. But two more I know...Chameli chachi has tattoo patterns on her forehead, that maid in Lana's house has a flower symbol...Oh my God! I am boring you, am I?" exclaimed Kalgiakka seeing the queer expression on Jaswant's face.
"Not at all Kalgi, do go on."
"Oh you are being very kind Sir. As such I talk a lot and it is a boring subject..."
"Did you know that tattoos and signet marks and the symbols on flags all have a hidden meaning in them. The fish symbolises strength in adversities and the patterns on the forehead symbolises Goddess Lakshmi and sometimes the Sacred Wheel, butterflies symbolise beauty love and honour" Jaswant paused to see if his words had sunk in her.
It seemingly had for she coloured deep and was at a loss of words for the first time.
"If you see any other symbol or want to know what it means, do ask me. Collecting and reading about different symbols is my hobby. I must leave as I have some important work to be done. See you tomorrow, same place same time."
In the documents room
Ibrahim was at his table attending to a few important papers that had to be finished. His Rosejaan was back and he had assured her that he would be at their quarters early and it was already dark. His lips curved into an inadvertent smile at the very thought and and the anticipation was a catalyst to speed up his work. He only had to leave the papers in their respective folders and then he could leave. This set of papers dealt with information about the miners who were permitted to carry out their work in Parnagarh and the different accounts in that regard. He placed them in the newly made cubicles that contained papers exclusively about the mining operations.
Then there was a paper containing details regarding the new entrant to the Haveli - Jaswant which he had to keep in the employees cabinet. The Mansabdar was meticulous about documentation and kept information and track of every member in service. His own papers must be somewhere amongst these, Ibrahim thought to himself, right from the day he became a part of the Ustaad's team. Details about everything known thus far about him - his appearance, background, relatives... Akbar Sahib was a perfectionist and he was proud to be ...
What was that? He thought he saw a shadow behind the window. But how was that possible? The window lay straight across the main door to which only he had the keys. And it opened into a balcony like structure, but how could anyone get there for the only access to the balcony was anotdoor smaller door adjacent to the window and it was locked from within. Ibrahim rushed to the window, opened the bolt and looked outside.
There was nobody there. He firmly secured the window and the little door and double checked as he locked the room and left. Maybe he had imagined some movement.
Just outside the Haveli
Kalgiakka stood gazing at the huge beautiful palace. Jaswant had left more than an hour ago but she had stayed on. Overcome by feelings unknown to her till then she found herself drawn to the place where he stayed. But in a short while it struck her how odd it would seem if she was caught lingering around the place. As such Chachi had warned her about an interrogation. The thought pulled her down to reality and she turned to leave when she heard a soft THUD.
It was dark and in the moonlight she thought saw someone jump onto a horse from the outer wall of the Haveli and speed away. Could it be a thief? How did it matter to her ? She was not supposed to hang around here. But it was against her nature to turn blind to what happened.
Kalgiakka moved to the spot where the figure had jumped on the horse and looked around when something caught her attention even in the moonlight.
Edited by Sandhya.A - 7 years ago
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