The night was dark and the winds chill. Kuki had felt bored of her routine which she had always felt less adventurous. But the past three days incidents had left her tired of adventures and was yearning for the peace and comfort of her cottage. The slightest odd sound made her quirky. She was distinctly uncomfortable and now even her trusted pan did not give her the confidence she needed. Afzal was walking ahead of her and she quietly followed him.
CRA..C...K
There was a loud noise just behind her and as she turned around there was a tall man whose face was covered in a blanket wrapped round his shoulders.
"Phew! Good that you are here Kuku. I was looking for you! "He whispered.
"Who are you? How do you know me and why were you looking for me? Are you one of the Kidnappers? How did you find me? Kuki shrieked in a voice muffled by fear.
Afzal turned around. "Who is that didi?"
"What are YOU doing here Afzal?" Azeez exclaimed as he took the blanket off his face.
"Azeez...you?"
"Sahib...is it you?"
"What are you doing here and whom are you hiding from?" Kuki exclaimed. "You scared Afzal and me. Well, he is like my little brother and he loves my cooking. So i ask him to drop by whenever he is free"
"Let us get into the cottage first." Azeez whispered.
Earlier that morning In the haveli
Heera's mind cast off her worries and she sat down to plan the preperations for the Rakshabandhan. The bevy of maids joined the fun. A function at the Haveli after their Choti-Baisa's wedding got them excited and more giggling and talkative than usual.
"We should ask Maharaj kakasa to make his laddoos. Our Mansabdar Sahib is particularly fond of it"
"There should be seven sweet varieties Baisa. It used to be so when Badi Baisa was there"
"And it is tomorrow. I feel so excited. "
"Gauri told me that preperations are already underway." Heera said.
"Hari baisa is back"
"Are you going to make the Rakhis with the golden threads Baisa..."
"Last year Badi Baisa had set rubies and pearls..."
"This year, i need 4 Rakhis. One for Hari Baisa and Ibrahim Bhaijaan, Azeez and Sayyid."
"With our choti baisa tying Rakhis on their hands, could they ask for more
Our Baisa too will feel very happy as she now will have brothers four..." Bindiya chipped in.
Dhani exclaimed..."How excited they would feel as it would be a new experience for them. Rakhi...that too from our Baisa!"
"And who will tie the Rakhi for our Mansabdar Sahib?" Bindiya wondered.
"Here, his cousin Sahiba is here na..." Dhani interposed.
"But she said that she wasn't used to these practices." Heera said thoughtfully.
"So what Baisa, she can learn. And Mansabdar would be happy. Who else will tie Rakhi for him. If his hands are empty he will feel bad na." Bindiya added.
"Well, he is like a big brother to all. Any of you are also welcome..." Heera happily said.
There was distinct discomfort in the group now.
"Baisa... I just remembered...i must pluck flowers for the pooja. Can i leave Baisa?" It was Bindiya.
"Could we leave too to help her?" Dhani and Saira got up in unison.
"Sure" Heera forced a smile."Are you feeling fully well Saira?"
"Yes Sahiba. Your medicines are magical or your healing touch is. "
"You can go back to the stables after the celebrations. It will be fun."
"Why not she stay here even after that? She is such fun baisa." Dhani chirped.
"Saira...would you like to...? Heera smiled.
"As you wish Baisa. i love horses too. And i like my friends here too."
"We'll decide it later. Now i am going to meet Bindup. Have to discuss about Rakshabandhan with her." Heera was beginning to wonder as to who will tie the Rakhi on her husband's hand. He would feel wonderful with a new relation through the pretty thread. She couldn't force their practices on Lashy. Bindup might like to. Or there was Ms.Peanuttaker about whom Azeez was singing praises. She too worked with Khan Sahib. Or else Bhabhijaan. Or the sweethearts of Azeez and Sayyid whom she was going to invite. If the three of them were her brothers, that would make Khan Sahib the brother of their begums or would-be-begums. Nothing to worry. There were many choices. Heera felt reassured.
At lunch time
"Heera, she is really amazing you know. Such a lover of nature. The picture she creates on the canvas make you feel that the Earth is a paradise. And Parnagarh as such looks like heaven on earth. She is going to love it here."
The two charming ladies were at the table, treating themselves to Kakasa's sumptuous meal.
"But why such a short stay?"
"Because she is travelling down south to attend a festival that comes once in 144 years. I insisted that she visit the beautiful vales before she leaves. And with the celebrations around, the timing couldn't have been more appropriate. "
"Talking of celebrations, i was wondering who will be Khan Sahib's sister. "
Lashy looked away. "This dish tastes wonderful. Perhaps we could include this in the menu tomorrow."
"Sure we will. "
In Bindup's room"You love reading. Don't you?" Heera smiled as she entered the chamber.
"Oh...Heera di! Sorry, i didn't see you coming. So kind of you to call on me."
"We are having Rakshabandhan celebrations tomorrow. Do join us in the festivities."
"Of course i will. Lashy di already told me. So gracious of you to come over personally di."
"i was wondering if...if you would like to participate...be the Mansabdar's little sister..."
"Oh...I admit Khan Sahib's is big personality ... And I am scared of him. i celebrate Rakshabandhan only with my... own brothers. I already tied Rakhi on their hands ...as i am coming here...nako nako...please not me...i am not harmful."
Bindup stammered incoherently and ran behind the table leaving Heera completely dazed.
That evening in the beautiful valleys Selvi bade a warm farewell to her other companions as they dropped her.
"Are you sure you'll go to the haveli yourself? Shall we drop you in? Lashy is not to be seen anywhere..."
"We arrived earlier than usual. And i want to admire the scenic beauty of the place. I'll walk down to the haveli."
"See you soon. We will visit the Bhavani Ma temple and will be back in five days. Be ready dear. And you two, take care of her."
"Yes Sahiba." The maids waved bye happily.
Selvi was amazed at the beauty that greeted her in every direction. She captured them with joy hoping to create pictures that reflect the pristine beauty on canvas. The endless jewel blue sky, the clusters of sparkling green trees scattered over the carpets of light green mountains, the tender soothing breeze carrying with it the fragrance of the distant blossoms, and the shimmering waters of the small lake behind her that reflected it all and doubled the beauty had all trasported her to a different world that she didn't hear Lashy call her till her maids called her attention to it.In Kuki's cottage
"Keep an eye on a fat round man on the way Afzal" Azeez closed the door to face Kuki who was surprised at his behaviour.
"Phew! It was a narrow escape."
"Escape from whom?"
"Lana Sahiba's uncleji"
"Who?"
"i told you at the warehouse before you whacked me with a pan, didn't i of the drama we did to search for the scrolls, Sahiba's uncle considers me jamaisa now." Azeez explained.
"We are having Rakshabandhan celebrations at the Haveli tomorrow and Sahib and Sahiba have invited you too. I was coming to call you when i spotted Lana's uncleji. He called out to me 'Jamaisa...' and i ran as fast as i could. On making inquiries i found that he has come to his niece's house. I thought that i had shaken the trail when his fat chubby roltu assistant Bhola spotted me. And my God! It is a miracle he runs with his roly poly self. He chased me down to here. But i hid inside your barrel there. He even l lighted thetorch, but couldn't find me. He muttered 'Sahib would have been pleased if I had taken his jamaisa to him. But did i chase the right man. Why would jamaisa run away. Perhaps i was wrong' as he left. It was so close.'
"But why dont you tell that uncleji the truth now?"
"That, only Lana has to do. And i dont have orders from the Mansabdar Sahib either."
"Thank God it was all a pretense. So you are a spy Sahib. And these are the side effects of spying"
"Then what are the side effects of spying the spy through a stable boy?"
"Now dont turn the tables on me Sahib. You didnt apologise for dumping me back here without any explanations after all my ordeals ."
"And you didn't apologise for whacking me because of which we lost thechance to catch the Manswari spy."
Anger and guilt alternated in Kuki's mind.
"Why should i apologise to you? I will apologise to Mansabdar Sahib and Heera Sahiba tomorrow." Kuki kept up her angry countenance.
"And tomorrow they will readily forgive you. Sahiba wishes that you tie Rakhi to our Khan Sahib. So they will not be cross with you at all" Azeez smiled at his jaan proudly.
Kuki looked thoroughly shocked.
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
Current Affairs
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