APRIL 19, 2021
EPISODE 16
While Raghav Rao had been speaking, Krishna had sidled up to Pallavi, so the two women were shoulder to shoulder. Pallavi was comforted by the younger womanâs proximity, despite the fact that Krishna was trembling.
Throughout her adult life, Krishna had heard so much about Raghav Rao, that what she saw opposite her was not the man but the legend built up of hearsay and gossip. She knew the stories of his triumphs. And the tales of his cruelties. She had also heard of his generosity, particular to those whom society spurned. She believed that if they begged for his mercy, he would take pity.
And this was the difference between the two women.
Krishna believed they had wronged Raghav; Pallavi believed they had nothing to atone for.
Raghav was saying, âNo need to be embarrassed. I can see why you did it.â He spread his hands to indicate his environment. âYou stand here all day longâa young woman dressed as an old maidââ he gestured towards her appearance ââdispensing ugly sarees to demanding customers. This is your familyâs shop, isnât it? You are trapped by their provincial expectations. Their narrow ideas. Their middle-class values. So once in a while, you escape from your reality. You put on a sexy dress. You don some heels. You enter rooms you have never seen. You speak to men who could spell danger. Itâs a diversion.â
And while he spoke, his eyes were locked with Pallaviâs. Krishna didnât exist. Farhad didnât exist. There was just his voice and his eyes. Pallavi found it difficult to breathe.
He continued, âBut one night you took things too far. You stole a ring. The next morning you regretted the theft. But how do you return something you stole without exposing who you are? So you try another disguise. And you discover you enjoy that disguise just as much. It allows you to enter my home and get close to meââ
âEnough!â Pallavi shouted, lifting her palm to indicate she would have no more. âYouâve spun an entertaining tale but it bears no resemblance to me or my life.â
âThen enlighten me,â he said.
âI donât owe you any explanations.â
He took a menacing step towards her. âOh yes, you do. The moment you entered my home that evening and presented yourself as family you went too far.â
Farhad climbed the stairs so he was within the shop, and then to Pallaviâs horrorâhe pulled down the shop shutterâlocking the four of them within.
âDidi!â Krishna cried out, and clutched Pallaviâs arm.
Pallavi found within her the power to take a step towards Raghav, pushing Krishna behind her so as to protect her.
âTell him everything, Didi!â she begged.
Weighing her words, Pallavi said, âYou are right. I was seeking a diversion from my daily drudgery. So I dressed up. But I didnât intend to take the ring. It was a mistake. That is the truth.â And tilting her head so she could meet Farhadâs eyes, she said, âMr Farhad, I apologize for pretending to be your relative. I know now that I might have returned the ring without all that pretence, but at the time it seemed like the best plan to avoid detection.â
Farhad gave a nod. She could not be certain whether it was a nod of understanding, acknowledgement, or forgiveness. Or just a nod.
âNow,â she returned her attention to Raghav, âI would like you to leave. You are frightening Krishna. And by pulling down the shutter in the middle of the day it will draw allegations upon yourself and cast aspersions upon us.â
Despite her fear, her voice did not quaver at all through this speechâexcept a tiny bit towards the end.
Raghav asked, âWhat is your name?â
âPallavi Deshmukh.â
âSo this is your family business?â
She gave a nod, adding facetiously, âYes, we are middle-class people with middle-class values.â
His brow lifted, and said, âThey may be. But you are not. You are not a shop-girl. You donât belong here.â
âYou are speaking nonsense, Mr Rao.â
âWeâll see.â The words were bland but the promise in his voice sent a chill through her bones.
Raghav Rao pivoted. Farhad lifted the shutter. They left without a backward glance.
Krishna released a shuddering breath.
Pallavi drew her into her arms. Feeling as much need to comfort as to be comforted.
***
The two men returned to the vehicle. Raghav tossed Farhad the keys and climbed into the passenger side.
Farhad did not start the car immediately. He leaned back in the seat and gave a sound of mingled surprise and laughter.
âHarishâs dragon turns out to be the woman weâve been looking for,â he said, shaking his head with disbelief. âTo be honest, I didnât recognize her until you began speaking of role-play. You knew her right away, Annah?â
âHer profile made me suspect, and then when she faced meâher eyes confirmed it,â Raghav replied.
Farhad asked, âI donât think she would have been complicit in Anjaliâs plan, do you?â
âNo.â Raghavâs chin was resting on the back of his hand. He appeared thoughtful. âShe desires secrecy not publicity. Her greatest fear would be if her family saw her in that video. We can rule her out.â
Farhad considered Raghavâs words and said, âWe can also rule her out to help us to subsidize Kirtiâs salary.â
âSheâll resist but sheâll do it,â corrected Raghav.
Farhad looked at Raghav, his brow expressing doubt. âYou exposed her secret little hobby quite brutallyâshe will not help us!â
Raghav met Farhadâs eyes, âShe will because we know too much about her. And thanks to Anjaliâwe have video evidence.â
âWill it be enough?â
âItâll be enough,â Raghav promised. âBut letâs acquire additional leverage and then we can approach her about Chelli.â
***
âDidi,â Krishna asked, âwhy did you allow him to believe all that rubbish about you?â
Pallavi met Krishnaâs large questioning eyes.
Was it rubbish?
When Raghav Rao made those insinuations she felt that perhaps there was some truth to his words. No, not everything he said. But when he said she didnât belong hereâit rang true to her in the deepest part of herself.
So many nights after Mandhar left she asked herself why she remained. And it was only after she learnt the full truth of Mandharâs machinations that she recommitted herself to the Deshmukhs and decided to stay and help rebuild what the family had lost. It was as though she took to repair what Mandhar had destroyed.
But why? That was not her place.
Ought she leave now? Where would she go? She had lost her inheritance. How would she manage in the world?
She gave herself a mental shake. A few words by Raghav Rao and she was rethinking her entire life? That was rubbish!
To Krishna, she said, âIt seemed easier to agree with him.â She touched Krishnaâs cheek gently, and said in Marathi, â âThose who wish to fight must first count the costâ * and I just wanted him out of the shop.â
Krishna managed a smile. âYour Baji Rao against Raghav Rao.â
âI wonder how he found me,â Pallavi said, turning to the mirror to straighten her saree. When she fell from the ladderâlanding on him!âher pleats had gone awry. She saw her reflection and saw it fresh through his eyes: a young woman dressed as an old maid.
She turned away from the mirror. He was nothing to her. His opinion on her appearance meant nothing. She would give his words no further thought.
âHe has spies everywhere, I hear,â Krishna was saying. âIt was inevitable that he would find you. Iâve never been so scared in my life.â
âMe neither,â Pallavi said.
âIt didnât show, Didi. You were brave. Especially when you said, âI would like you to leave. You are frightening Krishna.ââOh! Didi! I was so proud of you.â
***
As they entered the Palace, Farhad received a call. It was the Chief of Security of Sagar Lake Resort & Casino with good news, as he put it. Farhad pressed the speaker button so Raghav could hear.
They were now able to confirm that the person who had accessed the security footage was the bartender who had been on shift that evening in the membersâ room.
He had admitted it all. He had been offered money by Anjali to keep an eye out during his shiftsâif Raghav Rao appeared intimate with a woman, she wanted him to forward that video to her in Mumbai.
The bartender insisted he had not been aware Anjali was going to make the video public to humiliate Mr Rao and unleash a public relations nightmare. He thought Anjali was simply curious about Mr Raoâs relationships with women because she was still wild about him.
Ending the call, Farhad offered, âI can go to Mumbai with one of our men and handle Anjali. You need not make the trip.â
Raghav said, âNo, I want to speak to Anjali and put the fear of death into her. And I want to meet with Mrs Raje. Is the appointment confirmed?â
Farhad said it was confirmed for the next day at noon.
*Attributing Sun Tzu to Baji Rao.
Edited by JalebiJane - 3 years ago
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