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Two days later
Early in the evening
In the royal pavilion patio.
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It was a warm autumn day. Unusually warm for this time of the day. The sky was a light blue, clear and bright. The odd cloud lightly spread here and there. The round orange orb high up in the sky, still retaining some of its glorious brightness was getting ready to retire. Out in the open the nature was in full bloom. These were the few months when it got a respite and was able to show off its marvels. Marigolds were bursting with colour. Roses were standing in abundance. Gulmohar trees too were in full bloom. There were beautiful marble statues placed in and around the garden, enhancing its beauty.
The garden surrounding the patio was small but beautiful. Cut off it afforded the occupants complete privacy. Being next to the royal suite the garden and patio was specifically only for its occupants. The Patio was designed of the finest Makarana white marble. The stark white in contrast to the vivid green of the garden was beautiful. Cane furniture was spread around on the paved floor. Bright floral print cushions brought out the furniture. There was a reclining chair set in one corner. It was a soothing place to sit . A tea set had been set on the centre table with some tea, coffee, thin cucumber sandwiches, assorted biscuits and some assorted rolls, buns and other snacks. Abhimanyu was reclining on a cane chair, a steaming hot cup of coffee in his hands. Chaudhary Bharat Singh was sitting on a chair next to him smoking a cigar. His cup of tea lying on the centre table. A bearer was offering and replenishing the hot drinks while another was offering the vast snacks on display. A third man was standing on the side waiting to help. Having had enough of the men hovering around.......
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" That will be all. Thank you. We will call if we require any thing."Abhimanyu said a bit briskly. Nodding the men left the two guests alone.
"Why the hell do you smoke this damn thing. Why can't you smoke a regular cigarette. Damn if this thing doesn't stink."
"Hahaha......... Why the hell do think I do it huh? I kinda got hooked on to it at Eton. You remember Mannings!! well! Mannings, use to get it for Professor Hardy and the old boy was quite fond of me. Now these Cuban cigars!! The best and the finest!! Well! He use to pass some over to me too. We would have some male bonding time you know over these cigars. Ahhhhhhh.. those good old times. And of course I know u don't like it. But you should try them sometime. You might like them. Hahahaha.... You seem in a pretty mood today, my friend. How is your courtship going with the fair KamalLata?"
"Damn!! ............ If she isn't giving me a tough time?" Abhi's word were harsh but he had a bemused smile on his lips.
"Tough!!!!!.... KamalLata!!!!! Are we talking of the same lady, cause to my way of thinking, she seems ready to fall into your arms without even the slightest hint. Man! Why !! take today itself, before lunch, in the sitting room when she was sitting next to you. She was literally on your lap, latching onto your every word. Had her aunt the Ranisa not taken her away on the pretext of some work that that moment, she would have been on your lap in a short while. She is totally into you, my man!!! She had you exasperated with her theatrics. If she wasn't a lady I would even say she pants at the sight of you. You will find no resistance there. My friend!!" An incredulous look on Bharat's face.
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"But I will get her. I know she's just being stubborn. She loves me ! I know it"
"Stubborn! KamalLata!!!!!"
"I just need to break this defensive wall that she's built around herself. Damn!! I just need to spend more time with her."
With every word that Abhimanyu was muttering Bharat's expression became more and more incredulous. Obviously they were not talking about the same person.
"Abhi! " he roared.
"Huhhhh" startled, Abhi came out of his musings. Looking up at Bharat."What?" He questioned realising that he had been lost in his own thought and not heard a word of what Bharat had been saying.
"Are you still thinking about the Kumari Adira?"
"I........." Abhi at a loss for a reply. Not knowing where to look, for Bharat was right.
"Damn, you know she is off limits for you,Abhi. You can't mess with her, man!!"
"Too late!"he muttered.
"What?"
"It's too late, Bharat. I love her." He said out loud needing to admit to himself too.
"I can't live without her."
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It was getting tougher and tougher refusing Abhi. He had started popping up everywhere, like the proverbial bad penny. I was running out of excuses for his being there. Daimaa had commented today. The maids have been giving me questioning looks these past few days. He seem to find infinite pleasure in cornering me and pulling me into nooks and corners. His kisses were ...... I was I suppose to resist temptation that I did not want to resist. God!!pls give me strength!!!!.... How he was managing to get away from under the sharp eyes of Ranisa, I don't know. Ranisa was sure to get suspicious, if I am not careful.
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Stepping out of the kitchen, she turned right, walking along a long corridor which had doors on one side and was open on the other side to a big kitchen garden. This was the service area attached to the back of the kitchens. She stopped at a door at the end of the corridor. Three men were waiting near it. All three dressed in the traditional dhoti kurta with turbans on their heads. People here still preferred the old ways. This is where she maintained her office. Seeing her coming they immediately joined their hands in the traditional form of greeting
"Khumma ghani, Hukum," they greeted her, meaning namaste in the local language.
Nodding she too joined her hands in reply. Hurriedly opening the door to her office she looked around the room she called her office. Hmmmmm... Everything was in order. Neat and clean.....It was a bare room with just the basics. Shelves on one wall holding all office files. An office table with chairs was set to one side. A window to one side of the wall letting in the air and light. Somehow brightening up an otherwise dreary room. A small vase of roses stood out on the table the only feminine touch in the starkly minimalist room.
Turning her attention away from her musings she looked up at the men standing in front of her. Looking at her with expectant eyes. They were good men, hard workers.
"Dhurandhar Singhji, Amarjeet Singhji, Kaluramji, chaliye Bahut Kaam hai Abhi...."
Come we have a lot of work to do still.
For the next day was Dussehra a major Hindu festival always celebrated with a lot of pomp and show here in Ujjangarh. The Goddess Durga was the local deity and these days were dedicated to her. The Ujjangarh palace was situated on a hill overlooking the city which was right in front of it. Behind the palace down below was a huge ground and across it on another hill was a huge Goddess Durga temple. Here on the ground between the two hills, with the palace on one side and the temple on the other all large celebrations were held. people from all over the city and neighbouring areas came to attend the festivities. This was an annual event, one that the royal family have been celebrating on a grand scale since the seventeenth century. Signifying the victory of good over evil. The nine days of Navratri, fasting for the Goddess Durga, culminating into vijaydashmi or as commonly called Dussera on the tenth day, was a very significant and important day for the people. So no expenses were spared.
I had a lot to do and my thoughts kept flirting back to Abhi. This just would not do. Somehow I have to get through remainder of today and tomorrow without bumping into Abhi.
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It was late evening. There was a huge crowd on the grounds. First was the fair. It had been open since morning. Huge surges of people had been coming and going the entire day. Now at sunset that whole place had taken on a magical look. The colourful stall lined in rows were a feast for the eyes. There were colourful buntings flying high up in the air running zigzag through the stalls. Near the entrance were the food stall set up by the locals. Tempting aroma of food being cooked was wafting in the air. A merry feeling was about. Loud music being played. Along with the food were stall with goods from the locals for sale. Merchants from far away had also come to sell there wares. There were rides for adults and child. With the small Ferris wheel being the favourite. The magician was in his elements and the monkey busy putting on shows for whoever would watch. There was even a snake charmer. He had a large crowd gathered around him. Then the Banjara girls!! Their exotic whirls and twirls and the crowd mesmerised. Their was a lot to see and do at the fair. The people were out to have fun after the ten days of fasting. Women in their traditional ghagara choli a long ankle length skirt and a blouse with beautifully carved jewellery. Colourful dupattas covering their heads. The men in their kurtas and dhoti. Heavy turbans tied in different styles on their heads. Many had exotic long moustaches. It seemed as though the whole city had come out to celebrate.
A little away from the fair was where the night festivities were being played out. There were three huge effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakarna standing to one side. About thirty feet high they were standing away for the main ground, cordoned off by a fence. There were at a good distance from the crowd since they were to be lit later in the night. A huge high stage had been built to one side. There were large mashaals lit in the front of the stage to brighten it up. There was seating in front of it to accommodate the people watching the enactment of the Ramayan.
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The royal pavilion was built opposite side with a clear view of the effigies as well as the stage. It again was a huge structure meant to seat minimum of at least fifty people with all grandeur and luxury possible. Divided in to two sections with one seating the men and the other the women.
Everyone's attention was centred on the stage where an enactment of Ramayan was going on. Shri Ram along with his wife Sita and younger brother Lakshman were proceeding for the forest. The family members were crying out in grief. The act was not even half way through. With the burning of the effigies the whole epical enactment was to come to an end. Followed by the fire works.The actors were doing a great job in keeping the public engrossed in the drama.
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This is the moment I had been waiting for. If I were to leave now no one would notice. The Ranisa and KamalLata were in the midst of the other palace women. It looked unlikely that they would be able to get away at all for the night. The Ranaji was already nodding off in his seat. The young Kumar Anant Singh was surrounded by the other palace children. There were other guests of the family but none of consequence to him.
Turning to Bharat I saw him engrossed in the play. Getting up quietly I moved to the exit of the pavilion.
"Where are you going?" He asked with not much interest. Eyes still looking at the enactment.
"Don't worry, I'll be back, shortly" so saying I left as quietly as possible.
Calling for a horse, I rode as fast as I possibly could in the dark. Going through the back entrance since the front would be impassable, I reached the palace in a short while. Leaving the horse at the stables in the care of an old man who was apparently the only one on duty, I walked away. Looking around for a lantern, since the paths leading away from the palace were not lit. Finding one nearby I picked it up and quickly walked down the path that led away from the palace. Letting the dim lantern light guide me. I came to the crossing from where one path led to the garden that Adira had taken me to and the other to her cottage. Taking the path that led to the garden my strides growing faster and faster, as if a new energy had been infused into them. I couldn't wait to see Adira. My heart was beating faster the closer I was getting to the garden. A few short steps later I had reached the small gate.
Seeing it open, my heart leapt with joy sure now that Adira was indeed here.
Entering in I saw her small fragile figure sitting on the steps, looking up at the moon. It was so quite here compared to the palace grounds. I just stood looking at the beautiful picture in front of me.
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I felt rather than heard his presence. Turning around I saw him standing looking my way.
"Weren't you enjoying the celebrations."
"Nahhhhhh........not really. I would much rather be here with you. What about you, organising the mela the fete every year and then not be able to attend it?"
"I am used to it. Been doing it for years now. Come sit." Ruefully she answered. Patting the ground next to her, wanting him to sit next to her. Happy that he had left the fun and festivities to come and be with her.
Settling to her left, he laid down on the ground.For a while both were quite. Enjoying the peace.
"I love sitting here and watching the sky. The sky is so clear at this time of the night. The stars are brighter then ever. Adira sat contemplating in the darkness.
"I'm leaving tomorrow." Abhi stated out of the blue.
"What?" Adira looked at Abhi startled. Not sure if he was serious or joking.
"I have to leave tomorrow."
"Why? Have you made a decision. Are you marrying KamalLata?" Asking him but really wanting to know the answer. A sharp pain searing through her heart.
"No!! I have to leave for some important business. I should be back in about two weeks time. "
"Two weeks!! "
"Where are you going?"
"Delhi." He answered, happy she was showing emotions.
How is KamalLata taking it?" Not really wanting to know about Kamallata.
"What is this obsession you have with KamalLata." Angry at her persistence in maintaining a distance between them. He got up into a sitting position.
"Abhi, you are here to court KamalLata. That's why"she simply stated.
"I don't want to talk about her or anyone else. Only us. I am here for you, damn it Adira. Are you blind? Anyone can see how badly in love with you I am. But still you ignore me. I want to know if you will miss me? Huh "
She couldn't reply. She couldn't lay herself open to him. What was the point.
Seeing her lack of reply, he caught her arms and pulled her closer to him.
"You are mine. Adira. I love you and I know you love me too. I am not letting anything come between us. You just have to have confidence in our love, in our feelings for each other."
"But, Abhi no one will accept our relationships. Your family, my family, all our friends and relatives. Only if I wasn't a widow. Then....."Despair on her face from the sheer hopelessness of their situation, she burst out for the first time.
"Adira, our love matters, it does to the two of us. I don't care if you are a widow and it shouldn't matter to you too. It is the nineteenth century for heaven sake. Come out of the dark. See where the world has reached and you are still worrying about something that you had no control over."
Pausing for breath, letting his words sink in. He continued ".....Adira our love is worth fighting for. If our families don't want to accept our love, then also I am ok with that but I am not ready to give up on us. But I know that my family will accept you because you are important to me and the rest don't matter. For once think about us, our lives together. Stop finding excuses to hide behind your widowhood. You were a child for God's sake darling!! when you were married off and then widowed. You've never even met your husband, so why morn a stranger. And you've mourned him enough all these years. I don't mean to belittle your circumstances or speak ill of the dead, but he is no more and you are still very much alive. Now it's time to start living, jaan. "
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What he was saying was so true, she wanted him so badly. I did love him to madness. She was realising that she could do anything for him. She could go to any lengths for him. So why not accept her love. Why not take the hand he was offering, a chance at happiness. Taking a jump, a risk for her love was better than sitting her alone and grieving.
Nodding she finally accepted her love for Abhi.
"Yes!,"she said softly.
"Say it Adira!!loud!! Look into my eyes and say it. I want to hear you say the words to me. "
Looking up at him all my love shining bright in my eyes. I finally said it. My heart in a race.
"I... Love you, Abhi"
A feeling of freedom settling over me. As though my soul had been liberated. It felt amazing.
"I love you Abhi." I yelled out loud. Feeling more and more alive every time I was repeating those precious words.
There was a smile on Abhi's face a twinkle in his eyes.
"I love you too Adira. And I am coming back but only for you. "His eyes eating into hers. Their faces touching each other's. She could feel every word he spoke every emotion he was feeling. For she was feeling the same. Suddenly everything was so clear. All felt possible. Our love felt so true for it was shining through. The lights of the fire crackers bursting up in the distance at that moment bore testimony to our love. The fire cracker on dusherra signifying the victory of good over evil. Yes!! This was the victory of our love. I was finally with the one person that I loved the most in this world and I would do anything to keep him in my life. Anything. I want that smile always on his beloved face. God be with me for I will fight the world for my love. To be able to be with him. With more conviction than I had felt for anything ever. I meant every word that I said to him. For they were from my soul.
With that resolution I looked up at him, a heady smile sparkling on my lips. Unconstrained to look at him however I wanted. I just wanted to keep looking at him... for ever .............and ever. When the look turned into a kiss and the kiss into a merging of their bodies and soul............I .... cause I have nothing left to say..........
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I love you without knowing
how or when, or from where
I love you straightforwardly,
Without complexities or pride.
So I love because I know
No other way than this
Where I does not exist nor you.
so close that your hand
on my chest is my hand
So close that your eyes close
As I fall asleep
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By Pablo Neruda
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