Link to previous part: For the sake of honor (Part 2)

Seduram Lahoti, A grave faced moneylender was ushered in the

hall and told to wait for the senior Rani to appear behind the curtain. He felt dizzy and slowly sat down on the carpet. An acute sinking feeling overpowered his senses. His brains were working hard to find an escape fast. It was well over five years ago that she had called him. He respected and feared her, an expert negotiator who would not mind telling him about the timely help given to his father to ward off a serious financial crisis. His whole family always felt indebted to her.

He some how knew it was pay back time to honor the commitment his grateful father had made to her.

He hurriedly got up hearing movements behind the curtain and bowed his head in respect. There was no maid to announce her arrival. That conveyed a private one on one meeting, his felt his heartbeats quickening. 

"Ghanee khamma annadata.." His spoke respectfully.

"How is your family?"  Her voice felt worn out and intoxicated.

"Every thing is well due to your grace."

"I am in a hurry…  wont waste any time and will come to the point…"

"Hukam annadata.." He felt numb.

"I need all the ornaments back for few days…is that clear?" Her now authoritative tone conveyed the finality of her wishes beyond the scope of any negotiations.

"Hukum annadata.." Seduram Lahoti said with a sinking heart.

"I know you feel very troubled…but don't be…it's my commitment…

you know I will honor my commitment…till I am alive…I always have…haven’t  I…?"

"Hukum annadata..."

"Excellent…you see those papers and pen there on the table …write a note on the paper asking your brother to immediately release all the ornaments and sign it…"

Sedu Ram Lahoti walked those few steps to the writing table with great difficulty. His legs felt very heavy, immobile, mind was numb…the sinking feeling was back.

" Don't worry…you have my word…benefit will be far more than any risk you might presume right now…" Her voice betrayed impatience on his hesitation.

"Hukum annadata…but it is the  biggest decision so far of me…please let me collect my courage…"

"Do you need to gather courage to honor the commitment?" She challenged him.

·         

"Are you sure of your calculations pundit?"  Rajaji judged him with his blood shot eyes.

" Hukum annadata..." Pandit Brij Kishore felt a chill gripping him.

"Who is she…?"  The question acquired a sinister tone.

Pandit was silent. His eyes conveyed a faint tinge of hesitation.

"I need more details…who is she…how old…tell me all with out fear…you will be rewarded."

·         

" What happened sister? Did he agree?" A worried middle Rani come running.

"Here are all the ornaments…choose what you would like …".

 Senior Rani smiled and affectionately patted her cheek.

"Oh my god…that's wonderful…I was so nervous…thanks a lot…how did you make him agree?"

"He had to honor a commitment his father made to me years ago." Senior Rani sat down on her favorite rocking chair.

"Oh God…so good he did…otherwise he has been a rascal.."

"Yes…he has been a rascal…but did honor his commitment…when I asked him to…oh where is my glass… Phooli…need few more tonight. I feel exhausted…but so happy for the girls and for you…its now celebration time…"!

"Oh …sister…haven't you had enough…?"

"No…I haven't had enough yet…don't know what tomorrow might bring”.

"No please. I wont let you have it…"

Senior Rani twisted her lips, gave a mock smile and started to laugh.

"Oh …really…what would you not let me have…? The pain or its medicine…tell me…be frank…yes …come on…I need to listen…"

Middle Rani remained silent respectful of her while the senior rani continued after long pause.

"You never really bothered about my pain? No you didn't…I begged you to help me meet Rajaji…but …I don't blame you…who would have cared for me…and you feared that scheming junior rani the young bitch…she could have made you suffer…"

Tears rolled down the large eyes of middle Rani. She slumped to the floor and clutched the held feet of the senior rani.

"Hey Phooli…you bitch…didn't you listen…get me more..now.."!

A terrified shaking Phooli bowed, filled a glass, and handed it over respectfully.  She moved back wards and stood in the shadows. Middle Rani wept loudly now, hitting her forehead at her feet.

"Please forgive me sister…I had no courage…yes you are right…she could have made me suffer…as she made you…I didn't have guts to bear so much of suffering…you are so strong…I am weak… sorry…please… I beg of you…"

Senior Rani remained silent and drank slowly.

"Sorry…please… beg of you…"

" I have already forgiven you.." senior rani said somewhat distantly.

"Oh…thanks you sister…have you…a heavy load is lifting from my heart.."

Middle rani kissed her hand and raised her self up with great effort, feeling drained.

 Senior rani remained silent; drinking slowly and suddenly spoke. Her voice betrayed agitation.

"I am told she has managed to get pregnant after so many years…”

"Yes your highness." The middle rani felt her heart sinking.

" I am amazed at God’s will…look at me…and at her…I keep silent to suffer and she schemes to prosper … …"

“Yes your highness…I feel same..”

“She is planning to get an heir…isn’t she?”  The rocking chair gathered motion.

“Looks like…she is always scheming a lot…what you think…. will she be able to succeed…and become the queen mother?”  Middle rani spoke with intense hatred. She shuddered to think of her future, being controlled by a monstrous woman.

The senior rani stopped rocking her chair and opened her blood shot eyes.

“Oh no she can not…she is such a merciless cunning bitch, busy plotting her rotten ascent… I fail because I care…can’t cause hurt…she is heartless and so she wins …wouldn’t mind killing few…but now enough is enough… I wont let it happen again…it was she who made Rajaji stop coming to me… he used to love me and was crazy about me…adored me…but that bitch stole my man…not any more…nothing is left to be afraid of”!

The middle rani listened attentively.

 “I have no fear now…what is there to fear…?”

The tone of senior rani seemed profoundly changed.

“What do you have in mind your highness?” The middle rani whispered expectantly and looked straight at the half closed eyes of senior.

The tormented senior rani fell silent and seemed to be weighing her limited options. She closed her eyes rocking her chair again, perhaps deciding against sharing her thoughts.

“Its nothing sister…I feel deeply tormented…my plight is becoming unbearable… Phooli…produce Mushya right now.”

 Phooli bowed and ran out.

“Why don’t you go now and take care of the marriage…”?

Senior rani held her hand as the middle rani bowed and started to move.

"Now remember your commitment… keep the secret…and thereby my honor…"

“Yes your highness…I promise…”

·         

“Are you sure and remember what needs to be done?”

Shamshad Ali asked sternly.

          A green horn bhand Bhanwaria felt immensely elated to be the chosen one. It was going to be his first big professional assignment, to lure the legendry bhand Chalia and take him to a secluded room, where his nemesis would be waiting. His success would catapult him to high status, big money and honors. A defeat would throw him back to the well-known intensely despised fringes of a crawling existence. He was dressed as a desirous bejeweled woman reeking of a heady exotic perfume, attired in body hugging ghaghra choli.

          “ Yes ustad.” Bhanwaria replied with needed confidence.

 “Beta, you know the importance of the assignment tonight… I wont repeat…more than that… it is going to be your hour of reckoning to announce your arrival…and change your life forever….”

Bhanwaria nodded as Shamshad continued.

“Only few very lucky people who are preordained for name and great fame are bestowed with such chances…I was not so fortunate…. and could only make a mark much later…I hope you understand what is being told…its gist of my own life experiences…I had nobody to guide me…but you have had me… I gave you all of my knowledge…now it’s your foremost duty to bring honor for yourself and thereby to me too…God bless you.”

             A satisfied but shaky Shamshad Ali admired his creation once more.

“ Ok lets go my son, move.”

·         

“What is going on… what did the astrologer say?”

The senior rani asked as Mushya bowed his head in respect.

“ A pregnant woman might bring dishonor to Rajaji…”

Mushya whispered, as the sounds of songs and dances in the courtyard below grew louder.

“A what…. say it again…Phooli bring one more, fast…”

 She didn’t believe what her ears had just heard from her resourceful and trusted aid. 

Mushya repeated his words a little more loudly but halted seeing Phooli come with a glass.

The senior rani drank half of her drink in one gulp and closed her large eyes.

“Who is she Mushya..”? Her voice sounded weak and tired.

“I have no idea yet, your highness…give me some time and I will find out.”

“Don’t take the trouble…because I know her very well…”

 …. To be continued.
Link to next part:
For the sake of honor (Part 4)

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For the sake of honor

For the sake of honor (Part 2)