Classes

Tere Kismat teri haaton

Se hi likhi jayegi.

Bondita walked into the study in the early hours of dawn to find Aniruddha ready in his casual shirt and trousers. He did look like a teacher as he was setting up a blackboard across the couch with a pen in his mouth. Standing at the threshold with her pencil and copy in hand, Bondita's wet hair fell over the side of her bottle green cotton saree as she cleared her throat prompting him to look up at her. He removed the pen from his mouth and directed her with a hand gesture towards the couch.

"Did you go to the pond again?" He asked with his back to her, writing something down on the blackboard. She bit her lips.

"I thought you were sleeping." She was quick to defend. "I didn't want to disturb you."

"You can use the washroom without disturbing me. Now you are making excuses to go to the pond. Is it because you meet your friends there?" His voice was unusually different and stern. She looked up at his serious face.

"No. Barrister Babu. I swear. I just thought…"

"You are not going there under any circumstances, you understand?" He spoke sternly, pointing his finger again. Bondita nodded.

"Those men are creeps." He spoke under his breath.

"Should we start?" Bondita opened her copy and looked up at him. He nodded.

"So in the English Language'' "A" is the first letter. Like we spell AA" he spoke as she copied.

"Then there is ''B" like' 'Boh" in our language." She looked up.

"Then "C" for…"

"It's like our language only jumbled up?" Her words made him smile.

"No Bondita. It's a different language altogether. Not jumbled up." He looked amused. "We will do the first five letters today. Okay?"

She nodded.

"Tell me, do you know any English words?" He asked. She nodded. "I know some."

"Okay." He walked around the room. "Tell me something with Aa?"

"Almirah." She pointed.

"Apple?" He said.

"Ashtray." She said as he raised his brows. "I heard it from your father." She was quick to add.

"Amazing!" He smiled.

"Aniruddha?" She pointed her finger at him in excitement and her smile faded as he looked taken aback. "I am sorry. I am so sorry."

"No. No. You are right. That starts with A." He agreed.

"Do you know the meaning of your name?" She asked, closing her copy as he looked up from the book.

"Pardon?" He asked.

"Your name. The meaning. Bondita means someone who can't be bound. It also means to be worshipped." She said smartly.

"I don't know the meaning of my name. Neither do I want to. Here is your homework." He stopped at her disapproving glance.

"Why do you not want to know?" She asked. "You should always ask what you don't know. There is no shame in not knowing. It is shameful if you are blissfully unaware."

Aniruddha closed the book and stared at her, frustrated.

"Okay, fine. Tell me. Tell me what Aniruddha means."

"It means someone who can't be stopped. Free willed."

"And where did you learn that?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Kaka." She giggled.

"Now should we study?" He opened the book again.

"Yes, Sikhshak Babu." She agreed. He shook his head.

It was when Bondita was stacking her books that Saudamini walked in looking for Aniruddha. She was a bit disappointed that he wasn't alone, and it clearly showed on her face as Aniruddha observed.

"Pari Didi! Subho Sokal. Let me get you some tea." Bondita ran off leaving Aniruddha alone with Saudamini in the study. Right outside the door, he could hear her instruct Koeli to prepare extra breakfast for Pari didi. He inhaled remembering Somnath's words.

"What brings you here so early in the morning Mini?" He asked, erasing the board.

"Binoy Uncle didn't tell you?" She asked, surprised.

"Tell me what?" He inquired.

"I enrolled us in the Annual Ball at Calcutta. It is a couple-entry event where the Viceroy comes. It's only for the elitist of the elites. Baba got us passes." She stood up. "Now all I need is for you to teach me how to dance a ball." She sounded excited. Aniruddha turned to face her. "Me?" He asked unsurely.

"Yes, you. Binoy Uncle told me you learnt it in Kingston." Saudamini smiled. Aniruddha looked away as Bondita brought in tea and cookies.

"C'mon Aniruddha, it will be a fun party." Saudamini smiled.

"What's a party?" Bondita asked, staring at Saudamini's excited face.

"It's where men and women…" Saudamini started to explain.

"It's not something kids should know." Anirudha interrupted.

"Who is a kid?" Bondita looked disappointed.

"You are." He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.

"No, I am not." She retorted.

"Aniruddha, she is fifteen. Aren't you?" Saudamini asked as Bondita nodded. "Besides I was only going to tell her about Ball dancing."

"Ball dancing?" Bondita asked. "What's that Pari Didi?"

"It's a type of dance." Bondita looked excited at that.

"Do people dance with Balls?" Aniruddha looked amused at her words. "like in a circus?"

"No Bondita," Aniruddha spoke up. "The Ballroom is an oval-shaped room meant for a particular type of dancing," he explained.

"Will you dance?" She asked excitedly. "Can I see?"

"Sure. You can watch us practice." Saudamini smiled. Aniruddha looked at the ladies helplessly.

"Okay, I can manage some time in the afternoon." He said. "But I don't guarantee I will go. I can teach you."

"Can I learn too?" Bondita asked, amazed. "I never tried dancing."

"No Bondita." Saudamini shook her head. "It's very difficult to learn but you can watch us. It is about teamwork, catching each other's rhythm and understanding."

"I can watch and learn." She looked eager.

"I need to go." Aniruddha walked away.

"Did you ask for me?" Trilochan looked up from work to find Bondita standing there.

"Yes. I saw Saudamini leave. Do you know why she was here?"

"To learn dancing." Trilochan frowned at her words. "What? Who teaches dancing at my house? Ram Ram Ram Ram!"

"Oho." Bondita tapped her forehead with her palm. "None. She and Barrister Babu are going to some party."

"Party?" He looked irked.

"Yes, they said it's dancing for grown-ups." Bondita smiled.

" What is happening in this house?" Trilochan shook his head.

"I said I want to learn too." Trilochan stopped at her words.

"What did they say?" He asked eagerly.

"He said I am a kid." Bondita made a disappointed face.

"Insist on him. You can argue." Trilochan made her look up. "Has it ever happened that you wanted to learn something and someone could say no?"

Trilochan smiled. There was no way Aniruddha would teach her if he said so. He was stubborn. Trilochan was aware of it. But instigating Bondita helped. She would follow them around while they practised.

Bondita's eyes lit up. She would learn something new.

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See You Soon

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Stable Boy

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Prologue: Impulsive Hearts

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Unexpected

" This is your room Ranisa." Hansa opened the door to the well-furnished large guest room of the Bijolia Palace. The diyas were lit and the room was neat and clean. " Your Daasis decorate the rooms well." Jaivanta Bai looked around. " Oh, Ranisa. all these... " Hansa smiled proudly. " All these are done by my daughter." " Your daughter?" Jaivanta Bai smiled surprised. " Milwayiye ." Jaivanta Bai was eager to meet her. " Ajabde! Ratan!" Hansa called as the girls came in. 13-year-old Ajabde preferred a simple lehenga in a pink and blue Dupatta clad over her head. She was the first one to calmly bend down and touch Maharani's feet as a five-year-old Ratan came running. " Ajabde is very talented in sewing, gardening and home decor. She can also...." " Maa Sa...." Ajabde's soft protest stopped Hansa as Jaivanta Bai smiled. " Accha, I won't tell but these are your good talents, right? ...

Protectors

Rao Surtan was at the Palace gates as the soldiers tried in vain to attack with arrows. His army was stronger and more competent than the one Balwant headed at the Bijolia Fort Gates. “Break the door” he ordered. “Where is Ajabde?” Hansa looked around the cellar. “Jija!” Ratan exclaimed. “She was on the roof last I saw.” “Ajabde.” Hansa Bai opened the cellar door and stepped out followed by Ratan who was equally worried. “Stay back!” Sajja Bai called in vain as Jaivanta Bai too walked out and up the stairs to the corridors of the Ranimahal in search of Ajabde. Meanwhile, Surtan’s army had entered the palace and he made his way to the Ranimahal. He was having different thoughts now. Killing Jaivanta Bai won't yield him anything… Maybe capturing a few young maidens… Ratan froze in the corridor seeing the man approach. Behind her were her mother and Jaivanta Bai with the same reaction. “ Jee Bavro ho gayo!” Surtan Singh took out his sword. Ratan took two ste...

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" Maharanisa! Maharanisa!" The Daasi ran through the quiet Rani Mahal as Jaivanta Bai who was sitting in front of the Lord in her room ever since she was back, rushed out of her room followed by Sajjabai and Veerbai. " What happened?" She asked, her voice calm, but her heart thumping. " Kunwarsa is here... with Kunwarani... She... She...." The Daasi sobbed as Jaivanta Bai rushed to the room. She stood at the door as her eyes couldn't believe what she saw. Kunwar Pratap was soaked in her blood as he laid her down on the bed shouting " Jaldi. Rajvaidya..." His eyes stopped at the door as Jaivanta Bai rushed to be beside the unconscious Ajabde. The Daasis and Sevaks were running about soon enough. SajjaBai gasped at the scene. So much blood. Kunwar Pratap hadn't noticed anything except her calm unconscious face. Now he looked down at his blood-soaked hands, red, he stared at them as though in a trance. " Kunwar Pratap! Tell me what happ...

You Deserve More

Ajabde woke up with the song of birds as she felt something warm clinging to her hand. Her eyes went wide. Her hand was on the pillow in between, between his hands, clasped as he slept. She thought of removing it slowly but he was holding it so tight. Ajabde's heart beat faster and faster. What do I do now? How do I not wake him? What if... why is my hand in his? She was utterly confused. " Am I..." In love? Pratap was staring at the sleeping figure on his bed as he again looked back at the rain. Then he looked back frowning as she shivered. He closed the windows of the room, to make it cosy then sat on his side of the bed. A lamp flickered on her side like always and he stared at her sleeping figure as he put his blanket over her as well. She shifted a little in her sleep to make herself cosy again. Her payals and bangles made a rhythmic sound breaking the silence of the room. Her hand was out of her blanket and on the pillow in between. He tried to slowly put it in th...

RAABTA

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