Brihannala

Kanka

There was too much silence for Brihi's liking, "What gave you the idea to suggest something like that" asked Brihi with clear annoyance in his voice.

Malini avoided his eyes as Kanka spoke, "We all need jobs to survive in this city for a whole year and the job at the palace will pay well, unless you have found some other job? "

Brihi looked angrily as Malini, he didn't find any job and now he is stuck with this ridiculous offer. "Well if you think on brighter side, you taking on the form of a Napunsak will also help us in hiding our identity" said Tantipal. What he said makes sense thought Brihi, but still."Only you can do it Brihi, because of you know... " chirped in Malini and as their eyes met an understanding passed between them, a secret which only they both knew.

(*Napunsak mean eunuch)

"Now that's settled, Malini and Brihi will work in the palace. What about others?" asked Kanka. "We didn't have much success today anna, did you find anything suitable?" asked Vallaba.

Kanka took a pause before answering "I found a job in a Casino", "But anna you know that is so risky" said Vallaba sounding agitated. "You promised me that you wouldn't again..... " Malini said with a gruff as it brought back painful memories.

Kanka walked towards Malini and placed a hand on her shoulder, with a sad and sorry look on his face. "Malini I won't be gambling but since I know the game well, I will be supervising and watching out to maintain a fair game.", "But... " he put a finger on Malini's lips as she tried to object. "I know we are all paying for my mistake and it's a burden I have to live with, I will never break my promise to you"

Malini nodded as they didn't have much choice. The brothers also silently agreed. Tomorrow they can go back to finding jobs, but today it was time they ate dinner as Vallaba's stomach gave a loud growl. He gave a sheepish smile as they all walked to join the annadanam line.

******

Kanka went to the casino in the afternoon, it would open up in the evening for people to gamble and test their luck. This casino was located at the conjunction of top and middle tiers. The upper part of the casino was for the royalty and government officials and lower deck was for common folks.

Today was Kanka's first day and he was to work with in the upper deck due to his polite and classy outlook which would suit the elite class. The owner took him around and explained him the layout. By the time it was evening and people started to fill up the game tables.

Kanka walked around the tables greeting people and watching for any cheating in the games, this casino prided in being fair. Suddenly he stopped at table number 4.

"The dice is rigged",he said interrupting the game. "Are you accusing me of cheating" asked the player angrily. Kanka took the dice and rolled it between his fingers and checked if there was markings or additional weight added on the dice for favourable rolling and found the edges of the dice tweaked such that it always landed on whichever top surface was set during the start of roll.

"Yes it is rigged and I can prove it" He concluded. He turned to the other player and asked him to choose a number, "Three" said the opposite player and Kanka rolled the dice and out rolled three. " Give me another number" he said, "Five" said someone from the next table and once again he rolled five. "Now to prove it is not coincidence, another number anyone? " Kanka asked looked at the crowd who were now watching him. "One" said the man at the back and Kanka rolled and it was one. The people started clapping. When the culprit tried to escape, Kanka put out his leg tripping him, the guards immediately caught him and took him to the manager.

The man who said one walked up to Kanka and asked "How did you know he was cheating", "Well I have been watching his last few moves, probability to get any number in one by six, so every roll cannot be favourable, but he kept rolling last six times exactly the number he wanted, that made me suspicious" he said with a humble smile.

"You seem to know a lot about this game, do you know only ludo or other games too" the man enquired. "Sir studying and playing these strategic board games is my livelihood, but I will not play them as gamble" he said making it clear that he is here to do his job and not play.

The man laughed at Kanka's serious statement, "What is your name" asked the man. "Kanka" he replied. "Kanka, since you do not gamble, I am offering you a job as my personal game advisor" said the man, Kanka looked at him confused when the manager suddenly spoke "My lord, he is new here, are you sure you want him and not the other experts we have". The man gave an authoritative look to the manager and turned to Kanka," Do you accept my offer?" Looking at the managers nervous expression it was obvious that this man was a higher official and turning him down would cause trouble thought Kanka. "Sure my lord" said Kanka with a small bow.

"Meet me tomorrow in the palace" said the man handing him a gold card. After he left Kanka asked the manager "Who is that man? ", "He is our King" answered the manager.