Brihannala

Antahpura

"I am Malini the new sairendhri" said Mailini handling her entry pass to the guard. The guard checked her pass and let her in.

(*Sairendhri means beautician/ make up artist)

Malini entered the palace gate and found Lalita waiting for her. "Follow me" she said quietly keeping her head low. "What happened" asked Malini, "Nothing, these guards and warriors scare me, look how big and gruesome they are" said Lalita. Malini smiles at her tiny looking friend, Lalita was thin and about four and half feet tall, she came to Malini's chest. She had a small round face and long hair braided in a plaid.

"Don't worry Lalita, they are just doing their job, and if they bother you, I will punch them" said Malini with a wink, to which Lalita giggled. A friendship has formed between them in this new place.

Malini followed Lalita as she passed through a long corridor, then a garden, then took a right at the gazebo and entered the inner palace, 'the Antahpura' or commonly know as the Queen's palace. No man was ever allowed to enter the Antahpura except for the Royal family men. Even the guards here were women.

Lalita led her to the Queen's chamber. "Good morning Maharani Sudeshna" wished Malini with a bow. Queen Sudeshna was a middle aged women, she was not very tall and had a motherly face, her eyes were compassionate and everyone knew she was a devotee of Goddess Durga and protected the women in her palace. She was not a very strong woman, she followed the old traditions and believed women had to learn how to manage the house or subtle arts like painting, embroidery, singing and dancing.

"Good morning Malini, shall we start" she asked sitting in front of the mirror as Malini started drying her hair.

"What is your story Malini, because you don't look like you belong to the working class, you have such fine features" enquired the queen looking at her in the mirror.

"As you already know mam, I used to work for Empress Draupadi before the tragic incident, we were all treated quite well over there" she replied moving on to combing the hair.

"I know, such a tragedy it is" said the queen with sympathy, "but you still haven't answered my question regarding your story?" she asked with a curious expression.

Malini was silent for a few seconds as she worked on untangling the hair, then she slowly replied "My story is very simple Your Highness, I belong to the Gandharva clan, I was married to five gandharvas as polygamy is very common in our tribe. My husbands and I left the tribe in search of jobs, as you know we gandharvas depend of our artistic nature for a living and we have to go where our art takes us. Thought we do not stay together, my husband's always watch out for me and come to my aid when I need them".

"Oh! So you are married" asked the queen surprised, to which Malini nodded. " Now that I know you are married, I do not have to worry, don't take me wrong, it's just that you are quite beautiful and you know men make a fool of themselves in front of beautiful women." she added.

"You don't have to worry about me mam, I am loyal to my husbands, but with your permission can I ask for a small favor" she asked in a soft pleading tone.

The Queen gave a nod to go-ahead, "Maharani, could you please promise to never ask me to visit anyone else's quarters nor ask me to serve any man" she requested. "Of course my dear, you do not have to worry, you will be one of my personal maids and serve only me and my daughter" the queen assured her.

"Thank you Your Highness" she said as she finished arranging and decorating the queen's hair in a stylish bun with beads and a peacock headpiece.

"Wow! Beautiful work Malini" praised the queen. Malini gave a small smile as thank you and moved on to get the Queen's jewellery, " So where did you meet the dance master you were telling me about?"

"We worked in the same palace for Empress Draupadi, yesterday I met him in the market and came to know he was also looking for a job. He is an expert in all dance forms Your Highness, they say that he learned it from the apsaras in the Indralok Arts University." she replied with unmasked pride.

"I didn't realize the master would be such an expert" said the queen sounding more and more interested. "He is, Your Highness, but he is also crazy about fashion and discipline, as you know he is an eunuch" she added with a matter of fact smile.

"Yes yes, you already told me that. By the way I forgot to mention, both of your rooms are arranged in this palace, Lalita will take you there after you finish you work" the queen stated looking at her reflection in mirror and pleased at what she saw.

"I forgot to ask one last question, what did you say the master's name was" she asked and Malini replied "Brihannala".