Destined To Be Yours

5

'I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times...

In life after life, in age after age, forever.'

- Unending Love, Rabindranath Tagore

Bhaddaiyan Raj,

India, 1854;

"This is it! I think this plot will be perfect."

Peter shielded his eyes against the sun, and turned to Geoffrey with a pleased smile.

"Yes, it will do."

Geoffrey did not want to let his enthusiasm get the best of him. Finding the right piece of land for excavating the soil was more difficult than they had thought. Though there were large pieces of uninhabited lands withing the kingdom's boundaries, very few of them were suitable for digging. The soil near the banks of the Gomti river was too moist, while the patches of lands near villages had the commonfolk's sacred values attached to them, which were not to be disturbed under the King's orders. Finally, after much casting about, they had managed to find a barren plot near the south-end of the palace itself, that had the perfect sandy-loam soil for brickwork. Moreover, its location near the palace allowed them an excuse for continued surveillance.

Ideally, there should have been no doubts about it. However, Geoffrey was aware of the consequences of such a decision. For whilst it provided them with the perfect opportunity to keep an eye on the workings of the Palace, they too will have to be ready for the constant vigilance of the Palace guards, and that darned Prince over their activities. They will have to be discreet. Very much so.

"What's wrong? Are you not yet satisfied?"
Peter's face drooped with a mix of exhaustion and annoyance.

"Not at all. This land is ideal for the task. Although it is barren, the soil appears pliable to digging. We shall not have any difficulties with procuring the required quantity."

Geoffrey's measured answer elicited a relieved grin from both Peter and William.

"Great! Because I was not going to spend another waking minute in this cursed weather. Let us quickly get the King onboard, before that sour Prince derails our plans."

Geoffrey cast a nervous glance at the guards accompanying them, thankful that they couldn't decipher the insult Peter had cast at their Prince.

_________________________________________________

"We cannot let them use that land, pitaji."

Rajvir turned to his father as soon as the three firangis were out of the courtroom. He realised, albeit too late, that he should have overseen their survey himself rather than delegating the task to the guards. At least then he would have been able to prevent them from eyeing that land.

"And what would be your excuse for that? You know we have no reason to refuse. That land has lain barren for years. For now, they have just decided the location. Let them bring the details of the rest of their proposal. We might find some fault there."

Rajvir was irritated at his father's passiveness. He continued in a dissenting tone,

"But that land lies in the path of the kuldevi's temple that is frequented by the royal family women. How can we allow them to set camp over there? We both know this is no innocent trade deal. They are bound to have some nefarious intentions. We cannot risk the safety of our family."

The Maharaj's face showed his displeasure at his son's protestations.

"I am well aware of what is right for the family, Rajvir. This is not a decision to be taken in haste. I have already explained numerous times why we need to go along with what they say, until we have substantial reasons to do otherwise. Even a kingdom as big as Jhansi had to cede to their demands. Their rani has been banished out of her own palace. She took the rational decision of biding her time, instead of pushing her kingdom into chaos."