Monami was certain her head was making things up or worse she had been doped with some hallucination triggering drug. Or else what else could possibly explain her current state and surroundings.
"Putri are you feeling more aches anywhere else?"
"No" she lied under her teeth, "I am fine."
Monami felt a bit bad at her cold replies, this woman was being so kind to her but she desperately needed some time alone. Her head felt like it would burst anytime.
"You seem to have through so much Putri" Sumana's voice held so much gentleness, it almost startled Monami. It had been quite a while since she experienced such tenderness from another person.
"I would like some time alone please" she mumbled under her breathe, her chin touching her crook of her neck, the very next moment half wishing the older woman had not heard. She didn't want to be rude to Sumana, whoever, whatever she was, the woman had only been kind until now to her.
"What's your jat(caste), putri?"
"Um...what?"
Monami was taken aback at the sudden, inappropriate question.
Here I am trying not to be rude with my blasting headache and look at her, she thought resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
"Your jat, child?"
Monami eyed her for some seconds but could find no trace of malintent in her eyes.
"I don't know."
She answered that honestly. It was a topic that never came up in the discussion she had with her family.
"How strange that is putri."
"Nothing strange don't you know that both our Constitution and DPSP envision to end the caste system."
Monami rolled her eyes this time; the shocked and nearly aghast look on Sumana's face was rather peculiar and funny.
Alright Mona, brace yourself you are in some really really backward village somewhere, she thought to herself.
"Doesn't know her caste, that's brilliant."
Both the women's heads spun to face the doorway. Monami eyed the tall and rather healthy looking man curiously but seeing Sumana scurry towards him and bow deeply before obliviating herself in a dark corner of the room startled her even more.
"Who are you?" She asked. The man was dressed in a dhoti and some shawls covered his upper body- her curiosity was going to touch the roof now.
"Well well I am the master of the house and I apologise for the poor hospitality" the man answered with a smirk.
Monami started the blanket upto her chin as inconspicuously as she could. She wasn't feeling good about this.
"I think it's pretty efficient" she stuttered slightly.
"I apologise I couldn't see you properly in the poor evening light"
For years to come Monami would never forget the piercing eyes that seemed to singed her as he spoke those words. It terrified her.
"You are too exquisite to be kept this poor servant's room o fair one"
Monami shuddered. She could sense his eyes now practically undressing her in his mind. She wished she eas not wearing her t shirt dress.
"What's your gotra?"
Monami blinked. The honeyed tone he spoke with and the perverted gaze he held her with was nauseating.
"I don't remember"she answered, this time untruthfully.
"Oh that makes it every better- an outcast girl under my patronage- Dasi have her shifted to the family's floor."
Monami started blankly, what had just transpired was chilling her more than the cold. Why the hell was she under the same roof as this pervert?
YOU ARE READING
Teardrops on Roses
Historical Fiction"I am the eldest daughter in law of the Kurus and barring my husbands and sons, I await their complete annihilation." "Draupadi please don't do this, please don't say this." "Why?" "Because I am the eldest daughter in law of the Kurus" A Mahabharat...
