~PLACID~

CHAPTER 5

The food festival as expected continued with great fervour among people from nearby places. People at Haasilgarh found the things unusual. Still being "responsible citizens" they attended the festival with curiosity and zeal.

"What all do they have in beverages?", Sunaina asked Malti as they cleaned Tara's room.

" Tea and coffee is common. Others I don't know"

"Well tea is a necessity here but coffee is a luxury even now. I have seen coffee only in the palace. People rarely make it in their houses", Sunaina said.

" Well they have got Turkish tea and coffee. It is special I heard. Different and exotic they said", Malti replied.

"I see. Different and exotic", Sunaina  chuckled on the mention of it.

" What's there to laugh in it?", Malti raised her eyebrows.

"Nothing", Sunaina replied.

" Whatever", Malti shrugged her shoulders.

The two were unknown to the fact that someone at the door had overheard their conversation.

Kavita came inside with the ironed clothes and handed them to Malti.

"Keep them in the wardrobe", saying this she turned around to go.

" Please speak carefully. What if anyone heard our conversation?", Malti whispered.

"The truth can never be hidden. Its not just us who talk about it. I pity choti thakurain who has landed in this hell", Sunaina retorted in a low voice.
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" You have to marry him", Shankar Sisodia ordered his daughter.

"I won't", Kavita sobbed.

" Explain her. I want the answer before they come. And That should be a yes", Shankar warned his wife Savitri.

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Kavita recalled her past after hearing out the maids. "Pity" was the word indeed. Those who can't help themselves can only sympathize with their condition and expect others to do the same. Was that the fate of every woman? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Who knew after all.

"What is that?", she heard Tara asking Raju who was busy serving some coffee for the elites.

" Es...es..", he tried to mumble something.

"Espresso", Kavita made it clear.

" What's that?", Tara rolled her eyes.

"Its a coffee", Kavita informed.

" Okay I want one", she told Raju.

The servant obeyed her order and handed her a cup.

Kavita kept staring at the old lady for her precious reaction.

The old lady as expected spat the coffee calling it "extra bitter".

" Why didn't you tell me how it tastes if you knew its name", Tara blasted Kavita to which the recipient remained dumb.

Kavita had known of Espresso thanks to her cousin Shirin who had lived in Italy for a brief period. She had tasted it for the first time when she visited her once.

"Its bitter. Its sour. Its awful for my taste buds", the old lady ranted.

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" Listen to me once please. Don't do this", Kavita pleaded to Bhanu who dragged his sister to her room.

"You stay out of it I say", Bhanu shouted.

" But for once let her tell her side", Kavita banged the door that Bhanu had slammed shut on her face.

"What will she even say? She has nothing to say", Bhanu hurled her on the bed.

Kavita heard the sound of whipping. Her husband was busy thrashing his sister with the belt.

If only she could hear her once. But her wish was in vain. Dejected and tired of hitting the door with her fists she sat down leaning on the wall. The sound of the whips made her uneasy.

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" At times even sugar cannot reduce the bitterness", Kavita uttered glancing at the old lady.