Jamuna

Episode 1

Hello!! Dear readers.

Before starting this 3 episodes journey of this short story I would like you all to know something important.

This book is a work of words and fiction. Even though it is set up against the backdrop of medieval India and point towards Mughal dynasty and Raj Wada. It is not at all related to them.

Just think of the Mughal Dynasty and Raj Wada as the two most important and flourished kingdoms of northern India at that time.

Agra, is the capital of the Mughals. That is true.

All the characters in this books are the output of my hyperactive imagination.

Any resemblance of characters, plot, places, incidents is purely coincidental.

Remember this is a work of author's creativity and does not hold any intention of hurting the feelings of people, public, communities, etc.

Also remember this that every author gives his/her everything to write a book. His/Her efforts are by the heart.

They shouldn't be blown away by cheap doings like PLAGIARISM.

If a book is found with the same story then strict measures would be taken against the author.

Hope you would enjoy this work of words.

2018
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The crowd was everywhere, the bazaar was bustling with numerous activities. Some shops sold household necessities, like rice, wheat, jowar, etc., some had silver jewellery from the famous Raj Wada. While some were selling fine fabric that was only in the reach of a few.

Apart from all these, there were vendors who were sitting on the ground with all of their commodities on a clean and neat chaadar, while some of them had long bamboo rod supported on their left or right shoulder on which numerous items were tugged.

Jamuna looked from her right to left to locate her big brother's shop. Although, they were from a pure Brahmin family her father wasn't against her elder brother to open a grain shop.

But that doesn't apply that her father was a broad-minded person who liked to break the rules and regulations of the society. Apart, from the fact that he was strictly against Bal Vivah. And some other things like Sati pratha, dowry system and many more.

Yep, he definitely wasn't.

Who was she kidding. She as well as the whole Agra knows that her father although a Brahmin was against the evils of the society. The evils that everyone thought were a regular part of the society, a regular part of their lives.

A sacred and auspicious bond like marriage became a business. A business in which the groom and his family becomes a dominant party, according to whose will everything will go.

While, the bride's family are expected to give their daughter and their hard-earned money in the name of dowry.

What surprises her the most is that the groom's family think of it as their supreme right to ask for dowry. And the bride's family think of it as their param kartavya to give dowry.

Sometimes even when the families are wealthy and literate, they ask for dowry in the name of social obligation.

And her father was against all this.