Love Is Our true Destiny: A Rikara FF

Chapter two

Two pairs of brown eyes clashed with each other: one defiant, the other arrogant. 

"Why don't we sit down?" said the Thakurain. Although, her tone was polite, the underlying command was evident. 

Omkara wasn't interested in her games. He had always abhorred people who said something and meant the other. 

"I'm not interested in sitting...I just came here...to" started Omkara, but the Thakurain cut him off.

"But I am interested in sitting and having a conversation. Would you keep a woman standing?" she challenged, knowing fully well that she hit in the right spot.

Omkara knew that she did it deliberately. Still, she was a woman, and he had entered her house forcefully, he was the one in wrong, presently. He might as well sit, and forward his arguments. He nodded and sat down. 

The Thakurain gave a twisted half-smile, and gave some instructions to the servants, skulking in the corners of her haveli. 

Omkara watched her mouth as she spoke. In contrast to her pale skin, her lips were blood red. Omkara had seen many women wearing a dark shade of red lipstick, to look attractive. But this woman....no, she wasn't doing it to look pretty. No, this shade was to close to the color blood, it was to give the impression of power and cruelty. As an artist, Omkara understood what she was trying to portray: a woman who was cold and cruel, ruthless. 

But he was not intimidated. 

Omkara realized he had been observing her too long, when her eyes focused on him. He lowered his gaze immediately. 

The Thakurain sat down on the arm chair sofa opposite Omkara. It was at an elevated height, which brought her up to his height. She placed one leg on top of the other, beneath her sari, and place her arm on the arm of the sofa. She occupied the chair like it was her throne. 

"So, what brings you here.....I don't believe we have an acquaintance....." said the Thakurain, leaving him to fill in the blank.

"Omkara" replied Omkara, not bothering to give his entire name. 

The Thakurain just raised one eyebrow at his reply, but otherwise made no comment. 

"So, what brings you here, Shehri babu (city dweller)?" asked the Thakurain, leaning back on her arm chair a little. 

The thakurain refused to use his given name. Touché, thought Omkara.

"I don't know whether your guards informed you, but we had a clash this afternoon.....over a pair who were trying to run from the village" said Omkara. 

"I believe 'elope' is the word you are looking for" commented the Thakurain, not looking at him, but at her fingernails. 

Omkara resented her dictating the conversation. He was about to protest, when a tray with tea and biscuits arrived. 

The Thakurain ordered the servant to pour some tea for the guest. 

"Ordinarily, we serve some other, Desi, snacks with tea. But I think, since you are from the city, you will appreciate this better" said the Thakurain, as if speaking about the weather. 

Omkara was in no mood for polite talk. 

"I am not here for tea and biscuits. I have just one thing to say. This country gives people the right, the freedom, to choose who they marry. Our law also opposes caste based discrimination. I hope you know that caste based discrimination is a crime. And honour killings are murder. I don't know what influence you have over the Panchayat, but I am here to remind you that you have no rights to decide someone's life, someone's fate" ranted Omkara.