Pride, Honour & Love

Chapter 10

Sundari watched Bani, unlike other days, she was not watching the Kothi or sitting on the window ledge which faced the Kothi, infact she was unable to sit still, going round and round the room, peeping out from every window....

Is the Laat Sahab not back yet....

Yes yes he is very much back......you know he is back, why do you ask....

No just confirming Sundari replied, he is back but yet to pay a visit...she noted....

Hmmmmm replied Bani, but what is wrong with her, she is not upset, infact she had a smile on her lips....what can it be....

He is busy presenting the young lady with silks for dresses....

And?

And what, you only said I should wish nothing but the best for him....

Yes I did but...

Well, I am just doing that...Bani replied

What are you upto exactly.....Sundari asked cautiously

Oh nothing, nothing at all...Bani replied with a smirk on her face....

Dekh Bani, I hope so but be careful, I do not want you to come under the wrath of that old woman, she can be very dangerous.....we know how she managed to wrestled out Laat Sahab from his mother.....

Hmmm Bani replied, well she was afraid too, maybe one day she too will be asked to handover her kid to them, severing all her relations with her, though she regrets it is not a boy, surely the Laat Sahab would have welcomed the boy more openly, she is thankful it is a girl instead, atleast she is getting to keep it, unlike the daughter in law of My Lady....

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As Sarah retired to bed, she heard a sound of hoof, in the darkness of night, whose can it be, that too so late.....it was riding away from the Kothi so not a late visitor, My Lady too heard it, she clenched her lips....

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Sarah somehow could not sleep properly, the house was big, initially the vastness and quietness of the area made her feel queer, except for the foxes who cried every hour there were no other sound, but today the house was full, the room were sound proof but the buzz, the foot steps in the corridor, the whispered voices of maids, inspite of those Sarah could not sleep, am I over excited...Sarah tossed and turned and after sometime got up from the bed, walked around in her room, then thought of calling her maid and ask her to bring a warm glass of milk, the passage was empty, the maid was not there sleeping in front of her room, the candles were lowered, just about to see your way....Sarah looked down into the hall, it was vast and quiet, she stood watching it for sometime, many of the ladies complimented her, so when is the announcement some of them wanted to know, Sarah only smiled, she turned to go into the room when she heard footsteps, soft but bold ones, followed by another a bit hurried, trying to keep up, Sarah moved into the shadows, it was Jacques and Toddy, Jacques obviously had been out, his riding boots shone, even in the darkness....Sarah re-entered her room, from where is he returning? At this hour when the clock struck 2 in the morning, from where can a man return? At this hour, from where does a man return?

+++++

Bani came at her usual time, on her arrival she informed Sarah her daughter is not keeping too well so would like to leave early....

Sarah wanted to share her apprehensions with her, though she knew the faithful servants will not divulge but Bani seemed different, she looked bold....

But you had agreed to stay till lunch, My Lady reminded her....

Yes I did but my daughter is not well....