Pride, Honour & Love

Chapter 33

Part 4, The Rebuilding

The Wallaces opened their house....Sarah and Bani supervised the cleaning and setting up the house. The servants were trained, Toddy informed them about their arrival they reported for work, quite surprised to see the absence of maids & other servants who accompanied My Lady usually but then they were not supposed to question, Maggie also had sent over some servants to help....

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The House in Calcutta was not as big as the one at Dariyaganj but it had atleast 6 bedrooms with dining, drawing and office room, servant quarters and garden, not very big but enough for a house in the city....as Toddy inspected the places where repair was needed, Bani seeing everybody occupied looked out....she remembered Maggie saying the New Market is not very far.....Bani asked one of the servants, she gave the direction giving Bani a funny look, as usual they were also wondering who Bani was....Bani looked around, if the market is not very far she can surely find out her way, she will have a look, find out what kind of products were sold, if her items will find a place, what will be cost of a shop and if she can find a place to stay nearby, watching Tara holding Toddy's hand going around the house inspecting, Bani slipped away....

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Sarah was setting up the room she had chosen for herself, yes now she had got used to her own room, the initial two days of insecurity had passed over, the room was lovely, not very big but feminine, this was the room My Lady had given her when she came over to stay before she left the city for Dariyaganj....outside the room, there was a creeper which had some nice smelling blooms due to which the whole room had a sweet scent....Sarah looked out of the window to try and pick a bunch when her eyes fell on Bani, she was under the process of covering her head and then she stepped out of the gates....where is she going and why? That too alone, she does not know anything here...Sarah stood at the window for Bani to return thinking she may have just gone maybe to inspect something around the house only to realise Bani was not returning soon...

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Tara was missing her mother, the children too suddenly she started whimpering, looking around for her mother, Toddy picked her up tried to cheer her up, Tara got frustrated and slapped Toddy, ouch what a temper, just like our Gov'nor, Toddy made a face at her, Tara screamed, Jacque who was sitting with the accounts making a budget for repairs came out, what is it Toddy, why is Tara screaming....

Don't know Gov'nor, was happy with me a little while ago but I think she is not liking my face anymore....

Well cannot blame her really when she has got better choices, Jacques took Tara, kissing her, come to papa my girl, Toddy just see what Bani is upto, maybe she is hungry.....

Toddy said I looked but I just cannot find her.....

Where will she go? Maybe in the garden or with my lady or in her .....

Bani has gone out, Sarah informed.....

Gone out? To where?

I ...I don't know, I mean I was in my room when I saw her going out, I thought maybe she had gone to see the tree round the corner which she had commented to be unique....

And when was that? Jacques asked.....

About 2 hours, I mean I have not seen the watch......

And you are informing me about it now? Why didn't you ask when she was walking out of the gate and why did you assume.....Jacques was looking upset and angry......Sarah taken aback just then Bani walked in, sweating and looking tired.....

Where the hell were you? Jacques shouted at her startling her....

I went out, she stammered, reaching out for Tara