Desert Rose

Chapter 12

ARNAV parked the Jeep in a makeshift lot set aside for vehicles. As Khushi got off the Jeep,he came round to her side, caught her by her shoulders and turned her around so that her back faced him. Khushi closed her eyes, a shiver going up her body in anticipation.When Khushi felt a pull at her hair, she realized what he was doing. He was unravelling her hair from its braid.

'Now it's fine.' He said in his husky timbre.

Fine? Nothing was fine since I met him thought Khushi trying to stem the dhak-dhak that had begun a few seconds ago. Laad Governor!Why did he behave like he had every right to touch her like that? She knew the answer to that didn't she?

Because, she had practically thrown herself at him this morning, asking him to take her out. And now, by allowing him to bring her here, she was letting this charade go too far, she thought guiltily. I have to find a quick way to finish talking about the negotiations and get out of here,thought Khushi despairingly. Hey Devi Maiyya, give me strength she prayed silently,quickening her steps to catch up with him.

The desert festival seemed to be bustling with unbound energy. The fair, lit up by flames from torches was a sight to behold. Khushi and Arnav thronged through the crowd to where hawkers selling pots, handlooms, wool and carpets beckoned them to come and buy their wares. Arnav explained to Khushi that these items were hand made by the local tribe known as Jasnathis.

Khushi was fascinated by these people. They looked sturdy, resilient and full of life. The men wore colourful turbans sporting thick moustaches while the women dressed in brilliantly coloured costumes accessorized by chunky jewellery.

One woman began to call Khushi to her stall. She was selling colourful lac bangles in different colours embedded with precious stones.The woman held out one set of six bangles embellished with tiny mirrors, red and gold beads matching Khushi's chunri. Khushi's eyes lit up when she saw those beautiful bangles, but she simmered down remembering just in time that she had kept her purse along with her clothesin KeshavRathore's house. Just as she began to refuse her, the hopeful woman turned her attention towards Arnav and spoke in a dialect in which Khushi could only understand one word – beendni. Here we go again, thought Khushi groaning inwardly.

Arnav took out his wallet and paid for the bangles even as Khushi protested. When she turned away from him in anger, he took her hand in his and jerked her toward himself.

'I've paid for these goddamn bangles!' he grated.

'Then you can wear them yourself,' she retorted, her eyes flashing with anger.

Arnav gripped her hand firmly and began to force the bangles onto her hand. Khushi winced with pain,as the bangles refused to go around her knuckles and the older woman rattled off in her dialect chuckling aloud.

What was the old hag laughing about? Looked like the men around here treated their women like their property, thought Khushi irked at the patronizing attitude of the woman.But whatever she said seemed to have worked wonders. Arnav took her palm,gently folding it in his large hand as he smoothly slid the bangles onto her hand starting another spate of dhak-dhaks.

Trailing behind Arnav through the crowds Khushi grudgingly acceded that her loose hair was indeed a sensible idea, realizing that she was already drawing glances from many men in the crowd. As one of them approached her trying to lead her to his stall, Arnav strode up, scowling at the shorter man so fiercely that he scampered away without looking back. After that, he took her hand in his holding her close to his side.

'Could I please have some gol-gappa?' Khushi's face lit up in a child-like delight as she spotted a pani-puriwala.

'Are you sure?' asked Arnav grimacing at the dirty cycle. 'the water ....'