The Mace

A girl. Her mace. The nation.

~.~

Marrying Ashok was Maya's destiny, their fathers had sealed it when she was five. Her older brother Manoj had a strange way of preparing her for it-priming her mind through books and body through physical training. Growing up, Maya cherished his attention and approval, caring little about his lectures as she practiced mace fighting.

It all changed when news arrived of Manoj's death.

Shot freeing prisoners, Maya's hero died a criminal. Disowned by her parents, her in-laws, her village, no one claimed Manoj's body until his wrestling Acharya stepped forward to cremate him. Her engagement shattered. Maya turned to his Acharya, insisting he help her rewrite fate.

For five years, she trained under Acharya ji using Vayu, her brother's mace. Her quiet rage simmered as seasons passed, her muscles grew, and her family slipped into slow destitution. Ashok's father, British-loving zamindar Bade Babu, came to their rescue, restoring her match with Ashok. The government would leave them alone, he told them, no one remembered Manoj anyway.

Except Maya.

~.~
Image used in the book cover is an oil painting by German Artist Hermann Linde (1863-1926), titled, "Girl standing in a verandah wearing a pochampalli sari."