by Tanu Jain
‘I thought he never wanted to see me again,’ she whispered.
‘You may have behaved abominably but he took his responsibility towards you very seriously. If you hadn’t been so thoughtlessly selfish, this mess could have been avoided,’ Vikram ranted harshly.
‘I wasn’t being selfish. I told you I left a note telling him not to worry. But of course you will never believe me!’
‘How can I believe you? I have the evidence of my own eyes.’
‘I keep telling you that I called home to speak to Dada but Aaji Maa lied to me. You persist in blaming me for each and every thing. Next, you will blame me for Baba’s stroke also,’ Gauri railed at Vikram’s unjust accusations.
‘Yes, you are to blame! He was arguing with his mother about you, defending you when he suffered the stroke,’ Vikram replied grimly.
Gauri stared at him in shock. Baba had been defending her. But she’d thought he had believed the accusations about her and had been disappointed in her. She had thought he would be secretly relieved to be rid of her burden. That was the main reason she had run away.
‘He was defending me? But why?’
‘You, of all people, should know the answer! They doted on you and would hear no wrong against you. You blinded them about your true nature. When you went away, Madhav and Kaka Maharaj were devastated,’ Vikram bit out angrily.
‘Do you think it was any easier for me? My heart broke, but I had to leave,’ Gauri said, tears choking her.
‘Spare me the histrionics. As if you spared even a thought for your family. You left merrily with a small fortune and the stable boy.’ He could still recall the searing emotion which had shot through him when Maya had announced that Gauri had fled with the stable boy.
‘The stable boy?’ Gauri felt as if she had stepped into a world of confusion. What was Vikram accusing her of now?
‘The stable boy, Ravi, with whom you were having an affair!’ Vikram said contemptuously. She had given a shocked gasp and paled. What a consummate actress she was, he thought wrathfully.
‘Where is he now? Did you dump him later?’ he asked, trying to banish the images filling his mind of Gauri with the stable boy.
‘You think I ran away with him? I detested him! He tried to…’ Gauri stopped. She couldn’t continue. She didn’t want to relive the horror of the night when Ravi had forced himself on her.
‘You detested him? Then why was he in your room that night?’ he said cuttingly.
‘They trapped me in a web of deceit. He wasn’t in my room. I mean, he came into my room because Grandmother caught him roaming in the palace.’ Gauri tried to give a coherent explanation.
‘You mean to say he wasn’t found in your room?’
‘No, he was found in my room but he hadn’t come to my room.’ Gauri knew she was making a hash of it but she was finding it difficult to explain the events with Vikram standing like a wrathful warrior.
She composed herself and tried again. ‘He … Ravi, I mean, had actually been in Maya’s room that night and when he was leaving he was spotted by Aaji Maa. He went back to Maya’s room and she pushed him into my room. When Aaji Maa came he lied that he had spent the night there.’
‘Why would he lie?’ Vikram asked sceptically.
‘Obviously because Maya had told him to and also because he wanted to avenge the slap I’d given him once.’
‘So, you mean that Maya was having an affair with him?’ Vikram asked incredulously, clearly disbelieving her.
‘Yes, I’d suspected it for a while, but they were very discreet, except for that night.’
‘And why did you slap the stable boy?’
‘I slapped him because he caught me in the stables one day and tried to act fresh with me!’ Gauri replied, trying not to dwell on the unpleasant memory.
‘If this is the truth, why didn’t you explain it to Kaka Maharaj and Madhav? They would have believed you,’ Vikram snapped, suddenly angry at the thought of the stable boy misbehaving with her.
Gauri remained silent for a moment. Then she said in a low voice, ‘I had decided I would tell Baba the truth but then Maya came to my room and admitted her guilt. She said that Ravi had been blackmailing her and begged me to remain silent for the time being because otherwise there would be a scandal and her marriage would be off. She promised she would tell Baba the truth later. So I remained silent. But I was a fool to have believed her. I should have known she would never admit the truth.’ Gauri put her head in her hands and almost wept.
‘If Maya was having an affair with him, then why didn’t you say so at the hospital when she slapped you and accused you? Why did you remain silent?’
‘How could I say anything? Her husband was also there and if he had heard the story there would have been a massive scandal affecting the whole family,’ Gauri explained.
‘If there was nothing between the stable boy and you, then why did you run off with him?’ Vikram asked coldly.
‘I told you, I didn’t go with him! I went alone,’ Gauri protested.
‘But you both disappeared simultaneously! Madhav made enquiries and we found that the stable boy was spotted with a girl at the station,’ Vikram said, unmoved.
‘It must have been someone else! It wasn’t me!’ Gauri said firmly.
‘What proof do you have?’ Vikram asked.
Gauri fell silent. She had no proof. It was her word against Maya’s.
‘How can you expect me to believe your story when you have no proof?’ Vikram said flintily.
‘You will never believe me. Even if the truth is staring you in the face you will never believe me. You are totally prejudiced against me,’ Gauri said quietly. Agonised hopelessness engulfed her.
‘So, just because I call a spade a spade I am prejudiced? It’s good that you’ve realised I’m not a soft touch. Don’t forget the purpose for which I’ve brought you here. You are here to make sure that Kaka Maharaj is back on his feet and that’s all that is important!’
Vikram whipped around and left.
Gauri got up, feeling bruised and battered. She knew he would never believe her, so why was she feeling so despondent?
Chapter Five
ALTHOUGH IT WAS still dark, Gauri knew she would be unable to sleep. She got up and walked towards the trees. She would sit under a tree and do some yoga and meditation. She had been taught to do these by her mentor, Mrs Singh, and in the past it had always managed to calm her mind and impart a sense of peace.
Vikram kept intruding whenever she tried to concentrate. He didn’t believe her, even though she had told him the entire truth. She’d never bared herself before to anyone and now finally, when she had, her revelations had been thrown back cruelly in her face.
Suddenly, she espied Vikram far away between the trees. He seemed to be jogging furiously. He, too, it seemed, couldn’t sleep. She had never seen him relaxed or calm. She remembered that he had always had a taut, edgy air about him. He never sat still and even when he did sit there was always a feeling of restlessness. At fifteen, with her heightened awareness of him, she had at times detected dark shadows in his face and a haunted look in his eyes, fleeting though they had been and gone before she could make any sense of them.
Nostalgia rose to overwhelm her.
He, too, must be missing Madhav Dada. Despite his cold and forbidding manner, his deep emotion for Dada had never been in doubt. She couldn’t really blame him for his attitude towards her. She had no proof and, given her circumstances, it must be difficult for him to believe her story.
Vikram was running fast, trying to escape the demons plaguing him. The presence of Gauri was an aching reminder of all that he had lost in his life. His mother’s suicide, Gauri’s betrayal and his friend’s death had brought home the bitter truth that no one had ever cared enough to stay for him. They had let him down—his mother, Gauri and even Madhav. Their betrayal had undermined his sense of self-worth. Questions and thoughts clamoured in his mind till he felt his head would burst with their
incessant whirling. Why him? The question had always haunted him. The universe had chosen him to suffer. But why? When would he get peace, feel a sense of calm?
He had no answers. There was just a void where answers should have been. The void rose up to engulf him and his breath almost stopped. He broke his jog and leant against a tree, head bent and sweat running in rivulets down his face. He took deep breaths and closed his eyes, trying to empty his mind of feeling. He would not let the void swallow him, he thought bleakly.
After a quick shower Gauri came out to see breakfast laid out on the table. Vikram sat there talking on his mobile, the newspaper beside him. He looked up as she entered and motioned towards the table. Gauri wasn’t particularly hungry and chose to have tea. Vikram finished his call and, with raised eyebrows, said in a stern voice, ‘Is that all you’re going to have?’
Gauri replied, ‘I’m not particularly hungry.’
‘Don’t start those excuses again. Eat something.’ He nodded to the waiter, who served buttered toast and poha to her. Seeing Vikram’s face set in uncompromising lines, Gauri reluctantly picked up the spoon and began eating. He was totally stubborn.
After breakfast they went outside. As they neared the palace Gauri’s heart began beating loudly. She still found it difficult to accept that she was back in Mogragarh. She had thought she would never see the palace again.
She entered her father’s room with a thudding heart. Half believing that he would be sitting there waiting for her, she looked towards the bed. But the figure on the bed lay there silently, frail and unmoving. Her throat closed up. It would take time to get used to the sight of him lying like this. She went and sat down on his bed and took his inert hand in hers.
Vikram spoke with the nurse, who reported that there was no change in his condition. Then he turned to her and said, ‘I will be at the hotel if you need me. I’ll send your lunch. Have it or…’ Leaving the threat unsaid, he sauntered off.
Gauri stared at his retreating back, fully aware that he wouldn’t hesitate to carry out his threat.
‘Obnoxious, arrogant brute,’ she whispered as she held her father’s hand. ‘Vikram has turned into a real monster, Baba. You wouldn’t recognise him if you saw the way he behaves with me. He is getting too high and mighty for his own good. Get well soon so that you can put him in his place.’
She continued talking in the same vein, finding it a relief to give vent to her feelings. Her father could hear her and he would soon be fine, she thought with determination.
After sitting there for a couple of hours and a reluctantly eaten lunch, she decided to go for a little stroll to the stables. She loved horses and as a child had spent a lot of time in the stables trying to escape grandmother’s wrath and Maya’s petty jealousies.
The horses had loved her unconditionally and welcomed her eagerly every time, while the old trainer, Mahipal Singh, would fuss over her and teach her new tricks. She wondered if he was still there. He had been there since her father’s time and had in fact taught all of them to ride.
She reached the stables and looked inside hesitantly. The stalls were empty but she could hear whinnying. She went in and saw horses tethered at the stalls at the end. Some of them were new but she recognised others. A stable boy came and bowed his head deferentially. Gauri asked him, ‘Where is Mahipal Singh? Has he retired?’
The boy said, ‘No, ma’am, he is still the head trainer but he hasn’t come today. But I can call him if you want.’
Gauri shook her head, ‘No, it’s all right. I’ll meet him some other time.’
She strolled around to locate familiar horses and found to her joy that her favourite mare, Chulbuli, which her father had given her for her twelfth birthday, was tethered in one of the stalls. Gauri was overjoyed on seeing her. The mare, too, neighed in delight and tried to nuzzle her.
‘I’m sorry, baby, I didn’t get any sugar for you this time.’ Gauri patted her head gently. Many a time she had held on to Chulbuli’s neck and wept out her misery.
There was a sudden noise behind her and Gauri turned and saw an ecstatic Mahipal Singh.
‘Yuvrani bitiya, welcome back! I am so happy to see you. I always knew you would return one day,’ he said, bowing low with folded hands.
Gauri was thrilled to see Mahipal Singh and smiled with folded hands, accepting his greetings. ‘I am also happy to be back, Kaka. How have you been? I hope your health is fine,’ she said solicitously.
‘Ji, I am fine and now that you are back Maharaj will also become well. We all, especially Maharaj, really missed you. After you went away, he would often come and sit here in the stables, patting your mare, Chulbuli,’ he said with brimming eyes.
Gauri felt her eyes mist over. She hadn’t thought anyone would miss her. She had believed that everyone would be glad to be relieved of her burden, but if Vikram was to be believed, Baba and Madhav Dada had missed her and now Mahipal Singh was also reiterating the same thing.
‘I missed Baba, too, but…’ She trailed off, trying to control the emotions swirling inside.
After a moment, Mahipal Singh said, ‘Misfortune has been dogging the family ever since you left. Maharaj became ill and Kunwar Madhav…’ He broke off and dabbed his eyes.
‘Don’t grieve, Kaka. I know in my heart of hearts that Dada is fine and we will soon find him,’ Gauri said with unwavering conviction.
Mahipal Singh looked at the determination shining in her face and said, ‘Yes, I’m sure he is alive. I went to an astrologer and he told me that Kunwar Madhav will be found.’
Gauri nodded solemnly. ‘Yes, I’m sure we will trace him. I just have to convince Maharaj Vikram Pratap Singh,’ she said, thinking aloud.
‘ Maharaj Vikram will definitely listen to you. He is a very good and noble man. He has been a big support for our Maharaj and has been singlehandedly managing everything. The last few years have been tough for him as well. He was deeply grieved when news of Kunwar Madhav’s accident came. A couple of years ago, he lost his father, too, and had to face a lot of scandal because…’ Mahipal Singh trailed off, realising he was gossiping.
Gauri’s curiosity was piqued. Vikram, the epitome of propriety, had been at the centre of a scandal! But why?
‘What scandal, Kaka?’ she asked.
Mahipal Singh looked here and there and said softly, ‘After his father’s death, a woman appeared with a young girl and demanded her share of his father’s wealth, claiming the child was his father’s illegitimate daughter. There was a big scandal and Maharaj Vikram was pilloried by the press, who printed all sorts of rubbish about him, but he remained firm and proved that the woman’s claims were false. But it was a harrowing time for him,’ he concluded.
Gauri stood still. History had repeated itself. Another mistress, another illegitimate daughter. What if Vikram proved her claim also false?
But she turned her thoughts away. This wasn’t the time to have such thoughts. She needed to focus on finding her brother and ensuring the recovery of her father.
Bidding farewell to Mahipal Singh and promising to visit again soon, she retraced her steps to her father’s room. She found Vikram waiting for her.
‘Where were you?’ he demanded.
‘You may have abducted me but you are not my warden! I can come and go as I please,’ Gauri said, hostility lacing her voice.
‘Why can’t you ever give a civil answer?’ Vikram shot at her.
‘Why can’t you stop behaving in an autocratic manner?’ Gauri shot back.
Vikram bit back the angry words on his tongue. The argument could only get worse. ‘Come with me,’ he ordered and began walking out.
‘But where are we going?’ Gauri asked.
‘We are going to my office.’
‘But why?’ Gauri asked truculently.
‘I have some work,’ he replied.
‘But what will I do? I want to sit here with Baba.’ She didn’t want to be alone with Vikram.
‘My work concerns you. Now, stop asking u
seless questions.’ Vikram increased his stride till Gauri almost had to run to keep up with him.
‘Arrogant beast!’ she muttered in a low voice.
They reached his office and Vikram gestured at her to sit. Gauri obeyed him, looking wary as he took out two documents from a drawer and, placing them in front of her, said, ‘Sign them.’
Gauri was flummoxed. ‘I have to sign? But why? What are these papers?’ she asked.
‘I thought you would at least read the documents before asking such questions. That is what a good lawyer would do. This just proves my point about your credentials,’ Vikram said mockingly.
Gauri gave him a dirty look and began reading.
It was a court appeal stating Vikram had the power of attorney to look after the properties and wealth of her father. The second was an appeal seeking a restraining order against Maya and her husband from interfering in the running and management of the estate. Both the appeals had been made on her behalf, as the heir to her father.
She looked up, thunderstruck. ‘What is the meaning of this? I have no intention of filing these appeals.’
‘I intend to file them because Maya’s husband has made his greedy intentions very clear,’ Vikram said flintily.
Gauri was enraged at yet another instance of Vikram’s high-handedness. ‘What business is it of yours? Surely that’s Baba’s matter. It is his wealth, after all!’
‘Yes, it is his and if Kaka Maharaj had been fit it would have been his to do as he wanted to. But, since he is unable to look after his interests right now, I will ensure that his wealth does not go into unscrupulous hands,’ Vikram answered vehemently, mouth hardening.
‘So, you will use underhand means to fulfil your purpose!’ Gauri was aghast.
‘What’s underhand about this? I have the necessary authorization and I am filing these appeals on your behalf and you are, after all, his daughter and his rightful heir. It is all above board and legal.’ Vikram was unflinching.
‘But I have no such intentions. I don’t want to get involved in any property disputes.’ Gauri remained unmoved.
‘Stop play acting! The perfect opportunity to get your grubby little hands on the family fortune has landed right in your lap. And you expect me to believe in your protestations!’ Vikram said contemptuously.