Fate. an exercise in cliches.

It looked like a regular day to Pooja as she left her home for her work. What she didn't know was that Fate had some other plans.

She reached the office a few minutes late and was rushing to reach the lift before the door closed.The lift door almost closed on her delicate foot when a pair of strong hands pulled her inside the lift, thus saving her life and her foot. Pooja looked up into a pair of masculine eyes flashing admiration, concern, annoyance and irritation turn by turn.
"Can't you be more careful? That was an utterly stupid thing to do!" He barked at her.
"Sorry" she mumbled as her eyes filled with tears. Why did he have to be so horrid? As it was she was a nervous wreck already. She was going to start working for her boss's son from today. Her new boss. She had been worried about it all morning, And now this.

She took a discreet peek at his face, still stormy with annoyance. He was so handsome! She had never seen anyone like him at such a close range before. She wished she was a tall, beautiful and smart girl, like the receptionist who always knew what to say to men. But now all she could do was try and not stare at him with her soul in her eyes.

Rahul thought she looked like a fresh spring flower with her face dewey with perspiration. Eyes like twin stars though currently submerged in unshed tears, lips like twin rose petals trembling gently, well oiled hair like a long rope coiled down her back, her nose had delicate nostrils. What divine nostrils they were. He liked the way she delicately dabbed her eyes & her nose with her small hanky. He found himself envying that little hanky. Oh How I wish.....He dared not continue with his wish. She was not a girl to be toyed with. She wasn't some painted society doll. She was a working girl, with kaajal in her eyes and gajra in her hair. As wholesome as a home cooked meal. She was the kind of girl Dad married thirty years ago. He didn't know they made them like her any more.

He wondered which office she worked in, would he see her again. May be he should bribe the peon. The subtle fragrance of chameli oil mingled with mogra filled the lift, as he fought hard to resist it's erotic invitation.

The lift reached the nineth floor and stalled. The lights went out filling the lift with darkness. Rahul started pressing the lift buttons in desperation. Ever since he had been locked in the hostel toilet as a child, he had a horror of closed spaces. Help, help, he tried to shout but no words came out of his mouth.

Pooja watched him with growing concern. As a girl who had grown up in a tiny 2 room apartment with 10 people, she had no fear of confined spaces.
She gently touched his arm to offer her support and felt an electric current go thru her entire body at the touch of those muscles. He was so strong !

Looking at her upturned angel face and sympathetic eyes, Rahul grew calmer. He realized he must not allow himself to panic This was different than being locked in school toilet by rowdies.. Here he had HER to look after. He had to be a man, dependable and strong. Some one she can rely on, and look upto. In the dim lit interior of the lift, her eyes shone at him with trust and understanding. He drew himself up and squared his shoulders manfully, and next moment he fainted.

When he came to, he found his head pillowed on her lap and her eyes looking into his with deep concern. She wiped sweat from his forehead with her dupatta, and offered him water from a little bottle she fished out of her voluminous shoulder bag. He drank it thirstily wondering how can water taste sweeter than all the wines on earth. May be the bottle had touched her lips. He quickly got up, squared his shoulders and became a man once again.

Was this love? He had known women, plenty of them. But he had never been in love before, now he knew what it was all about. The same sickness that had Romeo in it's grip now gripped him. He wanted to do impossible things for her. Too bad they were stuck in a lift. Somewhere in distance he heard faint music play. It was she, talking to him in gentle tones. He marveled at the sweetness of her voice. He was ready to keep listening to it for rest of his life.

"Don't worry! I have talked to the people on emergency phone. They will be getting us out of here any minute now."
Getting out? He didn't want to get out! He wanted to spend rest of his life in this lift with her. He knew she would vanish the moment they reached their respective floors.

The lift rumbled, came to life and started moving up. The moment of separation was fast approaching. Both kept looking at the indicator with pensive eyes, eyes longing to look at each other, lips longing to ask the forbidden questions. What is your name? Where do you work? Can I see you again? But propriety forbade any such familiarity. She is so pure. I have no right to defile such divine innocence with my baser longings. He hated himself for wanting her. He squared his jaw in an attempt to control his emotions and scowled at the indicator, She let out a deep sigh, her heaving bosom was the only sign of the storm which raged within.

People had started coming in, going out, but they were oblivious to every one, as they stood there, side by side, hungrily looking at each other. Their eyes had become the windows to their souls and they were timidly peeping out at each other.

On fifteenth floor, they both tried to get out together, then stopped, stepped back and said together,
"You too? getting off here?". Pooja thought this was an omen. They walked upto same office door. This time Rahul spoke first.
He asked her in a voice filled with wonder and hope, "You work here ?"
"Yes" She nodded with eager shyness."and You?"
"Me too! Starting from today. I am the owner's son who has returned from USA."
She couldn't believe her luck. She looked even more soulfully at him and said in a husky whisper,
"and I am your new secretary"

Rahul was now absolutely sure that they were meant to be together. He offered her his hand and said-
" Will you be mine? To have and to hold, in good times and bad times, till death parts us ?"
" Yes my dear! For ever and for ever. I will follow you till the ends of this earth."
"Come my darling, let's look for Dad and ask for his blessings".
And together they entered the office, hand in hand, foot by foot, shoulder to shoulder, never to be parted again till eternity, to live happily ever after.

( When read at the BBY read meet, the listeners came up with a lot many cliches of their choice. I have tried to incorporate as many as I could.)

Sonubai

This is an under construction piece. all the comments are most welcome. This is an attempt to croniclize every day happening and ironies of small lives. Sonu bai's and mine.

****

"Bai, you tell me what are we supposed to do? Where are we supposed to go? How can he even think such a thing! And I had thought that my daughter will be happy in that house! After all he is my own cousin's son."

Dad & I could hear the conversation between sonu bai who was our maid and my mom in the kitchen. Dad was a bit upset at the tranquility disturbed so early on a sunday morning. He asked me to go in the kitchen to find out what the matter was and warn mom discreetly not to get involved. If Sonubai needs help we will help of course. She was almost family. But this daily soap opera getting rather monotonous. Anything that could go wrong usually went wrong where Sonubai was concerned and then my mother would be ready with medicine, money, clothes, a pat on the back, a kind word, a cup of tea, what ever seemed to be the placibo that sonubai was looking for. To do her justice, there was an amazing lack of greed in sonbai. She rarely asked for anything beyond a kind word. Her salary and my mom's old saris was enough to keep her happy.
One thing Mom is very good at, and that's keeping servants happy. She has realized that there was nothing more precious to a hard working woman than a cup of hot tea, and a long gossip session.
Today looked a little different. I could see real distress on sonubai's face that wouldn't be eased with tea. Mother looked at a loss as to how to consol her. My tentative enquiries opened the flood gates once again, but mom quickly wrapped things up, giving me a concise version while sonubai sipped tea, dabbing at her eyes and nose occassionally.
Sonubai 's daughter Kashi had gotten married to her own cousin eight months ago. Now that she was pregnant, her husband sent her home with an allagation that the baby is not his.
It was a difficult situation for all, and withour really intending to, even my father started having interest in the proceedings. The domestic chaos went on for a while. The long and short of it was- there was another woman in her son in law- Nilesh's life so he very conveniently sent his wife packing with the false allegation. Sonubai brought her pregnant daughter home and Nilesh took that other woman as his wife.

Kashi started coming to work with sonubai but MOm wouldn't let her do heavy chores. Instead she gave Kashi fabric and taught her to make baby clothes. Kashi was a quick learner. In a few months time she not only learnt to sew but also to embroider and knit. With the clothes ready she awaited the baby's arrival eagerly.

In due course the baby arrived without much fanfare. 15 days later Kashi visited us with a sturdy looking baby boy, and happily told my dad that she was planning to educate her son and make him a doctor. Dad smiled as he handed the baby a hundred.

Kashi became quite accostumed to her happy state as the rejected woman. Even the pointed queries by some women about her unfaithful husband and his 'Woman' failed to distress her. Her life was complete with her baby.
She had now started stiching baby clothes for all the other women in her locality and earning some money. On the whole Sonubai's and our home life was going through a peaceful period.

Sunday morning peace was once again broken by Sonubai's sobs. Dad looked at me with the question on his face, I went to kitchen to find out what was it this time.

Sonubai told me with great aggravation in her voice.- "That stupid son in law of mine has sent me a lawyer's notice, claiming the son as His !! "

Radha Shrivastava.

Where is the rascal ?? Hiding under the bed again! Radha muttered to herself, as she tried to look under her bed for her kitten. Her aching joints didn’t allow her to bend much. The age hadn't been kind to her.
Radha went in the balcony to look for the missing cat. She looked out on the street suspiciously. She always looked at everyone suspiciously.
"The only way to rule men was by kicking their ass" had been her husband's favorite refrain. He was a hard man. She thought wistfully. Tall big man with moustache that curled at the ends. How she had loved him.
As she returned to the living room, she glanced at the tall teakwood cabinet which displayed Major's rifles, guns and medals. Most of them were empty, but she always kept one gun ready, just in case.
She opened the cabinet in the living room and tenderly took out his gun. He had taught her to use it well.
She still remembered those lessons. On the ranges in the afternoon sun, sweat getting into her eyes, she had tried to aim at the target. Her shoulders and back aching with strain and two hour's practice session.
" Keep your back straight woman" Her husband's voice had boomed. Any other woman would have left him. But not she. She learnt to toughen up and be a soldier's wife. Hadn't been easy, but it was all worth it. After all, when he won the president's medal she was the one he brought it home to, not those other tramps he was sometimes seen parading at the parties with.

He had hated cats, she thought fondly. But she knew that cats were a much superior species. It was not for nothing they worshipped cats in Egypt. Has anyone heard of a dog being worshipped? Never. But as homage to her husband's fondness for their dog, she called each of her cats, Pirate, after his Great Dane. That way she didn't have to remember how many cats there had been. And there had been quite a few. At least one every couple of months.

She had tried to discipline them over and over again. Simple rules really. Nothing demeaning like fetching papers or slippers. No way. Not a cat. That’s for dogs that have no self respect.
But simple rules. Like breakfast lunch and dinner at given time. There would be a dinner bell they had to obey. But they were getting more and more disobedient. She even tried to take one for a walk, but the cat got scared of the neighbor's dog and climbed a tree and wouldn't come down.
Too bad about that one. She just wanted to scare it a bit by holding it out of the balcony, not throw it down like the neighbor had told the police. Keeps throwing cats from the balcony he had said. What did he take her for ? An idiot ? He can talk to her this way only because her husband was no more there to protect her ! May be she should keep the gun handy , just in case. At least the neighbors will talk with more respect .

Where is that darned cat hiding? "Pirate!!! Where are you? It's time for your Bournvita." It was a new cat. She will have train it all over again. They don't make cats like they used to, she thought rather crossly. But this one seemed different somehow. It had intelligent eyes. Jet black cat with beautiful
blue green eyes and a delicate meow. She had found it roaming the streets. When she had bent to pat it it didn’t run off like cats normally do, but sat down and handed her a paw. She was enchanted . A trained cat!! What a rarity! She picked it up, and the cat came with her without any struggle. It had a thick gold chain round it's neck. Had to be a pet cat and she should notify the police perhaps. But No way was she going to go to the police station, not after what they had said about her. Crazy old woman they had called her. She knew what the neighbors whispered among each other. She didn't need them. Now that she had found this cat, she was content. It's meant to be. They were meant to be together. She will make a lovely collar for the cat, better than that chain.

She noticed the cat enter the room.
"Pirate" She called it sternly. "Come here. Stand there, I want to talk to you."
To her amazement the cat walked over to where she was sitting and kept looking at her with it's head cocked to one side, as if it understood every word.

She sighed as she went in the kitchen to pour herself some wine. It was ten minutes past her bedtime because of that cat. Wine for her and bournvita for the cat. For some reason she never approved of cats drinking plain milk. But cat had other ideas. It jumped on the side table and started sniffing at the bottle of whisky kept there.
" Pirate , you bad cat ! That is NOT for you! That is Major Sa’ab’s whisky! You get bournvita. "
But the cat just sat there looking at her through those emerald eyes very knowingly. Radha felt little uncomfortable. Should she give it a lick of whisky instead of Bourne Vita ? She also wondered bout the previous owners. Must be some well to do family, by the look of the chain around the cat’s neck. Pure gold it was. And the cat likes whisky!!! Hmmmmm. We'll get along quite well boy, she thought with a sudden burst of good humour as she pictured both of them sitting cozily every evening with their drinks. She could see them living happily ever after. There was something about this cat that was different. The way it hovered around the gun cabinet, the way it asked for whisky. The cool stare from those blue green eyes….Has the Major come back? She wondered. Such things were known to happen. Nah! Not Her Major Sa'ab. He will never come back as a cat. A Dog perhaps, but never a cat.

She poured Bournvita for the cat in the cat dish and poured wine for herself. Cat was still sniffing at the bottle of whisky, but later went to drink the Bourn Vita.
She was almost asleep on the sofa when the door bell rang. Who can it be at this time of night?
She looked out through the peep hole. It was that sinister looking man from across the landing. She had never liked him much. She never trusted men who wore dark glasses indoors. He was wearing a long black coat, and black trousers. She opened the door a crack, keeping safety latch on.
"What is it?" she asked in a raspy disagreeable voice.
"Good evening Ma'am" He said in a cloyingly oily voice
She could see he was trying to be pleasant.
"Did you , by chance , happen to see a black cat ? The watchman mentioned you had one such cat with you when you returned from your walk".
"May be I did, may be I didn't. What's that cat to you ?"
"It's MY cat Ma’am".
"No it isn't. It's MY cat now. He came to me willingly"
"It's not He. It's a she. Her name is Julie" The thug with dark glasses insisted.
"He -she - what difference does it make? It's MY cat now. You go away or I will call the police."
Radha could see the man backing off a little.
He bent down and started calling out-
" Pssst Pssst Julie Julie !!!! Here -here !" He cooed, his sharp eyes looking around searchingly.
Like a streak of black lightning the cat jumped up and was out through the door.
The thug picked her up triumphantly and said to Radha,
" See ? It is my cat. My Julie! " And turned to go.
Radha was blinded by rage and panic. Suddenly the world turned red. She felt him take away something that was precious from her. It was HER cat. Her companion. They were going to live happily ever. May be it was even Major Sa'ab. What ever it was, this man had no right to take him away.
In a blinding anger she rushed over to the gun cabinet, took the gun. And running back to the door, shot the man in back.
The man turned around with a look of great surprise on his face, started walking towards her. She shot two more bullets through him, and with great satisfaction calmly watched him turn and fall down. Yes. Her Major had taught her well.
The cat jumped from his arms, and came to her.
"Come on Pirate. Come away from that bad man."
Together they went in the house, she locked the door carefully and thought, may be she would give Pirate some whisky, a celebration of sorts.

Vignettes from my teen years.

I was 16. A few of us were in a movie hall. In the darkness I felt an elbow poking me in my ribs, it belonged to a young guy in the next seat. I pointed out to him that it is bothering me. He apologized and took his arm away. A few minutes later the elbow was back. Once again I objected to it, once again the profuse apologies, this time accompanied by amused chuckles by his friends. I realized I was a source of amusement to these young studs. The next time that all too familiar elbow came to visit me I was ready. I gave it a gentle jab with my safety pin . There was a surprised ‘ouch’ in darkness and I gently told the young guy that I did not like his elbow in my ribs. I was not bothered by himfor rest of the movie show. I have always believed that actions speak louder than the words in such cases. After that day I never left home without a safety pin in my purse. I have had to use it many times.

A crowded bus. I feel hands behind me pushing me and touching me with an unnecessary familiarity. I look back in surprise and anger. I see a most respectable looking 'Uncle' going home from office. He stares back at me with a 'who me' look.

The guy is standing very close. Too close I felt. I put some distance between us. I see another young girl come and stand next to him. He obligingly makes place for her. She doesn’t know Uncle likes young girls. I call and warn her about him. She comes to stand next to me, giving him evil glares. Soon all the women had alerted each other that Uncle was a lech and all stayed away, keeping a safe distance. Men around us pretended not to notice what was going on. That guy got off the bus on the next stop, almost 15 stops before his destination. Speaking out works.

Harassment from men is a daily experience for girls venturing out in the city, for college or work. We are always told vaguely by parents to’Be Careful’. This 'Being careful' has many hidden warnings. Don’t talk to strangers, don’t dress in attractive manner, don’t catch a man's eye, beware of men, don’t laugh, don’t smile, be home before dark, always move in herds, don’t walk down the dark ally, men are bad, you have to stay good, etc etc etc. But staying home is not the answer. Facing that guy down, is the only way to deal with it. I can not say men should mend their ways. There are no prayers written for that miracle and in any atrocity against woman it's the woman who is blamed, advised, or criticized.

I do not like my freedom curbed. If some one bothers me, I speak out. If something hurts me I hit back. A major part of my teen years was spent in designing jewelry with spikes which every girl should be wearing.
And to this day the most satisfying sound from male lips happens to be that ‘Ouch’ in the dark movie hall.

Summer

Part one.

Summer was unending this year. Temperature kept rising every day. Every day people looked hopefully at the sky, waiting to see a dark patch which promised rain.

But the days remained dazzling bright and evenings poured bright merciless colours all over the earth, yellow, orange and fiery red. Slowly the green turned yellow and then arid ochre and then brown. Wells went dry, and rivers turned into parched sand filled wasteland. Cattle started chewing dry grass and thorny bushes.

'Too much sin... in high places.', the idiot sitting on the temple steps kept muttering to himself. The flower vendor listened intently and nodded wisely. It was believed that God spoke through the simpleton. The flower vendor made a note to himself to discuss this matter with the priest later. This needs looking into. Meanwhile the sun kept pouring flames from the sky, and air was heavy with dry dust.

Ujhaali sat next to her father's dead body. There were no tears left in her eyes. Her mind whirled with questions about her future. Her husband still had not come to fetch her. She had waited long enough for him. She was sure there were things which must have kept him occupied, like looking after his people to whom he was God. To Ujhaali too, he was God. She must go to him.

She laid her father's body neatly in the centre of the hut, gathered her meager belongings and with a burning torch set fire to the hut and stood there watching it burn to cinders. Her entire existence was going up in smoke before her eyes. She had known no life other than the one here in the forest with her father.

Bidding him farewell with ache in her heart, she asked for his forgiveness. She couldn't afford any last rites beyond these. Then with one last look at the burning hut she turned around and walked down the path that would take her towards the city. She would never come this way again.

***

'What is it that you claim? That You are our king's wife?' The minister from the king's council had asked her with an incredulous look on his face. She stood before the council with her head bowed and told them her tale, unperturbed by the disbelief in their eyes. Her simplicity and sincerity touched a few, but they were soon silenced by cynics in the group.

***

A year ago, in a heavy rain storm, a horse had stood outside Ujhaali's hut in the forest. With her father's help she had brought the rider inside. He had remained unconscious. They had made him as warm as they could. But there just hadn't been enough warm or dry clothes for that. As the fire in the corner had died down, Ujhaali's father had said,

" My daughter, only you can keep him warm."

Ujhaali had stared at her father, stunned and not understanding.

"Your young body has the warmth which will help him live through the night."

And closing the door of the hut he went out, leaving her with the unconscious man.

Looking at the sleeping man's face she had wondered, it is so easy? Giving yourself to a man?

With a sigh she went to a small idol in the corner, prayed deeply asking for God's blessings for what she had planned on doing.

Then removing her clothes she had joined the shivering man on the tattered mattress, engulfing him in her young warm embrace, warming and calming his twitching body.

***

"And what happened next morning? The grateful king made you his queen of course." One councilor asked with a slight sneer in his voice.

"I didn't know he was a king. Not then. He was just my husband. I had married him before God. That was the only way to save his life."

Ujhaali tried to explain in some confusion, not being used to city folk's sophisticated speech, while the councilors watched her intently. She doggedly continued with her story .

***

At the break of dawn, the man had opened his eyes. His colour had come back to normal. He still had shivered with cold, but had been clearly out of danger. He had looked around in surprise and seen a simple girl sleeping next to him. Sensing his movement Ujhaali had woken up in confusion and covered herself with her Odhani.

Ujhaali had told him haltingly about the circumstances which had made her take such measures and the man had been filled with gratitude and admiration. Promising her to make her his queen the King had gone away. He will come back later and take her with him, he had said. She must enter the city like a queen. He had gone away, leaving behind memories of one day of bliss. And that had been almost a year ago.

********* Part Two.

The King sat watching the whole proceedings from the inner chamber. He remembered the whole incident and the generosity of the girl. But make her his Queen? He had rejected princesses who were far more beautiful than her. She was just a young uncouth woman who lived in forest. It was not as if he had seduced or raped her. He had been unconscious for God's sake, where as she had known what she was doing. She was clearly out to trap him. His head was throbbing and he was finding it difficult to think straight. He didn't remember summer heat as bad as this.

The prime minister silently entered the inner chamber to ask him what should be done about the young girl.

" Just see that she doesn't create any problems for us." The king said impatiently. Prime Minister hesitated a little, found himself dismissed by at a wave of hand, and silently went out with a bow.

Outside the councilors were still cross- questioning Ujhaali.

"Girl, this clearly is a trick! Do you think it's so easy to trick a man into marrying you? Are you with child ? Who put you up to this ? Tell us."

" And there are no witnesses to this, of course! Your father is dead, that leaves only God! Do you care to call Him to intervene on your behalf ?"

Outside the window, she could see the dazzling glare of Sun which hurt her eyes, blinding her momentarily. She wiped the perspiration from her face and tried to focus her eyes on the old councilor talking to her in earnest. The words fell on her ears like a buzz. It was like a collective sound of the city, rejecting her.

"Go girl. Go away. Our king is kind. He will give you money if you are in need. Do you need a house? We can arrange for one, with a big garden. If you are in trouble, we will help you find the father. But don't slander our good king."

"You are young and not bad looking if I may say so. With money and a house you should not have any trouble getting a husband," One councilor suggested a little cynically.

But Ujhaali was persistent even as she faced the barrage of questions and insulting suggestions.

" Find me a husband ? But I am married, Didn't you understand ? I am married to the king. He is my husband. Let me meet him. Why doesn't he meet me ? He will tell you that I am speaking the truth." She refused to budge and soldiers were reluctant to use force on a girl.

Seeing that she would not move from the palace, the King emerged from the inner chamber and stood looking at her with haughty, remote eyes. He looked so different from the tender man she had met & loved.

"You do not remember me Sire ?" She asked eagerly.

"No,".

"I am Ujhaali... That night.... in the forest..." She faltered when her eyes met the cold glare from the king's eyes. But she resolved to state her case.

"I have never seen you before in my life and if you insist that I am your husband, you are lying."

Finally after half hour's pleading and cajoling, she ran out of all she had to say. The king stood looking at her with impassive face and watchful eyes.

She stood erect before him, looked him straight in the eye, and said,

"Maharaj, I do not want gold or money from you. Reject me if you wish to. I know now that I shouldn't have come to meet you here. But in front of this august audience of respected councilors, do not make me wrong, nor deny your own promises. It will be a grave sin. Let it not be said, the king broke his word to a humble girl. Just say once, you remember me, and you had made me a promise. Say that and I will go away."

The king refused to remember her and continued listening to her without a flicker of emotion on his face. Finally after ordering the guards to show her the door, he retired to the inner chambers.

***

Ujhaali walked the molten streets bare feet. She neither felt the burning earth under her, nor sun pouring fire from above. Her mind was in turmoil. She realized how unequipped she was to cope with the world and people. It all was so different from the forest she had lived in. That had been His promise and as the old man at the court had said- only God was her witness.

With dry unseeing eyes and numb mind she roamed the city. People looked at her with pity and curiosity. The story of the young girl from the forest who claimed to be the king's wife had spread like wild fire. Even in the noon day heat people followed her to see what she would do, but she was blind and deaf in her rage and misery. No one dared to talk to her or stop her. The simpleton followed her everywhere, muttering to himself.

"Sin... grave sin..." People tried to hush him.

She kept walking all day long unaware of everyone and in the evening reached the seashore. For a long time she stood looking at the sun. People thronged on the shore, curious to see what she would do.

All day long King's spies kept bringing him the updates about her activities. He was secretly worried she would take her case to people, and then he would be publicly denounced. Looked like she had no such plans. Spies brought the news, she was now on the sea shore and could be seen her from the terrace of the palace. The king hurried to the terrace. He could see her clearly.

There she stood, unaware of the crowds around her. She stood there like a statuette, gazing intently at the setting sun. At long last, just as the sun was about to set, she turned around, looked directly at the king standing on the terrace. The brilliant rays of setting sun lit her, turning her briefly into an ethereal being, an avenging angel. The merciless hot wind carried her words to the king clearly.

"My husband, remember, we will meet in heaven three days hence."

And turning around she entered the waves. People watched with bated breath, no one even dared to stop her. There was a murmur of sorrow which was quickly hushed. King wanted to order the guards to stop her, but stood paralyzed by the intensity which she exuded. Ujhaali kept walking till people couldn't see her head above the water anymore and the last rays of the setting sun blazed brighter as a pillar of fire rose from the sea. People gasped as they watched the unearthly scene. They waited for some sign of her, but nothing was left behind except an acrid smell of ashes in the air. Men were silent, women started to weep.

"Sin... grave sin..." the simpleton was chanting loudly now. In the hushed silence only his voice was heard.

The king went to his apartments, filled with dread and remorse. He wished he could undo what he had done. He called his ministers to ask for their counsel. None had any advise for him except - wait and watch. After telling him vaguely to be careful, they all went away.

The king tossed on his bed. Longing for the elusive sleep and dreading it at the same time. He kept seeing that the strange fire every time his eyes closed. The heat was making breathing difficult. He went out on terrace, hoping for some respite from heat and stood looking pensively at the sea.

Next day the king sat on the terrace, staring at the sea. Maids were fanning him, offering him glasses of chilled juices, sprinkling rose water on him, but he still burnt with heat. The sky should have been heavy with dark clouds by this time, he thought as he scanned the sky with anxious eyes. Was there any truth in what the idiot had said? That it won't rain because someone in high places had sinned? Had he sinned?

The raj vaidya gave him medicines to bring down the fever, but finally gave up. For two days and two nights the king lay in bed, tormented by rising fever and heat. All over the kingdom people prayed for the king's recovery.

The king kept mumbling Ujhaali's name again and again in delirium. On the third evening, as the sun was setting, the king breathed his last, his eyes fixed on the spot where Ujhaali had vanished.

And during the night the dark clouds gathered in the sky, with clap of thunder and lightening it started raining, filling the wells, streams and river, soaking the barren fields, quenching the thirst of the earth which had waited for a long time.