FF - Pride Honour & Love, Ch 41, pg 56, the end - Page 13

Toddy…..

Yes Gov'nor

I think you stop discussing Bani with me….she is none of your business….

Definitely, I don't want her to be my business but strangely one of the servants were saying that he saw Ismail coming out of the Tower early morning yesterday…..now that is quick …….

Todd…

Ok Gov'nor lets get you ready for bed…..and I will clean this mess and leave….

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Sarah watched at Jacques standing on the veranda he welcomed his neighbours and accepted their gifts, she and My Lady was standing a bit further, they had come to wish the family Merry Christmas and will join for lunch…today Sarah was dressed to the occasion, wearing a cherry pink gown and pearl choker, white silk gloves upto her elbow…..

A fat man dressed like a 'Maharaja' came well Wallace, what do I hear, when in the D-day..all in good time Jamal, Jasques shook his hand with him briskly…..introducing Sarah, Jamal bowed and then greeted My Lady too calling her grandma, kissing her both cheeks….moving on to greet the others, most of whom he seemed to know…..

Who is he, asked Sarah…..

He is Jamal, a distant relative of the erstwhile Nawab and heir of the neighbouring estate, you have seen his father but Jamal is also Jasques childhood friend, at the same time he is most mischief maker, always trying to grab our land, the only good thing is he is seldom in the estate preferring to spend time in Lucknow or Kolkata, lives a bit of colourful life, which is good for us…..

You still call him a friend? Sarah asked….

My Lady smiled, well Jacques says it is part of life and these menaces will happen, Jamal is wanting and Jacques is not letting a kind of cat and mouse, good, keeps us on our toes….

Sarah smiled it is one of those boy's things she guessed, finally Jacques moved away speaking with men, smoking and laughing, she saw Jamal getting up and leading Jacques aside…Sarah also casually went behind the pillar in pretence of supervising to hear what they were talking about….

Hey Jacques what am I hearing, you are finally getting married….

So it seems Jamal….

Well at last but don't you think that girl is a bit too cold for you…Jamal lowered his voice….

Sarah is a good girl….

No doubt she is but why I don't know unlike other natives I find the women of your race thora thanda…….

But you have one in your harem….

Oh Jacques Jenny is different and she adds variety and unlike me you are going to have only one wife…how will you spend your life with her…..

It is not so pathetic as you are making it sound, Jamal and I am sure My Lady will do a good job with Sarah…anyway tell me my friend, how have you been keeping…

As you know, not here, I went to Mumbai for a change, got hold of a Parsi gentleman, I think I will start a new business venture with him….

What another new venture, why do you bother Jamal and why are you wasting the old man's money….

Oh don't worry Jacques he has enough to spare

But a son like you too…they broke into laughter

Sarah moved away…..so like expected My Lady was able to convince him, the very thought made Sarah sad, he agreed because of My Lady, her father wants her to get married to him but she is attracted to him no doubt, doesn't Jacques feel any attraction towards her, she is not bad to look at, infact people call her pretty, will their marriage be a compromise, will it really work that way….Sarah stood at the corner of the hall, it was use, people were mingling around, My Lady was now sitting on her throne like sofa…but then most of the year this hall remains empty, hardly a soul around with whom she can share her thoughts, of course there are servants but this place, this kothi it s surrounding, what will happen when Jacques will go out on tours for long time and she will be here alone….My Lady will not live for long…Sarah froze….thousands and thousands of miles away from my home, will I be able to stay here, spend my whole life……suddenly she heard Jacques voice whispering to Todd……what did she say?

Well she is not coming for sure, I don't know Gov'nor what pleasure you get in sending me to face her, she thinks she is the queen herself, doesn't want to speak to me, as if I want to speak to her but was able to convey your message…..

Did you say that Jamal wants to buy for himself……and he is going back in the late afternoon….

Of course I conveyed it….and even asked her if she cannot come to send Sundari over but then Sundari is not well was lying in bed….

Jacques turned at left, his gait showed he was upset……Bani? Were they talking of Bani, isn't his relationship over with her, Ann was saying the other day that Bani is not to be seen even outside the tower, she has gone mourning, why is Jacques sending for her, Jamal wants to buy oils….or what is it…Sarah is about to go behind Todd when Lunch is announced….

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My Lady looks very regal sitting on the long table flanked by her guests, Jacques and Sarah were sitting on her right next to each other, they were looking perfect, even Jacques was behaving properly, his frowns were not visible, laughing at Jamal's silly jokes, bending down to hear what Sarah has to say…very attentive and then My Lady picked up her wine glass and called for attention….

My dears, it has been my long desire to see this house buzzing with children's laughter and footsteps…I am already 76 and do not know for how long will I live but then my grandson Jacques has finally agreed to get married and here I am Danielle Wallace proudly present Miss Sarah Howard as the chosen bride for my Jacques…..

Sarah and Jacques stood up bowing to the assembled guests…

While I announce the engagement, I will also like to tell you since none of Sarah's guardian's are present here, we will not have a very big engagement party but yes I have sent an express letter to her father for his permission and of course have invited him to come, he would have come but then he had to rush home hence the marriage will preferably take place once Mr Howard returns with members of his family, which I hope will be before I leave for the hills for summer. Though making honeymoon plan is the prerogative of bride and the groom but I would like to sponsor their trip for Europe, a visit to our relatives there before they come and take up their lives here…..

Oh lucky Jacques…..got relatives all over the world, Jamal commented….

Oh yes that we are , now ladies and gentleman kindly put your hands together as Jacques presents Miss Howard with the ring…..

Todd came in carrying very proudly on a velvet tray a box…Jacques picks it up, inside there was a beautiful ring, diamond and sapphire, as he slid the ring, champagne was opened, the servants pricked the balloons showering the confetti inside them, sound of cheer rang through the kothi….Sarah looked into Jacques eyes which were hooded as usual and raised her lips….he bent down and kissed her cheek. His lips were firm and cold…..

As they moved away from the table to accept the congratulations of the assembled guests with Sarah hand lying on Jacques arm, they mingled around, Sarah showing off her ring……when suddenly Sarah felt Jacques go stiff, she quickly looked up at him, his eyes were searching something after few seconds they got fixed on a pillar, Sarah looked in that direction, she noticed a portion of Bani's lahenga sticking out….

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Through the corner of her eyes Sarah noticed Todd coming and whispering something Jamal, Jamal excusing himself and following Todd….Jacques had gone all stiff and was looking elsewhere, Sarah looked towards My Lady, who too became aware of what is going on……

In the ante-room, Bani displayed the oils for Jamal….Jamal thanked her for taking the trouble, last time my gout pain got better with one of these presented by Jacques, since I was coming I thought let me pick up few more……Jamal took the oil and few others too, paid her, Bani tied the money in her churni, picked up her basket and left, making sure she passed through the hall and caught the sights of the ladies…..while they feigned to looked through her, Bani greeted them nevertheless though barely being acknowledged, men looked at her amusedly, she was an attractive woman and the regulars at the Kothi knew she can answer back….though many guessed her position but nobody spoke out….

My Lady hated her guts, Bani good to see you, you know today is a special day, our Christmas and Bade Laat is getting married to Miss Howard, I have announced their engagement…..

Bani frowned, she did not know the meaning of engagement…..

Unka 'ek hone ka sambandh' My Lady broke it in easy Hindustani for her…..so double celebration, you can join it, that is the feast outside in the tent, all the servants and villagers are enjoying, of course later Bade Laat and Miss Howard will appear in the tent to accept the wishes and blessings …..

Bani smiled, thank you for your concern My Lady but I am nursing my daughter still hence should not be having anything which will upset my system otherwise my daughter will suffer too then turning towards where Sarah and Jacques were standing, catching hold of Sarah eyes, she gave a sarcastic smile before bowing down to pay her respects, turning she walked out her head held high…..

Jacques stood stiffly for some more time and then left abruptly ……

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Jacques stood at his window, she was dragging herself towards the tower, as per his reports she did not get up from the bed for nearly two days till Tara cried out in protest for want of milk……today when she stood, her eyes were dark though her cheerful smile was in place…..Jacques watched her going farther and farther away, he felt as if somebody was dissecting his organ and throwing it away from him, if Bani would have cried, abused him and showed her temper things would have been much easier for him, with her silence she is breaking his heart and making him guilty…..

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Jacques gets to mess with a girls life, gives her a daughter and then dumps her....