||- The Caged Lioness - ||

Some people who pretend to be beach are actually quicksand...
- Steve Meraboli

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“…Like the wind had caught a pinch of sindoor and spread it everywhere, there is a faint red dusting the azure sky.” Pair hazel brown eyes peeped through the carvings of a wooden window and their owner inhaled the cool morning air into a pleasured sigh. “I wish you could see Kashi, sunrise is the most beautiful thing in the world!”

Beams of playful sunlight escaped through the gaps in the wooden panels, filtered into the room and splashed across the carpeted floor, creating a pool of golden light. Tiny particles of dust danced a mute ballet over it, swirling in spiral formations as they rose with the wind. There was a tinkling of anklets as Kashi drew her feet back, away from the path of the sunlight and into the still cool shade of shadows dominating the corner where she sat on her divan. Still her eyes followed the beams of sunlight, now illuminating the window completely and casting her friend into shadows, with a thirsty look in them.

“I can recall you said the same thing about your new dress from Persia, and before that about that gift horse,” her tone sounded decidedly aloof as she climbed down and retreated further into shadows by her ornate mirror. “You have eyes that see beauty in everything Noor!”

Noor sighed dramatically, knowing an argument with Kashi was one which she never won and turned back to gaze out of the window completely missing the forlorn look in the other girl’s face that the shadows around her had expertly masked. Hearing the rustle of clothes that signalled Noor turning around, Kashi returned her gaze over to her friend. Noor was glowing in sunlight.

She had inherited that peach skin tone from her mother, her hair currently coiled into a thick braid was of henna colour and in the crisp sunlight, the escaped curls around her face looked like spun threads of gold. First thorns of jealousy pricked at her heart and she averted her eyes guiltily. It was no fault of Noor that Kashi could not bath in that inviting warmth of the morning sun like she was.

“Ya Allah!” A new voice startled both girls, followed by the loud resonating sound of metal against ground.
Kashi jumped and turned back to her mirror in a flash and started to braid her hair as if she had been doing that since long and Noor bit her lip muttering a silent prayer before turning around to face the full-fledged wrath of her fuming mother; Nadheera Beghum.

The older woman who had dropped the platter of almonds she had brought looked positively possessed in her seething anger. The two women behind her; handmaidens of the lady, remained shocked into inactivity as their mistress marched towards her daughter and stood nose to nose with her, breathing her anger down at the girl.

“Who gave you permission to open the window Noor?” She demanded, shutting it with the ominous sound of cranking wood. The room dissolved in shadows once more and unnoticed to them Kashi sighed again as she finished braiding her hair. Noor fidgeted under her mother’s scorching gaze, clearly stunned into a silence before she managed to curl her lips into a demure smile.

“Ammi Jaan, are you finished with your prayers already?”

That, it seemed was the wrong thing to say, as, no sooner than the words left her mouth, Nadheera seemed to swell with anger.

“So, you did this thinking I was still in prayers?” When she spoke her voice had raised an octave and Noor shuddered as she heard those words. “How many times – tell me how many times I have told you that –“

“Keep Kashi away from sun,” Kashi spoke softly, bringing her presence to the attention of both ladies. Noor hung her head, fiddling with her thumbs and Nadheera turned to Kashi her eyes softening. “Don’t blame Noor, Nadheera Ammi, I told her to open the window. I didn’t mean to worry you. Just thought I’d let some sun warm up the room – it’s getting rather dusty – and – I can watch the sunlight as long as I’m well away can’t I?”

Nadheera exhaled slowly, letting the last of her anger melt away and dubbed the corner of her eye with her embroidered sleeve.

“Kashi jaan – it’s for –“

“My own good I know,” Kashi turned to face her, a fake smile plastered on her face while her eyes remained haunted. “And I’m grateful.” She said sincerely taking Nadheera’s hands and looking into her soft brown eyes that resembled so much of her daughter’s. “You’re like a mother to me. Not many ladies would raise an enemy’s child, like you’ve brought me up. Especially one that carried a curse from birth...”

Nadheera shook her head, placing a hand against Kashi’s cheek.

“Allah knows, Noor and you are same to me. If only I could – I would…” she bit her lip and patted Kashi’s cheek, before turning to leave. She stopped and gave Noor another glare to which the girl took an involuntary step back. “Anyway, I must get going, there’s a lot to oversee in the preparations.”

“Preparations?” Kashi repeated curiously. “Are we expecting visitors?”

Noor almost opened her mouth to answer and shut it, giving her mother a sideways glance. Nadheera let her façade of cheerfulness fell for a moment and exhaustion took over her as she replied.

“Yes. Nawab sahib is expecting an envoy.”

“From the emperor?” Kashi said passively, wearing her earrings and tossing her braid over her shoulder. She was not interested in most of the visitors to their castle, there was only a trace of pity in her tone at Nadheera stressing over the welcome of some courtiers who would find mistakes in every fleck of dust left in the hallways.

“No, an envoy from Surat.” Kashi’s ears peaked at that, so did her curiosity however she kept her tone blank as she inquired further.

“Oh – a foreigner?”

“Hmm,” Nadheera nodded, leading her maids out of the chamber. “Anyway, that is of no concern to you girls. Noor,” she turned back to her daughter for a brief word. “Your master must be here for the morning lessons. I’ll send Gauri to help you getting ready, Kashi.” With that, she was gone and the two girls exhaled the breath they were holding at the same time.

“Noor, your master is waiting…” Noor imitated her mother’s admonishing tone. Huffing, she collapsed on the divan Kashi had just vacated. Kashi glared at her, although she could not help the faint giggle that escaped her throat.

“Ammi is nothing but a puppet in my father’s hand. Cursed! As if you would burst into flames if you go out!” She huffed again.

Kashi narrowed her eyes, but before she could reply, Gauri was already bowing at them from the entrance. Noor stood up unwillingly and left throwing a longing glance at the peaceful room where Kashi now sat.

Gauri was followed by several maids, who were Kashi’s usual morning visitors and they proceeded to light the extinguished candles around the darkened chamber. In the new supply of amber light, Gauri undid Kashi’s braided hair and started to brush the sheet of thick, dark hair. She held out her hands to one of the maids, who poured a little measure of fragrant oil into her outstretched palms. Kashi sighed in relief, closing her eyes and letting the older woman massage the oil into her scalp with her expert fingers and her mind returned to the earlier conversation with Nadheera.

“Your hands are magical Kaki,” she smiled in satisfaction and opened her eyes to look at the same smile spreading over Gauri’s lips in the mirror. “I’m glad you’re here, instead of busy doing some flower arrangement.”

“Flower arrangement?” Gauri said blankly. “Whatever gave you the idea Rajkumari?”

“Oh, nothing – I heard everyone’s busy planning to welcome some guest.” Her sharp eyes caught the dark look that crossed Gauri’s face at her words. But the old maid shook her head and started to brush her hair.

“Visitors come every day.” She said dismissively and dropped her gaze. Kashi sat up straighter.

Gauri’s dislike of her current employers was no secret to Kashi. There were times when she suspected that the old woman was still there because of her, rather than being bound to serve the ruler of Chandranagara. Although it had been closer to few decades, since the little kingdom had been annexed to the Mughal empire and the emperor had appointed the conqueror as its ruler, Nawab Akif Fisal Khan was still an outsider to the core population of Chandranagara. Many would go so far as to call him a temporary guardian of Chandranagara. Kashi knew that she was the hope of those people; the only remaining child of their Maha Rani. She was also the seal of Khan’s authority over these lands. She was under his protection at the moment.

But she did not dwell upon the thought for long. For Kashi knew there was also a set of people (perhaps the majority) that hailed behind her half-brother Shivjit. The same people who believed words of royal soothsayers all those years ago – that she was cursed by birth. A jab of a pin broke her train of thoughts and Kashi turned her attention back to Gauri, who was arranging a wreath of Jasmin at the base of her braid.

“I heard it was some foreigner though,” she said then. “Aren’t you keen to see them Kaki, I’ve never seen one of those white people before.”

Gauri muttered something inaudible before pursing her lips. Her eyes were burning when their gaze met through the mirror.

“I’ve heard they are coming to investigate what happened to that consignment of cotton last month.”

Kashi who was lining her eyes with kohl missed her stroke and drew a stray line on the bridge of her nose.

“Oh!” She said softly. “So, they are estranged with Nawab sahib?” Her tone was innocent as she wiped her eye and a maid took over the job of finishing what she had started. Gauri sighed, her lips pursed into a thin line and narrowed her eyes.

“Nawab sahib is trying to pacify them,” she said pointedly. “Hopefully, he will be successful, especially if the visit goes smooth.”

“With lord’s grace,” muttered Kashi standing up as the maids finished dressing her up. The princess and her maid exchanged a look that spoke many words.

“With lord’s grace,” replied Gauri before excusing herself.

The maids left shutting the door after them. The room was lost in darkness except for the candles burning in clusters around the dressing table.
That chamber, opened into a larger setting area, also dimly lit. An ancient clock fixed in the middle of it glittered in the only beam of sun that graced the entire establishment. Kashi walked into it and stood there watching the shadows on the large clock face show her the hour was still early morning. Making sure to avoid the beam of sunlight, she stretched out her arm and pulled out a long blade from its hiding place inside the stone pillar that hoisted the clock.

For a moment sunlight dazzled on the blade and threw a handful of rainbows on the dark stone walls.

Kashi’s dark eyes glittered in the reflection of those rainbows. The look in them was no longer mild and demure as it had been all morning, but sharp like a hawk.

“Well then, it’s time to cut the strings forever, is it not?” She muttered to herself, examining the sharp edge of the blade in her hands.

**

Whoever said princess in the tower is waiting for a knight to rescue her? Well, Kashi's definitely not waiting for a knight!

How did you find your first meeting with Kashi? Let me know, in the comments.

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Thank you!