||- Blisters and bruises I - ||

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the game."

- Randy Pausch

_______

Her music was lamenting along with the pouring rain outside; the woman in Purdah plucked at the strings of the instrument when her mind was decidedly elsewhere. David took it as a tactic to let him know she was still offended but extended no apology. Kashi Bai was an enigma. At times she was as hard as a stone, equally stubborn and strong willed and at other times she reduced herself to such childish antics.

"I've heard there are tunes that could bring about rain or set fire to the surrounding. Tell me Kashi Bai - what are you trying to achieve by that nasty excuse of a melody?" He asked her, as he worked on his canvas devotedly, without raising his head to meet the fire her eyes unleashed at him.

"Kill," she said cuttingly. "Kill the time until you realise what a futile exercise this is quickly becoming."

"Pardon?" David said innocently. "I must confess I'm quite enjoying myself - the lighting is brilliant."

For a moment he thought he heard Kashi snort. Her fists were clutched as she put down her instrument finally. She was finally learning the downside of seeking freedom under the guise of Afreen. Most of the time she was compelled to spend time stuffed in a drawing room with this frustrating painter who seemed to think she owed him an apology. Kashi frowned as her thoughts turned towards Afreen - she was having a tough time for reasons unknown to Kashi. She wished she knew what had reduced the usually double edged woman to a walking zombie in the past few days.

"I don't trust you yet," she informed him, folding her arms to highlight on the point.

"I am aware," David said watching her over his easel. "As a matter of fact - I am also aware that you have your eye on the person we spoke about." Kashi blinked and he smirked slightly. "So I'm content as long as you trust neither of us."

"Noor would never betray me!" For some reason, David thought, she sounded as if she was trying to convince herself and failing miserably.

"As you seem too fond to delude yourself," he clicked his tongue adding some red as he prepared a rather dark brown mixture of colour.

"You're so set against her!"

"Kashi bai," David said briskly. "You must learn that each person has their own price -"he set the pallet down and met her gaze. "While they may love you, you may not always be their first choice."

The memory of that rainy evening brought David back to his surroundings. He had returned to his wing only to find more bad news waiting for him and his mood had seen better days.

The rain had left, leaving dry winds behind. There was news of occasional sandstorm sometimes hindering the delivery of supplies to Chandranagara fort. There were stories of stored grains being destroyed, the weather creating trouble at remote villages. They hardly mattered to the inhabitants of Chandranagara as Diwali approached and the festive air casted a misty veil over the bleeding wounds outside the walls.

David kept himself barricaded inside their cosy wing, firstly complaining of a sour throat and then a severe headache. The gossip string of maids reported that it was none of those things but a melancholy mood that had inflicted the artist and that his tempter was rather fragile these days.

It was one of those mornings. The woman who came sharp at the first ray of light to clean and dust off the wing, scattered off rather hurriedly after the said painter complained loudly about 'noises' that disturbed his concentration in the early morning. He had been working on a canvas for a while now - a painting they were yet to see. Once the woman had left and her footsteps died at the end of the passageway David put down his brush and combed his hand through his hair.

"You can come out now Hanson," he said, getting to his feet as the grey haired, short man separated himself from the tangle of curtains. At the same moment a sleep deprived Andrew came out of his room, shutting the door behind him with a snap. He rubbed his eyes, looking from one man to the other and sat down without a question.

"Oh don't mind me," he said folding his hands. "Continue with your discussion gentlemen."

"To be honest," David gestured Hanson to another seat before taking one himself. "The discussion hasn't started yet; I was waiting for you to join us."

"So you are finally going to enlighten me about what exactly has spoiled your mood," Andrew said hopefully. "Am I allowed to guess that it has something to do with the news Hanson brought the other day - the letter you burned right away?"

"Only if in return you're ready to elaborate how you knew about the dealings between Nawab Khan and my father." David said rather calmly.

'Tempt me," Andrew rolled his eyes. "You're supposedly the 'negotiator'."

"No need," David shook his head, "I know you enough to be rest assured that you can't hold on to information without sharing your discovery any longer. Especially since I'm about to tell you that your guess on the previous occasion is correct."

"Ha - I knew it!" Andrew clapped his hands together.

"Yes - thank you very much for making an enemy out of my father." David leaned back on his chair and sighed. "As if I was having time of my life here!" He snorted rather offended. Hanson looked at him and looked at Andrew with pleading eyes. Andrew almost pitied the man who had become an unwilling messenger between the father and son engaged in a duel of egos.

"Good morning gentlemen!" Lily floated into the room, fresh as a daisy in her cream colour day dress. "Did I miss anything important?" She sat down, uninvited and David's brows knotted.

"Our dear friend is here with news," he said with a quick glance at Hanson who gave a brief shake of his head as if he understood perfectly well to maintain his silence on certain matters. "My sister will soon join us."

"Oh dear, Keren is here?" Lily clasped a hand to her heart, pretending to be politely surprised. "How wonderful!"

"How wonderful indeed," David snapped. Andrew turned to his friend with a dark look.

"Are you suggesting that the reason for this development was our little investigation?"

"Undoubtedly," agreed David. "My father seems to think that I need a little reminder as to where my loyalties lie." His eyes burned towards Lily who ducked her head. "And who better than Keren to remind me of the risks involved in our little gamble."

"Please tell me Lillian, you did not have a hand in this." Andrew said almost pleadingly, Lily fiddled with her thumbs, casting an annoyed look first at her brother and then at Hanson.

'Doesn't matter," David waved it away before Lily could either confess or deny the accusation. "Tell me about it Mr. Kent, how did you find out?"

"Noor Banu," Andrew clarified thoughtfully. "My first hypothesis was that you are right about her. I had to convince myself of that before I started spying on a seemingly innocent lady." At this Lillian rolled her eyes.

"I heard you sent balm to her," she said sarcastically. 'Ever heard of subtlety brother?"

"I was busy learning about observations sister," Andrew shot back. "At first I thought she was bruised, perhaps - I wondered if someone forced her to act in the manner we suspected. But it occurred to me a moment after - those were not bruises but rashes. Rashes from Sulphur...!"

David frowned in the pause that followed. "And you wanted to know if she got saltpeter too..." he muttered. "Gunpowder?"

Andrew nodded. "If lord McLane's deal with Khan involves a supply of that - the only ingredient I imagine he was lacking, I believe he had put his daughter into churning out explosives for him."

"You can go Hanson," David said abruptly and the man immediately rose to his feet. "Tell Keren I'm looking forward to see how much she has grown in the past three years..."

They waited in silence until the man left leaving them to their discussion.

"It's a good thing that Hanson is loyal to you." Andrew commented after a while. "It wouldn't have done us any good if we were caught unaware by a sudden visit from Keren."

"I wondered why he wanted to have leverage over Chandranagar so badly," David said thoughtfully. "Now I have faint idea."

"He is helping them built power - a power that could rival the emperor when the time comes. Of cause he would like to know their weak point in case things don't run as smoothly as they are." Andrew outlined his thought. "It's strange that Khan would use his own daughter to conduct such a dangerous experiment."

"Unless of cause -" David said pointedly. "She is acting on her own agenda."

**

"Kashi... Kashi... doll of darkling," a shadow sang merrily as it scrapped a stone against a stone. "Step out step out from your hiding - time in darkness is coming to an end... time in darkness is coming to an end..!"

**

Needless say, will be continued in Blisters and Bruises II, on the coming Monday!

Meanwhile, where do you think we are heading? Is Kashi in danger, is Andrew right? And how much are you looking forward to see Keren McLane? Tell me in comments, I'm eager to know as always!

Thanks for reading!

PS: enjoy the song! ;-)