"We understand that Swami is upset, but we did not expect a weapon to be wielded for such a petty offence!" Kashi had walked in on her husband unannounced. She could not be faulted for being irreverent when she surprised the Peshwa while he was cleaning his dagger and she tiptoed into their bedchamber. It was her room too, so what if he was the Prime Minister of the Maratha Empire!

Being a warrior to the core set his senses tingling. The Peshwa instinctively swiped the dagger in the direction of the movement as she walked in. Instinct had taught him to expect the unexpected. He stopped himself just in time before he could hurt her and quickly sheathed the dagger. He surveyed his young wife with a piercing glance, irritation writ large on his face. Kashi simply stood still. Her head was lowered but she had an unmistakable twinkle in her eyes. She had done something to provoke him. However for the two days since the Peshwa had returned from his mission she was confined to the menstrual chamber and there had been no interaction between them. 

Early that morning she took a purifying bath. Her maid helped rub the soap nut gel over her long tresses and her willowy body. After the bath, and on Radhabai's instructions, Kashi dressed to the hilt, looking every bit the Peshwa's wife from top to toe. After all, Rau had spent the summer and the early weeks of the monsoon in the service of the empire. Naturally the man would expect to enjoy his wife's companionship. But Kashi was forewarned about the Peshwa's disapproval over the girls' recent trip.

Five months had passed since the demise of the erstwhile Peshwa. After being away from home for as long Rau returned to Saswad just in time for the Ganesh festival. It was obligatory for the family to worship the family God even when there was a death in the family. However, in keeping with decorum, this year the celebration was to be rather subdued.

"We trust that you have physically recovered from the exertion of your ill-advised holiday!" Rau wanted to sound sterner but restrained himself.

"We thank Swami for his concern and assure him that we are only suffering from a little head cold. We are taking ginger and tulsi tea as well as warm turmeric milk to feel better. We shall recover in no time, Swami need not worry! And we trust that Swami's own health is well!" Kashi sneezed. When she opened her eyes she noticed her husband's restlessness.

"Even Bhiu and Anu have been sniffling since we arrived. Do you realise that you girls could have fallen seriously ill after getting soaked in the rain and catching a cold? Or worse still, the caravan could have been waylaid by brigands who could harm you terribly? Do you know what happens to girls and women who dare to step outside the safety of their homes without armed guards to protect them? They may have their honour taken by vile men who then sell them as slaves in markets as far flung as Malwa and Oudh! Don't you dare undertake another such indiscretion and imperil the most vulnerable charges of the Peshwa's household!" Rau could imagine a hundred possibilities of doom befalling the young girls- there were wild animals on prowl and the extreme possibility of encountering unrestrained Mughal soldiers for whom the Peshwa family women represented easy prey as well as a prize catch.

Kashi said nothing but she was itching with indignation to say something in defence of all womanhood. What Rau had warned about was quite possible but it also meant that women were to live as virtual prisoners in their natal or marital homes, ruled by the society's patriarchal framework. Did they not even have the liberty to worship at a shrine some distance from their place of residence? What was the meaning of Hindavi Swarajya if even the Prime Minister's female relatives lived in perpetual fear? Why did women have to depend on men for everything while the latter could travel virtually anywhere and even sleep in open fields beneath a starlit sky? 

"Swami spends months away from home during which he is so occupied with professional obligations that he forgets we have little else to do but manage the home and wait for him patiently." The glass bangles on Kashi's wrists tinkled, compensating for her mild tone.

"That is the lot of a warrior's family around the world. Look at the foreign devils who become soldiers of fortune and leave their dear ones back in England and Portugal to represent their countries in our land. The political uncertainty and our climate compels them to leave their wives behind in the safety of their home countries. Their families may have to wait for years before the men return home!" Rau suppressed a smile to see that his wife was urgently looking for a comeback to counter his viewpoint.

"As if Swami is not aware that European women attend balls and gala celebrations to amuse themselves in the absence of their men! Why, Kakubai Saheb even mentioned how they go hunting for game in the woods near their estates!" Kashi was an eager pupil of Godubai's, lapping up every word that added to her perspective about the world beyond her threshold.

"Is the Peshwin comparing herself to the empowered English noblewomen who are trained in horse riding and marksmanship since childhood?" Rau's amusement was evident now, his mood having lifted as the conversation progressed.

"Destined to be born into a Brahmin moneylender's family we may not have been fortunate to learn how to ride and shoot but Swami may remember that there are women of other castes who have done us proud. After Chhatrapati Sambhaji was killed by Aurangzeb his vulnerable brother Rajaram escaped in disguise while the noble Yesubai bravely stayed back and shouldered the responsibility before she was taken captive by Aurangzeb. Rajaram sought refuge from another brave woman, the queen Keladi Chennamma, who fought the Mughals fiercely and ensured safe passage and escape of Rajaram to Jinji in the south. Even TaraRani Bai Saheb successfully defended the Swarajya through the difficult years of civil war after her husband Rajaram's death." Kashi had a determined look as she recalled history. 

"The Peshwin could also do well to remember that for a true warrior honour is above anything else! The Rajputs follow the tradition of Jauhar and Sati. Both involve the immolation of their women who would much rather consign themselves to the flames than risk being dishonoured by captors. Especially when those captors come from a culture which turns a blind eye when captive women are forced into sexual slavery by the victors, to be passed around casually among men just as a shared pouch of tobacco."

"We have vivid memories of how powerless it feels to imprisoned by a tyrant. We have vowed that none of our kin shall ever suffer such indignity again!" Rau's eyes were severe and his voice tense as memories of the past flooded his mind.

He was, of course, referring to the incident when the lawless Damaji Thorat who favoured Tarabai and rebelled against Shahu, treacherously arrested Balaji Vishwanath, Radhabai, a teenage Baji, a preteen Chimna and Balaji's associate Ambaji Pant Purandare, holding them captive in his small fort at Hingangaon. In an attempt to secure the release of Shahu's Sachiv Naro Shankar who was being held captive by Damaji, Balaji sought a diplomatic remedy. Damaji swore on Bel-bhandar (an oath taken symbolically using leaves of the bel tree, a pot of water, turmeric and grain laid on a piece of fabric) that no harm would come upon Balaji; but betrayed him nonetheless.  After subjecting them to humiliation and torture Damaji finally released them after Balaji arranged for ransom to be paid through Shahu. That incident was branded forever in the psyche of the young Baji and made him realise that power was everything for an ambitious man.

"Do you know how torturous it will be for us if you or the others come upon any harm due to such carelessness? We shudder at the thought that all our authority will be futile if you invite danger by not heeding our advice. Henceforth none of the women of this family will set out on any journey without the express permission of the Peshwa's office in our absence and definitely not without a retinue of armed guards to accompany them! We don't know how many centuries may pass before women can travel by themselves but we are definitely not taking a chance with you!" Bajirao's tone made it evident that his words would be an edict by the next day. 

"Please understand that we are only trying to protect our own!" Rau's demeanor softened to see his wife's crestfallen face. She was too young foresee the consequences of her impetuous act and had probably realised how important it was for her to remain loyal to the Peshwa and to abide by his rules, both written and unwritten. After all, he was responsible for their safety and well being.

"In that case promise us that you shall let us accompany you at least on non-combat missions. There can be no safer place for us than in your presence!" Kashi implored.

"We are not in a position to make such a promise but we assure you that we shall do whatever possible to grant your wish so long as it does not impede our duty! Now we shall take your leave, we have to deal with some paperwork in the phad (the Peshwa's office)." Rao gave her a nod of assurance before heading downstairs. 

"Vahini, we hope Rau did not give you too much grief over the issue! If he is still upset you know just how to distract him when you share the bed with him tonight!" Bhiu used the opportunity of her brother's absence to sneak into the chamber. She grinned at her sister-in-law who looked scandalised.

"Bhiu Vansa, you are getting  more brazen with every passing day!" Kashi tried not to blush at the suggestion.

"Look Vahini, men always foresee doom if women do anything unconventional. Men may take snuff, pull on hookahs and enjoy the mehfils of courtesans but expect us to look after the home and hearth, worship the family Gods and safeguard our chastity for the sake of our husbands. They assume that all we want is to dress in rich silks, wear tons of jewels and wallow in the lap of luxury. How trite of them! If we try to change the status quo we are accused of being rebellious. Why can't our lives be half as adventurous and exciting as those of men?" Bhiu bristled. 

"That is how we feel too. But your brother has warned us firmly, he wants us to toe the line!" Kashi sounded far more subdued than she had been a few minutes ago. It was a Hindu wife's moral obligation to honour her husband's expectations. And her husband was the second most powerful man in the Maratha Empire.

"Vahini, we understand that our brother means well. Let us hope that when it comes to toeing the line the same rule applies to him! Considering how he enjoys taking risks and loves flirting with danger it is rather rich of him to order us to do the opposite!" Bhiu added confidently.

"In that case, Vansa, be prepared to say these words to your brother's face too!" Kashi smiled to see the change in Bhiu's expression.

"Oh, you know what they say, discretion is the better part of valour! There may be a time in the future when it is appropriate to say those words to his face. Until then it is better to remain in the Prime Minister's good books!" Bhiu and Kashi laughed spontaneously. Naturally Bhiu was the cannier of the two of them, she was the resourceful Rau's own sister!