"Kashi, do you think there is any truth in the stories about Rau's meeting with the Nizam-ul-Mulk in his camp? It is said that after such a humiliating defeat the Nizam had no choice but to accept Rau's conditions. And on the contrary the women in the Nizam's Zenana were so curious about Rau that they even dared to peep through the sheer curtains of their marquee!" Bhiu giggled as she tried to visualise the scandalous scenario.

"There could be an iota of truth in those stories, but they sound like they have been embellished a lot. They may have been curious, but can the wives of the Nizam be so brazen that they would shamelessly crave a glance of your brother? High born Muslim women would never reveal themselves in public, rather they are always veiled and even travel in covered palanquins just like us. So this version is just that, titillating gossip!" Kashi's agitation was evident in her tone. 

"My dear sister-in-law is jealous! Why, as if you don't know that Rau is so handsomely desirable that any young woman who happens to catch a glance of him is likely to become infatuated with him!! It is not hard to believe that the Nizam's Begums wanted to shower him with precious pearls!" Bhiu teased Kashi relentlessly.

"Enough now, "Ikadchi Swaari" (a reference to her husband) has more pressing matters on hand, he has neither the time nor the inclination for such frivolity!" Kashi declared confidently. Bhiu simply laughed enjoying the effect her teasing was having on Kashi. She thought her brother's wife  looked adorable with her combination of a swollen belly and a nose wrinkled in irritation.

"Oh God, Kashi, look, the baby is doing somersaults in your belly!" Bhiu yelled excitedly. It was incredible to see the fluttering movement across Kashi's taut bump. Bhiu instinctively placed her palm close to the spot where she could see the baby move. Immediately the baby reacted to the new stimulus and kicked. The girls became so busy observing the antics of the unborn child that they hardly realised how time had flown and Baiza came to announce that it was time for Bhiu to depart, her palanquin bearers were waiting!

"Take good care of your health Kashi, we may not meet again until after your baby is born! Are you not excited about moving to a new town? We shall be neighbours in Pune and can meet each other more frequently!" Bhiu wrapped the brocade shawl around herself as she prepared to leave, winter had set in and the air was rather chilly. Kashi's baby was well-timed, it was due to arrive in the middle of winter and it would be a good six months before it would encounter the searing heat of summer.

"Yes, the move from Saswad to Pune was expected. Sasubai Saheb will surely oversee all the arrangements effortlessly!" Kashi was right, there was nothing Radhabai could not achieve after she made up her mind to.

A few more days passed after Bhiu's last meeting with Kashi. By now Kashi had been confined to her private chamber in her natal home. Being tied down became a little cumbersome for her but there was nothing she could do other than rest and seek solace in the letters her husband had written her, enquiring about her health and updating her about his missions, albeit briefly. The Peshwa was too busy with his career to spare the time to meet his pregnant wife.

"Tai Saheb, I have strict instructions from Bai Saheb to ensure that you should only rest during the eclipse! Hand me that sari, let me fold it for you!" Baiza reminded Kashi.

"Baiza, there is bound to be at least one lunar or solar eclipse during the nine months of any woman's pregnancy. Not having to step outside during the time is fine, but staying inactive makes no sense at all. What are we expected to do meanwhile? Chant mantras all day?" Kashi wondered how the irrational completely took over the rational mind in matters of pregnancy related superstitions. She would have loved to challenge them but felt powerless to act against such strong beliefs. She had to comply or else the elders would be upset, and that would escalate tensions further. Her husband was away at war, he did not need any news of domestic strife to add to his worries.

"Tai Saheb, I understand. But as long as it relates to the safety of the baby I think you should play along. Your belief in faith is quite strong, don't fret. Everything will be fine!" Baiza assured her.

"We too are as sure about that as you are! If anything happens to us during childbirth we are confident that between Sasubai Saheb, Bhiu Vansa, Anu Vansa, Kakubai Saheb and you, the child will have a well-equipped team of mothers to depend on!" Kashi laughed. Of course she was not going to defy convention, a pregnant woman was not supposed to take any chances.

"Tai Saheb, I am sure the baby will be well-managed! But what about Rau Swami? You must know that he will probably marry again if anything happens to you! Are you comfortable with the thought of a co-wife taking charge of your marital bed? Step-mothers are not exactly brimming over with affection for the offspring of their predecessors!" Baiza had lived long enough to know how things were.

"Baiza, we just want the baby to be born uneventfully! That is our priority right now!" Kashi was about to say her evening prayers. As usual she asked for everyone dear to her to be blessed, including a special prayer for Bhiu. As any mother-to-be Kashi felt a strong connection with the child she was carrying, and the feeling was indescribable, words would not measure up. And she knew that Bhiu deserved to feel the same way.

When the courier's arrival was announced in the mansion of Sardar Dhadphale in Pune where the Peshwa family had taken up temporary residence, Radhabai received it anxiously. She did not want to jump to any conclusions, but the moment she saw that the message was from Kashi's father her hands shook slightly. However in the next few moments her expression turned to joyous one. There were good tidings, her elder daughter-in-law had given birth to her first grandson, and both mother and baby were healthy and well! 

Conveying the news about the childbirth was standard protocol but it also served another important purpose among Hindus. The birth of a child imposed upon his father's family a period of ritual abstinence known as Suyar; during which they could neither worship in temples nor attend any ceremonies, even if the overall mood was that of jubilation at the arrival of an heir.

In the mansion of the Chaskar Joshi family an exhausted but joyous Kashi was just beginning to realise the enormity of the experience of motherhood. In a few hours after she gave birth her milk came in, making her breasts go painfully hard. The midwife helped her nurse the baby and as he suckled by instinct the pain in her bosom began to gradually ease off. Kashi 's diet was carefully supervised by her mother to ensure that her meals were easy to digest, nutritious and were wholesome for the baby.

"There is celebration across Chaskaman, Pune and Saswad. Jawai bapu has ordered for sweets to be distributed to one and all. Gift bearers have been sent across to the Satara court with the good news. And it seems the Chhatrapati has consented to come to Pune attend the baarsey of the baby! Kashi, your mother-in-law has sent word for you and the baby to be sent to Pune, the baarsey has to be celebrated on schedule!" Kashi's mother informed her.

"Do you know that the Chhatrapati and his Ranis are going to our honoured guests for your baarsey?" Kashi smiled at her infant son.

"A chip of the old block, that's what you are!" She had to agree, her son resembled his father more than her. The baby barely understood his mother's words and was content to latch on to his mother's breast. How was he supposed to know that he was to earn his own place in Maratha history like his father before him? 

A tired Kashi fell asleep with the baby still at her breast and Baiza carefully picked him up the and placed him in the cradle by his mother's bed. As she left the peaceful chamber Baiza knew that their lives were going to change dramatically. After all, they were the family of the one man who would rise to the apex position in the Maratha Empire, his charismatic power superseding even that of the king he had sworn to serve!