"Kay Vahini Saheb? What do you think of this trip?" Chimaji's tone was friendly as he addressed his sister-in-law Kashi. "It was wonderful to visit the temple at Kurkumbh, considering the Goddess in our family deity!" Kashi replied. She felt fortunate to be married into the family. Her relation with both her sisters-in-law was cordial. Even Chimaji was like a brother to her and she doted on him. Her husband and father-in-law were busy with their professional lives but Radhabai handled things so well in their absence that domestic harmony was always maintained. Kashi could not have asked for a more perfect home.

"Oh, we were actually referring to something else, if you know what we mean! You have hardly been out of the wada and this is your first trip along with Rau. So what do you have to say now?" Chimaji smirked as he saw Kashi blush. "Chala Bhaoji, khatyaal kuthley! As if your brother has time for us even if we have travelled together so far!" She complained. She was right, ever since Bajirao had been made incharge of his own Huzurat last year he was too occupied with his work to spare much attention to his young bride. 

"Don't worry Vahini, he will come around quickly. After all we have something special planned for the evening." Chimaji whispered to her surreptitiously. "And what would that be, may we ask?" She was curious. "No, you may not! Guess you'll just have to wait to find out!" He smiled at her look of anticipation. Just then Bhiu and Anu returned from their survey of their camp's surroundings. 

"Vahini, do you know that there are green fields of jowar and sugarcane all around us? Come, let us explore the place. We came back to get you." Bhiu said to Kashi. "But how can we? It is not proper for us to be wandering off by ourselves." Kashi voiced her doubt. As the elder daughter-in-law of the Peshwa she was required to maintain decorum. She was tempted to join them but she hesitated.

"Arey Deva, Vahini! You are such a scaredy cat! We are not in our wada at Saswad right now, we are on a holiday, we are supposed to unwind. And Aai Saheb is not here for you to tiptoe around. Let us take Appa with us. Appa, would you mind accompanying us girls?" Bhiu addressed Chimaji who consented immediately. "Inform Rau Saheb that we are going for a walk through the fields toward the river bank." Chimaji told a guard to convey his message to Bajirao, who was in the midst of a discussion with his council of soldiers.

Soon the four of them- Anu, Bhiu, Kashi and Chimaji were strolling through the verdant fields enjoying a snack of freshly cut sugarcane. Chewing the cane was an effort and needed strong teeth but those who took the trouble won a juicy sweet reward. "Appa look!" Anu held out a broken tooth for them to see. She was nearly six and her milk teeth were ready to fall out. This one, a lower centre incisor, had been shaking and it came off effortlessly when she bit into the cane.

"Congratulations Anu, here's a medal in honour of this brave little soldier who sacrificed himself after serving you loyally for five long years!" Chimaji handed her a silver coin and Anu received it with a happy grin, celebrating her first fallen tooth. "Vansa, this a good sign. It is nature's way of saying that you are growing older. In a few years you will be ready to move to your in-laws place!" Kashi said to Anu indulgently. "We don't want to leave Aai Saheb, Rau and all of you. Let that family come and live with us in our home if they want to!" She declared firmly and everyone laughed at her innocence.

"Looks like Baba Saheb and Rau will have to build you a mansion close to ours so you don't have to move away when you are older!" Bhiu said to her younger sister. Anu was everyone's favourite and Bajirao pampered her like a princess, what Bhiu predicted about him building her a home close to theirs could well become true. 

Kashi looked around. There were lush fields as far as the eye could see. The ears of the tender millet looked like clusters of green jade. Chirping birds flitted among the fields and farmer's wives could be seen using slings called gofan to discourage them from snacking on the grain. The air was pure and fresh and Kashi wrapped the shawl around herself tightly to beat the winter chill. Chimaji was right, this was indeed her first trip with the family after being married. Too bad her husband was otherwise occupied!

Just then they heard the sound of strong hooves approaching. In a few moments they could clearly see the handsome young rider clad in a snow white angarkha, sitting tall on his mount. Kashi's heart leapt with joy at the sight. Bajirao smiled at them and was about to dismount when Anu interrupted him. "Rau, we want to ride with you, please!" She threw her arms toward him and Bajirao plucked her off the ground expertly, seated her on the saddle and galloped ahead toward the river bank. They could hear Anu's squeals of delight as she enjoyed the joyride and Kashi felt envious wishing she had been riding with her warrior husband in Anu's place.

When they reached the river bank Anu was strolling around with her brother and the horse without his rider had his snout dipped into the waters of the Bhima, drinking deeply. He was a Bhimthadi pony. The waters from rivers in Maharashtra such as the Bhima, Pravara, Nira, Ghodnadi and Godavari suited these horses well. The ponies bred around the rivers grew up to be strong, swift and loyal. Since the cavalry was the strongest arm of the Maratha army the riders looked after their mounts with great care. Unlike their father before them both Bajirao and Chimaji had grown up to become skilled riders and trained warriors. These talents were vital for nurturing the expansionist dream of the Marathas.

"If the water wasn't too cold we could all go swimming!" Bajirao said to his wife who looked startled at the suggestion. What a preposterous idea, Kashi though. How could women go swimming when there were men present? "You can swim, can you not?" He had a sparkle in his eye as he noticed her awkwardness. "Of course we can!" It was the truth. She had been brought up in the village of Chas in Khed near Pune, on the eastern bank of the very same Bhima river. All children growing up in her village learnt to swim in the river or wells, but that had been a long time ago. Her cheeks became increasingly crimson and Chimaji perceptively saw the delicacy of the situation. His brother was flirting with his wife and she was slowly responding to his overtures.

"Anu, Bhiu, come on! Let me show you the sights downriver!" He winked at Bhiu who gave him a knowing smile and grasped Anu's hand before following Chimaji. "But why are Rau and Vahini not coming along?" Anu was confused as she turned around to look behind her. "You know how delicate Kashi Vahini is! She is tired from walking and needs to rest. Rau has to stay to look after her. Don't worry, we shall meet them on our way back!" Bhiu tried to convince her. Within minutes Anu forgot all about the matter as Chimaji entertained his sisters with tales about his adventures.

"Swami, what are you doing? Someone may see us!" Kashi's heart was beating as fast as the hooves of a galloping horse. Bajirao, exploiting the opportunity of solitude, had dragged her deep into the jowar fields where no one could spot them lying down between the crops. Rather than reply he drew her closer and kissed her deeply. With her eyes tightly shut Kashi savoured the thrill and surrendered herself to her eager husband who was, just like her, in the flower of his youth. "Do you know that the Firangis take their wives on a trip called honeymoon soon after the wedding? They lock themselves into their rooms without a stitch upon them and don't emerge from the room until they are fully sated." He grinned as her face registered shock.

"Don't the in-laws object?" She asked, trying to envision herself in the situation. "Who told you the in-laws go along for the honeymoon? And I am sure they would not object, having fond memories of their own honeymoon." He laughed. "The Firangis have a strange culture indeed!" Kashi remarked. "We think it is a most appropriate and healthy practice. The universal aim of marriage is to procreate, so why should anyone have a problem with the union of two bodies and minds?"

" It is the husband's privilege to make love to his bride, it is perfectly natural. But since you find it awkward here let us make our way back to camp. You shall spend the night in my tent, that way we can make good our unfinished business. Come on, ride with me!" They helped each other to dust off their clothes and he swung her on top of the horse with him. "You wished to be in the saddle with me instead of Anu, and now your wish has been granted!" He spoke close to her ear. "We didn't know you could read minds!" Kashi whispered back.

"We can easily read your mind from your body language!" His hands grasped her firmly along with the reins and the horse trotted at a leisurely pace for Kashi's comfort. This trip had been the occasion for many firsts, likewise this was the first time she was riding a horse with him. She admired his adeptness as a rider, one could think that he controlled his horse telepathically. 

"Please let us dismount a little distance before we reach the camp!" She appealed to him. "Laadubai, you should stop feeling awkward, you are married to the Peshwa's heir-apparent, don't forget!" He reminded her but nevertheless halted a little before the camp and they walked the remaining distance as they continued to chat.

The evening air almost froze the fragile Kashi to the core and she sat huddled around the raging bonfire next to Bhiu and Anu. To her surprise both the brothers seemed unaffected. Like ordinary foot soldiers they helped the men in roasting the tender cobs of the pearl millet over the fire, throwing in other foods like cobs of corn, brinjals, sweet potatoes and onions into the flame for baking. 

Elsewhere someone was grilling fresh chickpeas inside their pods in an iron wok. As soon as the jowar was roasted to perfection Bajirao rubbed the grains off their ears while the others seasoned and mixed them with chopped onions. Deft hands peeled the burnt skins off the brinjals and the onions, making a rustic bharit of the mashed vegetables, flavouring it with salt, chilli peppers and clarified butter. 

Soon everyone was enjoying the winter bonfire feast of the hurda (roasted jowar) sprinkled with lemon juice and accompanied with the other grilled vegetables like chickpeas, corn and sweet potatoes. Jowar bhakris topped with the mashed brinjals were served on leaf plates, along with crumbled jaggery and spicy chutney made with sesame seeds, peanuts and dried red chillies pounded with salt over stones. Their dessert was fresh guavas and sweet sour jujube berries. 

Cooking and eating off the land by the campfire was routine for the fighting men. Bajirao and Chimaji had adapted to the soldier's ways. But for Kashi, Bhiu and Anu the experience was unique. It was the best meal of Kashi's life and the simplicity and ingenuity of it amazed her. Everything they had eaten grew around the area where they had camped, life could not be simpler and more blissful.

That night inside their tent under the stars amid millet fields Bajirao made love to his willing wife till she was exhausted. Later she let him envelope her in his strong arms as his fingers caressed her flowing locks. "The campfire meal was Chimna's idea, he rallied the men to prepare the soldier's treat just for you and the girls." He told her something she had already guessed. So this was the surprise Chimaji had promised! She felt grateful toward the brothers for making her feel special. 

"We know, and we appreciate Bhaoji, you and all your men for the effort! We feel immensely proud to see how well you bond with everyone!" Her pride was evident in her voice. "They are my extended family, Kashi! Around the campfire there is no difference between the general and his soldiers. We cook together and share our meals like brothers. In the army there is no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, religion and social background." His camaraderie with his men was reciprocated in equal measure, he was well-respected despite his youth.

"We can see why these men have pledged loyalty to the cause of Swarajya. They are brave fighters who are willingly to lay down their lives for you because you treat them like your own. We realised this when we saw it with our own eyes tonight!" She linked her fingers with his and he gave them an affectionate squeeze. "When an army wins a battle the commander gets the credit but honestly the ones who deserve praise are the ordinary soldiers who could be cultivators, potters, oil-pressers or shepherds otherwise. The general's role as a leader is to motivate his men to unleash their full potential in battle." 

Even in the darkness Bajirao could see that her eyelids had grown heavy. "You should sleep! We have to rise early tomorrow morning." He told her. "We are lucky to be the wife of the one who is destined to bring glory to our people!" She didn't know at that time that destiny had already carved her words in stone. She was married to the man who would be an epoch maker in Maratha history. She was too young and inexperienced to know what true love was but she made a pact with herself that she would stand by her man through thick and thin. She owed it to herself as much as to him.