The months passed rapidly as the girls got busy with school work. When she was not with her books her mother made her apprentice in the kitchen, she could cook delicious meals single-handedly and became skilled at turning the most frugal ingredients like grains, pulses and dairy into gourmet delights. This was expected of all Marwari girls, indeed her grandmother had been married off when she was her age, and Sanyukta was scared if her grades dropped or if she did anything to upset her father she may be packed off in the same fashion!

Her mother made sure she took utmost care of her physical appearance- she had to watch her diet strictly and both mother and daughter practised yoga regularly to maintain weight and form. Sanyukta never missed the opportunity to swim in the haveli pool. On the weekend her hair was given a warm oil champi and her body was scrubbed and oiled to keep her skin glowing. While she enjoyed the extra attention she could only guess what the general plan was- pretty girls were easy to marry off. It was hard to find a suitable match for an over-weight, unattractive girl and if one was found at all the dowry demanded was unreasonably high. She disliked the idea of girls being objectified in the marriage market but there was nothing she could do, that was the way of their world.

By the time they hit the teens both Sanyukta and Vidushi had become tall, slender lasses who kept themselves ahead in all school activities-both academic and co-curricular. Vidushi's parents were delighted to see her progress. With Randhir they knew what to expect, it has always been top scores, the boy was so focused. Vidushi was prone to distraction in the past, but things changed with Sanyukta's presence in her life. While Sanyukta still had inhibitions around the haveli she enjoyed spending time with her singular friend. This was the only place her mother permitted her to visit as they lived next door, otherwise Anju would never let her out of sight.

Whenever Randhir came back during the school holidays she still avoided him but he was happy to see the girls bonding well. His interaction with them was scarce; he spent most of his time taking things apart and putting them back together, working out or hanging out with the boys. Renuka was out on business trips frequently and Harsh escaped with his peers to the Shikar kothi out of town where their bacchanalia could go on uninterrupted- his wife would not let him get drunk at home. The children were mostly by themselves with a retinue of house help looking after their needs.

Randhir did notice the changes in the girl next door though. She was no longer the shy, timid child she once was, and she was well on the way to becoming a young woman with sharp features. She sported a tiny diamond nose pin; kohl lined eyes and wore simple traditional attire unlike his sister whose wardrobe was adorned with the latest trends in clothes and shoes.

Sanyukta's reticence came from her conservative upbringing but whenever the girls practised their dance steps to music in his sister's room he could see her sway provocatively to the lilting rhythm through the partially open door. He smiled to see how she tried peering into the haveli kitchen whenever meat was being cooked. Meat was a taboo for her and he wondered why she was curious to learn how to cook it. For all her effort she would probably end up dishing up meals of govind gatte and papad ki subzi in her marital home.

He had never paid much attention to her in the past; he had a fair share of pretty faces following him in school and a little flirting hurt nobody. But this girl was in a different league. He knew she reacted to his presence; there were stolen glances yet she behaved quite normally with him when his sister was present. He just played along, it was too early to get into anything and tenth grade results mattered above all.

Meanwhile to Sanyukta's delight the jasmine bore its first flowers, perfuming the night and gladdening the heart of a girl standing on the cusp of youth.