Maya's POV:

I stepped through the door, the comforting scent of spices and incense enveloped me, wrapping me in a warm embrace. Home. It was always a sanctuary, a place where time seemed to slow down and worries faded away.

"Maya, dear, is that you?" My grandmother's voice floated from the kitchen, a melodic invitation to come closer.

I made my way into the cozy kitchen, where my grandmother was bustling about, a hint of flour dusting her cheeks as she kneaded dough for her famous chapatis. The rhythmic thud of her rolling pin against the countertop filled the air, a comforting backdrop to our conversation.

"Hey, grandma," I greeted her with a smile, leaning against the doorway. "How was your day?"

She paused her work, turning to face me with a warm smile. "Oh, you know, the usual. But seeing you makes it so much better," she replied, her eyes twinkling with affection.

I chuckled, crossing the room to give her a quick hug. "Likewise, grandma. So, what's on the agenda for today?"

She gestured to the small table by the window, where a steaming pot of chai awaited us. "Well, I thought we could enjoy some chai together and catch up on some tales."

Settling into the chair opposite her, I poured myself a cup of chai, relishing the spicy aroma that filled the room. As we sipped our tea, we exchanged stories and laughter, the cares of the outside world fading into the background.

My parents had gone out of town for a business trip and I could finally have time to enjoy with grandma.

My grandmother set aside her work and turned to me with a knowing smile. "I have a story to tell you, Maya," she said, her voice soft yet filled with a hint of mystery. "A story that has been passed down through generations of our family. Are you ready to hear it?"

Grandmother's voice carried the weight of memories as she spoke of her golden childhood days in the princely state of Jamnagar under the kind rule of the Jam Saheb. She thought about the past, about the sprawling palace gardens where she played hide-and-seek with her cousins, the ornate festivals that lit up the night sky like a thousand stars, and the gentle elephants that roamed freely through the royal grounds.

As the conversation drifted towards the tumultuous years of the 1950s and 1960s, her expression grew sad. She recounted how the winds of change brought with them a new wave of Hindutva movement's emotionally intense feelings that swept through the land, stirring up tensions between Hindus and Muslims. The once harmonious existence in Jamnagar was shattered by riots fueled by fear and riots, leaving scars that ran deep in the fabric of society.

But in the midst of chaos and division, grandmother found herself drawn to the thinking of togetherness and freedom that echoed through the land. She remembered stories from her own youth, stories of a time when people set aside their differences to work together for the common good. As she dug deeper into these memories, she felt a stirring within her soul, a call to action that she could not ignore.

With a newfound sense of purpose, grandmother began to search for others who shared her vision of a brighter future. Together, they formed a secret alliance and decided to spark a revolution that would bring togetherness and freedom back to their broken and separated world.

As grandmother and her fellow revolutionaries gathered in the dimly lit room, their hushed voices filled with determination and hope. They knew that their mission would not be easy, but they were willing to risk everything for the sake of their beloved homeland.

They brainstormed ideas, drawing from the rich history of India's independence movement. Grandmother shared her knowledge of non-violent resistance and civil disobedience, inspired from the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

Their first step was to reach out to people from all walks of life, spreading their message of unity and peaceful coexistence through speeches, pamphlets, and community gatherings. They also used art and music as powerful tools to convey their message and unite people under a common cause.

Despite facing opposition from those who sought to maintain the status quo, Grandmother and her allies persevered. Slowly but surely, their movement gained momentum and attracted more followers who were touched by their unwavering dedication to bringing about change.

Their first step was to reach out to people from all walks of life, spreading their message of unity and peaceful coexistence through speeches, posters, and community gatherings. They also used art and music as powerful tools to show their message and unite people under a common cause.

Despite opposition from those who tried to maintain the status quo, grandmother and her friends kept at it. Slowly but surely, their movement gained speed and power and attracted more followers who were touched by their steady dedication to bringing about change.

But as time passed, it became clear that their efforts alone were not enough. The government continued to hold disagreement and start violence against minority communities. It was then that grandmother knew that more extreme measures needed to be taken.

With a heavy heart, she proposed a plan for a mass protest—a peaceful demonstration to raise knowledge about the terribly unfair treatments bothering and interfering with their society. Despite the risks involved, her fellow activists agreed that it was necessary for the greater good.

The day of the protest arrived, with thousands taking to the streets in solidarity. As they marched towards the seat of power in Jamnagar, grandmother felt a sudden rush of feeling of emotions welling up inside her. She looked around at the sea of faces united in purpose—Hindus standing arm-in-arm with Muslims, people from different social classes marching side-by-side—and knew that this was what true togetherness looked like.

Although they faced opposition from people in charge along the way, the protest remained peaceful as they reached their destination and presented their demands to the government. The officials listened intently as the leader of the protest, a young woman named Anandi bai, clearly stated their complaints and organized and listed their proposed solutions. The room fell silent as Anandi bai finished speaking, her words hanging in the air like a powerful song.

After a few moments of tense silence, the chief official sitting at the head of the table slowly leaned forward, his expression unreadable.

"We hear you," he began, his voice steady but mixed with a tiny bit of caution. "Your demands are not unheard, and we will take them into the process of carefully thinking about something." Anandi bai's heart fluttered unsteadily with a small amount of hope as she exchanged a knowing quick look with her fellow protestors.

But just as she started to feel a sense of victory blossoming within her chest, a riot shot up at the back of the room. A group of armed guards suddenly burst in, their weapons raised angrily and dangerously as they surrounded the protestors.

Anandi bai's hopes were shattered as she realized that their peaceful protest was about to take a dangerous turn. The government officials watched in silence as the tension in the room thickened, the air charged with doubt and fear. Anandi bai stood her ground, her eyes blazing with refusal to cooperate even as the guards closed in on them.

But just as it seemed like all hope was lost, a voice rang out from the doorway.

"Stop this madness!" The figure that came out from the shadows was none other than grandmother, Savitri bai herself, her face a mask of strong determination and resolve. She stepped forward, her presence commanding attention as she addressed the chief official directly.

"We came here in peace, looking for justice and unity," Grandmother's voice echoed through the room, steady in its belief. "Violence will only breed more violence. Do not let fear cloud your judgment."

The chief official hesitated, his look switching between grandmother and the armed guards. For a moment, it seemed like he was caught in a struggle between duty and people. And then, to everyone's surprise, he lowered his hand, signaling the guards to stand down. The tension in the room reduced as the armed guards reluctantly stepped back, their weapons lowered.

He regarded grandmother with a mix of respect and curiosity. "You have shown great courage and wisdom today," he admitted, his voice mixed with admiration and respect. "I will make sure of that your complaints are looked at and that steps are taken towards helping peace in our land."

A wave of relief washed over the protestors as they realized that their message had been heard and recognized. Anandi bai stepped forward, her voice filled with thankfulness as she thanked the chief official for his understanding.

Grandmother's eyes shone with pride as she watched the scene happening before her. The seeds of change had been planted, and she knew that this was only the beginning of a long trip towards a more just and harmonious society.

I sat there listening to it all, absorbing the tales and the battles she participated in. It really moved me.

Grandma went on to narrate how even after the initial success, things didn't pan out in the same way as they expected. A decade later, the partition went on, and Pakistan was established, to which most Muslim populations chose to relocate since it was safer there than here.

Jammu-Kashmir region was in no good place too. The king requested several times to Nehru about declaring their state as a part of India, but, of course he had to ignore it. He never signed it.

And even today, the state struggles to keep its autonomy. They cannot surrender to India's domain entirely although the clause was signed at last, it didn't help that Pakistan had already destroyed a lot before a step was taken.

There was a lot to contemplate from this tale. I sat there in silence with my grandma in her dim lit room.

I glanced at the wall clock to discover it was 11 PM.

"I hope you enjoyed today's tale" she finally broke the silence with a warm smile that lightened up her face.

I returned her smile with equal enthusiasm, "Yeah grandma, it was the best. You were the best. You still are."

"I don't know kid, I have never found my peace since that day. Were all our efforts in vain? Why did this have to happen?" Her voice began to crack as she complained, her emotions welling up inside her. I pulled her close to me and hugged her.

I had never understood why the people we trusted to make the best decisions for us turned against us, but if there's anything that I know, I am not going to sit back and let them win.

❛in the few furrows upon his cheek I read the fables of sorrow, and
weariness, and disgust with mankind, and a longing after solitude.❜
— Edgar Allan Poe

Word Count: 1695

A/N: writing this chapter was so much fun, oh my goodness!

it took me quite the while, but finally we're here, yay!

i didn't expect to write such a long chapter but, here we are xD let me know how you liked the chapter, comment your thoughts and opinions!

catch ya later,
sara <3