There was palpable excitement in the rawalas or the women's apartments of the Zenani Deorhi of Samsher Singh's haveli. Because life in these was quite insular and the inmates rarely ventured into the world outside, Randhir's unique idea of bringing a mela or fair indoors, combining the element of entertainment and retail therapy for the benefit of the womenfolk of the household was an instant hit. In the morning each of his female cousins had received a goody bag with bangles, leheriya odhnis and fabrics of silk and zari from him, acting as a teaser to the tempting goods that awaited their scrutiny in the haveli courtyard. He made sure to gift all his male cousins jamas, stoles and achkhans and his guardsmen sets of anagarkha, dhoti and turbans. He sent all of Samsher's wives and concubines rich fabrics, cordially inviting them to visit the mela with their children. Having fulfilled his obligation he waited patiently for his favourite aunt to appear, accompanied by his object of affection while the other girls and women were taking full advantage of the jamboree. 

A palmist gave people an insight into their futures, rarely giving morbid news and promising all unmarried girls a rich and valourous husband. Patwas were stringing fine basra pearls and carved stone beads into necklaces with minakari and thewa pendants adorning their centres.Peddlers of colourful glass and metal bangles were mobbed by the gregarious girls, causing their sparkling wares to disappear quickly. In a corner a maker of lac trinkets fashioned objects in the patterns and hues desired by the young girls, sticking in bits of mirrors, metal wire or stones to make each piece unique. To one side a woman was adorning willing palms with fine motifs of Marwari mehndi, while maids squeezed the juice of limes over them to help the stain darken. A Jaipuri jutti vendor was coaxing both tiny and large feet inside tastefully embroidered shoes. Fabric sellers were tempting the women to gaze at thaans of cloth in zari, mashru butadar- silk and cotton woven together with floral motifs- fine chinese silk, block printed material to be turned into ghagras, blouses, dupattas and sarees, with the darjans or female seamstresses offering to make clothes to the desired fit and styles. 

 Perfumers offered essential oils of sandal, rose, jasmine, , frangipani, musk and vetiver to scent the body. Chitarias or artists offered to make sketches and paintings for all who had the patience to sit still for a few minutes. Kathputli theatre artists enacted the tale of Dhola Maru using their colourful string marionettes, attracting the young boys and girls. Halwais hired by Randhir were turning out kachoris, gujia and jalebis for the entire household, including the haveli staff and the guard battalion accompanying him. Randhir wondered why his aunt was held up, more importantly he began worrying if Sanyukta's fever had taken a worse turn, unable to make up his mind about going over to enquire after her. Just as he was about to send someone over to remind them to attend the doors of her rawala were thrown open and maids led the way for their elegantly dressed mistress accompanied by the veiled young girl whose sight caused his heart to flutter. Sanyukta was dressed in a flowing coral and silver tissue lehenga with a midriff baring zari choli, her gossamer dupatta both concealing as well as revealing her seductive frame. 

She wore pearl and kundan jewellery, he was unsure if it was her own or borrowed from his aunt, however he did not fail to notice that she had taken off the silver jewellery she usually wore and he guessed it had to do with how she had been belittled on arrival for her unassuming appearance. Right now she looked nothing short of a princess, drawing the attention of all the haveli women who had not seen her earlier, but were quite curious about her. She kept her head down out of modesty, unsure how to conduct herself, although her hostess had briefed her about what to expect, she still had butterflies in her stomach, this was Randhir's extended family after all. As  Randhir stepped forth to receive his aunt out of courtesy Sanyukta failed to anticipate his movement and the fabric of her voluminous lehenga snagged in her brocade shoe causing her to trip and fall forward straight into the grip of his sturdy arms. As he tried to steady her on her feet their eyes met for an instance and he was spellbound with her beauty and her fragrance, unwilling to let go of her. He had the sudden urge to shout out and proclaim publicly that she was his intended. 

Alerted by the sniggering of the girls standing nearby they immediately distanced each other's frames and his aunt stepped forth asking him to lead the way to the haveli temple wherein Sanyukta had expressed a wish to pay obeisance. She had risen early in the morning, bathed and had prepared the sweet lapsi prasad that her hostess had advised her to make because it was the obligatory offering to the Goddess. Randhir led the way as the women stepped toward the altar, handing over to the Purohit the vessel containing the lapsi offering. The Purohit asked the lady of the house if her young guest expected any particular blessing from the deity and she simply replied that the girl sincerely wanted the Goddess to grant her the husband her heart had chosen, causing Randhir to pass Sanyukta a sharp look while she cleverly evaded his eye, keeping her palms folded and her head bent in prayer as the Purohit chanted the invocation to grant her heartfelt wish for her Manpasand Var. The priest gave Sanyukta the vessel containing the consecrated lapsi and she first offered it to Randhir and his aunt, helping herself to a small portion and returning the rest to the Purohit so that it may be distributed to all. 

As they made their way back to the mela in the courtyard Randhir's aunt introduced Sanyukta to all the senior women of the haveli and she in turn bowed low, offering them a formal greeting just like a new bride would. Seeing how everyone including Randhir were observing her carefully made her a panic a bit, and she whispered in the aunt's ear asking for permission to return to the apartment. As he watched her disappear behind the doors Randhir looked confused, his hidden objective behind organising the fair was to help break the monotony for her, giving him a chance to indulge her without people finding anything untoward. His aunt smiled and whispered to him that he had forgotten to invite Sanyukta to attend the fair, so it would be awkward for her to do so as she was a stranger in the household. And to really rub things in she reminded him that she was unsure if the girl was given an allowance by her father, thus without being invited and without money to spend she had no reason to be in the courtyard. As he looked helplessly to his aunt unable to find words to express she softened a bit reiterating to him her lunch invitation, telling him that the real reason the girl had run off was that she was cooking up the feast personally. One way he could thank Sanyukta for the effort could be by offering her gifts of his choice.