"Why do I need a new name Jija, I don't like the name Saloni, I want to keep my own name!" Sanyukta reacted vehemently; unhappy with the thought of losing her identity. "Mhari bawli, you need to understand some basics about Rajputana! Here caste is very strong and will remain so for ages to come. Repeated threats from foreign invaders have made the society insular and inward looking. Each caste marries among their kind. How are we going to explain our espousal with Rajput men if our true identity as Baniya women is revealed?"

"Inter-marriage between Baniyas and Rajputs does not exist. Some Baniya families are so wealthy they lend money to Rajput states to finance their administration and their many wars. Thus there can only be an economic give and take between us. A wealthy Baniya girl will only marry someone of her status in her own community. So it is necessary for us to pretend to be the sisters of Suraj Singh. I have no regrets about forgoing my identity at all. In my years of living under sexual slavery the only thing which kept me from killing myself was a strong will to seek retribution for the wrong done unto me. And I am happy I had the opportunity to unmask Sameer in public. They can deny it as much as they want but now everyone who was present there knows what the truth is!"

"By assuming the identities of actual persons who exist we can easily pass off as the sisters whom our husbands married on compassionate grounds following the demise of our brother; who although a Rajput was from a humble background. That will seem less suspicious than for us to pretend to be from a more illustrious clan. About why our marriages took place weeks apart has been explained as some graha dasha which made it necessary to change the time and place for your wedding. Of course this also means that we will never be considered equal in status as our husbands' other high born Rajput wives, but our children will have a legitimate right to succession since the Shekhawats divide their estate equally among their heirs."

Anokhi hoped she could convince Sanyukta, her connivance in the act was vital. "What do you mean by other wives? Randhir cannot marry anyone else!" Sanyukta was suddenly annoyed at the suggestion. "Have you forgotten that Parth married me even when he had a high-born wife like Vidushi, who has already given him a child?" Explaining things to Sanyukta was going to be an uphill task for Anokhi. "But that was because he fell in love with you!" Sanyukta tried building a defence to support her point of view. "Yes, he married me for love, but like he had to marry Vidushi earlier in keeping with prevalent Rajput customs Randhir will also have to, sooner or later!"

"Men among the royalty and nobility take several wives for strategic and political reasons. Randhir will have to give in to this custom even if you bear him the much needed son within nine months of your marriage being consummated. That does not mean he will love you less, you just have to get used to the idea of having co-wives. The custom of polygamy has prevailed among caste Hindus as well as Muslims for centuries, the sooner you adapt the happier you shall be!" Anokhi sighed. The truth was ugly but it had to be told. Because the custom of polygamy was not common among Baniyas and due to a lack of precedent, Sanyukta's mind refused to see reason.

"Lord Ram was a Kshatriya too but he had only one wife, Sita. Why cannot the Rajputs follow his example?" She muttered. "Don't look for solace in the Hindu epics! We do not know how much in those is true and how much has been improvised, also, they are full of contradiction. The Ram we revere for being an Ek-patni-vrat abandoned his wife after his subjects suspected her of having lost her virtue to her abductor Raavan. Ram's father Dashrath had three queen consorts but hundreds of minor wives, as did Krishna. And Draupadi had to accept five brothers as husbands; who took other wives. Was she allowed to marry another man of her choice?" Anokhi drove her point home.

"What should I do Jija? I hate the idea of Randhir being with another woman!" Sanyukta was distraught. "Mhari laado, a few days ago I was in no position to expect anything out of life. A brothel inmate can never escape her fate. The men she entertains discard her like torn clothes after they have taken their pleasure with her. Unless old age or death takes her out of there the brothel is her only home. After Parth rescued me he could have sent me back after his purpose was served but he chose to accept me as his wife even when he knew I was a courtesan. Randhir is the brother of such a man. I have not known the brothers for very long but that I can vouch for their genuineness."

"Unlike Sameer, who would most likely sell you, Randhir is offering you a life of dignity and comfort! Don't forget it will not be easy for him; he will be torn between you and his family who will hardly approve of us. Unlike most other women who must marry the man of their father's choice you have opted to marry for love. Accept the man fully; accept the customs and traditions that bind him to his family and clan. Accept that he has certain obligations to people other than you. He will be a good husband to you and an affectionate father to your progeny, rest assured!"

Anokhi hugged the morose Sanyukta. "We are reaching our destination by the end of this week. If I was in your shoes I would look forward to my wedding night when my body and mind will be united with my lover. Think of the sweet things you can whisper in his ears, the caresses that will gladden his heart, and the kisses that will captivate him and keep him coming for more. Be sensible! I think I will call you Sanyu in private, happy now? You get to keep a part of your original name!" Unconvinced, Sanyukta just placed her head on Anokhi's lap before dozing off.

The sentries who accompanied them kept close vigil to ensure their security. They halted at nights in dharamshalas or serais that were known to be safe havens. Both women kept themselves heavily veiled to protect themselves from public scrutiny. They ate simple vegetarian meals just like the sentries. The days were getting hotter as they travelled through the interiors making Sanyukta, who was unaccustomed to the dry heat of the desert state uncomfortable, she had lived in Bengal all her life. They finally arrived in the remote location which housed the modest mansion that was to be both the wedding venue and their temporary home.

They were received by Parth who led them indoors to freshen up after their long journey. Minutes later he announced himself into Sanyukta's chamber and was welcomed by Anokhi and her. This was his first glance of Sanyukta of whom he had heard so much from Randhir. "Khamma ghani, Bhaiji sa!"I hope you don't mind me calling you that!" Sanyukta stepped forward and greeted him in the traditional fashion, her veil drawn to just below her hairline.

"My brother is not wrong; you are truly blessed with great beauty. Do accept my apologies for having made you two travel alone for so long. Word has it that once your absence was discovered the law was notified and there have been attempts to recover you in a general combing operation. Randhir and I travelled separately for the same reason, to avoid suspicion. This house may be modest but is completely safe for the time being. After the dust settles on the matter of your disappearance we will take you to meet our parents."

"Randhir will be here by evening, and Anokhi will show you your bridal poshak and jewellery. We shall have the mehendi and the pithi dastoor tonight. As you are aware tomorrow is Akshay Tritiya or Akha Teej, one of the most auspicious days for a Hindu wedding. Akshay means eternal and it is believed that a wedding knot tied on this day lasts for eternity! It was our sincere wish to have Randhir and you married off on such a Mahurat. The wedding preparations are close to completion. It may not be a huge wedding because Randhir wanted it low key to keep out trouble. Anokhi, come, let us prepare for the rituals." Parth signalled her to follow him as he left the room.

"Jija, can't you see? Bhaijisa needs you urgently! He is meeting his wife after so long; one cannot blame him for being impatient. I will wait for you until you are through with your pati seva! I can see the costume by myself!" Sanyukta sent the blushing Anokhi behind Parth. She took her wedding poshak out of its fabric binding and was stunned to see the richness of the traditional gold embroidery work on it. Even the jewellery was exquisite; although Parth had said it was a simple wedding they had not spared any expense on the bridal ensemble and accessories.

When Anokhi finally came back Sanyukta gave her a naughty grin. "Jija, you look so exhausted! And your kurti is inside out, how can you be so careless?" She burst out laughing to see Anokhi check herself anxiously in the mirror. "Such a devil you are! I will personally see how many marks Devarji sa leaves on your skin!" Anokhi reminded her of the upcoming wedding night. "Jija, I am so nervous, why do we need the Dai checking on things! Did you go through this indignity too?" Sanyukta whispered, expressing her unease over the primitive ritual. "Sameer proudly displayed his accomplishment to his family by exhibiting the bloody bedsheet. With Parth and me the question did not arise, though Vidushi must have gone through it when Parth deflowered her."

"People here are conservative and we are unknown to the family hitherto. Elders in all families want to verify whether the bride's maidenhead is intact, if there is no bleeding on consummation all hell can break loose. Don't worry, you are unbreached, your lover verified that himself and took care to keep you safe so far!" Anokhi smiled. "But the custom is so regressive! And how do they check the man's virginity?" Sanyukta was familiar with the custom but she disapproved of it like most other women. "You know, men who fall in love with their unbled brides can work around the custom by shedding their own or animal blood on the bedsheet. That is why they may plant an observer in the bridal chamber!" Sanyukta was feeling restless about the invasion of privacy even as Anokhi clarified.

Earlier that day Parth and Anokhi had performed token rituals like the Ganesh Sthapana and Havan to invoke blessings for the wedding. After lunch henna patterns were drawn on Sanyukta's hands and feet. As she sat patiently for hours with her hands and feet occupied Anokhi fed her mithai and sherbet to sustain her. "When will Randhir be here Jija?" She asked. "He has already arrived and is busy with rituals so he cannot be here. You have to maintain the appearance of being unknown to the groom. In a traditional wedding the groom can meet his bride only during the ceremony. Just a day more and you can be in his arms, with sindoor in your hair!" Anokhi smiled warmly at her.