It rained erratically in the semi-arid part of Rajputana where the haveli was located but during the  occasional shower the eager earth soaked up the moisture like a sponge, holding on dearly to the precious reserve. The locals had devised ingenious ways to harvest the rainwater. Through the year it helped nurture hardy crops of millets, pulses and oilseeds. Sanyukta was happy for the respite, the rains had quelled the oppressive heat of the summer. She was not accustomed to the desert climate but was scared to say it aloud. How could she disclose that she had grown up in Bengal instead of Rajputana? She merely emulated Anokhi and by now she was able to pass off as a local Rajput girl without arousing suspicion.

She hoped to assimilate the ways of the clans before she met Randhir's family. Even the thought made her nervous. While Anokhi was busy giving instructions to the haveli kitchen Sanyukta made herself comfortable on the covered terrace attached to the apartments.  Ratna knew enough about the decorum of a Rajput haveli but owing to the freedom promised to her by Randhir there was no stopping her. The faithful retainers of the haveli turned a blind eye to her nosing around the corridors. She was all over the house with Ruma the baby monkey whom she carried in her arms. By now Ruma was quite accustomed to her adoptive mother and appeared unperturbed during the grand tour of the haveli.

"Here you are, I knew I would find you here! Missing your husband already?" Anokhi smiled to see Sanyukta lost in thought. "Nothing like that, Jija. I was just enjoying the view. Everything looks so fresh and green to the eye." She responded. "You must be missing the lush tropical rains of Bengal!" Anokhi was empathetic, Sanyukta had to go a long way before she felt at home in the stark vista of Rajputana. "I wonder where Ratnavali Baisa is, she had made up her mind to do a complete recce of the haveli and the grounds. I hope she stays out of trouble or we shall have it from Kunwarji sa!" Anokhi smiled, wondering if Ratna's mother ever fretted over her.

"You are starting to feel maternal toward Ratna!" Sanyukta felt the tiniest stab of envy. She had always taken Anokhi's affection for herself for granted. "Don't forget that you are close to my heart, my little sister. I am just being protective toward Ratna, that's all!" Anokhi assured her. Sanyukta's hormones seemed to be acting up already, probably explaining her mood swings. Just then there was a rustle of clothes and sound of footsteps behind them. It was Ratna, carrying a sling bag across her left shoulder. Ruma sat perched on her right shoulder, maintaining a firm grip on Ratna's hair. 

 Ratna set down an iridescent peacock feather with raindrops still glistening on it. Taking their cue from the rains the peacocks were in full mating vigour and one could spot some flamboyant male birds display their shimmering fan to attract the peahens. "Look what else I found!" Ratna spoke excitedly, drawing out what looked like a leather bound brass spyglass. She peered into it to surveying the grounds around the haveli. "Splendid! I can even see what the farmer's wife is cooking inside her pot over there." She went on, describing the many birds which she spotted in the bush. "Would you like to look through the spyglass?" She addressed Anokhi and Sanyukta. 

Sanyukta and Anokhi walked toward her and she handed them the spyglass, demonstrating how to view through it. Sanyukta felt amazed to see the clarity of details in distant objects which were visible through the spyglass. "Firangis use it to keep a lookout onboard a ship at sea or to study enemy formations during battles. These glass lenses help to magnify the object being viewed. The Firangis must be rather clever to invent such amazing gadgets." Ratna shared the information with great pride. "Did you bring this along with your trousseau?" Sanyukta asked. Somehow the gadget looked vaguely familiar. "No, I just borrowed it from Kunwarji sa's kit." Ratna responded. 

Sanyukta handed the spyglass back to Ratna and returned to the shade where she had been sitting earlier Anokhi followed her. "I know she is a guileless child, Jija. Then why does it bother me so much to think of her as a co-wife?" Sanyukta worded out her concern. "Just look at her Sanyu, do you see her fretting? She does not see you as a conjugal rival. She is a carefree little bird, living in the moment. I guess no wife wants to be part of a polygamous marriage but is forced to accept the arrangement. It must be rare for polygamous wives to unite because jealousy and insecurity is a rational outcome when the husband is being shared."

"In your case, Devarji sa had the second marriage forced on him. In mine, my husband chose to marry me out of compassion even when he had a fulfilling relationship with Vidushi Baisa. She has a tangible reason to resent me as she had no say in the matter. Sanyu, if I were you I would focus on what I have rather than what I don't. I know it is easier said than done but if you let the disenchantment rule your mind you may simply let your best times pass you by!" Anokhi knew it was an uphill task for Sanyukta to accept her argument so she simply changed the topic. "I have an idea Sanyu, let us play Chaupar, it will be fun!" She said enthusiastically. They went indoors and asked a maid to join in the board game played with cowrie shells and wooden pawns.

After a simple lunch of bajra roti, dal and subzi they continued to play Chaupar. Anokhi tossed the cowrie shells with a practised hand, doing better than the others. They hardly realised when Randhir returned, following their laughter and boisterous banter to the chamber. "Not fair, while the men work in the hot sun the women have a jolly good time enjoying board games!" The women rolled up their game and Anokhi asked the maid to serve Randhir a refreshing glass of buttermilk. "Where is my treat?" Ratna asked him. "Treat? Gosh, I forgot about your mithai completely!" He smiled. "Liar, I know you would never forget!" Ratna said before running downstairs to claim her prize. 

She returned with a maid carrying a basket of besan burfi. "It is without khoya and will keep for a couple of days. So don't overeat and don't feed it to your monkey, it will make her sick!" Randhir told Ratna who was munching on the burfi while feeding Ruma spoonfuls of milk with the patience of a mother. At Randhir's request Anohki asked for dinner to be served early. The meal was a basic kadhi-khichdi affair. Randhir and Sanyukta left for their chamber while Anokhi and Ratnavali continued to chat. Ratna found it easier to relate to Anokhi because Sanyukta's approach continued to be formal. It would take Ratna years to figure out the reason behind it.

Safely ensconced in their chamber Randhir and Sanyukta embraced like long lost lovers meeting unexpectedly. "She is a child Sanyu, I have to overlook her minor trespasses. She has always been bitten from head to toe with curiosity and makes her own rules!" Randhir reasoned with his wife, who, much to his amusement, was exhibiting signs of mild jealousy. "Show me how much you love me!" She said as she threw off her odhni. "True love is intangible Sanyu, it cannot be quantified and assessed. Is it not evident in my interaction with you? If you imagined me climbing the highest mountain or crossing the oceans for you prepare to be disappointed. You chose to marry a practical man, not a poet." He took her in a fond embrace.

"If you had not approached me first we would never be married. You are the hopeless romantic, not me!" He planted a kiss on her forehead as she played with his hair. "You are not even trying to be!" She whined. "All right, let me try. I remember trying to push your thoughts away when I was your bodyguard. I wanted to avoid a scandal. My men, however, were surprisingly mature, they accepted our chemistry. Whenever you visited me in my tent they looked the other way, trying to give us space. These are combat men who have little time for romance in their own life, but they indulged me. I assume they were living their fantasy through my overtures. Their empathy actually helped control my lust, because I did not know how our journey would end!" He hoped that she could understand why he had taken things slowly.

"But now we are together and I am running out of patience!" She remarked, before kissing him passionately as they disrobed. "Why do I feel the pregnancy has made you keener?" He asked. "I don't know, but you are right,  I want us to stay in bed day and night!" Her voice was surprisingly gruff. "Easy, my tigress, overkill may hasten burnout!" He knew he had to be cautious. In response she slid off the bed and moved to the open window, letting the moonlight bathe her bare skin. With a smile on his face he followed her.

In the light of the fair moon

Your sensuous form beckons

My lips long to spar with yours

In your arms lies my deliverance

Come fill my cup to the brim

Let's toast the life we made

And reiterate our promise

To walk together always

He nuzzled up against her and his fingers began exploring her. "My poetry may be amateur but my thoughts for you right now are quite mature!" He grinned, grinding himself against her. Gently raising her foot on the window ledge he went on his knees, placing himself between her legs and teasing her with his fingers till she was groaning. Resting her back against the wall she invited him to continue to pleasure her and he obliged willingly. In a few minutes she was moaning out her climax. She dragged him back to the bed in eager anticipation. 

"I'll try to be gentle!" He whispered. "Don't worry, I am fine!" She responded, helping him set the right tempo. "I love you even more now!" He remarked,  referring to their bond which had stronger because of the baby in her womb. "Don't ever change the way you feel about me!" She replied earnestly. They continued their pillow talk till they grew drowsy. "We should sleep now, our baby has experienced enough excitement for one night!" He told her before they drifted off to sleep, locked in a lover's embrace.