"I did not know you would be up so soon, maybe your wife's arms were not cosy enough to keep you in bed!" Randhir did not have to look up from his exercise to guess who the person was. Tara looked daisy fresh and stunning. She was adorned merely with a pair of jhumkas and a simple bracelet. She wore a deep necked choli over her red and silver lehenga to great effect, accentuating her curves and midriff. It was enough to make any man lust after her. Randhir was no stranger to her tricks but he decided to tread carefully around her.

"I am guessing my brother is still sleeping off his night's excesses although you don't seem to have suffered much yourself!" Randhir stood up, his body glistening with sweat. Tara liked what she saw. Her eyes roved over the heady sight before her, barely blinking once.

"You know I have years of professional experience and as much stamina for working late into the night. I get my rest by taking power naps during the day. And I take pride in what I am do because I am good at my job! But it bothers me that you consistently refuse to take advantage of my skills!" Tara did not see any point in beating around the bush with Randhir. 

"If you assume that I think you are not good enough at your art, don't be! I have told you this before, you beauty is exquisite and so is your art. Your problem is you don't know how to take no for an answer. My wife is pregnant with our first child, Tara! I feel quite sated. I suggest you stop trying. Since you gave your consent to the chooda ceremony your status would be equivalent to that of my brother's wife. Don't forget that!" He reminded her.

"I know that your wife being heavily pregnant must make intimacy difficult.  After she delivers her baby she will be out of bounds to you for at least six weeks. And little Ratna is still a bud waiting to bloom!A man who is accustomed to the pleasures of the bed cannot remain ungratified for long. Sooner or later you will crave a woman's body under yours! Then you will see me in a different light, as someone who is fully able and willing to satisfy your desires." Tara's eyes wore a come-hither look as she spoke!

"Sometime soon, I hope, the day will dawn when the swell of your bosom shall be put to better use than it has been so far. I'd much rather have you nurse the child you may bear my brother beneath your chunri than waste your time trying to seduce me. Now if you excuse me my wife probably need me to rub her back or to make love to her the first thing in the morning." Randhir walked away hoping to take a bath and to greet his sleeping wife. He did not know that he was leaving Tara thirsting for him even more than he knew.

Tara was unsure if he was actually under the spell of his wife or if he was merely trying to avoid her because she had agreed to become Parth's concubine. As much as she relished the thought of annoying her cousin Vidushi by sharing her husband her real motive was to get as close to Randhir as she could. As a pardaayat of Parth she was expected to remain loyal to him as any wedded wife but she knew that Parth would overlook her indiscretion as long as she confined her straying to his younger brother. It was known to happen, a mistress would sometimes be shared between brothers although the status of such a woman would be much lower than that of a loyal concubine. Tara didn't care about that as long as it served her purpose. Randhir had mentioned children. Not that she was the maternal kind but something told her Randhir's perception had been altered by his peasant girl's pregnancy.

The family astrologer was consulted for Sanyukta's baby shower and he set the mahurat for within a few days of their return from the hunting lodge. Going by protocol Renuka scheduled Tara's chooda ceremony for the day after the godh-bharai. Until then Tara could not be formally accommodated into the women's apartments so she remained at the hunting lodge. 

On the day of the baby shower Sanyukta was anointed with fragrant oils, bathed and dressed with care.  On her request lightweight jewellery was chosen for her. Anokhi personally decorated her limbs with bright red henna patterns.

"You look as radiant as a new bride, my dear!?" Anokhi said putting a dot of kohl behind Sanyukta's ear, hoping to ward off any evil. 

"Do you really think so, Jija? Sadly, my breasts and tummy have grown huge and my hips are too wide. I am sure Kunwarji dislikes my body now. Things are not as they used to be. He avoids making love saying he thinks it may harm the baby." Sanyukta said gloomily. 

"It is natural for him to feel protective! You are carrying his first offspring. He does not want anything untoward to happen. Come on, cheer up now!" Anokhi smiled at her warmly.

Sanyukta was being fussed over. The ladies of the house including Renuka, Vidushi and Anokhi draped a red chunari over her and slipped bangles on her wrists. They fed her sweets and placed fruit, coconuts and rice grains in her lap as a symbol of fertility. The mother-in-law gave her new jewellry. There were many gifts from family and relatives and as per tradition these were all meant for the expectant mother, not the baby. A baby shower was attended only by women and there was a lot of merry-making as professional singers and dancers entertained the guests. The feast included Sanyukta's favourite foods but she could eat only a few morsels. The guests were also given chunaris and bangles as return gifts. 

As much as she pretended to appear cheerful Vidushi barely slept that night. Losing her hold over Randhir because of Sanyukta's pregnancy was the least of her worries now. She has successfully managed to make her younger sibling Randhir's Chief wife even if Ratna was still a child. The next morning Vidushi put on her best ensemble and jewellery before she could step forth and welcome Tara as another addition to her husband's harem. It was a small consolation that Tara was being initiated as a concubine, not as a wife. There would be no formal wedding, just the gifting of a set of chooda-ivory and gold bangles. After these were presented both Vidushi and Anokhi gave Tara the obligatory gifts of clothes, cosmetics and jewellery to welcome her into their home as their husband's companion. 

That night Tara's bed chamber was decorated with flowers for her first night as Parth's official concubine. A determined Tara pulled out every trick up her sleeve to make the night a memorable one for Parth. She had a miracle body butter rubbed over every inch of her skin before climbing into a robe of gold gossamer. She had already laced Parth's wine with a natural aphrodisiac, turning him wild. As he disrobed her she invited him to taste her. On discovering that her body butter made her taste of honey and spices he began to feast on her, starting with her fig-scented toes. 

Tara had decided to take as much pleasure as she was willing to give and by the time Parth reached the sweet spot between her legs he discovered that he could taste sweet pineapple mingled with her musky feminine odour. His mouth explored her centre eagerly making her groan loudly as she let wave after wave of ecstasy wash over her. The eagerness of their moans and their quaking bed was audible all over that wing of the mansion. Both Vidushi and Anokhi tossed around restlessly in their empty beds while the hormonally crazy Sanyukta spontaneously decided to do her grateful husband a favour by turning her mouth's attention to where he wanted it the most. 

"Tara, I never thought I'd be thankful to you for whetting my wife's appetite!" Randhir thought and grinned to himself. He was glad Sanyukta could not read his thoughts. He did feet a bit sorry for his brother's two wives but he knew their turn would come soon. That was the way things happened in a Rajput harem, the women in their sexual prime had to compete for their man's time and attention. Unless they were lacking in skills they would not have to wait too long before they too could have their way with him.