21 An Elephant Never Minds Barking Dogs

The formal dining area of the Bali clan was located next to the huge sitting area which was earmarked for receiving prestigious guests. Both these areas were expensively decorated, showing off the quiet influence and prestige of the Bali clan. These were opened up for use only at the times when a party or a formal gathering was organised by the family.

This evening was an aberration, especially since it was to celebrate the arrival of Katyayani.

Almost everyone in the house was puzzled about it - what was so unique about her homecoming? Didn't it happen every year?

Entering the dining room, Katyayani's gaze took in the potted plants which formed a lush, green corner on one side of the dining hall, purifying the air quietly. This green corner had been set-up by her deceased grandmother during the time when her grandfather was actively involved in the matters of the court.

Many people used to come visit him at that time and the large shaded verandah, which was adjacent to this dining hall, was used as the sitting area. Long mattresses with white sheets used to be laid on the floor and were dotted with oblong shaped cushions.

Long discussions were accompanied by innumerable cups of teas and shared chillum* which caused a smokey haze to envelope the surroundings. To counter the pungent smell, her grandmother had put a large number of potted plants right in the corner where the wall met the verandah.

Even though the people were long gone, the corner had withstood her absence sturdily.

A twenty seater rectangular mahogany table with semi-precious gems inlaid in it, occupied the centre of the room. It was a low table and had short stools all around it.

No one else had arrived till now and that gave Katyayani a chance to choose a place of her liking. Servants were bustling around here, going back and forth the long distance between the kitchen and the dining room.

But no one paid attention to her. After all, she was neither a guest nor a proper resident.

Katyayani had not brought an attendant along with to the dinner.

"Oh, Second Sister, you are here already! I thought I would be the first one to arrive," said the eighth year old Divij in his childish voice.

He was followed by his nanny and his elder brother, Daivik, who gave a perfunctory nod in Katyayani's direction. Even though Daivik was only two years elder to Divij, he carried himself with a lot more maturity and seriousness.

Katyayani smiled at both of them but didn't say anything. The nanny pursed her lips and motioned the two brothers to move closer towards the head of the table.

"Your grandfather always likes to listen to your performance at the gurukul. Make sure that you both tell him clearly about it," the old nanny was instructing them in hushed tones.

Everyone in the Bali household knew that the favour of Kirtivallabh was the most sought after commodity.

The two boys were the sons of Jayantdev and Subhadra. Unlike Rudradev, his younger brother was extremely attentive towards his wife and kids.

"Second Sister, is it very cold in the mountains? Do you live in a hut? Are there a lot of wild animals there?" Divij's questions started coming out as soon as he settled down in his seat.

Before Katyayani could reply, the nanny standing beside him admonished him in a low voice. "Hush, Second Young Master. You know that you are not supposed to talk during dinner time."

Divij pouted but shut his mouth while Katyayani ignored the impudence of the old maid. After all, it wasn't her duty to admonish unruly servants, nor did she care about the lack of respect shown by the woman.

Katyayani remained standing, her gaze was pensive as she looked outside the full length window on the right side of the dining hall which opened up to the other side of the front yard. The trees were all barren and there weren't too many servants milling outside due to the weather.

"You are here," the frosty voice of Lilavati broke Katyayani's reverie.

The young girl turned around and crossed over to reach the irritable woman.

"Greetings, Eldest Aunt," Katyayani bent down from the waist and touched Lilavati's satin clad feet.

"Bless you! Hope that your journey was smooth," Lilavati asked her in a perfunctory tone, not expecting a response in return.

Katyayani politely hummed under her breath and straightened up to look at the person trailing behind her. "Greetings, Eldest Sister."

Dharitri nodded with a strained smile at Katyayani in response. She had gone back to tell her mother about Katyayani's letter which had been delivered to her father's study. She did it to ensure that her mother would not display any excessive behaviour towards the young, mousy girl.

She stared at her cousin who was a year younger, from under her lashes. The girl's demeanour was submissive, almost merging with the brown walls of the room. Her inferior quality clothes lacked finesse and made her look lumpy and unremarkable.

What a strange twist of fate!

Both her parents had been famous for their good looks. It seemed that this apple had fallen really far from the tree.

Dharitri didn't remember much about her second aunt, Kadambari. She had been a quiet woman with striking features.

Even though Katyayani inherited the grey, foxy eyes from her mother, her gaze was dull and timid, unlike her mother's brilliant and sharp gaze.

"Second Sister, you are here already! How was the journey? It must be so cold on the mountain already. Did you get me something exciting this time?" Dharani's excited chatter sounded jarring in the otherwise quiet hall.

Her innocent questions were eerily similar to the ones asked by Divij earlier.

Katyayani gave a smile to this slightly foolish cousin of hers, but unlike the distant greeting to Dharitri, her gaze was much warmer towards this harmless, cute girl.

"I have instructed my maid to send your gifts to your room," she replied in a soft tone.

Suddenly a petulant complaining voice spoke up before Dharani could thank her.

"What about me, Second Sister? Have you got any gifts for me?" Divij asked immediately.

He had fought this afternoon with Dharani outside the kitchen for the last portion of the sweet dish.

"Divij! Are you lacking in anything? Asking others for gifts so blatantly. People would think that your father doesn't have enough money to buy the things you want," the loud voice of Subhadra, the youngest daughter in-law of the Bali household announced her entry into the dining hall.

Both Divij and Daivik lowered their eyes and shrunk into their seats. Lilavati snickered softly at the lacking manners of her merchant-born sister in-law.

*Chillum - a small pipe used for smoking cannabis

[Behind the screen]

ML: Author, I have a complaint...

SMK: Ha... you haven't even uttered a dialogue in the story yet and you already have a complaint?

ML: Exactly... I have been waiting patiently for more than 20 chapters. When will my entry happen? In both your earlier books, you had introduced the MLs in the first three chapters. Why am I being neglected like this?

SMK: Firstly, you were introduced in the prologue itself... remember the dialogue - "General!"

ML: ???

SMK: Secondly, in my earlier books, the MLs weren't pre-decided. In this one, I have thought of doing away with the second lead syndrome.

ML: I don't care. I want to be brought into the storyline now, with atleast twenty adjectives describing my handsomeness and my strength. Hmph!

SMK (talking to self): Move the ML's chapter further away by another 20 000 words. Or should I just change the ML?

ML (thinking to self): Author has gone quiet. It seems that my domineering attitude worked!!! Hehe... See you soon readers...

SMK after reading ML's thoughts: $#^#%^%$^@# keep dreaming!