16 Experience is a comb which nature gives to men when they are bald

With moisture laden eyes, Kirtidev peered at his granddaughter, taking in the latest changes since he last saw her, nine months ago. She was also looking at him with a small smile gracing her mouth.

"You have grown taller again. And your smile is turning out to be more and more like your father. He also used to smile this stingily, as if people owed him money. Your grandmother always scolded him saying that people would think that he has bad teeth if he would stretch his mouth only by an inch," Kirtidev said with a mock grumble, making Trini and Bhadrak break into a grin.

"You are exactly the same," declared Kirtidev.

"Don't you agree with me, Bhadrak?" he turned to glare at the younger guy, with his voice carrying the underlying threat that the latter had to agree with his assessment.

"Old Master, you are absolutely right. But I think that Second Miss also resembles her mother a bit," Bhadrak replied smartly.

Everyone in the room knew that Katyayani was a 90% replica of her deceased mother but who would say that in front of her grumpy paternal grandfather.

Katyayani didn't react and simply extended her hand to put the pouch, which she had brought along, in his palm.

"I got you something for your birthday. Even though it is a few weeks away, I wanted to give it to you now," she said lightly.

Kirtidev flushed with pride and pleasure when he saw the contents of the pouch received from his granddaughter.

It was a simple bracelet made with 108 Rudraksh* beads.

"I sourced the beads from various antique dealers who are famous for their authenticity. The thread used to string them together has been blessed by the Mahant at the famous Moon temple in the Eastern Province. A business acquaintance was travelling that side and owed Dai Maa* a favour from the last time. Since she knew I was looking for a special thread, she helped me acquire this one. It is claimed that 108 real Rudraksh beads tied in a holy string can ward off illnesses and evil. With this bracelet, I wish you a very auspicious and healthy year ahead, Grandfather. May you have a long life and a fulfilling one in the proximity of your loved ones!" She said on a slightly emotional note.

Kirtidev's eyes became moisture laden when he heard the effort taken behind the auspicious bracelet. Even though she had breezed through it, he knew that collecting real Rudraksh beads took a lot of effort. Moreover, for the thread to reach her in time all the way from another kingdom, she must have started planning for this gift a long time ago.

Katyayani's Dai Maa was a nanny named Mandodari who had come to live at the Bali mansion when Katyayani had just been born. She belonged to her mother, Kadambari's native place and had originally been Kadambari's nanny when she was a baby.

Mandodari came to the Bali mansion at the invitation of Kadambari especially to take care of the baby.

Now that she had become too old, she couldn't live in the mountains and instead stayed in the Dima city. She had been relieved of her duties at the Bali clan and was now employed at a renowned music hall called Mrigtrishna.

This music hall was a combination of a musical instruments store and an institute, where the knowledge pertaining to music, dance and instrument playing was imparted. Mrigtrishna was and till date, remained the best, both for buying a superior instrument and in producing some great artists across Mandhaar.

The fame of this music hall was spread across the neighbouring kingdoms as well. Being a person in-charge of the music hall, Mandodari naturally had formed a lot of connections over the years in the right places.

Katyayani's mother, Kadambari, was renowned for her singing and proficiency in sitar.

In fact, Katyayani's parents had met for the first time when her father, Hridaydev, got lost in the sweetness of her mother's voice and fell in love with her on the spot.

Katyayani couldn't fathom how a man would fall in love with a woman whom he saw for the first time. Nonetheless, thankfully for her father, Kadambari had finally acquiesced to marry him after being pursued for some time.

Otherwise, given the disparity in their backgrounds, it would never have been possible for them to be together!

During their marriage, Hridaydev was caught up with his insignificant but busy role in the External Affairs ministry. As a result, Kadambari had found herself to be too bored and set-up a small music hall in the city. She had personally found some maestros who were proficient in the three forms - singing, dancing, playing instruments.

The instruments shop was adjoining the music hall and only kept the best instruments for sale.

Kadambari's intention behind Mrigtrishna was to encourage musical excellence. As a result, the students who were selected to join the place needed to be talented or have the potential, irrespective of their background or wealth.

Having the foresight not to get embroiled in the city's political scenario and not offend potential clients, the owner of Mrigtrishna always remained in the shadows.

Even in the Bali Mansion, except for Hridaydev, only her father-in-law, Kirtidev knew about her identity as the proprietor of Mrigtrishna.

This music hall was the only legacy that Kadambari left behind apart from the wooden cabin in Mandh Mountain where Katyayani currently lived.

After her parents' deaths, her paternal grandfather gave the deed of the music hall to Katyayani to manage. Since it was not possible for Katyayani to manage the institute due to her age and also her decision to move out of Dima city, Mandodari took charge of the place and was managing it successfully till date.

"I like the bracelet very much and your heartfelt wishes have reached my heart. If your parents were ali… sigh! You must be tired after the long journey. Go and freshen up. We will all eat together in the main dining hall today," Kirtidev told her with moist eyes.

Bowing down to touch his feet again, Katyayani straightened up and walked out of his study.

"Was there no one to greet her from the family when she arrived?" The amiable expression vanished from Kirtidev's face the minute his granddaughter stepped out of the study.

Bhadrak had an awkward expression on his face as he replied to his master. "Eldest Madam is feeling unwell. The third madam is busy with the two young masters who arrived from the gurukul today to spend their winter vacation."

"I see! Send a message to both my sons that I have requested their esteemed presence this evening in my study before dinner," said Kirtidev with displeasure.

Eka and Chatvari had already finished arranging everything by the time Katyayani entered her courtyard with Trini. This courtyard originally belonged to her parents and on her grandfather's instructions, everything had been retained and maintained in its original form during the past decade.

The jasmine flower tree which was her mother's favourite, stood lonely in a corner, braving the harsh weather. Though it was bereft of its flowers at the moment, the faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air or maybe it was a memory embedded in her head associated with this place.

*Rudraksh - is a seed that is used as a prayer bead in Hinduism. They are valued similarly to semi-precious stones. Various meanings and interpretations are attributed to the beads with different numbers of segments or the locules of the seed. Rare or unique beads are highly prized and valuable.

*Dai Maa - a trusted nanny who mostly spends many years with the child till he or she grows up.