The Necklace - Conclusion

Source: www.jewelgleams.com

This is part of an ongoing story, read Part 1 , Part 2 and Part 3 if you haven't already.

Anand was at his wits end. It was Wednesday night and he still did not see a solution in sight. This was the first time a case had left him confused. Not one suspect seemed to have had reason to steal the necklace. Bela would have anyways got it, why would she steal it? Champa had already ordered a piece, she was surely not the one. Poor Geeta, she would not have been able to wear it anyways, there was no reason for her to take it. Devendra could have staged it to make it look like a theft so that he could gift the piece to Bela; even if that was true how could he prove it? Even if he did, how easy was it going to be to tell the family what had really happened? He had run out of time and was now on the verge of giving up entirely.

Just as he decided to speak to Ajeet about his failure, he heard the door swing open.

“Any luck?” It was Ajeet looking at him hopefully. Devendra stood silently behind him.

“I am sorry to disappoint you, but nobody seems to have done this, noone had a motive to do it!” Anand’s voice broke as he spoke the words, he wished he didn’t have to.

“Its ok” said Ajeet. “For me the good news is that none of my family members are guilty. If you had concluded that, it would have been tough to handle. Let us just assume that Devendra misplaced the piece. We will look for it as soon as tomorrow’s function gets over. You did your best and we cant thank you enough for it” saying that, he gave him a hug and continued “Take some rest, tomorrow will be tiring. You leave by afternoon right? I heard you are not staying for the entire function?”

“Yes, I have some work back home, I need to leave early” In the midst of all this, Anand had forgotten that Jyoti’s fees were due in two days. He had to be home by nightfall to speak to her.

Devendra thanked him for his help and both brothers walked out of the room. Once again he noticed, Devendra had been unable to look him in the eyes.

The house was full of activity the next day. Guests were coming in alarming numbers; the house had been decorated with marigold and jasmine flowers. A huge cake was placed in the center of the living room, to be cut later in the day by Daadiji. Anand had already packed his suitcase, it hadnt taken him long given the few things he had brought with him. He had hardly got time to spend with Manav thanks to the necklace episode, so he decided to look for him.

“Anand Mama, where are you going? Will you not spend some time with me?” This boy had a way of turning up at the right moment he thought smilingly, turning around and giving him a hug.

“Yes beta, show me that new video game you were talking about” he said, tugging Manav to come along.

“Yes but before that, Ma is calling you, I shall bring my game here and wait” said Manav and left the room with a sprint.

When Anand got back, he found Manav waiting for him in his room. Geeta had called him for some very small thing which she needn’t have bothered, he thought she must have been feeling guilty about the revelations he had got to know during those two days.

After playing for a while with the video game, Anand went around meeting everyone and finally took their leave. Geeta and Manav walked him upto the gate and insisted he take an Auto to the bus stand. Geeta had already got one arranged for him through Bhaanu.

As Anand made his trip back home, he felt disappointment. For the first time in his life he had not been able to solve a case. He was still flummoxed by the incidents of the past two days. He couldn't tell what it was that he had missed. But he was sure there was a missing link to the entire story. He got home, tired and exhausted. Rajni made him some tea and then took his bag to unpack.

Sipping his tea, once again Anand was lost in his thoughts, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together when he heard Rajni scream. Immediately he ran into the bedroom and found her standing next to his suitcase with an envelope in one hand and the necklace in the other!

“What is this Anand? Where did you get it? Did you steal it from Didi’s house? How could you” she was beyond control.

“Relax Rajni, do you really think I could do that? Let me see whats there in the envelope, I think there has been some misunderstanding”. Quickly he tore open the envelope and read the letter that was inside.

Dear Bhaiyya,

We are sorry for the trouble that you were put through in the last two days. Your culprit is none other than your nephew Manav. Let me explain. The day you arrived, Manav was hiding in his hiding place in the living room, as usual observing what was happening around him. He had seen those glances that Bela and Devendra exchanged and knew then that the necklace his Papa had purchased was not for me. Manav has maturity beyond his age, having seen so many things around him, he is able to understand things much better than most fifteen year old's can.

Later in the day when I sent him to get you a set of fresh linens, he overheard the conversation between you and me.Earlier he had also been a witness to the argument I had with Devendra on lending you money. So the poor boy put two and two together and decided to take the necklace and give it to you so that you could fund Jyoti’s education. 

Please do not ever think of returning this. Devendra apologized to me last night, the loss of the necklace had scared him beyond measure that he and Bela would be found out. That’s when he realized how out of line he had been and how this could affect Manav’s life. Manav came to me this morning and confessed what he had done. Though it was wrong, the thought behind it was genuine. I have reprimanded him for this and he has promised never to do it again. On getting to know, I informed Devendra immediately. Thanks to the scare he got, he has now changed to some extent. He felt it was for the best, if the necklace now went away from this house.

Please use it to pay of your debts as well. It should be enough, if it isn't, Devendra has said he will help out. This incident has been a silver lining for all of us. I hope you see it the way I do as well.

Your loving sister

Geeta

Dazed, Anand handed the letter to Rajni and slumped back on the bed. Just then Jyoti came charging in the room and asked with a desperate look on her face “Papa, were you able to arrange the money for the admission fees?”  

Anand hesitated for a long moment and then said “Yes beta, it has all been arranged, don’t you worry about that”

Finally, he thought. Jyoti would become a doctor. 

---

Correction: Ajeet and Champa have been referred to as Manav's Chacha and Chachi when in essence they should be referred to as his Tau and Tayi resp.. Despite the realization I have decided to leave the addressal as it was to ensure consistency and not confuse the reader.   

The Necklace - Part 3

Source: www.jewelgleam.com

This is part of an ongoing story, read Part 1 and Part 2 if you haven't already.  

Wednesday dawned bright and early. Anand was already up and ready by the time everyone came down for breakfast. By then the word had spread and the entire family knew that Anand would be looking into the theft. Every single member of the household except Manav, the twins and Daadiji looked uncomfortable. Each person ate their breakfast silently, while Geeta nervously served them. Anand spent the entire meal observing everyone at the table, but was not at all surprised by the discomfort he saw around him.

He had already visited Devendra and Geeta’s room before breakfast to check the drawer in which the necklace has been kept. The drawer had no lock attached to it. With an embarrassed look on his face, Devendra had said that he had intended to move it to the locker. There were no other signs of a break in. Nothing around the drawer or inside the drawer had been disturbed. Glancing around, Anand had seen things which would not have been visible to others. Anyone else would have seen the room to be normal, but the slight separation of the beds, cupboards that otherwise were positioned together, now spaced apart and the separation of hooks to hang their clothes, told Anand that things were not going fine between Devendra and Geeta. Keeping this knowledge to himself, he had joined the rest for breakfast.

After what seemed like ages, breakfast ended and everyone hurriedly begun to leave.

“Belaji” Anand called out, making Bela freeze in her tracks.

“Err… yes, yes Anandji?” Bela turned around and looked at him.

“Do you mind if we speak for a few minutes? Just wanted to check with you on something” and he walked towards his room.

Left with no option, Bela followed him.

She was a beautiful woman with extremely elegant features. Her hair tresses fell unto her waist and today they was adorned with a red rose. Anand took in every minute detail he could of her. She was the only person in the house he had never met before.

“Belaji, sorry to take your time, but I need to know a few things. Who do you think stole the necklace?”

Bela was shocked by the directness in Anand’s question. She hadn't seen it coming. Quickly she gathered herself and said “Anandji, I know you won’t like this, because she is your sister. But I think Geeta has taken it” she looked at him, hoping that she had managed to unnerve him as much as he had her.

But Anand had been expecting this. The line of questioning he had adopted was to help him make the best of the limited time he had. The shock he had seen all over Bela’s face was normal, and so was her response. He knew she would allude to her relationship with Devendra, sooner than later.

“Why do you think that is? Wasn't it meant for her?” He leaned forward and asked.

“Well, you are the detective here, why don’t you find out?” Said Bela with a smug look on her face.

Anand looked at her intently, unable to decipher the look. Finally he shrugged his shoulders and said

“I don’t think I have any further questions, you may leave”

Surprised that she had managed to get away so easily, Bela got up and began to leave.

“Why have you not married till now Belaji?” the question made her turn around and snap “that’s none of your business. Don’t poke your nose into things that don’t matter to you. If Dev-“she gasped at the slip of her tongue and ran away.

It had been a satisfactory meeting as far as Anand was concerned.

“A cup of tea is what I need before I speak to Champaji and Ajeeetji” he thought. Just about to leave the room, he was surprised when Bhaanu barged in.

“Saab, I know you must think I did it. But trust me Saab I did not. You can come to my room and check if you wish. I don’t like this house but I stay on for the sake of Geeta Didi and Daadiji. I would never do anything to hurt them. Saab, please believe me” and she fell at his feet, crying rivers of tears.

“Its ok Bhaanu, don’t you worry, I know you have nothing to do with it” he consoled her till she had quietened down. He knew she had too much at stake with this family; she wouldn't have taken the risk.

“Now will you make me a nice cup of tea? I need to find out who the real thief is” he smiled at her and then followed her to the dining room.

In the dining area, he found Manav. “Mama, can I help you please? This is so exciting, I have always wanted to be a part of your adventures” he said.

“No beta, this involves your family members. I wouldn't want you to get involved” Anand did his best to convince Manav.

Finally Manav gave in but said “I can help you with information. I have been observing people around here, trying to follow in your footsteps to become a detective one day”

Knowing this was the best way to keep Manav away, Anand agreed and asked him to tell him all that he knew. Manav opened up and let out all the secrets he had kept all these years- How Ajeet Chacha manipulated in the business and how Champa Chachi disliked his Ma. That Papa was very rude to Ma and she took care Ekta and Gowri.

There was nothing new in this information, but that Manav had an idea about the darker side of his family troubled Anand. 

“Well, that’s a problem to be tackled on a different day” he thought, telling Manav that he had helped him a lot more than the child could imagine.

Now, he had to approach Champa. He knew she would be in her room; she rarely ventured into the kitchen or to do any household work. The door was open when he got to Ajeet and Champa’s room. The biggest room in the house, he thought his single bedroom flat could fit into it entirely.

“Champa Didi, can I speak to you for a minute?” he asked politely knowing how brash she could be.

“Hey bhagwan! How dare you enter my room when I am alone? Thankfully Ajeet is in the bathroom. Once he is out you can speak to both of us. I will not speak to you alone!” she turned her back before Anand could react.

He didn't have to wait long. A minute or two had passed by, when Ajeet emerged out of the bathroom, all ready to leave for their shop.

“What is it Anand? Have you come to speak about the necklace? Please sit down, ask what you want.” Ajeet seemed more than ready to help him out.

“Just a few questions Ajeetji and then I won’t trouble you. Can you tell me if you have any idea who could have stolen this necklace?” Asked Anand, with his eyes focused on Champa.

“Frankly, I wouldn't know. Champa do you have any clue?” Ajeet looked very confused.

“Me! How would I know? Yes, I did want it, but I had already asked the Jeweler to get another made exactly like it for me. In fact I had chosen the colours for the embellishments to be done as well. You should ask Bhaanu, greed must have taken over her! Or who knows, Geeta would have misplaced it. Dimwit that she is!” scorned Champa forgetting for the moment that Anand was Geeta’s brother.

Knowing that he couldn't get any more information from them, Anand thanked them and excused himself. Moment he was in his room, he called the jeweler to confirm Champa’s story. Yes, she had called and already booked a similar necklace. This piece of news put her and Ajeet in the clear.

The list now narrowed down, Anand went out looking for Devendra, who he found lounging outside in the garden.

“Jijaji, can I speak to you?” he asked, settling himself down in the garden chair next to Devendra.

“Do I have the option of saying no? “He muttered and continued “before you ask anything, let me tell you, I had nothing to do with this. I kept the necklace in the drawer, you see I was meaning to give it to Geeta later in the night” he avoided looking at Anand as he spoke.

“I have nothing else to say"

 Devendra gave him an imploring look and walked back towards the house.

The talk with Devendra had left Anand confused. He sat back mulling over his conversations since morning. Not a single suspect had shown clear motive, yet the necklace had gone missing. Going by Devendra's reluctance to speak to him, it seemed as if he had something to hide. Could he have hidden the necklace on purpose? If he had wanted to give it to Bela, wasn't a theft the perfect cover? He continued sitting in the garden, watching the birds chirp and the bees suckle onto the flowers until he was called for lunch.

Lunch was a quick affair with everyone preferring to have it in their own rooms. It was as if each person wanted to avoid the other. Anand knew that this was the best time to speak to his sister, with no one but the walls to give them company.

“Geeta is there anything you are not telling me?” he asked when she was done clearing the table.

Heaving a sigh, she sat next to him and said “Bhaiyya, you don’t believe that I could have done this do you?”

“No, the necklace was meant for you, why would you steal it?” he asked, nervously looking at her face.

“Well, I haven't done it but the necklace… well it wasn't meant for me now was it? By now, you and I both know who it was meant for. She got up and began to walk away but not before a tear had trickled down and fallen on Anand’s hand.

Suddenly she turned around and asked "Do you really believe it is stolen?” 

Read the conclusion here

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Correction: Ajeet and Champa have been referred to as Manav's Chacha and Chachi when in essence they should be referred to as his Tau and Tayi resp.. Despite the realization I have decided to leave the addressal as it was to ensure consistency and not confuse the reader. 

The Necklace - Part 2

Source: www.jewelgleam.com

This is part of an ongoing story, you can read Part 1 here.

Anand stood with his battered suitcase in hand at the enormous entrance gate, looking within at the white mansion in front of him. 

“This could put the White House to shame” he thought as he walked along the pathway that led to the front door. 

His limp was hurting him bad; the walk from the bus stop had been long. All the while he was acutely aware that he was probably the only relative who would be ‘walking’ to the house. He had thought quite a bit about accepting the invitation; he knew he wasn't invited out of love; the Bajpais just enjoyed inviting all relatives, especially the ones who were not as well off as them, to show off their riches. There was no love lost between him and his Jijaji but each time he thought of tearing the invitation into two, thoughts of his sister Geeta and nephew Manav had come to mind. He loved Manav like the son he never had. That feeling had also made him arrive two days early. He hadn't met him for over a year now and this he thought would be a good opportunity to see him. With that in mind, he entered the house, making a resolve to be as inconspicuous as he could be till he left two days later.

Preparing himself to meet and greet, he stepped into the living room, only to realize that he needn't have bothered. He knew the other guests would arrive only by Thursday morning so he hadn't been expecting much of a crowd. But the living room was full of activity. Champa, Geeta and Devendra were seated around their family jeweler, examining the jewelry sets he had brought to show them. Geeta was silent while Champa was continuously talking to the jeweler. Ajeet was standing at the door that led to the interiors of the house and was on the phone as usual. Hovering behind them was Bela, Champa’s younger sister. Bhaanu, the household help was scurrying around with lime juice for everyone.

Before anyone noticed him standing at the door staring at them, he thought it would be best to announce his arrival. Just as he decided to speak up he noticed a loving glance being exchanged between Devendra and Bela. Almost losing his balance, but quickly gaining composure, he called out

“Namaste! How is everyone!” and walked towards those seated. He could tell from everyone but his sister’s reactions that he was anything but welcome. Remembering his resolve, he went up and greeted everyone.

“Please don’t let me interrupt what you’ll were doing, please continue” he said and sat down, thankfully accepting the glass of lime juice that Bhaanu offered him.

The shopping for the jewelry resumed with the jeweler displaying one exquisite piece after another. While small pieces were picked up here and there, Champa wanted something bigger and surprisingly so did Devendra. Anand could see the shy smile betray his sister's silence beneath her ghunghat. He was glad to see her happy, but he still hadn't forgotten the glance he had seen get exchanged just a while before…

“Oh that is the most beautiful piece I have ever seen!” Champa was suddenly jumping out of her seat. He turned around to see what had caught her attention so much. What he saw was the most beautiful piece of jewelry he had ever seen, a gold necklace studded with diamond and rubies with a peacock shaped pendant at the center. It was a masterpiece.

“How much is that!” he heard Devendra sounding all excited as he looked on at the piece. Bela was also stealing envious looks at the glittering beauty.

“Saheb, it is Rs 50 Lakhs” the jeweler looked uncertainly from Champa to Devendra, not knowing who the buyer would be.

Before Champa could react, Devendra whipped out his wallet and extracted a wad of bills.

“Here, take this as a token payment. The rest of the money will reach your shop by evening” Devendra picked up the jewelry box and walked away.

Champa was fuming to say the least. Ajeet had just finished his call and finally come back to the room. She turned around and pounced

“Where were you? I so wanted that necklace and now Devendra has bought it….for her!”  She spat in Geeta’s direction and walked away.

Just an hour into the house and Anand’s detective mind was already reeling.

“There is so much underlying current among them all…” he thought.

“But I am here to see my nephew, that’s all that matters to me. Let me not bother myself with the rest” once again reminding himself of the resolve he had made he looked around to see where Manav was.

“Where is he?” Anand wondered, now looking out of the window into the rambling garden at the back.

“Anand Mama! When did you arrive???” squealed Manav from behind.

Taken aback, Anand turned around. Wasn't it just a few seconds since he had turned towards the garden? How had Manav appeared so fast?? He wondered. Just as he was about to ask his nephew, Manav ran up and gave him a hug; dispelling all thoughts Anand had in his mind.

“How are you beta? its been so long since we met. How have your studies been going? What have you been doing through the holidays?”

“One question at a time Mama” laughed Manav

“I see that nobody has shown you to your room yet. Come, let me take you there” saying that Manav picked up his luggage and led him to the guest room on the ground floor.  

Within minutes Geeta joined them and sent Manav to get fresh linen.

“Bhaiyya, how are you doing? I am sorry I couldn't meet you or show you to your room earlier. I had to attend to a few things, its just that-“

“I understand Geeta, you don’t need to explain.” Anand knew his sister meant well but was too weak to stand up to her husband and his family.

“How are you‘ll doing now? Did you manage to get the funds for Jyoti’s education?” Geeta wanted to know.

“Not yet, but I am trying to work something out” Anand knew that he would only upset his sister if he told her how bad it had been for them off late.

“I am sorry Bhaiyya, I asked him but-“

“Its ok Geeta, I know Devendra has bigger worries, you needn't feel bad about it” Once again, the glance he had seen Devendra and Bela exchange crossed his mind.

“We will have it worked-“Anand stopped in mid-sentence as he saw Manav enter the room with the linen. He signaled Geeta who understood and did not continue the topic further.

Once he had showered and rested, Anand spent his time reading until Manav came over to play Scrabble, their favourite game. It had already grown dark outside and the crickets had begun to chirp in the garden. It was time for dinner. Together they went to the dining room to find everyone seated at the long table. From the looks on everyone’s faces, Anand could tell that they had interrupted a serious conversation.

“So Devendra, Champa tells me you bought the necklace she wanted. Can I see it?” said Ajeet, quickly adding “Don’t worry, I just want to take a look, I wouldn't steal it you know” and then he burst out laughing.

“Yeah sure Bhai Saab, I’ll bring it over” said Devendra nervously and walked out. Everyone had resumed their meal and the familiar clatter of the crockery had filled the air when it was brought to a stand still by the sound of hurrying footsteps.

Devendra burst into the dining room and exclaimed “It’s gone! The necklace is not there! It’s gone!”

***

The room had gone silent. Anand looked around to see how everyone had taken the news. Devendra looked distraught while Ajeet had a shocked look plastered all over his face. He couldn't tell how Geeta felt; her ghunghat was hanging lower than usual. Bela looked angry while Champa had started wailing. The only person other than the kids who looked normal in the room was Daadiji; having been fast asleep when the jeweler had visited.

“What necklace? What is stolen? Did something happen?” she inquired.

“Something happen? Hey bhagwan, such a beautiful piece is lost, gone forever! Now only if I had bought it, I wouldn't have been careless about it like Geeta!” wailed Champa.

“Geeta? But-“Devendra cut himself and looked around to see if anyone had noticed his surprise.

“But Bhabiji-“started Geeta

“Oh stop it! How irresponsible you are! You don’t deserve such ornaments. You should only wear those fake pieces they sell on the roads!” And Champa stormed out of the room, closely followed by Ajeet and Bela. Though Anand couldn't help but notice the reluctance in Bela’s step as she walked out.

Geeta burst into tears and ran out of the room. The twins not understanding what was going on were just happy that noone was asking them to finish their food. Quietly they got up and ran out to play. Bhaanu the maid, sensing the tension made Daadiji finish her meal and then helped her back to her room. Ajeet had asked Manav to leave as well.

Anand was wondering whether he should keep silent or speak up when Ajeet entered the room.

“I have quietened Champa for now. But what is all this? If the necklace is really stolen, should we be calling the police?”

“No!” exclaimed Devendra. “Do you realize what that would mean to our reputation? There has been no break in, it is an inside job. Do you understand what that means?”

“What do we do then? How do we find out? It is already Tuesday night, the function is now just about a a day away, relatives will be flocking the house on Thursday. We will not be able to do much then” said Ajeet.

“If it’s ok, can I help?” Anand had finally spoken.

“Oh you are a retired detective aren't you?” said Ajeet before Devendra could even open his mouth.

“Yes. I understand the sensitivity of the matter. If it goes out of this household, it would create unnecessary talk. Instead I could help, since I am anyways here till Thursday” replied Anand.

“Oh yes, why not. That would be great. I hope you can find it. But please be careful when you speak to everyone. We do not want to hurt our own family members” said Ajeet, once again not letting Devendra talk.

They all said good night and retired to their respective rooms. But Anand couldn't sleep. He was excited, feeling the adrenalin rush that he always felt when he took on a case. This would help him oil his rusting skills, he thought. To think, he hadn't looked forward to the trip!

Getting to business almost immediately, he took out his notepad and a pen and started making his notes. First he drew up a list of potential suspects.

“Everyone fits this list though, each and every adult in this house except Daadiji. She was fast asleep and wouldn’t have the strength to wobble towards Devendra’s room to steal this. But other than her Champa, Ajeet, Bela, Bhaanu and Geeta, all have to be included. Yes, even Geeta, though there is no reason for her to steal something that was hers” he thought.

Next against each name, he started writing down the motive. The strongest motive seemed to be with Champa and Ajeet. After all Champa had wanted the necklace and hadn't he seen how badly she treated Geeta? Greed and Jealousy were enough to drive the motive. He thought. And Ajeet? Well, weren't spouses known to support each other? Why would it be any different here? And then what about Bhaanu? She was there, serving lime water to everyone. She had seen the necklace and Devendra disappear with it to his room. How much ever he did not like to stereotype; greed influencing the poor was a common phenomenon. So yes, she was definitely someone he would have to speak to.

Devendra. His reluctance to call the police and later to have him look around had made Anand suspicious. Why was he hesitating so much? Could he have faked this robbery? No! Why would he do that? Unless… the necklace was really not for Geeta… but then who was it for? Bela? That would surely be a motive to fake the theft, thought Anand.

Then he considered Bela. If the look he had seen on her face earlier in the day was anything to go by, jealousy could very well be her motive. What if she thought the necklace was for Geeta? Wouldn't that have driven her mad? He now had five strong suspects, when the thought of Geeta crossed his mind. Could she have known about Bela? No, she was too naive to understand these things. Nevertheless he would have to speak to her. He thought, letting out a yawn.

Speaking of motive, he thought. Didn't he have it too? After all he was in dire need of money right now. A 50 lakh necklace would be the idea solution to all his problems.

Continue to Part 3

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Correction: Ajeet and Champa have been referred to as Manav's Chacha and Chachi when in essence they should be referred to as his Tau and Tayi resp.. Despite the realization I have decided to leave the addressal as it was to ensure consistency and not confuse the reader. 

The Necklace - Part 1

Source: www.gleamjewels.com

Hidden away in his favourite spot in the alcove that occupied the right most corner of the sprawling living room, Manav had been watching his family for the past one hour.

Ajeet Chacha had been on the phone all the time, yelling at his assistants who were managing the store. 

"He was always doing that, as if the store would shut down if he wasn't there for a day!" thought Manav, his attention now focused on a plump lady who had just seated herself on the large swing that took up most of the left side of the room, the side that faced the garden. She looked around the room, Ajeet Chacha had already left and walked up to the gate, still yelling at his helps. Thinking nobody was around; she quietly dipped her hand into her bodice and pulled out a packet.

“So Champa Chachi has still not given up on Ghutka” he thought.

“How was she going to hide her red stained teeth from the rest? She sure could be slow at times”. 

He let out a chuckle, making Champa Chachi nervously look around. Quickly, Manav slunk further, hoping fervently that she had not seen him.

He really didn't like Ajeet Chacha and Champa Chachi. They were the ones in their joint family of eight, whom he tried to avoid as much as possible. His parents, Devendra and Geeta, his twin cousins Gowri and Ekta and their adorable Daadi Durgeshwari made up the rest of his Marwari family.  Suddenly he heard a cough and looked up. Daadi was wobbling into the room, towards her rocking chair where she sat post lunch to read the newspaper. The venomous look Champa Chachi threw her way wasn't missed by him. He almost stepped out of his hiding place to help Daadi when Ekta and Gowri came running in and helped settle her into the chair. They were adorable, his little sisters. Always together, laughing, running, playing. Suddenly he saw them look towards where he was hiding, even before he could put his fingers to his lips and beg them to remain silent, his eight year old cousins winked and ran off, almost bumping into his Ma who had just entered the room.

“Maaji, will you have some lime water now?” She asked through the ghunghat that hid her beautiful face.

“Before that, get me a glass of orange juice, don’t you see me sweating away! This summer has been esp. cruel to me and you don’t even notice!” yelled Champa Chachi as she always did. Poor Ma, everyone took their frustrations out on her.

“It’s already Tuesday! Don’t forget, the function preparations need to be completed by tomorrow. The guests will be coming in early on Thursday. You are so lazy! I wonder why we got you into this house”

Daadi looked on silently. With age, she had lost the vigour to reason out with her elder daughter-in-law. Champa Chachi wanted her sister Bela to be married to her brother-in-law, his father. But Daadi had liked his mother’s alliance and the marriage had been fixed. Despite it being years since then, Champa Chachi had not forgotten and never missed a chance to throw jibes at his mother on the topic. That his Ma took care of her children, born after years and years of prayer and penance was little appreciated. After all they were just girls! Through his fifteen year old memory, he failed to recollect a single time when Chachi would have drawn her children close, no. As far as the twins were concerned Ma was their mother.

Manav was disgusted. His family was not at all what it seemed like. It definitely was not spiritual, generous and peace loving, the image they tried to portray in front of their relatives and friends, and the world in general. In fact each of them had their own secrets which nobody knew about, but him. Sitting in his hiding place, he had watched many of those secrets unravel. He had seen the true side of each of his relatives, even his Papa's.

They loved to have the world believe that they were helpful and generous. But they were anything but that. He had seen his Ma literally beg his Papa to help her cousin brother out. She being the only child, Anand had been the elder brother she always wanted. Her brother, his mama Anand Bakshi led a simple life and did not have too many means to earn a living. There was a time when he had been a famous detective, hired even by the police to help solve their cases. But then he had met with an accident that had resulted in a permanent limp. He couldn't take on as many cases any more; especially not those that required outdoor presence. Slowly clients had stopped engaging him and his life had come to a standstill.

Anand Mama was goodhearted and nice but proud. He would never let anyone know how dire his condition had become. There were days when his family did not get two meals a day. His daughter Jyoti was appearing for medical entrance tests but there was no way he would be able to help her complete her education. Ma had got to know about their condition from his wife, Rajni Mami. Wanting to do her bit, she had asked Papa to help them out. After all, ours was a roaring apparels business; we supplied saris and dress material to all stores in the city. She knew we could easily help Anand Mama. But Papa had not budged; he had little regard for Ma’s family. Manav had watched the fight that had ensued between his parents that night from behind the curtain. He had seen his Ma cry all night.

Thinking of his family angered him. But then, the thought of Anand Mama cheered him up. He would be coming that evening. There was a huge celebration planned for the opening of their Mall in town, his father and Chacha had ensured that everyone was invited, however big or small the connection was. This was a moment to show off all their wealth and riches.

Yes, Anand Mama would be coming. His Detective Mama would be coming.

Continue to Part 2

---

Correction: Ajeet and Champa have been referred to as Manav's Chacha and Chachi when in essence they should be referred to as his Tau and Tayi resp.. Despite the realization I have decided to leave the addressal as it was to ensure consistency and not confuse the reader. 

Book Review: Private India by Ashwin Sanghi and James Patterson

Source: Amazon

Mystery thrillers fall in a category of writing that is not so much about the literary flavours it brings to the story as it is about the pace and the ability to shock the reader out of their senses with the narration and conclusion. If a mystery thriller keeps me glued to its pages, on the edge of my seat and leaves me as the not so proud owner of a set of half bitten nails, I can confidently say it has done justice to its Genre... at least for me. 

Was that the case with Private India? Not really.

A collaboration between two extremely popular Authors is something that makes eyebrows rise and the book lover in you sit up. It sounds like the perfect marriage, one made in the heavens and celebrated in the fictional world. A nuptial of that calibre makes you curious; will they gel well together? They are each known for their characteristic style, will they come together to produce another unique panache? Will there be a conflict or a harmonious confluence of two established minds?

Too many questions with only one answer- to read and find out. Thanks to a good friend Sid Balachandran, I got my hands on a copy last week. Frankly neither Ashwin Sanghi nor James Patterson are Authors I swear by, but the bibliophile in me is always curious about these ‘partnerships’ when it comes to authoring a novel and that was the only reason why I wanted to read this book.

Private India is the Indian arm of the world famous private investigation agency called the Private headed by Jack Morgan.  Santosh Wagh, the head of Private India supported by his team Nisha, Mubeen and Hari are baffled by a series of murders that happen across Mumbai. Each murder is as gruesome as the next, with the victims found with a yellow scarf tied around their neck and each holding a different object in their hand. The only common thread they find across the victims is that they are women. What follows is a pacey investigation with Santosh Wagh’s intuition working overtime to deduce the pattern and finally help the team connect the dots to reveal the dark story that led to each murder. The investigation is also interspersed with a few stories here and there which add a shade or two to a few characters.

Did the marriage work for me? Yes and No.

It worked to some extent mainly because it wasn't that strong a collaboration as I would have hoped it to be. The authoring seemed to be primarily done by Sanghi with some crucial parts written by Patterson thus keeping the narration style uniform to a large extent. The research that went into setting up the context was quite obvious and gave a depth that was needed for the story. Yes, it did engage me but it did not make me sit on the edge of my seat and my nails very left very much intact. Thankfully.

Despite being a good engaging read, the thrill in finding out who the killer is was missing mainly because of a few subtle hints the Author(s) drop which makes you deduce the conclusion upfront. The reason you keep going is to figure out why s/he does it and how the Author(s) will connect them to the serial killing. While the narration was tight through most of the book, the over usage of expletives felt a tad bit unnecessary. Similarly Santosh Wagh with his brilliant mind, cane and addiction to alcohol kept reminding me of Gregory House making me wonder about the originality of his character. 

Finally what stood out were the mixed feelings that I was left with once I had put the book down. In hindsight, a few of the sub stories started seeming like they were forced and made me wonder if they had really been necessary. What also left a bitter taste was the ‘Bollywood’ flavour that was given to the end. 

However while  it might not have been the perfect marriage; the knot seemed to have stayed tied.

I firmly believe that every Author/Writer has their own voice, their own unique way to interpret situations and their own expressions to tell what they feel or think. Two different Authors being able to express their thoughts and weave words into one perfect story without there being any disconnect seems a task quite impossible to achieve as far as I am concerned. But if a collaboration such as this happens, where the glares aren't as significant then I suppose I can safely say that one day I may be proven wrong.

The Land of Presents: A Guest Post

Source: Wiki

What do you call a person who has taken the blogging world by a storm? What do you say of a writer whose name is synonymous with fiction writing?  How do you describe a blogger who not only goes out of the way to help his fellow mates but also steers their ship in the right direction?...There are many who try their hand at Fiction but only a handful truly master the art of narration and dot the I’s and cross the t’s not just once, but every single time. Among that handful, the ability to sustain this talent and make their creativity flourish lies with a select few. And even then, not all can boast of a perfect diction as much as this person can.

A brilliant weaver of words, the textures he creates and the nuances he brings in makes not just me but everyone applaud; Yes, each and every time. Because every time he picks his pen, only magic flows.

You would have guessed it by now, he can only be SidBalachandran; the man behind ‘I Wrote Those’ and a dear friend that I have found in this virtual world. Though we had known each other as fellow bloggers, only when we discovered a common love for Fiction did we really get talking, and went on to build a friendship cemented by that very passion.

A person whose blog is one of the most popular ones in the 'Blogosphere' today, writing a guest post for it was a thought that overwhelmed me beyond measure. But a few days back when he asked if I could write a post and sent across one of his Project365’s daily prompts, he had me fall for it hook, line and sinker. Who other than a good friend would know that if there was a way to make me sit up and take notice, then it was a way through books?

The prompt asked me if after spending time with a group of people, I felt energized and ready for anything or did I want to hide in the corner with a good book. I really didn't have to think hard on this one; I knew the only way I could do justice to the Fiction King’s prompt was by writing a small piece of Fiction.

Here is a snippet of what lies ahead :)

***

“Cindy! I am so glad you could make it. It is always a pleasure to see you” exclaimed Rita brushing her cheeks and kissing the air near them, religiously following the rules from left to right. But then she was always the type to play by the book, thought Cindy batting her eyelids and flashing a pearly white smile as she hugged her back. Dressed in a low cut little black dress with her eyes intensified with kohl, large drops of diamonds twirling below her ears and a stunning red accentuating her notorious pout, Rita seemed dressed to kill she thought, rather than just host the cocktail party she had thrown to celebrate her birthday.  Glancing down at her own lacy peasant girl top paired with a turquoise blue short skirt, she wondered if she was under dressed for the party.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE POST 

Book Review: 'Happily Murdered' by Rasleen Syal

Source: www.amazon.in

Revenge might be a dish best served cold but it only tastes mouth-watering if a dash of jealousy or protectiveness and a sprinkle of animosity and rivalry are added to it. This is a delicacy served by many across the world but few manage to nail the quality and turn it into a gourmet dish with a serving of murder on the side.  We have devoured it with a hunger known only to us avid Mystery readers, feeling satiated only when served by the likes of Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark or P.D James. So when a young Indian Author decided to make a foray into this Genre and make an attempt at rubbing shoulders with the who’s who of this world, it made me sit up, smack my lips in anticipation and eagerly take a headlong dive into what I hoped would be India’s epicurean response to the world of mystery writing. And no, I wasn't disappointed. Not really.

‘Happily Murdered’ is debutante Author Rasleen Syal’s first offering in a virtually untouched genre by Indian Authors. This is the first aspect that makes this book different. Set in the serene and picturesque foothills of the Himalayas is the fictitious town Ratnagiri in Uttaranchal. Gulab Sarin, the newly wed daughter-in-law of the affluent Mehta family is found dead dressed in her bridal finery on her wedding night. Despite obvious clues left around that point to one particular individual, the jealousy, strife, animosity, rivalry, manipulative behaviour and the history to the victim’s relationship with her new husband add different angles to the investigation that make the Police believe this to be an inside job.

The matter complicates with the different shades of grey that each and every family member bring to the table, be it the ruthlessly business minded father in law, the crafty mother in law, traitorous brother in law, love struck ex-fiancees or the infidel and debt ridden husband. Everyone seems to have a tale to tell and a story to hide. The abstruseness of the matter and the urge to save the family name from any disgrace gives birth to nine sleuths, each wanting to protect their loved one even if it means sending an innocent to the Guillotine. What would mean a regular day in every household is full of intrusion, frantic room searches, framing and blame games in the Mehta Palace. A family full of malice and deception and a death in the middle of the night, the Mehtas and their relatives, the Dullas form the ingredients of a beautiful recipe for murder.

A lot of things help simmer the dish, adding the necessary spice spite in the right amounts. The flavour that stands out the most is the narration style, what could add the punch to the final product if not having Gulab narrate the past that ties each character to each other in more ways than one? That for me was the second aspect that made this book different. If that wasn't enough, the third and most important aspect that made this book tick for me was the language Rasleen uses to weave words together into meanings that make the reader thing more than once about the conclusions he has conjured in his mind while leafing through the pages. In a world, where sprinkling generous doses of Hindi and using colloquial lingo has become the order of the day, Rasleen Syal makes an entry much like a cool breeze on a hot summery day.

While the dish was getting prepared, it does seem to have gone through a few minor misadventures along the way. A few conflicting tenses during the narration and some factual discrepancies (e.g. cigarette smoke on a flight or Vikram’s age and how long his parents have been married) make you re-read a few paragraphs but they do not necessarily impede the pace at which the story moves. What also stands out every now and then are minor typographical errors and the occasional omission of a word, making one feel the copy editing team could have done with one last eyeballing exercise. None of these however stop the dish from being cooked to serve as the dish is always served-cold.

When you sample the dish, the flavours hit your taste buds and make you want to relish it more, one page at a time. As you enjoy every bite, there are times when you sense what the end will be like from the flavours Rasleen tries to imbibe through the narration style she adopts. But despite the inkling you get, when you reach the end of the meal, you don’t mind scraping the leftovers from the plate and licking it clean but once you are done and you look back you realize a few ingredients might have been missed out which could have helped the Author perfect the dish.

For a mystery that needs to be solved within a fortnight and the urgency the police show initially, they are surprisingly missing from most of the story. Apart from a reactive action to information provided, there is no sign of them pursuing their investigation. One of the amateur sleuth’s finally hits dirt by piecing the puzzle together however how he joins the pieces and arrives at the final conclusion is not explained entirely. What also becomes noticeable is the absence of perspective and involvement into the self-made investigations of some of the family members, instead the focus being on a select few. The first few pages disclose the characters involved, often leaving you confused on the relationships between them and making you feel a family tree would have come handy but that feeling does tend to disappear as you progress through and the characters become more familiar.

Despite these slight flavours that you tend to wonder about, Rasleen presents “Happily Murdered” as a delicious dish, one that you enjoy and savour. Her idol’s influence is also evident from the finale she ensembles which has a typical Agatha Christie-ish feel to it. Given this is her debut book, Rasleen impresses and makes you wonder if she will invent newer recipes which will define India’s own version of crime based fiction in the coming years.

Friendship

Source: www.chippingin.wordpress.com

She checked the shocking pink on her finger nails, carefully examining if the brush had done justice to each; slowly she shifted her attention to her phone lying next to the coffee mug on the table. Making herself look busy she did nothing but stare at the screen and check the time every time it ticked a second more. 4:00 PM, the clock didn't seem to move an inch. Then she twirled her coffee cup and watched the cream dance out of the lovely leaf that it once was, giving a peek of the fragrant caffeine that lay beneath. Slowly she stole a glance towards the chair opposite and watched him make the white in his cup jiggle with the brown just as she had done a minute before. He smiled down at the cup; the same mischief spreading over his face as it had a decade ago. A decade since they had met…a decade since they had been friends.

Silence had replaced the chatter and proximity had met its match with stiffness. What was once called openness was now redefining itself as hesitation. She inquired about his family and he her’s. A lot of vacuum in their lives had been filled but a few old spaces had remained empty.

Time flew back and she reminisced the old days. The afternoon lectures perked up with the exchange of silent notes and the pinches and tickles that saved many a snoozing days. Birthdays turning bumpier every year and exams fluttering every nerve. Crying over crushes and laughing over gossip. Getting drunk over heartbreaks and celebrating over job offers. They had been through it all. Right from the thick to the thin, tiding over every hurdle holding hands that were glued together with the strongest adhesive that was around – Friendship. Could a guy and girl just be friends? she had been asked. Look at us and you will know how, she had said.

Breaking away from the memories she had treasured over the decade, she sipped her coffee, the warmth seeping through her mind, making her wonder why she had let ten years just go. Seasons had come, of love, friendships, careers, marriage and jobs -Some to stay forever, some to go. They had made her forget and lose herself in the flurries and the drops that pelted down on the window of her life. But there had always been something amiss, something that added the zing to life like crispy hot pakoras on a rainy evening or hot chocolate on a cold wintry night. It had taken her ten long years to realize what had stayed away from her reach. Friendship. There were friends she had shared all those ups and downs with but ‘The’ friend had been missing all along. Taking with him that zing that would have made the defining years of her life a lot more memorable than they were today. She thought of all those albums and the pictures that captured the moments of her life. All her loved ones were in them except one.

She gave herself a shake, no longer admiring the paint on her nails. She looked at her phone, just a glance.Thirty minutes had passed by, thirty minutes of reliving those ten years that had slipped by. Thirty minutes of silence as they both fiddled with their coffee that had now gone cold. No more, she thought. She was now at a juncture where she needed her close ones with her, to look back and smile at the life they had all shared. Together.  

No longer did she steal a glance; instead she looked up, summoning the waiter. “Two more latte’s please?” she said, hearing the sigh of relief being let out across from her.

It was time to renew her friendship.

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A take on the prompt 'Describe thirty minutes into the renewal of a friendship'

Book Review: 'The One You Cannot Have' By Preeti Shenoy

Source: www.goodreads.com

During the last few months, I have been reading quite a few Indian Authors with the sole intention of understanding where Indian writing stands today, esp. what the preferred Genre is for story telling. The more I read, the more I realized how light fiction has become the order of the day. Story lines that revolve around college, MBA, romance and the corporate are the staple. ‘The One You Cannot Have’ is once such book in this newly evolved world of Indian fiction writing.

The story begins with Aman returning to India after a two year stint in the UK. For two years he has stayed away, to get over the love of his life Shruti. The one with whom he spent the most beautiful four years of his life. The one who he had thought he would spend the rest of his life with. The one who broke away because her parents disapproved of him and her mother was suffering from breast cancer. But theirs was the perfect thing, despite spending two years away from India, his friends and Shruti, he hasn't been able to get over her. While Aman continues to live in his past, Shruti has problems of her own. She is now married to Rishabh, an alliance approved by her parents. She leads a happy life with him but yearns for what she had with Aman.

While the two hold on to their past, Anjali comes into Aman’s life and wants to take the place left vacant by Shruti. On the other hand, Rishabh discovers about Shruti’s past and begins to drift away.What happens to their relationships, which strings get snapped and which tie together is what Preeti Shenoy’s latest book is about. While the story line is not beyond the ordinary, Preeti does a good job of tightly coupling the plot together and holding on till the very end. What she also does well, is bring depth to the emotions that Aman and Shruti feel. She brings intensity into their relationship and shows why it was the most perfect, why they will always take that place in each others live, of being the one they cannot have. She also questions stereotypes esp. around societal pressure on starting families and the right age for getting married. She subtly brings about the Indian love for moral policing in the form of Anjali’s landlord and hypocrisy that exists in our society through Dipika.

The story line does not necessarily make it a gripping read, but it sure keeps you engaged while you devour down the pages. Being able to develop a firm story around a plot such that it keeps you engrossed when you leaf through is indeed an accomplishment to be appreciated. And Preeti achieves just that.

However, while I enjoyed this read, a few questions did come to mind. A great job is done in executing the perfect relationship between Aman and Shruti and the fact that neither has gotten over the other has been emphasized. On the other hand the relationship Aman shares with Anjali, is shown to be good but not as great as it had been with Shruti. The usages of words like “The more I talk about her, the more I realize how fond I am actually of her” don’t necessarily convince that Aman’s emotions are strong enough to give up on his perfect relationship esp. when it comes knocking at his door. Also, while on one hand, stereotypes and mindsets are questioned, when it comes to the climax, it seems to fall in line with those very  notions, leaving the reader wondering why, when Aman and Shruti both wanted to be together could they not be? Why, just because she is married, Shruti needs to go back to work things out with a husband who doesn't attempt to understand? Why is it necessary for people to always live with that “if only…” feeling for the rest of their lives.

Maybe this is what Preeti had in mind when she wrote ‘The One You Cannot Have’, to make her readers question  and hunt for those answers?… and if that’s the case, she sure has achieved what she set out to.

‘The One You Cannot Have’ might be one among the myriads of light fiction novels hitting the Indian market today, but it definitely rates high on that list. Purely for the execution skills Preeti brings to the table. Worth picking this book up for another of those Sunday breezy reads.

Cinderella With A Twist!

Source: www.shoebuyblog.com

Her step sisters were excited. They ran across the house, admiring themselves in every mirror they came across.

“Cinderella! A lock of hair has escaped! Do something, quick” yelled one sister.

“Cinderella! I think I need more powder! Help me!” screamed the other.

“Oh girls, get ready fast. I hear the Prince is in the house next door, trying out the shoe on those silly Smith girls who live there. Oh I am sure it won’t fit them. I just hope it fits one of you” 

Her step mother had just stepped in after spending almost half an hour craning out of the window for a sign of the Prince.

Cinderella knew the slipper could fit only her. After all, she was the one who had worn it to the ball. Had the clock not struck midnight, she would have stayed on, with her prince. But alas, she had to return, for it had only been a spell, that had transformed her back into the country girl at twelve.

With a smile on her face, her thoughts went back to the ball and the time she had spent with the prince till all of a sudden she felt someone’s eyes on her, watching with intent, her every move. She turned back and caught the look on her step mother’s face just as she turned and started fanning over her daughters.

“Why did Step Mother give me that look? Does she know? No! How could she? Other than me only Fairy God Mother knows about that night. The secret was safe with her!”

Cinderella went about her chores, but no longer feeling as confident as she had been just minutes before; her Step Mother’s stare still fresh in her mind. She knew the Prince would come in any time now; quickly she looked at herself in the mirror and tried to wipe away the cinders that had settled on her face and the dress from cleaning the fireplace. That was the best she could do with her tattered dress and wooden shoes, the only attire she had ever owned.

“Knock Knock” There was a loud rattle on the door.

“Oh the Prince is here, he is finally here!” the step sisters and their mother wailed as they settled themselves in their arm chairs and waited for the doorman to let the guests in.

The most handsome man in the kingdom walked into the sitting room and looked around. Cinderella watched from the corner, partly hiding herself behind a curtain. He caught her eye and for a moment seemed distracted when her Step Mother called out

“I suppose you want my daughters to try out the slipper my lord”

She bowed down to the prince and paid her respects. Her daughters followed suit and then one by one set down on the stool waiting for the Prince’s guard to bring forward the slipper.

Not expecting a difference in this house, the Prince kept looking towards the corner, to catch a glimpse of the girl he had seen hiding behind the curtain. She had looked familiar but he couldn't remember where he had seen her.

“My Lord! My Lord! It’s a perfect fit!” cried his guard, breaking through his thoughts.

The Prince turned around, shocked at the change in events. When he had first stepped into the room, he hadn't taken much of a liking to either of the two sisters but now… one of them was the woman he had fallen in love with?

The sight in front of him did hint at it being true. The second sister sat on the stool, looking as stunned as he was. She was staring at her foot, the glass slipper sitting pretty on it. It was a snug fit.

Behind the curtain, Cinderella was shocked. How could the slipper fit her step sister? It was her’s! She had just started towards the store room to get the pair that she knew would prove the slipper belonged to her; when she heard her Step Mother speak

“My Lord, let me get the other pair, I have kept it safe in my room”

Cinderella was shattered. How one earth had her Step Mother known? She caught her eye and saw the same malicious glint that she had seen before.The slipper was brought out and her step sister put it on. It was a perfect fit!

The Prince was unhappy. He could sense something was wrong but could not place a finger on what it was. Halfheartedly he joined the group and watched the sisters jiggle around making a mockery of themselves. Was this really the girl he had fallen in love with? His gaze once again shifted to the curtain and fell on the silhouette against the drapes. A sorrowful sight she was and watching her made his heart cry. He wondered why.

***

“Oh Fairy God Mother! Where are you? How did this happen? I need an explanation! Cried Cinderella as she lay by the fireplace covered with cinders in the dark of the night.For a long time she sobbed, sleep evading her. The tears had just started to dry and the eyelids begun to get heavy when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

“Shush Cinderella, its me” a musical voice filled the room.

“Fairy God Mother! Where have you been? What is all this? How did Mamma know about the slipper?”

“So many questions! Why don’t we sit for a while and catch up? It’s been a while, the questions can wait” and Fairy God Mother settled herself into the armchair closest to the fireplace.

“No! I need to know now, why did this happen? It should have been me instead of my sister. You know that!”  Cinderella was in no mood to listen.

Fairy God Mother let out a sigh and said “Fine. Listen then. Years ago, your step mother had done me a good deed. At the ball the other night, she had recognized you. She also knew that only I could have transformed you that night. So she found me and made me pay back for the favour she had done years ago. She made me change the shape of the slippers so that it fit one of her daughters, then she stole the slipper from your shelf. I am really sorry Cinderella, but I had no choice. In the fairy world, we cannot go back on a favour done to us. I did not know back then that your Step Mother was so evil and that she would use the favour to destroy you. I hope you understand. The kind soul that you are, I am sure you would”

Saying that, the Fairy God Mother disappeared leaving behind a few traces of fairy dust.

Heartbroken, Cinderella knew she had to resign to her fate. The Prince would no longer be hers.

                                              

***

The Kingdom was celebrating. The news of the Prince having found his bride had spread wide and far. The King and the Queen had invited the bride’s family for a banquet at the Castle. Step Mother and her daughters had been dressing up since dawn. Donning colored laces and trying different hats, they had been driving the whole house crazy. Finally it was time, and they had left the house, in a beautiful carriage sent by the King.  As usual, Cinderella had been left behind.

“Welcome to our Castle!” greeted the King, offering his arm to the Step Mother and escorting them in.

“Isn't it such a coincidence? Our prince being betrothed to your daughter?” smiled the King

“I am sorry My Lord, but I don’t understand” said the Step Mother with a quizzical look on her face.

“Oh didn't you know? The Prince is really not our son. He was found in the stables, he is but the son of a commoner. And now he is marrying a country person, just like him. He wants to go back to his roots now, live the country life that he was born in. And who would be a better partner than a lovely girl like your daughter?”

The King smiled, patting his future to be daughter’s hair as he spoke.

“Mamma what does he mean? Will I not get to live in this Castle? Will I not be the Queen?” cried her daughter.

“O King! How can that be? I got the slipper changed so that it fits my-uhhhh” she gasped, quickly covering her mouth but it was too late.

“What do you mean? Are you trying to say the slipper does not belong to your daughter?” the King asked, a hint of anger creeping into his tone.

“My Lord, I just wanted the best for my daughter. The slipper belonged to my step child Cinderella. She is a simpleton and not fit to be a Queen!” Step Mother was scared, not knowing how the King would now react.

The King was now silent. He walked up and down the room, glad the Queen and the Prince had still not joined them. He had made up the story about the Prince to gauge how they would react. The Mother was cunning he thought, so must her daughter be. The Prince is simple hearted, he believes every word he is told. He trusts everyone. When he becomes the King, he would need someone by his side who is cunning and wily enough not to fall prey to the enemies. Marrying Cinderella would mean doom for this Kingdom. No, both of the royal couple cannot be simple and good hearted, one of them has to be shrewd, only then will there be a balance he thought. He turned around, the fear in the eyes of the women in front of him not escaping his attention.

“Well, I need a shrewd daughter-in-law and not a simple one. Let this be our secret, one we shall never reveal” said the King extending his hand to the Step Mother.

With disbelief Step Mother shook the King’s hand, just as the Queen and the Prince entered the room.

“There they are! Let us proceed with Lunch and fix the date for the Wedding” said the King.

 “Will you be kind enough to take my arm, My Love?” said the Prince, leading his future wife into the dining room. For the briefest second, the thought of the girl he had seen hiding behind the curtain crossing his mind.

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A prompt asking for a twist in the straightforward and romantic Cinderella tale triggered of this post.