The World Beyond by Sangeeta Bhargava Read Free Book Online

pair of trousers.

    She was up early the next morning. Sudha helped her slip into Papa’s breeches. ‘Oh no, they’re so loose,’ she exclaimed.
    ‘You need this, memsahib,’ Sudha said as she handed her the braces.
    ‘Ah yes, I forgot.’ Rachael heaved a sigh of relief as Sudha adjusted the braces over her shoulders and back. Carefully she pushed back every single strand of hair that was trying to peek out from beneath the hat. Finally, she put on Papa’s riding jacket and looked at herself in the mirror as Sudha left the room.
    She crinkled up her nose as she smiled. The breeches were supposed to stop halfway down the calf, but they were almost reaching her ankles. Ah well, it would have to do. She gently tugged the breeches at the thighs and giggled as they ballooned out. Then she put on her boots and took a final look at herself in the mirror.
    ‘Memsahib, barre sahib leave in an hour. You better go now,’ Sudha said as she entered the room.
    ‘Yes, I better,’ Rachael replied as she tucked in a stray lock of hair underneath the hat. Papa would soon leave for his customary morning ride. Mother was still sleeping. It would be another two hours before she left the room. Rachael would be back home by then and no one would know she was gone. Quietly, she walked over to the main hall and looked out of the window. No one could be seen except the gatekeeper.
    She lowered her head and traversed the distance between the house and the stables swiftly. She neither looked to the left nor right and kept her eyes down. Ram Singh and Kalyaan were waiting for her with Chestnut. Rachael patted the horse’s back affectionately. Ram Singh helped her onto his back.
    ‘Baba, better coming home soon or we getting skinned alive.’
    ‘I will, I will,’ replied Rachael gaily as she trotted towards the gate.
    ‘Salaam, barre sahib,’ the gatekeeper saluted.
    Rachael nodded her head slightly as she rode off towards Macchi Bhawan. She chuckled to herself as she imagined the look on the gatekeeper’s face when the real barre sahib left the house. He would say nothing, of course, out of fear of losing his job.
    She took a deep breath as she looked at the lemony sun slowly rising higher in the east. The dew-laden air was fresh at this time of the day. She could hear the sounds of the city waking up: the call of a peacock in the distance, the chime of the temple bells, the call for azan coming from the mosques, the sound of bullock carts and the tinkling of the cows’ bells as they were led across the field by the milkman. She felt a freedom she had never felt before. She looked heavenward and closed her eyes. ‘Thank you, God, for a perfect day,’ she whispered.

Chapter Five

    S ALIM

    Salim shifted his weight from one foot to the other and looked impatiently at the entrance. Now that the festivities of Eid were over, the court was in session again. He wondered why he had been summoned there.
    He looked around at the darbar hall of the Safed Baradari. The heavily pillared hall was filled with courtiers smelling strongly of ittar. They all stood with folded arms and were softly murmuring to each other. He felt intimidated and began rubbing his forearm in agitation.
    Just then he heard the sound of firing. It was a gun salute in honour of Abba Huzoor. The band began to play and a hush fell in the hall. Musa-ud-Daula stepped forward and announced in a loud sing-song voice, ‘His Imperial Majesty, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, son of Nawab Amjad Ali Shah, has arrived in court.’ Everybody stood still with heads lowered and arms folded respectfully.
    Entering the hall, Abba Huzoor took his seat on the throne. Two men followed him, each carrying a silver box, which they placed at the side of the throne.
    Some individuals stepped forward with gifts they had brought for their king – baskets of mangoes, decanters of perfume, gold and silver cages with rare birds. Abba Huzoor nodded at them. A courtier stepped forward and accepted them on his