Tikkipala by Sara Banerji Read Free Book Online Page B

without my permission. Also in future the gate keepers will have instructions to shut the gates on you.’
    â€˜But my hands were not burnt, and you promised… why don’t you believe me?’ wept Sangita as the men took her arms, ready to lead her out.
    â€˜Sita’s feet were not burnt and her husband, Lord Rama, accepted that she was innocent but banished her all the same,’ the Raja had said. ‘For the suspicion still remained and how can a king, or Raja, have a wife upon whom falls suspicion.’

Chapter 4
    Sangita stood waiting for the moment when Anwar should appear, riding on his pony with the saddle and bridle.
    She waited on the lawn before the palace, as Anwar had instructed her. ‘Because I am going to come riding in, and you will be amazed how good I am at riding. And Mama, you are right, Ruby is not a good name for a white boy pony, so I am going to call him Witherite. What do you think?’
    â€˜That’s a funny name. What does it mean?’
    â€˜It’s a twin orthohombic crystal. Do you like it?’
    Sangita smiled. ‘Not much, actually.’
    â€˜What about ‘Magnesite’ then?’
    â€˜Oh, no,’ said Sangita.
    â€˜Dolomite?’
    â€˜Mm.’
    â€™Aragonite?’
    â€˜That’s better,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry to be so fussy.’
    â€˜I’m running out of names of white minerals,’ said the little boy.
    â€˜Do you have to call him after a mineral?’
    â€˜I thought I would, because they’re Papa’s favourite things and the pony is my favourite.’
    â€˜You don’t think that ‘Hanuman’ would be a good name?’
    â€˜A monkey?’ said Anwar, looking shocked.
    â€˜He was a special monkey, though,’ laughed Sangita. ‘Because he rescued Sita from Ravana.’
    Anwar looked thoughtful, then said at last, ‘I’ve made up my mind and I’m going to call my pony, ‘Whitey.’
    â€˜Oh, my goodness.’ Sangita burst out laughing.
    Hanuman had found and saved Seeta, but had never come to help Sangita. The worst day, out of all those terrible days, was the one when her father handed her a London newspaper and pointed to an announcement of an engagement. A dizziness came over Sangita’s eyes at first, so that she could hardly read the words. It took her some long moments to understand that Paul was getting married in a church in London. A long time to take in fully the fact that no one was going to save her, and that she might as well die after all.
    Her father pulled the paper away just in time, before a tear fell on it.
    Her thoughts came back to the present, with the sound of the pony’s feet on the gravel of the drive, then suddenly Anwar appeared, his face flushed with happiness, his little white stallion tossing his head and foaming at the mouth. Hari, the syce was leading him and trying to quieten the pony with the other hand, while Anwar, leaning forward to try to bat the man’s hand away, shouted, ‘Leave go, Hari. I want my mother to see me riding on my own.’
    â€˜You are only four years old, baby sahib. This is too young for only riding.’
    â€˜Do as I say, Hari. Obey me this instant,’ yelled the little Raja.
    â€˜But the Raja sahib said…’
    â€˜Leave go, leave go!’
    Hari looked up anxiously to where the Raja was standing, looking proudly from the balcony. The Raja nodded and Hari let go.
    For a moment it seemed as though the little boy might fall, for the pony, so suddenly released from the syce’s tight grip, gave a series of little happy bucks. But Anwar held on, kept his balance and moments later had the pony under control, and cantering round the lawn.
    â€˜Shabash, shabash,’ cried the Raja from the balcony, clapping his hands. ‘This boy is a proper horseman and will be a great rider when he is big. You need not hold him anymore, Hari, for my boy knows how to