Sahithi's Adventures

The Special Act

Sahithi felt a bit hot on a typical summer night. Though it was 9 pm, the climate was just starting to cool down. It was neither too hot nor too cold, just warm enough to feel a bit hot if you exerted yourself physically. The Englishmen were also down to their shirts and trousers, which their superior officer, Lord Robert, had allowed due to the weather. He wanted them in high spirits by the time it became colder; usually, by 10-11 pm the night would turn cold, requiring a bit of warmth, which was perfect for having a woman in bed. He kept a straight face as he gazed at everyone with an impassive expression. He liked what he saw – hope and fear duelling in the girl’s mind, expectations from the men; they knew he could be dramatic at moments like these.

“Sergeant Brooks, I heard you could draw some good portraits. Is that true?” he addressed a tall, lanky man with a handlebar moustache.

“Yes sir. You heard right. I dabble a little in my hobby.”

“Well, why don’t you show us your magic?”

“I didn’t bring my tools sir.”

“That can be rectified.” Robert clapped his hands and a guard appeared. “Get Sergeant Brooks’ Painting kit, will you?” the guard saluted and left the room, reappearing shortly with the kit. “There you are, Brooks.”

“I will need a model sir.”

“Well, I thought of getting my portrait done, but in hind sight, I think, I have a better prospect for your skill, Brooks.”

“And pray, who is that sir?” Sergeant Brooks seemed genuinely interested. “If I may ask.”

“She is standing before you, Brooks. I want to take back a memory of an English-speaking native dancing girl with me when I go back home.”

“That’s a brilliant idea, sir.”

“She’s all yours, Brooks.” He turned to Sahithi. “Posing for a portrait is common across all cultures.” She had no choice but to nod her head yes. Now, the readers might ask, why an arrogant imperial officer was being so nice and gentlemanly towards a girl he considered almost a slave? For that, we need to rewind a bit and go back in time to 8.45 pm. The hall had just been cleared of all the guests; most of them had been the ladies from the nearby regimental centre who had come on a visit. They had been ushered to their respective rooms for the night. All that remained in the room were Lord Robert and thirty officers.

Sahithi looked at Lord Robert in the eye as she spoke more boldly than she felt. “Can I ask you something, your grace?” everyone in the room gasped with surprise. No native had dared to ask Lord Robert something directly – he had not allowed it before. Instead of being angry, he seemed amused; was he softening down lately? He nodded at her with a patronising look.

“Why did you come to this country?”

“What do you mean?”

“It was trade at first, but now, that seems to be the last concern. In fact, your army has been occupying more and more of this land lately. It doesn’t look like a trade transaction.”

“We are powerful; it is the duty of the mighty to protect the weak.”

“Who said we were weak?”

“Well, why would we win if our opponents were strong?”

“Treachery?”

“We did not drop here just like that! We fought a just war and won fairly.”

“A war won with guns and cannons against swords and knives.”

“Everything is fair in war and love.”

“Perhaps.”

“I don’t have to explain this to you, yet, I do this because I represent the most civilised nation on earth.” There was pride in his voice.

“Is it civilised behaviour to humiliate women in front of everyone?” her voice erupted into fire with every word she uttered, though she spoke with a calm demeanour that belied the nervousness and terror within. “What kind of civilisation forces women to serve men naked?”

“How dare you question a British lord!” one of the officers rose in anger to hit her.

“Stay, lieutenant Sam!” the officer looked at his boss in confusion. “She knows not what she says. Can you expect anything better from someone like her?”

“Well, no sir.”

“That’s why we should be patient with her. Show her some ‘civilised behaviour’”. There was a glint in his eye that brought a smile to the faces of the Englishmen while Sahithi frowned in confusion. What was he talking about?

Now, back to the present. 21-10-1724. 9.20 pm. Same room, same people, same positions.

Sergeant Brooks set up his easel and got ready to paint. “Sir, permission to start painting?”

“Yes, Brooks. You may begin.” The man started his work, his brush swishing over the canvas, bringing to life one of the most magnificent portraits of the time. He definitely had great skill at painting. When he was done, he bowed to Lord Robert, who came down to watch.

“That’s amazing, Brooks.” The man blushed with pleasure. “You can definitely amass a fortune if you take up painting seriously. But, don’t you think there is something missing in this beautiful portrait?” Brooks scratched his head.

“You don’t see it, do you?”

“I am afraid not, sir.”

“A woman’s beauty is best when it is uncovered, Brooks. Can you do another without this?” he asked, pointing to Sahithi’s pallu in the portrait. The real model was still clueless about the whispered conversation between the two men, but she realised they were cooking something up that would not be pleasant for her.

“I get it sir. Thank you sir.” Brooks set up a new canvas, ready to do another portrait. Robert smiled. “Private William!” the man in question marched smartly toward the young Lord and saluted deftly. “Take it off!” William saluted again and walked to Sahithi, who stared at him with wide eyes. When he pulled her pallu, she instinctively held it tight with her hands to prevent it from coming off her body.

“Hold!” Robert ordered. William stopped pulling the pallu but held it tight enough to prevent her from pulling it back. “Ah! Perfect!” that prompted Lieutenant Brooks to start his magic again, bringing yet another painting to life with his masterful strokes of the brush. He was a picture of concentration as he captured the expression of horror on Sahithi’s face. It was a perfect imitation of the posture the live model was in. Lord Robert was his usual critical self, pretending to critique a work of art.

“It can be improvised further,” he remarked. “No obstacles to sight.”

“Shall I get her blouse off then, sir?”

“No, not yet. Just make sure she doesn’t cover herself when her pallu is removed completely.”

“Yes, sir.” Sahithi now realised what was going to happen. They were going to make her pose for a series of portraits, systematically stripping her of all her clothes. Surprisingly, she felt no anger, nor was there any fear. She was surprisingly calm as the Englishmen drank tea to refresh themselves. She was now very unsure of how she felt. Did she like to be exposed by others? What would her father say? Her eyes went wide in terror. He would kill her!

But, she was away from him, too far away with no chance to go back. Would she allow his memory to affect her? What harm would there be seeing how she felt when they made her next portrait? She stood with these thoughts like someone frozen in time – both hands holding the pallu tight from falling off, Private William holding one end of her pallu while the other end was safely tucked away near the waist in her silk long-skirt. Lord Robert had not ordered him to release her pallu yet.

10 pm. The men had returned to their places. Lieutenant Brooks got ready to do another portrait. Lord Robert nodded at Private William, who pulled the pallu harder, leaving Sahithi in just a blouse and her silk long-skirt. The men’s faces flushed with anticipation as the first piece of clothing was separated from her body. At another signal from lord Robert, William went behind Sahithi and held her hands to her side, revealing a beautiful sight – two very stiff, small, conical mountains trying to push through the fabric of her blouse. Brooks closed his eyes for a second, sighing deeply. ‘Damn!’ he thought. ‘What a perfect pair! She will be too hot to handle if she becomes naked.” He could feel himself getting hard at the thought. This native beauty was turning him on!

He shook his head and sipped his wine to clear his head; Lord Robert was amused by the reaction of the otherwise unruffled Gunnery Sergeant. This girl had a lot of promise. She would be a perfect choice to have in his regiment to calm the jangled nerves of battle-weary men. A smile crossed his face as he saw the confusion on the face of this young girl who could not be older than twenty years. Had he found an exhibitionist? As he waited for Brooks to finish yet another masterpiece, he focussed on her facial expressions; he wanted to be sure before he proceeded further.

As he studied the life-like portrait that had brought the beauty of the girl’s bosom, he glanced at his men who were waiting with bated breath for his next order. They would not be disappointed. He smirked as he chose his words carefully. “Nicely done, Sergeant! Worthy of a talented artist. Have you heard of nude art?”

“Of course, sir! They used to do that when I was an apprentice to my master painter.”

“Well, it is time to see how it is done.” He turned to William. “Take off her blouse. If she resists, cut it off!”

“Sir!” William simply stretched his hands and started removing the hooks of her blouse one by one, deliberately increasing the anticipation of the onlookers as they gulped. Some of them were already waking up their little brothers. Sahithi, on the other hand, stood shivering nervously, surprised at her own lack of reaction. Though there was a blush on her face indicating the shyness, shame and embarrassment she felt at getting stripped by a man in the presence of so many males, she did notice a strange heat washing all over her body. Her most private part seemed to be sending off heat that seemed to paralyse her into doing nothing. When William pulled the blouse over her hands, she did not resist, nor did she attempt to cover her b*****s as they stood exposed to the lustful gaze of thirty-one officers and one Private.

A deep blush rose in her cheeks as she noticed the men rubbing something between their legs.