Lust Or Love?

Chapter 11

"Take this! " Urmila handed her a leaf bowl filled with hot jalebies.

For a second Shivanya looked at them and then her gaze shifted to the lady in front of her. She was smiling kindly at her.

Kindness?

A strange feeling settled in her heart. Kindness was something she have not witnessed in years. World was never kind to her. It's people were never kind to her! And she was used to it, but suddenly a complete stranger is offering her Kindness? This thought unnerved her. After all she suffered she was forced to think that the woman has something bad in her mind or why would you offer something to a stranger like her and she looked hard at her to fathom the reason behind this. But found nothing other than kindness and something like.......pain in those old pair of eyes.

Urmila saw Shivanya standing there rigid and making no move.

"Take it....please! " She added.

"Thank you! " she mumbled lightly and refused to take the bowl.

Motioning her hand.

This made the calm smile on Urmila's face to vanish.

"I thought...." her voice trailed off. "I know you might be thinking why this sudden kind offering, right? You look like my daughter....." her voice cracked and she stifled a cry.

"I am really sorry to bother you....but please take this! " Urmila once again put forward the jalebies.

As soon as Shivanya took those from her hands she sat down on the chair and looked away only to hide her tears from the world.

As much as she hated to accept, the woman resembled her mother greatly. Might not be in appearance but the kindness, she only got from her mother.

She took the jalebies from her.

"I don't know if I should ask but where is your daughter? " she said as she took a seat beside her.

"Dead! " she replied, looking at the moon and at that moment she felt the real resemblance between her and this lady. They have both lost their loved ones.

"Oh....I..am sorry! " Shivanya said but she knew these three words could never actually make you feel better. Specially when you have lost someone so dear to you.

"It's alright! " Urmila said while she once again sat up straight, wiping away the tears and forcing a smile on her face.

"But you could help me feel better. " she said while looking at Shivanya intently.

"If you eat up those you know. " she pointed at the bowl in her hand. "And let me know how they taste. "

Shivanya can't help but giggle and that was really the first time she did something like that in almost three years. Over the years, she became intimidating, strong headed and quite good at politics!

"You look beautiful when you smile keep it that way! " Urmila said, giving a half smile.

"Wait a second" She said and went on the other end of the tented shop to search something.

Shivanya munched on one of the jalebies, big, round filled with sweet juices. The fried crispness and the cold, sweet sugar juices made the combination so perfect that it melted instantly in her mouth.

"These are delicious! " she said while taking another bite. When she heard Urmila laughing. "Thank you young lady! " She said still throwing things around, from what looked like a metal trunk.

And that is when realization dawned upon her that she hadn't introduced herself.

"My name is Shivanya. " she said but no reply came instead a warm clothing engulfed her body. She looked down only to find a fine kashmiri shawl draped around her.

Before Shivanya could say anything to refuse it, Urmila stated. "Oh! Please don't say no to that, it's really cold out there! "

Shivanya could do nothing but nod.

"Where do you live? " she asked.

"I....I live in Umarkot. " even before she could realize the truth was out.

"Looks like you belong from a well to do family, but what are you doing here alone? "

She took a sharp breath. "Fate plays devastating games with people. I am just a victim of it. "

Urmila just nodded realizing the fact that she is not ready to open up more.

"Where will you live now? " she asked.

"I still have to find a place. "

"You can live with me. " "if you want to! "

Shivanya's eyes glimmered in happiness. "Thank you! " she said when she ment every single letter of it.

***

The young dancer patted her feet at the exact rhythms of the song in the royal court room. Her swift sensual moves sent the old king at a height of desire. He sipped the rich wine from the glass while his eyes feasted upon the revealing dress of the beautiful dancer in front of her. The silk and net which only covered a ample of her skin.

His desire heightened as the rhythm of the song increased, soon coming to an end. He gulped down the whole glass of wine at once. His eyes still at his soon to be prey for the night.

A wink! And all his self control vanished.

"Leave! " he ordered the musicians, motioning his hands and they were out. Leaving the old king with the dancer and his raw desire.

Taking long strides he was soon on his bed while the golden stole fell on the floor.

"Huzoor! Queen gauri is seeking the permission to meet you. " The voice of a guard came from far.

Clenching his fists he stood up and threw a small bag of gold coins in her direction and stated to leave.

Her face glowed in happiness as she took the bag of coins and stood up collecting her dress, lying on the floor.

And soon hurried out of the room.

"Send her in! " his voice boomed in the room and soon a petite lady entered into the room with her little daughter.

King vidyadhar smirked at the condition of his youngest wife, her face flushed red and her eyes, threatening to spill tears any moment now. Obliviously she had witnessed the woman leaving in disheveled state.

I am sorry to disturb you, I..I just came to give you this!

She handed a orange colored thread to him, raksha sutra.

Unknowingly a smirk appeared on his face, when he yanked her hair and pulled her towards him. A helpless painful cry, she heard and the next moment she was lying on the floor, her head on the wall and blood on her face.

The little girl was brutally frightened by the treatment her mother received. "Maa"she ran with tears spilling over her face to where her mother lay wounded.

Shivanya woke up from her nightmare, the same which is frightening her for years now.

Her tears flowing down, her heart aching for love and warmth in the cold hut where Urmila laid on the floor just beside her own torn out old mat.