War For Love

~Twenty Eight~

"So when are we planning our next attack?" Siya asked and Sahib looked at her, letting out a deep breath.

"We need to think of something big, Siya."

"Big?" Siya asked and Sahib nodded his head, leaning against the cold wall of the jail.

"Hm, big. Something really big. After the attack on the mills and head office, they won't tolerate another attack, Siya. They'll execute me. And I am not scared of dying because my death is inevitable; but before my end I need to do something big. We need to prepare for a war. It may certainly not bring us independence but it will definitely question their authority and power. Now, our people are afraid of the royals. I want the royals to be afraid of us."

Siya felt her heart clenching at the thought of Sahib's death but she knew everyone dies. She would too. No-one knows what future holds for them. She tried not to think much because the war was their necessity. The royals needed a reality check that they were functioning because of their people. No matter how primitive their villagers were but the unity would always dominate the power. And their country needed to know that the time had come when they need to raise their voice and weapons against the oppressive rule of royals.

"And how will this be achieved?" Siya wondered because the villagers were afraid of the foreign rule. The women were still not allowed out of their houses and until every section of the society stands up and join hands together, freedom can't be attained.

"Enlightenment. We need to educate people, Siya. We need to persuade people into participating in the war. We need to eliminate the fear of death out of people's heart. And this needs to be done soon." Sahib explained in a hushed whisper and Siya nodded her head.

"I'll meet the women of our village in secret. Only a woman can make other women realize of their power and responsibility. I'll teach them. We need to educate our women and children first. But the officers won't let us gather in a place. We need to do it in utmost secrecy." Sahib nodded his head. True, only a woman can encourage another woman.

"But before that we need to get out of here. This is the last time they're punishing me with a whip or humiliation instead of killing me for the revolts. We have just one chance with us, Siya."

"We'll do it. The war is inexorable, and so is their defeat. Let them release us once, we'll start planning for their doom." Siya said. Her voice held the determination and courage that made Sahib's heart to pump with optimism. Nothing was impossible for him until she stood beside him.

Sahib had always heard that love strengthens a person and he never felt it until Siya came in his life. The young girl had more valour than the majority of the people of their village. He smiled, nodding his head as he cupped her hands, pulling her closer to him.

There eyes met like two souls meet after ages of separation. Sahib's dark eyes made her throat to go parch. She felt the need surfacing her body that night. None of them were given food and yet they satisfied one another with their gaze and presence. Sahib's hand on her felt like a warm embrace of a blanket in the cold winter night. Siya inched closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder before she closed her eyes. Tiredness, hunger, pain, flushed out of her body and the only thing she felt was the eternal peace, she had never felt before.

"Will you be the same when we'll step out of this prison? Or we'll act like you're still Sahib for me in the public again and Rudra in private?" Sahib swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat as she wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pressing her head against his chest and she felt her heart thumping loudly.

"Rudra. I'll always be Rudra for you. I am all yours, Siya. Call me whatever you want, claim me however you want." Siya felt her eyes brimming with tears as she smiled widely at him, squeezing him into a hug and he silently chuckled, shaking his head as he embraced her tightly too.

"You seem to be enjoying a little too much in the prison, don't you?" Sahib asked sarcastically and Siya felt her cheeks flushing red as she hit him lightly, snuggling closer to him, to get rid of the the coldness that made her body to shiver.

"I maybe a little guilty here." Siya giggled out and Sahib rolled his eyes in response.

"Of course, you are." Siya shivered as a cold wind hit them and Sahib rubbed her palms. He gripped her waist before shifting her closer to him, so that her back was now pressed against Sahib's chest and Siya almost forgot how to breathe.

His bodily heat soothing her but the proximity amid them made her shiver even more. She had never been this intimate with him before. So intimate that she felt every stance of her blazing in fire. His arms around her waist and his large frame almost engulfing her, making her feel like Sahib was her abode of unadulterated peace and tranquility. His breath fanned on her skin, making it harder for her to sit still.

"Are you cold?" Sahib asked softly, his voice still husky with the propinquity that affected him too.

"You're warming me from inside" Siya said with her shaky voice and he smiled against her, his head leaning back against the wall.

"Sleep, my fiery woman, the night's going to be long." Siya licked her lips, resting her head back against his chest as she closed her eyes, knowing the night would be longer for her but possibly beautiful too.

"Rudra?" Siya called him when she couldn't sleep even after a long hour of trying to catch atleast a wink of sleep. She hadn't expected him to answer but he did. Siya folded her legs, turning to face him. His eyes were wide awake, like even he wasn't able to sleep.

"Hm?"

"Is it strange, I felt more freedom in a jail ratter than in my own house and village?" Sahib hadn't expected a question so intense as this.

It was a simple question, asked with such tenderness that it made the cruelty of the world crystal clear. A woman founds more freedom in a jail, sentenced to her as a punishment than in her own house. Though she was caged in a four wall and had no freedom to roam around, she still felt her mind free of every restrain she had in her house and village.

"It's not strange, Siya but it is indeed the failure of our world to make a woman feel safe and free in a jail, and caged in her own house." Sahib answered, his eyes closed as he shook his head before he looked at her again.

"Freedom is a state of mind, Siya. A place where you should feel latitude, you're feeling like someone is trying to cage you. And a jail, where you're supposed to feel immured, you're feeling free." Siya nodded her head at his words.

"The officers have, of course caged me inside this four wall but my mind is free of every bondage. But the minute I'll walk into the real world, I'll be forced to get rid of every unladylike actions."

"One day, Siya. One day your sacrifice, your pain, your efforts will make thousands and lakhs of women free from this unfair bondage." Sahib said and Siya nodded her head, closing her eyes as sleep now lured her. Her limbs felt heavy as she leaned against the wall, her head against Sahib's shoulder.

"One day, I hope."

~~~~~~

When seventeen days later Siya and Sahib were released from prison, Siya felt nervous to go back to her house. She knew things wouldn't be peachy at her home. Her mother would have made a mess of her from all the crying and Vedika must be so sad. Siya however wasn't sure of her father. She knew he wouldn't feel ashamed by her act but she felt a part of her curling in remorse for the pain she had caused to everyone in her family. Especially to her father. He, of course, supported her in every decision but that never meant her decisions didn't saddened him.

But unlike the cries and accusations she had anticipated, she received none of them. Siya was stunned to see her house decorated with flowers. They never bought flowers in their house. 'They're unnecessary expense.' Her father always told them. The sheets on the cot were changed to new. There were lamps on the corner of her house, illuminating her house. Her house smelled like sandalwood. This didn't feel like her house. Her house was more of like dark, without the smell of the sandalwood and without the flowers decorating her house.

Had her arrest made her family lose their sanity? Did her absence really left such a deep impact on their mind? And as if all these weren't enough because Vedika walked outside of a small room, akin to a matchbox, dressed in a pretty, plain saree. Her hair braided beautifully and gajra (flower garland) wrapped around her braid. Vedika looked beautiful, very beautiful but for what occasion?

Vedika looked at her sister and her heart filled with sadness, sorrow, happiness seeing her younger sister. She was unharmed. And seeing her perfectly alright, she took a breath of relief. Though Siya looked like she hadn't been fed properly but other than that she had no scars on her body. Siya rushed to her sister, enveloping her in her embrace, she had missed her so much.

"You're alright, Siya? They didn't hurt you, right?" Vedika asked, tears rolling down her eyes and Siya pulled away from her, smiling widely at her, wiping away her tears.

"No harms done, Jiji. Besides, I even got to spent some time with Rudra. But you tell me, why are you so..... dressed up? I mean you look very gorgeous but is there something I'm missing? Flowers, sandalwood scent, lamps, new sheets. What's happening?" Before Vedika could've answered, her mother answered her questioned who had just arrived in the house with fresh milk.

"Marriage, my child. In some time, the family is coming to see our daughter. Though the marriage has been fixed, they still wanted to come and give her the shagun (blessings in the form of either some money, coconut or a dress material)." Siya's eyes widened and she turned around.

"What!" Her sister's marriage was fixed when she was in the jail! She looked at Vedika, looking for a sign of her discomfort but found none but there was something else on her face which looked so much similar to guilt. But why would she feel guilty?

"She has reached the age to marry, Siya. When I was her age, I had given birth to both of you. No need to be so shocked."

How could she not be shocked? Especially when her mother wasn't talking about how she had disrespected her culture by being in the jail for more than two weeks. She was expecting her to cry, to accuse her of how nobody respects them anymore and how people have already boycotted them from the society because of her. But instead of crying, Leela looked happy.

And Vedika looked full of remorse.

"That's fine but..... why so suddenly? And who is the guy? How old is he? And Jiji, are you alright with this marriage? If this is against your will, have faith in me, Jiji, because if this is against your will, I'll not let this marriage to happen!" Leela rolled her eyes, placing the bucket filled with milk on the ground before turning towards Siya.

"Keep your claws down, Siya. She's not been forced for the marriage and the guy is just three years older to her and owns five acre of land and works in a textile factory, you people failed to bomb." Before Siya could've reverted back on the taunt, Leela continued.

"They must be on their way, Siya. I have so much of work to do. Can you please prepare the kheer (sweet dish) for the guests?"