Chapitre 14: Fidelity, A Virtue Peculiar To Those Who Are About To Be Betrayed
The Bali house was a large mansion, constructed in the shape of a horseshoe. It was divided into four courtyards with many gardens and small water bodies interspersed between the residential areas.
The construction of the mansion was based on the principles of Vastu-shastra*.
Each sub-family had been allocated a pavilion which was connected to the main formal hall through a series of corridors. The stones used in the flooring were a mixture of quartz, marble and mosaic.
The biggest residence belonged to the patriarch of the family, the head of the Bali clan, Kirtidev. His wife had passed away due to grief soon after the death of her second son and daughter-in-law. As a result, the courtyard only had him residing there.
Kirtidev had retired from active politics after serving for several decades under the previous emperor and the current one.
His meritorious deeds had earned a spot for his eldest son in the ministry of Strategy & Planning under the current monarch, King Indraneel's reign.
Even though it had been more than five years since Kirtidev last stepped into the royal court, the number of people seeking him under the guise of guidance hadn't reduced. To say that he knew about the pulse of the kingdom better than most of his active peers, it wouldn't be a stretch.
A knock at his study's door made Kirtidev raise his head from the ancient scripture which he was reading.
It was his trusted subordinate, Bhadrak, who came in, bringing a gust of cold wind inside the warm study chamber.
"A maid from Madam Lilavati's side came to relay the news that Second Miss's carriage has entered the city already," he said politely.
The old man was almost sixty years old. But his complexion was ruddy. The bushy eyebrows and the stern mouth remained strong as ever. Leaning back into the sturdy, curved and cushioned chair, Kirtidev stroked his white moustache. His lips stretched into a small smile.
"Good! Go and check if the courtyard needs anything else. She is very particular about cleanliness. You personally ensure that the rooms have been properly aired and there is enough charcoal and wood in her storage area," he instructed in a booming voice.
Despite his stooping shoulders, Kirtidev still had a majestic presence and managed to tower over his sons who had taken their mediocre heights from their deceased mother.
Bhadrak hastily assured him. "As per your instructions three days ago, all the rooms, including that of err… Second Master, have been thoroughly cleaned and prepared. Ahem, it seems…"
At his hesitation, Kirtidev raised his eyes and motioned him to continue.
"It seemed from the maid's words as if Madam Lilavati was not aware of Second Miss's arrival. Had you not instructed this servant to supervise the cleaning staff..." Bhadrak lowered his eyes, not wishing to look at the expression in the eyes of his master.
"Ha… of course! It seems that my good son, Rudradev, is so busy that even the correspondence at his table doesn't get opened up after three days of its arrival. Since he has personally decided to 'check' each and every brothel in the city of Dima, how will he find the time to read and respond to all the other inconsequential matters. Had Katyayani not written to me separately, she would have faced the same indifferent treatment meted out to her, as all previous occasions."
Bhadrak tactfully remained quiet while the old man ranted against his eldest son.
Dharitri was surprised when she reached the courtyard of her deceased second uncle.
Even though no one lived here for the most part of the year, nothing had changed or been removed from this area as per the instructions of her grandfather.
"Greetings, Eldest Miss!" a group of maids bowed their heads with folded hands in front of Dharitri.
She froze in her place and so did the two maids who were standing behind her.
"You… have you cleaned the place already?" She asked the maids in front of her in a confused voice.
"Yes, Eldest Miss, we have been cleaning the place since the past two days. All work is complete now. The beddings and drapes have been changed. The coal and wood have been stocked. The small kitchen in the courtyard is also fully stocked as per Second Miss's preference," said one of them politely.
Dharitri was taken aback.
"Since two days?" She realised that she had muttered the words out loud.
Composing herself, she told them to continue with the work and turned around immediately.
"Go back to my mother's chambers. You are not required here," she instructed the curious looking maids who were standing behind her with cleaning supplies in their hands.
The two girls could sense some gossip in the air but were smart enough to keep their expressions neutral and mouths shut. They all knew that the Eldest Miss had a soft mouth but hard actions.
Once they left, Dharitri spun around again and asked the maid in front of her. "Who sent you to clean the place?"
The maid who had spoken earlier, replied in a soft, deferential voice. "We came here on the instructions of Senior Bhadrak."
Dharitri kept her face impassive and said, "Once you are done with the work assigned, you may leave. My second sister doesn't like too many people milling around her chambers."
With that, she stepped out of the foyer to go back to her mother's room. But her feet stilled as a thought crossed her mind. With brisk steps, she walked in the direction of the outer yard where her father's study was located.
The mahogany panelled study had a deserted look when Dharitri entered the place. Even the stone fireplace was cold, and the residual ashes lay accumulated at it's base.
"Someone… come here immediately," Dharitri's stern voice alerted the birds perched on the nearby barren branches of the gulmohar tree.
"E… Eldest Miss, this servant is here!" One of the male attendants of Rudradev immediately came in.
He had been happily gulping down an extra portion of breakfast in the kitchen yard when one of the maids, who was sweet on him, had come running to inform him about the arrival of the eldest miss in Eldest Master's study.
Usually, Rudradev didn't come to the study before the start of the third prahar( around 11am). As a servant attached solely to Rudradev's outer yard, this man had also conveniently adjusted his working timings according to his master's timetable.
Who would have expected the normally docile miss who mostly stayed in the inner yard to come here without informing anyone? What was she doing here anyways?
Contrary to his grumbling thoughts, the servant showed a subservient expression on his face and folded his hands in greeting.
"Why is the study in such shambles? The cups and plates of the previous evening have not yet been cleared, nor the ashes from the fireplace. Should your salary be given a similar delayed treatment?" Dharitri delivered the cutting sentences to the servant in front of her in a frosty manner.
*Vastu-shastra - is a traditional Indian system of architecture originating in India. Texts from the Indian subcontinent describe principles of design, layout, measurements, ground preparation, space arrangement, and spatial geometry.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone