Chand Baori (World's deepest step-well)

We had reached a place called Abha Nagri (now called Abhaneri) where the beautiful Chand Baori was, by the evening. It was supposed to be the last resting place before we parted ways. Gayatri looked quite subdued especially after the story. This time the tents had been installed for the night. Even though I felt sad for Rudra, the feeling was a bit suppressed by the excitement of camping at night in a desert. It may have been nothing unusual for others but for me it was adventurous enough, though again because of 'the story of my life' I had narrated I couldn't reveal my excitement to others. For a girl who had a nomadic life, staying in a tent was just part of the usual.

I would have actually loved to have helped pitch the tents and help with all the basics but here I was stuck being the would-be bride of the chieftain's son. It was not that I was ungrateful at being given the privileged life but the sitting still part was killing me.

"Let's help with the water girls. We were interrupted at the dharamshala" I said itching to pitch in and also to get a closer look at what others were doing.

"Oh! That's a great idea" chuckled Vasundhara, "Let me just get permission".

Before Gayatri could respond she ran towards where her mother's tent was. Gayatri still seemed a bit upset and I could sense her pain.

"Don't worry Gayatri ... I will never consciously hurt your brother" I said looking straight into her eyes, as I held her shoulder in comfort. "I have much to be grateful for to even think of hurting anyone actually. Just between me and you I promise to do everything needful to bring happiness in his life and help him back to being his old self again."

Gayatri's eyes welled up with tears on hearing me promise and she hugged me tight in a deep embrace. Even my eyes were tearful seeing her cry. I didn't know how I would fulfill my promise to her but one thing I was sure that I would do all to keep it.

I looked up from our embrace and saw Rudra standing on top of a nearby dune looking down at us. I quickly looked away and slowly removed myself from the hug which now felt awkward having being witnessed by him. I wondered what he might be thinking seeing us like that, I hoped not something further negative. I peeped from beneath my eyelashes to see if he was still watching us but he seemed to have vanished from that point.

"Maasa has given the permission "shouted Vasundhara happily. "But she has asked us to take special care of Lekha as she is unused to this".

I felt a flutter of happiness in my heart that maasa cared so much about me.

"Let's go then" said Gayatri with enthusiasm, now fully cheered.

We found the well surrounded by lots of women filling water in their pots. We had to climb up a few steps to reach the platform where a stone wall surrounded the well. I tried to peep inside the well but it was covered with a wooden cover to prevent water from evaporating and also to keep it safe from sand storms. It seemed to be quite deep considering the scarcity of water.

I could see a big fort like structure at a distance, which I was informed was Chand Baori (a step well).

The moment I asked about it, I was loaded with stories about how it was built in one night by spirits. I didn't try to refute the idea, so as not to hurt anyone's feelings. People seemed to get superstitious about anything unusual it seemed. I had been lucky that I met maasa otherwise I would surely be burnt at stake or stoned. My respect for maasa's unorthodox views grew.

Chand Baori is the deepest steep well of our time so I wanted to see it in this time period but it seemed it was guarded like a fort because of the scarcity of water and water was precious.

We took turns to pull water out of the well and the other ladies had fun seeing our contest. It was a big help for them too. I had few accidents as my pot got upset and all the water fell back into the well. Gayatri was the winner and as expected I was the sweaty yet a very happy looser. Few boys had gathered around too to watch the contest as word got around. They had to be shooed away by elders to get back to their work.

Later we were served our meal the same way as before but now out in the open under the cooler evening sky. After the exercise we got we ate quite enthusiastically. I could see men gather up wood for the bonfire at night as it would get chilly later.

As I sat facing towards the setting sun eating my meal I felt lucky to be able to witness the panoramic view of the orange ball of fire going down behind a big sand dune. As I sat enjoying the privilege I suddenly saw a black human form rising from behind another smaller dune in front of the setting sun. It seemed like a scene from one of the movies where a hero walks in from the horizon with the sun setting behind him.

I couldn't stop staring at the form and then it was my turn to turn red with embarrassment. It was Rudra walking towards us and was at that moment staring right back at me. I wondered if he purposefully created such situations or was it God's part of a bigger plan to make me look like a fool in front of him.

I quickly bent down my head trying to remember what I had been doing before I made a complete fool of myself. I then remembered that I was having food. That was a superb idea I thought, I should continue eating food, nothing drastic to be done as a cover up.

From my peripheral vision I saw him turn towards tausa and after a whispered conversation he went away. My attention was diverted back as I heard snickering and quite chuckles. It seemed that the boys had observed the scene and had witnessed my confusion. I scolded myself to let Rudra's presence fluster me so much. It could have been any other man, I explained to myself and I would have been still so mesmerized. I had done nothing wrong.

I went back to quietly eating my food.

After food we went back to the tents as it had become quite dark outside. Few torches had been lighted outside the tents. Though I had people around me, I kind of started feeling lonely. The excitement before had worn off and the night in the desert had become silent. After the exciting life in the palace the desert seemed to be desolate. The girls conversed among themselves and tried to include me too but I didn't have the heart to take part in it. I missed my parents. So much had happened in my life but I still didn't feel a part of it.

The silence of the desert seemed to get to me as if reflecting the emptiness inside my heart. As I mulled over my loneliness I suddenly heard strains of music being played somewhere.

"What is that musical sound? Where is it coming from?" I asked.

"The men are playing on their instruments and singing it seems. Generally if they find a player among them they always request songs to be played. It's their way of relaxing" explained Vasundhara.

"Can we go there too?" I asked thinking it to be a great way to ward off my solitary feelings.

"No, we can't. They sometimes sing bawdy songs not fit for girls" said Gayatri.

"They drink too sometimes "whispered Vasundhara as if telling a big secret.

"Can't we see from far?" I insisted.

"No, maasa won't permit it"

Well that made the decision for me as I sat dejected. How did I even think that life could be interesting here with so many restrictions? These girls had been tutored in this way right from childhood but my 21st century mind was wanting to revolt. It almost felt like a mental prison and I being a teenager had the unwritten right to revolt as per the psychologists. The only thing keeping me back were the consequences of disobedience in this era.

So it was with this sulky mood I went to sleep. It didn't take much time for me to fall asleep, even though I tried to hatch some coveted plans at length for my supposed revolt. It sometimes included the girls and sometimes I was all alone battling against the odds of the society here. The plans failed one by one as maasa's pained expressions crossed my mind and I didn't want to be a disappointment for her.

I was woken up by something, somewhere in the middle of the night. I looked around the tent but couldn't see much except for the two girls sleeping. Then I heard it again. Someone was singing in a slurry manner and there were voices trying to shush the drunkard. As I turned to go back to sleep , I heard Vikram's voice trying to calm down someone. That emboldened me to go and explore what the matter was, as Vikram was there for protection I justified to myself. No one could blame me for acting on my curiosity for this and also since all elders were sleeping no one would find out.

It was also a minor revolt on my part to appease my alter ego.

I wrapped a dark shawl around me as it was slightly chilly and crept outside the tent. The sounds had moved further away but I could still hear the whispers. The guards had fallen asleep it seemed, but I still tiptoed slowly on the sand. For the first time I was grateful for all the sand as my steps could not be heard. The bonfire which must have been lit previously had burnt down to embers it seemed. I could see shadows of bodies lying around its remains.

The moon was my only guiding light this far off from the tents. I could have stood there and admired the silver sand and the beautiful moon, but I had an adventure of my own to follow.

The sounds were now coming from near the well. I could distinctly detect both Udai bhaisa and Vikram whispering. I could not make out what they said as they were speaking fast and softly. I turned the corner of the well's platform and was taken aback.





It has been a long wait but I had been travelling.

So everyone I hope you like the chapter and don't forget to vote as I have taken part in the Watty's contest.