The house in Topchanchi was built as a hollow quadrangle. In the front was the large drawing room where Rudra and Ritu had met Thakur-saab for the first time. Above the drawing room, on the first floor were the two large guest rooms. Mother and son were accommodated in one of these rooms it was here that they had had their first Topchanchi orgasm. Leading out of the drawing room were two wings, one of which had the kitchen and dining room whilst the other was the private drawing room where Thakur would be closeted with his intimate acquaintances -- it was doubtful if he had any friends. At the back of the house and connecting the two wings was what once was the
zenana mahal
, the women's area kept out of male gaze by the
purdah
, but nowadays it had only two bedrooms, one large and one small with the small one being accessible only from the large bedroom. In the centre of the house was a large courtyard with a pillared corridor that ran around it. Most of the rooms opened into the corridor but they were also connected to each other through internal doors as well. There were two staircases one for guests to reach the guest rooms on the first floor and the other one for anyone else to reach the roof.
It was dinner time and Thakur-saab was sitting at the head of the table. Dinner was not yet served, the plates were still empty but the Thakur was already on his fourth whisky of the evening. Ritu and Rudra had just joined the table and were sipping on some wine and whisky respectively. Budhia, the senior thug was sitting just outside room with his gun by his side while Chotu, the junior thug was helping with the dishes and he too was carrying a gun stuck to his belt.
"Thakur-saab, why so many guns in the house? Is it not safe out here?"
"Riturani, when you are a man as big as I am, it is important for people to know and respect you."
"And a gun commands respect?"
"Of course. This is not your Bombay where singers and dancers are feted. Here it is fear that matters and fear is best maintained with a gun."
"I suppose so .."
"Everyone knows that Thakur-saab has two shooters who can and will shoot anything that tries to disturb his peace."
"And the police? They have nothing to say about this?"
"Paid off ... with money and women."
"Women?"
"Of course, the local OC and the DSP are both regulars at my house parties ... where we serve the best scotch and the cleanest girls."
"Cleanest girls?"
"No unpleasant surprises here. I make sure that everyone is checked out once a month and anyone who tests positive, however faint is kicked out, until he or she is proved clean again."
"You must be having very colourful parties here ..."
"Well we haven't had one for a long time .. but we will be having one soon?"
The kitchen door opened and a middle aged woman walked in with a big bowl of savouries.
"Ah here is Savita .. your mother-in-law."
Fora moment Ritu was perplexed because Raghu's mother had died a couple of years ago. Has the Thakur married again? She wondered but in any case she walked around and tried to touch her feet. Savita was just about her own age or perhaps just a little younger and unlike the dusky Ritu she was fair and sharp though a little plump around her hips. She grabbed Ritu by her shoulders and instead of allowing her to touch her feet just hugged her. However she allowed Rudra to touch her feet but then hugged him as well .. perhaps a wee bit longer and harder.
"After Raghu's mother died, I needed another woman and initially I would get
randi
s from Dhanbad ... clean ones you know." The ethyl in the Thakur's blood had started to speak but neither Ritu nor Rudra batted an eyelid. "But then I came across Savita and thought that let me invest in someone permanent ... so that I can have another son."
"You want another son? Now?"
"Why not? Raghu is dead and you and Rudra are making merry in Bombay. Who will inherit and look after my empire in Topchanchi?"
"True." Ritu murmured under her breath.
"But the trouble is that this cow of mine is not breeding." Ritu winced as these brutal words made Savitas face go ashen.
"It takes time, Thakur-saab"
"I have been fucking her for over two years but each month she bleeds like a leaking tap. Disgusting." The alcohol was really taking over the Thakur's tongue.
Dinner had been served and everyone was nibbling at the roti, daal and egg curry.
"Perhaps if the Thakur-saab was a bit more ..." Savita tried to say something, but the Thakur cut him off abruptly.
"Shut up you slut. You are as barren as a broken barrel." Ritu was feeling sorry for Savita but knew that it would be futile to protest. Not with two shooters around. But the boil in her blood served to harden her resolve for what she had come to Topchanchi for. However this was no time to pick up a fight.
"Perhaps Lord Parasnath will grant her child soon."
"Perhaps I should get all the twenty three Tirthankaras to fuck you one after the other." The Thakur made an obscene reference to the revered Jain saints who had achieved enlightenment at Parasnath Hill that was actually named after Lord Parashwanatha, the 23rd.
"I was hoping to go the Devi Sthaan -- the temple of the forest goddess -- tomorrow on Sashti. They say .."
"I know, I know that Sasthi Devi gives you children but if your womb is still empty at Kalipuja then I will kick you out of the house and get another fertile slut for me."
The Thakur was obviously obnoxious but for Ritu this was chink in armour. She gave an edgewise look at Rudra and when their eyes met, she gave a nod.
"Sasthi Devi? Was I not born on a Sashti day Ma?"
"Yes, dear. That is why Sashti's blessings are with you." Ritu tried to change the topic to prevent any further insults to his mother-in-law.
"Then I could accompany Mashi, oh well, Dida ... to the Sasthi Devi temple." Rudra had initially referred to Savita as aunt because of her age, but then corrected himself as per the correct family hierarchy.
"You can take your Dida -- grandmother -- wherever you want, but Riturani! you are not going anywhere." He took another swig from his glass and motioned to Chotu to fill it up again. "You and I have have unfinished business."
"So do I," murmured Ritu softly, and then added, audibly, "I am always at your service, Thakur-saab."
Next morning Rudra and Savita set off for the Sasthi Devi temple that was on the other side of the Parasnath Hill. Most people who visit Parasnath do so for the Jain temples that line the road to the peak but unknown to most there is another temple that is far, far older. In fact, this was not a temple but a cave, a grotto whose history went far back into the legends and myths of the Santhali community. Sometime, perhaps during the middle ages, the goddesses had been adopted into the orthodox Hindu tradition as Sasthi Devi and worshipped as the goddess of fertility and childbirth.
"Dida, do you know the way to the Devi Sthaan?" Rudra was driving a small Honda WRV that the Thakur had allowed them to use for the day.
"Only vaguely. I know it is on the other side of the hill."
"Then how will we find the place?"
"It is said that the Devi reveals herself only to those whom she takes a fancy to ... wants to bless."
"But will she bless us?"
"I hadn't heard of her till a week ago and then one Santhali woman suddenly came to our house -- she was selling some trinkets -- and told me that I must go and meet her during Durga Puja."