A shapeless half-moon hung in the inky sky, spreading pallid light, when Shakuni reached his young wife’s chambers. He had not been able to meet Arshi the whole day. The news must have travelled to her and he yearned to share his concern with her, to find the much-needed ballast in her calm steady gaze.
“It’s been a long day for you,” she murmured as he entered, rising from her couch in a fluid, graceful movement. The room was sparsely furnished – a few rugs on the stone floor, two couches spread with woollen shawls, oil lamps placed in alcoves indenting the grey unadorned walls, painted mud water pots on wooden stands. The odour of burning oil filled the air along with the fragrance of the rose water she loved to use.
“Have you eaten?” she asked. The flickering light of the lamp outlined the sharp curve of her cheekbones, offsetting the pert nose and wide mouth.
He realised that he was ravenous. In the tumult of the day, he had only managed to sip a few mouthfuls of water and buttermilk.
“I haven’t,” he admitted with a rueful smile. “It has been a long day.”
“Let me send for something.” She rang a bell to…
Source: Scroll.in
