Chapter 6 - Wounded Bird

The Nambis held a grand feast for the people of Madera every year. Ironically, the feast used the very same produce that had been harvested using the sweat and blood of the villagers. However, a generous amount of liquor served by chosen brothel women was enough for the villagers to forget their contribution and instead appreciate the false lord hood. The women and men feasted separately, by and large it was an affair to please the men. Women were mere bystanders as they watched their men frolic without a care.

The children gathered in separate groups and were entertained with skits and puppet shows. Contests were also held and selected souvenirs from the Nambi household were up for grabs. Kanchi, though a bit under the weather, had her eyes on the brass dagger with the dragon shaped handle, but so did Kesu and the Nambi brothers. The contest involved breaking the highest hanging pot from among the several pots hung at different levels from the tall banyan tree with the aid of a catapult. While several kids missed, Kesu was able to hit the pot on the third highest branch. Vishnu Nambi miserably failed while Sivan Nambi made it to the second highest pot. Upon her turn, Kanchi hit the highest pot and would have easily taken the prize but she had tough contest from Raman Nambi, the youngest of the brothers, who too had hit the highest pot. Since it was a tie the judges decided to raise the pot higher and ask the finalists to have another go. Yet again, Kanchi and Raman tied. The pots were once again raised higher and Kanchi still made the mark. It was Raman Nambi’s turn and Kanchi hoped and prayed he would miss. She knew that had it been any other day she would have been able to go on for as long as it took without getting weary but today her body was slowly failing her but she so desperately wanted to win. Her desolation was far too apparent from the anguish in her big doe eyed face that the twins began to mock and demoralize her, “Oh, Kanchi, looks like you are going to cry. Raman can go on and on. You, silly girl will surely fail the next time.”

Raman Nambi nodded his head and smiled to himself as he heard his brothers hassle Kanchi. He took in a deep breath and took his aim, however he missed by the slightest of margins. Kanchi jumped up with joy and ran to grab her prized dagger while Kesu haggled the Nambi brothers for losing to a girl.

After a sumptuous feast and a whole day of games, a tired Kesu and Kanchi made their way home while Paachan chose to remain for the night festivities that were meant just for the menfolk. The sun was almost setting and as they turned around the large bushes, Kesu tried to snatch the dagger from Kanchi.

“Give it to me you stupid girl. Why do you need a dagger? Its mine” barked Kesu

“No, I wont give it to you. I won it and its mine” asserted Kanchi

A tug of war ensued and was interrupted suddenly by a sound from in between the bushes. Crouched behind the bushes were the Nambi twins, they had come to settle the score with Kesu for teasing them.

“You low breed, how dare you mock us lords. We are going to teach you a lesson and we are going to take that dagger away” they screamed as they leaped out from the bushes in front of Kesu and Kanchi. The brothers pounced on Kesu thrashing him mercilessly with sticks while Kanchi tried to pull them away. She managed to pull the stick away from Sivan Nambi and hit him with it.

“Vishnu, Vishnu, pull this bitch away” he screamed as he winced in pain.

Vishnu Nambi let go off Kesu and ran towards Kanchi and began to attack her with the stick. She blocked his blows at the same time fending off Sivan Nambi who was attacking her from behind. Kesu got onto his feet but did nothing to help his sister, instead he hid behind the bushes and watched. He had his eyes on the dagger that was lying a few feet away and was waiting to sneak in and grab it when no one would notice.

Meanwhile Sivan Nambi blinded Kanchi by throwing loose dirt in her eyes and in the next instant she was pinned to the ground by Vishnu.

“Looks like we will be getting more than revenge today brother,” he said as the duo grinned devilishly.

Kesu still did not move, he couldn’t care less if they killed his sister or raped her. He wanted the dagger at any cost.

While Vishnu held onto Kanchi’s hands, Sivan ripped off Kanchi’s skirt. Upon seeing her blood soaked loin cloth, he turned pale and nauseous.

“She’s impure, let her go, we will get her another day” he said. The brothers then took turns kicking her in the stomach before running off.

Kesu came out of his hiding and watching his sister bleed he laughed.

“Oh! I can’t wait to tell father that you are menstruating. That means I am getting my 5 tolas soon. Finally, you are of some use to me” he said as he kneeled down next to his sister and picked up the dagger.

Without so much as lending a helping hand to get onto her feet, he walked off whistling happily. With much difficulty Kanchi got onto her feet and ran to the only safe place she knew, Sambu Asan’s home.

Upon reaching there, she called out weakily,

“Sambu Asan, Makara, please, please let me in,” she called out before blacking out.

x-x-x

Kanchi strained to open her eyes, they felt so heavy and tired. She yearned to sink back into deep slumber once again. Upon seeing the girl toss around, Makaran called out to Sambhu Asaan, who immediately came into the room.

“Kanchi, my dear, what happened. You are bruised all over” asked an anxious Sambhu Asan

“Vishnu, Sivan, they, they attacked me” she replied weakly

“My dear, I also noticed that…. that you have come of age” added Sambhu Asan

Kanchi suddenly became self-conscious and was surprised to see that she had been changed and clothed in fresh albeit loose clothes. Makaran’s wife who sat by her throughout the night had taken care of washing her and tending to her bruises. She presently brought Kanchi some warm soup to quench her hunger and replenish her energy.

“Please Sambhu Asan, don’t tell anyone. Amma and I are keeping it a secret. I don’t want to be sold off in marriage. Please..” she begged

Sambhu Asan sighed. The day had finally come upon them, a bit earlier than he had hoped for. There was no other recourse. The night’s festivities would last till the wee hours of the next day and Pachan like the menfolk was probably drunk and sprawled out on the ground for now. Surely that imbecile of a brother would inform Pachan as soon as he returned home and the announcements would soon follow. Sambhu knew it would be wise not to inform Kalyani of Kanchi’s location lest the boy overheard and informed his father. They would soon begin a lookout for her. There was so much planning to do before the next night and he hoped the girl would have regained her strength by then.

He went to his study and took out the parchment and wrote a quick short message. He rolled it up and kept it aside. He opened up the armoire and took the special blue and green potions out. He called out for Makaran and asked him to get a travel bundle ready with clothes and food for a few days and bring it to him. He placed a few tolas and the potions in a drawstring pouch. He closed his eyes and prayed briefly. It was time to talk to the girl.