In my Devil's Arms

Next Morning after breakfast they went to study as usual but finished early.

After that they packed the supplies. Some sandwiches, juice, soda, water, yoga bars, sanitizers, bug repellent,Torches etc. Also a rope and mosquito rub. Lisa was a handy mechanic so she took a tool box.

Then they started dressing.

Lisa in a black tshirt and black jeans with her hairs in a ponytail. Laxmi in a blue jeans and dusty brown t-shirt her hairs in a single plait. Riya in a navy blue t shirt and blue jans. She too tied a ponytail. Then the three of them looked at Zoya. AND BURST OUT LAUGHING.

" What's wrong", asked Zoya.

" These are your work clothes", asked Laxmi.

She wore grey button down and grey tousers. Her hairs were in two neat plaits with clips. Her sports shoes were designer though grey. She also wore a cap.

" Are you going to a race course", asked Riya.

" No one is allowed there without a hat", said Zoya in a royal manner. " And these clothes look at them. Grey yuck . Plus no contrast with whites. Now thats what happens when you experiment with designers" she grimaced. " Now I would prefer a fuchisia pink with a semihat with bows for race", she declared. "So I made them work clothes."

" Can't you wear a jeans", asked Lisa.

" Eeewww", said Zoya . " I don't own them. Mummy said they were fashion disasters".

Riya giggled. Zoya's mother Naaz bless her soul was a British and Zoya was brought up by her.

" Okay Lady Zoya lets go", said Riya.

" Well thank you", she said politely.

" You are so stiff nose British", Laxmi said.

" I was born and brought up in England", she said. " Go figure".

" Lets move", Laxmi said picking her camera. She checked the flash.

" Hmm works".

The girls wore masks as dust came. Zoya wore gloves too.

As they descended Laxmi took pictures of some murals on wall. Riya was clear. This was not Darshan. They looked post independence. So she ignored it. It took 20 minutes by stairs to reach there.

The basement was surprisingly not cluttered and storage was neatly arranged. The lighting was just a small bulb. But they switched it on.

" Daddy must have got it cleaned", said Laxmi.

" It looks good", said Zoya.

" There are two rooms in storage and this hall. They started the hall first as things were less.

And Riya hit a jackpot.

" Ohh God this painting ", she said.

A beautiful village belle stood in a yellow saree. Her jet black hairs were in a side bun. Water droplets fell. She wore a Mangalsootra and her head had vermillion and red bindi. She was watering plants using a mug. It looked someone just called her from behind. She had just raised her dark green eyes and a shy smile was on her face

It was signed Darshan.

Laxmi clicked photographs.

"She is beautiful", said Zoya.

" Yeah", Riya said weakly. She knew who she was and how gruesome was her end. She was definitely not using this picture in her research.

" Look more", she said.

There was a photograph of triumph of Ranjeet Singh as he entered city with old king tied to his horse.

" This is cruel", said Lisa.

They found photographs not only of king but one where he was sitting with his three wives.

" He barely smiles", said Lisa. " In most of his photographs he is either angry or sad".

" Yeah", said Laxmi.

The hall had few more paintings some of Darshan and others of other painters too. One was of Lord Roopkumar and his wife Nandini. The couple looked adorable. They clicked photographs. In one photograph Roop was discussing a strategy map with another soldier. He looked someone influential. On close observation she found him wearing a uniform with royal seal of Ranjeet Singh. She clicked again.

Then they hit the first room.

Contrary to hall rooms were packed. The girls found it difficult to search through a lot.

" Lets start with this Almirah. Looks less work", said Zoya.

" Keys are here", Laxmi took from above the Almirah. They opened it.

" These are papyrus paper", said Riya.

" Is this Sanskrit", asked Lisa.

" No Prakrit", I guess but I can't read it", she said. " Can you lend me", she asked Laxmi.

" Of course", she replied.

" There were not many, just 6 or 7. They kept in the bag carefully.

" Here is a sandook" ( olden suitcases made of tin), said Laxmi.

" Is there a lock", asked Riya.

" No", replied Laxmi

The girls opened it. There were some olden jewellery in it. A broken Trishul ( mythological weapon for Shiva ) and a small diary.

" Your manor just officially became historical ", said Riya to Laxmi.

" How", she asked.

" I have some hard copies of the photographs I took of Chandbai and Ranjeet Singh. The potrait has some jewels she wore. These are those jewels. I carbon date him to his era and my theory is proved. Also he visited this manor as depicted in potraits met with one of the owner, existence of Darshan.

" You got an article girl", said Zoya. " I am going to dress you for media version.

" Done", she said.

" I will edit print one", Lisa said.

" We still have one more room", said Riya.

" Lunch first", said Zoya.

They munched on sandwiches and chocalate and had soda.

Then they went to the another room. There were some photographs one of a girl lying on Mahadev's feet , another of the palace in its glory..

One of the picture depicted an earthquake causing a major fissure in earth.

" This is a true event too", said Riya.

" A major eathquake hit that area around that time".

Then she found a pair of silver anklets. She kept them. Also the trishul.

Then they saw painting of a monster. It had three snake heads , a human body and a tail.

" Gruesome and scary", said Lisa.

There were another few old partially torn papers which they collected and left.

As they came back they were tired. They bathed had dinner and went to their rooms to sleep.

Riya thought that she would once again urge Vicky with all these proofs. The king was long dead. He should let his hatred go. Gunjan was now at peace. Thinking this she slept.

Next Morning

They started reading the diary.

This diary is property of Lily Healey.

A photograph of young British girl fell from it.

She read a paragraph

There is a river here. Its very pleasant to sit near it and listen to the songs village belles sing for their husbands.

Riya suddenly got a vision of Gunjan singing a song for her husband.

"Sometimes we sing songs to welcome monsoon swinging on swings tied to huge mango or Neem trees.

When read further it read

Nearby is the famous cursed palace. I visited it. There is something sinister about it or I feel too much.I fell in love with Chandbai the king's favourite consort. She never lived one happy day here. How sad!

." This is good", said Laxmi. " More authentication ".

" I found a photo album probably of Lily", said Lisa.

They saw two British girls in photograph mostly.

" Can you lend me few contents of that old suitcase", asked Riya to Laxmi.

" Which one", Laxmi asked.

" Not the costly jewellry just the Trishul."

" Yaa take it", Laxmi answered Riya was a Shiva devotee they all knew.

As exams were nearing they left for Mumbai the next day.