March 1960. Dining Room, Vaikunth Niwas, Ranikhet Estate, Shimla, India.

I walked into the dining room. It was oval-shaped and teak paneled with shades of crystal lights hanging in the corners and long bay windows overlooking the valley. The table itself was long,ornately carved and richly polished. But the tapestry seemed faded as if it had seen better days.

Ma Sahib had reached. Gayatri,the Ogre and three new faces were also present.

The man was pot-bellied, long-mustached and seemed shrewd. The lady sitting next to him looked like an older version of Gayatri but she looked like a vixen. Her dangling gold chains clinkered with every movement she made and his sharp eyes darted around.

My eyes fell on a thin man and he looked kind and out of place in the company. I wondered who he was and sort of liked him.

I stood at the edge of the room when Ma Sahib looked up and saw me.

"Come here and take your seat."She said.

"This is Jasmine and she will be staying here and assisting Inderavadhan. I expect all of you to be cordial to her and that holds especially for you, Gayatri. If you misbehave, you know what will happen."

She turned to the rotund man and said, "Surya, this girl will be auditing the accounts of both the estates and reporting to me .So give her all the account books and all that she asks.

Any nonsense and I shall .....".She left the sword hanging in the  air.

'Kokila, stop being a social butterfly now and knock some sense into that vain daughter of yours. She willmarry one day and look after her home and hearth. Or poor Inder will curse his fate. Where had you been for the past seven days?"

Kokila looked discomfited and stuttered, "Ma Sahib, I was at-t the a-ashram." And her face was crimson red.

'Shut up.I know you are lying.You had again gone gallivanting with those friends of yours. Don't think I am a fool. This house is going to dogs." She fired her.

Kokila squirmed and shuffled nervously.

Ma Sahib turned to look at the young man and all the anger seem to melt away.

"When did you come, Rudra? How is your college? You seem to have inherited the intelligence of my Pratap and not the brain of your dumb father and mother. And if you have time, you can assist Jasmine.You will like her. She is a diligent and sensible girl.''

So many accolades from the mouth of Ma Sahib had left me a tingling sense of joy.

Shanta was looking open-mouthed and looking at Ma Sahib to see if she was well.

And Gayatri was smoldering with rage and shouted loudly, "At least brother you are in her good books. Rest of us are nincompoops to be insulted before employees just because she holds thepurse –strings. Father, why we have to put up with so much insult?

So the young likeable man was Gayatri's brother and the lady and rotund man my uncle and aunt.

Surya Singh glared at his daughter and kept shut.

Ma Saheb let them all simmer and continued with her breakfast unperturbed.

I looked at Indervadhan. He seemed to be enjoying himself.

He seemed to be an enigma. Shanta had said that he was good at heart. But sitting there and enjoying himself at the expense of others was not commendable. He caught me eying him and winked. I blushed and turned my face away.

My Uncle and Aunt looked at me with animosity written large on their faces.

Kokila remarked maliciously, "Ma Sahib. How could you have this girl who looked like her in the house? She has same features, same looks and same mannerisms. She is another Rosalie. Have you forgiven the witch for stealing your favourite son away from you that you now house her clones and shower praise on them?"

Ma Saheb nattily answered, 'No Kokila dear. I have not forgiven anyone and I am not mad to pin blame on the poor orphan child for the wrongs of some other girl. I like her.'

She smiled at me.

Uncle, Aunt and Gayatri gave me looks to kill.

Rudra looked at me sympathetically.

Inderavadhan looked amused and was enjoying himself .I wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.

The breakfast was over.

I could hardly eat anything.

Shanta winked at me to follow her.

"My God, you are an explosive material and causing fireworks. You have three deadly enemies now and the egoistic one is already your foe. Your life here is not going to be easy. Stay alert and I will try to talk to Indu on your behalf. Only he can fend off the deadly trio and save your skin. Rudra is a kind soul, more like his uncle Pratap Singh. Come in the kitchen and I shall sneak you some bread and tea. I know you have not eaten."

I nodded gratefully.

Indervadhan sent for me .

It was time to work and win my Grandma's heart.