''There is dead wolf here!'' Stay alert'' A man leading a convoy, a hand moved the curtain of the palanquin and peeped. ''Does it looked hunted by an animal?'' The elderly woman asked.

''No, looks like someone beheaded the wolf in single stroke. '' One of the man carrying the palanquin replied. ''Its few more hours to our destination madam..'' The woman nodded drawing the curtains. Jayanti, She was the Wife of Village Chieftain and after her husband's demise she had played a pivotal role is performing the required duties along with her son. She had prayed, organized spiritual gatherings to please the Gods and get the blessing of rains for Madhopur, but it seemed the gods were angry at her village.

If the village drought was pain, her son's wife had passed away while delivering the second baby and her son, Mahesh had been a walking corpse since then. He took no interest in his kids or the affairs of the village. Jayanti huffed, she had tried for his second wedding and it wasn't difficult, but her experienced eyes couldn't find the girl who would treat her grandkids as her own. Every girl she met pretended to be someone else, and she could see through it. She huffed and made a silent prayer for the well being for her family.

''We will take a stop at the temple.'' She ordered. After entering the village, her convoy to a stop at the temple and Jayanti took slow heavy steps up to the foyer. Her heart and mind heavy with plight of deserted Madhopur and with the life of her own family.

She greeted the priest with folded hands but he looked worried. ''All fine panditji?''

''This poor girl had been fasting for her husband's health but suddenly fainted while doing circumambulation of the temple. The village doctor tried reviving her and to her bad luck there was no water.''

''Oh! Has she...''

''No, God takes forms to help the ones who believes in him and he took form of Shayama. The girl was on her way to get water for her family and came running for help without a second thought. She has to walk miles for one pot and was ready to do it if it saves life. Today. Shyama came in form of the goddess.'' 

''Who is this Shayama.''

''She is daughter of a very poor farmer, Kaashi for your village madam. But she is the richest soul I have met.'' The priest offer few grains of sugar to Jayanti as prasad. ''May god bless us all.''

Jayanti bowed to the deity of Supreme Mother, for the first time she felt the Big wide eyes of black colour deity was staring back a her. And her mind recited a name 'Shayama'

***

''Don't tell me you are thinking about your marrying your son to Kaali?'' Her right hand, Kuntilal expressed the distress about his employer's enquiry.

''Our Saheb (master), is like angles in heaven and Kaali is like coal. You can't be serious Madam.''

''Kuntilal, Shayama is coal or a diamond, I will decide that. Deliver the message to Kaashi that I want to se him.'' The man gritted his teeth but nodded. He had bought such beautiful maidens for his Saheb but he old lady had rejected all. He had even suggested the alliance between his niece and Saheb but she outright refused and now she was interested in the daughter of a beggar. He spat cursing all and rode towards the broken hut to deliver the message.

***

Kaashi looked bewildered and scared about being called to the Haveli. He ran his brain but  couldn't recall anything that could have been his fault that he had to report to Haveli urgently. Kaali couldn't stand the distress of her father. ''I will come with you.''

''No!'' Her mother chimed but Kaali's once glance shut her mother. Their was something in her daughter's eyes that mad her shut up immediately.

Kaali wiped her father's forehead, ''Don't you worry baba, we will get through whatever it is together.''

They were being directed to an open veranda, where Jayanti sat going through the account books with her son. Kaashi pain his respect but Kaali's eyes stayed glued on Jayanti, doubt and anger in them. Jayanti took her time , made then wait but kept her eyes on he girl. Kaali would only look away if her father would whisper something. Jayanti smiled, Kaali never gave a single glance to her son who had been always been bestowed by the attention of women from all ages. Her son walked away and Kaali stayed focused on the older lady.

''If you have called us for the pending tax, you should be ashamed. We are dying,while you rest in this mansion. '' She blurted as soon as there were only 3 of them there. Kaashi tried to dissuade his daughter but Kaali showed no fear.

Jayanti smiled, she ignored Kaali's words and moved her attention to Kaashi. ''Kaashi, I am asking the hand of your daughter for my son.''

Kaashi's jaw was on the floor. He was still working on forming a sentence but his daughter answered. ''You are little late, my sister Gauri is already married and happily settled with her husband.''

Jayanti raised a brow, ''I am glad to hear that, but I wasn't talking about Gauri. I was talking about you.''

Kaali stood speechless for a moment. She took a step closer, her fists clenched hard. ''What is the motive behind choosing someone like me .''

Jayanti matched the stare, ''I am looking for a mother for my grandsons, and for that I have to put a name to relationship. You love your family Shayama, and just want you to love my grandkids the same way.'' Kaali softened a bit hearing he name Shayama. But she wasn't sure of whole thing. Kaashi stayed mum for until the wedding day arrived. It was just Kaashi's wife who seemed to be too hyped about her daughter bagging the richest family of the village

''Shayama, you still have time. Go far from here, you don't have to take the burden of someone else's kids.'' Kaashi urged. He was a poverty stricken man but loved his daughter to death.

Kaali smiled, ''Baba, I saw acceptance in the eyes chief lady. Something my own mother couldn't offer me. Rest assured, I will be fine.'' Kaashi cursed the universe, all the Gods in heaven, his poverty, helplessness and the world for tormenting his daughter and making her compromise.

***

The wedding got over between the families in the village temple. After the rituals were over , the priest found Kaali staring at the idol, unsure of her upcoming life. ''Shayama, she is in you, find her and she will come to you.''

Kaali nodded, accepting whatever life had for her

***

Mahesh never came to the room of his new wife , she wasn't expecting him either. A soft knock took her attention and Jayanti stood at the door, holding the hand of a toddler and a baby in her arms. ''They are yours now. Love them and they will love you back.''

''Shekahar, she is your mother.'' Jayanti explained to the 2 yr old. He stared wide at her and Kaali smiled a him. Jayanti handed her the sleeping baby and for the first time in years Kaali felt wanted as he sleeping child clutched on to her clothes.

Kids do no judge on appearance and status and his is why they are pure. Within few days, Shekahr was inseparable from his new mother. He would follow her around and would sleep holding on to her as if she would disappear. A year passed in a wink and Kaali had the become the life of the kids. She never demanded anything from her husband and mother in law. She performed her duties around the house and kept to her kids. Yes, they were hers now.

Kaali wasn't aware that there was storm was fast approaching and she will have to face the unthinkable.

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