She was filling her glass near the hand pump but her eyes were fixed on her father who was talking to the stranger in their home. The water overflowed in her oblivious anger.

Talking. A conversation.

Something that was basic and trivial but it was something she would pay to get today. Krishnaa needed to talk to her father. He wasn't talking to her. She wasn't going to apologise but she wanted him to say something. Even a random chore would do. Any small order but he wouldn't even look at her.

And on top of that, he was talking to the sunshine-y stranger Chandni had sent her way. Her father had to deal with a lot of strangers everyday. He was rich and had an influence. He operated the local franchise of Sudha, the biggest dairy brand in the state. He was no big shot enterpreneur in Delhi like his brother but he was a hard working, well known, respected person in the village. He was educated and took part in most of the decision making in the Panchayat without being one of the Panchs.

Krishnaa was proud of what her father had achieved. Even after being the son of a vile woman he knew how to respect and love all. Krishnaa had never known her grandfather but no one vouched for his generosity either. So, for a village boy who was surrounded by casteism and patriarchy, to choose to be humane was a feet Krishnaa adored in her father the most.

She wanted to talk to him about mundane things but he was talking to Pranay. She wanted to push him away and sit in his place. What was he talking about that was making her father flash one of his rare content smiles?

She pulled out a tray and kept two glasses of water in it. She carefully walked into the verandah where the two were sitting and placed the tray on the table. She sat next to her father, with a straight back, trying to look important.

"So..." Pranay trailed off for a while looking at the intrusion.

"Yes, beta?" Arun urged him to continue.

Krishnaa scoffed listening to her father call someone else beta, son. She always did.

"As I've been hearing, the police aren't vigilant or competent enough. They will probably not catch anyone and I don't blame them. It was dark and the fields are wide enough for the thieves to escape. What I am suggesting is taking precautions for the future. I was a witness in the train. I saw the commotion. I think I can give a rough sketch of them to the police but I agree that it won't be enough. So all I'm asking is should you not appoint guards or someone who can patrol the place constantly? There are a lot of people who flee our state to big cities because their land is not fertile or education isn't enough for a job. We can surely get someone who will be suited for the job, we can control migration in our micro level that way. Right?" Pranay said in one breath.

"That ... may work. I don't think there is a reason why it shouldn't work. What do you think?" Arun turned to Krishnaa. "She usually has a more practical approach."

"I-" Krishnaa wasn't really listening but she wasn't going to let her father know that. "I think it's g-good?"

"Then we'll take it to the Panchayat tomorrow?" Arun asked.

"O-okay." Pranay had a wide smile on. He wasn't expecting his idea to be embraced with such ease.

"I'm afraid there won't be any more rides to take you to the town. You can stay here for tonight. Krishnaa, beta, show him the guest room." Arun said.

This was it. This was the scenario each time the father daughter duo fought because of the grandmother. Rarely, Krishnaa apologized but it was usually he who let go of his anger because he knew his mother was wrong and he couldn't do anything about her. He tried to teach his daughter to respect her elders but he himself didn't believe that respect came from age.  So, he did what was the easiest to do, give up.

"How do you know Ayush?" Krishnaa crossed her arms and asked Pranay.

"He's my cousin. My mama's (maternal uncle's) son. I'm here to visit them-".

"Hmm and how do you know Chandni?"

"Ayush's girlfriend. He told me about her to-"

"So he's telling his family already?"

"No. I mean I don't know. I don't know if his parents know anything, if that's what you're asking."

"He told his cousin but not his parents. Maybe he wants to flex but not commit?" Krishnaa muttered to herself

"I think that I am not the right person to answer any of this. I am sorry. Excuse me."

Pranay excused himself and went out of the house to take some fresh air. Krishnaa's curiosity made her follow him.

"You're a doctor, right? But you are here spilling ideas about how to make the community safer and to reduce migration from the state. What is the catch? You have a savior complex or something?" Krishnaa had seen too many people use her father for political gains and she wasn't letting another random person add his name to that list. Not on her watch.

"I understand what you said in the auto. I understand why everyone has left hope about anything good happening in this district but we have to try, right? Your father said you are practical and you're also preparing for the civil services, I've heard. It's only natural that you're taking-"

"I still don't hear the point in all the word vomit."

"I'll need your help, tomorrow."

Krishnaa scrutinized his face.

"Your room is the last one on the ground floor. Follow the kitchen light."

She turned around and walked away.
________________________________

Pranay was lying down on a squeaky bed in one of the guest rooms at Trivedi's house. He reached for his bag and pulled out a book.

Dr. Pranay Singh Rajput

He saw his name written on the first page of an old science text book. He traced it lightly and thought,

I'm here, taking my first step today for something I had decided to achieve years ago. It's going to be tough but it's going to happen.
________________________________

The next morning, an emergency meeting was announced at the Panchayat office. Arun had urged the entire village to be present even on a weekday. He and Krishnaa watched as Pranay tried to convince the Panchayat of his idea, in their local language.

"For an outsider, he does have a command on our language." Krishnaa whispered.

"They look convinced. It isn't a big issue, you know and I don't think a lot of funds will be used in appointing guards. It will also provide safety to their farm lands. I think he'll convince everyone." Arun replied.

"I don't know. I think he needed us to show that he has local support but I guess he chose the wrong ones. I mean, you know how some of the villagers always stand against you and your reforms? Remember when you made all of them send their girls to school? Or when you provided those girls bicycles so that they didn't have to walk a long way? They were pissed af!"

"Watch your language and why didn't you point this out yesterday?"

Because I was being jealous of this random boy, because I'm always scared that you'll treat a random boy as the son you didn't have, when you had me. I was too distracted when you were talking to think. Krishnaa wanted to say so much but she chose to respond with-

"As if I've never seen you cuss. I wasn't listening yesterday and the point is whatever he says he will not get their full support. So let's just assume that he gets 30% of the population here against him. The rest of them have to be in his favor, all of them and you know how the women don't vote according to their will in many of these houses. They'll do what their husbands say, anyway. He should have come here independently and talked to the Sarpanch maybe and not us. Why did he to come to us anyway?" Krishnaa was fidgeting with the collar of her kurta.

"Chandni referred us. She apparently told him that we are his best bet if he wants to do something honest. " Arun said.

"We are not zamindars anymore." Krishnaa laughed sarcastically. They turned to the Sarpanch.

"So, now that everyone has heard Doctor Saab. I would request all of you to think about this and vote. The women can come to one side and the men other." The Sarpanch announced.

"Voting? Now? What's going on?" Krishnaa asked.

"Now your part comes in." Arun beamed. "You weren't listening but I was."

"Can you please talk to the women separately and ask them to make a choice on their own? Irrespective of what the men in their family think. It's not like that we have given them the time to discuss anyway." Pranay said as soon as he sprinted back to the two of them.

"Why was this not discussed before?!" She was trying to not shout.

"I tried to but-" Pranay defended himself but Krishnaa interrupted.

"Not the time to chit chat. Okay. Okay. Let me think."

"Okay then. All the best." Pranay said with a genuine smile. As if he trusted her. What an ass!

Krishnaa was pushed to the women's side. She had no contact with any of these women whatsoever. This was going to be tough.

"Maa!!" Krishnaa called loudly.

She wasn't really listening but Krishnaa had to go on with it.

"I just talked to Papa about it. He is n-not happy with this Pranay dude. What sort of an idiot is he? He just talked about cooperating with the police investigation. What is this invest money into something stupid theory he's speaking out here? Dad's not gonna have any of it. MY DAD HATES IT. HE HATES THIS GUY. MY FATHER, ARUN TRI-"  She was literally shouting at the end of it.

"Lower down. Behave, young lady." Her grandmother said angrily.

"Okay." Krishnaa said and smiled.

Arun and Pranay who were listening to her scream from the other end were definitely not satisfied.

"S-she, I don't understand. What's wrong with her?" Pranay said.

"I might know but I'm not in on the execution." Arun laughed.

"We need to appear as if we disagree now." Pranay whispered.

Arun turned to the other side and stormed away.

The votes were slowly casted. Having a voting for a trivial issue was a new idea in the Panchayat. It was usually the heads deciding it but this time the public was actually involved.

It was only when the votes were being casted that Krishnaa came and stood next to Pranay and Arun.

"You chose the wrong person. My father has influence and as much as he has that, he has rivals. There would be like 30% of people against you. The men and an equal number of women. The women here don't vote out of their own will. Others would vote out of their own mind. If the women think we're against you, then they'll think the husbands voted for you or some other lame shit. Yeah. That was it." Krishnaa said.

"I knew you could trust her!" Arun patted Krishnaa's back.

Pranay nodded and smiled thinking about how Arun was losing it earlier.

"So, the counting has been done and the result is clear. We are going to go ahead with Doctor Saab's idea. A budget plan will be discussed in the next meeting." The Sarpanch announced.

Arun hugged Pranay and patted his back. Krishnaa watched them for a good second and then walked away. The jealousy surging in her again.

The village looked the same. Golden and Green, pretty and a little dusty. The sun was blazing, the sky was clear. Maybe she would go home and study or sleep. Sleeping would be the best right now.

"Hey!"

She heard someone call out.

"This wouldn't have been possible without you. Thank you." Pranay was smiling.

"Your teeth shine a lot! Have you heard of over brushing?" She said.

"Anyway, your last minute idea helped change the ratio that could've affected the decision. I really wanted to do something after hearing about the robbery. Thank you.  I feel good." He said with a sigh of relief.

"Oh! Do you? Anyway, the first auto leaves in an hour. My mother is a nice woman. She would've prepared your lunch but you must be busy, right? And you have engaged yourself with a tiny village too much for a life time. Have a good trip back."

She crossed her arms and left.

He stood there.

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