That day was unusual.

An unknown feeling gutted her abdomen. She wasn't as enthusiastic and vibrant as other days. Maybe it was the humidity chocking the pore of dermis or wails of poor Radha- the cow in barn birthing a calf. She washed her face twice to soothe her burning eyes. Dullness still pertains. Sighing in exasperation, she covers the hot vessels of cooked food and wipes her hands in relief. Her work in the kitchen was done. Maybe now, her mother would refrain from lecturing about her duties today.

Exiting the kitchen, she approaches the old woman occupying the worn-out cot in the verandah and reading one of her favorite holy books- RAMAYANA with astounding focus. Hearing the melodious chime of anklets in Gauri's feet, Sumitra looks up from the fat book and passes her a beautiful smile. Where other women in the village lost their teeth slowly with time, all her teeth were still strong enough to break walnuts. Gauri chuckled at the wrinkles collecting beside her grandmother's eyes, her mood brightening a bit.

"My princess."

Sumitra invited the young girl while patting the empty space beside her.

"Come here and listen to this verse where mother Sita warns most powerful ogre King Raavana when he asks her to be his wife, after kidnapping and hiding her in the Asoka garden of his golden city- Lanka."

A fickle and mean minded one with disturbed senses, the one who is not satisfied with his own wives, to such a man, others' wives will lead to humiliation.

Are there no good people here or are you not following those who are good? It must be because your mind, devoid of traditions is perverse.

"You who is being led by mind towards unreal is not taking wholesome words being said by righteous ones for the destruction of ogres."

"Having a king who has uncontrolled mind and interests in wrong path, destroys wealthy states and cities. This Lanka filled with best things will be destroyed in a short while due to one sin of its demented King."

"I won't be tempted by wealth or money. Like you can't separate sun from sun-shine, it is impossible to separate me from Raghava."

"After taking the shoulder which is worshipped by the world, of that Rama, how can I lean on another's shoulder?"

"Like the knowledge of a priest with a clever mind, initiated in religious vows, I am suitable wife to that Rama alone, the lord of earth."

"Returning me to Rama will bring fortune to you. O Raavana! If you choose different way, you will get slayed."

"Drawn out Vajrayudha, the weapon of Indra may spare someone like you. Lord of death may spare you. That Rama, the lord of worlds if gets enraged, will not spare you."

"Like the great sound of Vajrayudha hurled by Indra, you will hear a loud sound which is sonorous of Rama's bow."

"Arrows with good nodes, with blazing tips, like snakes, with characteristic signs of Rama and Lakshmana will fall down soon here in Lanka."

Gauri listened with serene expressions. Her brain catching the poetry of Valmiki, the creator of Ramayana, hungrily. Her eyes shut in concentration; ears strained, alert to not miss a single word of wisdom punctuated in the sweet tone of her grandmother. After some time, Sumitra places a bookmark, shuts the fragile holy book, and turns to face her granddaughter.

"So, what do you think?"

Gauri suppressed a yawn, suddenly feeling sleepy. Nodding her head thoughtfully, she answers.

"If Raavana had returned mother Sita to Lord Rama, he could've saved his kingdom and disciples from the wrath of that forgiving man of supreme honor. But if he had followed the wish of Sita, there's no way he could've achieved peace after spending multiple lifetimes on earth as a damned soul. Only death from the hands of Lord Rama brought him solace. In my eyes, you are not a monster if you do bad things for the right reasons. But if you orchestrate sinful acts for no valid reason and only to please your demons, you are a monster."

The conclusion brings a satisfied smile to Sumitra's face. The values and attributes Gauri learned in the past decade have forced her to perceive life from a new perspective. She was able to identify black and whites in the grey. Not every monster deserves forfeiture and a saint committing crime redemption.

"Alright. If you've finished all the tasks listed by your mother, you are free to enjoy your day as you wish. But remember, be home before sundown. I won't be as forgiving if I hear another tale of your mischievous acts. And no venturing in Mango Orchard of Sarpanch. If his stupid wife came here one more time complaining about your whereabouts, I will put a stop to all your adventures. Understood?"

"Crystal clear."

Gauri supplied immediately, eager to start her routine outside the walls of her humble abode. Sumitra's eyes sparkled and she chuckled watching the disappearing frame of a slim girl with long hair in the street. When the screech of Rukmani demanding Gauri's attention rang in the house moments later, the old woman just rolled her eyes and goes into the barn to look after the newborn calf.

***

With her troublesome musketeers aiming for another story spree, the excited entourage marches towards their peaceful spot but on their way destined to the riverbank, they heard anguished sobs of a maiden accompanied by hooting voices blended with contentious ones. The earlier excitement dimmed and curious, they decided to change the direction. It wasn't like the kids had any choice when their leader was hell-bent on examining the situation.

Running close they catch sight of clustered villagers, some hurling barbs and calling names to a frail-looking girl whose body was plastered with mud and scratches all over. She was helplessly shedding tears while others were busy making most of her pitiful state. Gauri felt numbness seeping down her spine.

What was happening?

On enquiring with the silent women spectators who sounded rather sad for the poor girl, it came out that a high-class boy badmouthed the victim about her being a gold digger and characterless.

"That's it!!" Gauri asked shocked to their mindlessness. It wasn't the fault of the circle collected to torture a lonely soul. It was the fault of the being who has taken birth as a female and that also in a lower caste.

Furious, she dived through the crowd reaching the center, and pushes a hooligan on time before getting hold of the big stone pelted in direction of the girl's head.

"Either you people fed your brains as silage to the cattle or are of such pure souls that started considering yourselves next to God. Is this the way to treat a human?" She nearly blasted.

"You stay out of this, girl. You don't know anything about this wanton, so stop preaching like a saint and just shoo away from here." A man in the crowd ordered while running his hand through his thick milky beard. Clenching her fists, she steps in front of the older man with destruction written in her orbs.

"I know for a fact that if a woman is shamed for no reason then the basic duty of any living person with beating heart demands justice for the wronged. Tell me one thing, do you have any concrete evidence on her being that kind, or your actions mirror a frivolous lad's avenging scheme." She eyed the man behind all this chaos with disdain. It was a young lad from the group of rowdy boys. Will they ever learn? What more could she possibly do after hurling burning coals at one of their faces? The girls in village were already suffering from their hands and one of the reasons why parents want to get their daughters married as soon as possible. In place of degrading the innocent or looting her of liveliness, why can't they simply take action against this group? It will bring great joy to tormented but no, when has anyone stood by justice. They all were scared of the background these boys possess. Sons of landlords and big merchants.

"Mind your tongue, lady. A man faces the real world while women just sit there doing absolutely nothing. Such useless creatures with no brain." Mocked a grumpy man wearing an adverse smirk.

"Oh really! If I remember correctly, during your unemployed days it was your yokel illiterate wife who worked day and night as a sole breadwinner for a family of 10. She served your old parents and nurtured six handful children without a single fold on her forehead. Where does it keep you then?" She was in no mood to relent. Words escaping her mouth were enough to shut certain unreasoned blind minds. She continued.

"None of you have rights to take such matter in your hands whereas the reason behind is not proven yet. Only God has the right to show mercy to the innocent and punish the evil. Who are you all to judge? Have you asked your man what was he doing in this colony at early hours when his grand house is nearly 10 miles from here? What! Cat caught your tongue."

That's when it hit everyone. Gradually and simultaneously reality started to sink in. Some were glancing accusingly towards the boy while others hung their heads in shame for bringing pain to the alleged but Gauri being herself was not done yet.

"As a woman, we are taught to be tiny, expected to be fragile and nonsense. A man does everything from sunrise to sundown and takes care of family whereas a woman does nothing but sit still and look pretty. She doesn't clean his house, feed his children, his parents, his cattle and look for better ways to spend the expanse. No, she doesn't take care of him when he comes home. She doesn't tolerate when he hits her in a drunken frenzy or opposes his decisions.

LIES.

Remember a woman is a bearer, who fosters and if the time demands she can also become a destroyer, who pulverize. A woman is the driving force of nature. A soul or man is non-existent without five elements of nature. It's balanced to form a human. A woman is ardhangini not below a man." She finalized.

"It's primary duty of a woman to serve her husband. She is always a submitted and below sex and should learn to be inside her boundaries decided by society. A man has every right to correct his wife's feeble-mindedness by any means. There is no issue in using force considering you must have sinned to defy your man hence consequently you will be a slave to your husband for 17 days for speaking against him and will remain as a house prisoner. The justice is served."

A bold voice echoed in the early morning judgment session of Rajwada palace followed by loud praises of their queen mother VASUNDHARA. After the former King's demise, she is the whole and soul of the kingdom NAJABGARH. No one dares to cross her otherwise repercussions could be horrid. HER, a firm believer in tantra vidya and Nakshatra Rachna. The law of government persisted in 296 neighboring villages but the residents believed in the law of their Queen Mother. Her hearing and decisions were given more priority than those silly courts where judgment day is waited for years.

3 decades ago, coming from a semi-modern and middle-class family didn't stop Vasundara Devi from pursuing her dreams of a lavish and powerful life. A simple villager's life turned a 180 degree when the old King- RAJYAVARDHAN SINGH RANA got pleased by the showcase of her splendid intelligence after she fetched him a necklace thief. She had pointed directly at the guilty in the crowd and said how the crown neckpiece has a specifically crafted scent and the hands of thief wafted off the same odor. The next thing people knew, King asked a mere businessman for his daughter's hand as the first daughter-in-law of the prestigious RAJWADA PALACE and sealed the bond with a hefty sum. The whole Kingdom was invited at the feast of wedding celebration.

King Rajayavardhan Singh married both his sons- Raghuveer and Aaryan at the same time with two beautiful girls. The older one with Vasundhara and the younger with Garima.

Joy was spreading its wings everywhere drenching the days with bliss and nectar of love.

But as it's said that no phase in life is constant.

On the auspicious day of Buddha Purnima, misery and pain engulfed the kingdom by snatching their beloved Prince Aaryan, and a heavily pregnant Gayatri in an accident, leaving behind a paralyzed Prince Raghuveer and a pondering Vasundhara Devi. Whereas King Rajyavardhan passed away shortly after due to lung cancer.

Only God knows what is in store but one thing is for sure, everyone has a weakness and it's driven by one ethereal reality- NAKSHATRA.'