The Thakur of Tarapur
Episode 1
*Adhiraj’s dark eyes flick between your trembling frame and the sweating man at his side, his calloused fingers tapping slowly on the carved arm of his diwan. The air grows thick enough to cut with a knife. he commands, his voice low and steady, no trace of anger yet—only the weight of unyielding authority.*
Tara
*I hesitantly stand up. Adjust my saree to hide my waist while dust smear on my body from being dragged and thrown*
*He notices the small, flinching movement, and something tightens low in his chest—an old anger at how men here treat what they think they own. He silences the fidgeting accuser with a sharp glance.*
Adhiraj
What is your answer to this accusation?
Tara
Thakur shaa, they're not lyIng. I refused my fiancé for any kind of intimacy before marriage *i said with trembling voice while looking down*
*He leans forward slightly, the gold thread in his kurta catching the dying sunset. A murmur rises from the crowd of villagers gathered behind you, but he holds up one hand to silence them completely. His gaze softens almost imperceptibly at your trembling.*
Adhiraj
And why did you refuse?
Tara
I don't want to. That's why.
*I say in a low voice. Not daring to say a single wrong word while holding the saree pallu around me tightly*
*The corner of his mouth twitches—almost a smirk, but not cruel. He’s never heard a woman speak so plainly here, not when every other voice bows to men’s demands. He ignores the angry shouts rising behind him, eyes fixed only on you.*
Adhiraj
That is reason enough
Tara
*I look up at him from ground*
*His dark beard hides the way his jaw goes slack for half a second, your wide, trusting eyes knocking the air right from his lungs. He hasn’t felt this unmoored in years, not since he took this position at twenty-two. He clears his throat softly, leaning back to regain his composure.*
Tara
*i quickly look down again*
*He watches the pink flush creep up the back of your neck, and his fingers still their slow tapping on the diwan’s arm. The heat in his chest isn’t anger—it’s something sharper, hungrier, something he hasn’t felt in a very long time. He turns to your fiancé, voice cold as winter stone.*
Adhiraj
Your engagement is canceled.
*The words drop like stones, leaving the crowd dead silent. Your fiancé sputters, opening his mouth to protest, but one sharp look from Adhiraj clamps it shut again. He shifts his gaze back to you, tone softening just a little.*
Adhiraj
"What do you want to do now?"
Tara
Nothing.
I wanna go back home.
*He nods once, sharp and final, and gestures to the young boy waiting by the veranda steps to escort you.*
Adhiraj
He will see you home safely. No one will touch you on the way.
*He pauses, then adds, quieter.*
Adhiraj
Come back tomorrow morning. I want to speak with you again.
Tara
Ji Thakut shaa *I bowed before walking away with the young boy. My saree pallu slipped to usual place revealing my pale waist again as i walk away*
*He holds your fiancé’s angry glare without flinching, but his eyes track you unconsciously, locking on the pale curve of your waist before he tears his gaze away. His throat goes dry, and he reaches for his hookah to steady his hands, already turning over plans in his head that he never thought he’d make.*
*He dismisses the crowd with a sharp wave of his hand, leaving only him and your seething former fiancé standing on the sun-warmed veranda. He stokes the coals of his hookah slowly, the smoke curling thick into the evening air before he speaks, voice cold enough to freeze blood.*
Adhiraj
Touch her again, and you’ll leave this village in a pine box.
*The man’s face pales, and he nods so hard his turban slips forward over his eyes. He stammers a quick, stumbling apology and backs down the veranda steps, not daring to look up once before he runs. Adhiraj stares out at the dusty road, your image burned into his vision, and takes a slow, steadying breath.*
Tara
*On the way i talk to the young boy asking him about Adhiraj*
*The boy’s feet scuff the dusty dirt road as he talks, his voice dropping to a whisper like he’s sharing a secret.*
Sahir
Everyone knows Thakur Sahab doesn’t let idle gossip spread, but he can’t resist. He never says no to a woman, he says. He’s never touched one who didn’t want him.
Tara
Does he respect women? The way he said 'this is reason enough' when i said that i don't want to felt like he respect women...
Episode 2
Tara
Does he respect women? The way he said 'this is reason enough' when i said that i don't want to felt like he respect women...
*The boy nods quickly, his eyes wide as he gestures toward the haveli glowing behind you in the dusk.*
Sahir
Thakur Sahab threw his own cousin out of the village for beating his wife last year. No one here dares to raise a hand to a woman when he’s in charge, not anymore.
Tara
Ohh. Thakur shaa is really a angel among these devils. Whoever will marry him will be luckiest, will not she?
*The boy snorts a quiet laugh, kicking a loose stone down the road.*
Sahir
He says no one’s ever caught his eye like this before, not even the rich zamindar’s daughter who came calling last spring. He glances at you sideways, a small, knowing smile tugging at his mouth. I think you already know that, don’t you?
Tara
Me? What? I don't know anything about Thakur shaa
*The boy just grins and doesn’t push further, kicking another stone down the rutted road. Your house comes into view a hundred paces ahead, its thatched roof glowing gold in the last of the sunset. He slows his steps, gesturing ahead to let you walk the last bit alone.*
Tara
Thank you for coming here. *i bow the young man before walking back towards my house*
*You push open the wooden gate of your small family home, and your mother comes rushing out, her hands wringing as she grabs your arms to check you over. She’s heard word of what happened at the haveli, her breath coming fast.*
Palak
what Thakur Sahab decided?
Tara
Thakur shaa canceled the wedding and asked to me meet him tomorrow morning. He wanna talk about something *i brush the dust from my saree and hair*
*Your mother’s eyes go wide, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. She stumbles back half a step, disbelief and quiet hope warring on her face. She whispers.*
Palak
No one gets a private audience with Thakur Sahab unless he’s already made up his mind about something important...
Tara
Aree Maa, you're overthinking
*She presses her lips together, still staring at you like you’ve grown a second head. She tucks a stray lock of hair behind your ear, her fingers trembling just a little.*
Palak
"Maybe. But go to sleep early. We need to get you ready for him, just in case."
Tara
He wanna talk about the cancelation of wedding, nothing much. So i don't need to get ready for anything. *i thought my mother turn crazy*
*She shakes her head, but doesn’t argue, just leads you inside the cottage and ladles you a bowl of warm khichdi. Her eyes keep drifting to your face, a small, quiet smile playing on her lips that she doesn’t bother to hide even when you catch her looking.*
Tara
Maa? Why are you smiling?
*She dabs at her mouth with the edge of her sari, wiping the smile away but not the glint in her eye. She reaches across the wooden table to pat your hand, her palm warm and calloused from work.*
Palak
Nothing, beta. Just eat. Your rice is getting cold.
Tara
*I shake my head before started eating.*
*Outside the cottage walls, hidden in the shadow of the neem tree, one of Adhiraj’s men stands quiet, waiting. He’d been sent to keep watch over you, to make sure no one tried to harm you before morning. He lights a bidi, and the smoke curls slow up into the warm summer night.*
Tara
*I wake up and walk towards river to take bath*
*The morning air is still cool, mist curling soft over the river’s surface. You hear the crack of a fallen twig behind the banyan tree just as you dip your hand into the water, and a familiar deep voice calls out, soft enough not to startle you.*
？？？
"Good morning. I thought I’d find you here."
Episode 3
？？？
Good morning. I thought I’d find you here.
Tara
*i startled. My feet slipped making me drop inside the river*
*Adhiraj moves faster than you can see, stepping out from behind the tree and catching your wrist before you can go fully under. His hand is warm and solid around your skin, and his eyes darken when he sees your soaked sari clinging to your curves.*
Adhiraj
"Easy. I didn’t mean to startle you."
Tara
Thakur shaa? I didn't realize *i quickly adjust my soaked saree to hide my waist and arms*
*He notices your flustered movement and drops his gaze immediately, stepping back to give you space, his hand still lingering lightly on your wrist for a beat longer than he means to. His ears pinken slightly, a rare show of embarrassment from the usually unflappable leader.*
Adhiraj
"I apologize again for startling you."
Tara
It's okay. But why you come here? I was about to go to your haveli after bath *i said looking down. The soaked saree cling to my curves*
*He shoves his hands into the pockets of his crisp white kurta, keeping his eyes fixed on the riverbank at his feet to respect your modesty. His voice is low, rough with a want he won’t name.*
Adhiraj
"I couldn’t wait until you came to the haveli. I needed to see you."
Tara
Is there anything important you wanna talk about?
*He lifts his head slowly, dark eyes meeting yours, and his jaw tightens with the weight of what he’s about to say. The river gurgles soft around you, mist still curling between the trees.*
Adhiraj
"I want to marry you. I don’t beat around the bush. That’s the thing I needed to say to you."
Tara
Thakur shaa! *My eyes widened*
*His heart hammers hard against his ribs as he waits for you to speak, the early morning breeze rippling the surface of the river between you. He’s never asked anyone this before, never felt the need to, and his fingers curl tight in the pockets of his kurta.*
Adhiraj
"I know this is sudden. Take all the time you need to answer."
Tara
*i look down at my feet holding my saree tightly* i didn't expect this from you, Thakur shaa. I respect you but i can't marry you
*The words land like a physical blow to his chest, and his jaw tightens so hard his molars ache. He doesn’t move, doesn’t argue, just nods once, his expression settling back into the cold, controlled mask he wears for everyone else.*
Tara
I'm sorry *i keep looking down*
*The ache in his chest softens a little at your quiet apology, and he takes another careful step back to give you space. He doesn’t push, doesn’t beg, just keeps his voice steady and respectful, the way he is always with you.*
Adhiraj
"You don’t have to be sorry. No means no. I won’t bother you after this, I swear."
Adhiraj
"If anyone ever bothers you again, you come straight to me. I’ll still help. Always."
Adhiraj
*He gives you one sharp, final nod before turning to walk back through the trees, his boots crunching softly on the damp riverbank leaves. His chest feels heavy, empty, but he doesn’t regret asking. He’d rather know than spend the rest of his life wondering what could have been with you.*
Tara
*i took bath and go back home. I sit beside my mother when i reach home.* Maa?
*Your mother looks up from rolling chapatis, flour dusting her forearms, and notices the tight twist of your mouth. She brushes flour off her hands and reaches for yours, her brow furrowing with quiet concern.*
Palak
What happened? Did Thakur Sahab say something wrong?
Tara
No. Thakur shaa asked to marry me. *i said in a low voice*
*Her rolling pin clatters to the wooden board, flour puffing up into the air. Her eyes go wide, shining with sudden, shocked joy, and she squeezes your hand hard.*
Palak
That’s wonderful! What did you say to him, beta?
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