And Then One Fine Day - Change

In the library, Antara waited for her students. She knew not how she was going to teach William and his brother a language that was so completely alien to them. Starting from scratch with numbers and alphabets would be quite a hardship for them she realized.

Her thoughts wandered to what her father had told her as she'd left for the Rasgarh Fort after school.

"Do not be worried my child. There is nothing wrong in whatever you are about to do. However, it will do you well to remember where you come from."

And she certainly knew where she came from. The high and imposing walls of the fort not doing any good in easing her discomfort. The library in itself was almost museum-like. There were about a million books housed in it.

Yet, despite its grandeur and larger-than-life persona, the walls spoke to her as though welcoming her into their space. The earlier Governor had all but abused the beauty of the ancient structure. But Lord Graham had seen to it that the fort was restored to it deserving beauty. The lawns and gardens were enormous, but the genda and mogra flowers added to its beauty. Colours were strewn all across what she could only assume was a flower garden. It was a beautiful sight. A small meadow.

Her thoughts halted as she heard the library doors creak open. In stepped a little boy with light brown hair and freckles on his pale white skin. He was wearing mini-jodhpurs, a crisp white shirt, a black waist coat and boots to match looking every inch the aristocrat that he was.

Antara smiled softly to him and when James smiled back, she saw William in him. This is how he must have been when he was James' age. Antara smiled to herself as William walked in,

"I hope I am not too late."

"Not at all Sir. Why don't you both sit down."

"Thank you Antara. And please call us William and James."

She only smiled. She seemed to be doing that a lot she thought. She ordered herself to stop but she just couldn't.

----

Three months on and Antara was still smiling in her hindi class. If it was possible, her students were even more charming than before. Jim, as she now called James had taken her heart from day one. She had never met a sweeter child. He was wonderfully eager to learn and had picked up the language beautifully. He now spoke short sentences with amazing fluidity and clarity. Antara loved him dearly.

William, Antara noted was unlike anyone she had ever met. Not only had he mastered the language, but he had also slowly crept in to her heart.

The village headmaster's daughter was in love with the Governor's son.

She knew not when it happened and how it all happened. But it had.

She was irrevocably in love.

----

For William, the last three months had been beautiful. He not only got to see Antara everyday, but he also got to spend plenty of time with her. And in doing so, he was able to know her better. He knew now she loved flowers, so he would have fresh flowers on her table in the library everyday. He knew she loved books, so he would send books over to her house every weekend.

He loved her smile, warm and friendly. He loved the way she cared for James. His little brother was blossoming under her touch. Gone was the shy little lad who used to cling to his brother for every thing. In his place now was a confident and affectionate child, always smiling just like his teacher.

However, William also knew that all this wouldn't last. His father would soon be posted elsewhere. And although he would be staying back in Rasgaon, having just been commissioned; he knew he couldn't be with Antara. It just wouldn't be right for her.

He, William Arthur Graham Meyberg was head over heels in love with Antara, the village headmaster's daughter.

----

Surijee stood at the entrance to the Grand Hall waiting for Willam Sirjee (he no longer referred to him as the white man).

Upon entering the hall, William asked Surijee whether he would like some refreshments since he'd traveled in this heat on foot. Surijee was very happy with Sirjee's warm and generous hospitality.

He drank some cool water and then told William Sirjee that Antarabibi will not be coming to teach in the afternoon because her pitaahji wasn't keeping well.

After informing Sirjee that it was nothing serious, he left. He liked William Sirjee. He was a nice white man. He did not have any airs about himself. He was very nice indeed.

In fact, even though Suri would never admit it to anyone; he liked William Sirjee and Antarabibi together. He knew Sirjee will be able to care for his bibi.

But Suri knew how the village was. Even though he was an old man himself, he was not stuck up with his ideals and principles. He knew that times were changing and changing with times was imperative.

With his thoughts scattered in all directions, Suri arrived at Antarabibi's house to find people gathered outside, whispering about some tragedy.

Suri cleared his way and went in and stopped dead in his tracks. Antarabibi was sitting hunched in a corner, silent tears streaming down her face.

Vasudevjee, the village headmaster had died.

----

"Surijee, humko Antarabibi se milna haaain. Please help karo," William beseeched Surijee for the hundredth time. But Suri was immovable. He told William Sirjee that Antarabibi did not want to meet anybody. She was dealing with pain in her own way according to him.

William felt helpless. It had been almost three weeks since he'd seen Antara. He just wanted one glimpse of her to see for himself that she was okay. But he knew he wasn't going to get anywhere with Suri.

He turned to leave when he heard her voice, soft and almost feeble, "William..."

He turned then to the woman he loved. The woman he'd missed dearly for the last few weeks. The woman who'd become the centre of his world.

----

Antara ran towards him then. She didn't have a care in the world. She didn't care about what the villagers would say. She wanted William. She needed him.

She found what she wanted in his tight embrace. She found...love...

But things were going to change now...

******************to be continued********************