varsha

by AllegoriesInMediasRes

Summary:

This time the clouds bear no false promises, and rain soaks the parched earth. Relief-giddy villagers dance in the downpour, hands raised to the sky, while the cantonment scrambles for cover under the eaves.

A single figure crosses from the canopy to the playing field. Elizabeth's clothing was not woven for wet weather, and by the time she reaches the middle of the throng, her white lace dress is rendered gray and clinging to her skin. Her waterlogged hat drips into her eyes. Casting it off along with her sodden gloves, she seeks none but two.

varsha (Hindi): rainfall

Notes:

• For embraidery.

This time the clouds bear no false promises, and rain soaks the parched earth. Relief-giddy villagers dance in the downpour, hands raised to the sky, while the cantonment scrambles for cover under the eaves.

A single figure crosses from the canopy to the playing field. Elizabeth's clothing was not woven for wet weather, and by the time she reaches the middle of the throng, her white lace dress is rendered gray and clinging to her skin. Her waterlogged hat drips into her eyes. Casting it off along with her sodden gloves, she seeks none but two.

Elizabeth has seen Bhuvan and Gauri burnished by sunlight and silvered by moonbeam, and she thinks she could curse the drought anew for not permitting her before to see them baptized by monsoon. The rusty red of Gauri's choli is soaked to a rich vermillion, the peach of her dupatta a delicate saffron. Bhuvan's arms, muscled from a lifetime of drawing oxen and harvesting grain, gleam with slickness. They whirl together in the center of the masses.

Bhuvan first fascinated her when he spoke back to her brother just outside the cricket corral, and Gauri piqued her interest when she boosted the ragtag team's spirits at practices with her freshly baked rotis and her charming petulance, but Elizabeth knew for certain her heart was lost when she saw them together at Janmashtami, their eyes and limbs locked together in a frenetic dance, ancient lore and immediate passion choreographing their footfalls. She falls in love afresh when she sees them spinning each other around, wrists interlocked, doused by rain.

A moment's doubt seizes her when she is almost near: what place does she have here? She is a firangi amongst farmers, a white aristocrat in the midst of copper-skinned villagers who have put calluses on their hands for every scrap. Surely she oversteps? Surely she presumes?

But Gauri sees her, and shouts for her to join them. Bhuvan turns at her words, and reaches out for her. They draw her into their circle, and up close, even through the rain, Elizabeth can see that they have been weeping happy tears.

The blood seeping from Bhuvan's left ear and the dirt on his forearms have nearly been washed away, and in a moment of boldness, Elizabeth wipes away the remaining traces with her own fingers. Bhuvan turns his face into her hand, fitting his cheek into her palm. When she chances a glance at Gauri, there is none of the flashes of jealousy Elizabeth had often seen as she and Bhuvan grew closer, from coach and student to something more. Elizabeth had often wanted to reassure Gauri she had no intention of stealing Bhuvan from her, that she loved them best together, but she had not been able to find the words, Hindi still so clumsy on her tongue. Now she sees the open glee on Gauri's face, and hears how she says her name – Eliza, not memsahib, not Elizabeth – and she knows that no words are needed.

With her other hand, Elizabeth strokes Gauri's face. The kohl under her eyes is running, the three dots on her chin meant to ward away evil almost faded. They will dance in the rain, Elizabeth thinks, their feet stomping against the muddy earth, their limbs flecked by droplets, and when they have capered themselves to exhaustion, they will retreat into the hut with a margosa tree in the front yard, where Yashodamai will fuss over their wet clothing and Bhuvan will find them something to eat, and Eliza might learn how to reline Gauri's eyes with kajal.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of Lagaan fics