Chapter 10: Marigold and Sandalwood

With her heart’s knot untied, Third Sister recovered day by day. When she married, the ten-mile bridal procession astonished all of Lucknow. Though the Verma family was strict, the Verma son was attentive, refusing to take a second wife even after Third Sister bore two daughters. For a time, "To marry, marry a Kapoor girl" became the consensus among Lucknow’s young men; even the maids of the Kapoor household were more sought after in marriage than the daughters of ordinary officials.

The procession wound through the old city, the sound of shehnai and conch shells echoing through the lanes, the aroma of marigold and sandalwood heavy in the air. Sweets were distributed, rose petals tossed by guests, and the house was awash in colours and laughter. For that one day, even sorrow was banished.

Mother became stricter with me, gradually entrusting me with the management of the household. The day news came of the death of the Dowager Maharani of Kaveripur, Mother deliberately tested me. While the Dowager Maharani was devout in life, it would be appropriate to send a set of golden sandalwood Bhagavad Gita scriptures.

I arranged the offering carefully, remembering every lesson taught at my mother’s knee. In this house, the greatest virtue was never to forget one’s duty—no matter how heavy the heart.

*Six Arts: Ritual, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Calligraphy, and Mathematics—classical disciplines for noble children in ancient India.