temporary saree I'd been assigned, told me to put it on, and look in the mirror.
A hush fell over the room as I walked in front one of the many full length mirrors in the salon. I gasped sharply at the image I beheld. I scarcely recognized the striking creature that was my own reflection staring back at me. My skin glittered with an ethereal glow. The henna spiraling around my wrists and ankles looked like breathtaking works of art. My hair fell in a mass of perfect ringlets down my back; some of it expertly perched atop my head in a crown of purple flowers. My face was accented with vivid, colorful makeup. And in the loaner garment, all my shapely curves were now visible and I felt a warm tingle begin within me.
"Beautiful…" Padma whispered.
***
" Are those girls tasting food before the other girls eat it?" I whispered incredulously to Padma.
Padma chuckled as I stared around the room. "Try not to stare, dear," she said in the first kind tone she'd used with me.
But I couldn't help it. It was lunch time, and for the first time, I saw all the women together. There were gorgeous women representing what seemed like every nationality in the world, all dressed in the revealing garments. Then, there were another set of women, all seeming very young, and in less revealing garments. Another set of women still, all seemed much older, and also wore less revealing garments. The younger and older women all seemed to work in some way to serve and pamper those of us in the middle. In total, there must've been more than fifty of us.
"You'll learn, dear Gita, there is a specific structure to this home. The competition here can be fierce. Occasionally, even dangerous. Some women here are so hated; tasters have been employed to taste their food for them before they consume it, in case the food is poisoned."
My stomach turned. "Poisoned? But, then, what happens to the taster if the food is poisoned?"
Padma elicited a thin smile. "Gita, it is these girls' duty to serve us. They do it happily."
I frowned at Padma's mysterious non answer, her customary way of responding to my questions. "But Padma, I don’t understand? What is it exactly that we're competing for? The attention of your son? I haven't even seen him!"
Padma laughed. "Oh, you'll all receive his attention, don't worry. But, the fact is, my son has yet to take even one wife. So it isn't just attention you'll compete for. It is his love. And the reason you haven't seen him yet his because you haven't been invited yet. Men do not come into the harem. The word means forbidden; sacred. We live here to be protected and honored. No man sets forth here. When Shekhar wishes to see you, you will be beckoned."
Part 3
A week passed and I tried not to think of my loneliness. The other women rarely looked at or spoke to me, other than servant girls. I tried to make friends with them, but the servant girls were painfully shy. Every morning I was subjected to the rigorous beautification process, yet no mention was made of meeting Shekhar. I was allowed to roam the harem and found several things about it I enjoyed such as the incredible library, and the giant swimming pool and sauna. But, mainly I kept to myself, and did as Padma told me.
One afternoon, I was told to report to a certain room where I had not been before. Inside the room was decorated more posh than any room I'd ever seen in my life with intricately embroidered rugs and golden gilded wallpaper that I suspected was probably real gold. Candles flickered all around the room and soft beautiful music played. There were some cushions scattered about on the floor, but other than that no furniture in the room. No people either. As was becoming common, I was confused and didn't know why I'd been sent here. So I took a seat on the floor and waited.
Not too much later, the door opened slowly and Manu walked in. My heart skipped a beat
A hush fell over the room as I walked in front one of the many full length mirrors in the salon. I gasped sharply at the image I beheld. I scarcely recognized the striking creature that was my own reflection staring back at me. My skin glittered with an ethereal glow. The henna spiraling around my wrists and ankles looked like breathtaking works of art. My hair fell in a mass of perfect ringlets down my back; some of it expertly perched atop my head in a crown of purple flowers. My face was accented with vivid, colorful makeup. And in the loaner garment, all my shapely curves were now visible and I felt a warm tingle begin within me.
"Beautiful…" Padma whispered.
***
" Are those girls tasting food before the other girls eat it?" I whispered incredulously to Padma.
Padma chuckled as I stared around the room. "Try not to stare, dear," she said in the first kind tone she'd used with me.
But I couldn't help it. It was lunch time, and for the first time, I saw all the women together. There were gorgeous women representing what seemed like every nationality in the world, all dressed in the revealing garments. Then, there were another set of women, all seeming very young, and in less revealing garments. Another set of women still, all seemed much older, and also wore less revealing garments. The younger and older women all seemed to work in some way to serve and pamper those of us in the middle. In total, there must've been more than fifty of us.
"You'll learn, dear Gita, there is a specific structure to this home. The competition here can be fierce. Occasionally, even dangerous. Some women here are so hated; tasters have been employed to taste their food for them before they consume it, in case the food is poisoned."
My stomach turned. "Poisoned? But, then, what happens to the taster if the food is poisoned?"
Padma elicited a thin smile. "Gita, it is these girls' duty to serve us. They do it happily."
I frowned at Padma's mysterious non answer, her customary way of responding to my questions. "But Padma, I don’t understand? What is it exactly that we're competing for? The attention of your son? I haven't even seen him!"
Padma laughed. "Oh, you'll all receive his attention, don't worry. But, the fact is, my son has yet to take even one wife. So it isn't just attention you'll compete for. It is his love. And the reason you haven't seen him yet his because you haven't been invited yet. Men do not come into the harem. The word means forbidden; sacred. We live here to be protected and honored. No man sets forth here. When Shekhar wishes to see you, you will be beckoned."
Part 3
A week passed and I tried not to think of my loneliness. The other women rarely looked at or spoke to me, other than servant girls. I tried to make friends with them, but the servant girls were painfully shy. Every morning I was subjected to the rigorous beautification process, yet no mention was made of meeting Shekhar. I was allowed to roam the harem and found several things about it I enjoyed such as the incredible library, and the giant swimming pool and sauna. But, mainly I kept to myself, and did as Padma told me.
One afternoon, I was told to report to a certain room where I had not been before. Inside the room was decorated more posh than any room I'd ever seen in my life with intricately embroidered rugs and golden gilded wallpaper that I suspected was probably real gold. Candles flickered all around the room and soft beautiful music played. There were some cushions scattered about on the floor, but other than that no furniture in the room. No people either. As was becoming common, I was confused and didn't know why I'd been sent here. So I took a seat on the floor and waited.
Not too much later, the door opened slowly and Manu walked in. My heart skipped a beat
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