26
Chrysanthemum Chronicles/ Anniversary Edition 2022
LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDOURED THING
The peacocks cried raucously in the
She had only seen him once, tall and
distance, as streaks of rain pelted down,
well-built, riding on a stallion that he
evoking a smell of the earth. Geetanjali
controlled with such ease. One glance
leaned her warm forehead against the
from his hawk-like eyes that had roved
windowpane, hoping to catch a glimpse
over her face, and then he was gone.
of the birds dancing in full bloom.
She had strained her eyes to look at
However, they were nowhere in sight,
him, but he was a mere speck in the
and she sighed again, as she moved back
horizon.
into the large, dimly lit room. The haveli
The young man had also been smitten
was huge and sprawling and shadows
at first sight. The moon-like face of the
lurked in every corner, getting larger as
beautiful maiden who had peered out
the world outside became darker.
from the window had stayed in his
“Will he come today?” she asked herself,
mind. He wondered who she was, this
a flush suffusing her beautiful face.
lissome girl, who seemed to be part of the haveli.
Deepti Menon
"He kept staring at her as if he would imprint her features in his mind. Then he moved forward to take her hand."
