All Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty-Two

I smile at the text, and put my phone away, only to see the driver looking at me through the rearview mirror.

I wipe the smile off of my lips, immediately, and look away, staring out of the window at the passing fields.

When the car stops, Dhruv wakes up with a start, rubbing his eyes. "Are we here already?" He asks.

"Yes," I answer, and pass him a kanduva to throw around his neck. "Wear it." [Kanduva is a long piece of cloth that politicians/ close supporters, wear around their neck to display their party]

People begin to gather around the car as I step out, raising my joined hands in greeting. Dhruv gets off on the other side.

"Baagunnaara babu?" An older villager asks, joining his hands together. [How are you, babu?]

I smile back at him. "Baagunnaanu. Meeru?" [I'm well. You?]

~.~.~.~.~

Sita

"Madam," the driver addresses me, "sir is giving a speech here. Would you like to see?"

I had told Dhushyanth I need a lot of new cotton salwars and sarees to survive the summer in Kurnool, and accumulating all of it would take at least three days, so I would go to Kurnool within the following week after he left.

After suggesting that I just order everything to Kurnool, and being refused, he accepted defeat and went his way, leaving me to do my thing.

As promised, I followed him to Kurnool on the fourth day.

"Security issues untaayi emo," I suggest, looking at all the people that are gathered for the speech. I can hear his loud voice, but I can't make anything coherent out of it, since the sounds are blocked by the car's windows. [There might be security issues]

"I have a mask if you would like," he offers.

I bite my lower lip, contemplating the offer. I do want to see Dhushyanth give his speech, see what he's talking about, see if he actually is different from the other politicians.

"Mask emi oddu le," I refuse the offer. It might just bring me extra attention. "Koncham munduku velli dhooram ga aapukondi car ni. I'll walk back." [No need for a mask. Drive away from this area, and stop there.]

The driver nods, and does as I direct. I get out of the car, wrapping my dupatta around my head. I make sure to leave my watch and handbag in the car, only taking my phone with me.

"I am not promising you the sky and stars," I can hear Dhushyanth speak, "I'm promising you the land beneath your feet, and the wind beneath your wings."

Aye haye, my husband's a politician.

Regardless, I open my phone's camera, holding it up to capture Dhushyanth. He moves away from the mic to have a word with someone in a uniform, and returns to the stage. His features begin to soften, making me wonder if he's going to bring up his grandfather, but his next words surprise me, "My wife told me," he says, causing chaos among the crowd that suddenly seems to have gone bonkers, "that my purpose should be my people— that politicians are not people who tell people what to do, rather, they ask people how they can help."

My face begins to heat up as I look around at the cheering crowd. My god, I didn't mean for him to tell anyone else I said such a thing?

"I know you have been well taken care of under Thathayya's leadership, but I want you to rest assured that I will do everything he has done so far, and I will continue to lead until I make a legacy of my own; until I have done all I can, for you, for our villages, for our state."