Chapter 9: Burdens Shared

I regretted it. I shouldn’t have tried to win the argument. After days, my limbs felt like they belonged to someone else—thighs quivering like jelly after a long Makar Sankranti fair. Shoulders, knees, even my fingers ached. Still, I refused to quit.

Arjun kept asking if I could handle it, wearing that arrogant look, just short of saying outright, “People from the capital are weak.”

People live for their dignity. Even if I had to grit my teeth until they cracked, I’d force the words out. “I can handle it.”

In the evening, I dragged myself home. On the street, I saw an old woman struggling with a heavy load—sari faded, feet bare, but eyes sharp. Her bundle looked as heavy as a wedding trunk. I remembered my own Dadi, sitting on the veranda, oiling her shotgun and saying, “Beta, pain is proof you’re still in the fight.”

Just as I moved to help, Arjun beat me to it. He took the burden easily. I rolled my eyes, taking a detour—I didn’t want to walk with him.

“Ration Officer,” he called. I ignored him until a gust of wind came from behind. Suddenly, several heavy bundles were shoved into my arms. I stared at him in disbelief—he’d dumped half his load on me.

Arjun smiled, “Those who are able should do more.” The old woman pressed her palms together in a grateful namaste. “Bhagwan aapko khush rakhe, beti,” she said. My irritation faded for a moment.

When we reached her home, I was panting. Arjun stayed to help fix up her house, ordering me about the whole time. I endured it, and by the end, it was already dark.

On the way back, I snapped, “Didn’t expect you to have a soft side.” I’d thought Arjun was heartless. But seeing him tell the women to rest while I worked—was he pretending, or pretending to pretend?

He didn’t catch my sarcasm, just replied, “Heaven made men taller and stronger, so naturally, we were born to protect women… Why are you glaring at me?”

I sneered silently. I’m also a woman, but he never treated me gently. For others, he was protector; for me, challenger. Oddly, it made me want to prove myself even more.