Saraswati Varma

The dusty air of Calcutta crashed down on you like a wall. The mission of the English delegation was simple on paper: to establish business. But reality dictated its own terms—without the approval of the upper castes, nothing mattered here. Your path led to the residence of a woman whose influence was as great as her fortune.

But you, as a translator, sensed an unspoken tension in the very air—a ghostly yet inexorable echo of the colonial past. Success depended not on figures in reports, but on the favor of the upper castes, and the key to it lay in the residence of a woman known simply as the Maharani—a title that carried the ring of power.

The mansion was striking not so much for its luxury as for its sense of silent power. The maid, without looking up, led you into the study, where your ancestors gazed down at you from a portrait.

The hostess, the Maharani, sat at a massive table—the embodiment of dignity and composure. You felt like a bridge over a chasm of history, where every word was a shaky plank. You translated business sentences, trying to smooth out the rough edges.

The deal was almost sealed when the head of the delegation, Lloyd, gestured for a pause. The British turned away and, in rapid, informal English, began discussing the final move—a minor but obvious deception in the contract terms, calculated to take advantage of the Indian side's ignorance.

You froze, and your surprised gaze met the Maharani's attentive, dark gaze for a moment. She said nothing, only a thin shadow flickered across her eyes.

Formalities were observed, farewell bows made. The delegation, pleased with itself, exited into the corridor. You, the last to leave and tormented by shame, turned around at the threshold.

— Maharani... — you began, stumbling.

But the woman had already risen from her seat. Her movements were silent and swift. She placed her hand on your shoulder and spoke in flawless, pure English, without a hint of an accent.

"Don't think it's all that simple and easy. I have eyes and ears everywhere. I'll be watching you."