Lakhpat topped the dune, leading his camel. His heart leapt as he pictured Rukmini on the opposite side of the Kakini River. He was about to yell out, when he realized that the river bank opposite was empty.
“Perhaps she is hiding to tease me”, he thought.
He called out, “Rukmini, Rukmini, where are you?”
To his great relief, a head appeared over a dune.
But it wasn’t Rukmini, but a boy, a neighbor of Rukmini.
He yelled out, “Rukmini left with a couple of Kothari’s men.”
Lakhpat said “Kothari the landlord? My God, I hope she isn’t going to his safari camp. That’s a sex den!”
The boy said, “Rukmini’s mother is gone too. Well, I’ve got to run now.” And he was gone.
#
After grooming his camel, Lakhpat had planned to go to the Jaisalmer fort to give camel rides to tourists. But the boy’s message made his world come tumbling down.
Lakhpat had no father or sturdy brothers to help him. He knew from bitter experience that the police won’t take his word against a rich landlord.
That left only him, one against a whole safari camp full of villainous cut-throats. But Rukmini, his Rukmini was in great danger. For her sake, he was ready to take on the entire world.
Without another thought, he mounted his camel, turned her head towards the Khuri sand dunes where Kothari had his desert camp. As he rode at a smart gallop, he remembered much of the past six months he had known Rukmini.
They had met by the Kakini river six months ago. Rukmini had come to the North bank with her washings. Lakhpat came a little later to the south bank with his camel. He was to wash and groom her before taking her to the fort where tourists paid for camel rides.
As a rule, the riverbank is empty, but today, Lakhpat found he wasn’t alone. A girl stood on the sloping opposite bank, by the flat stone, half in water.
He stared at her, a whiplash of a girl. Her face remained uncovered; her hair was disheveled, and she had tucked up her ghagra skirt. Beads of sweat covered her flushed face.
Lakhpat stood entranced.
Rukmini spotted the boy with his camel, staring at her. Aware of her disheveled clothes, she turned away in a flash and adjusted her attire.
She whirled round and said, “Boy, don’t you have anything better to do than gawk at me? Haven’t you seen a girl before?”
Lakhpat recovered and said, “Oh I have seen many, including white foreigners; but none as rude and shameless as you! So don’t put on airs!”
Gathering up her washings, Rukmini left without a backward glance.
Their first meeting was not a success.
#
As she walked away, Rukmini kept thinking of the strange boy with the camel. He intrigued her.
“What does he do for a living?” she wondered. “He isn’t dressed like a camel herder and he doesn’t look like the touts and guides who buzz around tourists.”
Lakhpat kept standing as long as he could see her retreating back. He forgot the tourists. Instead, the picture of a slim girl, pushing wet strands of hair off her face, occupied all his thoughts.
The next day, Lakhpat arrived early, determined to finish washing Bijlee and be on his way to the fort. But he found excuses to linger, brushing and grooming the camel till she snorted and pulled away.
The leash slipped out of Lakhpat’s hand as he heard a tinkling laugh. The girl had arrived.
He heard a mocking voice say, “Well, see what happens when a boy tries to do a man’s job!”
Fighting to control the camel, Lakhpat spat out, “if it wasn’t for the river, I’d show you how much of a man I am.”
Rukmini said, “Go threaten your tourist women. I see real men every day. They come to watch me sing and dance. You? You are nothing like them.”
Lakhpat said, “I knew it. You are a Banjara tribal. You dance and sing for pennies. God knows what else you do for money.”
Rukmini said, “Shut your mouth! It’s an old and honourable profession. It takes real talent to dance with five pots balanced on your head.”
Looking him full in the face, Rukmini said, “If you are real man, why aren’t you in the army or the police?”
It touched a raw spot, and it goaded Lakhpat to blurt out a deep hurt.
Lakhpat said, “After passing my 10th class, I did pass the police exams.”
Seeing his pain, Rukmini said, “What happened? Why didn’t you get in?”
Lakhpat said, “At the interview, they told me I wasn’t a Rajput, but a damned, stinky camel herder. So I’ve got to pay twenty thousand rupees to get in. I left in disgust.”
Rukmini said, "Since you are educated, you can consider joining the Army."
Lakhpat said, “As if that’s any easier! Hey! But that’s enough of your questions. Tell me about you, instead.”
Rukmini said, “There’s nothing to tell. As you see, I am just a dancing girl with no education.”
Lakhpat said, “But I’m sure you aren’t satisfied being a showgirl.”
Rukmini said nothing for a while.
Then she said, her voice low, “My father died while I was in class five. I had to take up singing and dancing to support my ailing mother.”
She stopped as a faraway look came into her eyes, and said, “I’ll go back to school as soon as I save enough. Who wants to dance till her legs tremble? Who wants to hear nasty taunts, and keep smiling?”
And so began their trysts. Their hearts grew ever closer while the river, like a strict chaperone, kept their bodies apart.
In time, their conversation passed from banter to confessions and then to sharing of hopes and fears.
The path of true love is seldom easy. They had expected resistance from their parents, but they had not foreseen Kothari’s goons kidnapping Rukmini and her mother.
The Serene Desert camp at the Khuri sand dunes was 30 kilometres from Jaisalmer city, far enough to discourage casual tourists. To ferry the guests, the camp used its own vehicles.
Mahesh Kothari had come down to supervise arrangements for his special guest. His called his main muscle man Jagga, and said, “What about fresh girls? The foreigner is very particular that the girl must be acrobatic, and compliant. Are you sure..?”
Jagga said, “Sure, boss. Rukmini is one of the best. I have her mother, and she knows what will happen if she disobeys.”
Kothari said, “The song and dances and dinner will be over by 9 pm. After that, make sure no one is about. Then take the girl to the foreigner’s tent. Tell her what you‘ll do to her mother if she refuses.”
Jagga said, “Don’t worry boss, I’ve done this a hundred times.”
Satisfied, Kothari went to the tent of the foreigner.
Viktor Ivanov, once part of the Wagner Group of Russian mercenaries, had taken up gun running to the lucrative East Asian market. He was a regular at Kothari’s camp whenever he visited the border district of Barmer, on business.
He had already worked through half a bottle of Famous Grouse, when Kothari knocked and entered. Turning on all his unctuous charm Kothari said, “Hello Mr. Ivanov, how wonderful to see you again. I trust your business went well?”
The giant Russian growled, “Not so good. The Indian gang was useless. They surrendered to the police, but they couldn’t stop me.”
Kothari said, “Well, who can stop you? You are like a huge Russian bear, no?
The Russian said, “What about tonight? Is everything arranged? Last time, the girl cried all night. That won’t do at all. God knows I pay you enough.”
“No, no, Mr. Ivanov, this time I have chosen her myself. It’s a fine young girl, the best in Jaisalmer.”
“We shall see,” growled Ivanov.
#
Kothari paid a visit to the old woman in the locked outhouse where Rukmini sat huddled with her mother.
Kothari said, “Tell your daughter to please the foreigner. Otherwise, I shall hurt you both.”
“Why are you doing this?” wailed the old woman. “Why are you ruining my daughter? What has she done to you?”
“You borrowed money during the Corona pandemic and never paid it back,” thundered Kothari. “I could have thrown you out of your hut, but I didn’t. Now I own you body and soul”.
Then, turning to Rukmini, he said, “Enough of crying. Now go back to your tent and clean up. If I hear any complaints, I shall strip you both and whip you in front of my men.”
While Kothari was terrorizing the women, Viktor Ivanov was thinking of his narrow escape from the police team who had raided their gun running hideout.
“It was too close for comfort,” thought Ivanov. “That Goddamn cop almost captured me. I shall have to lie low for a while.”
While Ivanov was speaking to Kothari, in the city’s police HQ, the same “Goddamn cop”, Senior Superintendent Vikram Rathore, was being debriefed by the police Commissioner of Jaisalmer.
The Commissioner said, “Pity the big fish got away. At least you arrested the Indians in the gang.”
Rathore said, “Sir, he caught us unawares. He is a giant of a man, a well trained mercenary of the Wagner Group. He scattered us like rag dolls. By the time we recovered, he had already jumped into his jeep and roared away.”
Then he paused and added, “If only I could get another chance…”
The Commissioner said, “That’s not going to happen. I need you to catch at least one owner of a desert camp that supplies prostitutes to their clients.”
Rathore said, “Sir, you have the entire city police for that. I must catch this gun runner. I just can’t let him have the last laugh.”
The Commissioner said, “The city police are compromised. Some constable is sure to have a cousin or uncle working for the camps. They leak news of a raid and we return empty handed.”
Rathore asked, “Sir, is this a punishment for failing to catch the Russian? You are sending me after pimps and prostitutes. I’d much rather hunt big fish.”
The Commissioner said, “No, my boy, this is your second chance. The ministry is anxious to clean up the unsavoury reputation of Jaisalmer. Catch a couple of the camp owners red handed, and you’ll get your promotion.”
Rathore thought for a minute and said, “Right, Sir, I’ll take it on. But I need to have my own team and transport. I’ll choose target and timing that only you’ll know.”
#
Lakhpat reached the gates of the Serene Desert camp at dusk.
The long ride had tested both rider and camel. Bijlee had to climb up and down sand dunes and it taxed her. When her gait flagged, Lakhpat dismounted and walked with her.
He patted her neck and said, “I can’t stop every 10 minutes Bijlee, this is no tourist ride. I must reach the Serene Desert camp before that scoundrel Kothari ruins my Rukmini for life.”
By alternating urging and soothing, Lakhpat got the best out of his camel like an expert camel driver.
Still, it took them 6 hours to cover the distance for Bijlee needed to rest after every two hours to avoid overheating. The forced rests caused Lakhpat agony.
When they reached the gates of the camp, evening had darkened into night and stars had come out against a dark and threatening sky.
#
Leading Bijlee by her rope, Lakhpat reached the entrance to the camp. He was tired, thirsty, and sore from the ride, his face dripping with sweat. He did not stop to think what he’d do against a camp full of ruffians.
All he knew was that he had to get in somehow.
A rough-looking camel driver lounging at the gate stopped him. There were three or four others, with their camels tied nearby.
The lead ruffian asked, “What do you want kid? Can’t you see that there are enough camels here? Go away and don’t let me catch you loitering, or it will be the worst for you”
They didn’t behave like normal, friendly camel drivers. There was something off, thought Lakhpat but he had to walk away. There were too many of them.
Dejected, Lakhpat walked to the rear of the camp, looking for Rukmini. After searching awhile, he spied a small tent at the far edge of the camp, near a line of shrubs. Sitting at opening of the tent, back-lit by a lantern, was Rukmini.
#
“Rukmini is still in her tent.” Lakhpat thanked God that he wasn’t too late.
Tying Bijlee to a tree, he crept along the shadows to reach Rukmini’s tent. He rushed the last yard, smothered her cry with his hand and dragged her into the tent. No one else was inside.
Their reunion was joyful but brief. They knew that Kothari’s goons could come any minute.
Lakhpat said, “I have Bijlee with me. Let’s ride off and hide amongst the dunes.”
Rukmini said, “Run where? A jeep full of ruffians with powerful spot lights will hunt us down.”
“You can’t stay” said Lakhpat in despair. “Some goon will come for you any minute. Oh God! What shall we do?”
Then, Rukmini had a wild idea!
Half an hour later, Jagga came to call Rukmini.
He heard a muffled voice, “I know the way, go ahead and I’ll follow.”
“Hurry up, and don’t try any tricks, or I’ll cut off your mother’s ears,” growled Jagga, as he walked away.
In a few minutes, a muffled figure clad in a ghagra and choli emerged from Rukmini’s tent. Her face was covered by a Ghunghat scarf. She seemed taller somehow as she strode to the tent of the Russian.
Meanwhile, Ivanov had already finished a bottle of Famous Grouse and was getting impatient. Through a drunken haze, he saw a veiled figure enter the tent and come close to his bed.
“About time,” he growled as he tried to pull her down on the bed.
The intruder jumped on him and held a knife at his throat. The ghunghat had dropped off and Ivanov saw it was a youth.
He hissed to the Russian to be quiet as he looked for a rope to tie him.
But the giant Russian was too strong. After a short tussle, Lakhpat was helpless in the Russian’s grip.
Ivanov growled, “You little shrimp! Think you can best a Russian commando?” His giant hands closed round Lakhpat’s throat, choking the life out of him.
Lakhpat prayed as his world went dark.
Helpless in the Russian’s hands, Lakhpat had almost choked to death when the tough looking camel driver burst into the tent with his pistol raised.
He froze in amazement when he saw the Russian.
“Ivanov!” He exclaimed, “Fancy meeting you here. This time there’s no escape. Raise your hands and hold still.”
Everyone froze.
The uncomprehending Russian complained, “I paid a lot for a girl and they send me a damned boy!”
The camel driver drew himself up. He couldn’t believe his luck. The Russian gun runner was in his net! Again!
He pulled out a walkie-talkie and called in his team, for the camel drivers were none other than superintendent Rathore and his raiding team in disguise!
By the time the safari camp operators had been rounded up, dawn broke. The police released Lakhpat, wearing his own clothes and a very relieved Rukmini and her mother.
Rathore listened to their saga.
Lakhpat said, “It was Rukmini’s idea that I dress up as a girl and overpower the Russian.”
Rukmini said, “We hoped to slip away and be gone far, before they discovered the Russian.”
Much amused, Rathore said, “You did a fine job on Lakhpat. He looked very fetching as a girl. Where did you get the knife?”
Rukmini said, “I always carry one, to defend my honour.”
She looked dead serious and no one laughed.
“Good thing I came in at the nick of time, or the Russian would have killed you,” said Rathore. “Tell me, where would you two go? From what I know of your clans, neither will welcome you.
Seeing their sheepish looks Rathore slapped Lakhpat on the back. He said, “I see, you haven’t thought the matter through.”
He paused, as his look measured Lakhpat.
Then he said, “Why not join the force? We could do with stout lads like you. See me in my office tomorrow.”
Dy. Commissioner Rathore looked back with satisfaction at the year gone by. Ivanov the gun runner was behind bars. A court convicted three desert camp owners of procurement, and the others reformed. Rathore was becoming a legend.
Lakhpat's boss is pleased by Lakhpat's success in catching touts and pimps. He is preparing for the Head Constable’s examination.
Rukmini is going to night school to continue her education interrupted by her father’s death. Someday, she will join the force too.
Rukmini misses her nomadic life sometimes. But she misses her mother the most, who does not approve of a camel herder as a son in law.
“Let a baby come,” thinks Rukmini, “and my mother will forget her prejudice, and come running!”
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