TEATIME SQUABBLE

(This story is set in the newly discovered planet TELLUS which is Earth’s twin but about 800 years behind and evolving}

Rubi Isle is a thriving business centre with a large floating population. Very near the docks was the Paz Inn where transient visitors could camp. Paz was basically a fisherman who had inherited the land close to the port. He had developed it with borrowed money and built the Paz Inn. It was run jointly by Paz and his wife Jazma. Jazma was about 35, was portly and unattractive but was innovative. She had produced a drink using leaves of the Kaja bush growing in abundance on the island and sweetened it with honey. This brew she called ‘Ka’, proved very popular and many would flock to the  Paz Inn to drink the beverage. Seeing its popularity, the drink had a national welcome with many brewing it though Paz Inn’s quality was said to be the best. It was known that Jazma was vain and easily provoked and patrons would be cautious when dealing with her while visiting the Inn for Ka. But she was also known for her excessive eagerness to gossip and her soft approach towards those who gossiped.

That afternoon while Jazma was operating at the Inn, the young woman known as Dizzy dropped in. Dizzy was about 16 and was very attractive with a slender body. Her hair was carefully coiffed and decked with a variety of flowers. She wore coloured earrings, and a bead necklace besides a stretch of bangles on her wrist. She had anointed her face with plant extracts to supplement her beauty. She was dressed in a coloured pareyou – the dress which covered both men and women only waist down. Looking at her, Jazma was conscious of the substantial deficit in her own beauty. Despite it she gave the patron a nod.

Dizzy asked for a cup of Ka and sat on a stool. Wanting to be informal Dizzy said “Jazma you look young with your hair dressed this way and spread over your shoulder.”

Jazma at once grew angry that she had been classified as old and said “Ka isn’t ready yet.”

Dizzy laughed. and said “You must be joking! I see the Ka pot boiling.”

“Enough! I told you no Ka. Out you go.”

Dizzy suppressed her anger and said “You shouldn’t insult a regular patron. Besides I know you so well.”

Jazma said “It doesn’t matter. When I say out you go it just means that.”

Dizzy was unfazed and said “You shouldn’t insult me. You know I know so much about you.”

“It doesn’t matter. And don’t think I don’t know about you.” She paused and added “Don’t think you can dazzle me like you did.....”

Dizzy said “Complete what you’ve to say.”

“Sheeld courted you and when he found you were arrogant he dropped you. You’ve lost the chance of marrying a handsome young man with a promising future. I pity you.”

Dizzy merely laughed and said “Your information is wrong. I didn’t quarrel with him. I dropped him when I learnt he was courting a gypsy girl who is now forcing him to marry her. She says she is pregnant through him. I should say he was a good riddance as far as I’m concerned.”

Jazma didn’t quite understand Dizzy. She has been insulted but still stands her ground and faces me Jazma thought.

Dizzy said “I’m your friend. You shouldn’t treat me badly. I’ve also gossip for you.”

Jazma’s thinking changed and she said “Wait a bit. Let me see if the Ka is ready.”

She went to the oven and carried back a baked mud container containing Ka. She said “It’s very hot. Be careful.”

Dizzy sipped the drink when Jazma asked “Do you need more honey?”

“No, no! It’s very good. You’ve maintained quality.”

Jazma sat on a stool nearby and said “Now share gossip with me.”

Dizzy said “I’ll start by telling you about the stone which fell from the sky.”

“I know about it. There was the sound of an explosion and the glowing stone fell in Flex’s garden. That was almost two years ago.”

“It seems it was loosely called a stone but was more like a metal shard. Soon after the stone fell Flex consulted the witch Wizma. She said it was an evil portent. Shortly thereafter Flex, his wife and both children besides the cook, all died due to a strange malady. His property with the stone was now bequeathed to Flex’s brother elsewhere. Shortly after receiving the stone all members of the brother’s family died of a strange ailment.”

“I didn’t know that. But I was looking forward to listen to some gossip. Not about the stone fall and its effects.”

“I’ll come to it. Hearing the strange happenings a total stranger who had the money was desirous of buying the property which had belonged to Flex. He consulted the witch Wizma but she advised caution in the trade as a bit of sky had fallen over it. However since it was being offered cheap he invested on it. He burrowed a deep hole through the wall of his agricultural well and buried the stone there where it rests underground. That property again changed hands and the merchant Stormy has bought it.”

“My husband has business dealings with Stormy and knows him well.”

Dizzy said “Let me continue further. I don’t know whether you know it. Stormy had 2 wives. One of them had appointed a young gypsy girl as cook. She was very beautiful and many men had sought her including Stormy. Since he is an important citizen the truth hasn’t been revealed. Soon after he bought Flex’s property, Stormy’s wives quarrelled and the junior one was thrown out. The senior has fired the gypsy girl. The witch Wizma is of the opinion that great tragedy had been mitigated as the stone has been buried deep underground though the unrest in the family was only due to the buried stone,”

Jazma said “I didn’t know those details.”

At this stage a young woman who knew Dizzy entered and her talk with Jazma was interrupted.

Dizzy said to Jazma“My friend has come to join me. I’ll come again and discuss the matter further. It will become more curious in due course as you will learn. Bye!”

Dizzy knew that Paz had decided to separate from Jazma and would take the gypsy girl dismissed from Stormy’s service as his wife. She said within herself “I’m sure I’ve significantly repaid Jazma in kind by hinting at what awaited her.  How dare she insult me! The bitch must suffer.”

END