Chapter Text
Jenny has been walking for a few minutes in the stifling heat before she sees a decorated building in the distance. She can hear faint music and sees people bustling about. That must be the marriage hall! She thinks excitedly and hurries along, wincing as she accidentally hits her shin with one of the wooden edges of her suitcase.
As she gets closer, she sees the labormen stop and stare at her, and she lowers her face, flushed. The kids playing nearby are staring with curiosity, but the men have fear and malice in their faces. Jenny stops walking and attempts to salvage the situation, lowering her suitcase and lifting the brim of her hat so they can see her better and know she's not a threat.
"Hello!" she greets them nervously with a wave. The kids shyly wave back, but stop after the men give them warning looks.
"Evaru meeru?" One of the men, wearing a turban and a green pancha, asks harshly. Thanks to her small conversations with Bheem about basic Telugu words, she's able to understand that he's asking her who she is.
Jenny points to herself. "I'm Jenny! I'm here for-", she points to the building behind them and twirls a bit to mimic dancing, "-Bheem and Ram's marriage!"
At the mention of her friends' names, the men grow more confused and fearful. Oh, Jenny thinks. They might think I'm here to arrest them. By this time a large crowd has gathered around Jenny, and a few women are also watching the exchange.
"I'm not here to hurt them! I'm here to see them as a friend!" Jenny protests, trying to mimic a hug, although it looks rather strange when it's only one person doing it. "Bheem - nenu ishtam?" she tries out. No, that doesn't sound right.
Just as she's starting to lose hope, a voice rings out from inside the building. "Peddananna! Thanu Jenny, naa snehithuralu!"
It's Ram! Jenny beams as she sees her other friend for the first time in a while, and he joins her in the center of the circle. He's wearing his normal button-down shirt, but for some reason is wearing a fancier version of the baggy pants everyone here is wearing. Is that traditional? Jenny wonders. She doesn't know what he just said but all the people surrounding her have relaxed, and have started to smile at her.
"Hi Jenny!" Ram smiles. "I'm glad you were able to come. I just let them know that you're my friend, so you should have no trouble from now on.
"Thanks, Ram!" She wants to hug him, but isn't sure how the people around would take that, so she just shakes his hand instead. "Are some of these people your family?"
Ram just laughs. "They're all my family, Jenny. We've all gone through the same hardship together, and now we consider ourselves one big community." He gestures to the man she had been talking to earlier, with the green dhoti. "This is my Peddananna, and he's the one that's organizing my marriage."
Jenny folds her hands together and bows her head the way she's seen Bheem do a few times, and is rewarded with a surprised smile from Ram's peddananna and the same gesture back. "Mee prayanam baagane undinda, thalli?" the man asks her, and Jenny looks to Ram for a translation.
"He's asking if your journey was well."
"Oh, thank you for asking! It was very well." Ram repeats back what she said to his peddananna. He says something else to address the rest of the people, and they start to disperse.
"How did you get here, by the way?" he asks Jenny as he leads them to the rooms.
"Oh, I just got into one of those horse carriages and gave them a letter that Bheem wrote directions on." Both Jenny and Ram pause to smile at the fact that Bheem has excelled in studies in such a short time that he's almost mastered writing letters in both Telugu and Hindi. "And the man driving me brought me about a kilometre away from here."
They reach a private room, and Ram lets Jenny take the cot while he takes the wooden chair. "I'm glad you weren't busy with your charity programs this week; it means a lot to both Bheem and I that you're here, Jenny."
Jenny sighs, and Ram frowns. "I wasn't free, actually. I cleared out my schedule for this. I mean, not that I wouldn't have in the first place, but I don't know what's going to happen to me later, Ram."
"What do you mean?"
"My grandfather is planning on getting me married, to Jake of all people. He doesn't like the work that I do, and says I'm embarrassing the family. I'm also sure he didn't believe me when I said I had nothing to do with the deaths of my aunt and uncle."
Ram looks at her, worried. "I won't let you get married to that cretin. Just say the word, and I'll be happy to set up a place for you to stay here in the village. Or you can live in the Gond village with Bheem's family. We'll work something out, I promise."
Jenny smiles sadly. "I wish I could just run away, Ram. But I can't. I'm working with other people who want to keep the fight going. Not only to get us out of India and the other colonies, but for more causes. I'm working with many women's clubs to expand our voting rights, and I run many charity programs that help provide aid to those who are homeless, injured in war, or widowed. I can't just stop. This is my passion, and I'm going to continue it until I can't."
When she looks up, Ram has respect in his eyes. "Alright, then. Let me know if you change your mind." He thinks for a moment. "You remind me of someone I know, actually. She's courageous and fights for justice, just like you."
"Really? Is she here today?" Jenny asks.
"Yes, and actually..." he trails off with a wince. "She's probably looking for me, since I, uh, ran off earlier."
"Why did you run from your own marriage??"
Sheepishly, Ram admits the truth. "I was... overwhelmed. I love Bheem so much, and I can't believe I'm getting married to him today. In front of all of my friends and family." He closes his eyes. "I never thought I could have this. My mind was consumed with thoughts of my mission and my promise to Baba. Whenever I thought about the future I always imagined I would succeed at bringing the weapons back and then die in warfare." He opens his eyes. "And now? I have the best family and a man that I would do anything for." Ram's face turns sad. "All I could think was that something was going to go wrong, there's no way the gods would just let me have this, have Bheem, after all I've done to him."
"Ram, it's not your fault. You couldn't put him above your mission." Jenny attempts to soothe him, but Ram surprisingly laughs.
"Actually I did end up doing that, and it worked out for me."
Jenny has to laugh at that too, then sobers up. "You deserve this, Ram. You deserve Bheem."
"I keep trying to tell myself that."
"I know it's difficult, but it's the truth. And besides, Bheem will gladly comfort you anytime you feel that way," Jenny winks, and Ram blushes the same shade as the rouge on her lips. "He'll be the first one to insist that he loves you and that you deserve to feel happiness."
Jenny cheers internally when Ram finally smiles again. He takes a deep breath. "You're right. I'm not going to stop feeling this way, but being near Bheem certainly makes me feel better. And besides, he doesn't deserve to have his groom run off on him at his marriage."
"That's the spirit. Now tell me, do I look presentable in this?"
"You look great, Jenny." Ram looks down at himself and winces. "It's me that doesn't. I may have escaped while being halfway through the dressing process."
Jenny laughs. "Go wear your proper traditional outfit, I want to see you look your best for Bheem!" Ram gives her a mock salute and leaves the room, Jenny giggling behind him.
A few seconds later, the most beautiful woman Jenny has ever seen pokes her head through the door, looking harried. "Meeru naa baava ni choosara-" she begins and stops short at the sight of a British lady in one of the private rooms.
The woman gasps, and Jenny squeaks.