The Whisper Valley-28

28

The Whisper Valley Governing Council (TWVGC) met at sharp twelve noon and inabsentia the Governor, Whisper Valley. The public interest bill was introduced by Richard Wingham and was seconded by Edmond Saddington. As per the rule of the council, only registered family members had a right to address such issues and the bill would have to be supported by another permanent recognized resident.

The Valley Council Hall was full of people and the first gallery was reserved for the ladies and family members of the registered members, Philomena Wingham was the first to be spotted seated in the front row with her handmaid. Her eyes were swollen and puffy and she looked through her veil and sniffed continuously sneezing into her lace handkerchief. Others included Bertrand Lemaire and his family, Rajan Swaminathan, Angela Rebello and her clan, Cpt. Willaim Feathers, Veeramani Iyengaar with his family, and all the other listed members of The Whisper Valley.

“Ladies and Gentleman!... and esteemed members of the Governing Council of the Whisper Valley, All rise for His Excellency, The Governor of The Whisper Valley, Sir Arnav Simha the Second.” An orderly announced the Governor’s arrival, as Arnav Simha walked into the huge town hall, dressed in the formal dress of the valley-an off white silk dhoti with a deep maroon tunic embellished with gold buttons and a gold chain that hung from his second button to his left breast pocket. He was wearing a red silk headgear with white feather held by a gold brooch with a sapphire studded into it. He had his sword in a silver scabbard that hung across his right shoulder by a metal chain, across his chest. His forehead had three horizontal lines drawn by the holy ash and smeared with a mark in vermilion in the center.

Arnav Simha walked directly to the high chair with the guilt edge and sat on it and while the members of the Governing Council sat on either sides in smaller ordinary chairs and the rest of the audience sat behind the cordoned off section of the hall.

“Let the proceedings begin” Arnav Simha said as the Valley spokesman Winfred Whittaker bowed before the Governor and said,” Your excellency, The Whisper Valley Governing Council Member Richard Wingham seconded by Edmund Saddington, hereby present an objection to the wedding of your excellency with Ms. Willow Gemima Feathers, the only daughter of Captain William Feathers and Mrs. Isabella Feathers. They opine and I represent the petition of Lord of Eaton Richard Wingham…as follows…

“ The wedding between Willow Feathers and His Excellency, The Governor of The Whisper Valley Arnav Simha The Second should be declared void as Willow Feathers is a Catholic Christian and The Governor is a Hindu.

…I Richard Wingham oppose this alliance in the interest of the Valley. Further There are several objections for the afore said allowance…

1. A) Ms. Willow was not married in a church but in a Hindu Temple according to the Hindu system and with Hindu rituals… and she being a Christian, the marriage is void as far as she is concerned.

B) The Valley is patriarchal in its culture and the religion of the Husband takes a precedence and in that case a conversion is required by the lady without which she is still a Christian and again the afore said objection 1(A) shall be cited.

C) The Valley Catholic Church has to be consulted for conversion from Christianity to any other faith and the community endorsement is mandatory and in absence of which the aforesaid objections 1(A) and 1(B) shall be held as citations.

2. The Governor stands charges against coercing a community to covert into…

…. He went on to say how Willow was not to be the First Lady of the Valley.

Arnav Simha looked at the crowd assembled and his gaze shortly met Lemaire and Richard who were reluctant to see him in the eye. He smiled and patiently listened to the charges for the next half hour. After that he got up and addressed the Council and the people of his Valley…

“ My dear residents of the Whisper Valley!”

There was a furore as The Governing Council Members felt slighted by his addressing all of them without any special mention to them…The crowd was astonished…

Arnav Simha continued, “ My forefathers opened the Valley for habitation to other than family members only with an intent to share the beautiful paradise with others. My father His Majesty Late Raja Padmanabh Simha went a step further and shared the governance of the valley with the residents and also laid down the foundation for equanimity and forbearance. It was his dream that The Whisper Valley must be the paradise on earth where man did not discriminate based on race, colour of skin or faith. It is in the furthering of the lofty ideals of my forefathers that I married Ms. Willow Gemima Feathers, a Catholic Christian and a British Portuguese by birth. However I respect the law of the land and got married according to the Hindu custom as , as per the law of the land , the husband’s religion takes precedence. However, I would like to openly declare that, My wife Mrs. Willow G.A. Simha The First Lady of the Valley shall enjoy the rights of the resident of the valley and shall be free to practice her faith and will continue to be a Catholic Christian. I respect her for her loyalty to the Valley and so, I hereby appoint her as the Women’s representative at the Valley Council.

I would like to revoke the petition on me filed by Richard Wingham and Edmond Saddington and hereby warn the permanent residents of the Valley that hereafter if they try to waste the time of the government in such trivial issues, I shall as the owner of the Valley revoke their ownership to all the properties.

…And at the expression of dismay by everyone, he said coldly that, “ I stand here to extend a welcoming heart to all those who support me in my endeavor to protect the Valley and work towards its prosperity. Come and share the happiness and the wealth with me. Those who want to disrupt the harmony here may find their own means elsewhere as unlike my ancestors, I do not want to share the Valley with those, who do not respect the basic element of the Valley culture- Diversity.

Hereafter, I shall not tolerate Bandits Dacoits and any kind of insurgency and disloyalty towards the land and its people. The local residents have my word for their safety and I shall personally eliminate every obstacle that arises in the progress of the Valley.

Lastly, I welcome you all to the Annual Valley Fair! Please accept my Bride and The First Lady of The Valley as I present her to The Whisper Valley at the Annual Ball the day after. Greetings to you all.”

Arnav Simha got down and as Narasimhan made way for him left the Town Hall as the hall stood in stunned silence.

The Whisper Valley

A sharp rap on the door made Khushi get up and open the door. Aman was standing there. He smiled and said, “Boss wants you to reach the Taj by nine, for dinner Ma’am!”

“What? But he actually told me he would be at the hospital.” Aman said.

“He would be at the hospital for the night ma’am but, he wants you to have dinner with you. The Taj is near the hospital” He explained.

Ok. I will meet you in ten minutes Khushi said and rushed to change.

The Whisper Valley

Khushi looked out of the window from the restaurant and mused…Why did he call her suddenly… what should she be saying to him…she looked at her off-white and light orange simple cut dress. She did not have time to pack much. She looked at her watch it was ten past nine but there was no sign of him....

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