Chapter 64

Rabbe Ve, Everyone!!!! 2013 is still young and new so Happy New Year again! *chuckle*

This sudden decision to update was made in honour of two of my readers leaving: Sweet Friend ShrutiPandey leaving to Delhi for two weeks and Dearest Comrade Hoopoe leaving for TamilNadu for a month. Arhasia will miss you two a lot…..

Oh yes, the answer to the subject of the image was indeed the girl in General's supposed visions. And Shikha dear, your answer was really brilliant. I loved how you brought the picture to parallel with our lordy though, in the story, the girl has nothing to do with Lord Arnav. But I so loved your comparison! Especially since the question I asked was "does it remind YOU of anyone?" And you see, even revathy and bablio felt the same way as you did Shikha, so I say, brilliant!

Chapter One Hundred Twenty Four: The Cheerful Visitor

Kushi was watering the flowers in her aunt's garden when the sound of carriage wheels and horse hoofs approaching caught her attention and she looked up from the bushes she was tending to. Her face lit up on seeing the familiar face seated at the carriage front.

He waved heartily at her and she waved back.

The carriage stopped before the tiny gate of the garden that stood open.

The horses snorted tiredly, as Master Aman got down from the carriage, a ready smile on his handsome face, and he walked up to the girl he had come for.

Kushi placed the pail in her hand on the ground and walked forward to greet him, wiping her hands on her gown. He removed his hat and nodded to the house, "Marvelous house, I say. I had come here once but I hadn't seen it clearly as it was already dark."

Kushi looked at the house and then smiled at him, "My aunt's a good housekeeper."

He was amazed, "She has time to look after the house after all that swordmaking she does?"

Kushi nodded, "She is very able…….like Babuji: good-spirited and hardworking. Would you like to meet her?"

"Is she home now?" he asked.

"Yes," Kushi beamed, excited "This way." And she led him across the garden, around the house and into the backyard.

With her back turned to them as she faced the anvil, Mistress Madhumati was fastening the hilt of a sword and her apron and hands were blackened with soot. She heard them approach, their boots crunching on the grass, and looked over her shoulder.

"Hai Re Nandakishore!" she exclaimed, seeing the smart young man walk towards where she worked, "A respectable visitor and what a state I am in! All covered in soot! Pardon me, sire, for this appearance of mine."

"It's alright," smiled Master Aman, "I was just eager to meet a lady swordsmith, the first in Arhasia I believe, and I have heard a lot about you from your niece!"

Buaji looked at Kushi, "And who is this young gentleman, bitiya?"

"Oh," Kushi smiled sheepishly and looked from her aunt to Master Aman, "My manners! I forgot to introduce you to my aunt." Then she smiled, "Buaji, this is Master Aman, the right-hand of the First Lord himself."

"Ah, the First Lord's loyal man," Buaji's eyes lit with gratitude, "We are honored to have you here in our humble abode, sire."

"Please don't sire me, ma'am," he beckoned, "I prefer you call me by my first name."

"Well, Master Aman," said Buaji, "If you were willing to enter my house, we could treat you to some of Kushibitiya's mother's wine. She made it in honour of our beloved Lady Anjali's happy news."

"Ah, yes the happy news," Master Aman nodded, "All of Arhasia is in cheery spirits over it. But you must forgive me, I was on my way to the Castle and came to meet Miss Kushi here and I must be on my way. I will be glad to accept you invitation of tasting her mother's promising wine when I come visit another day, if you would have me here again."

"Of course," Buaji beamed, "Why would I not want such a wonderful gentleman as you come to my house for a little chat! I must say though, you are quite different from your Master. How strange!"

Master Aman chuckled, "Oh I may be different from him but the First Lord is a man I admire. I am only honoured by the privilege to serve him, ma'am."

"How gallant you are, Master Aman!" Buaji exclaimed, "I am beginning to really like you!"

Master Aman smiled, "Would your liking me get me a permission to see some of your wonderful swords?"

Buaji was radiant with delight, as she handed the sword in her hand to him, "Must you ask me to see one of my swords? You can look at as many as you want, young man."

Kushi watched as Master Aman held the sword in his hand, testing its sturdiness as he swung it casually in the air.

"Ah, I see you are a swords' lover yourself," Buaji remarked, seeing how he brandished the sword, "The way you hold it and thrust it in the air: marks of a good sword fighter."

"I do fence occasionally," answered Master Aman with a smile, returning the sword to her, "I have even showed your niece some of my tricks."

"Have you now?" Buaji replied, taking the sword from his hands, while her suspicious eyes were on Kushi, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Kushi tried to reason, "I had told Jiji."

"You tell everything to your Jiji," said Buaji, "It's as though your sister is the one who knows all about you than your own parents!"

Master Aman interjected, "Miss Kushi is quite possessive of her sister, I have noticed. She speaks of her with pride and protection. Especially when she talks about her with-"

Here Kushi coughed aloud and Master Aman looked at Kushi and saw the warning look in her eyes. Buaji hadn't noticed Kushi's expression but she frowned curiously, "With-?"

"With Lady Anjali," completed Master Aman, smiling at Buaji and then at Kushi who was nodding at Buaji, seconding her friend's answer.

Buaji frowned suspiciously and then shrugged and looked up to smile at Master Aman, "You have siblings, young man?"

"Yes," said Master Aman cheerfully, "Two elder brothers. They left Arhasia looking for better prospects. It's from them that I learnt the skill of the sword."

Buaji's expression softened, "You must miss your brothers……do you stay with your parents?"

"Yes, we live a long distance from the Raizada Empire," said Master Aman, "It's a two-hour ride for me to get to the Industry."

"I see," said Buaji, "You seem to be very earnest and dedicated, Master Aman."

"It was indeed an honour for me to meet you too, Miss Madhumati," said Master Aman.

"I would have liked you to meet my brother and his wife but they have gone with Payal bitiya to the Market," said Buaji, "They have some gifts to see to before sending them with Kushibitiya tomorrow when she will visit Lady Anjali on all our behalf. But Master Aman, you must stop by some other day when we are all here. Maybe come for a lunch. Kushibitiya's mother is a wonderful cook!"

"I would be delighted," said Master Aman, bowing, "But I must leave now. An urgent errand waits at the Industry."

"Farewell, young man," said Buaji, smiling to him and then watched as Master Aman walked away, led by Kushi who was going to see him off.

"A very courteous man, I say," Buaji nodded to herself, "He has been brought up well, its certain. I like him more than that General. And how amiable he is to my Kushibitya!"

Kushi stood at the gate of the garden and smiled at Master Aman who had turned to look at her, "You are well, aren't you, Miss Kushi?"

"Quite elated, Master Aman," said Kushi, smiling, "There is no place like home."

"True," said Master Aman, and then he was serious, "I came here to tell you something important."

"What is it?" Kushi was concerned.

"Nothing to worry," said Master Aman, "In fact it's very good news. You will be asked to come to the Industry some day this week. There is someone who is dying to meet you."

Kushi was surprised, "Why does he want to see me?"

It was Master Aman's turn to be surprised, "He? It's a she."

"Oh," Kushi blushed, "I see. Is it Lady Anjali?"

Master Aman shook his head, smiling, "It is not a person you know. She is visiting Arhasia for the first time and will stay only for a day. It's actually surprising that she insisted on meeting you out of all other people before she leaves."

"Who is it?" Kushi was curious and thinking hard, "Who would want to meet me whom I've never met before?"

"You'll see," winked Master Aman with a smile, and then he placed his hat on his head. He was about to turn about to head for the carriage when he paused and looked at her, "When I said there was someone who wanted to meet you at the Industry…….who did you first think it was?"

Kushi's gaze was on the waiting horses, over his shoulder, "No one in particular." She looked at him and smiled.

He studied her face for a moment, before taking her hand in his, and kissing the back of her hand.

Kushi blushed and when he let go of her hand, he said with a warm look in his eyes, "You are a wonderful person, Miss Kushi. A blessing to your family and a delight to all those who meet you in this life."

Kushi smiled at the ground, not knowing what to say.

She pressed her hands to her sides as she watched him walk to the carriage. As soon as he was seated on the carriage, he picked up the reins, smiled at her and rode off.

Kushi stood for a while, leaning against the fence of her aunt's garden. Thinking of what Master Aman had said, wondering who it could be who wanted to meet her at the Industry, and wishing it was a certain person whose face and touch she kept alive in her memories and in her dreams……….

INDEX

You may wonder why I wrote this chapter. Well, there are a lot of reasons why this chapter is important. Not for what happened, but what is going to happen. The "someone" who wants to meet Kushi at the Industry is actually someone you would not dream to see in this tale. And that person will appear only once in this tale. But mark this: when that person comes, something of great importance will be introduced into the tale, something that holds the answer to a question that all of you have been asking me in every thread. *evil grin*