Chapter 72

[MEMBERSONLY]

Chapter One Hundred Thirty Six: The Curious Painting

The next afternoon, a day after Kushi had confronted the First Lord, a knock sounded on the door of Madhumati's home and Payal opened it to find Ram standing there, dressed in the finest clothes he could possibly find. He had come for Kushi and Payal.

He signed to her asking where the younger Gupta sister was and Payal nodded her head to the living room, "Come in first, Ram. Don't stand there and insist on leaving as soon as you had our door opened to you."

Ram timidly walked. Even though he had come into this house many times before, he was always unsure about being in a house that did not belong to him. Of course, it probably owed to him never having a home for himself all his life. The only he home he knew of was the Boys' Home run by Master Sena from where he had been chosen as apprentice to Master Happy.

"Kushi?" Payal called out, walking into the living room, where Kushi was found rummaging through the trunk in the corner. Payal and Ram came to stand beside her, "What are you doing, Kushi?"

"I can't find my other scarf," said Kushi, her voice muffled as she dug through the trunk, "My others are put to wash and this one is the only one left and I have to find it."

Payal sighed and helped in the search for the scarf. While they were searching, Ram saw a scarf lying on the floor along with some articles pulled out from the trunk.

He bent down, picked it up and stretched it out to Kush, his expression hopeful. Her frantic hands paused in their ransacking and Kushi's eyes lit on seeing the scarf, "Oh, thank you Ram. I must not have seen in fall in all this frenzy."

She smiled at Ram as she took it from him and then she stood up along with her sister and they proceeded to the backyard where they bid farewell to their parents and Buaji and then made for Ram's cart that was waiting outside.

At the Castle, Lady Manorama stood by the doorway of Lord Akash's chamber, watching her son endeavor to choose his best suit among many from his wardrobe. Lord Arnav had left for the Industry for the day's monitoring.

"How about this, mother?" asked Lord Akash, lifting up a suit for his mother to see.

"No, it takes the grandeur off your face," said Lady Manorma, and then as he turned to search the wardrobe for another suit, she said, "Clothes the best you will pick but I must remind you that this masquerade, more than being a celebration of the new member to come to our family, is actually a venue for you to pick the right girl to marry."

"What?" Lord Akash shot an amused look at his mother, eyebrow cocked, "Are you serious? The masquerade was decided on the intention to be a parade for me to choose the woman of my life?"

"Exactly, boy," said the mother with a clever smile, "And I will help you find her if I must."

"Oh no, mother," he shook his head, chuckling, "You needn't bother to find a girl for me. I'm old enough to find the suitable one myself."

"You are old in age but not in wisdom," pointed out his mother, "A boy always need his parents' guidance to help him know if a girl he sees is the right one for him or not."

Lord Akash rolled his eyes, "Foremost, mother, I am not a 'boy' anymore. And secondly, when it comes to wisdom, I think I'd rather listen to what father has to say first."

Lady Manorma gaped at her son, "Are you telling me I have no wisdom to lead my son on? How in the world do you suppose I brought you up this far?"

Lord Akash walked to his mother and placed his hands on her shoulders while she stood looking at him, pouting, "Mother, you are the best in the world, I admit……. but when it comes to matters like these you are often….….prejudiced."

"What!" His mother shoved off his hands and glared at him, "Are you telling that my wish to maintain the standard and name of my family is 'prejudice'? Where did you learn to speak to your mother so? Must be that man, your father!"

"My father and my mother have given me valuable lessons that I will never forget," said Lord Akash, walking back to the wardrobe, "But when it comes to decisions of great importance like this, I would like to have a primary say in it before I let views and opinions weigh my liking. And you may note this, mother: I will not decide anything without first being granted the permission to do so by either of you."

The mother sighed, "Whatever you say, it won't change my decision that, in this masquerade, you need to find the girl with whom you will live your future with."

"As you wish, mother," said Lord Akash, picking another suit, "I will marry the girl I dance with on the night of the ball."

"Keep your options wide," said Lady Manorama favorably, "Dance with as many girls of high taste and splendor as there can be found, and we'll choose the one that best ranks in beauty and fame. How fare that idea, son?"

"An idea of top class just like you, mother," said Lord Akash, winking, and his mother was about to add something more when the sound of cart-wheels arriving was heard through the open window of his room.

His mother walked to the window and peered down and turning to her son, she frowned, "Well, one thing you must assure me is you won't dance with those girls."

"Which girls?" asked Lord Akash curiously, making for the window.

One look down and his face brightened up and his mother saw this, "Not with them, son. I won't permit this."

He looked at his mother, "Mother, it is permitted for the Lords of the Castle to dance with any girl whom they wish to dance with for a ball."

"Yes, but you must be wise in your choice when it comes to which girls are right," said his mother and she looked disgustedly at the window, adding, "And I am certain Rags and her sister have no play in the parade I plan for you."

"It is only in wealth that they limit themselves," said Lord Akash, moving back to his wardrobe again, "In beauty and goodness, they are perfectly nurtured and I assure you, mother, Miss Payal is righteously a perfect epitome of feminine beauty."

"Beauty?!" his mother was appalled, "I was certain she had bewitched you while you tended to her bruise that day! Beauty, indeed!" the mother muttered, "I say, a Bruised Beauty!"

He looked at his mother and shook his head, "Call her what you will but that doesn't change who she is at heart."

"What you think of her in your heart, I suppose," said the mother, visibly hurt and then, with a huff, she stormed out of his room, her pride wounded, mumbling, "Bruised Beauty and Rags messing with my son's royal senses!"

Downstairs, on hearing the arrival at the central doors, the butler opened them, his formal expression turning to one of gladness. But his eyes were essentially drawn to the little boy standing between the girls, dressed and primed, bowing to the butler with absolute respect.

"Oh, young man," the butler pulled the boy to him gently by his shoulders and the boy looked up, "You mustn't bow to me. I am not the one you must bow to!" And then to Kushi's surprise, the butler laughed and she stared at him, open-mouthed, astonished to see the youth in the old man's features.

"Well, well," said the butler, "I haven't laughed at myself in so many ages!" he beamed down at the boy and proudly patted his back, "And you my boy, have let me find my laugh again." The butler looked up at the girls and said, "It is true what they say, isn't it, Miss Guptas? Children heal!"

Payal and Kushi nodded, absent-mindedly (still in wonderment over the butler's laugh), and then the butler held the boy's hand and, with the girls following, he led them towards the ballroom where Nani, Lady Anjali and Lady Lavanya were gathered.

The moment the butler announced their visit, Lady Anjali stood up from her armchair and made towards them. But her gaze, too, was drawn to the timid boy, whose hand the butler held and who was looking around at the grand ballroom, as though he had walked into a fairyland, finding it hard to believe it was for real.

"Greetings Miss Payal and Miss Kushi," began Lady Anjali, on reaching them, but she bent down and took the boy's hand and he looked up at her, staring into those sad warm eyes, "And you must be little Ram. Miss Kushi's told me all about you!"

The boy blushed and looked at Kushi, but she smiled at him and nodded, as though encouraging him to feel comfortable with Lady Anjali.

Ram looked at Lady Anjali, who still held his hand, and bowed to her.

"Oh, look at him," cried Lady Anjali gleefully, "How gentlemanly! Come with me, little Ram, I want you to meet my Nani…………"

And she took him by his hand and led him to Nani, forgetting all about Kushi and Payal who stood smiling at the spectacle with the butler.

Ram was red in the face all through his stay being cuddled and held and patted by the family and servants of the house for there never were any children to visit the Castle and he was the first one. But he had taken an instant liking to Fortune who sat perched on Nani's armchair and Fortune too was enamored by the attention the mute child was granting the bird.

As Nani and Lady Anjali busied with pampering the little boy, Lady Lavanya, Kushi and Payal helped in the last few decorations of the ballroom.

"I have tried, Kushi," said Lady Lavanya as they twined the white flowers together, "But I could not find your necklace."

"It is alright, my lady," said Kushi, smiling, "One cannot attach oneself to the material world all through life. There are greater things of value that need our focus."

When Kushi and Lady Lavanya went about, finding more fresh flowers, Payal had some time to converse with Nani and Lady Anjali and Nani began to get fond of the elder Gupta daughter as well, "You are as sweet as your younger sister, Miss Payal. But more mature and gentler in bearing are you."

Payal smiled and looked at Ram, "Well, though we are different, we are sisters of one heart."

Lady Anjali could not quite keep her hands away from cuddling Ram, "Is our little Ram a naughty boy?" she asked Payal, as she held the boy close to her, where she sat on the armchair and he sat on her lap.

"Well, he is not as naughty as my sister, that I shall assure you," said Payal, laughing merrily.

"Is our Kushibitiya that naughty?" asked Nani, surprised.

"Oh yes, VERY!" said Payal, "But we love her best because she is so. Did she ever tell you? Our Buaji calls her Goddess of Mischief!"

"Is it?" Lady Anjali was amused, and she looked at Nani, "How strange! She is called that and my own little brother is called Master Menace by his brother-in-law."

Payal was taken aback, "The First Lord? Master Menace? Would anyone dare him call him that?"

Lady Anjali smiled, "My brother does not have any issue with my husband calling him that, and as to the reason why he is named so, I believe all of the land knows how haughty and hot-headed he is!"

"He is a Lord," reasoned Payal politely, "He has to be hard and demanding, I suppose."

Just then there was a knock on the door, and they all looked up to see Lord Akash standing there, smiling at everyone but gazing at Payal specifically, "Fine day to come visiting, Miss Payal. Hope the family is well."

"Quite well, sire," said Payal, standing up, "Did you not have to go to the Industry?"

"I was not needed today," said Lord Akash and he strolled in, "And who is the young boy?"

"He is Ram, our neighbor's apprentice and our dear friend," said Payal, looking at Ram and then at Lord Akash. For a moment, they could say nothing and Nani nudged at Lady Anjali who exclaimed, "The Gallery!"

"What?" Lord Akash looked at Lady Anjali and Payal too turned to appraise Lady Anjali, confusedly.

Lady Anjali smiled suddenly and then said sweetly, "Do you remember Miss Payal that the first time you visited this Castle, you had enjoyed the paintings in the Gallery?"

"Oh yes, I do," said Payal, "There were just so many pictures of immense beauty and depth and they were all quite classic in range."

"They are indeed," said Lady Anjali and then she nodded at Lord Akash, "Why don't you take Miss Payal to see the Gallery again? Show her some of the latest paintings we put up……..she would love it, I am certain."

Payal did not know what to say with this unexpected suggestion from Lady Anjali and when Lord Akash called her to follow him, she could only bow to Nani and Lady Anjali and head for the Gallery upstairs with Lord Aksh in the lead, his hands in his pocket and a happy smile on his face.

They spent a long time in the Gallery, looking through pictures with him telling her who painted them, what each signified and what they were priced by and where they were bought from.

"And this," said Lord Akash, coming to stand before a painting of a river, "We brought this up from where it was on the guestroom wall below. Do you not find it life-like?"

"Quite very," said Payal, amazed by the finesse with which the river was painted, "It's almost as though if you touched it, you could find your fingers wet."

"Is it?" Lord Akash smiled, "Why don't you touch and try it yourself?"

Payal was hesitant but after a moment's pause, she reached out and let her fingers brush the corner of the painting.

"Why do you fear?" Lord Akash asked warmly, and he reached his hand out and held hers. She gasped, but he did not let go. Holding her hand over the picture, he gentle slid it along the painting of the river, making her feel the texture of the parchment, but she was not conscious of the feel of the canvas. Only the heat of his hand.

He seemed to see how her gaze was not on the painting but on his hand that held hers. He withdrew her hand from the painting and placed it against his heart. Payal turned to face him and looked up at him, unsure, "What is it, my lord?"

"Do you know what my heart says every time it beats?" Lord Akash asked warmly, his gaze eager and warm.

Payal shook her head, her eyes fixed on her hand that he held to his heart.

He leaned forward, closer to her face and her heart flipped, "Your name," he whispered against her ear, his warm breath caressing the hair she had tucked behind her ear, and she closed her eyes.

"My Lord," she tried to whisper, "I wish you would not speak so."

"Why?" Lord Akash asked, his eyes on her face, watching how her cheeks were red and her lips trembled, "Are you afraid?"

"Not when you are with me," said Payal, and she opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Will you let me do something?" asked Lord Akash.

"What is it?" Payal was suddenly not brave anymore.

"Will you let me kiss you?"

"No!" Payal pulled her hand from his hold and stepped towards the wall, "I am sorry, my lord, but I am…...this is not…….."

"It is alright," said Lord Akash, hastily, his hands reaching for her hand again, "I didn't mean to frighten you. I would never do anything that is against your will."

She let him cup her face and he lifted face to look up at him, "You are beautiful, Miss Payal. I can never have enough of looking at you…..…."

Payal closed her eyes, "My Lord, we must go."

"Tell me you love me," said Lord Akash, caressing her cheek with his thumb.

"We must go, my lord," she breathed, unable to stand steady.

Just then a knock sounded and both of them stepped away, and looked up to see the door opening slowly.

Kushi's head peeped in, and on seeing them, she smiled at them and exclaimed, "I am sorry if I am intruding but I came searching for my dear Jiji. They said they would send up a servant to find her but I insisted on finding her myself for I've never been to the Gallery before!"

"You must look around then, Miss Kushi," said Lord Akash partially annoyed, but pleasing in his words.

"I certainly will," said Kushi as she walked in, "But I cannot stay for long because we need to leave for home presently though no one has any intentions of giving our Ram back. "

Payal smiled and then she looked at Lord Akash, willingly trying to not remember what had occurred between them a few seconds before, "I am sorry I didn't ask you before, but isn't your mother at home?"

"She must be in one of her afternoon naps," said Lord Akash, though he knew partly a reason why his mother must have forced the nap on herself after the little talk she had had with her son.

Payal nodded, looked at Kushi and saw that her gaze was drawn to the partings around her.

"You will come down as soon as you've glimpsed through the paintings, won't you?" asked Payal, walking to the door.

Kushi only nodded, for she was too engrossed in the paintings and Lord Akash addressed her, "I will see Miss Payal down, Miss Kushi."

"Certainly," said Kushi absent mindedly, and Lord Akash held Payal's hand, who did not withdraw it but circled her fingers around his hand to show she did not mind, and together they left the room to head for the ballroom downstairs.

Kushi was alone in the Gallery, staring and touching and studying the paintings and sculptures there, when suddenly she paused before a particular painting and squinted down at the title on its frame.

She murmured as she read it, "Sata Amor Adao Eva……..by William Blake."

She gasped. "Goodness, Jiji! Did you know-" she turned around and remembered she was alone.

She turned to the painting, "Well, it is curious indeed! But I must tell Jiji that William Blake was not only a poet but a painter too……..though he wasn't the sort to add color this painting."

She frowned as she studied the painting. A scene from the Biblical paradise with Adam and Eve being watched by………

"Satan?" Kushi wondered, "Why is the serpent separate from the man in the sky? I thought Satan was the serpent……….."

And then she realized she had been in the Gallery for quite long and decided to leave and not keep her sister and Ram waiting. They had come to the Castle because Lady Anjali wanted to invite them in person and they had stayed there longer than was needed.

So she left the Gallery, happily closing the door behind her, and the painting silently stared at the closed door, through which one day, the very same girl would run out in fear of what the painting would convey to her.

INDEX

Can't send pigeons to announce of this narration so I do not know how many of you will find this chapter but I will send the pigeons along with the announcement for the next narration. Will reply to all PMs and last comments and questions when I return on Monday. Forgive me for not keeping my promise of the update on the date given. When life takes unexpected decisions for you, you have no choice but to nod and sometimes it involves in temporarily shifting priorities.

(Shijina! I'm coming to Kozhikiode for the weekend, catching the evening train today! I will be so much closer to you!)

All who love Arhasia: Brace yourselves for the next chapter to be posted on Monday: my favorite character is coming!!!!!!! *clasps hands happily*