Chapter 74

[MEMBERSONLY]

Can't send pigeons (PMs) for this update now. Will post it here now and then come back later and fly my pigeons to you all...And will check all my unopened PMs when I return.

It's extremely hard for me to manage my time for this FF and for our Forum but I will always try my best to come to the Inn and narrate our dear tale. Can't thank anyone presently but I have read every comment and there are some comments that need my special attention and love but since I can't give it now, I will abstain even from naming them.

Thanks to all those who have liked and commented for my previous update. And thankyou especially to those dear ones of mine who loved my General for who he is this FF and not for what he was in the show. And thank you to my dearest ones who understood why I had given an ArShi dance pre-ballnight.

And about the decipherings attempted on Blake's painting…….will talk of it in our Cottage when I get time next.

A big shout out to AllSmiles who is back from her vacation aftermath to join us in the Inn again. AllSmiles, I will try to reply to you when I get time next.

All the new readers, welcome to Arhasia. I don't know how many of you are there: Doha, Yamuna_priya, Sheebaaier, atipreet…….Sorry if I've left anyone out.

Man! I really REALLY wish I could stay and thank you all in the right way and reply to your comments as you deserve but this semester is not easy for me and I am struggling to even make updates on time. Which is why I can never give a date now as to when I will post next. Sorry. Really sorry. Will do my best to not disappoint you all and mess with your patience…………But thanks so much for being so much patient with me. Really, you guys deserve much for your level of tolerance! Especially KayZee and saomom...

Well, without further blabber from me, lets grab our warm drinks and get to the story! Mark it, this is just the beginning of the Long Night………

Chapter One Hundred Thirty Eight: The Ceremony
When the sun was nearly setting the very next day, the best carriage that Master Happy owned stood waiting outside his gate, while the owner himself was walking up the path to Mistress Madhumati's cottage door, dressed in his best suit and his hat held in his hand.

He could hear sounds of many boots rushing about and merry laughter from within and he smiled at the thought of the excited uproar within the house, before lifting a hand to knock on the door to announce his arrival.

A few seconds passed before the door was opened and the face of Payal, looking very beautiful, peered out to appraise him, "Ah, Master Happy!" and then the head disappeared for a moment to announce to those in the house, "Master Happy is here!!"And then she looked out again and requested him to come in.

"No, I'd rather wait outside," he answered politely, "It is a fine weather to be standing out in."

Payal nodded and left but did not shut the door, in case Master Happy changed his mind about how fine the weather was. A minute or two passed, with more sounds of boots shuffling about, objects passed here and there and orders or requests made by one woman or the other and then just when Master Happy had grown tired of waiting outside and was about to knock again to be asked to let in, the door was pulled wide open from within and out streamed the entire family of the Guptas: Payal first, followed by her mother and her aunt and then came her father and lastly, the youngest of the family.

Well, Master Happy would have named them a lovely looking family, all dressed in their best with hats on their heads and gown-corresponding masks in their hands, but it was undeniable that the youngest looked the best among the lot in her rich red gown.

Her hair was tied in a bun like her sister, and she had thin curled strands on either side of her face, framing her fair beauteous visage, a treasure worth beholding.

She was the last to leave and she locked the house and handed the key to her aunt.

Kushi donned on her red hat and then she lifted the sides of her gown and rushed to catch up with her sister who was already nearing the carriage.

Master Happy reached his carriage, opened the door wide and held out a hand to Buaji, who was the first to reach the door for Payal had stopped to straighten Kushi's hat which had been speedily put.

Buaji smiled at Master Happy as she placed her huge hand in his equally hefty one, and he helped her into the carriage and then aided Mistress Garima.

Shashi Gupta came up and nodded to the carriage, "You better get to the reins Master Happy for we have lost much time with these women dressing."

"Aye," Master Happy winked, "Women do take much time and I have none at my place thankfully."

"Well," Master Shashi smiled, "I am thankful for the women in my life but I am not thankful for the overgenerous time they take to dress up." Master Happy chuckled and then made for the front of the carriage from where he was to man the reins.

Master Shashi turned and helped his daughters into the carriage and after calling out, "We're all in, Master Happy!" he got in as well and shut the door.

"Oh!" Kushi exclaimed in the darkness, feeling someone beside her as she sat, "Is that you, Ram?"

Small fingers circled on her wrist and she smiled, "It's good to have you sitting beside me, little lad."

We shall not linger much in the lively conversation that was held in the carriage or on the advices that the elder women in the carriage gave their daughters, but it is only needed to be known that Master Happy, happily indeed, rode his best carriage down the street of the village, along the Road, heading for the Castle that was all readied for the Ball that night as the setting sun spread its golden goodbyes sprawling across the sky above the riding carriage.

A few distances away, in the Castle, all gowned and cheery, Lady Anjali walked down the stairs after having inspected on her brother's attire which he had, as usual, chosen as a darker shade of dark blue which made it look almost black. He was going to wear a mask of that colour too.

Lady Anjali herself was wearing a dark violet gown that glittered at the folds and hems when she moved and her mask too was of the exquisite violet.

With a happy smile, her gown lifted by the sides to not be tripped upon, she made for her room downstairs. On entering, she stood for a moment at the door and frowned at the sight before her.

Her husband stood before the huge mirror, in his dark green suit, adjusting his rich green mask.

He had placed the mask on his face and was patting his hair where it had gotten ruffled while putting on the mask.

He looked at himself in the mirror again and caught the reflection of his wife's presence at the door.

He smiled and looked at her over his shoulder, "Why the frown, my Lady Queen? It was you who insisted on me wearing green, remember?"

"That is not why I frown," said Lady Anjali walking in and coming to stand beside him. She frowned at his face, each looking through their masks at the other, "There were other green masks that looked better than the one you are wearing."

"What's wrong with the one I am wearing?" asked her husband, innocently, looking at his reflection again as though to spot the reason for her wife's frown.

"It's too big!" complained Lady Anjali, frowning at his reflection now, "I can barely see your face underneath it!"

"Will you not know it is me, then?" he asked, and she was certain one of his eyebrows was cocked in amusement though she could not see it behind that huge mask that covered almost all of his handsome face.

"I know my husband by his mere touch," she said, taking his hand, "But I would still suggest that other green mask that I had liked."

"I like this one," said the man to the mirror, "It's different and no one will wear one like this tonight." He looked at his wife, "Do you not need your husband to stand out?"

She smiled, "You will always stand out among every man that will be in any ball."

"For you, I always will," he said in a low voice and kissed her on her soft cheek right below the mask on her face, "Now, my Lady Queen, must the hostess keep her visitors waiting?"

He held out his hand and she circled her arm around one of his and then they made for the ballroom.

Guests had begun pouring in already and Nani, Lady Manorama and Lady Lavanya, all richly gowned and masked, were conversing with some of the elite who had come there. Of course, not many villagers were invited to the Castle under the First Lord's orders and he permitted only the very esteemed of the villagers to come which amounted to three or five families, including the mayor's.

Nani was sitting in a golden armchair at the other of the ballroom, closer to the platform from where she could see all those entering. Fortune sat perched on the top of her armchair, sitting so very still that one would not suppose him to be real if he hadn't blinked occasionally. He didn't take well to there being too many guests in the house and he had apparently decided this little masquerade night to play himself a mannequin.

Lord Akash arrived shortly, donned in a rich dark maroon suit and mask, and all the assembled bowed to him and he smiled at them before greeting each of them. As to how they understood it was Lord Akash: well, there was our butler announcing the names of those who were going to enter the ballroom, because, being in masques, needed that requisite for the right greetings to be conveyed.

No one needed the butler's assurance when Lady Anjali walked in, her arm around the arm of her husband. The slight bump at the bottom of her abdomen was not the only one that gave her away. Her divine smile that could not be masked, the deepest joy sparkling within those sad-looking eyes through the mask as well as the merry ring of her laughter that she had come in with, on hearing something her husband had said to her, halted the tinkle of the wine glasses being served around and made all the assembled to stop their conversation to look up and admire the elegant lady.

She greeted them with a smile and a nod as she passed through the room with her husband and came to the other end of the ballroom where the Lady Mother of the Castle was seated. Nani was feeling quite powerful and young, sitting in command and conversing with all her subjects.

The General, looking almost undecipherable in his huge mask, helped her to sit in the other golden armchair next to her grandmother and then he bowed to Nani and parted to converse with the guests and act host on behalf of his wife.

Then came the entry of Lord Raizada himself, and with him was his cousin's father.

"The First Lord and Lord Manohar Raizada," announced the butler at the door into the open ballroom. Then the butler moved aside and, into the room, walked Lord Manohar Raizada, earning many bows to which he nodded as he headed to his wife, but the central indulgence was when the majestic First Lord walked in.

With that proud lift of his head, his shoulders strong and poised, he marched into the ballroom and all bowed to him, and there was another hush in the room, not because they were mesmerized like they had been for Lady Anjali's entry but because they were fearful.

However, the dark-dressed First Lord, with his dark mask, paid no heed to the sudden silence and nodded stiffly as he passed by those bowing to him, and then he made for his where his sister and Nani were seated, kissed the back of their hands respectively and after being assured that they were comfortable, he moved towards the other end of the room stood beside his brother-in-law who was conversing with the mayor.

JayPrakash passed that way with his tray of tall wine glasses, and he paused beside his Master who took a filled glass, his eyes on the mayor who was now addressing him.

He was sipping his wine and conversing with the Mayor along with the General and Lord Manohar Raizada when the butler announced, "Master Gupta and his family, Mistress Madhumati, Master Happy and young lad, Ram."

Lord Arnav did not see the General wince beside him for his attention was drawn to the door, as the said persons walked in.

Lord Akash was standing beside Lady Lavanya and the moment the announcement was made and he saw the family walk in after handing their hats to the servants at the door, he stepped towards them.

They bowed to him and he cordially shook hands with Master Gupta and Master Happy, kissed the hands of Mistress Madhumati and Mistress Garima, then nodded warmly to the younger three.

"You look exquisite in your mask, Miss Gupta?" said Lord Akash to Payal, after she had bowed to him.

"I am equally charmed by your attire, sire," said Payal and then Lord Akash addressed the young boy, "And how finely you are dressed, lad. You look quite lordlike yourself!"

The boy smiled shyly and looked up at Kushi whose hand he held. Kushi smiled at the little boy and then looked at Lord Akash, "Has the ceremony begun?"

Lord Akash shook his head, "A little while more and it shall begin, I presume. There is not much a ceremony to it. A little words and then she will be blessed by the oldest member of the family and given gifts from the assembled."

"Has her husband come then for the ceremony?" asked Payal, "We had been here last day and he hadn't come yet."

Lord Akash smiled, "He came last night. He always makes it right in time for the rituals and occasions that require his presence."

"That is good," said Kushi, "He must care so much for her that he willingly leaves his war ground where he is needed and comes to his wife's need."

"Ah, yes," Lord Akash nodded, "Brother-in-law adores her greatly and her love for him is insurmountable." When he said this, he looked at Payal and only Ram saw this.

Kushi was searching the faces in the crowd for someone and when Ram pulled at her hand, she looked down at him, "What is it, Ram?"

Ram pointed to the place where Nani and Lady Anjali were seated. Kushi smiled, knowing that he was specifically pointing to Fortune, perched on the armchair top.

Kushi nodded as she let go of his hand and he rushed to where the parrot was. Nani and Lady Anjali were overjoyed to get his company, though they were already crowded by so many women.

Lady Anjali exclaimed on see Ram rush towards them, "Come here, my little lad!"

Ram stopped before her and bowed to her, but she pulled him into a warm embrace and all the women wondered who the young boy was.

One woman, thinking the boy to be the son of someone important, said, "Ah, my Lady, may you have a smart young lad just like him."

Lady Anjali smiled at the woman, her hands still around Ram, and then Ram was released from the embrace and Nani watched as he played with Fortune who was equally elated in getting someone of his sort to play with, for since no one bought kids to ball dances, Ram was the only kid in the ballroom yet again.

Just then Kushi appeared at Lady Anjali's side and she leaned down to embrace Lady Anjali. And then Mistress Madhumati and Mistress Garima were there too and they greeted Lady Anjali with a bow and offered her some gifts.

Nani took an instant liking to the bold and humorous Mistress Madhumati, already amused over all the things Kushi had told her about her aunt, and Mistress Garima and Kushi struck a conversation with Lady Anjali.

In the meantime, Master Shashi was sipping his wine and talking with someone, when he noticed the familiar man passing by, "Mister Sena, is that you?"

The man passing by, looked up, and smiled through his mask, "Ah, Master Gupta, curious! I never expected to find you here."

The man stepped forward and shook hands with Master Gupta, and Master Gupta said, "My youngest daughter is a good friend of Lady Anjali and it is on her behalf that we are here."

"I see," said Mister Sena, and then Master Gupta introduced Master Sena to the person he had been talking to, "This is Mister Sena, a prosperous merchant in our land. He was kind enough to buy my mill when I needed a prospective procurer."

"Yes, but we haven't started work in the mill yet," said Mister Sena, "I am thinking of converting it into a wool factory since the winter is coming and we are always in need of warmth in Arhasia when the cold settles in."

Master Gupta only nodded but the light in his eyes had slightly dimmed on hearing his mill, that he had made with his bare hands, was about to be converted into something he was not pleased about.

Just then the voluminous Master Happy stopped by with his glass of wine, and cheerfully addressed Mister Sena, "Ah! Mister Sena! It has been over a week since we met. How is the family?"

"Quite well," said Master Sena, "My dear Wife is here at the ball. She must be with the ladies here. How goes your carriage-making?"

"Less carriages and more carts is what I producing now," said Master Happy, "The Market has decent demand for carts to convey goods, you see."

"Wise choice," said Mister Sena, "And how is the boy?"

"Fine fellow!" said Master Happy and he nodded to the corner at the end where Ram was playing with Fortune flying about him, "He is a smart lad, I tell you. He learns quick and he works fervently."

"I have the best boys with me, I told you," said Mister Sena cheerily, and then Master Happy noticed the confused look on Master Gupta's face and he Master Happy sought to explain, "Mister Sena here runs a Boy's Home for the Homeless and when they are of suitable age, he sends his boys to different places to be apprentices for a contracted duration."

"Yes," said Master Sena, "Do you need any, Master Shashi?"

"No," said Master Shashi smiling, "I have my daughters."

"Yes, you do," said Master Sena, "And I have heard these girls of yours are equal to having boys."

"One in particular," said Master Gupta, and then their conversation lulled suddenly when Lord Arnav came to stand beside them, his glass lifted to them, "I'd heard you had plans of setting up a wool factory in the North Village, Mister Sena."

The three of them bowed to him and Mister Sena answered, smiling humbly at the First Lord, "Yes, I have earnest plans to begin a wool factory, my lord. Not a large scale one though."

"Well," the First Lord sipped his wine and said, "I suggest you keep factories detached from habitation. I shall not like that you are making one close to where people stay."

"The mill I bought is situated quite away from habitation, sire," said Mister Sena, bowing, "Master Gupta here built it at a wise location."

Lord Arnav's gaze slid to the said Master Gupta's face whom he had assumed he was seeing for the first time but after Master Gupta's bowed and straightened up, Lord Arnav had a fleeting memory of seeing those unmasked eyes somewhere.

"Have I met you before, Mister Gupta?" he asked, confusedly, trying to remember.

"You may not remember, sire," said Master humbly, "You had passed me by when you had come to the Festival of the North Village."

It took a long few seconds for Lord Arnav to remember, but strangely he did remember because he usually never remembered faces that he merely passed by. He happened to remember it especially because he was in a foul mood that night and after passing by this certain man, he had come across the village girl again who had instigated him into administering the third play's plot in hopes of demeaning her pride.

"Yes, I remember faintly," said Lord Arnav and then he remarked, "You had been a resident of the North Village, hadn't you?"

"Yes, sire," said Master Shashi, "Circumstances forced us to part from the place."

Lord Arnav nodded vaguely, "Circumstances, as in? You had a mill that was functioning well, I've heard."

"A certain occurrence at the Festival marred the faith of my employees and with no hands to aid me in the work, I had to sell off my mill," offered Master Gupta unwillingly, and then he smiled, "It is well now, sire. I help my sister in her swordsmith work."

Lord Arnav nodded again and Mister Sena was about to ask him something when the butler announced, "The Lady Mother wishes to announce that the ceremony shall begin presently."

All voices hushed and all feet moved aside to clear the space before the fireplace of the ballroom.

Lady Anjali sat in the golden armchair before it and Nani was now standing beside her.

Kushi stood in the crowd that had moved backwards, and looked around to see where her sister was. Her searching eyes froze when they locked with a pair of eyes she had longed to find and yet didn't comfortable about finding him right behind her.

He looked dashingly imperial in his dark attire and he was staggered by the red bewitching beauty she had become.

Red. He was reminded of the day when he had seen her in the red silk robe, reclining on the ottoman, her open hair flaying in the wind and her form bathed in the sunlight from the window……

Except here she was more mesmerizing under the candlelights of the chandeliers, with the mask on her and her hair tired up in a bun, revealing her white soft neck with her red luscious gown pressing her curves to perfection.

She looked away, unable to watch him study her. She wished she had brought her red scarf alongwith her so that she could cover herself from such arousing gazes of his.

And then her focus was altered when she saw a third person walk into the empty area in the front, heading towards the women near the fireplace. The husband of Lady Anjali, she realized.

She smiled, how happy Lady Anjali looks now, watching her beloved husband walk towards her……. Kushi silently prayed that Lady Anjali would remain happy always. And she certainly will be, she told herself, now with a baby coming to make her joy complete.

And then after watching the scene before her for a few seconds, Kushi frowned curiously, What weird tastes the man has…….a mask that nearly covers all of him. He will need to wear a name tag if anyone's to recognize who he is!

The man walked up to the front and held out a hand to Lady Anjali.

With the audience watching and Nani too, he lifted up his wife in his arms, taking care to not press too hard on her abdomen.

"Am I heavier than I had been on our wedding night?" asked Lady Anjali in his ear, only for him to hear.

He smiled at her, and whispered, "You have always been just the right weight for my arms to bear."

Lady Anjali smiled, circling her arms around his neck.

Nani blessed them, murmuring a few words, and then she asked him to carry her to the front of the fireplace. The General carried her to the fireplace, and the fire glowed upon her face as she gazed up at her husband.

"Why stand before the fire, voyager of life?" asked Nani, as per the ritual.

"I stand with my wife in my arms to tell her she is the light of my Home and the child in her womb the light of my Heart," he recited, as per the ritual, his gaze on his wife's face.

"Why have you let him carry you before the fire, wife of the voyager?" asked Nani.

"To tell him that he is the oil of my flame and the child in my womb is my gift for his love," said Lady Anjali, as per ritual too, and she smiled at him when she had said this.

"Then may the Child live up to be the Light of your Future," blessed Nani (as per ritual) and General Shyam bend down and Lady Anjali closed her eyes as he kissed her on her lips. Then he carried her to the armchair where he seated her and stepped away so she could be offered gifts and blessings by all those gathered in the ball.

Everyone was happy for Lady Anjali but watching all this with a look of sorrow was a man who only wished that the joy on the lady's face may last throughout her life. Then his gaze slid to the General's face who stood there, obliviously laughing in the company of well-wishers, and the beholder's gaze was one of downright disgust.

*places mug down hastily and gets up* Okay, time for me to leave the Inn for now but I will be keeping an eye for all that you write, my dears. Little or long, all your comments are dear to me because all of you are dear to me!!

Oh and one more thing, next chapter is very important and if possible let's make the next chapter in the New Thread. Don't spam, though. Just do what you always did for me. Speak your heart and love this tale.

And now, though Aura is the Queen of Images and Colours *cursty to Aura*, I am just aiding the chapter with some of my collection:

Though Shamin has put up amazing pics already, from my part, what the ballroom almost looks like (if it had been daylight, that is):

This is merely for the idea and not the real thing coz I don't want my ladies to have strapless gowns. Leastways, the array of gowns donned by our ladies:

Now, what the General's mask would alsmot look like. Almsot, coz I couldn't find the one that my mind had seen. Hoping Aura will find one.

And roughly, the masks of our leads:

Oh and incase you are wondering what Master Happy looks like:

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