Chapter 81

[MEMBERSONLY]

Rabba Ve, my dears……

(I was greatly dissatisfied with the last chapter and to put my mind at ease, I have edited the ending of the last chapter just in case you need to know…..)

When I said a storm was coming in Arhasia, I was not speaking of the weather alone. I was speaking about the "Storm of Distrust" in my readers which is always a possibility considering your repulse towards my favorite character and towards certain instances in the show. But…..

Some things in the show, though you disliked them, happened for a purpose. A purpose which will only revealed in the need of a later moment. So….

Chapter One Hundred Forty Six: Unmasked

The cold garden grass crunched when the hard boots of the General pressed on them as he walked to and fro in the garden. He was frustrated and he was trying to calm himself, his hands in pockets, occasionally running his fingers through his hair, as he marched about in the silent darkness near the lake which was almost at the rear of the Castle.

A lot of thoughts kept running through his mind but what dominated them was the awakening within him. He felt it stirring inside of him and he could not let it break loose with all those people inside.

So he had slipped out with the excuse of getting some fresh air and decided he would not be able to show himself into the ball again that night if he couldn't silence its need to emerge tonight.

He was still walking thus beside the pool, when he heard someone behind him.

He stopped and turned and the moonlight cast its light on the man before him.

They spoke nothing for a while and though they were both masked, each knew who the other was.

"I must say, you are quite daring, General," began the man.

"A soldier is always in need to be brave and daring," replied the General, and he nodded to the man, "Shouldn't you be inside with your family?"

"I am always there for them," said Master Gupta, and he looked around, "It's a cold night."

The General causally looked up at the sky, "Yes. And by the look of the starless sky, it's certain a storm is coming this way."

The other man shrugged and then, after a pause, looked at the General with a stern look in his gaze, "Stay away from my daughter."

The General looked at the man, surprised, "Pardon me, did you say something?"

"Stay away from my daughter," repeated Master Gupta, threateningly.

The General smirked and though Shashi could not see his masked mouth, he saw it in his eyes that he was smirking.

"I am her father, I will defend her to my death," promised Master Gupta.

The General snorted amusedly, "Father, indeed!" and then he looked at ground and grumbled in a low voice, "I despise fathers."

Master Gupta was amazed, "It's a pity you are going to be one!"

The General glared at him, "Despicable things they are, fathers!"

Master Gupta saw the downright hatred in those eyes and he was worried, "I can see nothing good coming out for you for the sake of dear Lady Anjali and the child she carries."

"Who are you?" mocked the General, "Their new defender?" The General stepped forward, and hissed into his face, "I am her husband and I know what she wants. Better than you, mind."

"You are in quite a foul mood tonight," observed Master Gupta cautiously.

The General turned away, realizing he was making things worse instead of calming himself.

"Leave me alone," grunted the General, still walking away.

Shashi Gupta stood rooted to the spot, and said calmly, "Not until you assure me that you will not harm my daughter or your wife, in any way, for any reason of yours, how ever justifiable they may be."

The General stopped to look over his shoulder, his face in the shadow, "You do not know what you are asking for."

A flash of lightning streaked across the sky and the echo of thunder rumbled overhead.

"I ask what I have the right to be assured of," Master Gupta didn't take his eyes off the General.

"Well, since you breached the subject yourself and expect me to be truthful about it," the General looked pointedly at Shashi and added decisively, "I need your daughter."

Thunder roared though the rain had not yet started to pour.

Master Gupta was shocked and furious, his gaze glaring, "You shall NOT have her. Never as long as I live."

"No one can stop me from having her," said the General, turning and walking towards Master Gupta and coming to stand before him, "Not even the man who claims himself to be her father."

Master Gupta stared at him, "How do you-?"

"Do you forget, Master Gupta?" said the General in a determinedly cold voice, "I have conversed a lot with your daughter through letters and she has shared almost everything that happened in her life. I know you are not her real father and so you cannot save her the way you dream to, for she is not of your blood."

"She is my child," said Master Gupta resolutely, though his gaze looked hurt by the truth being thrown on his face, "Kushi has always been my child and will remain so, forever. Nothing can change this truth."

"A falsified truth," said the General, "Throwing words like 'heart' and 'truth' will not distort the fact that she is not of your blood."

"Stop this madness!" said Master Gupta angrily, "What are intending by this conversation?"

"It is I who must ask you that!" said the General cleverly, "You were the one who came to me and began the conversation. I had no intentions to talking in the first place, or would I have come away to be solitary in the garden?"

Master Gupta clenched his fists, "I do not trust you, General Jha."

"I never asked you to, Master Gupta," said the General coolly.

"You will not get away with this evil," said Master Gupta, "I have been keeping silent for the sake of Lady Anjali's wellbeing. But now I realize I will bring only harm to her if I keep your evilness in the veil of my helplessness."

Master Gupta turned about and the General realized his concealment was endangered. He stripped down his mask and allowed the fire rising in his insides to break surface.

"Master Gupta!" he growled, and Shashi, who had walked a few steps away, stopped and bravely turned to face the General, as a bright flash of lighting passed through the sky again and the dark night thundered ominously.

Oh yeah, you don't know what happened, eh? It will be revealed. Just give it a little time. Atleast be content by the fact you were getting "daily" updates for this week!

INDEX