Chapter 83

[MEMBERSONLY]

Rabba Ve, my dear readers and Comrades...

Before I rush to my grandmother's place, just wanted to give you all my love. Kisses and hugs to all those who commented and liked and loved the last chapter. Thank you for being so understanding of Lavanya and Kushi and for being so patient with regard to Shashi-ji...though most of you were worrying yourself to endlessness about him...

You think I am playing with your precious patience?

What else can I do to keep up the suspense, darlings? Besides, when one thing happens on one side of the Castle, I need to show you what was happening on the other side too, right? Especially with all that happening at the same time! Right?

This chapter is dedicated to my darling Shas who insisted on knowing about the outcome of something she took an instant interest in while reading the chapter about the Adventure of the Mistress and the Maid. So here it is, Shas.

Chapter One Hundred Forty Eight: The Unforeseen

While Kushi and Lady Lavanya headed for the ballroom, and all the servants were within the castle transporting themselves to and fro from the kitchen to the ballroom and back again, serving the family and the guests who had come for the masquerade, JayPrakash had self-proclaimed himself a little break and was found to be standing beside the gates of the Castle conversing with the girl who stood outside, on the other side of the gate.

If you will remember, she was the vegetable-seller girl from the market who had come for a late night requirement at the Castle for replenishing the pantry stock and was sent by her father who was waiting at the foot of the hill in his cart that had come in to deliver the demand.

It was JayPrakash who had been ordered to see to the dealing and after the transaction was over, he had come back to tell the girl all was done and she could go.

Well, it would be understandable to say that he didn't tell the second part of the message yet: the part where she could go.

"Do you like storms?" he asked casually, looking at the girl through the bars.

The girl frowned suspiciously at his intention for the question, "I thought you said the transaction was done. Why stand and do light talk then?"

"Do you not think we would make a good couple?" he got to the point, and the girl stared at him, "Are you drunk?"

"Not that I remember," JayPrakash said, contemplating at the sky as though trying to remember if he was drunk.

She rolled her eyes, "If I will be permitted, I would like to return to my father. He might be cross with the long waiting."

"Yes, he would," said JayPrakash, "Besides, he would also get worried that his beautiful daughter is missing for good many minutes now."

The girl frowned at him, "Are you trying to woo me?"

"Does it seem to be so?" asked JayPrakash smiling, "Because if it does seem to be so, then it must be it."

"Do you always talk in circles?" she asked.

"I could talk straight if you want to hear it so," stated JayPrakash.

The girl didn't reply so he continued, "So, here is the matter straight: We Prakashs are orphaned brothers who are eligible bachelors, with me being the most eligible in the lot. None of us think of settling down because we have the entire Castle to take care of and no one can manage the Castle work as efficiently as the Prakash brothers." He nodded self-importantly here, "You see, without us, the Castle would feel abandoned and the family residing within helpless. But lately," he was tapping his finger lightly at the bar as though to not show that he was nervous, "I have been having thoughts of having a home and family to my own." And then he looked at her, an eager sparkle in his eyes, "I would like to marry you."

The girl snorted and then laughed, "You are drunk, indeed!"

"How can I drink that which I am supposed to only serve?"

The girl narrowed her gaze, "Maybe you sneaked in when no one was watching and had your little fill."

"I am a servant of the First Lord, mind," he said proudly, his head lifted mightily, "No servant of the First Lord acts disloyal."

"You might be an exception," said the girl cleverly, "You seem to be the only one not doing his duty of serving the ones inside the Castle presently."

"When the heart calls, I must heed to it," he said sweetly.

She rolled her eyes, "And I suppose your heart's at this gate that you stand here and mess words with me."

"Aye, you are clever," he beamed at her, "My girl's understood that she's got my heart!"

The girl put her hands on her hips and frowned at him, "I am not your girl and I have nobody's heart with me except mine!"

"Well then, give me yours and I will give you mine, pumpkin," he stated with a wink but she kicked at the gate, "You won't get it."

"I will marry you."

"You won't."

"I will."

"My father will not like wedding his daughter to a man who is not loyal in his job."

"When he knows that it is a servant of the Great Castle who proposed to you, he will come flying at my feet and beg me to marry you."

"He won't."

"He will," and then he looked dreamily at the lightning flashing sky, "We shall have many kids, lovely and spirited like you..."

The girl gaped at him though her cheeks were suddenly blushing red, "You are drunk and you are an idiot!" She turned to go but then looked over her shoulder, "And you better go in now, there's a storm coming."

"I won't go in until I see you safe in that cart, honeypie," smiled JayPrakash.

She waited for a moment as though discerning something and then looked at him, "You were true in your words?"

"About what?"

"About the kids?"

"True as I stand here speaking to you over the loud cracking thunder," he placed a hand on his heart.

She walked up to him, "Well then, mind you listen carefully to what I have to say."

"All ears for you, my daffodil," said JayPrakash eagerly leaning towards the bars of the gate.

Her next words were said in a hasty whisper, "As long as you work enough to feed the many kids, I'm willing to beget as many as you want!"

And then she ran away downhill, blushing, and JayPrakash, all beaming and bright in face, called after her, "I'll prove my worth as father by my work and as husband by my undying love for you. You wait and see, buttercup."

If the girl replied he couldn't hear it for she was already a lot far from where he was and besides, the thunder was wild as it raved and roared in the sky.

"Foul weather, I say," said JayPrakash frowning up at the sky as he turned about.

The most eligible bachelor brother of the Prakashs had a wide smile on his face as he headed for the Castle.

He decided to enter through the backdoor at the kitchen and was walking the other way, which was to pass by the lake adjacent to the Castle, when he saw, from the distance, something curious lying beside the lake.

He paused wonderingly, and turned his course to inspect the suspicious entity beside the lake.

Just then the rain started pouring and he stopped again, wanting to go back into the house to avoid getting utterly drenched.

But that was he noticed that the 'thing' looked like a 'person'.

Before the rain became wild in its pouring, JayPrakash rushed towards the lake and on reaching it, crouched beside the unmoving body.

The man was lying on his face and JayPrakash turned him over while the rain began pouring heavily.

The man still had his mask on but his eyes were shut and his body felt cold.

Maybe it's the rain making his hands feel cold, JayPrakash tried to reason hopefully as his fingers reached for the man's mask.

He removed it and gasped, falling backwards in shock.

Raindrops sadly kissed the face which he had instantly recognized.

It was Miss Kushi's father. Master Gupta.

And he was not breathing.

At the end of the chapter, you might be:

Oh I can so feel your annoyance, ladies...

You feel I am prodding you on...?

I know, I know. *wide grin* I am sweet, ain't I?

But Trust me, fellas, I got this. Arhasia is in safe hands!

INDEX

Aquiline2013-02-22 23:15:28