Chapter 87

Welcoming new readers harshitha and gmsk. Delighted to have you two aboard in Arhasia and happy to know you two had a wonderful time hearing the tale…….

A note to riti, with regard to the suggestion in her sweet comment. Riti dear, thank you so much for being so honest with me and telling me what I need to focus. Thankyou, dear riti. Indeed, the necklace is the significant part of the night, and I showed that it was the most significant by bringing the Lady of the Dark Hood into that chapter alone. I brought her nowhere else, not even where Shyam and Shashi were alone. But the necklace is so important that I cannot bring it just casually into any ArShi chapter. I need it to meet its righteous notice and that can happen only in a stage where the sacredness of ArShi's love is best uplifted. It will come……..when it must. You see, in the show, the significance of the payal faded with the transition from the Diwali scene to the Payaash marriage preparations. The payal only came in flashbacks in the future episodes of the show. But this necklace, this special necklace of Kushi's is very significant. It is in fact one of the key of connections. I need the right chapter and the right moment to bring it forward. Hope you understand. Thankyou Riti for telling me you are watching out. It means a lot.

To all my dear readers, sorry for the delay. Sorry for breaking my promise a second time. It just makes the decision more stronger:

I will be taking a "longish" break from this 16^th. Don't know how long it will be, but a minimum of two months at least. We'll wait and see how the break turns out. In the meantime, enjoy your last remaining updates. My last update before the break will be made on 15^th or 16^th (can't give you a definite date) which is when I will be giving the "official announcement" of my most-needed break.

Chapter One Hundred Fifty Four: Dealing with Disputes of Pride

When they arrived at the Castle, the gentle morning rays of the sun were flitting through the windows and the guest room appeared glorious with the golden touches on the floor and furniture.

Rahim Chacha the butler, who had opened the door to them, after ensuring that Master Gupta was fine as a fiddle, had happily directed them to the visitors' room asking them to wait for the family, yet to come downstairs for the morning.

A few minutes of waiting ended with Lord Manohar Raizada walking in, dressed in a bravura suit, and he smiled at Master Gupta and Kushi, both having stood up to greet him with a respectful bow.

"How do you feel now, Master Gupta?" enquired the kind Lord Manohar, a hand on Master Gupta's shoulder, "You gave us quite a scare with the state we found you in."

Master Gupta laughed lightly, "Honestly to speak, sire, I didn't mean to frighten anyone but I assure you, I am well as how I have always been, my lord."

"That is relieving news, indeed," said Lord Manohar, seating himself on the armchair before them as they sat on the lounger again, "There was no need to bring anything along with you, but leastways, thank you for the gifts which the butler informed me you'd brought for us."

"They are gifts of gratitude, my lord," said Kushi, "My mother made them especially for the kindness your family had shown last night when we were……….helpless."

"We are Lords of this land, Kushibitiya," said Lord Manohar warmly, "It is our duty to aid where aid is requisite. Besides, your family has a special place in our hearts."

Just then the door opened and Lady Manorama walked in, garbed fashionably but looking quite sour in the face when she noticed who had come, "Hello Hi! So, you are well?"

"Quite, my lady," said Master Gupta smiling, standing up and bowing to her with Kushi.

Lady Manorama ignored them and sat on the armchair next to her husband, "It is not like we would have guests coming every day to disturb our morning sleep, is it?"

"Manorama," frowned her husband, intending to not allow her to further her tone of chatter.

"Well, we had a long night and the ball left us really tired," said Lady Manorama, looking pointedly at the window, "I would have preferred to spend some more time in bed."

"Then you should have," said Lord Manohar, annoyed in the mind but composed in his tone.

Lady Manorama shot him a look, "Are you suggesting I deny the duties vested upon me as the lady of the Castle to play hostess to any guests we have?" She looked at the ones sitting before him, "And not to mention, I have to play hostess even to people who are mere commoners."

Kushi slipped her hand into her father's, wanting to protect her father from the words echoing in the room. She looked up at her Babuji's face and saw how he sat there, calmly listening, polite and humble as always before those above him in authority.

"Manorama," Lord Manohar stared at her, "What has gotten into you this morning?" He turned his gaze to the door, nodded at the butler standing there and then looked at their guests, addressing them with an apologetic smile, "If you don't mind, Master Gupta, the butler will escort you to the dining hall for a few refreshments-"

Master Gupta responded immediately, "Pardon us, sire, but we don't need any-"

"Please, do not decline this offer," said Lord Manohar, and then he paused before continuing, "Besides, I would like to have a private moment with my wife."

A pause fell and then Master Gupta stood up, "Certainly, my lord. As you wish," and he moved towards the door, ensuring that Kushi was following him as well.

They were nearly at the door when Lady Manorama whispered angrily to her husband, "Have you forgotten, my dear sightless husband? Your son made a most appalling turn last night with what he expected to become of our bond with this family."

"If you are still fuming over the proposal Akash made-" Lord Manohar began but just then, Rahim Chacha announced that the First Lord and Second Lord were down.

Having reached the open door in their progress to leave the room, Master Gupta and Kushi paused to bow as Lord Akash walked in, followed by Lord Arnav, both dressed in suits for their duty call to the Industry.

"How do you feel now, Master Gupta?" asked Lord Akash coming to shake hands with the elderly man.

"Thankful to you, sires, quite well I assure you," said Master Gupta smiling gratefully at both the lords.

Lord Arnav nodded and his gaze slid to Kushi who was suddenly interested in the designs on the flooring. She couldn't quite muster the strength to look at his face after the awkward embrace she'd shared with him.

"Did the herbalist see you again after last night?" asked Lord Arnav to Master Gupta.

"Yes, he came in the morning as well, after which it was that I decided to present myself here," said Shashi, "He said it was probably a mild stroke from the ball night excitement."

"Pray, be careful next time about excitement, then," smiled the Second Lord, "And thank you for the gifts, though it was not required at all."

"We only feel happy and honoured to have gifted you some of my wife's special treats in return for your humble consideration last night," said Master Gupta.

"Then thank your wife from us," said Lord Akash, stepping into the room along with his brother.

"Are you going somewhere?" Lord Arnav asked, seeing that Master Gupta and Kushi were making for the door instead of joining with them in the guest room.

"Yes, they have been asked to partake in the refreshments we have prepared for them," said Lord Manohar, "In the meantime, we have things to talk, bitwa."

Master Gupta smiled at them, bowed politely and then was escorted with his daughter to the dining room.

As the butler shut the door from the outside and silence resumed in the visitors' room, Lord Akash slid into an armchair near the window, "A kind man, Master Gupta is. I'm relieved he is fine, though he didn't have to worry with bringing us gifts of any sort."

"There is no need for being too thankful to them," said his mother suddenly, "You are showing a little beyond gratitude to this family, I have come to notice."

"And you know the reason, mother," said Lord Akash, turning to his mother with a smile, "I love their daughter and I did make a proposal last night, if you recall?"

"How could I forget," said the mother, in proud mockery, "My son has blinded himself by the Bruised Beauty's enamor, and now he wishes to wed himself to her like he was a commoner too."

"Mother!" Lord Akash exclaimed at the same time his father had pronounced, "Manorama!"

Lord Manohar stood up, "What do you know of Master Gupta that you judge him so? He has not even accorded us an answer to the proposal made by our son." And then he was gentler in his tone, "Besides, I assure you, my dear, they certainly have no intentions to do anything against your will."

"I do not like this union," said Lady Manorama flatly, scowling at her son.

It was Lord Manohar who replied, "But I believe it is too late; their daughter and our son have become too attached to each other and it will be wrong for us to not bless their union of love."

His wife looked almost horrified. "Hello Hi, Bye Bye!! What do kids know about love?" she was clearly annoyed, "They are immature and are only learning about life and reality."

"I love her, mother," said Lord Akash firmly, standing up and moving to the window, too agitated to sit still, "And you said it yourself that I am not a kid anymore. Don't forget: I am the lord of a land and that would entail some wisdom on my part to decide the major matters of my life."

He stopped near the tiny table beside the window upon which were a few crystal glasses and a wine jar, and found himself absentmindedly pouring some wine into a glass.

Lady Manorama looked at her son, "You need the wisdom of your parents to help you when it comes to deciding your marriage, boy!" And then she frowned at her husband, "Well, wisdom of one of your parents, for it seems your father's senses have become ludicrous over this love-sickness of yours!"

She scowled at her son, almost roaring suddenly, "And don't you dare drink that wine on an empty stomach, Akash!"

Lord Akash moved away from the table obediently.

Lord Manohar sighed and looked at his wife, "What worries you, Manu? What is wrong in their union?"

"What is wrong?" Lady Manorama stood up, "Do you not see? You call yourself a lord and yet you cannot see? A lord has a certain place in his land, in the eyes of his people. If a Lord stoops so low as to wed himself to a woman of a village, a mere commoner, the respect that the people once had for you will vanish. I cannot have my son be seen as a commonplace man, like every other man, who was struck by the beauty of a village girl, when as a Lord he could have kept his esteem and dignity by marrying one fit for his eliteness."

"Mami," Lord Arnav's calm voice caught their attention and all turned to him, but he was looking at his aunt alone, "The people of Arhasia have always been loyal and looked upon us with great reverence and fear. As a lord of this land, Akash has every power to do what he chooses to be right and if the people find a reason to the deed being righteous, then their respect will not lower but only increase. Besides, I know my people. They respect me and they always will."

"Their respect is tenacious," said Lord Manohar, nodding with regard to his nephew's proposition, "The people will only respect us if we show that we are willing to accept everyone as equal though we are people living in a castle and under the name of esteem. That is where lordship is respected, Manorama," he looked at her, "Where we show our virtue, there we win their respect."

Lady Manorama said nothing and only sat down.

Just then a knock sounded on the door and the butler let in Master Gupta and Kushi, having had a cup of tea each and nothing more, even under kind compulsion from the butler.

After they were settled in the lounger, Lord Manohar inhaled deeply before stating, "The marriage ritual requires that the father of the girl must consent to the wish of the man wanting to wed her. What have you to say to my son's proposal, Master Gupta?"

Master Gupta looked at Lady Manorama and then at Lord Manohar, "This is a great honour for any family, to be bonded with such a wonderful family as yours, my lord. But with all due respect, I ask, isn't there truth in what Lady Manorama has stated before us all?" Lady Manorama looked up at him, surprised, as he continued, "Pardon me, but I had heard a few snatches of your

conversation when the butler was about to announce us in." He looked at Lord Manohar as he continued, "Don't you think, my lord, that this is not right a union in terms of where our families belong in the social echelons? I am but a mere mill-owner who no longer owns the mill. And your son," Master Gupta looked at Lord Akash kindly, "He is a Lord of the Land. He deserves better prospects, certainly."

Lord Akash stepped towards Master Gupta, and took his hands, "Master Gupta," he began, "I am grateful for your humility but please remember this, your daughter and I have given our hearts to each other. If you wish to separate us, you may. But the ache will remain for all eternity even if we are forced to wed another. We love each other too dearly to be parted now. Please…...if you sincerely love your daughter, do not separate us."

Master Gupta only looked at him, helplessness visible in his eyes for the first time. Kushi was worried.

She looked at the man standing detached from the group, watching and understanding everything but not involving. He was looking at his brother, reading emotions that seemed to surprise him.

Master Gupta smiled kindly and then nodded, earning Lord Akash's relieved smile.

Master Gupta stated hastily, "But I will give my answer only if the parents of the son are willing to make him propose to her."

"I wholeheartedly support him in the choice of his heart, Master Gupta," said Lord Manohar, and he looked at his wife, "Manu?

"Well," Lady Manorama frowned at the window, Shashi's initial words ringing in the back of her mind, "It's not as though my answer would matter, is it?" She looked at her husband, "I cannot and will not like this bond in any way but I will not stand in dispute anymore. Nothing I say will change anything, and I know my husband very well." She looked at him, "Do as you find suiting but my heart is not in it."

Saying so, she stood up and left the room.

"Ah! We have come to a pleasing conclusion," said Lord Manohar smiling, "My wife is a little prejudiced at the outset about matters like this but she is one of a kind heart. I assure you, Master Gupta, she will in time come to love your daughter the way she rightfully deserves."

"I sincerely hope so," said Master Gupta, worriedly.

"I am there for her, Master Gupta," said Lord Akash, "I love her and I will not let heart come to any hurt, not even the slightest."

Master Gupta smiled, "My Payalbitiya has told me what a devotedly keen man you are……. I am certain you will look after her for me."

"Not as well as her father cared for," said Lord Akash, "But as her husband, I will give her all the love she deserves and more."

"Then I give my consent, my lord," said Master Gupta, "I have no objections to giving you my daughter."

"I am honored," said Lord Akash, beaming with unspeakable joy just like Kushi, and he looked at his father, "Father, shouldn't we discuss the rituals of the engagement?"

Lord Manohar nodded and looked at Shashi, "If you will be willing to wait, Master Gupta, the Lady Mother of the Castle will be down any minute and we can decide on when the ceremony of the engyesis is to take place."

"Very well," said Master Gupta bowing.

Lord Manohar looked at Kushi, "Why don't you go and call her, Kushibitya? She takes a deep liking to you and would be delighted to see you first thing in the morning."

Kushi smiled, "it is my pleasure, my lord." She bowed to him and, sensing Lord Arnav's watchful gaze on her but ignoring him boldly (the boldness evidently generated from the joy of her sister's marriage being fixed), she left the room.

She had climbed the stairs and was walking along the corridor, towards Nani's room, when JayPrakash strolled towards her and smiled, "Is he well? Your father?"

"Yes," said Kushi, "Thank you for everything, JayPrakash."

"I was afraid if I was too late," said JayPrkash, "But I am relieved to know he is fine."

Kushi nodded, "He had a stroke it seems but all is fine now."

JayPrakash was silent and then he realized that she was heading towards Nani's door, "Are you going to Nani's room?"

"Yes, said Kushi, "Is she awake?"

"She is," said JayPrakash, "She will come down any minute. She might be changing from her nightgown presently."

"Then I better not disturb her while she dresses to come downstairs," said Kushi and watched as JayPrakash walked away. She turned and left for the stairs but stopped when she saw Lord Arnav walk towards her.

Her heart flipped when he said, "Come to the Library." And he strode into the said place, keeping the door open.

She debated whether to follow his order or not but, remembering the muddle of thoughts in her head, she trailed after him into the Library.

"Close the door," he said, and she paused for a moment before obeying.

Lord Arnav took a thickly wrapped cloth from his table drawer and placed it on the table, "That is for you."

Kushi looked at him confusedly: was he giving her something?

He saw it in her eyes and said expressionlessly, "It's from Lavanya."

Kushi looked at the cloth for a sad moment and then stepped forward. She unwrapped the cloth and found two parchments folded within it.

While Lord Arnav stood at the other end of the room, browsing through some books, Kushi remained there by the table and read the letter. One was for Master Aman and she slipped it into her pocket while the other, being addressed to her, was opened and read:

To my dear friend Kushi,

I know you would have expected me to part from Arhasia after meeting you one last time but I could not quite keep myself in this place any longer. I suppose I am not as strong as you believe I am.

I am sorry for your father and I am hoping and believing that he will regain his health soon. I expect you to write to me informing me about your father's state of health, for only then will the worrying end in my mind. I know how precious fathers are to us, Kushi, even if they are not always around to shower us with their love and care.

And now, regarding the man for whom I had come and for whom I depart………

I had presumed that he would fall for me, but it never happened and I understood that it was because of how cold he was inside. I thought he could never feel for someone other than his sister.

But I was wrong. Many instances have I had to realize that he did cherish feelings that a man in love feels. But it was never for me.

You are right, Kushi. Remember the night we slept together in my bed? It was your last night as my handmaid. You told me he was in pain and that is why he is cold. I understand now the truth of what you meant. But I also know now that if there is anyone who can reach out to him in his coldness it should be someone without that pain in her heart. I could never see the warmth in him until you revealed me.

Hence, I leave, entrusting him to your care. You will not have any reasons to come to the Castle anymore I presume, but if ever you do get to visit the Castle or the Industry, do be caring to him like how I would have for him. I know you will care for him more than I would have since you own a more kinder heart than mine, but I must ask you to do this because now I know what he wants in his life. I cannot tell you what it is just yet. You will know when it is time.

However, I must tell you: He will hurt you. He will hurt you real badly. But when you are aching from his words and deeds, remember one thing: he doesn't really mean it. He just doesn't know how to show love. Maybe you can teach him, can't you, Kushi? Maybe you can show him how to melt the ice in his heart…..

Do you remember that scare we had when he put you in the dungeon? I had a terrible night, tossing and turning in bed. I tried to open that door a million times but it wouldn't budge and I kept seeing that door in my nightmares, borne by the guilt of being unable to help you out. But I was shocked in the morning when I learnt that ASR himself has gotten you out in the night! This is what I meant when I said he never means it when he hurts you…..but I suppose you already knew that. The irony: I am preaching to my preacher! My sweet Kushi, thank you for showing me all these valuable hints of life.

Aman proposed to me. He is a man of a great heart. But I do not know if I am just yet ready to accept him. It will take time for me to push ASR away from my mind. But I know I must and when I do, I will be willing to accept Aman's proposal. I know I will be happy with him but I want him to be happy too. I can't live with Aman, getting all his love, when my mind is occupied with thoughts of another man's lack of love for me. If I am to say 'yes' to Aman, I want it to be complete, without the shadow of my first love lingering in that doubtful 'yes' of mine.

ASR…….I do not know what he will feel once I leave him, if my absence will mean anything to him since my presence did not. But I know one thing for sure. There is someone's absence he is greatly tormented by. I have seen it but never understood it was for the reasons I realize now.

And how strange. It seems ironical, doesn't it, that the two people I valued the most I cannot meet one last time before I leave Arhasia forever: you and ASR. You two have been a lot dear to me, more than my own father could have been. More than a friend, you have become a sister to me, Kushi. And even with all the aches he gave me, ASR is still and always will be my first love. Or, like how Aman put it more logically to ease my mind, my first infatuation.

Painfully parting but with much love for you in my heart,

Your friend, Lavanya Keshab.

She paused and let the words sink into her heart. Then she kissed the letter and after neatly folding it, slid it gently into her pocket.

She looked up and saw that Lord Arnav was staring out the window.

"Why?" she asked him.

He looked over his shoulder at her, "Why what?"

"Why did she have to leave? Why could you not accept her into your life?"

He frowned, "It is a known answer. I don't believe in marriages or in love."

She was not convinced, "Is that all? Just because you don't believe?"

He grunted at the window, "There is no other reason. Isn't it obvious?"

Kushi bit her lower lip and braved the next question, "Why, if you had found it and knew I had lost it, did you keep my necklace with you?"

He clenched his fists and shut his eyes, his face to the window and his back to her, "I didn't know it was yours."

Kushi frowned, "And you knew it was mine on that precise night?"

"I heard Di speak of it," he said, and then looked at her, frowning, "Do you stay here to ask me questions? I let you in so that I could give you what was asked of me to give you by Lavanya. You may leave now."

There was a pause. A pause in which his gaze slid from her face to her neck and Kushi was reminded of the marks that were now faded. Her hand travelled to her neck, her fingers grazing against her necklace, and he looked away, frowning distractedly at the rosebush outside the window.

She decided she could not keep herself apart anymore by the obvious. She found the courage to walk towards him and he felt his anger rising with each step she took in his direction.

She came to stand beside him, before the window.

The morning sun shone on her face as she looked at him and his gaze fell to her face.

His anger disappeared when he saw how beautiful she looked.

He saw in her eyes that she had cried all night. He remembered her words when she had come running into his arms in the rain last night. He had been tormented in his sleep by those words echoing in his mind over and over again.

"I am sorry," she said and he was taken aback by her surrendering apology, "I am sorry I ran to you the way I did last night. I shouldn't have. I had no right to."

He frowned and looked away. What was she trying to do? Weaken me again?

"And I want to thank you," she continued, her eyes on the window, and he looked at her, wishing she would stop speaking further, "For returning back my necklace, for saving my father and for supporting the union of my sister and your brother."

She looked at him, and saw the warmth in his eyes and was so overcome by its presence in his usually cold eyes that she turned about to leave, but his hand was reaching for her wrist and he had stopped her from moving any further.

He pulled her to him, and she looked up at him.

"I want you to be sure of my intentions here," he said without any expression, "I returned back your necklace the moment I realized who its owner was. I aided your father because as the Lord of my land it is my duty to help those in need and, besides, the occurrence was at my Castle so the resolution of the situation was my responsibility as well. And I supported the union you spoke of because I will always support my brother in his wishes and wants as long as they are sane and not overly absurd."

She didn't know what to reply to this and whether to take it as a whole or think it through for its infringements, but she frowned at his chest and asked, "Well, since you are giving reasons for everything that you did last night, care to tell me what you meant by what had occurred in your room?"

Suddenly images crossed their minds, of him kissing her neck in the darkness, her moans, him pinning her to the wall and his lips finding its way closer to hers, her fingers sliding through his hair………

She took a deep breath and looked at him stonily, but her resolve failed when his pinning gaze caught her staggeringly, "You really want an answer to that?"

She doubted if she did because the way he was holding her threatened fear to rise in her.

But she answered, "Yes, I would like to know what you meant by it."

"To show you what I am capable of," he replied nonchalantly, a smirk lighting up in his eyes as he let her go and watched her expression.

"What you are capable of.……?" she was confused, "I don't understand." And she wasn't sure if she wanted to.

"You don't?" he cocked an eyebrow, and she decided it was high time she left the room, "Annoy me again, Kushi, and you will get your answer."

"Annoy you?" Kushi was struggling to comprehend, "Are you telling me that you did that because I won the dance challenge and you were angry?"

He nodded. "You can see it as a punishment," he mused coolly, "Or a fitting reward for a coward."

"Coward?" that did Kushi, and she brought her hands on her hips, "You should be the coward because you are unable to digest the truth that I won and you lost."

"I did not lose," he said calmly, leaning against his window with his arms crossed before his chest, and the morning sun shone all over his form as he eyed her, "It was my perfection at the skill of dancing that made you dance well. Had you danced with any other man you would not have danced as perfectly as you could under my leading."

"What pride!" she frowned, "Defeated and yet boasting about his defeat!"

"Correction," he pointed out, "I am the actual victor and not the one defeated."

"That's not what Lady Anjali said," said Kushi, smiling cleverly, "She was to be the judge and the judge's verdict is final. You can do no twisting of her words after it's over, just to satisfy your ego."

His arms still crossed before his chest, he leaned back and regarded her, "You are still out for a fight, aren't you? Never want to give up even though you know I can easily defeat you!"

"Wrong, Lord Raizada," said Kushi proudly, crossing her arms before her chest, "You think you can defeat me but in actuality: you cannot. Your words of victory have no strong base to prove yourself right."

"Why don't we have another challenge then?" he remarked, "You seem to glory at the idea that you are capable of anything."

"I am," she said deftly, with a firm nod, "I can do anything that you can do."

"Even ride a horse on its bare back?" his eyes glinted as he studied her expression.

She faltered for a moment before she nodded determinedly, "It might be a hard beginning but I am certain I can try, and once I do, I will be a victor."

"Well, you might one day," he said calmly, "But for now I will make the challenge more easier. No horses and no dark rooms to scare you."

She looked at him suspiciously, "What do I have to do?"

He straightened up to his full height and walked towards her, her heartbeat rising as he neared but she didn't budge or take a step backwards though her instincts screamed in her insides to run for her life.

He was standing before her now, his face leaning towards hers. She closed her eyes and prayed.

His breath was warm on her ear.

His warm voice, so close to her ear, soothed itself into her head, "Do to me what I did to you last night."

Her eyes shot open and she stepped away, astonished and blushing, "What? Do……...do what?"

He sneered and slipped his hands into his pockets, "Do you want me to repeat it again?"

"No," she said hastily, and looked away, unable to look straight into his dark eyes, "I cannot do it."

"So you admit yourself defeated," he said, "You are not capable of doing everything I can."

"No, I can," she said, looking at him and then immediately looking away, "Just not…...this that you have asked presently."

"I can make it easier," he tilted his head, watching her.

She frowned at him, "Are you teasing me?"

"Do you feel that way now?" he asked in mock sympathy, "Do you feel you are being teased?"

"You are a hateful monster!" she stated distastefully, "You do not know how to talk like a gentleman does to a lady!"

"I would converse better with you if you had been a lady," he said, smirking, "You are merely a village beggar seeking to mess with my patience whenever you find time at your betterment."

Kushi felt disgusted, "Beggar I have become again, haven't I? Well, mark my words, Lord Raizada, I will make you eat your words one day."

"I look forward to that day, Miss Kushi Kumari Gupta," he said, "It is so easy to prove your words wrong because you always end up doing things that make you look like the one who got defeated."

Kushi was about to retort but just then someone knocked on the door and Lord Arnav responded coolly, "What is it?"

The door opened a little and Rahim Chacha peeped in, "Master, Lady Mother asks for your presence in the guest room. We are to decide about the engyesis of Lord Akash."

"I will be down, presently," said Lord Arnav and after Rahim Chacha left, the First Lord's gaze slid to Kushi's, "So what have you to say about that challenge?"

"What challenge?" Kushi was surprised there was still one open.

"About the one I told you to do," said Lord Arnav, his gaze mischievous, "Do what I did to you."

"You really are out of your mind this morning, sire," she said frowning in annoyance and with that, she left the room, trying to escape before he talked her into taking up the challenge.

In the meantime, downstairs, General Shyam stood before the tall windows in the living room, drowned in his own thoughts.

He had to make careful moves, very careful ones since he could not risk being found.

When he had seen Kushi head for Nani's room upstairs, he knew it was the opportune moment and turning on his heels without a moment's lag, made for the visitor's room.

When he had politely knocked on the door, Lord Manohar opened from within and, with a smile, the General was admitted in.

His eyes fell on the man rising from his chair. Master Gupta.

"Oh please, seat yourself," said the General, smiling warmly, "I heard all that had happened and had come to offer my wishes."

Master Gupta stared at the General vaguely, and there was silence in the room as everyone stared at them both, confusedly.

Lord Manohar was the first to break the silence. He laughed, "I suppose, Master Gupta, this is the first time you will be seeing our Shyam bitwa for real having not seen his face last night with the masks and all."

Lord Manohar walked up to them to assist the formal introduction, "Shyam bitwa, this is Miss Kushi's father, Master Shashi Gupta. Master Gupta, this is General Shyam Manohar Jha, husband of Lady Anjali."

Master Gupta's face lit, "Ah yes, Lady Anjali's husband. I have heard a lot about you but yes, this is the first time we meet." The General stretched out a hand and Master Gupta shook it warmly.

The General asked him to sit and as everyone settled in, the General asked to be excused for he had some things to attend and that his wife would join them shortly.

"It would be good if you stayed too, brother-in-law," said Lord Akash.

"Yes. It's an important occasion for us all," added Lord Manohar, "We are considering asking the hand of Miss Payal Gupta for Akash."

The General flinched inwardly but immediately grinned encouragingly, "That is nice. Unexpected but heartening. However, I cannot stay…..…pardon me."

He bowed to everyone and then smiled at Master Gupta, "It was pleasant meeting you, Master Gupta. Looking forward to meeting you again when I am not as occupied as I am now."

"Certainly, sire," said Master Gupta smiling.

The General was out of the room and heading for his bedroom where his wife was sitting before the huge mirror of the dressing table, washed and beautifully dressed for the day.

She looked up and noticed him at the door, "I hear we have visitors. Who is it, my love?"

The General stood by the door, his distracted gaze at the bed, "That girl you always speak of-"

"Kush!" his elated wife stood up, "How is her father? Did you see her? Did you ask her?"

He looked at her, "Her father's here too. He is quite well."

Lady Anjali heaved a happy sigh of relief, "I knew he would be fine." She looked at her husband, "Didn't we, my dear?"

"Yes," the General nodded and then smiled, "They are expecting you in the visitors' room, my Lady Queen."

"I will be right there," she said, moving to the dressing table again, "You will be coming too, won't you?"

"I will. In a while."

The General stood before the door, watching his wife comb her hair, but his mind was occupied with worrying thoughts. It had nothing to do with the father of the village girl, for nothing the General intended ever failed. However, if things didn't look bright presently, it was because the more he tried to move the Gupta family away from his family's notice so that he could let his plans find action, the more he realized the two families were entwining themselves in extraordinary instances. And presently, the marriage between Payal and Akash would only make matters worse for him.

He frowned at the floor: he would have to keep his plans to win Kushi at bay and concentrate first on not being noticed by Kushi or her aunt, the only two Guptas who had seen him other than the now-harmless Shashi.

P. S. I am taking the break strictly for valid reasons. "Studies" being the primary one. Once all is settled and set aside, I can come back. A return we cannot be sure of, for the future is always unknown but always safe in the hands of our Creator.

May He watch over you all and our Arhasia. He will bring me back if He wants me to complete this legend that I was made to begin by His encouragement.