Chapter 98
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[MEMBERSONLY]
Chapter One Hundred Seventy One: A Ritual Out of the Blue
After hastily dressing into his tuxedo again and combing back his wet hair neatly using his fingers, Lord Arnav whistled into the darkness, his fierce gaze watching for the slightest movement, and a few seconds later, the sound of racing hoofs was heard and Shadow appeared from amidst the dark trees, galloping towards him.
Powered by a new resolve and a bolder will, he mounted on Shadow and rode to the South Temple where the final preparations were being done for the marriage that was to commence in an hour.
A cold expressionlessness remained on his face as he dismounted from the horseback and walked up the long red carpet that lined before the Temple, either side of which were men and women with flowers and lights, trying to decorate all the trees in the proximity.
Ignoring everyone and even those who bowed to him or addressed him respectfully as he passed, he strode up the many steps until he reached the Temple pavilion where Master Gupta stood, giving final instructions, his back turned to the other.
"Master Gupta," Lord Arnav addressed him in a low firm voice.
Master Shashi paused and looked over his shoulder.
When he saw who it was, he bowed and smiled, "Ah, my lord, have you come to ask about the Temple preparations?"
Lord Arnav frowned, "I can see all the preparations are done. But that is not why I am here."
"Then what is it, good sire?" Master Gupta enquired anxiously, noting that the First Lord was unusually detached in his expression, "Is something wrong?"
"You are a man of rituals and faith, I know," he said, "So I will do this as you want it."
Lord Arnav took Master Gupta's hand, as the latter watched in surprise, and held it lifted between them, his hand clasping the other's, "I seek your consent that I may have the hand of your daughter, Miss Kushi Kumari Gupta, in marriage."
Master Gupta inhaled sharply and attempted to withdraw his hand but Lord Arnav held onto it firmly and frowned, "You will need to know: I will not take 'no' for an answer, Master Gupta."
"This is insane, my lord," Master Gupta pleaded, wanting to make sense of the insanity, "I could not have any objections to you asking for my daughter, for it is a humbling honour to be asked to wed one's daughter to a Lord of the land. But there is a certain protocol for such decisions to be made. The family has to be here and your family must accept-"
"I have no family except for my sister," Lord Arnav said bluntly, "Unlike Akash who has parents, I have no need to ask another's opinion as to what I intend to do with my life."
"But my lord-"
"Will you or WILL YOU NOT?"
"Only if I can be assured you will take care of her."
"She will come to no henious harm."
"Henious?" Master Gupta was confused, "I know she cannot come to henious harm. I was asking if you will take care of her."
"I will take care of her as she deserves and is worthy of," said Lord Arnav unblinkingly.
Master Gupta was not convinced, "Why the hurry, my sire? Can you not wait for a day more after the marriage of your brother and my first daughter's is over? We would be grateful to wed you off to my youngest."
"I will marry her tomorrow then, but this cannot wait another day. The engyesis must be done now for I need your assurance of her hand at the earliest."
Master Gupta was beginning to get worried, "Why does it seem as though there is something wrong? Pray, tell me, what instigates you, sire?"
Lord Arnav looked at Master Gupta's hand which he was still clasping, "Let's just say this is for the good of everyone."
"For the good?" Master Gupta looked around. Thankfully, no one was paying attention to them and was busy with the decorations. He looked back at the First Lord, "Is there something bad, then, that you insist on the good for everyone?"
"There is," said Lord Arnav, his expression detached, "I will say no more for now, for it may ruin the occasion we are about to celebrate."
"But you will tell us when the occasion is over?" asked Master Gupta hopefully.
"I might."
Master Gupta sighed, not liking the half-hearted answers he was being offered by the First Lord.
"Complete the engyesis," said Lord Arnav.
"What about the Lady Mother, your Nani? Is she willing? Being the eldest, she needs to-"
"She will be. I believe that my sister and my grandmother have always had a special liking to your youngest daughter ever since the day she first stepped into my Castle."
And here, he clenched his fist, forgetting he was still holding the other's hand, and it was when he saw Master Gupta wincd from the pain, that he realized what he'd done and laxed his hold.
"Are you certain this is right?" Master Gupta asked, assured that something was off, "You see, my good sire, I am not quite sure that you will be kind to my daughter. Forgive me for thinking so, but-"
"You have every right to think so," said Lord Arnav, nodding stiffly, "I have always and only been ruthless to my subjects."
"But I know you can be a kind one, too," said Master Gupta, smiling sadly, "When I was unwell, you were there for my family, sire, a debt I know I will never be able to pay back."
Lord Arnav looked at the man's face for a moment and let the sincerity in the man's gaze sink into him. Then he closed his eyes, "I only mean to protect when I make such harsh choices."
There was pause and then Master Gupta asked, "Protect whom, my lord?"
"The one I care for the most," said Lord Arnav, opening his eyes, his firm gaze on Master Gupta's face, "My sister."
Master Gupta nodded, his gaze still confused, "If it is not wrong of me to ask it, is there something that has come across your understanding that endangers our good Lady Anjali's safety for you to make such a sudden decision?"
"There are things of which I cannot speak with you presently," said Lord Arnav, nonchalantaly, "For now, only take my word and complete the engyesis." He held Master Gupta's hand firmly and repeated, "I seek your will that I may have the hand of your daughter, Miss Kushi Kumari Gupta, in marriage."
"If as you say it is for the good of everyone and that you will care for her as my dear child deserves, " Master Gupta looked sad when he gave his answer, "then yes, I am willing to give you my youngest daughter, who is now promised in union with you, and I grant you the permission to ask my daughter her answer to your request."
Lord Arnav released Master Gupta's hand, gave a stiff nod and turned to leave.
But he had barely taken two steps away when Master Gupat's voice reached out to him, "My lord?"
Lord Arnav looked over his shoulder, "Yes, Master Gupta?"
The father's eyes filled with longing tears, "Please take care of my daughter……I always have this…..." He pressed a hand to his heart, "…...feeling that she is being watched and that she is in danger." He looked at Lord Arnav who was staring at the elder man in astonishment, "I trust that by wedding her off to you I am securing her safety…….am I not, my Lord?"
Lord Arnav didn't answer. He was contemplating over the last said foreboding Master Gupta was having, "When you said she was being watched…..."
"I didn't mean she was BEING watched," Master Gupta corrected politely, "Its this feeling I have at times...I am certain it is nothing serious and just an old father's worry."
"Why?" Lord Arnav was inquisitive, "Why would you have such a feeling?"
"I do not know," Master Gupta looked around vaguely, his tear-filled eyes serious as he tried to remember, "I don't feel right at times……its as though there is something I know but I cannot remember what it is……like it was taken away from me…..."
The wind howled as the realization sank into Lord Arnav's mind.
He stepped towards Master Gupta and demanded, "Do you know my brother-in-law?"
"Brother-in-law?" Master Gupta looked up, "Who, the General?" Master Gupta smiled, "Of course I know him. A fine man he is, isn't he? Lady Anjali seems to simply adore him."
Lord Arnav clenched his fists but he tried to keep his voice calm, "What I meant, Master Gupta, is have you seen him before?"
"Yes, on the day we were deciding a date for the engyesis at the Castle," said Master Gupta confidently, "I believe that was the first time I met him. You were there too, my lord."
"You haven't met him before?" Lord Arnav frowned cautiously.
"Not that I remember," Master Gupta said doubtfully, his eyes searching the space before him as though it would provide him a more better answer.
"Not even at the ball? For I remember well that you were both there," said Lord Arnav, placing his hand on Master Gupta's shoulder, trying to help him remember.
Master Gupta pressed his trembling fingers to his forehead, "I cannot remember…...…I do not remember much of the ball..."
Lord Arnav stared in shock and then he patted Master Gupta's shoulder gently, "Its alright. There is nothing you must worry yourself to remember for now. Attend to the marriage preparations and keep calm. I will see to the rest."
And with that he turned about and sprinted down the steps and out of the Temple grounds, towards his waiting horse.
So that was what had happened to Master Shashi.
That was why he could remember nothing about the General or about the ball.
He had seen the General transform. The Curse of Seeing a Beast Become.
Oh my!!! All your comments are so overwhelming. I don't know how to react to them...too much love and too much joy...Thankyou my dears...ALL OF YOU. You are simply the best group of readers any writer could have been blessed with. I am just a little too busy too be around like I once used to, but I read and love each of your comment with more fervour than before...Welcome to the new readers again and I have thanked some of them on Page 102. On behalf of all those who love Arhasia, I also welcome new reader 19sayana...do forgive me for my quick disappearances...
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