Chapter 101

Wooohooo!!!!

Rabbe Ve, folks!!!

Yup! The moment has finally arrived: the Wedding of Lord Arnav and Kushi. Er……..secret wedding actually.

Thank you for the wonderful replies to the Invitation that I had forwarded on behalf of the Lady in the Dark Hood and for those of you have not received it yet, I am posting it in our Inn.

Mouktika said, in her PM, that it is delightful to think that ArShi won't be marrying alone for we (inn members) are there as substitute for their family. Way to go, dear, for that awesome thought.

As already mentioned, there will be a small celebration tonight at 8 pm Indian Time (IPK time slot) with cakes, drinks, dancing and music……and you are ALL invited. I will be posting the link of the Venue soon and if possible will send a pigeon (PM) to you to alert of the location. Do remember to come in one of your best gowns!

Okay, I love this chapter not because of what it is, but because of the subtle ways I have been letting my symbolisms at play here, and though you will not all be able to pick it out, I am eager to narrate to you the chapter you have all been dressing up for!

Chapter One Hundred Seventy Four: Binding Promises

Shadow grunted and stared up at the dim, empty North Temple looming before him, and he watched the two figures climbing up the many steps to the Temple platform. One being helplessly dragged by a relentless other…..…

Shadow sighed and dipped his head as the cold wind of the night blew against his dark mane. His Master was in a strange stupor this night. Not only with the transformation but also with the maniacal things he seemed to be doing in a thoughtless hurry.

Just then, the sound of silent footsteps approaching caught the horse's attention and he turned his head to look behind him into the dark fringe of forest trees that lined near the Temple.

"What are you going to do? Are your really going to marry me?"

The wind must have snatched away Kushi's insisting questions, for Lord Arnav still remained silent, as he dragged her up the many steps of the tall abandoned Temple.

The fog of shock in Kushi's mind had cleared away, with the little passage of time they took to ride to the North Temple, and she had instantly commenced triggering her questions upon the one who held her captive.

"I thought you never believed in rituals," she began, slightly hopeful that he might realize his atheism and suggest stopping this mad plan.

But contrary to her hopes, he suddenly stopped and turned to her, his hand still clutching cruelly at her wrist, and his expression sterner than his voice, "I don't. But you do. And by ritual I intend to bind you to me. That way, no one will question my actions and rights upon you. And the best part………" he leaned towards her, her petrified countenance reading the cunning glint in his clever eyes, "You will not dare stray away from my radius for fear of violating the rituals you believe in."

Kushi paled. He had trapped her in a snare that was more proficient than what she'd assumed. She was trapped by her own weapons. By her own weaknesses………By putting to danger her family and her faith………

Goddess Mother, please save me…..a tear-slid down her cheek as Lord Arnav proceeded to lead her up the remaining steps.

Soon, they were standing at the Temple platform surrounded by the white pillars and Kushi tried to free her hand from his hold, while Lord Arnav continued to keep a hard grip on her wrist, as he calmly studied the Temple platform to decide on the right place to get her wedded to him.

That was when a voice remarked from behind them, "Ah, I see that I am right on time. Typical of me!"

Lord Arnav frowned over his shoulder and Kushi stopped her struggles and looked behind her to find the hermit standing there. The grey-bearded hermit in whose hut they had once stayed and for whom Lord Arnav had ventured into the forest.

The hermit was dressed in his simple plain robe that smelled of forest wild berries even from the distance, and with no sack or bag of his own. But he had a cane in his hand and he appeared to be out there on a determined mission.

Kushi was so surprised by the coincidental visit that she only blinked confusedly.

But Lord Arnav didn't take well to any kind of intrusion, least of all if the intruder was the hermit who treated him like dirt.

"You!" Lord Arnav was annoyed, "What are YOU doing here?"

The hermit stroked his long grey beard and thought aloud, "Yes, what AM I doing here, I wonder…..."

Lord Arnav grunted and decided to ignore the 'madman' and set out on what he had come there for. He pulled at Kushi's wrist again, effecting a painful yelp from her.

"Careful!" warned the hermit in a calm voice, "We don't want any broken wrists lying about in the Temple now, do we?"

Kushi stared at the hermit, her mind staggered by the horrid image of a broken wrist on a floor. What was wrong with everyone today? Everyone was talking senseless…..

Lord Arnav tried to ascertain a location where he could do what was to be done, whatever it was. But he was clueless what to do next or where it had to be done.

"I could offer help if you require," offered the hermit, tapping his cane on the floor as though he was seeking for some sound other than the windy silence of the night.

"We need no help from anyone," claimed Lord Arnav, not even bothering to look at the hermit as he looked around, trying to fix on a location.

The hermit remained peaceful in his proposition, "You do know that for a marriage to be valid it must be done in the presence of a hermit?"

There was a long silence in which, Lord Arnav, his back to the hermit, frowned at the nearest pillar as he thought over the last statement.

Kushi stared at the hermit first and then at Lord Arnav.

Finally the First Lord looked over his shoulder, his cold gaze on the hermit, "How did you know?"

His voice rang with a threatened tenor.

"I am a hermit," said the old sage, "I would know."

"Really?" Lord Arnav sneered, "What do you do? See it in your mind? Or you create dreams to fit those you see with your eyes?"

"I see what I must see," The hermit smiled warmly, leaning causally on his cane that was positioned before him, both his palms resting on its top.

"Well, you may see whatever it is you see but steer away from my territory," Lord Arnav warned cuttingly and then he looked at Kushi, "And you will not make this harder for me either."

"I make it harder?" Kushi was enraged, and though he still held her by her wrist, she stood firmly and claimed, "You! You are the one making it harder for me!"

"Tch-tch," the hermit stood apart and watched them. "Fire and Ice," he mumbled to himself, "Will the Fire melt the Ice or the Ice douse the Fire?"

The tiff between the two was persistent.

"I cannot marry you until you tell me WHY!" she declared hotly and yanked at her hand but he only held onto it more strongly, his eyes blazing with rage.

"Child?" the hermit's calm voice interrupted their heated discussion, "Are you not willing?"

"She is!" barked Lord Arnav infuriatingly at the hermit but the hermit narrowed his gaze at Lord Arnav.

"I didn't ask you, Master of the Empire," he said and then nodded at Kushi, "I asked the vine creeper."

"What?" Lord Arnav was getting immensely irritated with this intruder and his roundabout talks.

The hermit coolly ignored him and waited for Kushi to answer.

Kushi, who had felt comparatively more secure and assured since the hermit's presence, made to move towards the hermit and to her surprise, Lord Arnav did not stop her.

The First Lord was watching her detachedly and she glanced at him hesitantly before walking up to the hermit.

"Holy Man of Faith," she began politely, looking into the kind eyes of the hermit, "When a girl who loves her family dreams for a marriage of love and cannot chose between the two, what is she to do?"

"Which matters more to you?" the hermit asked gently, his voice warm and understanding.

"My family," answered Kushi readily, her tear-filled eyes sad, "The love they offered me is insurmountable and I am who I am at heart because of them. I can let no harm befall them."

"Then so be it your choice," he nodded seriously.

Kushi was heartbroken, "You say then, my good sir, that I should marry this man against my will?"

The hermit leaned closer to her as though to whisper a secret that the wind should not steal away, "Against your will it will seem now, but Time will tell you otherwise."

"I cannot see how," Kushi worded hopelessly and then she moved away sadly towards where Lord Arnav stood.

The silence in the Temple weighed upon them greatly and the hermit took a deep breath before addressing them hastily, "She needs a veil."

Lord Arnav looked at the hermit, "There is no need to look at dressing formalities here. Let's get on with the ritual right away!"

"The veil is part of the ritual," explained the hermit calmly, "It is the sign of maidenhood; that the bride is brought to the groom as a virgin." And it is put on the bride by her father which cannot be accomplished in this case being a secret union……..the hermit thought grudgingly.

Lord Arnav muttered something about 'madmen' and 'rituals' under his breath and then his annoyed gaze fell on Kushi's neck. She had a long white scarf tied around her neck, brought along in case the wind became too cold and she needed to drape it around her.

Without a word or a warning, he walked up to her and his cold fingers were untying the scarf from her neck as she stared, wide-eyed at him, "What do you think you are do-?"

"I don't believe in rituals," he repeated bluntly, having pulled down the scarf and then he held it wide open before her.

They found themselves staring at each other through the thin white veil for a moment.

And then, in a swift move, he brought it behind her and draped it over her head, leaving her face exposed to him, "See that it stays there………virgin."

The mockery in his words hurt her greatly. She would have preferred him calling her a beggar than what he had pronounced presently.

She shut her eyes feeling tears rise from within her grieving heart. Babuji may have already put the veil on Jiji………

Lord Arnav stared at her, reminded of a dream he had seen of her. In a white gown and wearing a white veil on her head, flanked on either side by Lavanya and Payal…….she had walked towards him, smiling innocently, blood dripping on her pure white gown…..…

He frowned and blinked away the image and then looked at the hermit, "Shall we begin already? I have not much time to while away with all these dressing nuisances!"

"The rings?" the hermit asked as he stepped closer to them, watching Lord Arnav extract from the pocket of his tuxedo the two rings he'd brought earlier.

"Give her the one to be put on your finger," said the hermit seriously and Lord Arnav pressed the bigger ring into Kushi's reluctant hand.

"Your identifying appellations?"

Lord Arnav shot him a look as though he wanted the hermit to burn to ashes for daring to ask his name. Nevertheless, he replied, "I am Lord Arnav Singh Raizada and the girl is Kushi Kumari Gupta."

The hermit addressed Kushi first, his gaze compassionate, "By the Divine Powers that rule over Arhasia, I ask you: do you take, Lord Arnav Singh Raizada to be your husband by law?"

Kushi had her head bowed, her dejected gaze on the Temple floor and after an insecure moment, she nodded weakly, and then held out the ring before his extended hand. Her fingers were trembling, as she slipped the ring around his ring finger. For Jiji………

He dropped his hand to his side, the gold ring flashing on it, while the hermit continued, "By the Divine Powers that-"

"I don't want these phrases recited to me," said Lord Arnav hotly.

The hermit looked at him, "They are part of the ritual."

"I need no ritual to bind me," he said, "This is only for her."

"Well, you are marrying her and by marrying her you are involving in the ritual yourself," pointed out the hermit imperturbably, "Whether you like it or not, you are being bound by the rituals along with her."

"Then get on with it," said Lord Arnav irascibly, "You waste your time trying to make sense to me."

"I never intended to actually……...seeing that sense rarely penetrates your thick skull," mumbled the hermit.

"Did you say something, hermit?" Lord Arnav cocked an accusing eyebrow in the hermit's direction.

"Only that you prepare to put the ring on her finger," the hermit smiled warmly.

"I've been holding the ring for ages already!" said the infuriated Lord Arnav.

"In that case," the hermit resumed, "by the powers of the Divine Powers that rule over Arhasia, I ask you: do you take Miss Kushi Kumari Gupta to be your wife by law?"

On hearing these words, Kushi clutched her hands on her waist and shut her eyes tight, futilely wishing once again to wake from the horrid nightmare.

Lord Arnav didn't even bother to nod in answer to the hermit's question. He simply took her right hand and slipped the ring easily onto her ring finger, her hand trembling in his.

Kushi opened her eyes and stared at the pillar, as a tear slid down her cheek.

The hermit sighed and continued, "By the Creator's Will and by the Divine Powers in Arhasia, I pronounce you legally wedded. You may seal the pronouncement with the sacred kiss of matrimony."

And then, without another word, the hermit turned about, his robe brushing on the floor and his cane tapping as he climbed down the many white steps of the Temple and disappeared into the dark forest.

The cold wind blew wildly about, tolling and ringing the bells in the Temple and the sound was carried across the land.

The sides of Kushi's white veil fluttered in the merciless wind, as she stared at the man before him.

He stood staring back at her, his eyes cold and detached.

He took a step forward.

"No," she said firmly, her gaze sliding to his boots, "You shall not do this."

He paused but his gaze was still cold.

She looked at him, her voice feeble, "A woman's first kiss on the lips…...the marriage kiss…...it is sacred. I cannot let you defile the purity of my first kiss."

He was expressionless as he replied, "I have no interest in being intimate with you or kissing you, in the least." Kushi shuddered when he uttered those words for they were too cold and heartless upon her tender heart.

"I do not wish to partake in rituals," he continued, "but that you may know that you are strictly bound to my will, I shall begin this marriage as the ritual asks it to."

He strode towards her and she moved backwards.

Desperation clawed at her sanity and once again, she turned and thoughtlessly made a run for the only place she could find refuge in. Within the Temple.

The abandoned Temple was devoid of anything but the dried up fountain in the huge hall in the middle of which grew the tall oak tree from which hung millions of ribbons and locks that were the remainders of the Wish Ceremony that was held every summer at the Temple Festival.

Kushi raced into the huge hall, knowing he was right behind her, and sighting no other alternative, she stepped into the Fountain, the little water in it being only just ankle deep, but thoroughly dampening her new sandals and the hem of her beautiful white gown.

She heard water sloshing and looking over her shoulder, found that he had stepped into the fountain as well. There was no way out now. In her frantic attempt to run away from him she had walked right into an enclosure.

Panicked by his proximity, she gasped and pressed her back to the huge Wish Tree, her hands sliding back to hug the tree behind her for her legs felt suddenly weak.

She stood there like how she had stood once in the forest on a dark night. She had pressed her back and slid her hands back, hoping to find strength from the tree behind her as she faced the red-eyed creatures before her that had been chasing her. Only that tree was not a real tree but Lord Arnav himself…..… The disabling irony was that this time, in the Temple, it was that Lord Arnav whom she was running from. Running away from the man who had once been her strength……...

He was upon her in an instant, tall and looming, his hands pressing against the trunk of tree on her either side, leaving her no room for escape.

She breathed in, pressing her veiled head to the trunk and glared up at him, "Your kiss is cursed!" She was so desperate that tears began to sting in her eyes as she continued angrily, "The woman who is kissed by you shall never know love!!"

He gave no answer, his expression neither angry nor aroused, as he leaned down towards her petrified face.

Just when his lips were inches away from hers, she looked away.

Frowning, he slid his hands from the tree trunk to cup her face and she stared at him, staggered by the heat of his hands on either sides of her face.

Her lips parted in a terrified gasp of disbelief and, using that moment to his advantage, he leaned down and claimed her lips.

The moment he pressed himself and his lips against hers, two silver locks hanging by ribbons on the branches of the Wish Tree, loosened their hold on the ribbons and slipped down, falling with a gentle plop into the fountain water, among the other rusted locks, and coming to rest in the bottom of the fountain one slightly on top of the other.

She winced and gasped as his lips pressed down hard on hers and just when she had moved her hands to push him away from her, she sensed his tongue.

Her consciousness was stricken blind and fire erupted in her. Tears streamed down her face, not because she was angry or hurt, but because she was in pain. Excruciating pain of a kind she had never known. His cruel tongue was so hot that she was certain it had scorched her mouth.

Her throat was on fire and she felt her head reeling from the power on the tongue's heat. She felt the heat seep down to her insides, numbing her heart and she gasped in an attempt to retrieve her waning breath.

She went pale in her face and she struggled as though she was going to die, her fingers grappling desperately at his collar. She felt her consciousness flounder and she knew she didn't have much longer……. Liquid fire was being poured down her mouth and she was dying……..

The moment his lips had made contact with hers, he lost all his willpower. He had never kissed a woman on her lips before because he knew it was treacherous. But he had ascertained himself he would be cautious and not let himself endanger Kushi when he kissed her.

However, no sooner had he pressed his lips to hers than he lost all sense of what he was doing. He kissed her like he owned her and, without thinking, he delved deeper into the kiss. Suddenly, he felt revived, drowning his senses in her gentle warmth that around his burning tongue. Her soothing insides calming his fire…...

It was too late when he realized that his feeling of calmness came with a price.

He was so overcome by the urge of the moment that he had forgotten all about her safety.

It was when he felt her fingers tugging desperately at his collar that he looked into her eyes and realized what he had done.

Instantly, he withdrew his lips and stared in shock as she chocked and gasped for air.

"Kushi!" he pulled her to him, crushing her in a helpless embrace, as he realized that she was sweating and her cheeks felt cold.

"No," he breathed out in fear, seeing that she was still reeling in the effect of his cursed kiss.

Without a moment's lax, he pressed her to the tree, dug his fingers painfully into the hard tree trunk to keep him conscious of the pain so that his mind wouldn't wander and then leaned down and kissed her again.

But this time, he was gentle upon her, using only his lips.

His lips moving to warm her trembling lips, to bring her back.

Every time his tongue was on the verge of reaching out, he dug his fingers into the tree trunk and the pain rocketing up his fingertips fired his instinct to keep his tongue away from harming her.

Warmth swirled in her head and Kushi moaned as she felt her heart feel light again.

She leaned forward to get more of the reviving warmth she was being granted through her lips.

Her tired hands pressed against his chest and she opened her weary eyes to look up at him.

His gaze was gentle upon her as though his entire life depended on what he was doing to her.

She closed her eyes and let his warmth course over her.

She had never been kissed like this before.

She could feel him in his kiss. His warm, caressing kiss…...she could feel his longing, his desire to want her…..……

Tears streamed down her face. He loved her. He really loved her. His kiss was nothing but love.

Lord Arnav withdrew, moving his face away from hers as he studied her countenance.

She blinked up at him, the warm tingle of his lips still on her trembling lips, and the color returning to her cheeks.

The cold light returned in his eyes as he frowned at her and then his gaze slid to the white veil on her head.

Without a word, he turned about and stepped out of the fountain, water sloshing as he walked through the hallway and made for the steps leading out of the Temple.

Still reeling from the effect of his kiss and her heart pounding from all that was happening that night, Kushi moved away from the tree in an attempt to follow him.

She realized just then that her sandals were wet.

She leaned down to remove them, the ends of her white veil touching the surface of the fountain water.

She straightened up, holding her wet sandals in one hand while the other hand lifted the skirt of her white gown, the hem of which was wet and dripping.

As she climbed out of the fountain, her right foot stepped onto the wet print of the Lord Arnav's right-boot.

Kushi looked up and watched Lord Arnav stroll down the white marble steps of the empty Temple, heading for where Shadow stood.

That man, the one with the broad shoulder and the cold detachment, the one who made her heart flutter and had hurt her a million times…..….he was now her husband, the one who had kissed her.

Strangely, Kushi didn't feel anything. She neither felt over joyed nor sad.

Getting married to him this way had been wrong and she knew she was in immense trouble for falling into this maniacal trap, but she could not dream of belonging to any other man than him.

Is this righteous, Goddess Mother? Kushi looked at the ceiling, her dripping sandals still held in one hand and her right foot on his wet bootprint, I do not know what is right anymore. I think his kiss has messed with my senses……

And then she remembered her sister's wedding and, without another thought, she raced out of Temple, her gentle footprints pressing upon his wet bootprints as she raced down the steps towards the dark horse before which stood……...her husband.

Tending to his horse, Lord Arnav had his back to her but when she reached them, he turned to look at her, and she saw how cold his gaze was, and how much hatred was etched in it.

She did not struggle or step away when his cold hands reached for her and helped her to the horse.

She faltered for a moment, sitting on the horse, not because she was on the back of a live horse but because she realized she was fooling herself.

He doesn't love me. I read his kiss wrong. I wanted there to be love and thought he loved me but he really doesn't.

She felt him mount on Shadow behind her and his cold hands reached for the reins.

He sat detached from her and with a sinking realization, she knew: He hates me.

The cold winter wind blew over the land as they rode in the direction of the South Temple on the black horse, the shadowy witness of their conflicting emotions.