Chapter 104

Chapter 177: When they Reached the South Temple

The long wedding night was at its darkest hour and the winds the loudest in their blows as the Crowning Ceremony, which was part of the Greek Wedding Rituals, awaited to commence but there was sign none of the two who were vital to the ceremonies.

"Where are they?" Garima wondered worriedly and then she glanced at her husband, silently standing beside his wedded daughter.

He knows something, Garima was certain.

Determinedly, the mother walked up to the father, "Well?"

Master Shashi looked at her, confusedly, "Well, what?"

"Who was the letter from and what did it say?" Garima looked at her husband pointedly, not wanting him to avoid her question this time.

Master Shashi, his heart already weighing, knew he could not steer away any longer from admitting what he knew and what he had done.

But he had barely gathered the words in his mind than the sound of speeding horse hoofs approaching had them all turning their attention in the direction of the forest.

"It's the General!" said someone in the crowd below and everyone watched as a white horse emerged from the dark trees, racing towards the Temple ground until it came to halt beside the forest fringe, its magnificent silver mane flashing in the moonlight.

As the said man dismounted and ambled towards the Temple, Lady Anjali frowned, for she realized he looked wearier than he had been when he left. Had he come across them? Had something happened to him that he should look so forlorn?

"Did you see them, bitwa?" Lady Mother called out expectantly as the General climbed the red-carpeted steps of the Temple.

The General was uncomfortable with the attention he was put in. All night he had deliberately remained hidden in the shadow of the pillar beside which his wife had stood. His aim presently was to avert notice from Mistress Madhumati, the only one who could still be a viable threat to him.

But now with everyone looking at him, he was certain the aunt of the Gupta girls would also be looking at him, the reason why he kept quiet and his head slightly bowed as though he were sulking.

Undeniably, his temper was ill too, for Kushi's words still rung in his ears. But more than her words, it was the way she had flung herself on Lord Arnav that left him worried. Did the girl love that man? Or was it merely the fear of becoming a widow on her marriage night?

Her marriage night…...The General clenched his fists, this cannot be really happening! Kushi was his only chance, she could not really be married to that………..The General's steps were slower and heavier as he struggled upwards with the draining thoughts. How could he stay in a maddened place like this? How could he stay in the Castle anymore, watching that meddlesome Master Menace fondling and being pampered by that girl he had no right to wed so?!

He had nearly reached the top, knowing there was no escape from Mistress Madhumati's focus. Feeling hopeless by the turn of events and believing there was nothing more to lose, he decided he would let the truth out and was lifting his head to look at them when some villager nearest to the forest, exclaimed, "The First Lord arrives!!"

All eyes turned to see where the villager was pointing and the General too, sighing in relief, turned his head towards the darkness beyond.

A black horse appeared out of forest, mightily galloping across the Temple grounds as the crowd moved back to make way for the horse. Nothing escaped Lord Arnav's alert eyes and as he passed onward, he studied the situation and calculated the best repartee he would require.

When the dark horse halted at the foot of the steps to the Temple, Lord Arnav dismounted lithely and then helped Kushi down.

"Chotey, where were you?" began Lady Anjali, in an impatient but relieved tone and then she gasped in shock.

There was a deadly silence all around and though some of the villagers were speaking in hushed tones, the Raizadas and Guptas at the Temple platform only stared at the sight below, their heartbeats echoing in each of their ears over the sound of the loud wind, as they watched Lord Arnav holding Kushi's hand and leading her forward.

Even if they didn't notice the gold rings glinting on the clasped hands, they would definitely have comprehended the white veil on Kushi's head.

Garima paled in her face and pressed a hand to her dispelled heart. Payal had forgotten her hand was held by Lord Akash and remembered it only when he gently pressed upon her trembling hand.

"What is the meaning of all this, Chotey?" his Nani demanded.

He ignored his Nani's question and marched straight up to Master Shashi, who was stricken dumb by the astonishing realization.

Lord Arnav pulled Kushi to stand beside him, and then, with his hand still holding hers, he addressed her father, "Though I had to do it without your presence, with you granting, I have made your youngest my wife by law and ritual."

GASP!

"WHAT!!"

"NO!"

"Chotey!!"

Kushi could feel their eyes on them and wished she could sink into the ground rather than face the next few minutes. She felt Lord Arnav's grip on her hand tighten, and she didn't know if it was in assurance of his presence or in anger of her uneasiness. She didn't really care which of the either reasoning was right for she hated him more with each passing second.

Suddenly Garima stepped forward, "What reckless deed is this! Kushi! What insanity have you let yourself commit!"

Words failed Kushi as her tear-filled eyes looked into her shocked mother's.

Lord Arnav's answer surprised them all, "I forced her into it."

He distinctly heard his sister gasp.

Before anyone could say another word, he turned again to Kushi's father, "You will pardon us for the hastiness and acknowledge our union for its requirement."

"This union? A requirement?" Nani was chary, "Pray, tell us how!"

"You shall know when it is time," said Lord Arnav,"For now, mute acceptance will do of the knowledge that is it was done for the good of all."

"Good? What good?" Nani was furious, "What new seed of lunacy has gotten into you, boy? Did you think we would be against you if you told us you wanted to marry her? We would have been willing, Chotey! I cannot in the world understand why you would have to go and get married in a hurry without completing all the rituals?"

"They did complete all the rituals," a calm voice intruded the tensed air and all eyes turned to look behind them, where an old man leaned on his cane at the entrance of the Temple Platform, eyeing the assembly.

Kushi's tear-filled eyes lit with relief and Fortune squeaked in delight, his immobile position on Nani's shoulder coming to life.

"Ah, these steps are a murder, I tell you!" mumbled the hermit, frowning down the way he had come.

"Honorable sire, the hermit?" Lord Manohar was the first to recover from the amazement, "You are familiar with their deed?"

"Aye," the hermit nodded simply, walking towards them and coming to stop before the family, "In fact, I was the one who wedded them."

"Reverend sire?" Nani was shocked, "How can you do such a thing when you know it is not right?"

"How can it not be right?" the hermit looked curiously at Nani, "They were in earnest of time and could not inform the entire family of the wedding plan, knowing it may tamper with the Second Lord's wedding to the eldest Gupta daughter."

"But why was this earnestness called for?" Nani persuaded, "Why was there no time? What reason would trigger such an abrupt decision?"

"That I am unaware of," confessed the hermit calmly, "Only the one who wanted the wedding done knows."

At these words, some of them turned to look at Lord Arnav but the latter was frowning at the pillar before him, annoyed again by the intrusion of the meddling hermit.

"But what of the rituals?" Mistress Madhumati intervened, "Who has ever heard of a wedding that was done without the rituals before it?"

"I have said it already," the hermit replied, "They completed all their rituals and were worthy to be wedded. I would never wed them if weren't. Though no one was conscious of them undergoing the rituals, and even the boy and girl themselves were oblivious to what they were endorsing, but every ritual was completed well in time, either in the presence or naive authorization of an elder in the family."

Everyone was silent for a moment as they tried to grasp the truth of what the hermit intended. Even Kushi and Lord Arnav stared at the hermit, disbelieving but amazed by the information. They tried to remember their obliviously-done rituals but their minds were presently too muddled with emotions and events to let memories find easy way.

"We trust your word, hermit," said Nani finally, "but we do not understand the sanity or the righteousness in this."

"It will all be revealed in time," the hermit said, drawing his cloak tighter around his shoulder as the cold winds blew wilder around him, "Now, if you will excuse me, I must part for it has been a surprisingly tiring night for my old bones."

As the old man walked away from them, every one reminded lost in their own thoughts.

Lady Deviyani was the first to break the silence, "There shall not be any dancing or feasting tonight because, though this marriage was advocated by the hermit, and he said all rituals were accomplished, they were not passed in conscious notice by either family."

Payal's wedding was ruined and her mother could not look past the hurt. Being the bride's mother, she knew her family would be looked down for unjustly binding their youngest daughter also to a Lord of the land as though it were their doing and not the First Lord's.

She moved to where Kushi stood near her father, "Kushi, how can you shame us this way! You know we left the North temple because of you! Your Babuji had to sell the mill because of your heedlessness and now once again, you dishonor us by this unsubstantiated marriage! What is the meaning of all this?"

"I gave them permission to marry, Garima," Master Gupta interrupted, speaking in the stiff voice with which he had ordered Payal's marriage to commence. All eyes turned to look at the elderly man, Kushi's even more shocked than others, as he continued, "Lord Arnav had come to ask for her hand and I willingly granted it."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Madhumati was distraught.

"For the same reason the hermit had stated: because it would impede with Payaliya's wedding."

Garima was annoyed with her husband, "Didn't you have the sense to tell him to get the rituals done in the right way, then?"

Shashi said sadly, "I am only a villager. I cannot tell the First Lord when to execute a deed."

Garima was furious, "You are a father. A father of the daughter whose hand was being asked and whose future is not to be put at stake."

"And as her worthy father, I granted the First Lord permission to marry her only after gaining assurance that he will take care of her." Here he looked at Lord Arnav and they looked at each other for a moment, convincing each other of the memory that had crossed their mind.

"But my lord," Master Shashi proceeded to ask the First Lord his worrying question, "Why did you marry her tonight when you promised you would only tomorrow night, after all the remaining rituals were accomplished in familial acknowledgment?"

Nani was surprised at this revelation. She looked at her grandson, "Is this true?"

"Yes," Lord Arnav mumbled.

"Then why the hastiness, Chotey?" Nani demanded, "We would have gladly obliged if-"

"Circumstances forced me to," Lord Arnav grunted, "There was no time."

"But Chotey, we need to know!" Nani said.

"No, there is no need you must," Lord Arnav looked at Nani, "But be assured of this: it will be brought to your knowledge one day."

And when he said those words, he looked to where his sister stood beside the General who was glaring at the couple that was being questioned, the only one in the crowd who knew the answers to all the questions that were being thrown at them.

Lord Arnav's gaze slid to his sister's face and his expression fell when he saw how coldly she had been watching him. She was disappointed by what he had done, it was definite. She had not uttered a single word after he had come before them, holding Kushi's hand. His sister's anger was the loudest in the crowd, her silent accusation the most punishing.

He looked away instantly, hurt. I did it for you, Di...only for you...

While the elders discussed amongst themselves in small groups of twos what was to be done about the situation, Kushi looked at her sister, where she stood beside Lord Akash before the alar.

Payal's yearning eyes were filled with questions but she uttered no word. She stood there silently, watching her younger sister.

Payal's gaze slid to where her mother stood sobbing next to Madhumati who was trying to comfort her. Payal knew that their mother would not speak any further for fear her anger may ruin the moment, but Garima spilled all her worries in tears, her heart raging in the muddle of what she could not understand.

"Garima, hold yourself together now," Buaji tried to appease the other, futilely.

"What has happened to Shashi!" Garima wept in disbelief, "How could he have been so thoughtlessly blind as to give away his daughter in a flimsy engyesis!"

"I know my brother," Madhumati tried to reason for the sake of her sister-in-law and for her own sanity as well, "I am certain Shashi must have seen some need that led him to affirm to the engyesis. You must remember: Shashi gave the granting, knowing they would only marry the next day, after we were told about the proposal and after the rituals were done...He didn't know the First Lord would break his word and-"

"What use is it now to say all this," moaned Garima, "Kushi has been haplessly wedded away and we cannot undo the wrong to right it, can we? Oh, it breaks my heart to think this is all not just a bad dream!"

Buaji placed a hand on Garima's shoulder, "I know you will do what is right."

Garima sniffed her tears away, looked at Madhumati and then her dejected gaze looked towards where Kushi stood.

Kushi, who was looking at her sister, had her back turned to her mother. Her veil was the only thing Garima could see, and Garima's gaze sadly slid down from her daughter's head to her youthful hand which was gripped in Lord Arnav's firm hand.

Garima closed her eyes, the image frozen in her mind, and prayed to find the strength to do what she was about to do...

A fuming Nani was discussing what was to be done with Lord Manohar when Lady Manorama exclaimed, "I am beginning to think this is all the plan of that Garima and Shashi to get their youngest hitched to our family as well!! A temptingly unassuming victory for commoners like them!"

"Manorama!" Nani frowned at her, "How can you say such rash things at such a time as-!"

"Lady Mother," Lady Manorma addressed her with a wry smile, "I would not say such a statement if I didn't have any reason to utter it."

"What do you mean?" Nani asked while Lord Manhar eyed his wife suspiciously.

"It cannot be doubted certainly," stated Lady Manorama cleverly, "Seeing how readily the father had conducted the secret engyesis and how easily now the mother owns up to accept the union."

And saying so, she nodded in the direction of the altar. Nani and Lord Manohar looked to where Lady Manorama had directed.

And so did the entire crowd, for there, at the altar, Garima stood before Lord Arnav, a wine glass filled with fresh wine held in her hand. Kushi stood behind Lord Arnav, staring at her mother in astonishment of her acceptance.

As though this was the sign Nani was waiting for, the elderly woman stepped forward and beckoned her arrogant son, "Injured I may be by what you did, Chotey, but what is done cannot be undone. So let us resume our rituals the way we can."

She nodded at the wineglass held in Garima's hand, "You must drink it, Chotey."

Lord Arnav looked from his grandmother to the woman standing before him. Garima was expressionless as she looked at the collar of his tuxedo, the hand that held the wineglass outstretched towards him.

Without a word, Lord Arnav obediently took the wineglass and sipped a little wine. When Lord Arnav seemed to not want to drink anymore, Master Shashi took the glass from him.

Then Nani told Lord Arnav to kiss the hand of the bride's mother. Lord Arnav took Garima's hand and pressed his lips to the back of her weary hand.

Garima's eyes filled with tears and she slid her hands up to cup Lord Arnav's face, like she had done with Lord Akash. But now, her eyes were filled not with happy tears of sending Payal away but with tears of pain that Kushi was married in a most heartless manner.

She drew Lord Arnav's face closer to hers and Lord Arnav closed his eyes as Garima kissed him on his cheeks, muttering words of blessing for his future and for Kushi's as was the ritual.

When Garima released Lord Arnav, she stepped away and stood beside Madhumati.

Kushi's heart sank for, though her mother had blessed her husband and conducted the rituals, she still refused to look at her daughter's face. Kushi tried in vain to catch her mother's eye but failed, and to console herself, she decided it was preferred to be ignored than to be seen through pitied eyes.

Lord Manohar nodded to the hermit much to Lady Manorama's annoyance and the hermit announced, "Let the Crowning ceremonies begin."

The eldest male of the groom's family was to do the Crowning and Lord Manohar stepped towards the altar and was handed the blessed crowns by the hermit.

The two couples were made to stand on either side of the altar with their respective spouses.

Lord Manohar first placed a crown each on his son's head and then on his daughter-in-law's, "I crown you husband and wife, having sealed your bond in your matrimonial kiss, and you are, hereby, lawfully wedded to the Raizada family."

"Lord Akash Raizada," began Lord Manohar, "How shall your wife be named after you, henceforth?"

"Payal Raizada," answered Lord Akash readily and despite the worries of her heart, Payal could not help blushing slightly.

"Lady Payal Raizada," announced Lord Manohar to the crowd, sanctioning Payal's new name communally.

Next he moved to where Lord Arnav and Kushi stood before the altar, and Kushi bowed as Lord Manohar pressed a crown to her head, the coronet sitting perfectly on her veiled head. She watched from the corner of her eye as Lord Manohar placed a crown on Lord Arnav's head who had bowed his head slightly for his uncle to easily place the crown.

Lord Manohar's repeated ritual rang in Kushi's ears, "I crown you husband and wife, having sealed your bond in your matrimonial kiss, and you are, hereby, lawfully wedded to the Raizada family."

"Lord Arnav Singh Raizda," Lord Manohar began, leaning towards Lord Arnav. Kushi peered at her husband around the side of her veil, as Lord Manohar asked him the expected question, "How shall your wife be named after you, henceforth?"

Lord Arnav didn't reply immediately for he seemed to be fidgeting with himself about the issue. He noticed Kushi watching him from beside him and he was reminded of why he had married her.

He looked at Lord Manohar and unflinchingly offered, "She will, henceforth, be Kushi Singh Raizada."

"Lady Kushi Singh Raizada," Lord Manohar announced to the assembled and Kushi's eyes widened for she recognized her name in a string of alien other words.

Lord Arnav triumphantly glanced at the crowd but he frowned when he realized his victory could not be complete for the General was nowhere to be found.

Kushi's eyes immediately swung to her father's face where he stood watching the ceremony beside a pillar. They looked at each other and the moment was heartbreaking. She was not a Gupta anymore...a string of her precious existence was cut off and she was left stranded in the pathway that led to an unknown life...

But you will always be my little Princess, Babuji's painful smile seemed to convey.

Kushi smiled too, though her eyes filled with tears. I will always be your little girl, Babuji...always...

All the villagers parted ways, streaming out of the Temple grounds, talking in hushed tones about the unexpected happenings, while the family descended the Temple steps, heading towards the line of waiting carriages and carts.

Lord Akash held Payal's hand as the veiled bride stepped down with her husband but Lord Arnav had his hands in his pockets as Kushi tried to keep up with his swift strides, careful not to trip on the hem of her gown. Just then a little hand placed itself in Kushi's hand and she looked down to see little Ram smiling up at her reassuredly. She smiled in return, caressing his cheek thankfully with one hand, and then lovingly holding his little hand in her other hand, she following after her husband.

When they were before the carriages, the brides began to bid goodbye to their family.

Babuji held both his daughters close to his chest, and Kushi and Payal pressed their tear-stained faces to his new suit, crying not for the pain of missing their father, but because their father would miss them.

As they were held thus, Madhumati was reminded of the rainy ball night, when an unconscious Shashi was helped to his feet by Lord Arnav and Lord Akash on either side...Madhumati frowned curiously, watching the ironical stance of Shashi presently hugging his daughters to him, one on either side...

Madhumati hugged Payal and kissed her on her forehead and then turned to Kushi. Kushi had her eyes cast to the ground, knowing her family was dissatisfied with the certain feat she had displayed that night, but she was surprised when her Buaji pulled her to an embrace.

"I don't know what this is all about, Kushi," Buaji began and Kushi's blinked against her aunt's stiff shoulder, "But I will need answers when you come by the village next time. Is that clear?"

Kushi nodded fearfully, knowing her aunt was not one to mess with. Her Buaji would have probably shown her right mind to Lord Arnav if he had been a mere villager and not a Lord.

Garima hugged Payal and kissed her on her cheeks, saddened to part from her daughter, but when it was Kushi's turn, she only hugged her and then stepped away to Shashi's side, her back turned to her youngest.

Kushi was broken-hearted as her mother walked away from her and she wished she could have remained in the quick embrace a while longer for her to remember that warmth one last time...

Payal's hand brushed against Kushi's and Kushi looked at her sister, "Jiji…...Amma…..."

"She loves you best," Payal reminded her, "So when you hurt her, she is pained the most. But she still loves you the best...and nothing will change that as long as she lives..."

Kushi nodded sadly, wanting to believe her sister's words.

Soon the families and well-wishers were piling into the carts and carriages, that subsequently flowed out of the Temple ground and when they reached the Road, a few carriages took the little fork down to the South Village, some carriages to the North Village and the few remaining carriages headed for the Castle.

Kushi and Payal, the brides, were given a carriage all to themselves and their husbands were provided another carriage.

Lord Arnav sat stiffly, his open palms pressed to his knees, and his gaze trained out of the window all through the journey to the Castle, staring at nothing in particular.

Sitting opposite him and rocking with the rhythm of the speeding carriage, Lord Akash watched his brother's expression, knowing well it would do no good to try to make conversation. The First Lord was seemingly lost in his thoughts, presumably those that angered him for Lord Arnav's brows were dipped in a perpetual frown.

Kushi and Payal did not sit like their husbands, one facing the other. The once-Gupta-now-Raizada girls sat next to each other, holding hands.

Kushi laid her veiled head at Payal's shoulder and Payal instantly smiled, "Strangely, I must confess, I do feel a lot selfish now."

"What do you mean, Jiji?" Kushi looked at her sister.

Payal pressed Kushi's hand, "Now I can have my little sister to keep me company and to make me not miss home..."

Kushi's hugged her sister, "Jiji, my only relief is that you are there in that Castle and that I won't be alone..."

Payal opened her mouth to ask her about the wedding but Kushi interrupted her before she could begin, "Please Jiji, my heart is too weighed now…..….I wish not to speak of that treacherous deed……."

Payal's heart sank when she realized what her sister was going through. Placing her bouquet on her lap, she reached out both her hands and draped them lovingly around Kushi's shoulders.

"My little sister, I will take care of you…….."

The two white-veiled brides remained in their sisterly embrace and, though Payal's little promise would not withstand the unnatural tremors that were about to ransack Kushi's life, Payal's unremitting presence was an assurance that would always give Kushi the hope that she was not alone in her battle against the what was to come.