Chapter 127

Rabba Ve, everyone!!!

Right on date, as promised!

Just saw this pic flying about in the IPK Forum. I had to take a double take to grasp that it was indeed the beautiful Second Lady of Arhasia!

Thankyou to all those who "liked", commented and silently read the last chapter! Congrats to you again for the 200^th! Special kisses to my dear Comrades and Tight Hugs to all my Readers. Welcoming New Readers as well: Teja, Chaverah, Sheshnag, Mfm_06. Just returned from tour and too busy with its afterwork, so can't reply individually but I have read and not just "liked" but "loved" every comment! (Though I would love to tell Smrikta992 that I am fine and my city is also fine). Date of next update will be provided in the Index. Take care, my dearies!

Chapter 201: The Homecoming

Kushi stirred awake and blinked around the sunlit room.

She was in Lord Arnav's room.

In his bed.

Alone.

The curtains were draped all around the bed, keeping her concealed, in case servants must enter for hot water or old sheets.

She was about to get out of bed, uncovering the blanket off her when she realized her gown was half-torn.

Quickly draping the blanket over her again, she looked around, trying to figure out how it had come to be.

It didn't take long before a flurry of images returned from her memory and washed over her with a sense of amazement. All the things he had said and all that she had realized...

A slight blush crossed over her cheeks.

Just then the door of the bath chamber opened and into the room entered her husband, dressed still in his night pants.

His hair disheveled, he looked glorious in his morning appearance.

His warm brown eyes were on her and they had seen the light colouring on her cheeks, instantly deducing it had something to do with him.

Instead of making towards the wardrobe, he stepped towards the bed.

Each step he took closer to her, Kushi backed away to the headboard, clutching the blanket to her that he not see her legs.

Slipping under the curtains, he crawled onto the bed and made towards her, where she was cushioned among pillows, her trembling hands holding onto one end of the blanket as her big, petrified eyes stared at him.

He crouched before her, his face close to hers.

She closed her eyes and pressed her lips together, afraid of what he might do.

His breath fanned the loose strands of hair over her ear, as he whispered, "Good Morning, Kushi Singh Raizada."

The pride with which he had pronounced her name was evident in his voice.

Opening her eyes, she stared at him in astonishment. Did he just wish her good morning? Kushi blinked. This was beginning to be a very strange morning...

"Am I still sleeping?" she managed to mumble, her eyes still on her implausible husband.

Smirking, he got out of bed, "Be quick, we're late for breakfast."

As he walked to the wardrobe, Kushi slipped out of bed and, after making sure his back was turned to her, she rushed to the bath chamber before he saw her in her torn gown.

When she reentered the bed chamber, washed and freshened up, the room was empty.

She hastily dressed into a gown, a sky-blue one with white pearls on it, and after tying her long hair in a neat bun, she pressed white bead pins into it.

Putting on her white sandals, she was soon skipping out of the room and racing down the stairs, happily heading for the dining hall.

The whole family was streaming into the dining hall where the servants waited to serve them and Kushi, greeting the ladies cheerfully, seated herself beside her husband's armchair which was presently empty for he was in the living room giving some instructions to the butler.

To her right sat Lady Anjali who smiled at her, pleased to see her at the table. Across the table, opposite to Kushi, sat Nani, watching acutely as a servant poured her a cup of tea.

Shortly, Lord Arnav walked into the dining room to join his breakfasting family and his eyes fell on his wife and Kushi was certain she had discerned a charmed light in his eyes.

Wordlessly, he sat at the head of the table and waited as the servants served his portion of the meal onto his waiting plate.

Kushi was sipping her tea when her attention was drawn to the conversation that issued from the other end of the table.

"A strange sight it was, I tell you ," Lady Manorama was telling her husband, "To walk into the living room early morning and find an orphaned pair of bedroom slippers."

Kushi coughed on her tea, earning the concerned look of Lady Anjali, Lord Arnav and Nani but she recovered instantly and flashed them an assuring smile.

Everyone returned back to their breakfast but Kushi couldn't keep her concentration strayed from the conversation at the other end.

"Did you now?" Lord Manohar remarked, as he took a sip of tea from his cup, "And I suppose you are gravely bothered by the sight that you find it the topic of the morning. However, what is more worrying is that the servants are not diligent enough to let such things lie around unnoticed."

"Oh, they were quite assiduous, alright," replied Lady Manorama, picking up her cup of tea, "In fact, I had found the questionable slippers being picked up by the butler who must have chanced on them the very moment I myself had."

Precisely at that moment, the cited butler arrived at the doorway with a golden tray, upon with was a tiny roll of parchment.

He bowed to the family and walked towards Lord Arnav's end of the table.

"Well, what is that worries you, my dear?" Kushi heard Lord Manohar asking, as she sipped her tea carefully while her eyes absent-mindedly watched the butler saunter around the back of Lord Arnav's chair and move towards where Lady Anjali and herself sat.

Lady Manorama huffed, "The very fact that a pair of bedroom slippers was to be found outside a bedroom without feet in it! Bedroom slippers cannot walk floors without feet to move them about!"

Kushi wasn't looking but she knew Lord Manohar must have rolled his eyes because there was a distinct tone of mirth in his voice when he replied, "Strange sight it undeniably was then."

"My lady," the butler respectfully said in a low voice, standing between where Lady Anjali and Kushi were seated. He was bowing to Lady Anjali as he held out the tray to her, "A message for you."

"The question is," Lady Manorama opined, as Kushi continued sipping her tea, "whose is it? One of the new brides, presumably..."

Kushi coughed on her tea a second time and her cup would have slipped from her hold if her husband's quick hand hadn't reached out and took it from her.

He placed her unspilt cup on the table and then held her hand, the light in his eyes worried, "Kushi, are you alright?"

Lady Anjali handed her a glass of water and Kushi sipped a little from it and then, smiling at them, she placed the glass on the table, "Yes, I am fine."

Her eyes looked up at her husband, warming within by the look of concern exhibited on his handsome face.

Beside her, Lady Anjali had turned her attention to the waiting butler. Taking the roll of parchment, she thanked the butler before he was dismissed and her curious fingers had already begun unrolling the tiny strip of parchment.

For a moment there was silence in the room as all eyes turned to Lady Anjali for she had suddenly gone silent.

Worried for her, Kushi laid her hand on Lady Anjali's shoulder, "Di?"

Lady Anjali looked at Kushi, her eyes glistening with tears.

And then Lady Anjali smiled, "He's coming home."

The glee on Lady Anjali's face was reflected on everyone's face for Lady Anjali was the core of the family and when she was happy, the elation resonated in every heart.

"My joy cannot be more complete as it is now!" Lady Anjali was telling Kushi, the mirth shining in her face as she held Kushi's hand.

Kushi smiled for Lady Anjali and then she turned her head to look at her husband, fearful of how he would take the news.

His face had turned sour, and his hands were fisting the knife and fork, soundless rage steaming inside of him.

Without a word, he dropped the knife and fork onto his plate and left the jubilant room, and no one in their happiness noticed the bitterness on his face as he exited.

Kushi excused herself from the table and left to find him.

When she walked into his bed chamber, she found him storming about in his room, pausing only to frustratedly remove his coat that he'd put on to leave for the Industry.

She shut the door gently behind her.

He looked up and frowned at her.

"Why is he coming? I will not allow him to step into my Castle."

"You can't stop him," Kushi tried to reason.

"Why not?" He was indignant.

"He is your sister's husband and the father of the child she is carrying."

Angered, Lord Arnav sat on the edge of his bed.

Kushi remained near the door, watching him anxiously.

"You mustn't let your anger get the better of you when he is here. The family does not know."

"No one knows expect us," he muttered.

Then he looked up and glared at her, "Don't you dare think that I am happy about this whole disruption especially with your hand in it."

"My hand!" Kushi was flabbergasted, "How can my-"

"You wrote letters to him!"

"He had saved my life and I had only sought to thank him."

The next words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself, "Besides, I believed him to be a worthy acquaintance until that night he came to the village."

Lord Arnav shot up, "What night? When did he come to the Village?"

"I don't know," Kushi was helpless, "He was all wet and shivering and he asked me if..."

"If..." Lord Arnav stepped towards her.

Kushi frowned at the floor, despising the memory, "If I'd be the companion of his heart."

"There you have it!" he gritted his teeth.

"Have what?" Kushi frowned at him, "I don't even know what he really meant!"

"Does it have to mean anything but someone to love?"

"That's ridiculous!" Kushi exclaimed, "How can a married man ask of such a thing to a..."

She paused, not liking the thought line at all.

Lord Arnav narrowed his gaze, reading the truth in his wife's expression.

Realizing how abrasive the General's intentions were, Kushi groaned, "I feel disgusted."

"You should be."

She looked up at Lord Arnav, wanting to prove her innocence, "I have nothing to do with him."

He didn't reply to her but stood frowning at the door, "He's a devil in disguise. A disgusting rat that must be disposed off!"

He rushed towards the door but Kushi held his hand, "Recollect how happy she looked by the mere news that he was returning. Do you really think this is the right manner, the right time? Do you really want to see your sister widowed and her child orphaned?"

Lord Arnav looked at her, "I don't want my faithful sister to survive a faithless marriage."

Kushi released his hand, her gaze firm, "Then go do it. Wreck her happiness. Anger disables you to think of consequences and you realize your folly only after your temper has wrought havoc."

Without a word, Lord Arnav left the room, leaving a worried Kushi to contemplate over the difficult situation. There has to be a way to bring the truth to light without wounding any hearts...

A minute later, following after her husband who had most likely reached the dining hall, Kushi stepped out of the bed chamber, shutting the door behind her and stepped onto the landing.

She was coming down the stairs, when the central doors in the living room downstairs opened, and in walked the uniformed General, his medaled hat donned on his head.

As he marched into the Castle, his ever-alert gaze swept over the place, noticing the changes since the last time he had been there,

Suddenly his eyes fell on the gowned beauty standing frozen midway down the stairway.

He stopped in the middle of the living room and stared at her, expecting his world to shatter.

But it did not.

A smile of relief crept on his tired face as he gallantly removed his hat.

She was untouched. One look was all he needed and he knew it.

He still had a chance. A flicker of the hope lit inside of him.

Kushi stared in shock. Her reactions were disabled, not knowing what to do.

The awed look he was giving her confused her and she would have stood staggered and speechless if, from the corner of her eyes, she hadn't caught the movement near the dining hall doorway.

Both Kushi on the stairs and the General in the living room turned their heads to appraise the fuming Lord Arnav standing at the doorway, from where he had seen it all.

His angry gaze on Kushi swept to coldly warn the General.

With her husband's gaze of threat on the General, Kushi promptly streamed downstairs until she was standing beside Lord Arnav, whose unblinking glare remained on the General.

However, nothing of this could weaken the General's spirits. Neither the husband's intimidating look nor the sight of the wife seeking security from the man she was legally married to.

The realization that hope was not lost had raised General Jha's diminishing bout of courage and he strolled towards them determinedly.

Lord Arnav's hands fisted in growing anger and Kushi worriedly looked at her husband, not knowing how to appease the looming combat.

Suddenly Lady Anjali appeared at the doorway, one hand on her inflated middle.

Her face was lit with unspeakable joy and she exclaimed, "You are here, my love!"

The General stilled and his face warmed as he looked at Lady Anjali who stepped forward and embraced him. He winced when her carrying midriff pressed against him, reminding him of the ominous child from his nightmares.

"I am so glad you are back," breathed out Lady Anjali against his ear.

He smiled against her head, but his eyes were on Lord Arnav who was watching their embrace with revulsion.

The mere sight of his dear sister in the arms of the unfaithful monster made Lord Arnav cringe.

Lady Anjali released him from her embrace and holding his hand, beckoned him towards the dining hall, "Everyone's dying to see you."

Lady Anjali led her husband towards the dining hall and they paused at the doorway where stood the other two.

For a moment, the air felt restrained which Lady Anjali was oblivious to but Kushi was only the more stifled by. She prayed that nothing atrocious would happen.

Lady Anjali smiled at her brother, "Well, Chotey, once again you will have someone to accompany you when you go riding on Shadow for leisure."

Lord Arnav nodded stiffly but said nothing.

Tallying to Lady Anjali's happiness, the General was quick to be visibly amiable, as he grinned at Lord Arnav, "Looking forward to our rides, Master Menace."

He said the last two words with ironic assertion but the unknowing Lady Anjali laughed, "Oh yes, this young man is a Master Menace indeed. Wait till you hear all the appalling things he did after becoming a husband!"

The General smiled, his teeth slightly gritted, "I am only eager to know, my dear Lady Queen."

"But first, let's feed you, hungry soldier," crooned Lady Anjali, and Lord Arnav and Kushi watched silently as she happily floated into the dining hall.

The General was to follow her of course but he stood at the doorway, not having greeted the wife of his brother-in-law.

"Greetings, Miss Kushi. I must confess, you look most elegant in that gown."

Infuriated, Lord Arnav would have attacked the General if Kushi hadn't clutched at her husband's arm, her cold gaze directed towards the General, "Thank you for your appreciation, General Jha. Pardon me for my openness, but I must say you look quite loathsome that no bath could do you good."

The General was stunned and so was Lord Arnav.

Kushi lifted her head proudly and the General smiled amusedly, "Aye! What an interesting creature you are, Miss Kushi! Delightfully I can say that I look forward to our future conversations."

And before he got the reaction of either Lord Anrav or Kushi, the General had moved into the dining hall.

"If I get my hands on him-" Lord Arnav was practically trembling with anger but Kushi's hand was around his elbow.

"It is not worth it, my lord," she frowned at the space where the General had stood seconds ago, "You will only filthy your hand."

Lord Arnav stared at her but said nothing.

Kushi was stepping for the dining hall but stopped when she realized that the First Lord was not.

"Aren't you going to finish you breakfast?" she looked at him.

"I'm not hungry," he mumbled, glaring at the General inside the dining hall being convivially greeted by everyone.

Kushi sighed and looked over her shoulder to study the gathering.

Lady Anjali was the most happiest among them all and, contrarily, Kushi's heart sank at the sight.

"If only there was a way we could-" she had begun but realized her husband was no longer there.

He was already crossing the living room, heading for the central doors.

She ran after him and caught up with him when he stepped into the wide sunlit lawn in front of the Castle.

"Wait, let me at least pack you a basket so that you won't remain hungry."

He turned on her and glared heatedly, "I need no basket, Kushi! I need-"

He stopped, for from the corner of his eyes he saw that the General was watching them from the dining hall window that looked into the front lawn of the Castle.

Kushi, not aware of this, was confused by her husband's sudden silence, "You need?"

Suddenly, he took a stride towards her and his arm was around her, pulling her to him.

Gasping, she stared up at him, his warm brown eyes glinting purposefully, making her cheeks burn red.

"My lord-"

And then his lips were on hers and her lips parted in the shock of the abrupt affection.

He delved deeper into the kiss, leaning towards her, and Kushi struggled to catch her breath.

She dug her fingers into his sides, grappling at his coat.

And then, as quickly as he had begun it, he had withdrawn.

Panting, Kushi leaned against his chest, her nerves too excited to be pacified.

He couldn't help smile at the effect he was having on her and, most importantly, on the jealous General who was seething behind the window pane.

In her attempts to steady her weakened legs, she shifted, and that was when, from the corner of her eye, she caught the sight of the General at the window.

Kushi looked at her husband who was preparing to leave, "It was not for us, was it?"

"What?" Lord Arnav looked at her.

"You have never kissed me when you leave for the Industry every morning," Kushi elucidated.

An amused light flickered in his eyes, "You're clever enough. Figure it out yourself."

And then he was strolling away in the direction of the stable, leaving Kushi to her thoughts.

Most instantaneously a shrewd thought crept in her mind and she smiled willfully, "If that General's presence will lead my husband to endure such acts of affection on me, selfish I may be, but I want that General to remain here."