Chapter 132

Will PM all unPMed chapters with Chapter 209. In a hurry.

Chapter 208: The First Lady at the Industry

Next morning, Kushi woke up late for breakfast.

Lord Arnav had already left for the Industry and she wondered why he hadn't bothered waking her up, after insisting last night that she accompany him to the Industry.

Scrambling out of bed, she dragged herself to the bath chamber where the warm water waited in the bath tub.

Undressing, she sank into it with only her head above the surface. Letting out a sigh, she leaned back and shut her eyes.

She didn't know but she always felt tired. Every time Lord Arnav kissed her, in the past there used to be marks but now it was like he sapped the energy out of her.

She tried to calm her mind.

In that silence, his voice reached her from memory.

Let me protect you, Kushi...

She sat up and stared at the sunlight from the tiny bath chamber window.

Why is he all, of a sudden, bent on wanting to protect me? Is it the General's presence? Does he know the General's watching my every move?

And then a worrying thought came to her mind: Had they confronted each other?

The image of how they fought in the forest on the night of her wedding rushed into her mind and she gripped the sides of the bath.

The last thing she wanted was a fight between the two. It was not really the fear of Lady Anjali's future that shook Kushi's courage but the knowledge that if the two men fought, Lord Arnav would certainly die, being the less strong among the two.

Kushi closed her eyes: she could not let that happen. She could not...

Hastily completing her morning wash, she rushed back into the bed chamber, changed into an elegant blue gown, tied her hair up in a bun with diamond-like beads in it and then proceeded downstairs.

Everyone, having finished breakfast, had dispersed from the living room and Kushi descended to find it empty.

She had barely reached the dining hall when she almost collided with the General, looking dashing in his green shirt.

She took two steps backward, frowning.

"Good morn it be, Miss Kushi," greeted the General cheerfully.

"It did seem to be so," said Kushi, and then she mumbled under her breath, "Until you appeared before me to sore it."

The General chuckled, having heard her clearly, "You have the very humour that Master Menace has lately been sporting. Do you two practice lines in the night?"

Kushi narrowed her gaze, "What my husband and I do in the night is none of your business, General."

"Pardon me, Miss Kushi," the General bowed politely, "I didn't mean to intrude into your privacy. Those words were merely an object of pun."

"My aesthetics don't approve of pun," Kushi made to pass him but he held out a hand before her and hindered her progress.

She looked at him, "Is there something you need, sir, that you stalk me so?"

The General wasn't pleased with her address of sir' but he smiled and spoke in a low voice, "Yes, there is something I need and I can only ask you of it."

"Why so?" said Kushi, "Do you not have a wife who can provide you anything?"

"This she cannot provide."

"Truly?" Kushi showed mocking interest, "What would that be now?"

"I would love to tell you if you will permit me a piece of your time to enlighten you."

"What you must speak, you will speak here."

"It is a matter of great confidence."

"Then keep it to yourself. I wish not to partake in the conversation."

She moved away but his voice reached out to her, "If only you could spare a moment to listen, Miss Kushi, you would understand why everything happened the way it did..."

She paused.

Without turning to look at him, she asked, "How are you so sure I will find your reasons righteous?"

"Because they ARE righteous."

Kushi frowned. Was he saying the truth? Was there a justifiable reason to everything? But he had tried to kill her husband, he had tried to steal her when he was already a married man. He was cheating on his wife... or was he not?

"'Companion of my heart' does not mean wife''..." The General had said that night.

So what did it mean?

The General could see that Kushi was on the verge of vacillation. He prodded, "Miss Kushi, help me to help you understand..."

Kushi closed her eyes. The whisper of her husband's voice from last night echoed in her mind:

Stay away from him...no matter what he says, Kushi. Stay away from him...

Kushi took a deep breath, "I would like to listen to what you want to say, General. But I'd first like to have my breakfast."

"I can wait..." offered the General and he watched her walk into the dining hall. I can wait because I know you will understand...

Having donned a blue hat (the colour of her gown) and blue netted gloves as well as a black cape to wrap herself in, Kushi scrambled into the carriage waiting outside the gates of the Raizada Castle.

"Did you inform Lady Anjali and Nani?" she asked as she sat down on the cushioned seat, looking at Om Prakash from under her hat where he stood outside the carriage, his hands on the handle of the carriage door.

He nodded, "Yes, my lady. They did wonder why you didn't tell them in person. I told them you were late and in a hurry."

Kushi shrugged, "They will gather I didn't want to anger my husband with my tardiness and hence had to hurry."

"Hopefully, my lady," said Om Prakash, preparing to close the door.

"Oh and Om Prakash," Kushi interjected and the servant paused, "Yes, my lady?"

"Take the short cut and keep an eye out if anyone is following us."

"Certainly, my lady," he bowed and shut the door.

Kushi heard him climb onto the front seat and knew he had picked up his reins because soon the two horses, hitched to the carriage, began trotting downhill.

It was the first time Kushi was going out dressed like a Lady, and she felt extremely odd.

Nevertheless, she knew she had to comply with the standards expected of the Raizada ladies, especially those expectations levied upon the First Lady.

The carriage journey was unexpectedly shorter than she had anticipated for Om Prakash had taken extreme caution and made it through the quickest way to the gates of AR Industry.

As the carriage was admitted through the gates, through the open window of the wagon, Kushi caught a fleeting glimpse of Master Lal standing guard to one side of the gateway, his curious eyes noting that the carriage was from the Castle but wondering who it could be since Lord Akash was away for a week and Lord Arnav was already at the Industry.

When the carriage came to a stop before the long line of steps leading to the huge doors of the Industry, Om Prakash got down from his perch and, walking up to the carriage door, opened it and held out a white gloved hand (the kind of gloves that servants and footmen wear).

Kushi took Om Prakash's waiting hand and emerged out of the carriage, the long black cape open in the front where her blue gown was revealed. She looked from under the brim of her hat and for the first time, she stared at the huge structure of the Industry with a different feeling. With a feeling of belongingness...

Master Lal strolled to the carriage just then, to ascertain who the visitor was, and when he saw who it was, his mouth opened in a gape.

"Miss Kushi- I mean, Lady Kushi?" he hastily bowed to her and then looked at her, bedazzled by the sight of her in her exquisite ladyship.

She nodded at Om Prakash, "That will do, Om Prakash. You can leave."

"My lady," Om Prakash bowed obediently and returning to the front seat of the carriage, he picked up the reins and rode away.

Then she turned to smile at Master Lal who still could not believe his eyes.

"This way, my lady," said Master Lal as he led her up the steps.

She laughed as she followed him, "Oh, Master Lal, you know I know my way around this place."

Master Lal didn't reply, not knowing if it was respectable to reply to the First Lady though she was once an acquaintance.

He opened the doors of the Industry and Kushi was greeted by the clamour of machines and people at work. But when Kushi stepped into the shadowy wide hall, all sounds stopped and every eye looked up to behold her at the doorway.

When Master Lal had shut the door behind him, he turned to her, politely offering to take her cape and hat.

After Kushi had been shed of her cape, hat and gloves, she walked into the Industry, looking around at the rapt faces, all heads bowing slightly as she passed. Her steps took her to the crowd that stood before a machine a little distance in the middle of the huge room.

In the crowd stood Mia, the industry worker who had been a dear friend of Kushi's during the days she had worked there.

Everyone watched in unsure silence as Kushi stepped towards Mia who stared at Kushi. Mia was beginning to bow to Kushi, when the First Lady had put her arms around the worker, voicing merrily, "It is so good to see you again, Mia."

Mia's eyes filled with tears and she embraced Kushi, and then the whole gathering applauded.

The tensed air reprieved easily and everyone reached out to touch Kushi, patting her back, hugging her and shaking her hand, overjoyed that she was back and that she was not changed by her upgraded station.

The relief that gushed through the crowd resonated a jovial response, and Master Lal smiled at Kushi, when he caught her eye, "You will always be our little Miss Kushi, my lady."

"Ladyship cannot drive away the demon in your little Miss Kushi's naughty heart, Master Lal!" winked Kushi.

Someone brought her tea and Kushi, out of politeness though it was not the time of the day for tea, drank it. They were about to bring her some edibles to enjoy with the tea but she protested, suggesting that she could have lunch with them instead when it was time for it since she had only had her breakfast.

Sufficed by her suggestion, they returned to their work and Kushi strolled around the place with Mia and Master Lal, filling in on every detail that she had missed or was new to since the last time she had been here.

During their escorting, a worker came down with a message for Kushi that the First Lord was asking for her.

Kushi's gaze slid up to the floor above where the closed doors of the two offices could be seen, and she frowned at the door that was the only one presently occupied.

She realized that though he had demanded she come to the Industry with him, he had let her make the choice. And she also knew that the cunning First Lord KNEW she would choose what he had already chosen for her: he knew she would appear at the Industry. The thought that she had walked right into his clever game displeased her but she kept her cool and smiled at Master Lal and Mia, excusing herself so she could pay her husband a visit and they watched as she headed towards the stairs for the topmost room from where her husband ruled all of Arhasia.

When the expected knock was sounded on his door, Lord Arnav put his quill down on the table and leaned back in his armchair, "Enter."

The door opened and in entered his wife, dressed in a bewitching attire, his hair tied in a bun with thin curled strands on either side of her face.

He waited until she had closed the door.

Instead of walking towards him, however, she stood where she was, before the closed door.

A mischievous light lit in her husband's eyes, "What made you change your mind?"

Kushi kept her face expressionless, "I wanted something to amuse me and decided a trip to the Industry would suffice."

Lord Arnav's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You find the Industry amusing?"

"I've always liked this place," said Kushi, looking around, "though I am not particularly happy about the way silk is produced."

Lord Arnav felt a smile appear on his face at the memory of how Kushi had endured her days when working in the division that produced silk production.

Kushi didn't like his smile though, "What are you smiling for?"

Lord Arnav stood up, "Why, should I obtain a written grant from my wife if I need to smile?"

Kushi frowned, "I am nto your wife. I-" She watched him move around his desk and head towards her.

She decided to throw him off with a change of topic, "Why did you insist that I come here?"

"What?" Lord Arnav stopped before her.

Kushi looked at him, "Why did you want me to come to the Industry all of a sudden? Did something happen last day?"

Lord Arnav faintly was reminded of his conversation with the General, "YOUR wife is your Achilles' heel. You will face defeat because of her."

He stared at the young girl before him. The girl who was his defeat. The one who could bring him and his future grinding to the ground.

The girl he could not live without.

Kushi was uncertain about what to make of the mixed emotions running over his face.

But just then a knock sounded on the door and Lord Arnav looked up, "Who is it?"

The muffled voice was unfamiliar to Kushi, "Sire, it is I. There is a letter for you from Master Sena."

"Enter," Lord Arnav commanded as he returned to his imperial desk.

Kushi stepped aside as she watched the door open and in entered a frail young man, dressed in simple attire, holding a rolled parchment in his hand.

Kushi was astonished for, one glimpse at the man's face was enough to discern him detached from feelings. She could practically feel an emptiness emanating from him. His face was devoid of expressions and when he moved his arms, titled his head and even took a step forward, he moved like a structure made of metal rods and twines.

"Kushi, this is my new assistant, Adil. Adil, this is my wife and the First Lady of this land, Kushi Singh Raizada."

Adil blinked at Kushi as though he had only noticed her and, after bowing to her stiffly, he reverted his attention to his Master, "Shall I read it you, sire?"

Lord Arnav nodded as he sank into the armchair again.

The aloofness with which the man read out the letter unnerved Kushi. She looked at her husband first and then at the other man who virtually possessed the same detachment, though she was certain her husband knew how to exhibit expressions on his face and not keep it like the other man whose resembled a plastered doll's.

When the letter had been read out, Lord Arnav scanned the script on a long roll of parchment and then looked at his servant, "The schedule is too constricted this week. Ask Master Sena if he is fine with postponing his meeting for next week."

"Yes, Master," the servant Adil bowed tautly.

After Adil was dismissed and the couple was alone again, Kushi frowned at her husband seated behind his desk, "Is that man the one you got to replace Master Aman?"

From the parchment he had been reading, Lord Arnav slid his gaze to her face, "Yes." He read the disapproval in her face and raised his eyebrows, "Do you not think him compatible enough?"

Kushi rolled her eyes, "He is so much like you. How is this Industry to survive with two unfeeling men to look over the matters?"

Lord Arnav frowned, "Adil does not look over the matters of the Industry. He is only a servant. It is I and Akash who do the ruling here."

"Well, Master Aman was too proficient to be just an assistant and he played a very important role in the management of this Industry's affairs."

"He must have," Lord Arnav stood up, "But he is not here now. We do with what we have."

"Well, I don't like this new one," Kushi crossed her arms before her chest.

Lord Arnav walked towards her, "Because he is not Aman?"

Kushi glared up at him and replied cuttingly, "Yes."

Lord Arnav was furious, "Why do you glory Aman so much? He fancied you, I had noticed, but I estimated that you didn't harbor feelings for him. Did you?"

"He was my friend," defended Kushi coldly.

"Like how the General was?" Lord Arnav eyes glinted angrily.

Kushi gasped, "How dare you- ! Master Aman is NOTHING like that filthy General!"

"What is he like then?"

"He is kind, sensible and understanding of others' feelings," Kushi fumed, "During the days I worked here, I preferred his cheerful company to your domineering presence."

Lord Arnav gritted his teeth, "Then you should have married him!"

Kushi was hurt but she didn't let go of her pride, "Probably I would have, if given a choice, if YOU hadn't gone and forced marriage on me!"

Lord Arnav gripped her by her shoulders and pulled her face to his, "Would you, Kushi? Would you marry him if I hadn't married you first?"

"In this life it is impossible, for what is done is done. But in my next life I will make sure never to cross paths with you."

Lord Arnav growled at her face, "If there is such a thing as incarnation, then know this: I will find you and the only man you will wed in every damned life of yours will be ME!!!"

Kushi stared him, reading the possessiveness in his angry eyes, "You are mad..."

"Aye, I am mad," said Lord Arnav, "And you bring it to the surface every time, Kushi."

Kushi wriggled free of his hold and stepped back, "Then I will do good to stay away from you."

Lord Arnav frowned at her, "I was about to suggest that myself. Your presence is a wreck to my peace and substance."

"I don't need to be told to remove myself from the spitting serpent's lair," Kushi remarked proudly and then she left the room, leaving a seething Lord Arnav behind.

Quesitons: (With regard to those who are restless without the answers) Why did Kushi faint last night? Why is Lord Arnav always so angry, even for the most silliest things? Why is Kushi acting like an immature schoolgirl?

Answers in a Jumble: ( To make the restless more restless) Possessive. Desperate to Protect. Building Immunity. Helplessly torn from all Happiness. Too hurt and proud to communicate openly.

There might not be much to analyze for those who seek to analyze. These chapters are "foundation" to a future track being built and the tumult of momentums you will see need to furnish you with successive hints as to the character psychologies. The next chapter will be the last I post before my Christmas Break. Thank you for all your love and support, my dear lovely readers...