Chapter 161

Chapter 240: Pained Ponderings of the Past

The night grew darker as it neared the hour of dawn. The Castle and its grounds hung in slumbering silence.

Rahim Chacha had woken up in the middle of the night feeling thirsty.

He got out of bed, walked into the second kitchen and having poured himself a glass of water was draining its cool contents down his throat when he froze, having heard a floorboard creek.

Despite his age, the butler's ears were especially keen, particularly when something threatened the protection of the Castle and the family.

Now that he had sensed possible danger, his defensive mind was awake and alert.

Stepping out of the kitchen as soundlessly as his old legs could manage, he peered around the darkness.

His squinting eyes were scanning the moonlit silhouettes of the doors upstairs when they noticed a shadow heading for the door that the butler recognized instantly as Lord Arnav's bed chamber.

The shadow opened the door and stepped into the chamber.

Picking up the silver tray which was the nearest weapon his hands could find, Rahim Chacha rushed hastily up the stairs in his night pyjamas.

Wondering why the intruder had left the door open after entering the chamber, the butler followed in, only to stop in surprise at the doorway, "Lady Mother?"

The shadow, sitting on the edge of the huge bed, looked up and moonlight glistened on the tears on Lady Deviyani's cheeks.

"Honourable Lady..." the butler bowed apologetically and, when he had straightened up, there was a look of concern on his face.

With her sad eyes gazing at the bed, Lady Deviyani's hand was caressing the sheet as though she was assuring her little grandchild that nightmares could not hurt.

The butler knew he was intruding into his Mistress' privacy but he couldn't muster the courage to abandon her in her hurting moment.

Strangely though, Lady Deviyani was comforted by the butler's presence at the doorway.

"Rahim Chacha?"

The butler perked up, "My lady?"

Lady Deviyani kept caressing the bed, "Do you remember the nights, those horrid, confusing nights?"

"How can I forget them, my lady," he answered in a solemn voice, "They were nights of fear, worry and insomnia."

"They still haunt me," she said, looking at him.

"I know," he said kindly, "I know they are the reason you locked yourself up in that room."

Lady Deviyani shook her head, "But how selfish of me to have dealt with my sorrows that way..."

The butler had a pained expression, "Your heart was not strong enough to bear the pain."

Lady Deviyani closed her eyes, "But how could I have let him suffer my absence during a time he needed me most."

"You had your own fears to fight then," the butler reminded her.

But she continued mourning, "And I left him to face the fears of his future alone..."

"My lady..." Worried, the elderly man stepped forward.

Her hand that had been caressing the bed suddenly fisted and her voice turned furious, "All because of that faithless man who married my daughter!"

The change in her tone halted the butler's steps and he tried to appease her antipathy, "My lady, may bygones be bygones and let them remain so."

Lady Deviyani pronounced dolefully, "It is easier said than done, Rahim Chacha."

The butler tried to reason, "At least we can console ourselves that all is well again."

Lady Deviyani nodded dismally, "If only I could feel guilty no more. If there was something I could do to take this feeling away..."

Rahim Chacha had found the opportune opening to dare suggest, "How about beginning with the revelation of the truth...?"

Lady Deviyani looked up, "Truth about what?"

"About our boy," the butler opined cautiously, "His wife has a right to know.'

Lady Deviyani gasped as though he had blasphemed, "We must not! We cannot! We shall not tamper with the curse or its knowledge unless given cause for."

The butler was not satisfied, "Won't marriage suffice as enough cause?"

Lady Deviyani shook her head vigorously, "She cannot be told until she is revealed of it."

"My lady, I am a man of faith and religion too but I fear we have let superstitions accord a blinder hold upon our rationales."

"She will not be told until she is revealed of it," repeated the steadfast elder woman.

The butler sighed, "How much longer must we wait for that revelation to chance?"

A weight of worry fell upon Lady Deviyani's shoulders, "I am uncertain myself but I only pray it will be soon. I keep worrying every night if I will see her unharmed and smiling the next day..."

"As do I," remarked a dismayed Rahim Chacha.

Lady Deviyani looked up, sudden hope shining in her eyes, "But she won't come to any harm for she is the one."

The butler was not sure he had heard it right, "Are you telling me that she is his cure?"

"She could very well be," grinned a relieved Deviyani, her dry tears glistening on her cheeks.

"But, my lady, a person cannot possibly supply as a cure: that's a figment for children's fairytales. This is life we are living, not a fairytale."

Lady Deviyani had a learned look on her face, "Do you deny there are curses?"

The butler shook his head, "There are curses. I've seen it myself."

"Well then, if there are curses, there are cures too," Lady Deviyani stated wisely, "Perchance, fairytales are accounts of events that once happened and then pragmatists like you turned them into mythologies, legends and far-fetched stories for children."

The butler shrugged, "I will not argue with you on this, my good lady, but I pray you stop wandering about in the nights and scaring people who come out for a sip of water."

Lady Deviyani laughed lightly, "Ah! You keep your humour polished even after all these dreary years! The comfort you are to me and my family... What would I have done without you, Rahim Chacha?"

A merry twinkle lit in the butler's aged eyes, "Then the history would be a lot different. You wouldn't even be here and your grandchildren would have been lost to you forever."

The grandmother shivered at the thought, "I am relieved that didn't happen."

"All thanks to me," asserted the jovial butler.

Lady Deviyani frowned playfully, "You are not hoping for a raise, are you?"

"I could be," the butler winked and then he bowed to her.

When he straightened up, his expression was warm and serious, "May you forgo your feelings of guilt and find peace to sleep the night. Goodnight, Lady Mother."

"Goodnight, my good friend," murmured a grateful Lady Deviyani.

The butler turned on his heels and, with the aimless silver tray towed in hand, he left as soundlessly as he had come.

With a sigh, Lady Deviyani returned her gaze upon the bed, "Forgive me, Chotey, for not trusting you... Forgive me for abandoning you to fight the future alone..."