Chapter 164

Chapter 243: By the Banter of the Brothers

Lord Arnav was poring over a huge book of accounts at his massive desk in his Industry cabin when a knock was heard on the door and Lord Akash peered in, "You called, brother?"

Lord Arnav looked up, "Ah, yes, Akash. Next week's agenda has turned a little constricted."

"What do you mean?" Lord Akash asked as he stepped into the room and sat on the armchair before the desk, facing his brother.

Lord Arnav put his quill down and leaned back in his armchair, "There are delegates coming from India and France on the same date-"

"India?" Lord Akash appeared confused, "Why are delegates coming from India? We've never had anyone from India come to Arhasia to trade with us. They have manifold factories of silk production of their own."

"They are coming not on matters of silk," Lord Arnav replied and, before Lord Akash could enquire further, the First Lord said, "Since representatives from both countries are meeting us on the same day, I suggest we meet them separately and avoid occurrences of overlapping delay."

Lord Akash nodded obediently, "You want me to meet with the delegates from India."

"No, France," Lord Arnav was quick to answer.

Lord Akash was surprised. Foreign delegates had always been the First Lord's department but now the Second Lord was asked to administer to their affairs personally.

"You want me to consult with France?" Lord Akash asked doubtfully.

"Yes," Lord Arnav picked up his quill and marked something off the book in front of him, "You can ask Mamaji to supplement you when you make the deal. He has the skill to easily persuade people into considering propositions."

"Father certainly has," Lord Akash nodded with smile, "Only that skill doesn't work on his wife."

Lord Arnav smiled, his thoughts wandering, "Every man, in some way, might appear to be the slave of his wife."

Lord Akash was amazed and he leaned forward, wanting to get something cleared, "Is it true, brother, that you baked cheesecake and helped construct a carriage when at the Village?"

Lord Arnav stared in astonishment at his brother, "Who told you that! Did-"

Kushi's cheerful face crossed his mind and Lord Arnav groaned inwardly.

Lord Akash was immediately on the defensive, "Kushiji was so thrilled by her stay at the Village that all the things she may have intended to not reveal came cascading out in her narration while with our ladies at the Castle. She must not have-"

A knock was heard on the door and, when permitted, Aloof Adil stepped in.

"Master," he bowed to Lord Arnav and then straightened up. "Master," he said again, and bowed to Lord Akash.

"What is it you want?" Lord Arnav asked, impatient for reasons uncalled for.

Aloof Adil stated expressionlessly, "I only came to remind Master that the meeting you had postponed with Mister Sena is due this week."

Lord Arnav nodded distractedly, "Keep it for tomorrow. He must want to talk about sanctioning that wool factory of his in the North Village-"

He paused, a thought crossing his mind. Mister Sena...the one who...

Lord Arnav looked at his servant, "No. Keep the meeting for the day after."

"As you wish, Master," bowed the servant stiffly, "I shall sent the messenger."

"Give the message in writing," reminded Lord Arnav, picking up his quill, "Mister Sena should be assured that the meeting is of great importance."

Lord Akash was curious but Aloof Adil appeared unaffected by his Master's sudden earnestness for a serious meeting with Mister Sena.

When the servant had left, the Second Lord enquired, "Is anything the matter, brother?"

Lord Arnav was writing something down on his book, the quill quivering with the speed of his urgent scripting. He looked up, "What? No, nothing's the matter, Akash. You may leave now. Just remember about next week's meeting with France."

"I will," Lord Akash rose and was about to make for the door when he paused and looked at his brother, who was immersed in his writing.

"Brother, I don't know if you are aware of this but we need to increase our vigilance of the coasts. There are reports of illegal shippings and unwarranted immigration."

"I am not aware of any such news," Lord Arnav looked up seriously, "Where did you hear of it?"

Lord Akash stepped forward, "One evening, when you were at the Village and our family was at dinner, Brother-in-law suggested-"

"Brother-in-law?!" Lord Arnav perked up sternly, "Are you taking suggestions from a soldier about maintaining a land?"

Lord Akash was taken aback, "He was only trying to help, I am certain. He was telling about the weapons that were being smuggled in and among them there were..."

Lord Arnav had a steady frown on his face, "There were...?"

"Guns," Lord Akash mumbled as though he was speaking of something forbidden.

Lord Arnav shot up, "That is a LIE! There are no guns in Arhasia! I have outlawed all orders that requested for gunpowder and rifles."

Lord Akash nodded, "That is exactly why Brother-in-law alerted us about the guns used in battlefield against your constrictions, and hence his suggestion for increased vigilance of the coasts."

"I will not let guns be used in my land!" asserted a furious Lord Arnav, "And I don't take advice from uniformed murderers!"

"Your wish is law, brother," Lord Akash assured him, and then turned about to leave when Lord Arnav said, "Increase the vigilance!"

Lord Akash looked over his shoulder and read the determination on his brother's face.

"Along the coasts," added the First Lord, "And make sure they make daily reports and submit them to you. Alert me if anything proscribed is perceived."

"As you wish, brother," promised Lord Akash and then he left.

Kushi sighed.

The whole family had dined two hours ago and were probably all fast asleep.

And here I am, hungry and sleepy, waiting for a man who loves his first wife more than the one he really married.

She looked around the dining hall, dim candles looking upon her from the holders all around the walls. Her eyes picked out the silhouettes of the dining hall servants standing motionless in the shadowy corners of the room as though they were one with the dark wall.

Just then the sound of the butler greeting someone at the front door was heard and Kushi stood up eagerly.

Instantly, her husband emerged through the archway of the dining hall but he stopped short when he noticed her presence beside the table.

"What are you doing here?" he asked impatiently, "Its past eleven. You ought to be asleep, Kushi!"

Kushi's heart sank but she kept her smile intact, "How can I be asleep when my husband is yet to return from work?"

Lord Arnav didn't reply but washed his hands in the basin held out by a servant and then, moving to his armchair at the head of the table, he sank into it and wiped his hands on the napkin.

Kushi sat down on the chair to his left.

The servants stepped from the shadows and began serving the dishes.

Lord Arnav had picked up his fork when he noticed the servants serving Kushi as well, "Didn't you have your dinner?"

Kushi shook her head, "I waited to dine with you."

Lord Arnav closed his eyes and spoke through gritted teeth, "Why couldn't you have just eaten and gone to sleep like everybody else?"

Kushi frowned, seeing that his ire had resurrected, "Because I am not everybody else. I am your wife."

Fisting his fork, Lord Arnav looked at her, "There is no law that says a wife must starve through the night if her husband is late to dine!"

Kushi was ready with her retort, "And I suppose there is a law that allows a husband to empty his frustration from work upon his wife who lovingly waited up for him!"

Lord Arnav flung his fork onto the plate and looked at Kushi, "Why did you tell them about what I did at the Village?"

Kushi opened her mouth to riposte and then closed it as understanding sank in.

Her voice was gentle when she asked, "Is that why you are angry with me?"

Lord Arnav didn't reply. Of course, there were many reasons why he was angry.

The servants had thankfully all departed into the shadows, leaving the First Lord and First Lady to their dinner and dialogue.

Kushi confessed, "I didn't think you would be offended by my telling it to your family since you love them more than you love my family to whom you had openly showcased your little wonders."

Lord Arnav sighed heavily and then looked at her, "I know you meant no offence, Kushi. But everything I did in the Village was for you, because I..."

His words trailed and he gazed at her, lost in the emotion he was feeling and had failed to utter.

Because I love you.

Kushi felt her eyes moisten as she read in his eyes what he had been about to say.

Because I love you.

She hadn't heard it but she could feel it in his gaze.

Kushi bit her lower lip to stop it from trembling, her heart filled with unspeakable joy.

Realizing that she knew what he had tried to say, Lord Arnav was driven to a humble rendering.

Lifting one of her hands, he kissed on its soft back, "Forgive me for my rudeness."

Kushi shook her head, "You must have had an exhausting day at work."

Lord Arnav slowly overturned her hand and gently kissed upon the palm, "But it was wrong of me to get angry on you."

Moved by his humble admission, Kushi warmly gazed at her husband, "I understand you, my lord."

Lord Arnav looked at her, touched by her words.

Kushi continued, "And I am sorry I exposed a little too much about our Village stay. But I assure you, I told them only about the cheesecake and the carriage and the iced cream. I didn't tell them anything about..."

She blushed, the memory of the midnight stroll crossing their minds.

He kissed her palm again, his eyes on her, "You should have told them about the night. We could have had a laugh at the expense of their expressions!"

Kushi grinned and then elucidated sincerely, "But I would not know how to word the night. It was simply too magical to be verbalized from memory."

Lord Arnav let go of her hand and picked up his knife and fork, his intense eyes still trained on her, "But nothing is as magical as my mischievous wife."

Picking up her fork, Kushi beamed at her plate, "I must be so if I am survive next to a man who is a menace to my heart."