Chapter 173
Font:
Text Size:
Theme:
[MEMBERSONLY]
I have replied to all the comments for the previous chapter on Page 57. Thank you to all my Readers and Comrades once again.
Commemorating another equation that was completely overlooked in the show...
Chapter 252: The Forte and the Fury
"Father?" Payal's voice called out gently into the empty living room.
"Yes, Payalbitiya?" a warm reply reached out to her from the armchair in the corner, whereupon sat Lord Manohar, having returned from the Industry after accompanying his son at a meeting with delegates from France.
Payal stepped in, holding a teacup on a saucer in her hands, "I thought you would like some tea, after your return from the meeting."
"That is so kind of you, bitiya," Lord Manohar smiled at her, keeping his book aside on the short table and taking the cup and saucer when she had offered it.
He sipped it and smiled, "Just the right amount of sugar and milk, the way I want."
"I've seen Mother make them for you," said Payal, smiling.
Lord Manohar nodded, "I knew you were a smart learner. And I've also noticed how you've warmed up to your Mother though she is still not too kind to you."
"She is sufficiently kind enough," said Payal, "Though she does accuse me and admonish me a lot, I know she loves me that way."
"What a wise child you are!" Lord Manohar praised her, "I must thank your parents for raising you right. You are gift to my family, dear daughter."
"I believe it is more a gift for me that I am could be a part of your family, Father," Payal smiled.
Lord Manohar smiled warmly and resumed drinking his warm tea.
After possibly a minute had expired, he realized Payal was unusually silent.
Looking up, he saw that her expression was crestfallen, "Is something the matter, bitiya?"
"Is it true..." Payal began awkwardly, "That we are leaving for India?"
"Yes," Lord Manohar kept his cup aside and gazed at her seriously, "Do you not want to go, child?"
"I don't want to be too far from Amma and Babuji."
"Well we'll simply have to ask them to come along too, right dear?" Lord Manohar's shone warmly, "Besides, they might themselves be longing to return back, now that their daughters have been married off."
Payal looked at the Elder Lord, "But where will they live? Three years ago, we had sold our house and land in India to buy the land and mill in Arhasia wherewith to settle."
Payal looked at the Elder Lord, "But where will they live? Three years ago, we had sold our house and land in India to buy the land and mill in Arhasia wherewith to settle."
Lord Manohar took his teacup again, "Didn't your Babuji get his mill back?"
"Yes," Payal replied, "Lord Arnav graciously bought it back for his sake."
"Then the matter is resolved," pointed out Lord Manohar, "Master Gupta need only sell his mill off to someone at a higher price: an amount with which he can buy a home and some land in India, maybe even buy the home that had once been his."
Payal still seemed unsure and Lord Manohar, keeping his cup aside, stood up and walked up to her.
He addressed her warmly, "Why must you let your life be wrought with worry, child? You have been worrying all your life: for the wellbeing of your parents, for the security of little sister, for your aunt, your husband, your mother-in-law... Carry not all this worry in your young heart. Know this: you have a husband and a Father now who will handle the world for you."
A smile lit on Payal's face at the last words and she bowed to him.
He placed a hand on her head and blessed her, "As long as I live, I will protect you and shoulder your littlest wishes. What else are fathers for, eh, bitiya?"
In the meantime, while Lord Arnav and Kushi were meeting with the delegates from India, JayPrakash had taken a most urgent but secret trip to the Market near the South Village.
He had made an appointment with a certain someone whom I gather I will need not name and he was rushing in that certain someone's direction, to the place where her father worked part time as the keeper of an Inn.
He had to, of course, for purposes known, sneak into visit the certain someone without the knowledge of her father.
For which he decided on an easier course:, by calling in as a customer at the Inn.
His speedy race to reach her halted only when he was at the door of the Inn, on arriving where he righted his bow-tie and groomed his hair.
Then, with his head lifted importantly, he marched into the Inn and looked around.
And then he froze.
And stared.
And blinked nervously.
For there, in that almost empty Inn, seated at the lonely round table before the window, was the General.
The General, had just placed his unfinished glass of wine on the table, when he looked up and caught JayPrakash staring at him.
For a moment, General Jha was confused and then, when recognition lit on his face, he nodded in greeting, "Hello there. What are you doing out of the Castle bounds?"
JayPrakash started, as though someone had just awoken him, hastily bowed in respect and then mumbled, "Sire, I came to...to buy some vegetables."
"Here?" General Jha's eyebrows rose in surprise, "I didn't know our Castle acquired its stock of vegetables from an Inn!"
"Well, no sir, not an Inn," corrected JayPrakash quickly, "The owner of this Inn has vegetables growing in his backyard which he sells and I was-"
Just then footsteps hurrying from inside the Inn was heard and, all of a sudden, a young girl with the apron of a waitress appeared at the doorway beside the counter, pretty looking but flushed from her excited running.
She halted at the door and looked expectantly at JayPrakash, but when her gaze fell on the solitary man seated in the Inn, she stilled and looked at JayPrakash confusedly.
The General noticed them share a glance.
Smirking in amusement, the General looked away and continued sipping his wine, "So that's your backyard supply of vegetables..."
JayPrakash turned to the General, "Pardon, sire?"
The charmed General looked at the servant, "You are a funny man, you know."
"I beg your pardon, sir," JayPrakash stepped forward, "What makes you think I'm funny."
The General laughed and then directed him to the other chair at his table, "Come, seat yourself and give me company."
"But sir-"
"Come away, man, your vegetables can wait!" The General winked at the servant.
Embarrassed that they had been caught, the girl escaped into the Inn, leaving JayPrakash helplessly having to fill in the silence.
The General was eyeing the servant, demanding him to comply with the offer of the seat.
In obedience to the General's wish, the servant humbly stepped towards the table and slunk soundlessly into the chair opposite to the General.
"Here, girl!" the General called out to the empty doorway near the counter, "Bring this man some ale, won't you?"
JayPrakash attempted to refuse the offer politely, "Sir, I cannot-"
"Nonsense!" the General interrupted firmly, "No man who gives me company shall be lacking in a drink or two."
After a prolonged minute, the girl reappeared again, her cheeks burning red as she timidly sauntered to the table with a tray upon which was a huge mug overflowing with cold ale.
"That's a good girl," cheered the General and watched her lift the mug and place it before JayPrakash who looked apologetically at her.
As soon as she'd bowed to the General, she turned about and ran, vanishing into the doorway again.
The General lifted his unfinished wineglass and clinked it against the mug of ale, "Drink away, laddie!"
JayPrakash took a nervous swig of the drink and then gulped down the cold liquid that burnt along his throat.
A hiccup escaped his mouth and JayPrakash grinned apologetically.
The General didn't seem to mind the hiccup though and only continued sipping his wine.
JayPrakash dared to be a little inquiring, "Sire, if I may be permitted to be bold enough to ask, what brings you to this Inn?"
The General's gaze was cast upon the floor but he looked up, "I come here often to have a drink."
"Is it customary or just a casual call?"
"I am not certain," the General said, his mind faraway, "This is where my life began in Arhasia."
JayPrakash perked up, interested, "Here, in this Inn?"
The General looked at him, "Yes, here. It was teeming with people and noise during those days."
"Was it before you met Lady Anjali?" JayPrakash asked, sipping his ale and not feeling afraid anymore.
"Yes and no," the General replied thoughtfully.
JayPrakash frowned in confusion, "Yes and no?"
Here, JayPrakash noticed that the General's expression had fallen and he appeared to be extremely distasteful towards some thought.
In an attempt to appease him, the servant decided to change the subject, "What a fortunate man you are, sire! Anytime soon this month, you'll be a father!"
Suddenly, the General's expression contorted in wild rage and he glared at the servant, "How DARE you talk to me thus! And of that... that child!"
JayPrakash shot up on his feet, his chair toppling backwards into the floor. He hastily bowed, "Forgive me, Master, for a moment I let my mind forget myself in the warmth of your friendliness."
The sound of the chair crashing on the floor had bought the elderly Inn Keeper and his daughter at their side but none dared interfere.
The General was on his feet too, his face drawn in a fury, "Don't EVER mention the child again. Not to me. Not to anyone."
JayPrakash looked up, confused, "I only thought you'd be happy on hearing-"
"My happiness and my grief is nothing of your business," claimed the heated General, "You just take care of the Castle or court the daughter of this Inn's keeper but don't mess with my life. UNDERSTAND?"
The General didn't wait to hear the servant's reply, of course.
He just slapped a few coins on the table and then, leaving his wine unfinished, he stormed out of the Inn, regretting the public scene he'd made but knowing well that there would be no peace in his life as long as the cursed child survived in its mother's womb.
I would like to remind you one thing that I've oft told you. Despite the title of this FF having "ArShi" in it, this is actually an "IPKKND FF" (the first IPK, not the second). Every character has a story or relevance and now that ArShi themselves have come this far, it is vastly impossible to use them in the plot as frequently as you expect me to. The best I could do to make all the ArShi lovers happy was by giving you the Gupta Cottage Thread which was filled with them to every chapter's essence. In the future chapters, you may see less and less of them because (if you'll remember I said this once too) no movie or book entails in romance of a couple who are happily in love. Once they get into the thick of their love, there is no more story for them unless trials test their love. In this tale, it is not the characters who move the story forward but the "plot" and everything that is happening in the lives of these characters. Henceforth, ArShi will not have the priority unless a reason presents itself. You may wonder then if not ArShi what am I to fill the next 150 or so chapters with. Just you wait and see!
Hold onto your seats and drinks coz the biggest twists and turns in the tale are incoming! Brace yourself to bravely confront them as they come!
Your reaction
Nice
Awesome
Loved
LOL
OMG
Cry
43 Comments