Chapter 178
Font:
Text Size:
Theme:
[MEMBERSONLY]
Chapter 259: The Bustle in the Castle
The day of the Ceremony was bright and blissful, gardens blossomed with summer flowers, marigolds and violets.
The Orchard appeared green and fresh to eyes that looked towards it, with all its variant fruits hanging ripe and juicy for the pick.
The villagers were preparing for the Summer Sale at the Raizada Orchard but they had also prepared their own homes in honour of the child of Lady Jha who would be passing by the Village in a carriage for the Ceremony that was to be held in the Temple at dusk.
As the morning sun began stepping towards its meridian tower, it looked down on the bustle in the wide lawns of the Raizada gardens.
Beside the Castle, where the back door to the kitchen was open, the maids and some of the servants were taking down the curtains that had been washed and dried on the lines established there.
HariPrakash was having trouble folding a long white curtain when OmPrakash, who had been returning from the stable, saw his brother struggle with the curtain and he stepped towards him to offer help.
"Has the General gone for his ride again?" asked HariPrakash, as the two brothers held the wide curtain between them.
OmPrakash nodded, as they held the curtain midair and began folding it, "He appears strangely glum. I cannot understand what would cause him to be so when every occasion gives reason only for joy: his wife giving birth to his bonny baby and his horse healed and riding faster than last week."
HariPrakash reasoned, "Maybe it's because he cannot see his wife and child until the ceremony is over. It's been a week, you know, since he saw them."
OmPrakash shrugged and then smiled, "If that is all, it is assured that tonight he will find his spirit again!"
Just then, JayPrakash appeared in the vicinity, but instead of heading to where his brothers were, he marched to where a solitary white shirt was hanging on the line and begun his inspection upon it.
"What a lazy loafer you are beginning to be, Jay-jan!" exclaimed Om, "Couldn't you have spared a little of your attention on your brothers here than on that measly shirt?"
JayPrakash didn't spare them a look but was polite enough to reply while continuing his study of the shirt's sleeves, "I cannot understand why they have to make Temple ceilings so high that they require such long curtains!" As though to the impress better upon the object of his complain, he eyed the wide white curtain that his brothers held between themselves.
HariPrakash shook his head, "Will you stop gloating over the architectural mischance of Arhasian Temples and help us with this? There are seven curtains in all and we've only begun on the second."
"I will offer my hand," began JayPrakash, returning his gaze back to the shirt, "As soon as I have eliminated this blue blotch on the sleeve of my shirt."
OmPrakash frowned at the back of his youngest brother's head, "Whatever is the urgency to get rid of the blotch? Couldn't you wait until tomorrow or the day after to get it off?"
"I can't for I must wear this shirt for tonight's occasion."
OmPrakash's eyebrows rose, "You esteem the Ceremony of the child so much that you must wear your white shirt and none else?"
JayPrakash stole a look from the corner of his eyes, "The choice of the shirt is not precisely for the child."
HariPrakash had a teasing smile on his face, "Ah, I should have known when the invitations were handed out to the Villages and the nearby towns!"
OmPrakash rolled his eyes and then winked at HariPrakash, "And I suppose, Hari-jan, that we'll just have to eliminate the expectation of having Jay-jan to help us with the Ceremony arrangement for tonight. He'll be busy with his own arrangements for the night."
JayPrakash forwned at them, "You two know only to make a man feel as though its ill-fated to fall in love-" Suddenly, a thought lit in his mind and JayPrakash grinned importantly, "I know why you two tease me so- its because you two don't have any girl to love."
"Like we'd need any!" exclaimed HariPrakash, laughingly.
But JayPrakash had pulled down his offended shirt and trooped off back into the Castle to find a kinder someone who could advice him on eradicating the blue blotch on his sleeve.
In the kitchen, Surabhi was making a special soup. She had spooned some up and was looking around for someone to taste and offer opinion when she caught sight of Rahim Chacha about to exit the kitchen with a coffee tray.
She called to him, "Chachaji, would you pause for a moment and tell me if the soup is excess in salt? I fear I put a dash too much."
Rahim Chacha spotted JayPrakash entering the kitchen through the backdoor and nodded in his direction, "He'll do it."
As the butler left the kitchen, Surabhi turned to JayPrakash whose face lit up at the sight of the filled spoon in the cook's hand, waiting to be tasted.
Rahim Chacha, in the meantime, headed to the room where Lady Anjali was resting with her baby sleeping beside her. The coffee on the butler's tray was for Lady Deviayni who sat in the single armchair of that room, watching over her sleeping grandchild and great-granddaughter.
Fortune was perched on Nani's shoulder but he squeaked with delight on sighting the biscuits lined upon the tray, knowing the considerate butler had brought them along exclusively for his sake.
As Nani sipped her coffee, the butler fed the biscuits to the bird but Rahim Chacha's eyes glanced over the bed, "Should I get another juice for Lady Anjali?"
"No," said Lady Deviyani, "She just had a glass in the previous hour. Let her rest a while and when she awakens, we'll see about another glass."
When the parrot had had its fill of biscuits and Lady Deviyani had finished her cup of coffee, Rahim Chacha bowed politely and departed frmo the room, noiselessly closing the door behind him.
But he halted before the door with the tray in his hand for his eyes had fallen on the forlorn figure of Ram who was sitting cross-legged on the rug across the hall, watching the door.
Shaking his head, the butler stepped towards him and directed him to rise on his feet which the boy reluctantly obeyed.
"How long have you been sitting here, boy?" asked the butler, his voice warm but firm.
The boy only blinked at the butler, hoping he wouldn't be told off.
"Come," the butler's free hand took Ram by his, "Let's take you to the living room."
And so Rahim Chacha led little Ram to the living room whereupon reaching they found Payal and Lady Manorama decorating a white wooden crib in which the baby was to be lain after she returned from the Ceremony at the Temple.
Watching their work (but in truth reading a book, for he had no interest in watching frills and flowers added to a crib) was Lord Manohar, seated grandly on an armchair, his attention on the book in his hand though he occasionally glanced at the two women.
The next time Lord Manohar looked up, his gaze fell on the boy and the butler entering the room.
"Ah! Ram!" exclaimed the Elder Lord, shutting his book and placing it on his lap, "Chachaji, bring the boy to me. I am in great need of masculine company."
The butler laughed heartily at this remark and even Payal smiled but Lady Manorama sniffed indignantly, "Will anyone listen to this man! Like women aren't good enough company!"
"Certainly, my lady, that is not what he meant," assured the butler as he led Ram across the room to Lord Manohar's side, "I am certain if one asked him, with regard to his lifetime, who gave him the most fulfilling company, he would answer it with your name."
Lord Manohar nodded, as to affirm the butler's statement for his wife, but when his wife was not looking, the Elder Lord winked at the boy, making Ram smile.
All of a sudden, Payal hissed in pain and everyone looked up worriedly but Payal sucked the tip of her thumb and smiled apologeticlaly, "I am alright. The pin pricked on my finger-"
"Brusied Beauty," mumbled Lady Manorama in an annoyed tone, "When will you ever learn to be more careful with yourself?"
Payal's cheeks turned red with embarassment but she said nothing.
Lord Manohar sighed, "Manu, won't you have the heart to-"
Lady Manorama shot him a look, "Ah, now here comes my dear husband to lecture me again on my lack of motherliness towards Bruised Beauty?" She frowned at him, "If it will comfort you of sparing me words, here I will show some HEART," and Lady Manorama tossed her handkerchief at Payal, "That's my personal handkerchief so there's heart in the expression, see? Mend your wound with it but, mind you, I have not many handkerchiefs to spare for every wound you will come up with in the future!"
Before Lord Manohar could retort, Payal said, "Thank you, Mother, this is a most gracious gesture from you and I am grateful for it. Though I do not need it for the needle drew no blood, I would still love to retain the handkerchief to remind myself of your love."
Lady Manorama watched as Payal lovingly tied the handkerchief around her wrist.
Frowning, Lady Manorama looked away, but secretly she was relieved Payal had kept the handkerchief and had not disrespected her in front of the others by refusing it.
There was an awkward silence in the aftermath of the incident but it was broken by Lady Manorama's loud suggestion, "We need more beads! Why did the servants have to be stingy on buying beads!"
"I'll send someone to buy a box at once," informed the butler, as he stepped towards the door hastily, the coffee tray still in his hand.
Just then Payal called out to him, "Wait! I think Kushi may have some spare beads. I'll ask her and if she hasn't any, then we'll send someone to the Market."
Payal was beginning to step towards the door but the butler volunteered, "You stay by the crib, my lady. I'll inquire if Lady Kushi has any beads to spare for the crib."
"Thank you, Rahim Chacha," Payal smiled at him as the butler bowed to them and left the room.
The butler was crossing the hall to head for the stairs when the huge entrance doors opened and Lord Akash walked in. Lord Akash had gone to the Orchard to ensure that everything was set for the Sale.
The butler paused to bow to the Second Lord before straightening up to ask, "Sire, have the villagers come?"
"None yet," answered Lord Akash, "But they will appear in great numbers soon."
Rahim Chacha nodded and was about to proceed onward when he noticed the apple held in Lord Akash's hand which was very unusual a sight. The Second Lord was never of the custom to pick fruits between scheduled mealtimes.
"Sire?" the butler couldn't curb his curiosity, "I didn't know you had cravings for apples in the morning. If you had wanted any, I could have-"
"Oh, this is not for me," Lord Akash corrected hastily, slipping the felonious apple into his pocket. A twinkle danced in the Second Lord's eyes as he looked at the butler, "Its just a little something for the wife, in case there won't be any left when the villagers are done with their gathering."
The butler nodded, but he watched suspiciously as Lord Akash march off in the direction of the living room.
Shrugging, the butler decided to drop the curious case of the unusual apple and then, smiling to himself, he proceeded up the stairs and to the first door on the landing, reaching which, he lifted his hand and knocked.
Kushi was seated at the window, feeling the breeze on her face but she frowned when saw the white horse emerge from the distant stable and spotted on its back, its rider.
"I don't know why," Kushi mused aloud, "but I have a wary feeling about that General."
Lord Arnav was rummaging through the wardrobe, trying to choose his shirt for the night's Ceremony, "I care naught about what that snake feels!"
Kushi turned around, "You must! He seems unhappy about the child. What if he rejects the child at the ceremony?"
Kushi turned around, "You must! He seems unhappy about the child. What if he rejects the child at the ceremony?"
Lord Arnav froze and then he shot her a look over his shoulder, "I won't LET him."
Kushi shook her head, "He has every right to, being the father, and nothing you do can stop him."
Lord Arnav turned about hotly, "I told you, I won't LET him!"
Just then, a knock was heard on the door and Kushi stepped to attend to it while Lord Arnav returned his attention to the wardrobe.
Kushi opened the door and and found the butler standing there.
"Rahim Chacha!" Kushi smiled.
"My lady," he explained his presence, "Lady Manorama and the Second Lady asked if you had a box of beads at hand to complete the decorations on the child's crib..."
"Indeed, I do, Rahim Chacha," said Kushi cheerily, "I'll bring them down myself."
The butler nodded with a smile, bowed and left for the stairs.
Shutting the door, Kushi turned and retraced her steps to the dressing table by the window, whereupon reaching she opened a drawer and fumbled within for the little box of beads.
"Is this colour incompatible for the occasion?" Lord Arnav asked as he lifted a grey shirt with one hand, while his eyes continued their study of the rest of the shirts hanging in his wardrobe.
Kushi continued fumbling through the drawer, "I know I kept it-"
Lord Arnav frowned over his shoulder, "Kushi, I asked you something."
Kushi looked up at him, "Since when have you begun this habit of inquiring after me the attire your frame must fit on every occasion?"
Lord Arnav lifted an eyebrow, "Don't you know, dear wife, that you've muddled up my regular habits ever since I wedded you. How much more damned can my fate be! I, the First Lord of Arhasia, cannot any longer choose my own attire without the opinion of my unsettling wife."
Kushi's eyes twinkled in mirth at his words but she remained composed and firm, "Well, in that case, I must do something to retrieve your old habits back, lest you continue to bother me endlessly."
She returned to her search within the drawer.
"I am bothering you?" Lord Arnav appeared astonished, "You are the one-"
"Got it!" Kushi exclaimed, her hands lifting up her find of the little white box she'd been looking for.
Frowning, Lord Arnav grumbled, "Sometimes I feel I'm talking to a mannequin!"
Kushi hadn't heard his words but she looked up to ask, "Since the baby is a girl, Di will be naming her, right?"
Lord Arnav sighed and then returned his attention to a more worthier subject, his wardrobe.
Kushi continued her string of thought as she opened the box and inspected the beads in it, "Do you think she'll name the child Kushi?"
All of a sudden, Lord Arnav broke into a laugh and then turned around to look at his wife, "Why in the world would she name her daughter after you?"
Kushi felt hurt by his reaction and lifted her head proudly, "Because she likes me, ofcourse. And because its a happy name."
Chuckling, Lord Arnav shook his head and turned to the wardrobe, "She's not going to name the child after you. I won't have it. Its enough that I have to handle one Goddess of Mischief!"
Kushi had been walking to the door, as she attempted to close the lid, when she stumbled on the edge of the rug and fell onto the rug on her knees, the box slipping out of her hand and all the bouncing beads scattering across the floor.
Mumbling under her breath, she crouched down and began picking them up.
Lord Arnav had found a blue shirt that didn't seem unpleasing and, holding it aloft, turned to ask, "How about this-?"
He paused on finding his wife on the floor in her pursuit of the scampering beads.
Rolling his eyes, he sighed and stepped towards her, throwing the shirt in his hand onto the bed and crouching down to help her, "I can't believe the First Lady of Arhasia still retains the clumsy fingers of her childhood."
"I can't help it! I was born with them!" retorted Kushi hotly and lifted her head to glare at him, only she hadn't anticipated his proximity and her head knocked against his forehead, earning a grunt from him.
Kushi gasped and, hastily keeping the box of collected beads on the floor, she lifted her hands to his forehead and kneaded her fingers where she presumed it ached, "Are you hurt? Is it here?"
Lord Arnav looked at Kushi, her face close to his and her eyes dim in the desperation to appease his pain. The sight almost gnawed at his longings.
Sensing his eyes on her face, Kushi's concerned gaze on his forehead travelled down to his eyes.
Her heart stopped when she realized he was looking intently at her lips.
Her hands had turned motionless and her lips parted in surprise.
He looked into her eyes, caught the uncertain look in her eyes, and then he leaned up in an attempt to kiss her.
All of a sudden, Kushi withdrew, picking up the excuse of the box with its collected beads, "I must get downstairs to Jiji-"
She had barely got on her feet when Lord Arnav's hand knocked upon hers and the beads fell scattering and rolling all over the floor again.
Kushi stared at the beads and then at him, "What did you do that-?"
And then she saw it in his eyes, and knew why he had done it: so he could have her to stay with him a while more. The realization made her blush.
She tried to keep her composure serious, her eyes looking everywhere but at him and tried to drown the strange emotions in a whine, "Now, I'll have to pick them up all over again!"
Then, with one tug, he pulled her down on her knees.
Crouching before her on the rug, he leaned closer, a cunning light in his eyes, "I'll help you but it might take a while..."
Your reaction
Nice
Awesome
Loved
LOL
OMG
Cry
95 Comments