Chapter 220

Chapter 302: Distraught

Long after the Celebrations were expediently concluded, the stillness that hung in every dark room of the Castle remained unsettling.

As soon as the crowds had dispersed from the premises of the Raizada hilltop, Lady Anjali had broken down to loud wails in the living room.

Grief driven and hysterical, she spilled out the agony that was gnawing at her tender heart.

Wild with woe, she refused consolation from anyone who attempted to approach her.

Heartbroken, Lady Deviyani retired from the tormenting sight and shut the door to her room.

Lord Manohar and Lord Akash, unwilling to leave but esteeming Lord Arnav's suggestion that Di be left alone, discharged to their respective rooms with their desolate wives.

A devastated Lord Arnav helped Lady Anjali to her room, where she slumped on the bed and wept her heart out.

"Di..." he reached his hand out to touch her head but she shrieked into the pillow, "Leave me alone, Chotey. Let me be!"

Shattered, he rushed out of the room only to collide with Kushi who was standing outside the door, concerned but afraid to intrude.

The resolute barrage, that he'd built around his heart to bear courage to his sister, dissipated at the sight of his wife.

Pulling Kushi to his hard chest, he crushed her in a fraught embrace, his voice a whispered tremble, "Kushi..." He could barely word his anguish, "Di..."

Kushi held him in her longing grasp, the depth of his sorrow weighing into her heart.

"Arnavji," she tried to comfort him, "Di just needs time. It was cruel to keep her from the truth for so long... Her anger is justified but she will recover from it. I promise."

He pressed his forehead to her ear and sighed heavily.

Then he looked up and his concerned gaze swung to the empty living room, "Where is Princess?"

"She's with Ram in the dining hall," assured Kushi, looking up at him, her arms still around him.

He looked down at her and a sadness enveloped his gaze, remembering the exasperating moments of the night, "Are you alright?"

She hesitated and then nodded with a faint smile, "My heart feels lightened now that it holds no untold secrets..."

Lord Arnav let a slight smile appear on his face, "The rogue's out the picture and our home can feel safe again."

Kushi didn't reply for her mind had drifted to Lady Anjali whose muffled cries could not be heard anymore. She had exhausted herself with her lamenting and fallen wearily asleep.

An hour later, Ram was escorted to bed by Surabhi while Rahim Chacha had a serious conversation with Lord Arnav in the silence of the living room.

Kushi watched the men talk in low tones, probably assessing the situation and planning measures for amendments.

She looked down at her arms, where cradled the sleeping Anarkali, unaware that her father had left her forever.

Kissing the child on her innocent forehead, Kushi departed with her to the bed chamber upstairs.

A while later, Lord Arnav appeared in the darkened room and, after a long contemplative bath, garbed in his night pants, made for the bed, only to pause ponderingly at the sight before him.

Dressed in a white robe, Kushi lay asleep in bed to one side and, in the centre of the bed, slept Anarkali, over whose little leg Kushi's hand protectively lay.

Slipping into bed from the vacant side, Lord Arnav lay his head on the pillow and watched the moonlight from the open balcony caress their beautiful faces.

A gentle breeze brushed across the room and provoked little Anarkali to shift in her sleep. It brought an endearing smile on his face.

Sliding closer to them, Lord Arnav rested his hand on Kushi's hand that was on Anarkali's leg, and then slowly drifted his exhausted mind into calming sleep.

Couldn't get a perfect image of their protective hands on our Princess' lil' leg but this should suffice for the tenderness of the gesture.

Next chapter follows right below...