Chapter 223

A moment later, when Kushi walked into Lady Anjali's chamber, with little Anarkali, she found the young mother still in her armchair, gazing forlornly out the window. Sadness lingered in her eyes but when she heard them approach, she looked up and smiled.

"Come hither, my darling Princess," greeted Lady Anjali, taking the delighted Anarkali from Kushi's arms and then, after she'd enveloped her daughter's blessed face with kisses, she positioned the babe on her lap, and smiled at Kushi who had sat in the other armchair, "Kushiji, you look quite tired from last I saw you. Was it my little child who wearied you so?"

"Oh no!" Kushi corrected cheerfully, "She is such a darling and I could not had a happier venture as taking care of her. It is the thought of you, Di, which had caught my concerned nerves."

Lady Anjali nodded vaguely, and then asked, "Have you already breakfasted?"

"Not yet," mentioned Kushi, "I was about to, when my Lord informed me of your wish to see us. So I requested my breakfast to be postponed to a more convenient time. Besides, seeing you and hearing you talk has filled my heart satisfactorily enough, that I am happily heedless of my rampant appetite!"

Lady Anjali laughed lightly and Kushi was thrilled by the sound.

"Oh Di!" Kushi exclaimed, smiling through her tears, "You cannot think how much we worried for you! And to think I am at fault for what-"

"Nonsense!" Lady Anjali looked at her, "I knew you would be assuming your part in the whole plot in this very manner and that is specifically the reason why I asked to see you first."

Kushi blinked, lost of words but Lady Anjali continued, "What happened was not of your doing but of circumstances that played out in a most hapless way."

"Circumstances?" Kushi looked surprised, "How can the General's..." She paused, unsure whether mentioning the absconded one would refurnish the grief in his wife. But seeing as Lady Anjali was unruffled by his allusion, Kushi continued prudently, "How can his adamant reference of me as his cure be a fruit of circumstance?"

Lady Anjali sighed, "You see, Kushiji, I am aware of his having knowledge of the nature of his curse and of his cure." Lady Anjali noticed that this revelation had astonished Kushi but she continued matter-of-factly, "How far his interpretation of this knowledge to equating you as his cure is true, I cannot verify. He has not told me quite everything pertaining to it. But I believe he has chased the wrong goose all along and was too blind with desperation to see it. However, if he is true..."

Her words faltered and a look of pain crossed her face. Kushi felt her heart weigh as she gazed at Di, suddenly gone quite.

"What about it, Di?" Kushi prodded supportively, "What if he is true?"

Lady Anjali's lips parted to reply and her sad eyes looked at the gleeful child on her lap before she looked at Kushi again, "If he is true, I am torn."

Kushi was dismayed, realizing sorrowfully that it could be no other way.

"If he is true..." Lady Anjali spoke grievingly, "I can have the courage neither to ask of your help nor to accuse him for acting the way he did."

Kushi bit her lip, immersed in horrific memories of the General's varied intrusions in the past, seeking her loving regard of him.

Before the discomfort of the moment could progress any further, a knock was heard on the door.

"Come in," Lady Anjali called out.

The door opened and HariPrakash stepped in. "Honourable Ladies," he bowed.

He was holding a tray on which were assorted dishes, applying to the breakfast they had missed out on.

"Lady Mother insisted that breakfast be served to you," informed HariPrakash, "She also expresses her concern to know how Lady Anjali fares."

Lady Anjali shook her head in amusement, "Nani and her timings! Right on time, I say! Just when I was beginning to wish I had something to appease my appetite!"

Kushi grinned, glad to see Lady Anjali in her humour, and directed the manservant, "Bring it hither, to this table, HariPrakashji. And you needn't stay to serve us, we can manage the meal ourselves."

"And, HariPrakash, do tell Nani I am well and will meet the rest of the family shortly," added Lady Anjali.

HariPrakash complied and, after placing the tray on the indicated table, bowed again to them and left the chamber.

A few minutes later, Lady Anjali and Kushi were happily breakfasting while Anarkali bounced happily on her mother's lap, excited to feel her touch again.

Kushi was buttering a second slice of bread when she remarked, "You know what this chamber needs?"

"What?" Lady Anjali asked, tapping her silver spoon on the shell of her boiled egg.

"Flowers!" Kushi exclaimed and won Lady Anjali's elated expression.

"Lots of flowers!" proposed an excited Kushi, "All around the room! They could instantly vanquish the dreariness pervading here!"

"What a brilliant thought, Kushiji!!" Lady Anjali commented jubilantly, "We must instantly tell JayPrakash to go to the market and bring the freshest and most beautiful of flowers that are available there today!"

"This is a matter of utter importance!" posited Kushi decisively, "I shall personally accompany him in the choosing of the flowers for I have this vision in my mind, of what this room should look like, which simply must be quenched!!"

Meanwhile, at the Industry, Lord Arnav had summoned Adil to his office, "What news of the watchers at the coast keeping an eye on that ship? What was its name...?"

"The Dinsiter, sire," bowed Adil and he recounted emotionlessly, "The men are keeping a keen spy on it. They have, as of now, not reported any sign of comings and goings within the vicinity of the liner. It seems whoever docked her at our coasts has abandoned her."

Lord Arnav was thoughtful, "Now why would that be?"

"Perhaps they caught a hint of her being spotted by us and being under scout day and night," suggested Adil aloofly.

"Perhaps..." mulled Lord Arnav absentmindedly, and then suddenly he sat up, "Did they mention any sign of sighting the General?"

"General Jha, sir?" Adil queried casually.

"Of course, HIM, you idiot!" manifested the impatient First Lord.

"No sign of him visiting the territory of the ship has been reported, sir," replied Adil expressionlessly, unaffected by his Master's temper.

Lord Arnav sat back and mused to himself, "Where has he gone? If not to the ship, has he really gone to war? And if he is not to get on the ship, what is that ship there for?"

He looked pointedly at his servant, "Did you inspect the Inns and Villages for any sign of an undocumented foreigner? An illegal trespasser, perhaps?"

"None in sight, sire," ascertained Adil.

"Very well," Lord Arnav nodded, "Remember to always keep me posted about any information on the whereabouts of the General and of the marooned ship, no matter what."

"As you wish, sire," bowed Adil and dismissed himself from the chamber where Lord Arnav thoughtfully wondered what had become of his archenemy.

It still felt unreal, that he had really gone forever, that he would nevermore tamper in the lives of those he loved. But nevertheless, he had to be vigilant and keep an eye out for any signs of his conniving dragon-shadow.

Next chapter will be posted next week in the New Thread that has not been attended to for so long.