Chapter 231

Chapter 312: Premonition

It was late in the afternoon, when Lord Akash and Lord Arnav were discussing the visit of the unrelenting trespasser, that HariPrakash stormed into the office.

In his habitual sense, Lord Arnav would have barked at his servant for the ill-mannered intrusion but, one look at the servant's petrified form at his door, alerted him to some danger at the home front.

Immediately, he picked up his coat and rushed out the door, followed instantly by his brother. HariPrakash was running beside them, wanting to reach downstairs before them.

"What has happened?" asked Lord Arnav as they leaped down the stairs.

"It's OmPrakash, sire," alleged the panting servant.

All of a sudden, Lord Arnav halted. One eyebrow rose, "OmPrakash?" Are you tell me I was running like mad for a servant?

HariPrakash had caught his breath and managed to add, "OmPrakash had gone to the Village with Lady Kushi and the children."

All of a sudden, Lord Arnav was running again, flying down the remaining stairs and tearing blindly into the open outside the Industry. He would have darted for the nearest carriage if his fierce eyes hadn't spotted the familiar form of OmPrakash crumpled beside the stone steps.

He stopped and stared in astonishment. There were discernible bruises on the servant's face and arms and his colour had turned terribly pale.

In swift three strides, Lord Arnav was beside his servant, anxiously analysing the anguish on his face, "What is this? How did this happened? Where are Kushi and the children?"

Crestfallen, the servant hadn't the courage to look straight into his Master's intent eyes and convey the truth. He looked forlornly at the dusty path and spoke in a fearful whisper, "She wanted to go the village. And then she wanted to see you. She was so happy."

His speech was incoherent, almost delusional. It seemed the shock of the incident had put him to a fumble.

Lord Arnav lost his only patient nerve. "Tell me WHERE MY WIFE IS!!" he barked at his blubbering servant, whose head suddenly shot up and he stared apprehensively at him, "Master! She wanted me to take her there!"

Lord Arnav arose to his height, "WHERE, YOU FOOL!!"

"The North Village," OmPrakash cried out, "She had the children with her."

"And where are they NOW!!!" commanded Lord Arnav again, "If you don't answer me quick, I'll break your neck, mind."

"Brother," Lord Akash interfered suddenly, feeling pity for the substantially bruised servant who was now being emotionally tormented by the First Lord, "Why don't you let me enquire into the matter?"

Lord Arnav glared at the servant for a moment and then resigned aside, his hands fisted to stop their trembling.

He closed his eyes, his back to his brother and the two servants, and swallowed down the fear that was swelling inside of him.

He had felt that foreboding hankering at the back of his mind all along; in fact, ever since he had woken up that morning... It had unsettled him so much that he had not tasted right any of the meals he had had that day, and had even manifested a meaningless scuffle with his precious wife. There was something wrong and he had sensed it from the beginning. And now the ominous clouds loomed ever closer over his existence.

Just then, breaking into his distraught thoughts, came the alarmed tone of Lord Akash's order, "Ready the carriage, Lal!! Quickly!!!!!"

Lord Arnav turned on his heels to find a horror-struck Lord Akash signalling to HariPrakash to help OmPrakash to his feet while he himself looked worriedly in the direction of his unsuspecting brother.

The distress in the Second Lord's gaze said it all.

Lord Arnav felt his world shatter in the revelation of that portentous moment.

Something horrible had happened.

To the children. And to his Kushi.

They do say in Arhasia: Cometh a storm, passeth the storm.

Next update: 5th March 2016. Two days from now.