Part 3
Arnav entered the dining room with his Duchess beside him. About to reach for his chair, he stopped. Reaching for the chair beside his, he pulled the chair for Kusi.
Khushi saw him stopping and pulling a chair. She pulled her hand back from his arm, and mimicked her husband's action of pulling the chair.
Arnav lifted an eyebrow at her, amused. And soon he heard a chuckle. His eyes darted towards the door, where stood his brother, Akash Martin Westland. In brown knee breeches and a white full sleeve shirt, he stood there looking as handsome as always. He again shifted his gaze to his wife.
Pushing back the chair which she had pulled, he gestured her towards the chair he was holding. "Sit here"
"Ohhh..." realizing her folly, she nodded her head and sat on the chair.
Arnav walked to the head of the table and sat on his chair.
"You can come and take your chair, Akash"
"Ohh... that I will.." Akash pushed himself off the door frame and started inside. "But for a change, I will sit beside my sister-in-law. I guess we have some introduction business pending, don't we?" Akash smiled his charming smile and sat beside his sister-in-law.
Khushi stole a glance at the man beside her, feeling uncomfortable. On their way to here, her husband had told her it's not necessary to keep the ghoongat' and obeying him, she had removed her ghoongat. But have always kept the ghoongat in front of every man, except for her Babu ji, now she can't help but feel little uncomfortable.
Seeing her shifting in her chair uncomfortably, he sensed her awkwardness, and thought of acting on his brother's word.
"Kusi, he is Akash, my brother." Arnav introduced.
"Brother.." Khushi looked at Akash and joined her hands. "Namaste"
"Namaste" Akash greeted back, smiling.
A beautiful smile broke on her lips.
"You ...you know hindi?" Khushi asked, her awkwardness lay forgotten.
"Ji ... I try .." Akash replied, smiling down at her doll-like sister-in-law.
Arnav saw the interaction between his brother and wife. Akash was not like him, he had never went through the pain of not finding his mother one cold morning, only to know later that she is never going to come back. Surely he had seen the death of his father, and was hurt more than him. But till then he had found a confidant in his childhood friend and now courtier, Maria Mathews, his Viscount's daughter. She had stopped his brother from taking the path he had taken. For which he was full of gratitude for God and Maria Mathews, for he knew how hard and lonely the path is, which he had taken. He can't wish the same loneliness for his brother. And also unlike him, who had always kept himself away from everything and everyone who can awake the memories of his Mother, his Brother has drown himself in finding everything which is related to their Mother. And so he was not unaware of his Brother's love for India, and everything about that country, especially the language - one of the few things their Mother had brought to Bristol along with her. And thus making hindi the sweetest of all the language for his Brother.
"Devi Maiya ka lakh lakh sukriya , kisi ko toh hindi aati hai yaha " her happiness knew no bound.
"Hum bhi khush.." Akash smiled, making his sister-in-law giggle at his hindi words dipped in British accent, making it sound funny to her.
But her giggle died soon as her eyes fell on the contents of the bowls placed on the table. Her chair stumbled back as she stood up with a jerk, making her husband and brother-in-law stand beside her in no time.
"What happened?" Arnav asked, his muscles tensed.
"This ..this ..." she pointed at the meat dishes in front of her. "No eat ...no touch .." she shuttered, feeling nauseate.
"What? You don't eat this? What do you eat then?"
"No ..No this ...I eat chaval, daal , roti ,sabzi ..other things ...not this ..." she moved back, wanting to create as much distance as possible.
"What?" Arnav asked confused. He had never heard such names in his entire life. He looked at his brother, who had a small knowing smile on his lips.
"You know?" Arnav directed towards his brother.
His brother nodded his head. "You know brother, unlike you, I know everything about the place our Mother comes from. And I have also visited India quite a few times." Akash replied to his Brother, and then looked at his sister-in-law. Picking a chair, he went and kept it in the farthest corner of the room. Coming back, he took his sister-in-law's hand and led her to the chair. Making her sit on the chair, he returned with the fruit bowl in his hand.
"Here, aap ye khaeeye, theek hai? Hum Elvyn, our head cook, unhe bol denge aapke khaane ki cheeze laane ke liye. But I am afraid, unhe nahi pata hoga Indian khaana kaise banate hai."
"No No afraid .. Hum bana lenge ... hume sirf cheeze laage de dijiye" she forced a smile.
"OK.." he patted her head lightly. "For now eat this, OK?"
"Understood" she nodded her head like an obedient kid.
Smiling at her, he went back to the dining table and took his chair.
"She is too young, bhai. How old she is?" Akash asked.
Arnav's features tensed as he heard his Brother address him with that name.
"Do not address me with that name, Akash" he said through his gritted teeth. "How many times to tell you?" His hand moved to fill his plate.
"And how many times to tell you I like addressing you with that name" Akash said, a teasing smile on his lips. "Now honor my question, bhai"
Arnav's cold eyes darted to the girl sitting in one corner, biting on apple. "Sixteen ... She is sixteen." Arnav replied, irritation laced in his voice.
"You could have waited bhai. What was the hurry? Mumma had just wrote she wants you to marry her best friend's daughter, not that you start to India the very next day and marry her in a hurry?"
"What do you suggest then?" His emerald eyes now shinning dark at his brother. "I have millions of things to take care of, and you want me to waste my time on some Godforsaken marriage? I wasted six months in all this, and that's more than I can afford, understood Akash Martin Westland" he breathed out in a controlled fury.
Akash closed his eyes, not wanting to meet his brother's fury with his own bubbling irritation. It was always this way between them. Their thoughts always in contrast with each other, always at two ends, making it difficult to find a middle ground.
"See bhai, all I want to say is, little feelings won't hurt. Have little emotions in you, that will help you understand what I am saying. Ok, let's not get into the marriage thing, now it's done. But now you are married, you can't be the same now. You have to be patient. You can't go around..."
"JUST STOP IT, AKASH!" His chair stumbled back, his terrifying voice boomed in the entire room. "All you do is trail behind your courtier and then you come and teach me how should I handle my issues?!"He blasted. In this insane state too a tiny part of his mind knew he was being ridiculous. What Akash was saying is right. And he was being patient with her. But like hell he is going to admit it in front of his Brother. For everyone, he is an emotionless man, a man with no heart, with no patience. And he likes it that way. Like a wall he had built that image around him, and he enjoys it. No one dares to meander around the wall he had built. He don't want anyone to see through that wall, least of all his brother --- a person who can have an easy access in there.
"Why are you shouting, Bhai?"Akash asked calmly, still seated. Back answering his brother is something he had never done, nor has any intention of starting it now. He is not unaware of what his Brother has gone through, all alone. He always has someone to look up to. But his Brother has no such figure in his life. And he tries so hard to offer him a shoulder, a shoulder he can lean on to and ease some of his tensions. But all his Brother does is pushing the shoulder away with all his might. As if afraid of taking his support. All he want for his Brother is a normal life, not the mechanical, emotionless, lonely life he leads.
"I will stop shouting, only if you stop trespassing in my matters. I don't want your advice; I can handle my issues very well."
"I know that very well. You think your wife is some issue to be handled" Akash's eyes shut close as his Brother's big hands banged the table, making everything on it jump.
"Don't! Don't even dare push all the wrong buttons, Akash. All I want from you is no interference in my matters. And this is your Duke's order, understood?" His eyes gleamed down dangerously at his Brother, looking exactly like a terrifying beast he was known for.
"Yes, my Lord" His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I am done with my breakfast, thanks for the wonderful company, I owe you one for this. When your Duchess is done with her breakfast, drop her to her room." And with that last word, the Duke strode out of the room, not even stopping to look at the terrified figure standing in one corner.
Akash composed himself and turned to look at his sister-in-law. Getting up , he walked towards her and took the bowl from her cold hands. Keeping the bowl aside, he took her hand and made her stand.
"It' ok .." Akash tried to comfort the trembling child in his hold.
"K..ya..Kya hua?" fat tears spilled out of her eyes. "Humne kuch galati ki? .." she looked at the dining table. "Hum nahi khaa sakte ye sab ... Maaf kar dijiye" She apologized, thinking her denial to have the same breakfast as her husband and Brother-in-law was the reason behind her husband's outburst.
"No... aapne koi galati nahi ki ... It was my fault" Akaash said, which did relax her a bit.
"Accha..." she took a shuddering breath in, still shaken by the terrifying scene she had witnessed a moment ago. He didn't looked like the same man who had helped her this morning with everything so patiently.
"Are you done with your breakfast?" Akash asked slowly.
"Ji ..ji ." even if she wasn't, her appetite was long gone now.
"Come, let me drop you to your room" Akash forwarded his arm.
Now knowing very well what that gesture means, she coiled her fingers around her Brother-in-law's arm and started walking with him.
"Akesh! Akesh!! Akesh!!"
Akash's step halted as he heard that voice.
"Aapko koi bula raha hai." He heard his sister-in-law say and both turned around to see a lady , clad in a white dress, coming towards them with the speed of light.
Akash smiled as he saw his courtier, Maria Mathews running towards him. And now stood breathless in front of him.
"Akesh ..I am so so so sorry , I didn't came to meet you yesterday .. so sorry .. but you know my Father , he wanted me to go to Granny and see how she is doing. Well she is as crazy as I saw her last time be. And then when I was back, I got this messy , rough hair and dust all over my skin. Ewww.. How can I meet you looking like that? Dear Lord! I don't know how this dust thing works. Even though I am covered from head to toe, this ridiculous thing makes its way on my skin. Do you have any idea how it goes in there? By the way, I heard Arnev Bhai is back, is it true? Did he bring his bride with him? How does she looks like? Is she pretty like me?" Her light green eyes beamed, ready to hear the answers now.
Akash just shook his head at his crazy courtier. "Yes, he is back. And he did bring his bride with him. And no, I don't know how that ridiculous thing, called dust, makes its way to your skin. And about your last question, here, look yourself" Akash moved aside, baring his sister-in-law for his courtier's eyes.
"Oh my my what was she doing behind you?" Her amused eyes stared at the girl in front of her.
"Seeing you running towards us like some crazy woman, she got scared and went behind me" Akash chuckled.
Maria giggled. "Sorry about that. I know it was un-lady like, but hey I wanted to stop you.."she pouted at Akash and then looked at her Duchess. "A very very very warm and hearty welcome to our country, my Lady" she bowed down little, following her courtesy.
"Namaste .." Khushi joined her hands and greeted back.
"Oh.." Maria joined her hands. "What was that again?" she nudged Akash.
"Namaste .." Akash supplied.
"Yes yes.. Namaste, my lady." Maria gave her warmest smile, making Khushi like her instantly.
"You are very very pretty , so beautiful. I like your dress, it's so pretty and colorful."
"Unhone kaha aap bohot khoobsurat hain. Aur aapke kapde bohot sundar hain" Akash translated his courtier's words for his sister-in-law.
"Accha.." Khushi looked at the videshi-gudiya like girl in front of her. Her brown hair in a neat bun, some curls falling on her milky cheeks, and her pretty white gown making her look no less than some doll. "Sukriya , aap bhi bohot Khoobsurat hain, bilkul videshi gudiya jaisi" Khushi said, making her brother-in-law grin at her words.
"She doesn't know English, Akash?" Maria's confused gaze shifted to him.
"She does, Mar. All you need to do is go little slow so that she can catch your every word and understand it. By the way she said, you look like some foreign doll." Akash chuckled, making Maria grin.
"Oh,...Thank you thank you, my lady. I take you are talking about my pretty dress. Well yes, I like to wear pretty dresses and waste half of Father's earnings on my dresses. Akash too gifts me dresses, but it's all together a different fun to whine to Father for money." Maria giggled.
Akash let out a sigh. No point of making Maria Mathews understand anything, this train will not take any stop.
"Once again, Mar. Slow , she isn't fluent in English. And now if you may excuse us, I will drop her to her room. She came last evening and must be still tired, so let her rest. I will meet you in an hour in the garden, OK?"
"OK. Allow me to take your leave, my Lady" Maria bowed. "Bye.." and with that she again sprinted off.
Arnav entered the dining room for his dinner. He had avoided his lunch with the very intention of avoiding his little wife. He had avoided her whole day, not knowing how to deal with her. He was sure he had terrified her with his outburst in the morning, and was not sure how to face her now. She was bound to get scared of him now.
He looked ahead to see his noblemen had taken their seats. He had invited his peers for dinner, so that he can introduce them to their Duchess. Straightening his shoulder, he held his head high and started towards his chair, making everyone stand.
He took the head chair and everyone else followed the suit.
He stole a glance at his right, where sat his wife, now clad in pink clothes. And who was not looking at him, but was slightly inclined towards his brother. Taking a deep breath, he looked straight, about to start, when his Brother started.
"I have introduced them to their Duchess as we waited for you, my Lord. We can start with the Dinner now" Akash kept a small smile on his lips as he said that.
Arnav gave a curt nod. "Very well. We can start gentlemen"
Khushi's hand trembled little as she heard that stern voice. But gathering some courage, she lifted her hand and uncovered her bowl. She filled her plate with the food she had made for herself.
Arnav looked at her plate as he chewed his morsel. Something brown with some vegetables and potatoes in one small bowl. A round thing which she was tearing, then dipping in that brown vegetable and putting it in her mouth.
Khushi stole a glance at her husband and found him looking at her plate. She pushed the morsel in her mouth which was in her hand and looked down at her plate.
"Woh...Aaap..aap khayeenge?" Khushi asked, her voice trembling. His terrifying avtar still roaming in front of her eyes.
"What?" he hurriedly took his eyes off her plate.
" You...you eat?" she pointed at her plate.
"No ..no .." he concentrated on his plate. But as he kept staring at his plate, a slender wrist came in his view. He lifted his eyes to see her placing some vegetable and that round thing in his plate.
"I said I don't want .."
"You eat ...it's nice .." she forced a smile. How can she make something for her and not feed her husband?
Arnav looked at the men seated before him, all busy with their dinner. He looked down at his plate and gave a curt nod, not looking at his wife.
"Aap bhi lenge?" Khushi asked to her sweet brother-in-law who had helped her in arranging her clothes and making a small separate kitchen for her.
"Why not?" Akash smiled. "Di jiye" he forwarded his plate.
Khushi smiled and placed some sabzi and two roti in his plate.
Arnav mimicked Kusi's action of tearing that round thing, dipping it in the vegetable, and put the morsel in his mouth. A deliciously spicy flavor spread in his mouth, better than any meat he had ever had.
"Hmm.. it's very nice. All you used is some vegetable, spices and wheat. And still it's better than any meat I had ever had"
His brother mouthed his exact thoughts.
Khushi smiled at her brother-in-law and looked at her husband, expecting him to say something. But all he did was dip his head down and concentrated on his dinner. She looked around , and saw all the men in the room, whom her brother-in-law had introduced but she has already forgotten their name. Guess she will take 2-3 more introduction session to remember each one by their name. But now, all the men were staring at her. She looked down at her bowl, which was now empty. Half roti and little sabzi lying in her plate.
"Woh ...Khatam ...over ... I will make yesterday , ... for all ..." She smiled, but that smile died soon as silence prevailed the room. Those men still staring at her, confused.
"Tomorrow"
She turned to look at her husband. "Uhh?"
"Tomorrow, Kusi ...not yesterday ... say you will make meal for them tomorrow ... not yesterday ..." Arnav said.
"Oh ...sorry sorry ..." She looked at the men. "Tomorrow ... I will make tomorrow ...for all " she smiled, making the room soon fill with light laughter and chuckles. Her hand lifted to her mouth to cover her own giggle.
Arnav looked at his wife, who was trying hard to stop her giggles. In the morning he had thought it was his brother from whom he needs to run. But now as he sat here, looking at his beautiful wife, giggling and making his men laugh, he can't help but fear her the most. This magical little thing seems more dangerous than his own brother. He needs to maintain his distance from her. He will not allow any chit of a girl to destroy his defenses and make him forget all the promises that he had made to himself.
Hope you all liked it!
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