CHAPTER 4 - BLOOMING BUD
The kingdom of Wairua, was as exotic as its name. With beautiful lands surrounded by rolling mountains in a breath taking atmosphere. The land, the mountains, even the trees and forests were said to be filled with the nature's spirits and the rivers were said to be guarded by the nymphs. The myths were nonetheless, true at times. Its just the people fail to understand them.
The Lord of Wairua happily announced the expected arrival of his sister-in-law and his fav niece.
"Why the hell is she coming now of all the times?" was the rude question he got from his elder son.
"Respect her bhai. She's our Maasi!" replied Anjali coolly.
" Argh...!!! I meant that Khushi. Im happy Maasi is coming. But I don't want that pest anywhere near me" said Arnav immediately.
"Enough Arnav. She is coming here whether you like it or not. And I don't want a single word against Khushi from you anymore. Did I make myself clear?" roared Amish at the indifference of his son.
"Yes father..." grudged Arnav and whispered to Anjali," Keep her out of my sight. I don't want to be held responsible for her potential death."
With that said, he walked out to his poolside garden by his wing of the palace, to calm down his nerves. He went to tend his fav tree. It was an exotic and rarest species ever. His grandpa gave it to him on his first birthday. It was the Navarathna tree. The dryad of the tree took him as her master and he loved it best next to his mother. Everday the tree gave a blossom of nine petals as its gratitude for the caring master. No one else can take the flower from it except Arnav, her master. And Arnav always gave the flower to his mother.
Since the day his mother died, the tree stopped flowering as her master lost all the love in his heart at his mother's loss.
But still he tended to the tree. It was the closest thing he had of his mother. His thoughts wandered off to Khuhsi. He remembered the first time he saw her.
~Flashback~
He was 8 yrs old and was in his grandpa's place with his cousins and sibblings. His Maasi came there with a bundle of clothe in her arms. Everyone were celebrating as Anjali, Payal and Maya crowded around the bundle cooing and awing. Curiosity got the better of him and so he opened the bundle to see what was in it. An elf like thing with big brown doe like eyes looked back at him. He was never fond of elves and so made a face at it. That' was it. All hell broke loose as the elf started crying like there was no other tomorrow. That was when he decided he hated elves, especially crying elves...
~End of flashback~
He was amused at that memory still being remembered crystal clearly. Even though he had later come to terms that the elf was actually a baby girl, he hated Khushi cause she always cried when she saw him while she laughed and played with everyone else.
Life had moved on and many things had changed since then. But she still got a sour look on her face whenever she saw him even after growing up. And she was annoying like hell to add as she was prone to all the troubles in the world. It made him hate her more than ever, if possible.
Why couldn't she give a single smile his way, when she laughed her heart out with everyone? Wait...WHAT ?!? Did he seriously think that? What the hell man? Arnav... You hate her and you never want to see her smile. Her sour face was way better. Snap out of it. You hate her. You hate her. You hate her...
He decided to retire to his chambers to clear his muddled mind and gear himself up for the arrival of the object of his hatred the next morning. In all his musings, he failed to notice the tiny bud on his beloved tree waiting to bloom the next day to mark a new beginning in her master's life.
~~~ sam
Cricket
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