IPKKND-ARHI-FF - Gypsy- Chapter 42 - Page 15

The story is getting more and more interesting. So finally... the big misunderstanding is solved!

It was interesting
Hope to read more

Poor khushi is heartbroken
Great update

UPDATE Karo na jaldi ...jaldi...

Hi Guys...Eid Mubarak to all of you...to make up for no updates last week, am posting 2 chapters now...pls say u 4giv me...😃

Chapter 13

Khushi ran through the forests; the same forest that had been silent witness to her growing up years, her tears and frustration's, her joys and laughter and finally been testimony to her budding romance, her innocent love. Tears ran unchecked down her cheeks; her hair flew behind her as she sought the sanctuary of her mother's arms. Her chest was tight and occasional sobs escaped her. The pain and agony she felt was all consuming.

In the course of less than an hour, she had lost her love, her beliefs had shattered and she had learnt, in one of the most brutal ways, of the huge social chasm between her and the man she loved. She had learnt that to him, she was just something he wanted to possess. He didn't love her. She was also faced with the knowledge that back in her camp, her life, she would marry a man she didn't love. How would she make a new life when her heart lay broken?

Many thoughts flew in her head just as she flew back to her mother.

Madhumati was waiting for her daughter to come home. She sat in the dark and waited. She had full faith in her daughter. Khushi would come home. She would not take any wrong step but she was worried about the state of her daughter's heart. How would the child fare when she realized that the Maharaja didn't intend to honour her love? Madhumati had no doubt of the outcome. She had lived and seen many things and nothing short of a miracle would make the Maharaja offer marriage to a banjaara girl. And miracles didn't grow on trees!!!

The faint tinkling of Khushi's bangles alerted Madhumati and she stood up. Khushi ran towards her mother and without stopping threw herself in Madhumati's arms. She was sobbing and Madhumati, feeling all the pain that her daughter was going through, tightened her arms around Khushi and let her cry. It was better this way, she thought. Long moments passed while Khushi sobbed her heart out until there were no more tears left. Still she remained in her mother's arms.

Madhumati slowly pushed Khushi back and slipping an arm around her, led her inside the tent. There she pushed Khushi on a rug and sat next to her and drew Khushi's head on her lap. There was no need for words between them. Madhumati understood what had happened and she felt her daughter's pain keenly. This special child of hers had never had much in the way of happiness. To have loved and to have that same love cheapened in this same manner had taken away the remnants of her daughter's happiness. No longer was this girl the same one who had happily roamed the forests, finding solace in small things and hoping and believing that if she was very good and hard-working, she would find some acceptance.

She never had and now that this had happened, this child of hers had no hope for herself anymore. She would silently do her Maayi's bidding and marry Hari. Then she would spend her life being a good wife, making sacrifices. Madhumati understood Khushi better than anyone else. Her daughter had fallen in love for the first and only time in her life. She would be a good wife but she would never love any other man apart from the Maharaja. But time healed all wounds and Madhumati hoped for the best.

She stroked Khushi's hair until her daughter fell asleep. She hiccupped occasionally in her sleep and until Madhumati soothed her……………

Maharaja Arnav Singh Raizada was lived with anger. Having being taught protocol since he was a toddler, he continued to mingle amongst his guests but his anger was visible in the tautness of his jaw and the stiffness of his hands. He kept his social mask in place until the last guest left and his mother and grandmother retired for the night.

As soon as he was alone, he spun on his heel and went out of the palace and straight into the stables. There were stable boys on duty every night and the sound on his shoes clicking on the stable floor brought them running towards him.

"Saddle Sultan immediately," he rapped out curtly. The boys rushed to do his bidding. Within minutes Sultan was led out and hurriedly saddled. Since the night air was cool and fresh and Sultan was a high strung animal, he danced about as he was saddled, eager to be out. His horse's eagerness suited Arnav very much.

He wanted Khushi very much, had from the first moment he had seen her in the forest. He meant to have her and couldn't believe that she had the temerity to refuse his offer. Till now he had treated her with kid gloves. She had no idea of his ruthlessness. That she had expected him to marry was ludicrous and not his problem if she had woven dreams around it. And then she actually quoted that her and her mother's honour was more important for her. How did she actually dare to make that statement? From where did a mere gypsy come from, quoting honour in front on him like that? And that oh so polite apology was the final nail in her coffin. He would teach her a lesson. She would realize very quickly that honour was one thing and to refuse him was another thing entirely!!!

Wordlessly he took Sultan's reins and walked out of the stables to mount the horse. He gave a light slap on Sultan's rump and the horse leapt in a canter. Once in the forest, Arnav gave him his head. The steady beat of Sultan's hooves and his own angry thoughts were his company on the way to the campsite. He reached the campsite and galloped in straight to that tent in the corner, supremely confident that none would dare to stop him.

It was nearing midnight and the sound of someone riding in alerted the gypsies who were light sleepers anyway. By the time Arnav drew to a stop in front of Khushi's tent, the gypsies were rousing and coming out.

Madhumati was leaning with her back against a tent pillar while Khushi slept in her lap. The sound of someone riding in alerted her and when that same sound stopped in front of her tent, she was filled with foreboding. She knew then that the matter was not over yet. In fact it had just become very bad and Madhumati feared the outcome. She knew without looking outside that her daughter's life had just taken a turn for the worse.

She shook Khushi awake and the girl woke up immediately. Sitting up and wiping the moisture from the corner of her eyes, she looked at her mother enquiringly. The sound of a horse walking outside their tent reached her ears. Looking at her mother she understood. Slowly mother and daughter stood up and hand in hand walked out of the tent……………..

Khushi had always been aware of the Maharaja and his status but when she walked out and saw him, for the first time, she became aware of exactly what he was, of the power he wielded. Seated on that white stallion of his, in the same black evening clothes she had seen him in earlier, with his handsome, aristocratic features set in an expression of blazing anger, he was in a world of his own.

By now the other tribe members had become aware of the commotion and walked out towards Madhumati's tent, carrying lanterns with them. Seeing the Maharaja of Devgarh on his horse there baffled them.

Completely uncaring of the presence of other people, Arnav looked at the woman who came out with Khushi. So that was her mother, he thought.

"You must be Khushi's mother," he said by way of his opening. At the slight nod he received, he continued,

"I understand from Khushi that you have arranged her marriage."

Madhumati nodded again.

"Let me tell you that I want your daughter and what I want, I always get so this marriage will not take place. You and your daughter had better understand that."

"I will only give my daughter to the man who will marry her," Madhumati replied.

"I will not marry her but she will be mine all the same."

"That cannot be. I will not have you dishonouring my daughter in that manner."

"Speaking of honour, who is the man who has actually offered to marry her?"

Arnav turned around to stare out at the throng of shocked people who had gathered. The tribe members were speechless. None dared to go against the Maharaja and the absence of the Sardar and other elder men was felt by all of them.

When he received no answer, Arnav turned back to look at Madhumati again.

"Well, tell me."

This time it was Khushi who answered.

"Maharaja Saheb, I will marry who ever has offered for me as it is what my Maayi wishes. I will never belong to you since what you want is a cheap and disgusting relationship. I may be a banjaaran but my honour is precious to me."

To have Khushi telling him that she would marry the man her mother had chosen rather than be with him pushed his anger over the edge and a furious Arnav ground out between his teeth:

"Well little gypsy, what happened to your honour when you were meeting me every morning? Where was it when I kissed you? Does this man you will marry know that I have already tasted the sweetness of your kisses? Tell him and then see if he will marry you!!!"

There was a collective gasp from all the people gathered there. In his anger, Arnav didn't realize what all he had said. Till now the banjaara's were all thinking that the Maharaja had seen Khushi and wanted her but none had known that there was more to the story. Now they all did and the shocked gazes were full of anger now. None of it was directed to the Maharaja. Instead the recipient of that anger was the slim girl who stood gazing at the Maharaja with tear filled eyes.

Khushi had never dreamt that the man she loved would actually have said all that he had. That he had meant to have a cheap relationship with she had found out. That indicated the lack of respect that he had had for her but to actually throw in the meagre intimacies they had shared in front of anyone cheapened everything now. At least before she had had the comfort of knowing that everything remained between them but to have it become common knowledge in this manner left her with nothing.

She swayed on her feet but none noticed. All they saw was a girl who had done what her mother had and betrayed the banjaara code of conduct. Beside her Madhumati closed her eyes in despair. Her daughter was ruined. She opened them and saw the arrogant young man atop his horse and realized that even he didn't know about the deep pit he had just pushed Khushi in. Or was it that he knew but didn't care?

At that moment the only person who could have saved the situation was Arnav. All he had to do was reiterate that he meant to have Khushi for himself. Her already ruined reputation would not have been saved but everyone would have left her alone since none would dare to cross the Maharaja but an already furious Arnav did something that he himself never meant to do; he tarnished her reputation and then he rejected her there with his next words.

"Actually Khushi, now I have changed my mind. I don't want you either. You can happily marry the man your mother wants you to, provided of course if he will have you; especially now that he will have to wonder about the extent of the intimacies you allowed me!!!"

With that he wheeled Sultan around and galloped out of the camp. He galloped away without a thought to the devastation he left behind.

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Chapter 14

The people of the tribe descended on Khushi like vultures the moment Arnav left. None bothered to wait for the Sardar as he was the only person with the authority to punish people. The people only thought about Khushi's mother and recalled Arnav's words. None asked for any explanations and none listened to Madhumati even.

That poor woman tried to save her daughter but couldn't do so. The first person to reach Khushi was Hari's mother. A largely built woman, she grabbed Khushi by her hair and dealt her a stinging slap on her face. Other women converged around Khushi, pushing Madhumati away.

At that moment, all these women forgot about Madhumati who healed their sicknesses, who turned none away from her door. They forgot that it was Khushi who usually ran around helping her mother, gathering herbs, making medicines and administering massages even since her elderly mother was not as strong as she had been. Amongst these women, a large number punished Khushi not for this dishonour but rather, took out their jealously and anger for the girl; anger for being more beautiful than their daughters, more well behaved and accomplished than their daughters and themselves even.

At this point the men and boys stepped back and allowed the women to mete out the punishment.

The slaps fell on Khushi and she fell. She received some kicks as well until someone came up with a better idea; a whip. They dragged her to her feet and took her in the middle of the campsite. An already hurt and bruised Khushi's eyes widened when she saw the whip.

"No, please, no. I didn't do anything. Please listen to ……………….."

The whip sliced through the air and fell on her. She didn't even have time to feel that pain before another blow fell and then another. The blows fell and stripped away her skin, tearing her clothes in the process. She fell to her knees, her skin bleeding in several places. She was in agony such as she had never known.

Madhumati tried to save Khushi but she was pushed aside. She ran around, begging each and every person gathered there for help, pleading her daughter's innocence. When she saw Khushi being whipped, her pleas for help increased; she truly feared for Khushi's life now.

Help arrived from an unexpected source; the Sardar's wife had been busy in her prayers when Arnav made his visit. She only became aware of the catastrophe when Khushi's cries and Madhumati's pleas for help reached her ears. With these pleas, another sound also reached her; the sound of a whip falling on human flesh. She abandoned her prayers and ran out, wondering who was being whipped. When she saw Madhumati crying for mercy, she understood that it must be Khushi. Starting towards the crowd, she was met by her daughter who quickly told her the story.

That woman's heart bled; never mind what the crime, she understood that most of the women here were taking lifelong frustrations out on Khushi now. Looking around for a way to save Khushi, her gaze fell on the corral's containing the prize horses meant for sale the next day. She quickly pushed her daughter, Phulwa in that direction. None noticed as all were too busy with punishing Khushi. Phulwa pulled open the door of the corral and taking a small stick lying there, she hit the nearest horse. That creature bolted and it was not long before the horses had seen the open door and one by one they streaked out. Phulwa repeated the process with the next corrals until all were empty before she raced back to her mother's side.

The sound of many hooves thundering by caught everyone's attention. Men ran in the directions of the corrals and witnessed the spectacular sight of hundreds of prize horses cantering off in to the darkness. For them, it was no less than a natural disaster. The horses were meant for sale the next day when buyers were due to collect them. The Sardar would be truly angry with them now!

Cursing the men ran for their own riding horses. They would have to ride in the darkness and round up the horses. They called to the women for help to light lanterns and provisions. As quickly as they had converged on Khushi, they left as well, some even stepping on the girl as she lay there.

As soon as they left, the Sardar's wife, Tara and daughter Phulwa rushed to Khushi. The girl was lying face down on the ground, her clothes torn and bloodied. Her back was a mass of cuts and weals and the Sardar's wife who had seen many things in her life cried out at the sight. She wondered if the girl was even alive. Gently she caught Khushi's shoulders and turned her over, Phulwa helping her. There was blood on her face, no doubt from the cuts on it.

"Phulwa, run to the tent and fetch some blankets," she urged her daughter.

Phulwa ran in the direction of their tent while she sat there with Khushi's head in her lap. Looking around, she saw Madhumati sitting in a daze, staring off in to space. No help from that quarter, Tara realized. First priority was to get the girl in the tent. Thankfully in the panic, none had realized that Phulwa had opened the corrals. Phulwa raced back with blankets and together mother and daughter wrapped and carried Khushi back to their tent. Phulwa ran back and urged Madhumati back with her.

From there the two women with some assistance from Madhumati started the task of tending to Khushi. The girl's breathing was shallow and light. Tara removed Khushi's clothes and washed her cuts and bruises. Tears came in her eyes when she saw the cuts and weals that ran down her back, legs and stomach. Some had split open and would leave scars. There were bruises consistent with kicks while her face was swollen and cut in places. Even her hair was damaged; it had tangled in the whip and the ends looked as if they had been hacked off in places. After all they had used a hunter's whip on this thin slip of a girl. Tara applied salve on Khushi's bruises and after some 3 hours, dressed the girl in a light white shirt and loose white trousers that belonged to her youngest son who was a 14 year old boy who limped.

All this while Khushi had not regained consciousness. Tara knew that this story was far from over. Khushi's life was still in danger. Not just from her wounds but also from the tribal people. The Sardar would not be back for another 2 days and till then, a safe place was needed for Khushi to recover. In fact it would be better if Khushi stayed away from the camp for some time. Away from this place, she would have more chances of recovery. But where to send the girl?

They couldn't send her to another banjaara camp. That would be the first place the people would look for her. Tara's mind raced and finally hit on a solution. She would send the girl to her brother. He would take good care of Khushi and his home was not far from here. She hurried out of the tent, calling her son who would no doubt be found near the goat sheds.

The boy limped over to his mother. A tall and strong, albeit crippled boy, he spoke little and rarely mixed around with other youths, preferring his solitude. Listening to his mother's instructions, he saddled his horse, took the fragile burden his mother gave him and rode off in to the night.

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Poor khushi

Oh my God!! my heart bled and cried for Khushi, she did't do anything, poor soul just loved that selfish man selflessly and he seduced her without her realising anything..what was he thinking or should I say not thinking at all..his ego, pride and unreasonable anger took over and he sacrificed Khushi..he should have known that Banjara's have harsh punishments for the crimes he put at her door..Khushi paid price for his callousness and his thirst for revenge and he hast even realise the extent of damage he has caused and all for nothing as he has lost her anyway..I am so glad that there was someone in the camp with sympathetic heart who took a right decision and I really hope they keep khushi's whereabout a secret from Maharaja as he do not deserve her..not at this moment anyway..he need to realise what he actually feel for that poor innocent girl and also what he put her through only when he feels the same pain as Khushi is feeling at the moment..both physical and psychological..even then it will be Khushi's decision if she would give him second chance.

I love this story sooo much and the way you are telling it is awesome.
Faboulous update and the story had really move forward and changed direction quite drastically. I can't even make an intelligent guess as to where you are taking us..it is an incredible journey and I can't wait for next update. Please do update quickly this time as I want to know about Khushi..poor baby hope she recovers quickly with all the herbs banjare know about.
Thanks for the PM.

Eid Mubarak to you too.beautiful and emotional update.poor Khushi she has pay for his anger which is blinded all the logic.As bcos she refused he made her suffer.I know he'll repend for his action,but she does need to punished this way. Thanks for the PM.

Poor girl. The people are so mean. They got a chance to remove their frustations. And arnav might not be aware of these things that happened. Phulwa and her mother are saviour for khushi. Poor madhumati what would have been her condition seeing her daughter being beaten so brutally. Atleast now the poor girl khushi will be safe from those brutal people. Arnav in his rage did not mind his words so he's somewhere is also responsible for her condition. He will surely regret this. And Eid Mubarak to you too.