Frankly, your ardent itching to come to the Inn to hear me narrate the story is overwhelming. I don't know how to react more often when I step into the secret Cave of ours and find you waiting joyously for me. Is Selene Night (Sam) dancing on the table again? She even invited the other Comrades and friends to join! And yes, your drinks have arrived and saomom, your extra order of pumpkin pie with whipped cream has been made and will arrive any minute now. We all live at different regions, in different timelines and yet, you find the vigour and smile to step down and visit the promising Inn in Arhasia! And, good to see you dear hellgirl!!
Shas, thank you again dearest for that surprise celebration on the 1000th comment on our beloved FF. Ah, yes, our FF!! And Sweet Sophie, I've updated the Parchment with you challenge! It was real fun, fitting you with us! And yes, happy dreams sailing over us!!
I'm not talking much today because I know you're dying to start to the chapters and some of you probably may have skipped this talk of mine and gone to read already! *wink*But I can't begin our session without telling: Take it slow. Relish moment. There are things that matter in every look and word!
Chapter Eighty Two: Rages and Rides
Lord Arnav strode towards the stable. He never took naps in the afternoon. For over ten years, nightly sleep had always been a disturbed phase of fighting one's dark instincts while waiting for the morning light to relieve oneself from the enveloping darkness of the weariness.
Saturday afternoons were distasteful for he had often no need to visit the Industry on this day and he moped about in his bedroom and Library and sometimes spent some time with his sister. But now that his sister had Mami, Lavanya and the strangely happy Nani for company, Lord Arnav preferred to not involve himself in womanly chitchat. Lord Akash, like is father, treasured afternoon naps after lunch and Lord Arnav sat in his library, brooding over a book he had not the mood to read.
It was dry and hot that afternoon and he stood up, deciding to cool his frame a bit with a ride on Shadow. He went to his bedroom, changed into his riding boots and a white long-sleeved shirt to keep the cool intact on his chest while riding, and then made for the stable outside.
When he was still a distance away from the stable rooms, his sharp ears caught on the sound of laughter from within and with a suspicious frown, he made for the huge doors. The familiar stench of horse sweat and dry hay caught his senses and but what astonished him was the curious tingle of village-flower scent added to it.
He stepped in, turned the corner and beheld the source of the laughter. There was Aman and that abstracted village girl, seated upon the haystack in the corner, away from the stalls of the horses. Two swords lay forgotten beside the two and they were immersed in conversation, laughing over something.
He didn't know why but seeing her happy laughter angered him. But more furious was he, when his eyes riveted to find Aman as the cause for this laughter of hers. Clenching his fists, Lord Arnav took long strides and came to stand beside the haystack.
"Kushi!" he barked.
Laughter froze and the two jesters leapt off the haystack. The girl moved away from the heated Lord but the man stepped boldly forward and asked, "My Lord, is there something you need from the stable?"
Lord Arnav shot him a look, "If you had mind enough to consider service to me pivotal, you would be with me and not chatting with a flimsy servant girl."
Kushi looked at him, shocked by the words he'd used to describe her. She was sorely hurt but she pressed her hands against her waist, as if holding herself from stepping forward and reacting. Buaji's words of advice rang in her ears and Kushi closed her eyes, Calm down, Kushi. You are always a fiery one. You need to learn to be controlled too...
"My Lord, I had supposed you would be having a nap or doing some reading, either of which do not require my presence," explained Master Aman.
Lord Arnav fixedly stared at his servant, "If you knew I had no use for you presently, shouldn't you have left for your home?"
"I was about to, sire," said Master Aman.
"And?" Lord Arnav waited, "What chanced upon the 'about to'?"
"I found Miss Gupta lonely in the stable and struck a casual conversion with her," said Master Aman, looking at the girl from the corner of his eyes.
Lord Arnav looked from Master Aman, then Kushi and then and at the swords lying on the haystack. His eyes fell upon Master Aman again, "Which rule entailing casual conversations require swords and seats on haystack, tell me?"
Master Aman opened his mouth to answer but he didn't know how to reply to that. To his astonishment, Kushi stepped forward.
"I was practicing swordfighting with him," said Kushi and then, in defence of her new trainer, she said, "I had asked him to."
"Oh," Lord Arnav cocked an eyebrow, finding it a pleasing change to directly confront her, "And had you had enough of my brother's training tactics?"
Kushi was appalled, "How did you-?"
"I am the Master of this Castle," said Lord Arnav curtly, "Did you think I would not know what happens in this place? Did you really think that you could carry on any endeavour and not have me know of it?"
Kushi shuffled where she stood; this was not a comfortable thought. Did he know all that she did and said in this Castle?
"Tell me," Lord Arnav stepped towards Kushi and the girl's eyes widened, "What did you propose to earn by learning the skill of the sword?"
Kushi was silent and Lord Arnav smirked, "Did you go through all the trouble to learn the skill so you could par your sword with me?"
A blush crossed over his cheeks and Master Aman, who had been watching them closely, felt strangely annoyed.
Lord Arnav tilted his head, appraising her, as he waited for her reply.
Kushi closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then opened her eyes to boldly reply, "Yes. I went to all the trouble to make time to learn swordfighting so I could defeat you the next time we confronted with swords."
Lord Arnav was oddly delighted at these words but his smirk was still intact, "Do you want to try me now?"
Kushi's cheeks turned red again, this time in horror. She didn't think she was ready yet and she cast a glance over Master Aman, but he was looking away as if not wanting to bear witness to this conversation.
Kushi looked at Lord Arnav and, reluctantly, but with a tinge of firmness said, "Yes."
Lord Arnav took a moment to process the tone of her reply and then nodded, "You will. But not today." And he turned to go.
Kushi sighed inwardly, relieved at his words and his unexpected departure, but all her strength tumbled down when, with his back turned to her, he said, "Today you shall prove your worth in horse riding."
"No," Kushi said before she could stop herself, and Lord Arnav turned to look at her again.
Kushi looked away from him and cast a pleading glance towards Master Aman who could only look at her helplessly. He still remembered the last experience she had had with horses. But his many years of dedication to his Master held him respectfully silent.
Lord Arnav caught their exchange and cuttingly ordered, "You can go, Aman. I have no need for you here anymore for the day."
Master Aman stood rooted for a moment, knowing that his Master wanted him to leave so he could have the girl for himself. He was worried for Kushi but one hard look from his Master and he knew it was wiser he obeyed. Casting a destitute glance towards the petrified girl, he left the stable.
Silence remained for some time after Master Aman left and Kushi gulped realising that she was once again alone with him and that there was great potential for a disaster to occur within the four walls of this huge stable.
Lord Arnav strode towards where his dark horse was tied, harnessed the gear and saddle upon it and brought it out to the centre by its reins.
He looked over at Kushi who stared at the horse as if it was Death on Four Legs.
"Do you want me to come to you with a horse or will you get here by yourself?"
Kushi reluctantly made steps towards him and but stopped a good distance away from him and his horse.
"Take a horse of your choice," said Lord Arnav.
"I do not ride horses," said Kushi.
"I've seen you ride carts," said Lord Arnav, suggesting the crash they had had once at the fringe of the forest.
"I ride wooden carts and not live horsebacks," said Kushi, looking fixedly at the ground.
"You can ride dead horsebacks then?" asked Lord Arnav, mockingly.
Kushi looked up at him, "You may joke, sire. But this is a matter of my wellbeing."
Lord Arnav stared at her solemnly, "I will not make you ride a horse if I knew it would lead you to your death," he saw Kushi look at him, surprised, so he added, "Not that I care if you die or not. But my sister will be angry with me."
Kushi looked away, disgusted, "I cannot ride."
"Why?"
"Because I do not know how to."
"Then learn."
"I can't."
"Why?"
Kushi pressed her lips together and said nothing.
"Are Akash and Aman your only choice for trainers?"
Kushi looked up, reading an implied meaning in his question, "I would rather die than ask you to teach me anything."
"Why?" his eyes glinted amusedly, "Are you scared of me?"
Kushi snorted, "I do not fear you. I hate you."
The defy thrown was enough for the fire in him to plummet. His hands let go off the reins of his horse and he stepped towards her. Kushi stared at him and realized that if she backed away, she would be eating her words of not fearing him. Each step of his in her direction raised her heartbeat to a deafening notch until she could hear it no more.
Before she could react, he was already before her and his hand reached out to her. Just when his fingers were inches away from the exposed skin on her arm, she stepped back. He cocked an eyebrow and smirking, diminished their distance. She backed away and he strode towards her impudently, until she had backed herself on the rear wall of the stable, and his arms were pressed on either side of her petite frame as he towered above her, his face leaning towards her.
"What are you doing?" she asked him in a feared whisper.
"Testing the validity of your statement," he stated in a low voice, his nose inches away from hers.
"What I said is true," she said, her eyes closed, "I do not fear you."
"Then why do you not have the courage to look at me?"
Kushi opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her breath hitched. His eyes were dark and desirous and he looked at her in such a hungry way, fire rose in her insides.
She opened her mouth to say something, and his gaze slid down to her lips. The red glisten of her lips that was prone to innocent smiles...his lips parted in response.
Kushi paled, what was he going to do?! Gasping, she slapped her hands on his chest. He snapped out of his foggy vision and he scowled down at her, "I despise you vastly."
"So do I," she stated.
He was still not moving away and she was getting angrier with each passing second, "I hate your arrogance and your pride."
"You are a defiant and disrespectful beggar."
"I am not a beggar," she said exasperatedly, "Why do you pick on that word every time?"
"Because you are one," he said.
"I am not," she said angrily, and then she looked away, "How can you be so cruel?"
"I am made so," he smirked.
"Well, I hate you intensely," she said.
"I could have expected nothing less," he said, and then moved away.
"You are horrid for you always want to make me perturbed," she said.
"You say!" he shot at her, "How dare you make me weak!"
Kushi was surprised, "What? How do-?" She paused, "I make you weak?"
Lord Arnav frowned, "You do not make me weak." He walked towards his horse.
She followed him, the hem of her gown dragging over the hay, "But you just said I made you weak!"
"I did not," he patted his horse.
She came to stand beside him, "You just did!"
"No, I didn't," he looked down at her, "I said that you may 'think' you can make me weak but you cannot."
"That's not what you said," she stated determinedly, crossing her arms before her chest.
"That was what I had intended," he said casually and returned to gaze at his horse.
"So you admit that was not what you said," she said, smiling inwardly.
Lord Arnav frowned at his horse, "I said no such thing."
Kushi nodded to herself, "You are speaking around what you are afraid to utter."
Lord Arnav shot her a glare and Kushi stepped away.
"Climb on a horse," he said shortly.
Kushi shook her head, "No, I'm leaving."
She turned to go and was almost happy she had been relieved of the act of riding a horse, when she felt warm fingers clasp around her arm. Before she knew it, she was pulled towards a hard chest, the white shirt unbuttoned on the top and revealing the sweat drenched chest beneath it.
Her body burned immaculately when pressed against him, adding to the fact that the stable was stuffy too, but she forced herself to move away from him. However, the efforts were futile.
"Get on a horse." The angry way in which he picked each word was threatening enough that the wide-eyed Kushi turned red with fear.
"I..." Kushi tried to reason again, but strangely failed.
And this time, he said nothing. Instead, he acted.
His burning touch transferred to her waist and with both his arms, he hoisted her on Shadow who grunted cynically.
"No," she breathed out, sitting stiffly, afraid to move. He pointed to her boots and reluctantly, knowing that if she didn't do it he would do it for her, she slid her legs on either side of the horse and trembled when she felt the horse's warm veins under her thighs, "Please, no..."
Lord Arnav smirked up at her, "You seem to have played a good student to Akash and Aman. Let me see how good an apprentice you are for me."
"No," she whispered and then panicked when, with a leap, he seated himself behind her. She gasped, feeling his burning chest press on her back and she shuddered because of the proximity of his face. His head was positioned against her head, above her left shoulder. She winced, feeling his warm breath on her ears.
Kushi froze when she felt his arms slid under her arms, and reached in front of her to pick up the reins.
"Hold them," he said expressionlessly into her ear, and a shiver ran down her spine. She hesitantly obeyed him. She held onto the reins like how she held them when driving a cart. And then, suddenly, he had slid his hands to clasp around her hands that were holding the reins.
His warm hands pressed upon her trembling hands and stilled them.
"Do not alarm yourself so," he said casually, "You will know that I won't kill you off that easily."
"I know," she said, more to show him that would not give up to her fears yet, "You will want to kill me inch by inch, right?"
Lord Arnav smirked, and said into her ear, "You know my intentions quite well, Miss Kushi Kumari Gupta. Any last words?"
"Yes," said Kushi, "I hate you, Lord Arnav Singh Raizada."
"I would ask for nothing more," he grinned and then spurred. With a loud neigh, Shadow shot out of the open stable door. Kushi squeezed her eyes shut as she felt the wind rush at her and the body of her enemy pressed upon her, giving her a sense of security. She hated this, but she knew she was safe.
Chapter Eighty Three: Ride and Results
With the afternoon sun beating upon the lands with its bright glare, Shadow careened over the vast grassland, heading for the forest, away from the hill upon which stood the Castle.
"Where are you taking me?" Kushi cried out over the loud galloping.
Lord Arnav only pressed upon her hands which he still held with the reins.
"Stop this horse! I'm getting dizzy!" she yelled at him but the wind snatched away her words and the horse sped through the fringe of trees and cantered into the forest, kicking dust as it raced on.
Kushi gasped and yelped every time they almost ran into a tree but the dark horse was so scrupulous at riding that he seemed to be gliding and flitting past the trees, unharmed and with not much effort.
"Stop, please stooop!!!" Kushi pulled at the reins to try and stop the horse but his hands on hers pressed on her hands and made any kind of movement impossible.
"I hate you!" she hissed.
"Duck!" he said casually and, to her surprise, she yelped and obeyed his order. They ducked as they passed a protruding branch which she saw only after they had passed it and looked over her shoulder to look at it.
Well, awkward move actually, because her "looking over her shoulder" was "looking right into his face" which was positioned next to her head. Her turning brought their noses to touch and her widened eyes stared at his surprised eyes for a moment before they moved their faces away and turned to focus on where they were going.
Shadow grunted.
"What are you laughing for?" Lord Arnav barked to his horse but the horse only raced on.
"What is your intention with this?" Kushi demanded suddenly.
"I want to teach you something," he said shortly.
"Horse-riding?" she asked.
"No," said Lord Arnav, "To never ask my brother or anyone in my family or my servants to train you in the skills that only the elite equip themselves with."
Kushi's mouth dropped open and she had to force herself to not turn about and slap him.
"Arrogant lordy Lord," she muttered to herself and Lord Arnav leaned forward, "What did you say?" his threatening question angered her more, and she remained silent.
"I asked you something," he stated angrily, his breath on her ear unsettling her.
She inhaled in courage and then said, "I don't have to answer you for every question."
"Where did your respect go?" he warned her.
Kushi closed her eyes and repeated, "I do not have to answer you for every question, SIRE."
"Good," he smirked near her ear and she knew he was smirking even though she could not see him, "But I give you no choice. Tell me what you had said."
"I will not," she said, and regretted it. She was fuelling him more and she was too hot-headed herself to prevent words from rushing to pump his psychological adrenaline.
"That is not the answer I'm looking for," he said in a low voice near her ear and she felt shivers run down her spine again. Before she knew what had happened, his hands on hers had slid down her arm and up her elbow and towards her shoulder and she felt her valour weakening. He brushed his hands past the sides of her shoulders and then pressed on either side of her waist, earning a gasp from her.
"What are you-?" she couldn't even find the voice to speak.
"What did you say before?" he asked again, menacingly.
"That..." She lost her words and he pressed at her waist again.
"Please," she pleaded.
"Please what?" he asked her softly.
"Please stop mocking me so," she breathed.
"I will," said Lord Arnav, "As soon as you apologize for learning swordfighting against my wish."
"How would I know it was against your wish?" she reasoned, and was relieved when his hands moved away from her waist to hold the reins again.
"Because if you thought I would not deny your demand to learn the skill, you would have asked the permission of the First Master of the Castle before consulting the Second Master."
Kushi pressed on the reins, to calm herself, "Well then, I suppose I knew it was against you that I chose to learn swordfighting."
"You will never succeed," he said.
"I am not scared of anything, Lord Raizada," she said, and then suddenly he pulled hard at the reins and brought his horse to a stop.
He dismounted and then reached for her and, despite her struggles to not make him touch her, he had lifted her off the horseback and put her down.
As soon as her feet touched the forest ground, she stepped away, "What are you?" and then she looked around, "Why did we stop here?"
He smirked and mounted on his dark horse, leaving her there, staring up at him.
"You are not scared, right?" he repeated, with an evil glint on his yes, "Find your way out of this forest yourself then."
"No," she breathed out and rushed towards him but he had already reared his horse and turned it around, "Farewell, Brave beggar!" he called from over his shoulder and raced off in the direction of the Castle.
"No," she cried, and ran after the horse but it was faster than her and before long her tired legs could carry her no more. Gasping tiredly, she fell against a tree and wept.
The forest was not dark for it was still afternoon and there was sunlight seeping through patches between the spaces in the tree tops. But she was feeling too broken and lonely and she knew the horse had ridden them too deep into the forest and qiute away from the Castle.
She bit her lower lip to stop it from trembling. This was all her fault. If she had been more careful in her words or in her decisions, she wouldn't have enraged the First Lord.
"I hate him!" she told into the air, amidst tears, and then buried her face into the space between her knees.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, horse hoofs sounded and she looked up and saw him emerge out of the trees on his dark horse, looking triumphantly at her tear-stricken face.
"So, have you learnt you lesson to never earn my displeasure?"
She said noting, but looked away.
"Get up!" he said, bringing the horse to stop before her.
"I won't," she said, staring at the root of the tree beside her.
"Still more to learn, eh?" he smirked, "I'll leave then."
"No!" she cried and shot up, standing unsteadily before him, "Don't go."
He tilted his head, "What do you want then?"
"I want to return back," she said, looking at the horse's snout but not at its rider's face.
"And you will," he assured her but added cunningly, "As soon as you apologize."
"For what?" she shot him a glare.
"There are many reasons as to why you should apologize to me, but presently: for angering me," he said.
"Your anger is your own undoing and has nothing to do with me," she said, "I have never seen you in any emotion other than of rage."
He sat unmoved, "You are annoying me again, Kushi Kumari Gupta."
His threat worked and she sighed, "I only want to return."
"As soon as you apologize."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because you don't earn it."
"That is not for you to decide."
"It is I who should decide that if I am the one to apologize."
"You're doing it again."
"What?"
"Getting on my nerves."
"I can't help it. You yourself are always on my nerves."
"So it's a mutual distraction," he muttered.
"Yes," she said shortly, "So I suppose you must apologize too, SIRE."
"Mockery will only end in punishment, I warn you, Kushi Kumari Gupta," his lips were a thin line when he said those words.
"I expect nothing less from you as long as I can keep my dignity intact."
"You won't for long."
"We'll see."
All this while, Shadow was fuming inwardly. His Master and the village-comer where beginning to make his regular morning rides turn out to look like some excuse for verbal battle between them. He neighed abstractly and his Master frowned at him.
"You stay out of this," growled his Master and then the man turned to look at the girl before him, "Will you apologize now or not? I don't have much time."
"I will not apologize to you even if I am dead and lie cold under the earth," she stated determinedly.
"Very well then," he said and reared his horse, "I leave you in the company of your precious little dignity."
"No, wait," she said, "Is there something else I can do in exchange for a safe return to the Castle? I cannot walk through this forest alone."
"Your apology is the only option I am willing to consider," he said, the reins ready in his hand.
"I cannot-" she had begun to say when a twig snapped behind them among the distant trees.
Kushi stiffened, afraid to turn around but she saw how Lord Arnav's face suddenly darkened as if he sensed danger. Next moment, she heard a growl behind her and Lord Arnav had leapt off his horseback and rushed at her. She thought he would crash into her with the speed in which he ran towards her but to her shock, he passed her and raced for whatever was behind her.
She turned around and her heart almost froze on seeing the sight before her. A huge brown forest bear emerged out of the thick green bushed and the two-feet shorter but equally strong body of Lord Arnav rammed into its chest. The bear grunted, not affected at all, and with a heavy clawed paw struck at Lord Arnav's chest. He fell upon the ground but next moment was on his feet again, rushing at the angry bear. The bear roared and Lord Arnav growled and then they constrained against each other, neither willing to give up. Immobilized by fear, Kushi stood watching as the bear snapped its jaws at Lord Arnav's head but the man ducked and punched the bear at his abdomen.
The bear staggered for a moment, grunted viciously and came again for Lord Arnav.
"No!" Kushi yelled and rushed towards Lord Arnav, suddenly not afraid of the huge animal before them.
"Stay away, Kushi!" yelled her enemy, ducking a slap from the bear's paw and then Lord Arnav fisted his hand and knocked the bear's forehead with a hard thud.
The bear groaned and swayed but didn't lose its consciousness. It was trying to focus, still slightly dizzy, when Lord Arnav stepped away swiftly, raced towards Kushi and, with his eyes on the recovering bear, pulled at her hand and drew her to his horse.
"Shadow!" he barked, and the horse leaned forward, making it easier for Kushi to climb onto its back. Just as the bear had found its balance, seen them preparing to flee and, with a furious roar, made for them, Lord Arnav had leapt onto his horse's back, behind Kushi, and pulled at the reins.
Shadow grunted and trotted away as the bear pounced forward and missed them by a tail's expanse. Growling, the bear chased after them but Lord Arnav constantly kept his horse at a good distance away from the bear's snapping jaw. With each bound and leap, Shadow gathered speed and Kushi's fear of horseback-riding was back with the maddening speed with which they were flying through the forest. She shut her eyes from the terror of their speeding path and pressed her back, in refuge, against her enemy's chest and felt the warmth of his encircled arms around her waist, while his hands still held onto the reins and his eyes alert on the proximity of the bear and on the way forward.
She frowned and opened her eyes. Why did the warmth of his chest feel wet? She looked over her shoulder and gasped.
His shirt had come open in the front owing to the struggle, and there were three great slashes of the bear's claws on his chest and blood seeped out of it, "You're hurt!" she said concerned.
"Sit straight," he barked at her angrily and she resumed her position but, reluctantly, wanting to help stop his bleeding.
"Sire, you're bleeding-"
"I said, stay put!" he growled and then they were out of the forest and racing over the open grassland heading for the hill. The bear no longer followed them for, like all forest animals, it never left the enclosure of the dark trees, so they were safe now. But Shadow did not slacken in his speed as he raced up the hill and through the gate, making straight for the stable.
On reaching the stable, Lord Arnav dismounted and left, leaving the stable hand and JayPrakash to tend to Kushi and Shadow.
JayPrakash helped her down and then began on untying the reins and saddle on Shadow who was panting wildly from the mad chase he had just narrowly escaped.
"What happened?" asked JayPrakash, worriedly.
"Nothing," said Kushi, not knowing why she said that, "Just an scare in the forest."
And then she was out of the stable and walking towards the Castle. On reaching her coffin-room, she changed her clothes and looked at the blood stains on the back of the gown she had worn.
It looked red and very fresh.
Guilt and sympathy rode her mind to tears and she rushed out of her room and up the stairs until she was standing before his door. She knocked on it and when she heard no reply, she opened it an inch. There seemed to be no one there and she was about to go when she heard a pained hiss from within the bathing chamber across the room.
He was cleaning his wounds, she realised and walked into his room. Closing the door behind her, she made towards his bathing chamber. She knocked on the door and waited.
"Di?" asked the familiar voice within, and he sounded unaffected by his wounds.
"No, it's me," she said softly, remorsefully.
There was a long silence and then the door opened and he emerged out of the chamber, glaring at her, his chest bare and the red long slashes viciously visible.
"What do you want?" he growled at her.
"I..." Kushi could not take her eyes off his chest, and her eyes blurred with tears, "I'm sorry."
"Too bad," he muttered distastefully, "If you had said that an hour ago, we could have avoided meeting the bear in the first place."
She would have loved to refute him but she didn't. Not in this state. Instead, she let herself be enveloped in the guilt that her own pride had caused him the wounds. There had to be something she could do to really show how sorry she was.
"Could I clean-?" her hands reached out for his chest, but he stepped away, "Get out."
She looked up at him, her eyes still teary, "I..."
He was expressionless but his nostrils flared with rising rage, "I said Get out!!"
Struck by his outburst, the despondent girl moved towards the door. She opened it and cast one look towards where he had been standing. He was not there. He had already returned to his bathing chamber and shut the door.
With a heart penitent at being unable to ease his wounds, Kushi stepped out, closed the door behind her and stood for a moment to clear her poise and wipe her tears off, wishing only to forget.
Chapter Eighty Four: The Aftermath of the Rage, Ride and Result
Rahim Chacha was rummaging through the kitchen storeroom, searching for something, when he felt someone come to stand behind him. With his hands paused, he looked over his shoulder.
His face broke into a cheerful grin, "Ah, Kushibitiya! What-?" and then his grin fell, seeing the rueful expression on her face. He turned around and walked towards her, reaching for her shoulder, "Kushibitiya?"
Kushi's fingers were clasped at her waist and her pale face was cast upon the floor, "Could you show me where my sack of cocoa beans was kept?"
Rahim Chacha frowned in thought, "The ones you brought four weeks ago? Ah yes, they are on the top shelf." He looked at her, concerned, "Do you want me to get them for you?"
Kushi nodded, her eyes still downcast.
Rahim Chacha wanted to ask her what bothered the young one's heart but he decided to first get her what she was asking for if that would appease her stricken poise. A moment later, he had found the sack and carried it to her.
"Where do you want me to-?" he began, holding the sack in his arms, but Kushi wordlessly stretched out her hands to take it.
Rahim Chacha let her take the sack from his hands and then stood watching as she turned and walked towards the inner kitchen.
(For your information, the Raizada Castle has three kitchens: one called the 'fore kitchen' where vegetables and other food materials are cut up and where the readied meals are placed on a clean counter before being carried to the dining hall, a second kitchen called the 'centre kitchen' where the spacious pantry/storeroom is found and where the dishes are washed and where the bowls and pots and ladles are stored, and a third 'inner kitchen' where three huge furnaces are situated and where the food for the Castle is cooked, boiled fried and baked. It is in one corner of the fore kitchen that the servants, maids, gardeners, guards and stable boys of the Castle have a table around which they have meals. And adjacent to this fore kitchen is the huge room where they sleep in the night on separate beddings laid upon the wide floor.)
There were three cooks for the Castle and one of them was the "Monitoring Cook," the Old Miss Surabi. These three were preparing dinner on two furnaces and the third furnace was not presently being used. So Kushi walked towards it and placed the sack beside it. She picked up a huge enough metallic bowl and then lit the fire in the furnace.
"Miss Kushi?" asked Old Miss Surabi, looking up from the pot of soup on the second furnace which she was stirring as the other two cooks dropped vegetable slices into it, "Is there something you want?"
Kushi spoke nothing but silently dumped the cocoa beans into the bowl and sifted through it, inspecting for any unwanted articles. Watched by a stunned Rahim Chacha and the three cooks paused in their soup-making, Kushi enclosed herself in a sphere of her depressing thoughts, drove out every other world away from her and focused on making what would best appease her troubled mind.
She placed the beans to roast in the furnace and then after collecting the required products in the right proportions, she began mixing sugar, butter, vanilla and milk in another huge basin and churned until the mixture was made smooth and creamy. As she worked, tears streamed down her face and she was incessantly mumbling under her breath and Rahim Chacha began to be extremely worried for her. He was in a fix as to what to do and she seemed to not respond to their calls but resumed work as if no one, other than her and the furnace with the roasting beans, existed.
Ridden by worry, the butler rushed towards the dining hall and announced, "My lady, Miss Gupta seems...terribly disturbed."
"What?" Lady Anjali and Lady Manorama, who were sitting in the room having tea, stood up. Lady Anjali asked the butler, "What is it?"
"I don't know, my lady," said the butler anxiously, and the two of them followed the butler towards the kitchen where they found Kushi, after having crushed the roasted beans, mixing it with the creamy mixture.
"Miss Kushi?" asked Lady Anjali uneasily, pressing her hand on Kushi's shoulder and Kushi looked up. Lady Anjali tried to smile warmly, "What is it, dear?"
Kushi's tear-stricken face pained Lady Anjali and she tried to drag the girl away from the heated furnace but Kushi stayed put and turned to resume her work.
"Miss Kushi," said Lady Anjali again and just then Lady Lavanya's exasperated voice called from the living room, "Oh dear! My ASR! What happened to you?!"
Gasping, Lady Anjali turned about and ran towards where she had heard the exclamation and Kushi felt guilt sink into her skin even more. She churned the mixture harder and harder and she could see nothing for tears flowed in torrents and some even fell into the chocolate liquor she was making.
There was a loud uproar in the living room and everyone was worrying over Lord Arnav who kept telling them it was nothing to worry over but then Lady Anjali said something about "Kushi not listening" and "doing things in the kitchen", and the very next moment, Lord Arnav was barging through the kitchen door, and all cooks dropped their spoons and stepped away, for the Master of the House had never walked into the kitchen of his Castle as far as they could remember.
Kushi churned the mixture with a thick ladle, round and round, harder and harder, and all the while silently weeping and muttering incoherently, "I did not mean to do it, I did not mean to do it, I did not mean to do it..."
Her fingers trembled and her knuckles were pale as she held the ladle hard but her churning was rapid and determined and there was no pulling away from the madness of pain raging inside of her. Tears fell into the basin filled with the thick creamy brown mixture, now well churned, and yet she kept on churning, kept on soundlessly crying, kept on muttering...
"Kushi!" a voice barked behind her but she did not react. It was as if she had not heard anything, like she was unaware of his presence or any others too.
"Kushi!" he said louder this time and he knew his family and the servants were standing a little distance behind him, watching the strange scene unveil before them.
"Kushi!" he said one last time and seeing her unmoved, he clenched his fist and, with two steps, he was right beside her, pulling her arm and dragging the basin of liquor along with her. The sudden touch and drag upon her, by his strong hard hand, petrified her and the basin slipped from her trembling hold and toppled headlong onto the floor. Staring lost at its fallen state with all her efforts to appease her disturbed mind, she broke down and cried aloud, finally breaking free of the ropes in her heart that had made her suppress her pain.
Lord Arnav was stricken as he stared at her, appalled at the state she was in. Her desperate cries and her trembling hand in his hold shattered his wrathful demeanor and he pulled her out of the kitchen. But she did not move.
He looked at her and frowned, "Come with me this instant, Kushi Kumari Gupta."
She shook her head, tears running down like spring rivers.
With one yank, he pulled her after him and her unsteady feet trotted after him, trying to fix itself on the floor but unable to because of the virile force with which he easily dragged her.
Kushi said not a word as he marched her out of the kitchen, through the living room and up the stairs, observed by a shocked mob of his family and servants.
"Choety?" Lady Anjali rushed to him but he looked at her and said, "I know why she is disturbed and I will deal with this."
"No, Chotey," said Lady Anjali, placing a hand on his arm which held Kushi's hand, "You will not bring her to harm."
"I will not," was the assured and impatient yet truthful reply. Lady Anjali released her hold on his arm and he nodded at her, acknowledging her acceptance of his decision.
"But, my lady-?" Lady Lavanya began, coming to stand next to Lady Anjali as they watched Lord Arnav ascend the stairs with Kushi behind him.
Lady Anjali looked at Lady Lavanya and shook her head, "I trust him this time. I know he hurts when he sees another in pain."
Lord Arnav proceeded and did not stop until he had reached the landing, pulled her into his bedroom and shut the door behind him.
As soon as he had released her, she stood trembling against the wall beside the door and sunk to the floor, crying and muttering.
He pulled her up by her shoulders and she flinched from the pain of his hard hold on her.
She had not the strength or courage to tell him to let go of her after what she had let happen to him in the forest.
"What is this?" he asked her, frowning into her face, "What is it you are trying to prove here?"
Kushi sniffed and wailed, "I'm sorry. Please, I'm sorry."
His senses faltered and he suddenly pushed her away and stepped back, "Stay away," his voice threatened.
"I didn't mean to-"
"Silence."
"I am sorry-"
"I said SILENCE!!"
Kushi pressed her lips tight and wept noiselessly. Lord Arnav turned away, facing away from her. He closed his eyes. He could not take this anymore. She was hurting because she was guilty that he had been attacked because of her obstinacy. Well, she is obstinate, he reasoned to himself.
Then he turned around and found her kneeling on the floor, crying , her hands on her chest.
"Kushi," he called and there was a tone of concern in his voice. She looked up, tears running down.
He sighed and said curtly, "I do not deny this isn't your fault. But I want you to stop doing whatever you we doing in the kitchen."
Kushi clasped her hands, "I will not feel at peace, sire, until you let me know your wounds are cared for."
"I can care for my wounds, myself," he said angrily, and then he looked way, "But if it will make you stop making a racket in my Castle, I will let you inspect the work I've done on it."
Kushi nodded.
"You will not proceed with the kitchen scene of yours when you leave this room, will you?"
Kushi shook her head truthfully.
"Fine," he said and moved to his bed. There he parted the curtains on the bedpost and lay upon it, waiting.
Kushi didn't move.
He stared at the celling through his bed curtains, "I don't have all day."
Apprehensively, Kushi raised herself on her feet and dragging her feet and the hem of her gown over his rug, she stepped forward until she was standing before his bed. Darkness was beginning to dim in the room and Kushi moved to the bedside table and lit the candle on the stand there.
The bed curtains were parted so she only had to lean in.
"Sit," he said impatiently, his eyes on her every move.
"No, I'd rather-"
"Sit!!"
She sat suddenly.
"Open my shirt."
Trembling fingers reached out reluctantly and opened the first few buttons of his shirt. The shirt opened to reveal the three long scars across his chest. She stared, mortified by their size. But now they were stitched.
"You-" she began and he said, "Yes. I stitched them..." Then he frowned at her, "Is it over?"
She nodded and was about to button him again when her fingers brushed upon his scars and he flinched.
She gasped, "I'm sorry," and her hands withdrew.
He sat up and looked at her, his shirt still revealing the scars that shone dangerously in the candlelight.
"Are you really sorry?" he scowled.
Kushi nodded.
"For what you did and what you are doing?"
Kushi frowned, confused, "What I am doing?"
"Yes," he said angrily, "Your presence is making me fume again."
"I shall leave then, sire," she said and had stood up when his hand reached out and pulled her down to sit back on the bed again. He pressed on the hand he held, "Touch my scars and see what you let happen."
Kushi shook her ahead, afraid.
"Touch them!" he barked.
Her other hand lifted and reached towards his chest. He waited with bated breath, watching her lips tremble and her heartbroken gaze on his marred chest.
And then fire exploded. He closed his eyes at the first touch of her tender fingers on his scars. To his amazement, she didn't withdraw immediately. As if ratifying her guilt, she ran her fingers down each scar, trying to erase them from existence, from memory, from pain...
He closed his eyes and leaned backwards against his bedboard, and Kushi paused her hand, "Shall I leave, sire?"
"Not yet," he said, opening his eyes.
She looked at him and, for a moment, they were caught in a whirlwind of fire and all he knew was that her gentle fingers were on the scars that still pained. For her, his eyes were the only things that existed in that fraction of a moment, drowning herself into depths she was both scared and fascinated to sink herself into...
And then the candle flickered and they broke from their trance. Kushi stood up and made for the door. His eyes followed her. She didn't look back and left the room, closing the door behind her but the moment they had shared for a few seconds remained in the wake of the tormented evening and in the minds of the restless.
Late at night, Lord Arnav stirred in the bed. His scars hurt and the stitches, hastily done, were making the pain worse. He couldn't sleep on his side and he had to lie stiffly on his back.
When finally sleep came, he saw the curtains move and the moonlight seep into the room casting shadows everywhere. Something moved and came to stand before his bed. He lay still, watching and waiting, and the figure sat on the bed beside where he lay.
It was her. He saw the hurt and yearning in her eyes.
"Kushi," he breathed and she leaned forward. They gazed into each other's eyes as her tender fingers unbuttoned his shirt. And then she crawled onto the bed until she was crouched above him. Her hair fell upon his face and she smiled.
He stared, wondering what she was doing.
Then she bend down, her face nearing his naked chest and he flinched when he felt her warm wet mouth on his stinging scars.
"Kushi," he moaned, closing his eyes and she trailed her tongue down the length of the aching scars.
"No, stop it," he gasped and sat up.
Wind blew into the room through the open window and he found himself sweating and alone on his bed. He was still wearing his shirt, fully buttoned, and his room was not visited by anyone. He lay down, angered over his dream and then suddenly he realized that his scars no longer hurt.
I am in a hurry again and will PM when I return back. Sorry to leave in a hurry, dear friends. But the Book of the Comrades' Chronicles is open before you and the quill waits to be picked by you!
To return back to the Index, visit:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2901910/arhi-ff-1-the-beasts-and-the-bleeding-roses
Edited by Aquiline - 12 years ago
Shiv Shakti
Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
Cricket
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