Part 26 Imperious Action

Khushi looked at me fearfully.

"Palace? You mean..."

"Yeah, to the Palace to meet Mrs. Gupta"

"No Arnav, Dad, and Bhai would also be at home this time," She said looking at her wristwatch nervously.

I knew that. That was what I confirmed while heading to Hotel Taj. Because I didn't think talking to the cunning woman alone would be a wise decision.

"Then, good... I don't have to talk to Mrs. Gupta but will talk to your father and brother," I said coolly.

"Arnav, she will create a problem..."

"Khushi, try to respect your husband... not only Mrs. Gupta, but I can also be a PROBLEM CREATER..." I said teasingly.

Khushi was taken aback.

"Problem Creator? What do you mean?"

"Relax, Khushi. Just act accordingly,"

"Arnav... I'm scared. You don't know about her. She would turn the table emotionally, using your own words against you" Khushi squeezed her hands.

I smiled because that was the last day Khushi would be nervous about Mrs. Gupta. From here on, she would never be...

Our car entered the Palace. Khushi gulped down hard. I got out of the car and opened her side door. Taking a deep breath, Khushi got down. It told me that she was ready to face the consequences. Of course, she had no choice. She looked at me confusingly when I said,

"Spare me"

Clutching her hand, I dragged her inside the palace. Khushi was right. Senior and Junior Guptas were at home only. They were having dessert after lunch. Payal who was serving them dessert became tensed, seeing me dragging Khushi. I gestured to her to keep quiet. She gulped down hard and understood something was wrong. The trio got up from the couch.

Shashi and Akash spared a glance shockingly. They didn't understand anything. Mithra Gupta who didn't expect such a MOVE from me looked at me confused.

"What happened, Arnav? Is everything alright?" Shashi Gupta asked Panicking.

"I'm really sorry to say this, uncle. I'm highly disappointed with his girl..."

The trio looked at Khushi who was bowing down.

"Why did we get married, uncle? Why did I marry her accepting all the clauses that were kept in front of me even though I was not fine with them? I thought she would be a good partner to me. But she...?"

Shashi Gupta was about to say something, but I cut him.

"She stays in her PRIVATE room locking herself all the time, uncle..."

"PRIVATE room?" Akash frowned.

"Yeah, there are TWO separate rooms inside OUR room, according to the ROYAL custom. One for Me and another for Khushi but I don't use mine... I don't want to... Have you ever heard of husband and wife maintaining privacy between them? Do you know how awkward it would be for a husband to KNOCK his wife's door if he wanted to BE (I stressed) with her?"

All of them were embarrassed, understanding what was the meaning of TO BE WITH HER.

"What is this about the PRIVATE room?" Shashi Gupta asked Mithra.

"I thought of giving them space. So that they would not be awkward because they had an ARRANGED marriage" Mithra said.

"Then they need to be together more than the love marriage couple," Shashi said, making Mithra struck.

I got to know Mithra Gupta was playing her cards without Shashi and Akash's knowledge. Then how could I miss the great chance?

"It seems you are unaware of the PRIVATE room... Then why did my father say, it was a Royal custom? I thought you were the one who told him about it, uncle" I said with a confused expression.

Shashi and Akash said nothing. They could not.

"One side Khushi is making me frustrated and adding to it, the servant crew of the Mini Palace...! They don't even know what manner is. They won't hesitate to knock on our room door for silly reasons. 'Your Highness, this is a pedicure time... your Highness, this is manicure time...' they shamelessly interfere in our matter, uncle. If I question Khushi, she won't answer but Dolly does. Who the hell is she between me and my wife? I have never seen a servant being a master to her master. She does not let Khushi enter the kitchen and restricts her from cooking. So what if Khushi cooks?"

Khushi looked at me shockingly. She would not have expected I would touch the cooking issue.

"How could a Princess cook? She is born with a silver spoon" Mithra said.

"All the spoons are meant for the Kitchen only, Aunty. Without food, what will be the use of the silver spoon?"

I looked at Khushi and asked,

"Won't your mother cook?"

"MY (She stressed) Mother would cook," Khushi said.

Mithra gritted her teeth fuming. She didn't like me bringing the MOTHER thing there but who cared?

"If the QUEEN could cook, why not a Princess? And, it's all about the wish of the PRINCESS... if she could not do what she wants, what a big princess she is?" I questioned.

Mithra stiffened her jaws. I knew what she would plan.

"And last but not least, uncle..." I removed the car key and kept it on the tea table.

"I don't want your car... please take it back"

"But why, Arnav?" Shashi asked.

"I feel insulted to be TRACKED... I'm not a THIEF but a son-in-law of this Palace. My father called me and chided me for taking Khushi to my friend's place. What the hell this uncle? Just because I married a Princess, I can't be a SLAVE. I don't want to be answerable for every action of mine to everyone"

"Relax Arnav... I think you are mistaken. The tracking must have happened for security reasons," Shashi Gupta tried to console me.

"Security reasons? Are you joking, uncle? When you guys are roaming around Delhi freely, why would the husband of the Princess worry about security?"

"It's because we have rivals. They may try to attack you and Khushi," Mithra said.

"Aunty, you go to the Tennis club, ladies' club, Rotary club freely... sometimes, you are attending some opening ceremonies where there is nothing called security. Your rivals can take you off easily without effort... if it is so, why would your rivals attack ME, leaving you behind? And, you know very well how I hit the guy black and blue who eyed Payal. If it is so, your rivals would have known I would not let anyone touch my wife and I would not let the person be PEACEFUL who dares to MESS with my WIFE... Won't I skin him off?" I asked wrathfully.

Mithra was horrified. She understood it was an open warning not to mess with Khushi. Shashi and Akash were looking at me stunned, seeing me talking like a ROWDY. Poor them... talking like a ROWDY was all NEW to them. After all, they were a Royal clan...! But, I don't have to care about anything. I would stoop so low if needed.

"Even though you had done that for security reasons you should have done that with MY consent. How could you do that without my knowledge?" I daringly asked, looking at Mithra.

"I thought you would have known about it..."

I raised my brows with a sarcastic expression.

Shashi and Akash spared a glance. Though they were not clear about the issue I knew I seeded suspiciousness in their minds.

"I'm thinking of KIDNAPPING my wife somewhere else... far away from everyone," I said wearily.

Akash took his mobile out and dialed someone. I was waiting to know whom he called when I was giving a SERMON making my throat dry. I smiled inwardly when I got to know he called none other than Dolly.

"Dolly, before Arnav and Khushi arrive at the Mini Palace, remove all the things from Khushi's personal room and arrange it in the main room"

"........"

"Say YES, damn it..." Akash shouted and I saw Mithra jerking.

Dolly would have hesitated to do it without Mithra's permission.

"..........."

"Quick..." Akash disconnected the call.

"Please don't be upset, Arnav. I'm sorry for whatever happened. It will not repeat again. Trust me"

"I knew Khushi was forced into this marriage... so was I. I was forced to leave my family. So that, Khushi would be like a Queen. I have no problem if she wants to be like a Queen. I just want her to be my WIFE when I'm at home. Just think, standing on my shoes, Akash. Will you accept if Payal does the same as Khushi?"

"You are a son-in-law of this palace. We respect you. From here on, no problem will occur" Shashi said.

Akash walked to Khushi and raised her chin up.

"Khushi, Arnav is also a human. He would also have feelings. Being his wife, you should understand that. You are an understanding girl. You know what's right and wrong. Do you think whatever Arnav told is wrong?"

Khushi looked at me and said nothing.

"We are taking half of the servant crew back. You can choose who you want" Akash said to me.

"Thank you, Akash... I hope from here on, the servant will obey ONLY me" I said.

Akash nodded yes.

"Shall we go, Khushi?" I asked.

"Please take the car, Arnav" Akash requested.

"Please don't make me embarrassed Akash..."

"I will connect the GPRS of your car to your mobile. Is it fine?"

I sighed.

"I will take the car after you change it," I said looking at Mithra.

"Akash, drop them at Mini Palace," Shashi said,

"It's ok, uncle, we will take a cab"

"Please don't do that Arnav..." Akash pleaded.

I nodded okay as I had something to do with my sister's husband.

"Let's go..."

Akash looked at Shashi and gestured for him who nodded ok.

Payal was about to say something, but I gestured her not to. She took a step back nodding ok. She wanted to accompany us to Mini Palace but I wanted her to stay at the Palace to know the reaction of Shashi Gupta. We left the Palace in Akash's silk-purple BMW car.

Mithra Gupta had made the biggest mistake of bringing me into Khushi's life. She underestimated Arnav Singh Raizada. Poor she would not have expected such a hit from me. But, I knew it was not a constant victory. She would try to hit me back HARD in any other way. I would be ready to deal with it.

To be continued...