Part 9 Phoenix

I returned to RM and spent time with my sister and cousins. My mind was clouded with Guptas and their confused gestures. In between the confusion, I remembered Khushi's FINGER KISS too. I got Goosebumps when I remembered it. I felt weird about my own feelings. I was not interested in the marriage. I was fed up with going away from RM. But, after listening to Khushi's few words, I didn't know what happened to me even though those words were not in my favor. I was not like this. I was popular for my anger. I lose my temper if I was not respected. But in Khushi's matter, I was reacting opposite to what I was. Neither was she haughty nor did she look thick-headed. She was under pressure, I assumed.

My mother came there and asked me,

"Chotte, have you packed your things?"

I nodded no sighing.

"Go and do it first... or take all of them to your room and do it chitchatting with them"

"Yeah... let us help Arnav," Lavanya said.

"There is nothing to worry about. I'm not going to take all my stuff but only half of them. And, I'm not going abroad. I'm just going to be at a one-hour ride distance. If I want anything from here, I will take it when I come here" I simply said.

"See, how simply he put the END card. You are unnecessarily worrying Badi Ma" NK said.

"Let's go to my room guys" I went to my room to pack my stuff.

My cousins followed me to my room. I left less than half of my stuff in RM and packed the remaining things.

Evening

Payal was ready to go back to Gupta Palace. My family bid bye to her after a big mellow drama. My father took her with him.

I knew Khushi would be at RM anytime. As I expected, Khushi came to RM with my father. Dropping Payal at Gupta Palace, he brought Khushi with him. She was wearing a new saree... I could not say simply it was a silk saree. It was not just a SILK saree but a golden Jarry work saree. She left it with the single pleat. I was awestruck, seeing mine and Khushi's photos being weaved on the saree pallu so grandly and beautifully.

Lavanya held her saree pallu with her hands,

"Wow... Arnav, you look beautiful for the first time," She teased me.

"Anyone would look beautiful with the Princess," NK said.

"Why? Our Arnav bituwa is always handsome" My Mami Manorama said.

I rolled my eyes and Khushi noticed it.

"Chotte, get ready... you have to go to Mini Palace" My Dad said.

I nodded ok and went to my room. I sat on the bed feeling heavy in my heart. That was where I grew up... this room had witnessed all my emotions... my happiness, grief, sentiments, everything. I spilled tears, laughed louder, giggled with my sisters, fought with my cousins, whatnot... I sighed.

That was when I heard,

"If you feel bad about leaving RM... YOU don't have to..."

I saw Khushi standing at the doorstep. What did she mean? Didn't she want me to accompany her to the Mini Palace? What reason could I give? What reason she could give to Guptas?

"Is this also a kind of help you are expecting from me?" I asked showing myself normal.

"I intended to help YOU," she said without hesitation.

"If you are so much interested in helping me, do it when I ask you" I walked out, taking my suitcase.

I was ready to leave RM with Khushi...for Khushi... just because she would like to be like a QUEEN...! But the tragedy was, I was not KING.

We headed to Mini Palace. Each person in my family accompanied us. They wanted to settle us down in the new place. I had no idea how the Mini Palace would be but my father had. I followed his car. His car entered a spacious campus. The building on the campus looked like no MINI but MAXI. I didn't know why they named it MINI Palace. The only question that was raised in my mind was, was this palace necessary for just two of us?

I saw the same uniformed people standing on either side to welcome us. It felt like, I was entering into a Five Star Hotel. They gave us a RED CARPET welcome. Khushi stood at the starting point and waited for me. When I reached her, she circled my hand with hers and walked. The servants who were waiting there with plates of rose petals showered them on us. If anyone other than me had been in my place, he would have been overjoyed with the situation but I felt awkward because I didn't think it was necessary. Could not they spend the money in other ways usefully?

A few servants brought my bags and went to the huge room on the first floor. I guessed it was OUR room. Khushi's stuff would have already reached the room because she didn't bring anything to RM but a single suitcase for her wedding Lehanga and jewels.

My cousins looked at the Palace in AWE. They started looking around it. I sensed my father's gaze on me. I didn't know why he was reading me. Was he expecting some REACTION from me? But, there was nothing to be reacted oddly.

My mother and father went upstairs... to OUR room. I got a call from my father that confused me. I attended the call.

"Chotte, come upstairs" my father disconnected the call.

I galloped to the room in which my parents entered.

"Yes, Dad?" I asked.

"From here on, this is your house and your lifestyle will be like this. Enjoy it without complaint" My father said.

I was silent.

"Only the luckiest person will get this kind of life... ROYAL life"

I was about to say something, my mother nodded her head pleadingly.

I rolled my eyes. That was when something caught my attention. There were two rooms inside the room on either side. I looked at them with confusion. Were they STORE rooms?

My father understood my gesture.

"Actually, those are your and Khushi's PERSONAL rooms"

"Personal rooms?" I frowned.

"Yeah, she needs PRIVACY. That's why"

I was like, what the hell... Privacy between husband and wife?

"You both will stay in this main room only. She will go to HER room when she wants. You can also go to your room to do your personal work"

"I have no personal work," I said with a stern look on my father.

"This is how the Royal life would be..."

"Royal life my foot" I murmured.

This girl already seemed a riddle to me. if she stayed in her room and spent time alone, how could he name it as a family? Would Payal also stay away from Akash? What the hell...!

My father and mother left the room.

I came out of the room and saw Khushi talking to Diya and Jiya. I could hear them from the first floor.

"Dolly..." Khushi called someone.

A woman in her early forties came to her.

"Bring two black current ice creams" she ordered.

"Yes, your highness" Dolly went to the kitchen and came up with two cups of ice cream.

Diya and Jiya were super happy to have the ice cream. But, I didn't feel anything right. Not because I could not be with my wife. Something seemed fishy to me, like, it was a plot. The much I knew, no parents would like to keep their children separated. I didn't know how Guptas allowed it.

My wife seemed a tough nut to crack already. I didn't know how I was going to tackle everything. I went to MY room to give it a look. I closed the door without locking it. There was a king-size bed, a couch, and many more decorative items. Of course, expensive ones. I sat on the couch and closed my eyes.

That was when I heard Diya and Jiya giggling. They were in OUR room. I didn't go out. I didn't feel to go because I knew Khushi would be there with them. If I went out, I would surely ask her about this setup that might lead us into an argument. I didn't want it to happen in front of children. I decided to wait until they leave the room. I heard Khushi calling the same person again.

"Dolly..."

I heard the footsteps.

"What's this?" Khushi asked.

"This is for your privacy, your highness," Dolly said which surprised me.

That meant Khushi was unaware of those rooms. It was not the usual one in their family. Then why for us? I looked at her, opening the door slightly.

"Babes, I will come soon. Could you be waiting for me downstairs for a while?" She requested the kids.

They nodded ok and went out. Khushi folded her hands and stared at Dolly.

"Could you define what's privacy?" She asked.

Dolly was silent. She removed her phone and dialed someone.

"Out... closing the door," Khushi ordered Dolly.

She did what Khushi said.

Khushi gave the phone to her ear.

"What made you think I need privacy from my husband?"

"....."

"But, I had never seen you staying away from your husband..."

"........."

"I was not interested... but now, I'm so interested in this marriage"

"......."

"Why should I tell you about it?"

"........"

"Well... you know much about my husband than me, it seems"

"........"

Khushi chuckled sarcastically.

"Understand one thing. You can't burn me no matter how many times you push me into the fire. I will rise like a phoenix from my ashes" Khushi disconnected the call furiously.

To be continued...