Part 15 Straightforward

After meeting his mother, Arnav went to meet his father. The king was still in the discussion with Ecclesiast. He informed his arrival to the guards and walked back towards his room.

On the other side, Khushi was standing in the long balcony-like corridor and thinking about something deep. She feared that a lovely and so pleasant environment would make her addicted to it.

*Hold on Khushi... you came to the capital only to file a complaint against Hemadri to the king. Just do it and leave. (She got stuck) I am a Time Traveller... what will happen after I leave this place? Didn't Dadu's note state nothing can be changed? Does it suit only death and birth? Or suits to everything? What will happen if I go back to the present? Will Arnav forget me? What will happen if I again came here? Will this story continue or will it create a NEW parallel universe again? Khushi raised many questions.

She jerked when someone flicked the fingers in front of her face. She saw Arnav smiling at her.

"What's so deep thought?" Arnav asked.

"I'm thinking about going back to my kingdom"

Arnav's facial expression changed swiftly.

"What's so urgent?"

"It's been a long since I left my country"

"But what are you going to do in your country?"

Khushi was taken aback.

"What do you mean? It's my country after all"

"But, you have no one for yourself"

"Maybe... Yet, it's my country"

"Why don't you settle down in our country?"

"Here?" she wondered.

"Mmm... You have no one. You liked our country, people, and our culture. Then why don't you settle down here?"

"But, I'm a stranger... I know no one here. How could I think of settling down here?"

"Don't you have me?" Arnav asked making her struck.

"You?"

"Yeah, we are friends. You can stay in this palace forever"

Khushi smiled.

"Mr. Prince... Don't be so naive. Being a prince, you should have foresight"

"For?"

"To analyze upcoming problems"

"What problem will come if you stay here?"

"Having a strict Orthodox culture, how could I be staying at your place as your friend? After your marriage, Won't your wife peel your skin?" She laughed.

Arnav got stuck. Khushi smiled at his reaction.

"I will take care of it"

"How?"

"Let it happen when it happens"

"Ok, did you meet your mother?"

"Yeah... I applied your idea to her and succeeded. My mother is happy about my NEW approach. I would like to thank you for guiding me. You are absolutely awesome"

"Thanks"

Khushi saw Padmaakshi going somewhere from her room, which was next to hers.

"By the way, why doesn't your sister stay in the Zenana just like other princesses do?"

"You mean Kanya-Andapura?"

"Yeah..."

"Because it became crowded" he chuckled.

"Means?"

"A few of our friendly kingdom's princesses came to our palace to stay as their fathers and brothers are participating in Kalinga war. The Kanya-Andapura became crowded with guests. So, she sacrificed her room and shifted next to mine"

"So sweet"

"Sweet? Like really?" He rolled his eyes.

"Why?"

"In the excuse of meeting her, all of them roaming in the palace everywhere"

"Oh... That's why Kiran said, I can go anywhere in the palace?"

"She said so because you are my friend"

"I can't believe all this!"

"I too can't believe a girl can travel around the world all alone. Are not you scared? How are you so brave?" He asked wondering.

Khushi was stuck. She knew he was not wrong. No girl would travel around the world all alone no matter whether she was in the past or present. She was ready to build up a story again to make him believe.

"I got the braveness from my grandmother"

"Grandmother? Was she a warrior?"

"No, she is an explorer. She is my inspiration. She crossed the high mountains and dark forests so casually" She said with a lot of expressions on her face.

"Is it?"

"Yes..."

"All alone?"

"A monkey was her companion..."

"Monkey?" Arnav frowned his face unbelievably.

"Why not? If monkeys can create a bridge to Sri Lanka and fight for Lord Ram, could not a monkey help my grandmother DORA?"

"Dora?"

"It's her name. His monkey friend's name is Boots"

"Ohh..."

"She never scared of anything but Swiper..."

"Who is he?"

"A thief"

"Oh..."

Khushi nodded yes sadly.

*My mother used to say that if I lie, I won't get food... seeing the lies I'm telling here, I won't get food for the whole birth it seems* Khushi murmured.

Arnav was about to say something, but he stopped, seeing the place heated up. Everyone rushed out of the place and the place became silent. Arnav got alert but Khushi did not know the reason.

They saw a few people advancing them. One among them wearing a majestic outfit and Crown on his head like a King. Another one with a cleanly shaved head with Bhasma (ash made from cow dung) filled forehead, and Gold cupped Rudhraksha Haara in his neck, and bracelets in his hands. Others were Sipahees. They were guarding them on either side.

Arnav looked at Khushi and said,

"The King..."

Khushi raised her brows.

They came and stood in front of them. In no time, Arnav touched his father's feet.

"Kush raho..." He blessed.

"Father, she is Khushi from Dolakpur. A visitor to our kingdom"

"Namaste" Khushi said joining her hands.

"Namaste... Welcome to our kingdom... We are happy having you as our guest"

"I'm happier to meet you, your Highness..." Khushi said.

"Wow, you speak our language well"

Khushi smiled. Arnav saw the priest looking at Khushi with a different look. He didn't like it.

"Prince Aparajit, I heard you came to meet me twice... you came after a long...yet, I was unable to welcome you as I was discussing something with our priest" the king said.

"That's okay father... I can understand. I want to talk to you about something very important"

"Tell me, Prince Aparajit"

"Not here Father... we will talk privately"

"Okay then, let's go to the King's place," the priest said.

"I think you didn't get me. I said privately" Arnav said.

The priest got stuck. So did the king.

"Prince Aparajit, you are talking to the priest. Don't forget that..." the priest said disappointedly.

"I want to talk to my father about our Kingdom. You are a priest who sacrificed everything. There is no connectivity for you with the kingdom. You must have discussed something about Pooja and Havan with the King. Go ahead with that stuff" Arnav said rudely.

King Chaitanya was suffocating.

"Arnav you should not talk to our priest like this" he chided.

"It's a Royal secret, Father. I will tell you first. Then you can decide whether it can be shared with anyone or not because I have no right to decide it" Arnav said.

The king looked at Arnav contently.

"So what if it is a Royal secret? I am a priest"

"So what if you are a priest?"

"I'm full of glory..."

"Show some glory to me too... I will definitely trust you then"

"This is how you behave with me in front of a guest?"

"I will always be the same because I don't want the guest to be influenced"

The king sensed the situation slipping away.

"Arnav, you can meet me later. I will go to my place after dropping our priest at his place"

Arnav nodded ok.

"Please come with me"

The king walked with the priest.

Arnav sighed.

"Why are you so rude to the priest?"

"He influences the king a lot. I don't like it"

"It's because he is a priest"

"With Glory?" Arnav asked sarcastically.

"Don't you believe it?"

"How could I believe? I'm weary of his glory stuff. He is saying he has Glory from my childhood... But I have seen nothing..."

"Is it? Then why does King trust him?"

"He has belief in such things. The priest is using it in his favor and makes my father dance to his tune. And more than that, he and Hemadri has good bonding"

"Oh..."

"That's why I avoided him. I don't want him to be with us when I complaint about Hemadri"

"Oh... it seems the problem is a little critical"

"Yes..."

"Please handle the problem carefully"

"Mmm... let me meet my father"

Khushi nodded okay and Arnav left.

The King was pacing in his room. Arnav entered the room.

"Why are you rude to the priest Arnav?"

"Why should I be polite with him father?"

"Being a prince, you have to respect our religion"

"You are connecting the wrong dots father. I never disrespected our religion but the priest who is using it as a weapon"

"Why don't you like him?"

"What did he do to like him?"

"He does Poojas and havans for our kingdom's prosperity..."

"Father, our forces guarding our country from all direction day and night, Farmers working hard in the fields, traders doing their part well and making our kingdom wealthy. We should learn to appreciate them instead of appreciating the priest because God never needs a mediator between him and his devotees. God will listen to our prayers directly"

The king sighed. He did not know how to make Arnav understand. According to Arnav, all the priest's stuff was superstitious. He never believed them. The king faced a tough time handling Arnav. His straightforward behavior made him suffocated many times. He was scared because he didn't know what serious matter Arnav brought this time, he didn't want the priest to know about it. His fear was justified. Arnav brought indeed a serious matter that was going to shake not only the King but also Arnav.

To be continued...