Part 11 Argument

Khushi was heading to the Kala Bairava temple. She had a small Pooja Bamboo basket in her hand. It seemed she was going to light the lamp in the temple. When she came near the Temple, she stopped sharpening her ears, hearing a frightening sound. It was a growl of a DOG. She looked at her surroundings, swallowing hard. She saw a dog advancing toward her. Khushi didn't find it a good sign. She stepped backwards. She started to run faster as the dog chased her. She ran to save herself from the Dog without caring about the scratches she got while running.

She lost her strength. Her legs hurt, and her throat drained. She didn't think she could run anymore. She just stopped. In no time, the dog grabbed her hand. It was difficult for Khushi to get her hand off its clutch. She screamed as the Dog bit her finger. In no time, her finger cut off. The dog rushed towards the temple with her finger. Arnav was sitting in the temple, leaning on the pillar. The dog threw the finger in front of him that had his RING.

Khushi woke up from her sleep and sat on the bed, jerking. She wiped her sweaty face, panting hard. Was that a dream? She looked at the clock. It was midnight. She looked at the ring in her hand. She removed it immediately and got down from the bed. Without caring, she rushed to Arnav's room and knocked on the door.

Arnav's sleep was disturbed. The knocking sound disturbed someone other than Arnav, too. He opened his eyes and waited to confirm whether the knocking was real or a dream. He again heard the knocking sound. He got off the bed and opened the door. He was perplexed to see Khushi standing.

"Khushi... you? Is everything all right?"

Khushi came inside and forwarded the ring to Arnav. He frowned, looking at the ring.

"Did you come in at midnight to give it to me?"

"Don't ask me what I went through..."

"Whaaat?"

"I had a terrible dream in which a dog bit my finger for this ring... only to give it to you."

Arnav sighed. Without a second thought, taking his hand, she inserted the ring into his ring finger.

"Keep it...please don't remove it. This ring reached you for a reason, and you will understand that soon..."

"Khushi, this is ridiculous..."

"Let it be... but don't remove the ring."

Arnav saw a shadow moving behind Khushi. He checked who that was. He saw someone heading upstairs.

"Khushi, we will talk later. Go to your room."

"but..."

"Now... leave..." he said, looking outside cautiously.

Khushi left the room. Arnav locked the door and lay. As he expected, someone knocked on his room door. He opened the door and saw Krishna Murthy standing with Arvind. Arnav widened his eyes.

"Yes, sir?"

Krishna Murthy entered Arnav's room, pushing him.

"Where is she?"

"Who?" Arnav asked.

"The one who was fondling you in your room a few minutes ago"

"Whom you are talking about? Do you think anyone could enter this palace easily?" Arnav asked as if he didn't understand his intention.

"Of course, no one could enter this palace, but one can come to your room, which is residing in this palace."

"Whom you are talking about? Your daughter?"

Krishna was shocked.

"How dare you talk about my daughter!" he shouted in anger, which woke others. They rushed out to see what was happening.

"It's not me, but you talked about someone."

"I'm talking about Khushi."

"Khushi? Where is she?"

"She was here."

"Really?"

Arnav looked at Arvind and said,

"You can check my room if you don't trust me."

"I trust you," Arvind said without thinking.

"Mama, what does that mean? Don't you trust my words?"

"Krishna, why are you creating an unnecessary scene? Go to your room and sleep."

"But..."

"I said go to sleep."

Krishna looked at Arnav, fuming, and was supposed to leave, but Arnav stopped him.

"One minute..."

Everyone looked at him.

"So what if Khushi is in my room? Should not she come to my room for any reason?" Arnav asked.

"Hello... this is a reputed palace. Know this worth. People in this palace should have values. You can't live as you want... how do a man like you know that?"

"But you know its value, right?"

Krishna shrank his eyes.

"It doesn't seem so..." Arnav added.

Krishna gritted his teeth wrathfully.

"How dare you!"

He looked at Arvind and asked,

"Mama, he insults me..."

Arvind looked at Arnav.

"Sir, I just came to this palace two days ago... how could he think Khushi would have come to my room with a bad intention? Don't you guys know about the girl who respects all of you a lot? How could he think so cheap?" Arnav asked.

Arvind glared at Krishna, who glared at him.

"I just spent a day with the girl and understood how much respect she has for you. Tell me, sir, do you think she would make such a mistake?"

Arvind nodded no.

"I know Khushi. She won't make the mistake that would lessen my respect..."

"I don't know why these people have vengeance for Khushi, who is working hard for them", Arnav intentionally said.

"I will take care of her, Arnav. No one blames her for anything, and I will not give heed to any complaints..."

"Thank you, sir..."

"All of you go to your room" Arvind ordered.

They returned to their rooms.

Arvind was supposed to go to his room, but Arnav stopped him.

"One minute, sir" Arvind looked at him.

"Khushi came to my room to give this ring to me." Arnav showed me the ring.

"Ring?"

"Yes, sir... when I came to this village, a dog chased me. That was when I found this ring near the Kala Bairava Temple. I kept it in my pocket and forgot it. The laundry man returned it to me. Khushi requested me to wear this. I didn't show interest in wearing this. So, she took the ring. She had a nightmare in which a dog bit her finger and returned the ring to me. So, she came to my room to give the ring back. That's when Krishna sir saw her, I suppose."

Arvind held Arnav's hand and looked at the ring.

"Did you get it in this village?"

"Yes, sir, near the Kala Bairava Temple"

"Khushi is right. Don't remove it."

Arnav smiled.

"I'm serious, Arnav. It's a miracle you are allowed in this village. Now, you say you got this ring... please don't remove it."

"Ok, sir... (he paused for a while) Sir, may I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything."

"Why do people in the palace hate Khushi?"

Arvind sighed.

"It's because of a mystic..."

Arnav raised his brows, hearing the same reason that Khushi gave.

"I didn't get you."

"He said Khushi would be the QUEEN of this palace."

"How it's possible?"

Arvind smiled. He, too, was confused about the mystic until Arnav reached the palace. After seeing him attached to Khushi, he guessed the reason even though he was unsure about it because anything could change at any time.

"I, too, don't know... I, too, am curious to see how it happens," Arvind said, smiling.

Arnav nodded and came to his room. Khushi observed everything from her room and felt content, seeing Arnav stand for her. She wanted to thank him forthrightly, but she didn't want to create a scene again.

The next morning

Khushi awaited Arvind's order to take Arnav to the Kala Bairava Temple. As she expected, Arvind called her.

"Khushi, are you going to the temple to start the function preparation?"

"Yes, uncle..."

"Take Arnav with you."

"Ok, uncle"

That was when Arnav came there.

"Arnav, Kala Bairava temple function is closing up. Join Khushi..."

"Sure, sir"

Arnav looked at Khushi.

"Shall we go?"

"Jee..."

"Take a car," Arvind said.

"No, sir... we will go by foot", Arnav said.

He walked with Khushi. When they came out,

"Thank you so much, Arnav sir", Khushi said.

"For what?"

"For supporting me... for taking my side... for making me FEEL CONTENT."

Arnav looked at her.

"I heard your argument last night."

Arnav was silent.

"You know what, Ratna Aunty was the only person who stood for me... I always think I have no one..." She left it without completing it, but Arnav understood what she was supposed to say.

"You don't need to be emotional. I just put the brain in their head," he smiled.

"Whatever... thanks"

"Hey, relax... ok?"

They reached the temple. Khushi got stuck to see the Dog sitting at the entrance.

To be continued...