Part 35 Declaration

Arnav was fed up with being unable to meet Gorakha Siddha. He said he would not meet Arnav once if he revealed his name. Arnav stopped asking him. Yet, he wrote his name and vanished. It seemed the siddha was all set not to come in front of him. That was it. Who was he to decide? Didn't Khushi say anyone could meet Siddhas only if they wished? What did that mean? Was the need to meet him over? Why were the Siddhas always mysterious? He sighed.

The next morning

Arnav came to Khushi's room and knocked on her room door. She opened the door and was surprised to see Arnav.

"Arnav sir, you?"

"Cut the bloody SIR off..."

Khushi rolled her eyes.

"Why are you here early in the morning?"

"Early in the morning? It's 7 o'clock."

"Ok, tell me why you knocked on my door?"

"Should I not knock on your door?"

Khushi sighed.

"What do you want?"

"YOU..."

She looked at him, shrinking her eyes, and Arnav controlled his laughter.

"It seems you are all set to pull my leg"

"Oi... when did I pull your leg? I'm a foot away from you..." He raised his hands.

Khushi folded her hands and said nothing.

"Won't you talk to me?"

"However, you will not tell me the reason for your arrival. So, I think it's better to be quiet..."

"If it will continue after our marriage, I will be the luckiest husband in the world..."

Khushi dropped her jaw.

"Don't you dare think continuing like this after our marriage..."

"Why? What will you do?" He asked with attitude.

"I... I will... bite you"

Arnav flinched smilingly.

"Will you bite me?"

Khushi nodded, shrinking her eyes.

"I thought you would punish me but now I have decided to continue teasing you to get punished"

"Will you tell me or not?" Khushi pouted.

"I won't, until you let me in"

Khushi sighed and gave him space. Arnav got in.

"I saw the Gorakha Siddha last night"

"Whaaat? How is it possible?"

"Why?"

"Didn't he say he would not meet you if he revealed his identity? Then how did you meet him?"

"I didn't meet him"

"But, you said you saw him..."

"I saw him but didn't meet him"

"You are confusing me"

"I saw him from my room last night. He was talking to the undertaker in the cemetery. I ran to meet him but he was not there."

"Why did you go there? If he said you could not meet him, you should trust it, instead of putting in an effort."

"How could I be without trying to meet him? I wanted to ask him about the Shiv Linga given to me"

"You should feel blessed to get a Shiv Linga from a Siddha instead of doing research. Do you know, people are dying to step into the JEEVA SAMADHI temples? People think one can only visit such a holy place if they have done virtue. But you are still searching for more after meeting a Siddha in person... what a man you are!" She said wearily.

(Jeeva Samadhi refers to a state of conscious departure from the physical body while still being alive, often practised by advanced yogis and spiritual masters.

Accordingly, the Jeeva Samadhi is the most potent place on Earth. The Jeeva Samadhi places are called "The Lord Shiva Temple". These places bring sound vibration to the earth. Going to these locations gives us good vibes. These Jeeva Samadhi sites gain strength in NOMOON, FULLMOON, and GURU POOJA.)

"You are telling big things but I can't understand them..."

"You should have been a big devotee in your last birth. That's why you are getting something no one can imagine. I suppose"

Arnav got stuck.

"Gorakhar also said the same..."

"Is it? What else did he say?"

"He said something unbelievable..."

"What's that?"

"He said, Ratna madam was my mother in last birth"

"Really?"

"Mmm... my mother Amrita was her sister who wasn't blessed with a child. She snatched me from Ratna madam and made me hate her. That's why I hated her in this birth."

"My God..."

Arnav nodded yes.

"Is this the reason you ended up in this village?"

"One more reason is there for me to end up in this village"

"What reason?"

"For you..."

Khushi rolled her eyes.

"In your last birth, you loved me like anything. When you learned you could not marry me, you committed suicide..."

"Mmm... I believed..." She chuckled.

"Oi... you believed when I said Ratna madam was my mother but won't you believe if I said about you?"

Khushi smiled, nodding, no. Arnav shrank his eyes.

That was when someone knocked on the door. Arnav and Khushi looked at him.

"The king is calling you"

"Whom?"

"Both"

"Yeah..."

Arnav and Khushi followed him. They saw Arvind and Murthy brothers were presented with the Siddha doctor in the living room.

"Vanakam(Namaste)" Arnav greeted the doctor.

"Vanakam" The doctor smiled.

Arnav didn't notice a difference in his smile, but it didn't seem true to Khushi as she knew him.

"The doctor finished the preparation of the medicine. It's ready," Arvind said gladly.

"That's great..." Arnav said.

The doctor smiled again, and Khushi found no happiness on his face. The more she knew, the doctor would have hoped from earth to the sky for making the medicine, but he looked different. What was wrong with him?

The doctor gave the medicine to Arvind. He took it from him delightedly.

"How should it be given to Ratna?" Arvind asked.

"One spoon in the morning and one spoon in the night. While taking this medicine, she should not eat tamarind, tomato and non-vegetarian food"

"What will happen if she eats them?" Chandra Murthy asked.

"The medicine will not work. It will give some side effects too"

"Oh..."

Arvind was supposed to give the medicine to Khushi, but Madhavi stopped him.

"Uncle, I will take care of Aunty. It's my responsibility to give her medicine..."

Arvind was supposed to say something,

"Please don't deny, uncle..." She pleaded.

Arvind thought for a while. It was always Khushi who worked for Ratna. Now, Madhavi herself was ready to look after Ratna. Then why should he put pressure on Khushi? He nodded okay and gave it to Madhavi, disappointing Khushi. She didn't know why she didn't feel good about it. As Arvind had already given Madhavi the responsibility, she could do nothing about it.

Even Arnav didn't like it but was not silent like Khushi.

"Khushi is the one who took care of Ratna Madam so far. She eats with Khushi's hands only. Then, why are you giving the responsibility to her at the crucial time?" He asked.

"I didn't give the responsibility to Madhavi just because she wanted it. I want Khushi to be relaxed for a while. People think it's easy to look after Ratna. They will understand how hard it is only if they take the responsibility. However, Madhavi will not stand Ratna's tantrums. Khushi will take charge anytime..." Arvind intentionally said that to hurt their ego.

Undoubtedly, it hurt their ego. Madhavi decided not to take Khushi's help at any cost, but she didn't know it was not that easy.

"I'm taking your leave, your highness", The doctor said.

Arvind removed a bunch of money and gave it to him. Taking it, he left the place.

That was when the Kalabairava Temple Pandit came to the palace with a plate that had a garland, bananas, betel leaves, coconut, and sweets. He gave it to Arvind.

"Morning Pooja held well, your highness."

Taking it,

"We will attend the afternoon Pooja." Arvind said.

"Yes, your highness, the stage arrangements are completed"

The Murthy brothers spared a glance.

"Stage for what? We usually won't prefer any stage program on the temple festival," Krishna Murthy said.

Before the Pandit answered, Arvind did.

"I asked to arrange a stage for a purpose."

"What purpose, Mama?"

"You will get to know that in the evening", Arvind walked to his room.

Khushi looked at Arnav who was thoughtful. Murthy brothers glanced at each other and went to their rooms.

"For what purpose did he ask to arrange a stage?" Chandra Murthy asked.

"Why knows? Let's wait and watch the drama," Krishna Murthy said.

They didn't mind about it because they didn't know the importance of the purpose!

Evening

The villagers gathered in the Kala Bairava Temple. As usual, the Pooja was held magnificently, followed by the grand ABISHEKAM using twenty-one items, such as milk, curd, honey, etc.

After the Pooja, it was customary to pay respects to the king, but the Pandit was confused as Arvind moved towards the stage without taking the KUMBA. The Murthy brothers looked at each other frowning.

Arvind came to the stage and took the mike.

"I know you guys are confused about my action of not taking the Kumba from the Pandit. I'm not going to take it this time..."

People started mumbling within them.

"Because, from here on, I want my SON to take it," Arvind said, confusing everyone.

Everyone was stunned when Arvind said,

"Arnav... come to the stage..."

To be continued...