Part 4 No BAD could enter.

Arnav kept his bag in the cupboard and opened the window. He was stuck to see a forest-like area far from the Palace and a hill behind the forest. He sat on the bed thinking about what his mother wrote in her letter. His father belonged to a Royal family. He sighed. He didn't want to think of something that was an ENDED chapter of his life. He went to the washroom to take a bath that he badly needed. He travelled for nearly two days. Additionally, he ran like hell last night to save himself from the DOG.

Arnav was stuck. What was the dog about? The dog chased him, but he stopped hearing a DAMARU sound. Why so? Why did the same dog stay with him? The Damaru sound was so loud. Did the people in this village hear that? He finished his bath, thinking about all of them.

A servant came to the guest room and knocked on the door.

"Tell me," Arnav asked.

"Sir called you for breakfast."

Arnav nodded okay and walked to the vast dining hall. He saw many members. Seeing him, Ratna rushed to him and held his hand.

"Come and have breakfast", she pulled him.

Arnav looked at the people in the dining. After all, they were Royals. They would not like to eat with their servants.

"Come on, Arnav", Arvind called him.

Arnav could sense the tension in the air; the annoyance on people's faces was palpable. But Arvind seemed unperturbed by it all.

"Take your seat, Arnav."

Arnav walked to the last chair and sat.

"Arnav, they are my brothers-in-law, Chandra Murthy and Krishna Murthy. She is Mrs Savithri Changdra Murthy, she is Mrs Saroja Krishna Murthy, she is Ms Madhavi Chandra Murthy, and she is Ms Lalitha Krishna Murthy. Chandra and Krishna are my wife Ratna's brothers. All are my family. From today onwards, you are my manager. You are answerable to ME..." He didn't say ONLY to me, but Arnav understood that.

That statement irritated people in the dining room. Arnav looked for the girl he had met in the temple. He saw her coming from the kitchen.

"Khushi, come..." Ratna called her.

Khushi smiled at her.

"Why are you doing these things, Khushi? Just be with Ratna," Arvind said.

Khushi looked at Madhavi and Lalitha, who were glaring at her.

"It's ok, Mama... I will be standing."

"You are the one who is going to feed Ratna. How will you do that?" Arvind asked.

"Mama, when she is ready to feed her standing, why are you making her uncomfortable?" Chandra Murthy asked.

Without giving heed to him,

"Khushi, sit" Arvind's voice was strict.

She sat bowing down and started feeding Ratna. Arnav silently observed all of them. It was clear the palace people didn't like Khushi being treated equally.

Breakfast was served. It was utterly Tamilian food, but it was not new to Arnav. His mother always cooked it, but the palace food tasted so decadent. After all, it was cooked for the Royals. Everything was on the table: idly, Dosa, Pongal, Aappam, and idiyappam. Arnav liked Idiyappam, which was served with coconut milk. It tasted good and different. His mother told him about it but never cooked it.

Arnav finished breakfast and waited for Arvind's further order.

"Mama, is it necessary to have a new manager? Won't we maintain the budget of our palace?" Krishna Murthy asked.

Arvind stood up, finishing breakfast. He went to the washbasin without answering him.

Ratna rushed to Arnav, leaving a half-finished breakfast. Khushi rushed behind her with the plate.

"Athai(Aunty) don't run..."

"I will be with my son..." She held Arnav's hand.

Khushi sighed.

"No problem... feed her," Arnav said.

Khushi extended the food towards Ratna. She nodded no.

"Don't say no... eat it?" Arnav said.

Ratna nodded ok and had it. Khushi wondered and fed her quickly before her mind changed. She wiped Ratna's mouth and left the place.

Arvind came to Arnav.

"Come..." he walked to the office room. Arnav followed him.

"Arnav, they belong to this family. It doesn't mean you should obey them. You do not need to... even though they try. Just tell them I have assigned some important work. I will manage them."

"Ok, sir"

"We have hundreds of acres of Paddy field, Banana and coconut grove... a few acres of sugarcane field. Take your time and visit them."

"Ok, sir"

"Take Khushi with you... she will show all of them."

"Ok, sir"

"Do you ride a bike?"

"Yes, sir"

"There is a bike in our palace. You can take it."

"Thank you, sir."

"You may go."

Arnav came out of the office. He saw someone rushed away from the office. It seemed someone overheard their talks. Arnav became thoughtful. He came searching for Khushi. He stopped hearing,

"Don't think yourself superior just because Aunty is obeying you. You are just a servant here. Don't forget that."

"Uncle is giving you importance only because Aunty is obeying you. he won't mind throwing you out of the palace if she gets cured."

Arnav saw Khushi standing before Madhavi and Lalitha, silently listening to their scolding.

"Khushiiiii", Arnav called her.

Khushi looked at the direction and rushed to him.

"Sir wants me to visit his lands. He told me to take you with me."

Khushi nodded ok and walked to him.

"Hey, you..." Madhavi flicked her fingers.

Arnav stopped and looked at her.

"This is a Palace. Know your limit. Just because you are allowed to eat with us, you will not become a Royal."

"When did I claim to be a Royal?" he retorted, his defiance clear in his tone.

"How dare you back answering me! Who gave the right to talk to me like this?"

"Arvind sir..." Came from Arnav.

Khushi looked at him, her surprise evident. Arvind may have advised her to ignore them, but she never expected Arnav to confront them so boldly.

"He told me I don't need to obey any of you but only him," he said and looked at Khushi.

"Let's go, Khushi. I have work," he walked out.

Khushi followed him silently.

They came out of the palace.

"Arvind sir said you know all of his property."

Khushi nodded yes.

"Shall we take a bike?"

"Bike? No no... I can't sit behind you on the bike."

Arnav looked at her plainly.

"I know you are a GOOD person but not people in this village. If you can walk, we will go on foot."

Arnav nodded ok.

"Let's go..."

They walked. People looked at Arnav in awe. Arnav didn't understand why. They came out of the village and entered a Paddy field. Khushi looked at Arnav, hearing,

"Don't be so naïve."

She looked at him, sulking.

"Are you talking to me?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"What did you say?"

"I said don't be naïve."

"Means?"

"What do you know about me that you said I'm a GOOD person?"

"I know you are a good person."

"Don't trust anyone blindly."

"I won't trust anyone but you."

"Why?"

"If you are a bad person, you could not have stepped into this village... you would have died even before you stepped into this village," Khushi said.

"What do you mean?"

"That's the village's speciality."

"I didn't get you."

"Do you know what this village's name is?"

Arnav was stuck. He knew he wanted to go to Pancha Nandhi but missed his way and came to this village. What was this village's name?

"This village's name is SIVAN KUDIL... means Adobe of Lord Shiva. No outsiders could enter this village if their intention is BAD."

Arnav folded his hands with a smirk.

"What?"

"A few minutes ago, I saw two girls scolding you without a reason. Anyone could say they are so arrogant. How did your Siva let them live? Will you say they are GOOD?"

"You didn't understand what I said. I said no OUTSIDERS could enter this village. They belong to this village. This is their motherland."

"That means people who belong to this village can be bad?"

"No... If this village's people are bad, they could not be peaceful. They will not get what they want"

Arnav crooked his brows.

"Madhavi wanted to leave this village and live a modern life. She studied well to get good marks but could not attend the exam."

"Why?"

"She met with an accident on the way to her last exam."

Arnav raised his brows.

"And Lalitha wants to take over this palace's responsibility and keep it under her control. She was supposed to talk to Arvind uncle about it today...! And you are here...! Arvind uncle gave the responsibility to you. You will learn many things about this village in the future."

Arnav smiled.

"Trust me... you are the only stranger who entered this village AFTER ME," Khushi said, making Arnav surprised.

To be continued...