Part 7 Against Dominance

Arnav frowned at seeing Khushi getting into a pound full of lotus.

"Khushi, what are you doing? Careful..."

"I need a lotus leaf."

"But why?"

"To take something for Ratna Aunty."

"What?"

"Wait..."

She cut the lotus leaf, putting in effort. It was strong. She carefully came out of the pound.

"What are you going to do with this leaf?"

"Ratna Aunty likes JUJUBE so much."

"So?"

"There is a Jujube tree on the way to the palace. Its fruits taste so sweet. I always took them to Aunty. She eats them like a kid," she chuckled.

"Oh..."

Khushi stopped at a tree and collected JUJUBE fruits in the lotus leaf.

"Let's go"

Arnav was supposed to take one, but Khushi pulled her hand backwards, beyond his reach.

"Won't you give me?" Arnav asked.

"I will give you after washing them."

"Where will you wash it?"

"In five minutes, we will reach a field. Water will flow in many pump sets. We will wash them there."

"Ok..."

As Khushi said, they saw water flowing in the pump set. Khushi washed the fruits and gave them to Arnav. He tasted it.

"Wow... do these fruits taste this sweet? Not just sweet but also slightly sour... it's awesome."

Khushi nodded yes, stuffing a fruit in her mouth. Arnav smiled at Khushi and said,

"Thank you so much."

"For?"

"Because of you, I'm tasting something real."

"Everything in this village is real... I will give you many things every day."

"Will we come for the sight visit often?"

"What do you think? Do you know how big Uncle Arvind's property is? We can't see it in a day... it's just a ten per cent we saw today."

Arnav raised his brows.

"I can't understand how he appointed me as his manager of this huge property."

"It's because you are good."

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Let's go home," She said.

"So soon?"

"Your legs hurt. Right?"

Arnav nodded yes, pressing his lips.

"How do you know?"

"Because my legs also hurt" She chuckled.

Arnav nodded his head, smiling.

"Ok... let's go. Don't worry; I will give you an oil. Apply it to your legs. You will feel relaxed."

"Is it?"

"Yes..."

"Won't you guys go to the hospital for anything?"

"No... we use only Siddha medicines. That hill has many powerful medicines in it," she said, pointing at the hill behind the palace.

"Powerful means?"

"Means, even mental illness can be cured by those medicines."

Arnav stopped walking and looked at Khushi, who was frowning.

"If so, why didn't you guys get it for Ratna Ma'am?"

"It's not easy to reach... that's why."

"Why?"

"The way to that medicine is dangerous. That's why."

"You said this is a village where Siddhas live. Why can't you pray for them to get that medicine?"

"We are praying. Yet, it will happen only when it has to happen."

"I can't understand your logic."

"Who will risk their life to bring the medicine?" Khushi asked.

"If you offer them a huge amount, why wouldn't anyone risk it?"

"Uncle Arvind is even ready to give anything to get it. One or two went to get it, but they didn't return."

"Is it?" Arnav bewildered.

Khushi nodded yes.

"Many more things are happening here. You will get to know them soon... just like how you experienced it a few minutes ago through a shaking plant."

Arnav was silent because he could not deny it.

They reached the palace chitchatting. When they entered, Madhavi called Khushi.

"Where were you? I have no warm water to drink. Go and get it for me," she ordered.

Khushi nodded and went to the kitchen. Arnav followed her. Keeping the Jujube fruits on the kitchen slab, Khushi boiled water under the fan and switched it on to make it cold.

"What are you doing? Arnav asked.

"I will wait until this water becomes warm. Then, I will pour it into a flask and give it to Madhavi. She drinks only warm water."

"Can't she ask a servant to do it for her?"

"According to her, I'm a servant."

"Then, it's your responsibility to make her understand you are not..."

"I already told you... I can't stand them... they will team up and show me wrong in Uncle Arvind's eyes."

After that, Arnav didn't talk to Khushi and thought something. Khushi checked the water and filled it in a flask. She took it to Madhavi's room and handed it to her, who checked her mobile.

"Keep it there," She said, not taking her eyes off her mobile.

Khushi kept it on the table and closed her room door. That was when she heard Lalitha calling her.

"Hey, my leg is paining. Come and press them."

Khushi followed her. Arnav tightened his jaws. Why the hell were they treating her like a slave? He could not bear this capitalism. He wanted to do something about that.

Arnav stopped a servant and asked,

"Where is Ratna madam's room?"

"It's on the first floor."

Arnav headed to her room and saw her nagging Arvind.

"Where is my son and Khushi?" She asked, whining.

"They will come soon. I sent them to bring you something," he tried to console her, who had woken up from sleep.

"What will they bring?" She asked curiously.

That was when Arnav remembered they brought Jujube for Ratna. He rushed downstairs and was supposed to call Khushi but dropped the idea. Taking Jujube fruits, he went to Ratna's room. He knocked on the door. Ratna saw him and ran to him.

"Have you come? Where were you?" She asked pouting.

"Khushi and I went to bring you Jujube." He extended the lotus leaf to her.

Her face lit up seeing the red fruits.

"Khushi said, "You like this fruit very much. That's why she brought it," he said again, expecting her to ask for Khushi, but Ratna was keen to eat the fruits.

Arnav thought something and tried to leave the place.

"Where are you going?" Ratna held his hand.

"My legs are aching. Khushi also said her legs were aching. That's why we came soon, but poor Khushi was still working..." he said, looking at Arvind from the corner of his eyes.

"What is she doing now?" Arvind asked.

"Pressing Lalitha's feet"

Arvind closed his eyes in irritation. He didn't know why these girls were troubling Khushi a lot.

"May I tell you something, sir?"

Arvind looked at him.

"They are not just treating her like a servant but a slave."

"She is not a servant..." Arvind said.

"If she is not a servant, why do they keep her under their feet?"

"I told her often not to obey them, but Khushi is not listening to me."

"What will you do if they complain about Khushi?"

"I will enquire..."

"Mmm... thank you, sir" Arnav left.

He came to Lalitha's room and called Khushi.

"Arvind Sir is calling you... go," he said.

Khushi looked at Lalitha and stood up.

"Come fast", Lalitha said.

"She won't come... she has to be with Ratna, madam", Arnav said and looked at Khushi.

"What are you waiting for? Won't you obey Arvind, sir? Go"

Khushi rushed to Arvind's room. Arnav followed her.

"Khushi"

Khushi looked at him.

"If Madhavi and Lalitha make you do work, tell them Arvind sir assigned you some work and leave the place..."

"But..."

"Just do it..."

"Why should we oppose them, Arnav sir?"

"It's because we don't need to obey them. They will keep you under their feet if you start doing everything they say."

"I have no problem doing things for them because they are Ratna Aunt's nieces."

"So what? Just because they are Ratna madam's nieces, will you become their slave?"

"If they get to know you are supporting me, they will corner you too... they won't let you be peaceful. They will try to evict you from this palace."

"Let them do it. I won't fear anyone. This is not a place I came... it's Arvind sir who wants me to work here. So, I don't care if they evict me."

Khushi sighed.

"I thought this palace got someone with a kind heart, but you are ready to leave this palace..." She said sadly.

"I will go only after teaching them a lesson... don't worry."

"If you can teach them a lesson, why can't you do that being here?"

"If you want me to be here, I need your help..."

"My help? What can I do?"

"Just do what I say."

"What?"

Arnav told her what she wanted him to do. Khushi was horrified to hear that, and she gulped down hard.

"What? Will you help me?"

She bit her nail.

"You said I'm a GOOD guy. Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you."

"Will you cooperate?"

She nodded yes hesitatingly.

"That's it..." Arnav smiled, but Khushi shivered within.

To be continued...