Part 8 Something

"Why are you looking tensed?" Arnav asked.

"I'm afraid of your plan," Khushi said nervously.

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Khushi, understand one thing. They are jealous of you. That's why they are targeting you and making you work like a slave. Do you know why they are doing this?"

"Why?"

"It's because you are more beautiful than them..."

"Me and beautiful?" She sighed.

"Fair also... this is why they are jealous of you."

"Half of your statement is right, and half is wrong."

"Means?"

"They are jealous not because I'm beautiful and fair."

"Then?"

"It's because of a mystic."

"Mystic?"

"Yeah, he came to the palace one day and said, I'M GOING TO BECOME THE QUEEN OF THIS PALACE."

"Whaaat? You and a queen of this palace?" Arnav asked unbelievably.

Khushi nodded yes sadly.

"From the time he said that they started targeting me. They could not tolerate what he said."

"Do you believe that?"

"No way... definitely not after getting treated like a slave by them."

"Just because someone said you would become a queen, how could they treat you like this?"

"It's not just someone... he is a mystic..."

"So what?"

"I told you... this village is a holy place. No mystic would utter a word that would become false."

"Why would he utter such words that made your life hell?"

"It's all my fate..." She said, feeling sad.

"What fate? Are you going to become a Queen of this palace?" He teased.

Khushi looked at him with a weird expression.

"I think Arvind sir will adopt you as his daughter."

"No way... How could he adopt me when there are two girls in the palace related to Ratna Aunty? They will not let it happen ever. They will not mind killing me..."

"Then why did the mystic say so?"

"I, too, don't know. So, I stopped thinking about it."

"What will you do if you become the Queen of this Palace?" he smiled.

"Stop making fun of me, Arnav sir," Khushi said.

"You said any word of mystic would become true..."

"Arnav sir, please don't talk to me about it. Leave it. I have to go to aunt's room."

"Have you forgotten my plan?"

"I have not... but not now... let me go"

Khushi went to Ratna's room without waiting. She saw Ratna eating Jujube fruits. Seeing Khushi, she rushed to her and showed her the Jujube fruits.

"I know you would like it..."

"My son brought it for me. See, he loves me so much."

Khushi nodded yes.

"Arnav told her it was you who brought it for her. Yet, she wants to believe that Arnav brought it for her," Arvind said.

"That's ok, uncle... Don't we know her? But, why did she think Arnav sir as her son?"

"I, too, don't understand that, Khushi. I wonder how Arnav is in this village. That too in the Kal Bairava Temple...! After so many years... After you, he is the one who entered this village..."

Khushi nodded yes.

"You were a kid when you came to this village. You would not have been a bad girl at that age, but Arnav is different."

"You are right, uncle. He must be a nice man. That's why he was sent to Tamilnadu from Gorakhpur."

Arvind nodded yes thoughtfully.

"Uncle, Sathyanarayan would have called the one who sent Arnav sir here and gotten to know he left the Gorakhpur and came to Tamilnadu. What if he got to know you brought him to your palace lying? He will get angry with you, uncle."

"It's unavoidable... but don't forget, no one could enter our village."

"But, Sathyanarayan will... You should not forget that."

"Yes, he will, but only if he has valuable reason. He would not think Arnav could be in my palace because bringing him here is not a planned one. It just happened. What could I do if Ratna wanted him to be with her? How could I console her? Do you think It would have happened?"

Khushi nodded no hurriedly.

"After me, she wants him to be with her."

"Yes, where is he? She will ask for him if the Jujube fruits are over."

"He is downstairs..."

"Did you show him our land?"

"The much I could..."

"Of course, you could not do it in a day. By the way, does he like our village?"

Khushi remembered the plant-shaking incident, but she didn't tell him that. Arvind might think of sending Arnav with some Palace workers then. She won't get a chance to leave the palace then. She would get trapped with Madhavi and Lalitha. They would torture her for sure if they got a chance.

"He liked our village very much. He enjoyed it."

"Thank God... he is from North India. I thought he might not like to be in a village."

"He is a nice and respectful person, uncle. He will adjust even if he doesn't like our village."

Khushi smiled.

"Kal Bairav Temple function is closing up. A lot of work should be done. Get Arnav's help and teach him about our customs."

"Ok, uncle"

"Take him to the Temple."

"Ok, uncle"

Khushi left the room and came searching for Arnav. Standing near a window, he was looking at the mountain behind the palace. She came and stood next to him.

"What are you looking at?" Khushi asked, looking at the mountain.

"I feel something whenever I see that mountain."

"What are you feeling?"

"As if I'm related to this place... I feel connected..."

"Arnav sir... we are already wondering how you are here... and now, you are shocking me."

"Why?"

"Usually, no one dares see that mountain, but you feel connected with it."

"Why so?"

"Didn't I say Siddhas living in this village? That mountain is their home."

"So what? They are Siddhas... that means we don't have to fear them. Right?"

"Arnav, sir, you are a nice man. That's why you are thinking nicely. But not everyone would be like you. People would like to go to the mountain with the intention."

"What intention?"

"The mountain is a treasure of powerful medicine. A few people went there to bring them..."

"So what? Medicine would get its worth only if it used to cure disease..."

"It's not like that. Medicine saves lives. It should be selfless, but people do it for money. Greedy people can't reach the mountain."

"This is crazy..." Arnav sighed.

Khushi smiled.

"Let's go..."

"Where?"

"To the Kal Bairava Temple"

"Why?"

"Uncle asked me to take you there."

"Now?"

"Yes..."

"Didn't you say your legs are paining?"

"It's ok... we will rest in the temple. Let's go"

"No... we are going to implement my plan now."

"Arnav sir... please, don't do it now. We will think about it later."

Arnav glared at her, folding his hands.

"This is why they are using you as a stepping stone," he said.

"I don't mind about them, but Arvind, uncle."

"He is the reason for your condition. They would not have been like this if he had shown them the right place."

Khushi sighed fearfully.

"Ok... you don't have to do anything... I will do it. You stay here," Arnav said as he left his room.

"Are you going?"

"Any doubt?"

"Arnav sir, I'm scared..."

"That's why I say stay here..."

Arnav walked. Khushi rushed behind him to stop him, but Arnav walked faster. Khushi tried to hold him. In that process, she unintentionally clutched his pant pocket, and his purse slipped.

"Arnav sir, your purse. Please come back..."

"Keep it... I will get it later" Arnav went upstairs to meet Arvind.

"Arnav sir..." She called, but Arnav galloped the stairs.

Khushi stood biting her nail. She was scared like hell. She didn't know what Arnav's plan would bring her.

That was when she heard,

"Khushi..."

Khushi turned behind and found Arvind standing.

"Uncle, you here?"

"It must be my question. You are still here..."

"I'm waiting for Arnav, sir..." She grinned awkwardly, looking at the steps.

Arvind saw the purse in Khushi's hand.

"Whose purse is that?"

"This is Arnav sir's purse" Khushi extended the purse to him, and the purse opened.

Arvind's breath ditched him when he saw the photo in the purse. He snatched the purse and looked at the picture. His lips uttered AMRITA unknowingly.

To be continued...