24 Anxious Arnav
24 Anxious Arnav
"The pandit said your time is not good, so you should wait for six months," Arvind said, which shocked Arnav.
In no time, his shock turned into anger.
"Really? Did he say I should wait for six months?" He asked, frowning.
"Yeah. He said your timing was off when you stepped into this village. It takes six months for the planets to align favorably. That's why he asked us to wait."
"Oh... Okay. I will meet the pandit and ask him what to do."
"No, no... No need. I already asked him. He advised us to stay quiet for six months, then everything will fall into place."
"How will everything fall into place if you are utterly lying?" Arnav gritted his teeth.
"Lying? What are you talking about?"
"I'm saying you're lying. Everything you said is a lie!"
Arvind was taken aback.
"Mr. King, you are a great liar. The pandit didn't mention anything about my bad time because there is no such thing as bad time for Khushi and me. The pandit said he felt a good vibe when he performed the aarti for us..."
Arvind gulped.
"He said we can get together anytime, and we will lead a happy life..."
"Of course, you will only be happy if your marriage takes place after six months..."
"Don't lie again..."
Arvind was about to say something, but Arnav stopped him by raising his hand.
"Enough... I heard your conversation with the pandit. So don't try your tricks on me," he said, leaving Arvind horrified.
Throwing a glare at him, Arnav walked away, leaving Arvind feeling anxious. He didn't know what to do. Arnav had discovered his lie; he had overheard their conversation. There was no chance for him to console Arnav. He couldn't come up with any excuse to mend things between them. Arvind felt exhausted. What a life this was! He had only just learned he had a son. When he found out about his existence, he could not reveal it to him.
As Arnav headed to his room, he saw Khushi looking at him helplessly. He understood that she had heard their conversation. He went into his room.
Khushi noticed Arvind running his fingers through his hair. She was puzzled about why Arvind had lied to Arnav. How could he lie so easily? What was his problem with their marriage? Khushi felt restless. She had never defied Arvind for anything, as he had raised her and provided a good life. However, what he had just done was wrong. She had heard what the pandit told him about their wedding. Everything he said was so positive. It wasn't easy to receive such words from the Siddha temple pandit; it felt like words from God. Arvind must have known this. That was why he wanted to hear the horary astrology from him. So why did he lie to Arnav? Arnav was already disappointed with Arvind. This lie had diminished his respect for him. From now on, Arnav would ignore his voice and dismiss his opinions.
Khushi walked into Arnav's room, where he was pacing back and forth. When he noticed her, she was anxiously biting her lip. He approached her and gripped her upper arms tightly.
"Do you still expect him to accept our marriage?" he demanded.
"Arnav sir, you're angry right now. Please try to calm down. I will talk to him and find out why he lied," Khushi replied nervously.
"Oh, you still believe you can get the truth from him?" Arnav scoffed.
Khushi felt a surge of restlessness.
"How could he lie to me so casually? Thank God we overheard him. What would have happened if we hadn't? Or if I had only heard it? Would you have believed me then?"
Khushi was ready to respond, but Arnav continued, cutting her off.
"You wouldn't have... I know."
"No, Arnav sir. I would have definitely believed you because I know you wouldn't lie, even if you don't trust Uncle Arvind."
"I'm glad you trust me, but what's the point? You're standing firmly within a circle you drew yourself. I don't think you're willing to step outside of it," Arnav said, disappointment heavy in his voice.
"I don't understand why he lied to you. He's a good man who always wants the best for others and their happiness. He does everything you ask of him. He's never denied any of your requests."
"And that's precisely why..."
"Why what?" Khushi asked, puzzled.
"To make us believe in him..."
"But why?"
"Can't you see, Khushi?"
Khushi looked at him, confused.
"What did the mystic say about you?"
Khushi nodded, recalling his words.
"He said I would become the Queen..."
"Have you ever considered the possibilities?"
Khushi tried to understand the anger behind his eyes but only shook her head.
"How can you become a queen?" he pressed.
"I don't know..."
"But I know. You will become a queen if you marry a KING."
Khushi's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't considered it from that angle. Was Arnav right?
"He wants to marry you, Khushi," he stated.
Khushi was taken aback, her eyes welling with tears. She shook her head vigorously.
"No, Arnav sir. Uncle doesn't think that way. He treats me like his daughter. He would never see me in that light. I won't believe it."
"Then why was he opposed to our marriage? Why did he lie?" Arnav challenged.
"I don't know, but that's not a valid reason. I know him. He loves Ratna aunty deeply. He's lived for her. He could have remarried anyone after she became mentally ill, but he didn't. Instead, he brought her brothers to the palace and leads a respectable life. What you're suggesting isn't true..."
Arnav rolled his eyes in frustration.
"I stood up for you... I accepted what you said... but not this. You're mistaken. You can't be right."
Khushi hastily exited the room. Arnav, filled with anger, punched the wall, feeling helpless. He turned to look out the window, hoping for the mysterious man who always appearesirhen he needed guidance most but he was not there.
Arnav left the palace, not in the mood to see anyone. He walked aimlessly, unaware of his destination. Eventually, he found himself at the Kali temple, which was closed due to the death of the temple's pandit. He sat on the steps of the temple, his mind restless.
Arnav struggled with how to make Khushi believe him. Why was she so blind to the truth? Why didn't she trust him? If Arvind was such a wonderful man, why had he stopped their wedding? If he truly loved his wife, why did he want to marry Khushi?
Holding his head in frustration, Arnav felt a spark of realization. If a man genuinely loved his wife, he would be influenced by her if she were in her right mind. Yes, that was why the mysterious man had asked him to bring the medicine.
At that moment, Arnav sensed someone standing nearby. He looked up to see a stranger watching him.
"Do you need anything, sir?" the man asked.
Arnav shook his head and stood up, brushing off his pants. He was about to leave when a thought crossed his mind. He turned to the man and asked, "May I know who you are?"
"I'm Pasupathi. My father was the pandit of this temple."
"'Was'? What do you mean?" Arnav inquired.
"He passed away yesterday," Pasupathi replied.
Arnav felt a jolt of concern. Didn't Khushi say the son of the pandit had gone to the mountain? He wanted to ask the man about the mountain route but hesitated, unsure if Pasupathi would provide any details.
"I'm new to this village," Arnav said.
"Yeah, I know. You're the new manager of the palace," Pasupathi confirmed.
"I explored the village. Khushi took me on a tour, but she refused to take me to the mountain."
"She refused because she doesn't know anything about it herself," Pasupathi said.
"Why? She knows this village well," Arnav replied, confident.
"She knows the village, but the mountain...it's very dangerous..."
"Of course, mountains don't have proper roads..."
"It's not just about the roads; there are many other factors," Pasupathi added.
"What do you mean by that?" Arnav pressed, but Pasupathi only looked at him sharply before walking away, leaving Arnav feeling disappointed.
To be continued...
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