31 The King
Part 31 The King
"Shut up! That's enough! Just because you're my SON doesn't mean I have to listen to your nonsense..." Arvind shouted, losing his patience and leaving Arnav shocked.
Arnav was shocked not by Arvind's outburst but by his words. Then, he composed himself, thinking it was a slip of the tongue. But Arvind was not ready to leave it.
"What do you think of yourself? Will you talk about anything if I listen to you? What do you know about me? Khushi is like my daughter..."
Cutting him,
"Oh, really? Then what about the mystic's words? Why did he say Khushi would become the queen of this palace? How could she become a Queen if you don't marry her? Please don't say you will adopt her. Your brothers-in-law will not let it happen, and you know that, too."
Arvind rolled his eyes irritatingly.
"I don't expect you will think of me so cheap. It's my fate to be doubted by my SON. I don't know how many punishments I would get for my deeds."
Arnav was taken aback. Son? Again?
"Whaaat? What did you say? Son? Who is your son?"
"You... you are my son."
Arnav frowned as he could not connect the dots.
"Yes, I'm your father... your mother Amrita's husband."
Arnav was left stunned, his eyes fixed on Arvind without a blink.
At the same time, Madhavi, who crossed Arnav's room, heard it, and she was shocked.
"I and your mother are college mates. We loved each other. Knowing Amrita's straightforward nature, I lied to her that I had no one because I knew she would not accept my love if she got to know I belonged to a Royal family. We got married and settled down in Gorakhpur. My father smelled my wedding. He came to Gorakhpur with his men. Amrita was pregnant at that time. Striking us, he threw Amrita into the river and brought me to Tamilnadu. I thought Amrita and the child in her womb died until I saw her photo in your purse. That was when I learned you are my son."
Arnav was left dumbfounded. Was Arvind really his father? His mother's letter had mentioned that his father belonged to a Royal family, and Arvind's story matched. Was the woman his mother? Was this the reason he was there? Was this why Goraka Siddha laughed when he talked about Arvind and Khushi? The questions swirled in his mind, leaving him utterly confused.
"You are my son. Only heir of this Palace... the future King," Arvind held his shoulder, perplexing Arnav.
KING? Like really? If he were a King, Khushi would become indeed a Queen. Was this what the Goraka Siddha hinted at? He looked at Arvind perplexed.
"I wanted to declare this truth to the world authentically. I was thinking of doing it after the Kalabairava Temple function, but before that, you went to the Mountain, misunderstanding me," Arvind said, disappointed.
Madhavi's mind worked fast. She silently left the place as she didn't want anyone to see her. It might spoil her plan.
"Do you understand the meaning of the mystic's words now? Khushi will become a Queen if she marries the King... it's you."
Arnav was embarrassed. How silly he had been thinking of Arvind!
"I know you would be angry with me. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were alive. In fact, I didn't know you existed. I made your life harder. Please forgive me, Arnav."
"Before leaving the world, my mother wrote a letter. Even in that letter, she didn't mention you because she knew you were married to another woman."
"She tried hard not to tell you about me, but FATE brought you to the place you belonged to..."
Arnav took his bag. Turning opposite to Arvind, he removed the Shivlinga given by Goraka Siddha. He hid it behind a water bottle on the table and handed the bag to Arvind.
"This is the medicine. Give it to the Siddha doctor and ask him to give it to Ratna madam, SIR."
Arvind looked at Arnav without taking the bag from Arnav.
"Won't you accept me as your father and call me Appa(father)?" Arvind pleaded, his voice filled with a mix of hope and fear.
Arnav gulped down. Taking a deep breath, he said,
"Take it, Appa."
Arvind embraced him, his tears flowing freely. Arnav, touched by the moment, placed a hand on his back. Arvind, overcome with emotion, broke the hug and wiped his tears.
"How did you bring it? Do you know no one ever returned from the mountain?"
"I heard it."
"You have no idea how tensed Khushi was, knowing that you went to the mountain."
Arnav nodded yes.
"She is upset. Talk to her."
Arnav nodded.
"Could you do me a favour?" Arnav asked.
"Anything," Arvind's voice was filled with relief and hope.
"Don't tell Khushi the truth now," Arnav said.
"But why?"
"I want to tell her that."
Arvind smiled.
"She is a nice girl."
Arnav nodded.
"I will meet the Siddha doctor and ask him to prepare medicine for Ratna."
Arnav nodded.
"May I get a small bowl?" Arnav asked.
"Bowl? You can get it from the kitchen."
"For Pooja..."
"Oh..." Arvind nodded without raising a question. He came out of the room and asked,
"Is anybody here?"
A servant rushed to him and stood for his order.
"Take Arnav to the Pooja room and give him what he wants."
"Yes, sir"
Arvind left.
Locking his room door, Arnav came to the Pooja room with the servant.
"What do you want, sir?"
"A small bowl for a Pooja,"
He opened the Pooja room cupboard and looked at Arnav.
"You can take what you want, sir."
Arnav found many silver bowls and plates on the shelf. He took a small silver blow.
"This is enough", he said to the servant.
He nodded. Arnav returned to his room and kept the Shivlinga in the bowl he filled with water.
Then, he headed to Khushi's room, feeling delighted. After all, she was the girl who died for him in the last birth. She was looking outside the window. Arnav came and stood behind her. Khushi sensed him but didn't react. She stayed firm.
"It seems someone is angry with me?"
Khushi didn't look at him.
"If you are silent, I will think you are not angry with me..."
Khushi turned behind and looked at him angrily. She was supposed to leave the place, but Arnav held her hand and pulled her towards him. As Khushi didn't expect, he circled her waist, making her shock.
"Arnav sir, leave me... what if anyone comes?"
"So what if anyone comes? We are going to get married soon. Don't we?"
"Leave me, then only I will answer you."
"Answer me, then only I will leave you."
Khushi looked at him, perplexed.
"What do you want me to say?"
"Will you marry me or not?"
"No... I'm not marrying you. Who will marry a man who has headiness?"
"Oh, do you think I have headiness?"
"I don't think... it's true."
"Ok, then... as you learned, I have headiness; I decided to marry you, no matter if you are fine with that."
Khushi glared at him.
"Don't try to pretend like you are not fine with our wedding."
"What I'm asking, and what are you talking about?"
"Ok, I'm sorry for going to the mountain. But I'm back with the medicine. Feel happy about it."
Khushi looked somewhere.
"Tell me, you will marry me."
"Haan, haan, I will marry you," she said feebly.
"I won't leave you if you say like that. Say it like a BRIDE. Khushi looked at him dumbfounded. What happened to him? Instead of trying to coax her, why was he playing a romantic role?
"Arnav sir, leave me first,"
"Tell me first."
Khushi sighed.
"Yes, I will marry you..."
"Good girl" He kissed her cheek, making her eyes wide in shock.
Pushing him, she rushed out.
Arnav searched for Khushi but didn't find her in the living hall. That was when he heard,
"Arnav..."
Arnav looked at Madhavi, who smiled at him. Arnav frowned. Why did she call him that, too, with a smile?
"What a great achievement you have completed..."
"What are you talking about?"
"Everyone is talking about your mountain visit. You are the only person who has returned alive. You are a great man. We are so glad to have you in this palace. I'm sorry for being rude to you at the beginning."
"It's ok..."
"You can ask me anything if you want."
Arnav was silent.
"Friends?" She extended her hand toward him.
Arnav was not interested in her friendship, yet he shook hands with her as a courtesy. Madhavi smiled and left the place. Her mother, Savithri, pulled her wrathfully when she came to her room.
"Have you gone mad? Why the hell did you shake hands with a servant?"
"Shhhh..." She closed the door.
"He is not a servant but Arvind uncle's only son."
"What do you mean?"
Madhavi told her what she heard.
"Is it?"
"Yes... I talk to him nicely to get into his good book. Very soon, I will make him fall in love with me. Then I will become the Queen of this Palace...!"
"Wow...! What a plan!" Savithri was delighted.
Madhavi smirked.
To be continued...
Note: In South India, a man will marry his son to his sister's daughter and daughter to his sister's son.
Likewise, a woman will marry her son to his brother's daughter and daughter to her brother's son.
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