Rise of the Devil - Part 5

 

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Chapter 5



Arnav’s POV


I have never been threatened or commanded before. Today is first and who did that? Khushi Gupta. Ever since she has returned to this place, finishing her graduation, my productivity has hampered. I don’t understand why she gives me that look, why she watches me like she needs me the most? And me? Whenever she does any of that, I lose myself to that moment. The past five years when I started being Shashi Gupta’s shadow, I had seen her pictures in this house. She had me mesmerized since then but a woman cannot break my focus is what I had been teaching my mind ever since I felt my hormones bubbling for her. When I first saw her live after all these years, standing by the window, admiring me, ogling my body, it was that moment I realized she is the only one who has that power to wrap me around her life. Her open flirting, her unnecessary tantrums, her innocence, her concern for my bruises, her challenges to run away from this place, everything has captured my heart, mind and body. I know she is looking to escape from this place, run away from her father as far as possible and settle down in a place where there is no harm, no pain and most importantly, no blood. But she doesn’t know that’s practically impossible. Anyone who takes birth in a family like this, can never escape any of it. We are marked by our enemies ever since we are born. She could have escaped in my absence in last three days but she didn’t, which makes me think, she wants me and that’s not possible. I had to do something. Shashi Gupta was already looking a prospective groom for her and I just escalated that process by coaxing him to make it happen soon. I want Khushi to be safe. And that’s only possible when she stops thinking about me. With me, she will be my enemy’s first target. But she has raised a valid point today. Will I be able to see her with any other man? I think I should. If I want her alive, I can see her with any other man. With that in my head, I accept her challenge to teach her self-defense and to shoot. I scared her the first time she held the gun. I made her shoot myself and I could see the fear in her eyes. She was not scared to kill someone.. she was scared to kill ME!! 

I see her coming out in a navy-blue track pant and a Yellow Tank Top. I am aware she loves wearing such revealing clothes but its not to show off to others, it’s because she is comfortable in them. I glare at the guards to leave the place at once. I don’t want them to stand here and stare at this woman. Damn!! Here I cannot imagine my guards to even look at her and then I say I am ready to see her getting married to any other man! She glares while striding to me.


“Why can’t they be a part of this?” She asks reaching closer. I don’t look at her, just start loading my gun with the bullets.

“I don’t want you distracted”

She laughs at my remark and I wonder why?

“You don’t want THEM to be distracted or you don’t want THEM TO SEE YOU distracted”

Though I am very tempted to tell her the truth, I don’t.

“Two things” I snap. “Before you fire a gun, know whom you are firing and why? One wrong move and you will end up killing a wrong person”

She swallows hard at my instructions.

“You know what that means killing a wrong person? I scowl.

She looks bewildered and confused what to reply.

“It means you live with that guilt till the end of your life”

Khushi gasps. Grabbing her slender hand, I make her hold the gun again. She grins and points it at my head. I know she is teasing me.

“It’s loaded” I inform.

The moment she hears it, Khushi pulls it away from my head in fear. My cheeks burn as I see how much she is affected even with the thought of hurting me.

“Turn there” I command but she purposely turns the other side.

“Here?”

“To your right” I shout.

This time she turns to her right but not at the exact angle I want her to turn.

“I know what you doing” I mutter curbing my urge to draw her closer.

“You don’t know anything”

She turns to the exact angle and then shoots the gun to a blind target. I am startled how the noise of the gunshot doesn’t scare her. She turns too me and winks.


“I have lived amongst such noises since childhood. I am not scared of them. By the way did I hit anything?”


She scans the place and I gaze at her. She is so desperate to learn.

“First hold the gun right”

I stand behind her and hold make her hold the gun tightly in her grip. Her silky arms sweat the moment I touch them. However hard I try to focus on the target, as I raise her arm to the upright position, my body aches with an unknown desire. I cannot be this close to her. She is too innocent for a Devil like me.

“Should I shoot?” she murmurs, swallowing hard, aiming at the dummy target few meters away from us.

I am losing it. I inch for her fingers and placing my finger on hers, I pull the trigger.


“Bingo” she screams as the dummy target falls. “Damn you are too good at shooting”

She claps and jumps right there praising my skills.

“I am damm good at killing people too”

Now she frowns.

“Have you ever killed innocent people?”


I don’t reply to that. No, I haven’t killed innocents ever and the people I have murdered didn’t had the right to live on earth. But I give her no explanation. If she thinks I might have killed innocents too, she will cringe away from me and I want that to happen.

“Maybe I did” I lie.

“You are a terrible liar” She laughs. “Only so I see you in a bad light, you are trying to spoil your image in my eyes? Why?”

Her questions at times leaves me speechless. I have never talked so much in my life the way I have in the last past few minutes with her.

I see Mohan running towards me and I know that look. Something is wrong. I don’t let him reach us, instead I stride to him while Khushi stares at me as I leave her alone.

“We have found him” Mohan informs, gasping for air.

My eyes darken at the thought of what I am going to do to that man, now that we have found him.

“Get the Jeep ready” I bark and follow Mohan.

“Hey” I hear Khushi call me but I don’t wait. I keep walking. “Werewolf wait.. Hey.. You cannot leave my training like this.. we didn’t even start”

I don’t care to her complaints. The Jeep stops before me and I get inside with two of my men. I don’t have patience at all until I see that man myself and punish him.


*******************

Khushi’s POV

And he is gone!! I want to scream, shout and hit someone for Arnav’s uncaring attitude towards me. I reach back to the living room and kick the couch before angrily sitting on it.

“What happened? How did the training go?” he asks taking the other seat.

“He left.. Some of your men told him something and he left.. Just like that without even telling me where he is going and why?”

Dad smiles.

“I told you he is a busy man”

“Right” I snap turning to him. “Aren’t you bothered that he didn’t even take your permission to leave? You pay him for shadowing you.. How can he leave without informing you where he is going?”

Buaji comes out that same instance with the tray of tea cups. She stares at my father who gives her a blank glare.

“Have your tea” Dad insists.

“No thanks. You cannot just hide things from me. I am serious this time. Why is that Devil getting so much of freedom here? It’s like he is the Boss of this place. Every servant stays in the servant quarters, why not him? You built a house for him? His two-bedroom suit is more glamorous than my bedroom. Why? Who the hell is he and what is he up to? Where does he get all this attitude from? And the way you put his mistakes behind and treat him like God, I do not understand. Why you favoring him over your own daughter? Only because he asked you to prepone my wedding, you want me to choose a groom quickly and say Yes to the marriage? Isn’t that unfair? Who the hell is he??”


I see my father glaring at me in shock. Maybe he never thought I would raise these questions but they are very much necessary so that I get a clear stand whom I am dealing with?

“Sankadevi” Buaji intervenes. “What way is this to talk to your father? And didn’t I tell you to be away from that Devil?”

“Why? Why should I be away from him? You claim him to be my protector. And Protector has to stay close to me to look after my safety. Then why the hell should I not stay close to him? Why is it that you all know everything and still hiding it from me?”

My father gets up and the way he looks at me right now, scares me off.

“Stop looking into unnecessary things. Focus on what I have asked you to do. Choose your favorite suitor and let me know. You have just 6 days now”

Almost after threatening me, he is gone. I want to cry my heart out. This is not what I had in mind when I decided to come back to my home again. I thought after staying for five long years, away from me, he will be more welcoming and understanding. Tears spill from my eyes which Buaji quickly wipes off.

“Khushi, don’t cry. You have to be used to all this now. Whatever your father is telling you to do is for your benefit”

“My benefit?” I shout. “Marrying me to a stranger, from his dark circle, whose hands are stained with blood of others, is going to benefit me? How? And what is the guarantee that after I marry, all the enemies will back off? Tomorrow I will have my kids, what will happen to them? Will they be made to sacrifice too? Or will they be killed?”

“Shut your mouth” Buaji shouts. “Do you even know what you are talking?”

“I know what I am talking” I snap. “But the problem is that, you all don’t want to hear the truth”

I rise on my feet and run back to my room.

****************

It’s been two more days now since I have seen the Werewolf again. After our first training day to shoot, he is gone and never came back so far. I asked dad and he told me that he is out to take care of something. I don’t interact with Dad and Buaji much but I know if I have to escape this place, I only have one choice. Show them I am doing as per their demands, so that they lower their protective shield and when I get the perfect opportunity, I better run. So, with this plan in my head, I make my way down. Dad is on call and I hear him taking Arnav’s name which means he is talking to him. Wish I could sneak in to know what they talking. The moment dad sees me, as usual he stops speaking.

“Hold on” he says to Arnav who is on call. “What happened Khushi?”

This is my best chance. To know if the Devil is going to do something about me or not. Since the call is still On and my father has not muted it, I decide to say it loud and clear.

“I have chosen a suitor”

My father’s eyes glimmer with home.

“You have? Who’s the one? I am going to begin the talks today. No need to wait. Tell me his name”

“I don’t know his name. You just showed me pictures” I debate. “I will show you his picture and you tell me his name then and please begin the marriage process”

“Oh Khushi”

In two long strides dad reaches me and gives a tight hug. I snuggle into him, apolozising silently for lying so much. I don’t want to keep him in dark or leave him forever, but if I want to be happy in future and safe, I will have to take this hard step. Dad pulls away and kisses my forehead.

“I am so happy for you. Go share this news with Madhumati. She will be equally happy”

I nod as he puts the phone back on his ear.

“Arnav. Did you hear? Khushi has agreed for the marriage. She has picked a guy. Just leave everything else and come back. I need you here”


I walk slowly away, wanting to hear more of their conversation.

“Hello? Arnav? You there?” Dad shouts and I jump in excitement. Yes!! This is what I wanted to see.. Devil is shocked by my decision. He is unable to believe I have finally given up this fight and ready to walk on my dad’s shown footsteps. Since my dad has called him now, he will not ignore his commands. Werewolf will have to come back… FOR ME!!

******************

Arnav’s POV

I am driving back in my Jeep to Chandra Mahal. Yesterday when I was speaking to Shashi Gupta about the situation here, Khushi popped up there and revealed her plans to get married. She has chosen her groom!! I should be happy that she is finally considering this but I am not!! I am pissed. Ever since this news has reached my ears, there isn’t a moment I have calmed down. My body is burning with strange feelings. I have even punched one of my man in anger for his silly mistake. I have never done that before. And I am the one driving today not one of my guard. That’s because I want to reach Chandra Mahal sooner and hear it again, face to face from Khushi that she is really marrying. Also, I cannot wait to know who that man is whom she has chosen. Being in this dark world from so long, I already know all of her suitors but I am more than willing to know which one Khushi has picked as her husband. I just hope I accept this calmly and not kill that man if I ever see him next to Khushi Gupta.


To be Continued.

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