Bride of Sheesh Mahal - Season 3 - Part 26

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Chapter 26


Khushi’s POV


Shantivan is a great house, not as big as Sheesh Mahal but it’s less scary than the latter and I somehow feel safe. We drove with the family here and its been not even an hour that we reached, and everyone is busy showing me the house. Akash and NK want me to see their fancy cars, Anjali di wants me to see the beautiful garden, Daadi wants me to see how big the Puja room is and Chachi wants me to check the kitchen which seems to be complete opposite to the traditional style kitchen which is in Sheesh Mahal. So overall, my husband is fuming for not finding any time to spend with me. But he doesn't want to break the family’s heart as they are equally excited to show me around. I feel more relaxed here already but that doesn't mean I don’t wonder what the secret of Sheesh Mahal is.

After one more hour, I finally get relieved from the rest of the family and head towards my room only to stop by the huge walls at the first-floor lobby. There is a painting hanging there which looks antique. The painting shows a woman sacrificing her blood in fire. It’s like she’ drawing her blood by piercing her palm with a sharp knife and fueling the fire in the havan. Seems like some kind of ritual to me but I have never seen or heard of anything like this before. I have read so many holy books but it never had anything related to sacrificing blood. That only makes me believe this ritual shown in the painting is a bad omen.. as if it’s meant to create harm to people rather than any good. I try to find the name of the person who painted this and there I see it.. a small name written in hindi – Chandrika.. And my eyes glue to the special kind of tattoo which is painted as a logo right below that name.. That tattoo resembles the same which I saw on that woman’s forehead who had attended Arnav’s naming ceremony and she was also hiding her face throughout. Do they have any connection?


“Khushi?” Manorama Chachi reaches me. “What are you doing here?”

“Chachi, this is such a different painting.. I mean you know who brought this here?”


Chachi stares at the painting and shrugs.

“I don’t think I know. When I was married, this painting was already here.”

“Then Daadi should know?”

“Maybe” she smiles. “Don’t get into all this. Arnav is calling you in the room. Go see what he wants, and the lunch will be ready in few hours. We will call you both down when is ready. Now go spend time your husband. He has got you here for a reason.”


My cheeks flame as she reminds me why Arnav planned this trip. He wanted me to relax, away from Sheesh Mahal and the looming threat there.


As soon as Chachi leaves, I give another stare at the painting and hurry to the bedroom. The moment I get in and shut the door, Arnav scoops me from behind and showers kisses on my neck and shoulder.


“Arnav?” I gasp, trying to breathe but he is too desperate with need at the moment. Within a few seconds, he pins me to the wall beside the door and his mouth latches on my lips.

The kiss is a savage. I don’t think I’ll ever learn to kiss him back like this ever. But I still have come too far in learning a few things and I like it. When he pulls away and meet my eyes, I am already giddy with his love.

“I was waiting for you. What took you so long?”

“Umm.. Your family is hard to resist.”

He presses his body into mine.

“Sometimes I wonder whom you married.. The family or me?”


The moment I giggle, Arnav kisses me again, shutting me up. This time when we part, I am breathless again. But he doesn't stop showering me with more kisses and this time its on my neck.. I hold his back and arms, as he bites the tender skin around my neck.

“You are going to be the death of me someday..” he whispers.


I quickly pull his hair to make him stare in my eyes.

“Take back your words..” I demand.

“Which words?”

“Death..”


His lips curl into a grin.

“Death is inevitable, Khushi. We all will die someday. It’s the reality.”


My eyes tear up. I push him away and make my way to the windows.


“Khushi? What happened? Come here..”


I don’t listen to him and stand by the window looking out. His words have upset me. In a minute, he reaches me and turns me around. My tears affect him too. He strokes them away with his thumb and cups my face.


“Never say that again… I didn’t marry you to hear all this.. It reminded me of that hallucination where I saw you cold and pooled in blood on the floor.. ”

“Alright..” he acknowledges cutting my sentence.. “Noted it. I’ll never talk about death but remember one thing Khushi.. between you and me if I have choose one, I’ll always choose your life.”


I am dumbstruck at his confession. I mean so much to him? Though I want to appreciate and thank him, I hit his chest.

“There will never be a situation where you’ll have to choose Arnav. And if there is, I’ll be the one to end my life before you decide to save me and end yours..”


Now his nostrils flare.

“Shut up..”

“Why shut up? When you talk nonsense, I have to hear it. Why can’t I speak my heart out then?”

“God” he groans before pulling me in his embrace. “Why are you so stubborn? Always one step ahead in debating with me over these matters. This is not how I planned to spend time with you in Shantivan?”


I raise my head to look in his eyes.

“Then how did you plan it?”

His smile is back.

“You’ll know that tonight..”

He kisses my nose and snuggles again. Tonight? Hmm!!


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


Arnav’s POV


The lunch went well with the family. Everyone is relaxing here in Shantivan and I like tis break time our family is having here together. After the hectic wedding preps and post wedding rituals, they all needed this little time to unwind. I show a quick presence at the Delhi office and check on the hacking issue which happened. Things are progressing well in those regards. If this continues, our family might be able to fly back in two months to London. I can’t wait to take Khushi there and show her the kind of lifestyle our family has in that country. I don’t know if she’ll like it but I hope she gets adjusted soon.


While I am almost finishing the work and getting ready to head back to Shantivan again, I get a call from the lead engineer who is working on the current issue in Sheesh Mahal.


“Sir, we need the keys to the basement room which is locked.. We have checked all the rooms and the wiring seems fine there. Only this room needs to be checked.”


I remember which room he wants to check. That’s the same room which is shut from years.

“Umm. I don’t think anyone of us know where the key to that room is. Do one thing. Break the locks.”

“Break the locks sir? It might damage the door too.”

“I don’t care.. There’s nothing in there except old furniture and some antique pieces. Just break the damn locks and check the wiring. I want the issue to be resolved before the family returns.”

“Okay, sir. We will do as said.”


I hang up and then drive back home with Akash and NK.


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

Shantivan


We are having dinner. I have plans for tonight and I can’t wait to finish meals and get back to my room with Khushi.


“Daadi, do you know anything about that painting on the lobby?” Khushi suddenly asks and everyone is interested to know which painting she is talking about and why?

“Which one?” Daadi queries.

“The one whose artist name is Chandrika?”


Daadi coughs as if she heard a ghost’s name. Since Khushi is sitting next to her she quickly passes Daadi some water.

“Thank you..”


Daadi continues to eat.

“Don’t take that name in this house again.”

Daadi’s sudden change in expressions and tone worry all of us, especially me and Khushi.

“Why Daadi? Who is she?”

“She is an omen.” Daadi snaps. “And none of you need to know anything about her. Just remember that even talking about her is a bad omen to our family.”


I don’t believe in all this so I keep eating but my wife I curious.


“If that’s so, why is her painting in this house?”

“I didn’t know it existed.” Daadi sighs. “I’ll ask the servants to burn it down.”

“But why Daadi? Why burn down the painting?” Khushi keeps poking new queries and that doesn't go well with Daadi.


She immediately wipes her lips and gets up.

“I am not hungry anymore. Will sleep early today. Good night everyone..”


And with that, she is gone. Khushi turns to me with a confused look. I press her hand to assure her that’s fine. Maybe Daadi is not in a good mood tonight.


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

I keep looking for Khushi after an hour post dinner when I find her in the garden, strolling alone speaking on call. She looks tensed by the time I reach her.

“Hey? What happened?” I ask, and she quickly holds my hand after disconnecting the call.

“Your Daadi definitely knows something and she is hiding it.”

“What?” I don’t understand. “What are you talking about?”

“About Sheesh Mahal. Your Daadi knows what is happening there and is still pretending to be blind..”


I am still clueless.

“Khushi, can you please not talk in codes. What do you want to say exactly?”

She unlocks her phone screen and shows me an image. It’s weird image. Some human blood is been sacrificed in fire.

“What is this?” I ask.

“A ritual which is followed to cast an evil spell on either an individual or a family. This painting which I was talking about that’s in Shantivan is similar to what I am showed you now.. When I asked about the artist of that painting to your grandmother, she said not to take that woman’s name again in this house because she is a bad omen. This Chandrika is the one whom we have to find out Arnav.. I can feel it. She has definitely some connection with Sheesh Mahal because.. That’s why her painting is in this house.. At Shantivan..”


I cup her face and pull her closer to me. Her anxiety worries me.


“Relax.. Just relax for now..”

“Arnav but..”

“Sshhh.. Not one more word Khushi.”


She gives me a confused glare.

“I brought you here to relax but even here you haven’t left thinking about Sheesh mahal.”

“Because..”

I place my finger on her lips.

“Tonight, I had plans for us… I don’t think we will ever get such days again. Why to waste it by thinking about such omen?”


She sighs knowing my disinterest.

“Give me one night, Khushi.. I promise, tomorrow, we can continue this discussion..”

Her face flushes at my remark and her breathing shallows. I take this moment to lean down and carry her in my arms. She doesn't mind. It’s high time we both ease down a bit on whatever issues we have to handle back in Sheesh Mahal and give into each other’s desire this one night but of course I don’t plan to claim her tonight if she isn’t fully prepared.


We reach the bedroom and thankfully like Sheesh Mahal there is no issues of currents going here in Shantivan. I place Khushi on the bed while she confusingly stares at me as if trying to gauge what’s next. The way her eyes tinkle seeing my desperation, I don’t delay a damn more from joining her on the bed. To be honest, I had wanted to see her in that red lingerie she bought for me the other day and could never wear it. But we can put that show for some other time. Tonight, I can’t resist my wife any longer.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART

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