Bride of Sheesh Mahal - Season 3 - Part 30

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Chapter 30


Arnav’s POV


Ever since the Puja has begun, Khushi is not behaving as her usual self. She is very disoriented and is hardly focusing. This has surely caught my attention and though I want to speak to her about it, I can’t until the ritual ends. The Priests chant a lot of mantras and then sprinkle the holy water at every corner of the palace. But they don’t go to the basement.


“We cannot go down there,” one of the priests mentions.

“What do you mean you can’t go there?” I inquire, a bit annoyed by their denial.

The priest turns to Daadi to explain further.

“Subhadraji this ritual has a great significance and it will only work if the family member sprinkles this holy water in the affected area.”

Daadi looks nervously at the priest.

“But I can’t let my family take that risk.” she argues. “This is exactly why we called you all to do this ritual.”

“I understand. But the effect of this ritual will be worthy only if a family member completes it and we had already informed the same to Khushi bitiya before coming here.”


Really? Now I turn to Khushi who reaches us. She was assisting the other group of priests to sprinkle the holy water everywhere.

“Khushi? You knew this?” Daadi queries.

“Jee.. And if that’s the only way this ritual can work for the betterment of the family, I am ready to go down to the basement and sprinkle this holy water.”


She turns to the priest and is about to take the vessel when I grab her elbow and turn Khushi to me.

“You didn’t tell me this.”

She swallows nervously.

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen to me. And I am braver than I look. Did you forget how I saved you from that mad woman when we first met?”

“I remember that very well but this is not the same Khushi. I can’t let you step in that room alone. That room has been spooky to scare off even the strongest of men who came to work here. How can you expect me to let you face it?”

“Arnav, trust me, I will be fine..”

“No.”


I snatch the vessel from the priest.

“I am going down there and will complete the ritual.” I declare.

“But..”

“No more arguments Khushi..”

“Then I am coming along with you,” Khushi argues.

“Nope. You are not. Just stay here with the family.”


Saying that I take the vessel and head towards the basement stairs.


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

Khushi’s POV


According to the priest, only one of the family members was supposed to complete this ritual of sprinkling the holy water at the basement and Arnav chose to do that. I wanted to join him but I wasn’t allowed. And if it hadn’t been for the sake of the ritual, I wouldn’t have let him go alone. It’s been 20 minute and Arnav hasn’t returned. It’s scaring me. I make my way to the stairs when both Daadi and the priest stop me.


“Khushi, you cannot interrupt him..”

“But Daadi, its been 2o minutes now. I am worried for him..”

“I… Look there he is ..” Daadi smiles taking a sigh of relief.


I turn around and find Arnav coming back with an empty tumbler. I don’t waste a minute to run into his arms. Arnav scoops me to his body as I almost jump on him, without bothering the family and the priests could be watching us. I don’t care even if they do.


“Thank God.. Thank God you are fine..”

Arnav strokes my back and doesn't do anything to let me pull away from his body. It is only after a few minutes that I realize how odd it might look to the family if they are still watching us. So I pull away but don’t take away my eyes from Arnav’s face.


“What took you so long?”

“The room was dark…” he sighs. “And it’s a big room. Had to ensure this holy water is sprinkled at every mannequin there..”

I smile.

“I was so worried. I hope nothing went odd down there..”

He tries to remember and then shrugs.

“Apart from me toppling twice with those mannequins in dark, everything else was fine.. I don’t think that room has a problem to be honest. It’s spooky but definitely not unsafe..”

“Maybe not anymore..” I add looking at the empty tumbler. “You did quite a good job down there..”

“Did I?” He circles his arm around my waist and draws me to his body again. “That means I deserve a reward from you..”

“Arnav?” I gasp as he aims for my lips. “Daadi and…”

“No one is watching us.. They are gone.. The moment I scooped you after my return.. they left us alone…”


Really? That’s even more embarrassing. I wriggle to get off his hold but Arnav pins me to the wall behind and nips my lips tenderly. Even at a scary situation like this, he is more desperate for our intimacy and that surely brings a blush on my face.


“It’s time to celebrate then..” he keeps murmuring placing open-mouth kisses to my neck.


I giggle this time and force him to stop.

“Khushi…” he groans and tries to pull me back to him but I don’t let him do that again.

“The Priests and the family are waiting for us. We should get back to them.”


Arnav rolls his eyes in frustration but agrees. His naughtiness is charming but it can be explored later. For now, I have important things to handle.


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

It’s evening and after the Priests left, a team of electricians from Delhi came to fix the lights issue at Sheesh Mahal. Arnav, Akash and NK guided them to the basement and after juggling for almost two hours finally, they could re-install the switches and light up the palace again, promising that this issue won’t come up again. According to the team, the old switches had a problem and now that’s been taken care of. It feels so positive. Ever since the priests have performed the ritual, it feels like every other issue is getting fixed on its own. I was confident this ritual would help and I am glad Arnav showed so much patience to even participate in it.


Daadi insists Babuji, Payal and her father to dine with us and though they hesitate at the beginning, we all manage to convince them. The dinner is served and I have my eyes on Akash and Payal who keep giving soft glances to each other all the time. I know they like each other and if that’s so, I would be more than happy to get them together. But only when they want me to involve. Not otherwise.


When I turn to Arnav, I realize he is busy texting on his phone and has hardly been concentrating on food. So, I snatch his phone.

“Khushi?” His tone doesn't scare me. “Give me my phone back..”

“I will. But this is dinner time. You should eat. Work can be taken care of later..”

“It’s important. Give me the phone.”


He almost commands this time and it’s weird because his tone is loud enough for the family to know he is angry. I return his phone and without a word continue to eat. The family resumes chatting with each other. Arnav types something on his phone and then after almost one minute, he keeps it away and tries to hold my hand below the table. I shove his arm and continue eating.


“I am sorry for being so rude, but trust me whatever I was messaging was important.”


I don’t want to comment on it so I keep eating quietly.

“Khushi c’mon. Talk to me.”

“What was so important that you literally shouted at me before the family?”

“I didn’t shout…”


I frown challenging his remark and he sighs.

“Well. okay.. I shouted at you. But trust me I was busy doing something for us when you interrupted me. That’s why all that anger came out.. I am sorry. That won’t happen again.”


He has apologized twice so this time I accept it and let him entwine his fingers with mine below the table.

“Whom were you messaging?”

He looks confused.

“That shouldn’t be your concern right now.” He then leans closer to whisper. “Tonight, I am going to claim the bride of sheesh Mahal in every possible way I can.”


I bite my lower lip to stop it from quivering. The family is busy eating and chatting so we get enough privacy to talk.

“We have already consummated our marriage, Arnav.”

“But that was all amidst the chaos of the evil inside this palace. Now that it’s gone.. you have only one evil to worry about… and that’s my evil desires..”

He presses my fingers so tightly that I wonder he will break them. Soon, he frees my hand and winks at me. Well, he is partly right. We made love in between all that fear looming around us. But now that this ritual was done and the family is already so relaxed, I think we can finally focus on our relationship goals than the rest of the stuff.


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

Few hours later

Just as promised, the moment I reach the bedroom finishing all the chores, Arnav doesn't delay scooping me in his arms and throws me on the bed only to hover over me in a few seconds.. His kisses, touch and the way he devours my body is not something I will ever get used to but this time I participate equally to my heart’s wish in exploring him and I start by grazing his arms with my fingers. Just when I reach his wrist, I pause..


Where is it??? Where is the Raksha Dhaaga I tied him before marriage? While Arnav continues to kiss my neck, I try to feel his other arm suspecting it to be on that arm but I don’t find it anywhere. That’s when I push him away.


“Khushi? What happened?” Arnav becomes alert the moment I sit on the bed, turning to him.

“Where is the Raksha Dhaaga I tied to you?” I snap.


He goes blank for a second but there is no surprise or shock on his face which means he knew it was missing. Since when?

“Where is it, Arnav? I had specifically told you never to take it off. Where is it?”

He sits on the bed, next to me.

“Relax. Don’t be so hyper..

He tries to touch my arm but I move away.

“You took it off, Arnav? How could you? You had promised me..”


Tears spring in my eyes and he suddenly feels all guilty.

“Hey… I didn’t.. I didn’t do it on purpose. .It came off and I didn’t even realize when that happened. Probably when I had been down to sprinkle that water and I toppled down because of the mannequins, it might have come off my wrist. Trust me I didn’t do it purposely. I know what it means to you.. to us.. I would never do it on purpose to hurt you..”


Hey Devi Maiyaa.. He doesn't even remember when it came off?

“At the dining table while having dinner I realized it and so I quickly tried to make amends. Tomorrow, I am going to bring another Raksha Dhaaga from the temple and tie it on my wrist. I wanted to do this secretly so that you wouldn’t come to know. That’s why I was angry when you snatched my phone..”


He is really a fool to think any other Raksha dhaaga would help him out.


“That thread had powers in it.. specifically, to keep you safe Arnav. I myself had placed it before Devi Maiya’s idol for consecutive three days, chanted hymns and then tied it on you. It wasn’t like picking another thread and tying it just like that.. How could you even hide it from me? And you even were going to keep this a secret? I didn’t expect that from you..”


I look away but he doesn't let me do that for long. Turning me again to him, Arnav bows down his head.


“I underestimated it.. I agree.. But please don’t be angry on me Khushi. After all the issues that this place had, I didn’t wanted to bother you with more. And now that everything is over.. I feel me wearing it or not doesn't really matter anymore..”

“It does. Even if everything is alright in our life for the next twenty years I would still want you to wear it for me..”


He shuts his eyes briefly and then his forehead touches mine.

“I wish I could keep it safe. Sorry, I couldn’t. But I will do anything to fix it. Tell me what should we do now?”


He is right. More than accusing him for losing it, I should be concerned on rectifying the situation.

“I’ll find a way to make another one for you..”

“Thank you..” He kisses my forehead and it really calms me at the moment.

“But until then you are not going to leave my sight.. I want you before me all the time.. So that I know you are safe..”


He lays me down on the bed again, and hovers on my body.


“I am going to be before you.. with you.. inside you.. for eternity…” he whispers seductively resuming our love making and whilst I give in, my mind is already finding alternatives to get the situation back in control.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

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The Forbidden Series - Book 2 (Enemies to Lovers Romance Novel)

Khushi Thakur
Have compassion for your family and be heartless towards your enemies. This has been my only slogan since I became the backbone of the RS Group of Companies where I am in charge of dealing with their tricky competitors. This time our focus is on the AR Group, which has rattled to its core ever since its CEO, Aarav Raichand allegedly stepped down from his position. Whatever they say, I'm still certain he's a tornado disguised as my business rival. There’s something about this man that I loathe and something that draws me insanely towards him. This unseen magnetism between us coaxes me to believe Aarav is that missing piece of my life’s puzzle, which I had given up solving.

Aarav Raichand
Two years ago, my world crashed down forever when I lost my wife, Jhanvi Raichand. But then I saw her again, this time in my rival’s arms. Everyone said she only had a similar face. I believed that too. She wasn’t my Jaan. She was not the one who transformed me from a vengeful man to a loving husband. But I was drawn to her like a moth to fire. Could she be my Jaan and didn’t want to recognize me anymore? If I could avenge my family to bring justice to my life earlier, I would burn down the world this time to get this woman in my arms again. The only difference is that this time there will be no rules. It’s about time I remind them what it meant to meddle with the love of a big bad wolf!!

The world had seen my Revenge; now they would witness my Rivalry.

Reading Order of The Forbidden Series:
Book 1 – Forbidden
Book 2 – Fallen


EBOOK LINK (ON AMAZON) HERE

Read the PROLOGUE HERE