Bride of Sheesh Mahal - Season 3 - Part 36

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Chapter 36


Khushi’s POV


“Khushi?” Babuji is glad to see me at home. He gives me a tight hug and then leads me inside. “You came alone? Where is Arnav?”

I don’t say a word though I have so many emotions running inside me. I’m here to confront to my father but words choke in my throat just like my tears threaten to weaken me.

“Oh, I understand. My son in law is a busy man. He must be working. It’s so nice to see you. What happened to your London plans? When are you leaving? I want you to come and stay for a day or two with me here before you fly.”

I am about to say something when my gaze falls on the paintings I’d drawn and which still hung on the walls of this house. I painted my premonitions, and they are all over this place. A few good ones, a few which scary and some whose meaning I am yet to deduce. Now I know who I got these traits of painting from.

“Khushi?” Babuji’s voice breaks my trance. “Why are you silent? Say something.”

“Is maa alive, babuji?” I ask and his eyes widen in shock.

“What? What are you talking about? You know she died when…”

“What was her real name?” I continue to probe. I feel sorry for him for the harsh reality I am going to share with him today.

“Name? You are asking me your mother’s name?”

“Her real name, Babuji..”

“What is wrong with you, Khushi? Did someone tell you anything? You know your mother is Garima and she is dead.”

“Then who is she?”

I show him the same painting which I found in the basement room of Sheesh Mahal yesterday and his eyes turn wide in anger.

“Where… where did you find this? Just… just stay away from this photo. I suggest, you burn it down.”


He almost forces me to give him the painting so he could destroy it when I snatch it away from him.

“You can’t burn my mother’s painting.”

“She is not your mother, Khushi. She is Chandrika, Garima’s twin sister,” he yells.


What? Twin? Though a relief flows through me knowing Chandrika and my mother are two different people, I still can’t digest this fact nor connect the dots why was this hidden from me that my mother had a twin?


“Twin?” I murmur.

“Yes and where did you even find her picture?”

“Mom had a twin? Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

“Because this woman means nothing to our family anymore. In fact, even your mother had broke all terms with her before our marriage. And you still didn’t tell me what is her picture doing with you? Where did you find it?”

“Sheesh Mahal.”


My reply shocks Babuji.

“Sheesh Mahal? What was her picture doing there? She can’t have any connection to the Raizada family.”

“She has,” I mumble before telling him exactly what Daadi told me about Chandrika. How suddenly ages ago, Arnav’s father got her to Sheesh Mahal and she started staying with them, how she fell for Arnav’s father and then started becoming obsessed for him. Babuji hears the whole story including the suicide part of Chandrika which Daadi told me about and then how they dumped her body in the garden which was later missing when the Priest Yogiji was called for a Havan.

“What?” Babuji gasps. “When did you say she committed suicide?”


I don’t know the exact date but I tell him the year and he instantly denies.

“That’s.. that’s the same year she was pregnant..”

“What?” I stare at my father who is as confused as I am. “She … she was pregnant too?” ‘

“Yes,” he nods. “I remember your mother telling me that she had met Chandrika that same year and that time she was carrying a child in her womb.”


I’m clueless. But if Babuji knows anything, it could be some clue for us to find Chandrika.


“Babuji what else did Maa tell you?”

He tries to recollect and then soon begins to share it with me.

“When I had gone to see Garima at her home, in her village, I liked her that same instant. She was so kind and loving. I fell in love with her almost. But then my parents got to know that she had a twin who was missing from some time. Her name was Chandrika and she had suddenly gone missing.”


Missing? I think this is the period when Arnav’s father found her and got Chandrika to Sheesh Mahal.

“And the people also said her twin sister was evil. Like she had some evil power within her which almost got the villagers scared.”

“What evil power?” I query.

“She had joined some cult.. Black magic cult.. She did black magic on people whom she didn’t approve of.”


Black magic? That’s really evil. Being a devotee of Devi Maiyaa I knew such things do happen. Some people might not believe it but where there is god, there is also satan who challenges us and people like Chandrika worshipped the satan. Not God.


“I still married your mother because I knew she was a good woman and unlike her sister. We then shifted to this place and soon your mother’s premonitions stopped. Then one day she came home terrified and she told me she saw her sister Chandrika in this town. I was confused too when she said Chandrika looked pregnant and she had turned into something else. Like her face was scarred or something which she was hiding from your mother too. But Garima recognized her and even tried to check if she was doing fine, but Chandrika ran away and your mother couldn’t find her in that crowd.”


“Did Maa really meet her that same year when according to the Raizadas Chandrika had done suicide?”

“Yes, Khushi. I am confident about that.”


I am confused. That definitely clears why Chandrika’s body was missing from the place where the Raizadas had dug her. Someone had saved her and that’s how she was still alive. It also points out why she is so hell bent in taking the revenge from the Raizadas but pregnant? She was pregnant? How’s that possible? Whose child was it? According to Daadi, Arnav’s father didn’t love her and hence he married Arnav’s mother like his family wanted. Then how was Chandrika pregnant?

“Khushi, I suggest you just forget about all this and..”

“How can I forget it, Babuji? She is still alive and she has cursed my family. Arnav is in her spell and I want to ensure she doesn't harm us more.”

Babuji agrees to that too.

“But I don’t know what will I do and how to find her?”

“There has to be someone who is helping her from within Sheesh Mahal Khushi. A spell like that cannot be casted only from the outside. Someone is helping her and you need to find out who. Also, did you happen to check what your mother had gifted you in the box which she specially asked you to open after your marriage?”

I nod.

“Yes, it’s a key.. I don’t know which key but it’s a key Babuji and…”


I pause. Wait. Maa met Chandrika and then maybe Maa got a premonition already that she had cursed the Raizadas. Yes!! Maa knew I was going to be the bride of Sheesh Mahal in future through her premonitions which is why she gave me the key. The key has to be important. Maybe it has the secrets hidden behind which I am looking for.”

“There you are.”

Arnav’s sudden voice startles both me and Babuji. What is he doing here? In a dark blue jeans and white shirt, he looks the most handsome man on earth.

“Arnav?” I get up from my seat, gently hiding the picture of Chandrika below the sofa cushion.


Since Arnav is under the spell of Chandrika, I don’t want him to know I have started getting clues against her as Chandrika will become alert. Babuji quickly greets him inside by the time I hide the photo and get up.

“What are you doing here?” I ask him genuinely.

“Daadi told me you were missing your father and you are here to see him. Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come here to meet him too.”

I swallow nervously.

“I… I just…”

Arnav stares at me a bit amused.

“She cannot think anything straight when it comes to me,” Babuji backs me up. “I had called her up and when I told her about my headache, he couldn’t wait a minute in Sheesh Mahal and came here to see me.”

“Oh, how’s your headache now?” Arnav sounds concerned.

“I am feeling much better now..” he replies.

“Good. That’s why I am saying, you should come with us to London..”

When he talks about taking my father to London along with us, I always feel proud of having a husband like him.

“Give me some time to think on it, Arnav. Anyways, please sit. Khushi, make some tea for him.”

“I will”

I head to the kitchen ensuring to gesture my father to make sure Arnav doesn't see the picture of Chandrika. After a few minutes, Arnav enters the kitchen and reaches me.

“The tea is ready.” I say and in response, he slides his arms around my waist, drawing me to his body.

“You are hiding something from me?”

“What?” I snap and then fake a smile. “No.. Why would I hide anything from you?”

“I don’t know… I felt so.”

He is too good at reading my face then or should I say, it’s Chandrika who is seeing me through his eyes. I turn around and look directly in his eyes.

“You mean the world to me, Arnav. If there is anything that concerns you, I’ll always tell you. I am your wife and I would never let anything or anyone bother you ever.. not even me myself..”

He looks impressed and presses a kiss on my forehead.

“Let’s go home after tea. I have some important work with you.”

“Important work?” I grin.. “Is that work to be done in the bedroom?”

Now he mischievously grins too and pulls me closer.

“Yea.. Precisely on the bed,” he admits.


I push him away, giggling and then hand him the tea cup.

“Drink your tea soon then. I want to finish your important work and focus on the rest of the Sheesh Mahal chores too.”

Arnav is elated to know I am ready to make some love once we reach home. I am never going to stop making love to this man. Somewhere I have hope that my love would turn him back to normal.


To be Continued.


NEXT PART 

Precap for Next Chapter


Why blue eyes? Why does Arnav’s eyes turn blue whenever Chandrika’s spell is casted on him? I know somehow solving this part of the mystery will help us reach closer to breaking Chandrika’s spell. But whatever Sheetal is suggesting to do to know that, is simply scary.

“That’s the only way, Khushi. I need a sample of Arnav’s blood. Once I get the blood sample, I will easily use that to follow a ritual according to my studies so far. I have full guarantee it will lead us somewhere to that information over the blue-eyed version of Arnav.” Sheetal mentions.

NK and I stare at each other blankly. Now how am I supposed to get Arnav’s blood ensuring that he doesn't become suspicious or else Chandrika will be alerted too.

“I have an idea.” NK smiles thinking of a plan and whatever that is, I hope it works.

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