PART FIVE
"Sanju? Whatever are you doing here? I thought you were out with
Kinshuk?"
Aarti rose to her feet with a startled exclamation. Her eyes roamed
over the blushing face of her friend, and noted the flying strands of hair. The
neckerchief she usually wore when going out was missing. Before Aarti could
comment any further on what might have brought her friend to her hide-a-way,
she noted who stood behind her. Not Kinshuk as she had thought, but the lord of
the castle. Her eyes widened in surprise and instantly she dropped to a
curtsey. Her lowered eyes noted as Sanju did the same before fleeing the area.
From a far off grassy knoll she heard a horse that could not have been lord
Yash's. Her mouth twitched into a knowing smile. Lord and maiden glanced at
each other simultaneously sharing a quiet laugh, and for a moment time stood
still. The clouds parted, revealing the freshly risen moon. Its rays bathed
their skin in radiance, adding an ethereal afterglow to their visages. A hushed
silence pervaded the pond, interrupted only by the "thwap-thwap" of
its gently moving water. Their gazes, enraptured by whatever bewitchment the
moon had created, drew the pair closer to each other.
Aarti breathed lightly, refraining from movement for fear that his
closeness would in actuality be an apparition. How gorgeous he looked in the
moonlight. Her fingers rose unconsciously, as if reaching for him.
"Dreamum wakeupum?" she mumbled under breath.
***
"My God...Critical conditionum", lord Yash whispered to
himself.
Both looked at each other in shock. Aarti instantly dropped her eyes in
fear. What had she done? No commoner was supposed to learn or know the ancient
language of the DCian Antiquities, and yet she had uttered the words before
lord Yash Scindia! How had she even remembered those words?
"My lord? I... I don't know where that came from." Her
worried voice stole the beauty of the moment, and lord Yash instantly regained
his composure.
"Silence maiden! Why are you speaking the forbidden
language?"
The intensity of his eyes and voice forced her to glance up, and once
again the atmosphere changed around them. Her mind struggled to formulate the
right words as her eyes lingered on the curves of his "m" shaped
lips. Unthinkingly more of the forbidden language left her mouth.
"Heatum seatum, my lord."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Aarti froze in horror. Had she
truly just uttered such an indecent thing? That too in the presence of the lord
of the castle? Warily, her eyes gauged his expression. She hoped that he would
not consider her some loose wench. If he did, lord or dog, the man had another
thing coming his way. Why was he even back? How was she supposed to manage her
feelings for him, and her fear of the Dark One's return? Lord...uurgh! God help
her!
***
Lord Yash looked at the emotions flitting across her face. First the
ancient words had flitted out of her mouth, and unwittingly he had responded in
kind. Even worse was not the actual use of the language itself, but... but...
the meaning. How was a man like himself to remain in control when the vixen
uttered such wicked implications? He was determined to broach the topic of
decency once and for all. He would remind her of her duties as nursemaid to the
children. Though why he had decided to do so at this strange hour of the eve
did not occur to him...so he told himself as he backed away, creating a
respectable distance between them.
A wild wind whirled around them, lifting the loose strands of her hair,
and causing her clothing to flutter. The strawberry scent of her
bathwater arrested the words of chastisement lingering on the tip of his
tongue. Instantly his eyes jumped to the delicacy the scent reminded him of.
Those strawberry lips...they were magnetic. Lord Yash took a couple of
involuntary steps toward her before arresting his forward march.
"Focus, Yash, focus...Stop staring at the tempting duo that create
the thirst of a desert traveler in you..so much so that you want to drown in
their sweet depths. You have words to convey...words that'll show this maiden
her rightful place." With a loud, deep sigh, Lord Yash tore his eyes away
from the beautiful countenance that was looking up at him in
mute expectancy, wondering as to what decree he was going to bestow upon
her at these odd hours: All the ancient theatrics forgotten, as if the exchange
never took place. Her fingers twisted in nervousness, her entire being taut,
ready to make a run for it if he came a step closer than he already had.
"My Lord, are you hungry?"
"What?" He almost shouted. For a moment he wondered if
she had read his mind. Or perhaps his body? He glanced down at himself,
searching for any obvious signs of his attraction.
"Oops!! I meant angry..yes...angry..that's what I meant. Not
hungry like the other night...I mean hungry for the soup, the soup that you
never had. Come to think of it, neither did I. That's so sad. I went to bed
hungry...and you went away hungry...I mean angry. Are you angry with me, my
Lord? Why did you go away without saying anything?"
She knew she was talking utter nonsense, yet the last queries were in
all earnest, questions she would never have asked if his sudden presence had
not affected her so. She suddenly realised that everything had gone
silent...even the wind that was so wildly blowing earlier had stilled. She
braved an oblique glance at him and wished she hadn't. He was looking at her as
if she had grown horns in his absence, yet his eyes glinted in the moonlight of
an emotion that was both tender and passionate. Aarti's heart flipped...and she
felt herself sway, closing her eyes in anticipation... Of what? She herself
didn't know . She heard a deep-throated groan and felt him move...away. When
she dared to open her eyes...he was gone. Was he really here...or was it all
her mind conjuring him up? Oh what was she thinking? He was here alright...the
flag was up on the Castle tower, the sign of the Lord being home. Aarti
made her way up slowly. Unknown to her, a figure stood silently at the window
of the dark room above till she had entered the castle safely, only then did it
step back.
*********
Aarti awoke to a splitting headache. She had hardly slept. On
going back to the room, she had seen the dropped letter, and all the caliginous
thoughts of the dark one had come rushing back. What if he comes for me?
What about Ansh? There was no way she was going to let him lay his hands
on her little boy. She had decisions to make, but before that she had to ensure
she kept away from My Lord's presence. She needed a cup of tea; Sanju's special
tea always cleared her head..."Where was she? Oh dear Lord...I mean
God...I forgot all about dear Sanju. She wanted to tell me something last night
about Kinshuk...before he turned up. What a mean friend am I turning out to
be!" The very thought made her lift her gown and hasten to find her
friend...and in the very next instant she had banged into a hard wall.
"Ooohh... my poor head! Can't you see where you are going, you
blind bat?" Aarti called out angrily.
"What? Say that for yourself! Running around the corridors like a
child! You are supposed to be looking after the children, not behaving like
them! What have you to say to that young lady?" responded the equally
angry lord Yash.
"I would if you let go of me, My Lord," gritted Aarti through
clenched teeth, her head throbbing with the beats of his drumming heart.
He suddenly realised he was holding her to himself.
"Oh dear God...Why me?", she whispered to the Almighty
and braced herself to explain.
Ram the butler coughed from behind. "Err...My Lord...There's
a gentleman to see you...Says he was at wars under you."
Lord Yash looked at Ram frowning, slightly annoyed at the untimely
interjection. "Alright, I am coming. You make sure the gentleman is comfortable...and
you...", turning toward the nursemaid; he found he was talking to thin
air. All he saw was her running back, mass of hair tumbling down, take the turn
to the kitchen. He sighed, "What am I going to do with her?" He went
down to the hall and came to halt at the sight of the person who had come to
visit him...and the lady entering the room behind him...
Part Six
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