True Myth Part 3 Job

 

Part 3 Job

Arnav stood looking at the KAL BAIRAV statue. He looked behind and didn’t find the dog that chased him. he sighed in relief. He saw the ring in his hand. Keeping it in his pocket, Arnav walked towards the temple not to worship God. According to him, it was a place to stay at night. He saw bananas being offered to God. Taking them he ate stomach full to quench his hunger.

He sat on the gazebo of the temple and leaned on the pillar. He closed his eyes slowly as he was tired.

 

The next morning

Arnav opened his eyes from his sleep. He hissed holding his back. It ached as he had been sitting for the whole night. He stood up and stretched his body. He jerked seeing the DOG sleeping next to his bag. He was alert. He slowly took his bag. The dog opened his eyes and looked at him. He moved towards Arnav and touched him with his front legs. That gesture gave Arnav hope. He caressed his neck lovingly. The dog made a mild noise and sat caressing his feet.

Arnav looked at his surroundings. He saw a village far away from the temple.  He decided to inquire in that village about the place he wanted to go. Taking his water bottle, he washed his face.

That was when a girl ran to the temple. Arnav’s hands stopped to see the girl who was advancing the temple in half-saree. He didn’t know why she was rushing like that he didn’t see something there in her hand. She came to the temple and worshipped Kal Bairav closing her eyes.

“I’m sorry I could not come to the temple last night but ASHTAMI is not over yet. That’s why I came to light the lamp, tackling my Aunty” She said in Tamil.

Arnav saw her lightning the lamps smilingly. She turned behind and saw Arnav looking at her. She was taken aback, seeing a stranger in the temple.

“Who are you? How did you come here? From where are you coming?” She arrowed the questions.

“I missed my path last night… so, stayed in the temple last night”

“Did you stay here?” she asked unbelievably.

Arnav nodded yes.

“How is that possible?”

“Why? Why could not it be possible?”

“No strangers could enter our village… those who tried to enter would not be alive…”

Arnav was surprised. He could not stop himself from remembering how the dog chased him last night.

Arnav was about to say something, but he stopped hearing,

“Khushiiii… Khushi… where did you go? Why did you go leaving me?”

The girl was horrified and looked behind. They saw a woman in her late forties running towards the temple with a doll in her hand. The girl in the temple closed her eyes helplessly. It seemed the woman was searching for her.  She looked majestic, wearing a good saree.

“Is she searching for you?” Arnav asked.

The girl nodded yes.

“Is she the one who you tackled to come to the temple?”

“Haan, I thought I tackled… but she followed me it seemed”

“Oh… that means, your name is Khushi…”

“Mmm…”

The woman’s face brightened to see Khushi in the temple. She ran to Khushi cheerfully. Her leg tangled with Arnav’s bag because she didn’t notice it. Arnav held her in his arms. The woman saw Arnav. Her facial expression changed. She gazed at him without blinking.

Arnav made her stand straight. As Arnav didn’t expect, the woman cupped his face.

“Did you come?” she smiled.

Arnav looked at Khushi with confusion who was also in confusion.

“Why did you go leaving me? tell me you will not go anywhere”

Arnav could not understand anything.

“Tell me, beta… tell me you will not leave me” She shook his shoulders.

That was when a car came there followed by a jeep. A man in his early fifties got out of the car. A few men in the jeep also got off.

The woman rushed to the man and said,

“See, my SON came…”

The man looked at Arnav who was shocked.

“Didn’t I say, my son will come to me one day?”

The man nodded yes smiling at the woman. He came to Arnav.

“Who are you? how did you come here?”

“I came here to get a job and missed my way… So, stayed in the temple”

Arnav saw the surprise on their faces. Arnav didn’t know why.

“Job? Here?”

“No. not here. I wanted to go to PANCHA NANDHI to meet Mr Sathya Narayanan”

The man’s face changed. Arnav removed the letter he brought for Sathya Narayanan. He gave it to the man.

“Could you please help me to go the place?” Arnav asked.

The man read the letter. His facial expression changed while reading but he skillfully composed himself. People around them silently watched him, including Khushi. The man looked at his wife who was holding Arnav’s hand tightly. The man sighed reading the letter.

“I’m really sorry to say this. Sathya Narayanan appointed someone for this post”

“Whaaat? How is it possible? I’m coming from Gorakhpur for this job”

The man’s eyes widened in shock upon hearing that.

“Are you from Gorakhpur?”

Arnav nodded yes.

“Sathya Narayanan told me that he appointed his relative to the job…”

Arnav was disappointed. He didn’t notice people around them looking at the man shockingly.

“If you don’t mind, you can join in the same job in my Palace” the man added.

Khushi looked at him unbelievably.

“In your palace?” Arnav asked.

“Yes, I too have massive land and getting a big turnover. I too am thinking about appointing an eligible person for the job. You will get good pay if you agree to the job” the man said in a go.

Arnav thought for a while.

“Don’t think a lot beta. You can be safe and sound here”

Arnav thought deeply.

“Will you be with me?” the woman asked.

Arnav looked at her.

“Please don’t go, leaving me…” she pleaded.

Arnav felt it weird. Arnav looked at the man.

“She is not blessed with a child. That’s why her mind became unstable…” The man said.

Arnav felt bad for the woman. His mother was blessed with a son but, she didn’t respect his feelings. This woman would have longed to have a child but she was not lucky enough to have a child. He could not understand why good people were always the losers.

“Ok, sir… I will join the job”

“So nice to hear”

“May I know your name?”

“ARVIND SIVANATHAN,” he said.

“I will arrange your stay at my place. My accountant will tell you about your job and teach you”

Arnav nodded ok.

Arvind looked at his men and said,

“Bring him to our palace”

Taking his bag, Arnav was about to go with them, but Mrs Arvind stopped him clutching his hand.

“Don’t go… you should be with me. come…” She dragged him with her.

Arvind opened the car door for them. Arnav sat with her. Khushi occupied the other side of the woman.

Arnav saw confusion on Khushi’s face. She smiled at him and looked outside.

Arvind removed his phone and called someone.

“Gather all the servants” he disconnected the call.

Arnav ran his eyes and observed the locality. It was a greenish village. Looked beautiful and pleasant.

Their car entered a palace premises. Arnav could not believe; that such a palace could be in the village. That was the reaction to the elevation of the palace. He was stuck at the entrance of the palace, seeing its grandness.

He saw all the servants being gathered in the huge living room.

“He is Arnav. Our new manager. You guys should treat him with respect. I should not hear any complaint from him” Arvind said.

“Lingam” he called a servant.

“Yes, sir”

“Take him to the guest room. Take care of him”

“Ok, sir. Let’s go, sir” he called Arnav.

Arnav went with him. Arvind’s wife followed him.

“RATNA, he will be here only. He will not go anywhere. He is going to take a bath. He will come back to you” Arvind said.

Ratna whined.

“Aunty, I will bring him back to you… don’t worry” Khushi said.

“Really?” Ratna asked.

“Yes… he will be here only”

“Ok…” She sat on the couch.

The servants got back to their work. Arvind was about to go to his room, but stopped hearing,

“One minute, uncle…” Khushi said.

Arvind looked at her.

“I can’t believe you LIED… why did you lie to him that Sathya Narayanan appointed someone for the job?” She asked.

“Shhhh…” Arvind took a step towards her.

Khushi looked at the guest room and then and Arvind.

“Yes, I lied to him. if I didn’t lie to him, Ratna would have been like this now… she smiled seeing him. To keep her calm, he must be here. That’s why I lied”

“But, what if Sathya Narayanan got to know about it?”

Arvind left the place without answering, leaving Khushi tensed because Sathya Narayanan and Arvind were RIVALS.

To be continued…