True Myth Part 13 Arnav’s decision

 Hi guys, I will start updating my stories on Inkitt again today. As of now, INKITT hasn't given any assurance but HOPE. I believe everything will be all right soon. And it's in my readers' hands. I need HIGH likes to prove myself. I hope you guys won't disappoint me. I'm sorry for making all of you rush here and there from Inkitt to my blog. From today onwards, our previous routine will be followed. I hope you will make me stay here by supporting me. Thank you. 

Part 13 Arnav’s decision
“Arnav sir, what are you doing here?” Khushi asked.
“I’m talking to him” Arnav looked at the man, but he was not there!
“whom you are talking about?” Khushi asked, looking here and there.
Arnav went behind the tree and looked for the man, but he was not there. He frowned, not understanding anything. Where did he go? How could he vanish in the blink of an eye? The mystery of the man's disappearance hung in the air, leaving Arnav and Khushi bewildered. How was it possible? Arnav could not understand because there was no place to hide. It was a plain.
“A man spoke to me. I don’t know how he vanished.”
“Vanished?”
“Yes, he was sitting under this tree.”
Khushi looked at the VILVA tree, known for its mystical properties that are said to attract spiritual things, and gulped down.
“What did he tell you?” Khushi asked curiously.
“He said something I can’t ignore…”
Khushi gazed at him sharply.
“I don’t know where did he go.”
Khushi understood that the man was not an ordinary person. She wondered why Arnav was facing unbelievable incidents after coming to that village. It seemed Arnav had a purpose in coming to this village. He would not believe her words if she said anything about it, so she decided to play the REVERSE game.
“Arnav sir, I agree you are facing unbelievable incidents in this village. But that doesn’t mean I will believe everything you say.” Khushi's scepticism was palpable, creating a tense atmosphere.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, it must be your imagination. No one would have been there.”
Arnav rolled his eyes.
“Let’s go”
Arnav clutched her hand and stopped her.
“Don’t you trust me?” he asked disappointedly.
“Arnav, sir, do you want me to think you met one of the SIDDHAS?” she intentionally asked.
“Siddhas? When did I say so?”
“What do you think? This is a place of Siddhas. What would people think if you say you met a man who suddenly vanished?”
“What?”
“People would think you met a Siddha.”
“Is it easy to meet Siddhas?” he asked thoughtfully.
“Not at all… It will become history if it is true.”
“It’s TRUE, damn it.”
“Ok… I agree you met a Siddha. Happy?”
“The man knew my Guruji’s name… people in our Ashram didn’t know his real name…” Arnav said thoughtfully.
“Is it?”
“Yes. He even knew about the place I got in the Palace…”
“How did he look like?”
“He looked like a simple man with a long beard.”
“You didn’t believe me when I said you are a special man. Your arrival to this village has a purpose…” She sighed.
“I believe,” Arnav said, surprised Khushi.
“What? What did you say?”
“I said I believe… I have a purpose for coming to this village.” Arnav's determination was unwavering, and his resolve was clear to Khushi. 
“Thank god you believe. And you will know the purpose soon.”
Arnav wanted to tell her that he already got to know the purpose, but he didn’t know if she believed his words. How could he say Arvind had an intention of marrying her? Though the man said her wedding would lead her to the Crown, he would not be quiet letting it happen. He would try his best to stop the bloody marriage. Didn’t the man say marriage would only occur after a big struggle? Why wouldn't he try hard to stop putting in effort? He would fulfil the purpose of his arrival by hook or by crook. He was even ready to give his life.
Arnav was caught in a whirlwind of thoughts. Why was he considering giving his life to Khushi? He questioned himself, his mind in turmoil.
It dawned on Arnav. He couldn't let Khushi, a girl with no one like him, marry an older man just because he was a king. Who gave him the right to decide on others' lives? This realisation filled him with empathy for Khushi.
“Why did you become silent?” Khushi waved her hand before his face.
“Nothing”
That was when a Palace servant came and called Khushi.
“Khushi, Big Sir is calling you.”
“Yeah, going…”
Khushi looked at Arnav and said,
“I’m going to the Palace. Do you want anything?”
“Why did he call you?”
“Maybe, to know the work progress.”
“If it is so, I will go to the Palace. You stay here.” He didn’t want Khushi to meet Arvind because he didn’t know his intention.
“But, he called me…”
“So what? I will manage.”
“But what will you tell him?”
“Leave it on me”
“One minute… you have a phone, right?”
Arnav understood what she wanted him to do. Taking his phone, he dialled Arvind. He attended the call.
“Haan, tell me, Arnav”
“Sir, why do you want Khushi to visit the Palace?”
“Ratna is continuously asking for Khushi and you.”
“Then, you could have called me…”
“You are supervising there… that’s why I called her.”
Arvind told the truth, but Arnav thought he was giving an excuse to bring Khushi to the palace.
“There is supervision needed here, sir. I will come to the palace if needed.”
“Ok, if you don’t mind”
“I will come,” Arnav said, disconnecting the call.
“I’m going,” he told Khushi.
She nodded ok. Arnav got into the car and headed to the Place.
Arnav went to Arvind’s room. Ratna smiled and rushed to him brightly.
“Where did you go?”
“I’m not feeling well. That’s why I went to the hospital.” He managed to lie.
“Do you have a fever?” she touched his forehead.
“No, stomach pain.”
“How are you now?”
“I’m all right. Did you eat anything?”
She nodded no.
“She just woke up. From the time she woke up, she kept asking for you and Khushi,” Arvind said.
“I will get her lunch.”
“No, wait… I will ask someone to bring it,” Arvind said.
Arnav nodded ok. Ratna made him sit on the bed. Arvind clapped, and a servant rushed.
“Bring lunch for Ratna.”
“Yes, sir…” he left.
“Did you eat?” Ratna asked Arnav.
“How could I eat leaving you?” Arnav asked.
Arvind gulped down hard. He didn’t know Arnav’s reaction when he learned he was his son. He was unsure if Arnav would have the same concern for Ratna. The lunch came. Arnav fed it to Ratna. She ate it happily. He did that because Arvind didn’t want to call Khushi for anything.
After feeding Ratna, Arnav stood up.
“Thank you so much, Arnav” Arvind said.
“It’s ok, sir… Khushi and I are equally responsible for Madam.”
“I’m glad about it.”
“Sir, may I ask you something?”
“Yeah, you can ask me anything.”
“I heard a few people tried to bring medicine that cures madam.”
Arvind nodded yes.
“Yes, a few tried. They could not come back but vanished. No one knows what happened to them.”
“Did you send them?”
“No. I didn’t send anyone because I know how risky it is, but some greedy people with meaningless courage went to bring the medicine.”
“What medicine is that? How could they have identified it?”
“You would have seen a mountain behind this palace.”
Arnav nodded yes.
“The medicine is available in the mountain. There is a temple at the peak. The medicine is grown up around the temple. It’s a very special medicine. It cures not only mental illness but many diseases because of the medical property it has”
“How it’s possible?”
“We can’t use its raw leaves. A particular mixture would be used for every disease.”
“Oh…”
“you said many greedy people tried to bring it. What made them greedy? What would they have gotten if they had brought it?”
“What are you asking, Arnav? The medicine would be used to cure the Queen of this Palace. They will get whatever they ask for. They will drench in the rain of money.”
“Oh, I see…”
“Many mysteries surround this village. But you don’t have to bother about them. You will get used to them.”
“Will you give anything who brings the medicine?”
“Of course… after all, it’s the word of a King”, Arvind smiled, but his smile vanished upon hearing Arnav’s question.
“Will you give me anything if I bring the medicine?”
Arvind was shocked to the core because he knew how risky it was. Then how would he allow him to go there? After all, he was HIS SON!
To be continued…