"I feel like, .... we're being followed!"
Tara's frown deepened as she looked around, with a smile she looked back at him, "Your senses are highly active, man!"
Aryan stared her as if questioning, what do you mean.
She smiled again, continuing to walk before waving her hand at him, saying to come along. And finally the statue Aryan began to move.
"It's my bodyguard, he is following us!"
Aryan wondered, "Do you...really have one?!"
She bobbed her head, "A real one this time!"
He chuckled, before feeling strange again. He couldn't help but think, " Did he follow you everywhere.... everytime?!"
As if she could hear his inner voice, she halted, taking a brief look at him.
The urge to laugh at it was clearly being suppressed by her, only an adorable smile escaping at the adorable thought, as she leaned closer tiptoeing, reaching for his ear as she whispered, "Not the castle!"
Aryan exhaled low as she stepped back.
"The place only belonged to us!!" She announced and a small blushing smile crept over his face.
Tara was quick enough to take a snap of his reaction, a clicking flashing sound escaping her camera, she wore around her neck, making him blink at once. "A worthy reaction to behold!!" She smiled wide as she continued to explore the place.
Aryan watched her as she took more pictures of what she found memorable and adorable.
So, was he, well his reaction, was it memorable or adorable?
A wide smile spread over his lips as he thought, she is indeed adorable when she is running to take pictures of those vendors and delicious foods.
Deep sighed hard when they both continued to walk, soon frustration taking over him, over the fact of his helplessness.
"Why doesn't he say me the cause of following her?!" He almost yelled.
"Why are you letting them do these things??" Aarohi who avoided their gaze but still keeping an ear on them, pretending to bargain, bit back her thoughts.
"Patience matters!!" Vinson scoffed.
They both couldn't help but roll their eyes in frustration.
Aryan and Tara spent their whole day outside the estate, enjoying dishes which were new to them and exploring places which were exciting.Time passed as if it flew, and they finally had to relocate themselves at the estate.
By evening, they returned.
"Hope you enjoyed your outing!" Adhrit said as they all sat for the family meal.
Tara bobbed her head in excitement for which the three of them chuckled at once. She rolled her eyes at their reaction.
Adhrit and Arya, indeed in silence, remembered their daughter. Their granddaughter unintentionally waking up the distant memories of their daughter.
"We are throwing a party, day after tomorrow, in the happiness of your return!" Arya announced suddenly.
Tara and Aryan exchanged a glance, "Does that mean..." Tara wondered, "You both will be introduced!" Adhrit's declaration confirmed their wonderment.
They couldn't say anything for that and the meal continued, with a lively chatter.
"Could we explore the estate?!" Tara asked excitingly once they finished their meal.
Aryan laughed, "You aren't satisfied yet!"
Adhrit nodded, "I like that insatiable spirit," remembering once, his daughter was the same, "you're allowed to, only if the guide is me!"
"Of course!!" Tara said almost immediately.
Aryan couldn't help but feel happy to see this side of her again, which he only got to see when she was in the castle, back then.
Arya smiled, "I'll look into the arrangements then!" she said withdrawing herself from the place, leaving to take care of the invitations they were to provide the attendees for the party.
Adhrit took them to every corner of the estate, they asked about the potraits that were hung in the way of staircase, he explained whom did they belong to, their ancestors, famous and historically noted emporors and queens.
He showed the garden spot, "Your father and I used to fight here, it is his favourite place, the training spot!!"
Aryan couldn't help but try creating a picture of his father and grandfather spending their time here, in his mind.
Tara could feel the silence Aryan provided, understanding mixtures of the deep affection, wonderment, excitement and disappointment, hidden within it. So, her uncle used to train here?!
They then reached the library, Adhrit presenting them the most of all the treasurable knowledge. Tara's hands caressed the furnitures, appreciating their glorifying presence, which made the place look ancient yet feel connected to.
Once she reached a specific table, her gaze fell over the books that were bundled up in vertical, neatly placed on the table. Her hand reached for the first one, her finger tips caressing the braille alphabets.
"Your mother used to spend a lot of time, studying and writing what she wishes." Adhrit said with a smile, remembering back those memories when Vikram used to help Phaedra read stories. Oh, how lovely was his love towards his sister?!
His lovely children!!
"I miss it!" Tara's sudden voice, grabbed his sight, the unsettling sting in his heart eased when he saw them, his grandchildren.
While Tara, really missed her mother's books. She still remembered how her mother used to write things in braille.
Aryan took another book, to take a look at it, soon the memories of his aunt from past embraced him, he could see her sitting here, writing in peace, she looked beautiful, just like Tara.
Tara with a deep sigh, put back the book, but soon her hands reached for Aryan, taking the book away from his hands, as she watched him seeing into memories again, tears flowing down his closed eyes.
As soon as she grabbed the book, the vision stopped, which made Aryan shot his eyes open, and his sight, was her, Tara.
Yes, his grandfather was right! Tara was a lot like her mother, even, in looks.
Tara shook her head at him as though restricting him to do it, while Adhrit couldn't understand it.
Placing the book back on to the table, Tara stared at her grandfather, hesitation clearly visible in her eyes, "We have something to say!" she finally spoke, deciding to end it all at once.
Adhrit watched her in wonderment, unknown to her intentions. Aryan watched them in anticipation, ignoring the burning pain in his head, restricting himself on not to shed those tears which urged the against.
Tara was about to let all of it out but she couldn't.
Aman suddenly entered into the scene, grabbing their attention, "Sorry for the disturbance I created," he bowed slightly with an apology, "but your majesty, my queen prepared a list of invitees and wishes you to go through it once."
Adhrit gave him a nod before returning his gaze back to his grandchildren, "We can talk tomorrow, I guess?"
Tara gave him an assuring nod.
Adhrit smiled at them, "I'll take my leave then!"
The man's hands soon reached them, cupping their cheeks, "It's late already, rest!" he said caressing their hair.
The man left the room, feeling a bit unsettled. What did they want to talk about? A sigh escaped him, he had things to discuss with them as well, perhaps, tomorrow would be the day.
Tara watched her grandfather leave, with a smile. As she returned her stare back to Aryan, she could see he was suffering inward, trying to hold back something, is he getting a headache again?
Her hands immediately reached him, one resting on his shoulder while another busy checking his temperature, "Are you okay?"
Aryan watched her, a mixture of worry and concern swirling in her emerald eyes, a small smile taking over him, his left hand seeking for her, his fingers playing with her hair, "As long as you stay beside," he adjusted her hair, "I will be okay" he assured.
Tara's gaze wavered into his before with a chuckle, she wiped away his tears.
With entwined hands, holding each other's presence, they took a round around the library, which was huge enough to be of two floors. When they reached the down floor, going through every corner, Tara couldn't help but wonder about her parents again.
With an inward sigh, she tried to pull off those thoughts temporarily.
Aryan's headache eased as time passed by, with her.
But nothing was expected of what was ahead for them.
As they walked ahead, soon another potrait welcomed them, the one that was hung to the wall, displaying a young lady, in her royal attire, her eyes piercing enough to stab one's heart. She stood gracefully, her hair a golden brown as if the sunshine itself adored it.
Tara's gaze completely was mesmerised by the view, wonderment clearly evident in her face, "She's beautiful!!"
While Aryan though accepted, he couldn't resist the pain anymore, he felt it too much in his head. As if something inside his head was burning, his eyes burned, tears flowing down out of them freely. The pain seemed inflammable as his hand clutched his head.
Tara unknown to his pain stepped ahead to take a clear view of the potrait, but soon, sudden visions took over her sanity.
A rush of pain embracing her head and heart, her hand soon leaving his. Her eyes which instinctively were shut, shedding tears, her hands clutching her head, her heart burning.
Tara feeling helpless, knelt down on the floor, feeling numb yet very sensitive to the pain, at the same time.
Aryan watched her, worry taking over him, wondering what's happening to them. His immediate reaction was to catch her, kneeling along with her. He called for her many times despite the pain that was increasingly suffocating him.
"Tara?!" He called for her, but for no avail, cause soon, she lost conscious collapsing into his arms.
"Tara!!" He tried calling for her trying to wake her up while the pain kept on increasing, various memories from past taking over him. Despite the suffering his burdened eyes provided, he restricted himself to give in, her being all of his worry. Yet, his vision soon blurred, the sight of her being unconsciously held in his arms, slowly fading away as darkness soon took over him.