Chapter - 119
These women looked completely different while they speak tonight. They are still dressed in their long, black maid uniform dresses and their hair tied in a bun but the confidence emanating from their faces made them different from their earlier versions.
"It's not about that, I just ... I have a lot of questions to ask you, Player 4." I said still holding Kartik's jacket in my arms.
"Player 4?" She laughed. "I don't think we are still participating in the competition, Princess. You have your identity now." She took a few steps back and bowed her head before saluting her palm to her chest. "Salute. MESW 174565, Soldier Anupama, 2 Artillery Battalion, reporting Princess."
I was taken aback with the reporting duty in front of me. I got one on my 18th birthday party when I was introduced to the Mafia world but it felt awkward in this closed environment.
I nodded. "So, were you all always soldiers? Or were you appointed recently?"
Anupama waved her hand and the other women went outside to guard the door while she and I were in the room to talk.
"Would it be alright if we have this chat in the morning, Princess? You look tired and you need to rest after witnessing horrifying incident." She tried to request but I was adamant.
"No. Sleep is a far thought for me right now. I need to know how and why you all, who were running around the mansion to marry Darsh turned out to be such skillful soldiers. I need to know why you all have to endure all the torture by Aarushi and Amolika while you were being lashed by the whips. You could have easily outnumber them after seeing your skills tonight I am confident on it, then why did you all stay silent? Why?" I continued to question while moving from one foot to another.
"Princess, before I answer your questions could you at least sit on the bed?" She requested.
"No. I want my answers now." I said stomping my feet.
"In that case, I can't stand matching you, so I will just kneel down while I speak." She proceeded to bend down and I felt bad to see someone in hard situation.
"No need. I will sit." I sat on the bed and she smiled shaking her head while standing in front of me keeping a distance.
"We endured everything for you, Princess." Her words shook the floor beneath my feet.
"What do you mean for me? I never saw you working at my territory nor did my father mention anything about you." I said being confused at her answer.
"The order was from the Boss." Her one-liners shook me.
"Kartik?" I thought back to those times when I met these women and Kartik. "But you all came to the mansion at the same time as me. And Kartik appeared after a long time, after Aarushi made her entry and even after the arrival of Darsh. How is it possible that it was Kartik's order?"
"Because the order wasn't passed at the Menon mansion. It was passed in the same place you are standing now, The Menon Empire Headquarters. The order was passed as soon as you tried to escape from here to meet people from the mansion in the pantry supplies vehicle." She paused to look at my white face.
"The Boss executed the plan to send us to the mansion and pretend as Princess Aadhya Reddy so that your identity wouldn't be revealed. We were ordered to mimic you as far as possible till the far end and make sure you wouldn't marry Mr. Darsh Menon." She said everything with an ease while creating a havoc inside me.
Why wouldn't Kartik want to reveal my identity? Why didn't he want me to marry Darsh? He was planning everything from the beginning and I fell into his trap as expected. Or was he trying to protect me from something or someone?
I expressed my thoughts to Anupama. "What if one of you won the contest and got married to Darsh?"
She shrugged. "Soldiers of this Empire are loyal all because of The Boss's leadership. His era will be remembered in the history of the Mafia world and the mainland as well. We do not hesitate to die if it brings the wellbeing of The Boss so marrying Mr. Darsh is nothing to us."
"But why is Kartik doing all of this? Why didn't he want to reveal my identity and didn't want me to marry Darsh?" I questioned her expecting some answers from her.
"Unfortunately, only the Boss can answer your questions, Princess. None of us are given any other details. Our sole task is to protect you and we shall do that by putting our lives at stake without any hesitation." She said bowing slightly.
"But..." I began only to get interrupted by her.
"It's 3 o'clock, Princess. Please, lay down for a while as we make your preparation to take you to the mansion." She said bowing down finally and walking out of the room leaving me alone.
Though her answers filled a huge gap of my story there is still a lot and lot to know about Kartik, his family, his mansion, his leadership, his behavior and every single thing related to him.
I changed into a clean pair of clothes arranged for me on the side table and thanked the soldiers in my mind. Having a warm shower helped me clean all the blood stains on my skin and the sound of running water helped me cry more.
I wore Kartik's jacket over my clean dress as I tried to remember his strong arms holding me safe and consoling my petite frame as I cry.
Will he hold me close to his heart tomorrow? Is Kartik alright?