The King's Woman

Chapter 23

"Arsh. Baby, come on... come on... come to Maa..."

She made grabby hands sitting on her knees just an arm length away encouraging her son who let out an excited scream before he let go of the corner of the table and took his first wobbly step towards her, then another and another before falling right into her arms.

Khushi eagerly caught him in her cocoon and showered him kisses in reward telling him how happy and proud she was of him.

"Maa...Maa... Beee..." Arsh grinned up at her kissing her close to her lips wrapping his small arms around her neck proud of himself for making his mother happy.

"Yes, yes. A very happy birthday to you once again, my love!" She ruffled his hairs kissing his head bleary eyed. She can't believe he has turned one today and also took his first 'three' steps without support.

Overwhelmed she wrapped him in her embrace tenderly and Arsh as always snuggled to her reveling in his mother's care and unconditional love.

It has been total seven months she has gotten her freedom. Out of which it has been a couple of months she has got this cottage on rent and has started living in this town with her family. Her Arsh!

Finally she has a stable and blissful life with her baby that she always wanted to make for him. Away from any mishap and danger or darkness.

It goes without saying that getting to where she was today wasn't a cakewalk.

First few months were tough as she struggled to find a roof over their heads but she wasn't that naive, introvert Khushi who has had no confidence over herself once when she has had left children shelter at the age of 10 anymore. She definitely wasn't that fearful to step in the outside world either.

In fact this time as she has walked away from Raichand's palace she has had only determination as well as vigor washing through her for she wanted to give her Arsh safe and ordinary happy life without any horrors lurking above his head.

As she has embarked on that journey to make a home for them she has realized immediately that she has had developed serious trust issues as every person who offered her guidance or gave her low prices of something or the other taking pity on her or looking at the baby in her arms, made her retreat and leave from there without taking their help.

She couldn't stay in the capital city in RK lest he changed his mind one day and came to take them back to that hell. So in order to get away, she has made use of that money he has given her putting aside all her thoughts of self-respect or whatever because Arsh was her priority nothing else. Not even her pain or suffering.

She couldn't help but go back to that day that literally changed their life. For the better!

It was almost evening when she has walked down that steep path after Aaron told her that she was granted freedom.

Putting aside every other feeling she has gathered herself quickly and didn't stop for more than a minute there gazing at the castle's walls from outside before leaving her cage behind to head to the main city.

The orange dim light of the setting sun was lightening the surrounding.

Arsh squirmed and woke up blabbering incoherent words looking up at her dazed. She knew what he wanted. She looked around keenly. There were only miles and miles of lush green fields with no one around.

Patting Arsh she walked to her right and sat there on the ground under the shadow of a thick tree and latched him on and took out the water bottle for herself before drinking a few gulps put it back.

She didn't know what the hell was she thinking when she didn't pack any food when she sorted this luggage yesterday.

Maybe because she has had a notion that she would be leaving with his people to some of his place and he won't let her starve at least.