The Divine Beauty-Apsara {Zayn Malik} AU (Under Editing) #MissionDesi

17. The Awadhi Minister

Zafar gets up from his position and reaches out his hand to help Apsara to get up.  Apsara wraps the blanket tighter around her body as another heavy gust of wind blew. 

She walked in the same pace as Zafar's and they walked through the corridor, leading to her room. How can two brothers, born from the same mother be totally different? Apsara looked at Zafar while she thought.

Their walk from the pond to Apsara's room was silent. Only a few glances were shared among the two. Apsara slightly gasped as Zafar's hands held hers, wrapping his fingers around hers, making her feel secure. 

Apsara made a sudden halt as she reached the door of her room. She caught Zafar by surprise by pecking him on his cheek. 

"Thanks for making me feel better... at least for a little while," She spoke in a hushed tone, smiling bashfully. Zafar took her hand and gently kissed it.

"Good night, Apsara..." He says and walks away.

"Good night..." Apsara whispers to herself, slightly hurt due to his sudden leave. She enters her 'lifeless' room and sighs, taking a view of the ginormous room. 

The place felt empty and different without her friends in there. She closed the door and pressed her back against the wooden door. She slowly walked over to the bed, which also looked huge and empty.

She dimmed the oil lamp, not completely shutting it off. She lied down, with her eyes wide open, observing the ceiling and the intricate paintings and designs on it for the very first time in three months in this room.

She thought about various things, her friends, family, Awadh,... her eyes soon got heavy before reaching a land of peaceful sleep.

______

It's been three months... a dreadfully long three months, since Arvind Kumar's daughter Apsara had left Awadh. The monsoon was over and the land got back its Sun, but the minister did not get back his daughter, even after sending letters of warning.

He was worried beyond limits with each passing second. There was no way of knowing what's happened to her. He dreamed of visiting his daughter whom he was more fond of than her elder sibling Parineeti, who was argumentative and arrogant.

He walked back and forth his office, where he planned and worked for the economic upliftment of the small, but powerful territory of Awadh. His methods were straight- forward, and his ideas were innovative and that's exactly why King Pritvi appointed him as the finance minister of Awadh. Also, there was an added reason for the King's move.... he wished to marry Apsara, the Minister's daughter...

Arvind was just like any other aristocrat. He had loads of money, owned hectares and acres of land all over the region and also had a very loving family. He was little over the age of fifty, a fit man with grey hair, on which he places his turban, with chains of pearls on it. 

He's built a colossal mansion, which was his and his family's current residence. He sat on his chair and placed his palms on the sandal wood table. He took the feather pen which was dipped in the bottle of natural black ink.

He began scribbling some notes and economic plans onto a sheet of parchment. But, as each second passed by, he got more agitated to the point he crumpled the sheet and threw it away.

It's been three months... a dreadfully long three months.... and he couldn't take it anymore. He left the room and walked straight to the only place he wanted to be now.