He had spent an entire day running around and fighting, it was wearing him out and he wanted to turn in early to receive an update on the happenings for the last three weeks the next morning. Hurk given a room at the new inn in the town to sleep for the night, seeing that he was a friend of the lord of their domain, the innkeeper gave him the best service he could possibly provide for Hurk. Unfortunately for Ajay, the Palace Guards came to receive him on his way to his little homestead he bought on top of the hill overlooking the newly built town next to his Arsenal.
They were here for only one thing, to escort him to Pagan as requested of them.
"Could you take care of Bhadra for a night?"
"What do I get in return?" She asked smiling, knowing Ajay had no choice but to give her something worth her while.
"Can we discuss this later?" He wanted to settle things quickly.
"It's really late in the night and I should be turning in early to get my beauty sleep!"
-Tsk! This woman!-
"(Sigh)…. What do you want?" Saras's expression instantly brightened at the magic word, Ajay was too tired to think of the consequences of his wish grant, he didn't want to bargain the rates with this shrewd woman.
"Promise me a favor, how about it?" Saras smacked her lips.
"A favor from you can mean anything!"
"Of course it can, that's why it's called a favor! Hurry Badala, the clock is ticking…." She now gave him a time limit to chose.
'Damn it. Fine! Just not something that pisses Maya, you have a nasty habit of doing that to her. She always gets on my case immediately after!"
Satisfied with his remark she went back on her jeep.
"Come over child! Badala has to work late, you'll be coming home with big sis!" She waved to Bhadra who turned back to Ajay.
"I'll see you in the morning, have a good night's rest, Bhadra." Ajay gave her his reassuring smile.
"Mm! Alright, goodnight!" She said before turning around and boarding Saras's staff car. Saras started her engine and looked to Ajay once more with a mischievous grin and responded…
"No promises!..." Before driving away.
"Pftt!" One of the palace guards couldn't control his laughter.
"You think that's funny?" Ajay glared at him with a power that rivaled only King Min.
"Uh- Forgive me my lord, I meant no disrespect!" The palace guard immediately apologized upon realizing his rudeness.
"(Sigh) Whatever, take me to his highness ASAP! Let's finish this quickly, I know I'm wasting your time as well." Ajay responded with forgiveness and sat obediently in the SUV which the palace guards drove in.
""Yes, milord!""
The Palace Guards dare not dally for Ajay or their liege's sake. Ajay had no choice but to lean back on the seat and take a short nap instead of a comfy bed.
Pagan's Personal Assistant, Gary led Ajay through the posh corridors to where Pagan was waiting for him in the balcony overlooking much of Northern Kyrat.
"There he is, my super spy!"
"I'm not against reporting now, but I didn't think you would want me to give it at this hour when you're usually sleeping." Did Pagan even sleep at all?
Pagan smiled wryly as he sat in his chair by the balcony. "Have a seat, Ajay."
Ajay went over to the seat that paired with Pagan's and took a seat. He reported the line of events to Pagan. The status of the Golden Path, what Willis had done and finally Bhadra.
"Hahaha! You stole the Tarun Matara?! I admit, Ajay. You really know how to bludgeon goffers!- Oh! I can already imagine their ugly faces right now!" Pagan laughed at the critical blow that the Golden Path and Sabal in particular received.
"I took her away for my own selfish reason, not because she was a chess piece!" He said with a serious expression.
"Ha!..." Pagan chuckled at the nostalgia. He drank out of the glass of Chardonnay that was provided to him while gazing out into the stars. Ajay said no further so as not to ruin that calm and serene moment.
The night sky was blanketed by bright sapphire stars and down below where the Valley of Death was, was filled with its own glittering lights.
"I've never really had a good sleep in a while, truth be told." Explained his calling for Ajay in the night.
"Was it because of my mother?"
"That… and shame." Pagan turned to Ajay.
"I know I've been an evil bastard before and after Ishwari left, watch you actively fight out there made me realize that. For me to fall in love with Ishwari was probably the greatest gift in my life….. and the most potent curse." Pagan swigged his glass of Chardonnay and held it up to the night sky, giving his cheers to the god of the skies.
"Would it matter if I said I was sorry for all the things I had done? Ha! I doubt it!" Pagan had genuinely thought about all the things he had done over the years. Ajay sighed scratching the back of his head.
"Lately that's what everybody's been saying, including me."
"What could Ishwari's boy possibility commit to feel this way?" Pagan laughed in resign.
"I killed my step-father." To Ajay, his confession was as truthful as one could be. So Pagan was could not hide his surprise to what Ajay declared. Ajay fiddled with the pendant in his hand as he thought about how to portray his history.
"It was after mom died and I ended up drifting around. There was this weird guy who knew mom and took it upon himself to adopt me as a sign of gratitude for her being good to him in that short period they knew one another. I was a reckless foolish idiot, getting swayed by the wrong crowd and simple impulse. And yet he never once lay a hand on me despite not being his flesh and blood. Neither did he get mad at me, to him it was merely a means for me to let out my frustration for being born into an uncaring world and felt responsible for my upbringing." Ajay took a long pause as he unveiled the darkest part of his memory to Pagan.
"And then, one day when I became beyond reproach, I murdered him because somebody told me to." Ajay smiled sadly.
Pagan tried to read Ajay but found no falsehood in his words making it difficult to express words for Ajay, so he just sat and listened. The person Ajay was referring to was of course Pagan, but he left out the name. The memory of Pagan still smiling in a pool of blood as Ajay stabbed him with his kukri was an image that made him rethink his entire involvement in Kyrat, until that fateful day.
"Then for the first time in my life I truly felt alone, I realized that I had destroyed the very last person that cared about me. I spent a month in my house just living on my own, surviving…. Every day was just….. pure torture, reliving a nightmare repeatedly over and over. But I thought it was alright for me, it was divine retribution for my unforgivable sin. I deserved every ounce of it!" Ajay let out tears of anguish and remorse, he quickly wiped the moisture from his face. Pagan had never seen him cry before so it was all too new to him, here was the legendary demon of the north weeping for the terrible things he had done.
"Then one day, my legal services came to me with mom's last wish. "Take me to Lakshmana." I figured I should at least have the decently to fulfill mom's dying wish before anything happened to me. So I came here, met you, learnt about Lakshmana, the past my mom escaped from and my predicament. But it was only at Lakshmana's shrine did I truly believe…. I might not be able to save myself but I could save others from a similar fate. Perhaps it might seem like self-gratification and it probably might be just that, but I think we owe it to Kyrat for stain in our family."
Ajay turned to Pagan smiling sadly. Pagan couldn't help but find their paths very similar, but Ajay was a lot stronger than he was when faced with similar adversity, he wanted to seek forgiveness whereas Pagan merely didn't care.
-He's too much like Ishwari!- Pagan laughed in resign once more.
"It might be as you said, Ajay….. both of us might be beyond saving. (Sigh) Even if it took me twenty years to admit it."
"… On that we agree."
"Mmmm…. Perhaps returning Kyrat to its former glory might do us some good, so there wouldn't be another Pagan or Ajay born within the confines of these mountains! What do you say?" Pagan's eyes burnt with a new found strength when he asked Ajay to follow him in an endeavor to save Kyrat.
"Aye. We'll do just that!"
"It's settled then, for our past transgressions….." Pagan held out a hand.
Ajay caught that hand and finished his sentence.
"… And our children's future!"
The Palace Guards escorted him back to his homestead before retiring. Too tired to think of anything else, Ajay jumped onto the bed without changing his clothes.
Ajay slept soundly throughout the night, having a comfy mattress to lie on made the difference between a mediocre rest and an excellent rest. Ajay was awoken to a sweet smelling fragrance that stimulated his senses. And pushed his way out of the bed but felt something heavy was leaning on him.
He moved his hands to feel for what was on lying across his chest it felt like a hand, an a slender one at that.
He heard a woman's soft moan.
"Mmmm….Good morning…." A charming woman's voice whispered into his ear, Ajay peeped through the slits of his eyelids to find Saras lying on his bed in front of him. Closing his eyes to clear his vision from dirt a few times, to make sure he wasn't seeing wrong.
"Did you have a good sleep?" Saras asked with an equally charming smile.
"How did you let yourself into my house?"
"Let myself in? I've been staying here since you left for the south."
"What?" Ajay got up as and pulled the bed sheets off of him.
"Hyah!" Saras let out a seductively playful yelp and Ajay realized why. She was completely-
"Why are you in my bed naked?!" Ajay threw the blanket towards her which she used to wrap around her body.
"I'll have you know, twenty-five percent of people in the world sleep without clothing!" She gave him an answer he never asked for.
Ajay rubbed his temples trying to recall what happened last night.
"Why aren't you watching over Bhadra?" No sooner did he ask when a knock came to the door of his room.
(Knock) (Knock) (Knock)
"Saras?... Are you awake? I've cooked breakfast for-"
Bhadra came into Ajay's room with a kitchen apron on to find Saras in his bed with him.
"Uh-…S-S-S-Sorry!" she quickly rushed out blushing in embarrassment.
"Oh! Now I've done it! Eh-he!" Saras said trying to act cute after all she did.
-This woman! Why is it I'm feeling she's becoming more aggressive in her approach?-
"Get dress, you have a Company to lead and you've already passed their revelry!" He picked up her shirt that was flung on a chair and turned around to throw it at her, only she was already wearing a shirt. But it wasn't hers. The size of the shirt could cover the parts of her that counted.
"Get out of that. I'll not have you going to have breakfast with Bhadra in that!" She had already caused a major misunderstanding at this point.
"You'll have to take it off me first!" She stuck her tongue out.
She was really testing his patience, Ajay decided not to bother and head over to breakfast.
At the dining table, Bhadra had taken the initiative to cook breakfast for the three of them. Bhadra was sending darting glances at Ajay and Saras, who was still wearing his shirt. Saras was happily munching on a bread roll bought from one of the markets in town.
"First off, why are both of you in my house? I thought Bhadra was staying with you at your place. Second, why do you have access to my house?"
"Eh? But big sis said this was her marital house!" Bhadra informed him. Ajay placed both his hands to cover over his face and exhaled heavily.
-What else has this woman fed Bhadra?!-
"Ajay Ghale does not own this house, I do!"
"A-Ajay Ghale? Big sis is engaged to Ajay Ghale?!" Bhadra gasped in surprise at her celebrity background.
"I've said it before, Badala. I chose who I want to be with!" She declared boldly in front of a kid, making Bhadra cover her mouth to hide the surprise.
"That usually works when the feelings are mutual!"
"And are they?" Saras asked with seriousness in her tone, as if expecting him to reply in kind.
"They aren't. I have priorities to this country-….. what's so funny?" As Ajay shot her down immediately without hesistation, Saras laughed at him in mid-sentence as he was trying to refuse her seriously.
"Is that the best excuse you could work up? For country? Then I should have used that excuse at every marriage meeting mother forced upon me."
Saras closed the distance between her and Ajay, siting just next to him and was invading his personal by almost leaning on him.
"I know somewhere deep inside you've given thought to being together with me, even if you don't admit it now!" Ajay turned away not wanting to answer that question, he continued to eat the breakfast Bhadra had made while trying to avoid eye contact to Saras.
-So you do care….-
His silence proved to her that Ajay did consider her in his life and it brought a smile to her face.
"If you're asking how I've been letting myself in, on the day you bought the house I took possession of one of the keys from the previous owner."
-She did such a thing?-
She dangled the keys right in front of him which Ajay tried to snatch back. "Gimme that-." But she was quick on her feet and jumped back and stashed the key between her cleavage.
"I told him I was your significant other and he didn't even question me!" Saras laughed out loud.
"Who would dare claim to be related to a vice-lord of Kyrat?!"
"-Unless they are the real deal!" What Saras said made sense although she was not in a relation with him.
"I'm done arguing with you, I feel I'll have better luck on a suicide mission than play with you mind games."
"That just means I win! So just accept the details as they are!"
Bhadra was starting to think this was a common occurrence between the and let out an unreserved giggle.
Ajay and Saras looked at her laughing and found their actions to be so silly and laughed with her.
"No seriously, put on your clothes!"
As much as Saras wanted to follow Ajay and Bhadra to introduce to him the changes in his valley she had priorities to attend to. Just as Ajay said, 3rd Company might be waiting for her all this time.
Before they left, Ajay had Bhadra tell him what did they do exactly last night and what had Saras been feeding her.
Saras had told her they were going to stay at her fiancé's house that she had been staying since he got the house, but Ajay left immediately after purchasing it so he didn't know Saras had actually moved in or taken the spare key. Bhadra stayed in the guest room that night and slept immediately after being tucked in by Saras. She did happen to hear footsteps along the wooden planked corridor but assumed Saras's fiancé had returned from work. The next morning when she
"This is your town?" Bhadra asked with an excited tone.
"When I was here it was just a bunch of tents and shacks, Maya must have gotten 3rd Coy to build most of the infrastructure here." Knowing Maya she would definitely invest in improving the lifestyle here.
"Where are we going?"
"There's someone I want you to meet, hopefully she can help me find a place where you can interact with peers your age."
"I'm fine with you, Badala!"
"I am too, but you have an entire youth ahead of you and I won't let you waste it!" Ajay wanted to assure responsibility for her upbringing. Something he wished he could have done for the old Bhadra and now he could finally fulfill it. There was an indescribable feeling of contentment taking the effort to open up new horizons to Bhadra.
"I don't know exactly where she is so we'll be heading to the Arsenal for now."
"Mmm!" Bhadra agreed and obediently followed him.
Walking through the guard post was no problem for Ajay, although they were skeptical about the sixteen-year-old girl tagging alongside him. Ajay pointed out she was with him so as not to cause misunderstanding.
As they walked through the factory, the staff members immediately recognize and greet him which he returns in kind every time. They reach the office wing where the head office is located.
"Hi Elina."
"Badala? It's been so long!" Elina got up from her seat.
"How've you been?"
"Fine, how about yourself? Maya told me you were on a mission but I didn't think it would take so long."
"Sorry to worry you, is Maya here?" Elina shakes her head.
"She went to pay a visit to the orphanage."
-Great, she in the one place I wanted to ask where it was.-
"Who is the young lady with you?" Elina noticed Bhadra behind him.
"This is Bhadra, she's a friend of mine I was hoping I could have get together with the kids in the orphanage on her free time." Ajay explained his objective.
"Oh? She, to the orphanage?"
"She's staying with me, but I wouldn't be around most of the time. I was hoping to get her to interact with peers in her age group."
Elina raised an eyebrow.
"She's staying with you at your home alone?"
"Yes, is that wrong?" Ajay asked rather innocently to which Elina sighed.
"Maya told me about your background before. It seems you're still unaware that a young unmarried girl should not be staying together with a young single man."
"Tradition?"
"Tradition." Elina answered clearly.
"Ok. But I still need to find Maya, maybe I can arrange for her to stay with her if that isn't too much trouble."
Elina thought about what Ajay suggested.
"How about Bhadra stay over at our place, I'm sure Alisha would be delighted to have a friend over."
It's not that Elina's idea bad or anything but Elina was exposing her and Alisha to an unforeseen danger in the form of hunting teams searching for Bhadra.
"I'll still like to have Maya's feedback on this first, sorry Elina. It's not that I don't trust you in fact I'm quite surprised you would offer to house Bhadra here but the situation is quite delicate you see." Ajay answered honestly.
"Ohh…. Ok! No harm done, so I could write the coordinates on your map if you like to go their yourself."
"That'll be wonderful, Elina. Also, could I trouble you for a full report on the three weeks I was away?"
Elina almost laughed uncontrollably.
"I never thought my employer would ask me so kindly for the work I'm expected to perform for him, pardon me!"
Elina went to the back where a shelf full of archived files were stored while Ajay and Bhadra waited.
"You mean I was gonna stay with you?"
"I did say I was gonna keep a watchful eye on you didn't I? Did you not like the idea?" Bhadra waved her hands in front of him to emphasize that it wasn't the case.
"MmMmm! There's no place I'd rather be than with you, Badala!"
Ajay's eyebrows rose at the girl's declaration.
"That's cute, but you should save that for your future life companion." Ajay reminded her.
"Uh- What?!... What gave you that kinda Idea?!" Bhadra fell into a terrible stutter at Ajay's remark.
"Don't hold it too much to heart, those are just some advance phrases you could use on him when you grow older." Ajay said smiling, oblivious to her feelings.
"Badala you idiot…." Bhadra murmured under her breath.
The report had finally arrived on the manager's desk which Ajay took a seat in and read the contents. The report read as such:
Week 4 from establishment,
Ammunition production online and working as scheduled. Production capacity at ten thousand rounds of 5.56mm NATO a day. Distributed to Royal Army frontline outposts and Frontier barracks.
Production of ARP-1 mod. 0 begun. Roll out rate at two hundred a week.
Raw material supplies holding steady.
Week 5,
Ammunition production maintained.
ARP-1 mod. 1 finalized for mass production, replacing mod. 0 in current production. Mod. 1 amendments include lightened bolt and furniture, featuring strengthened construction and improved rigidity of parts.
Servicing Depot organizing complete. Commenced refurbishment of Royal Army weapons. First batch of one thousand assorted arms. AK, 1911, Dragonov, A-2000, P416, vz.61, Z93 and Bison weapon systems found within batch.
Week 6,
Ammunition production maintained and increased due to human efficiency. Steel case magazine production to commence.
ARP-1 mod. 1 experiencing delays due to deficiencies found in quality control. Production halted as effect of Day 3. Total ARP-1 rifles assembled are 853 completed receivers. 147 rifles short in due shipment to Royal Fortress.
Service Depot reports refurbishment on schedule.
…
Ajay read the report and was pleased with the results despite his absence. The shortage of the new rifles that Arjun ordered, he'll have to explain but Ammunition production and repair and refurbishing of old arms were more than fulfilling their role at maintaining the Royal Army's ability to sustain itself with a constant supply of bullets and repaired weapons.
Ajay was thinking of talking to Samar about beginning new projects on different weapon varieties such as handguns, shotguns and machine guns. He had an idea of which weapons to produce as well from his fighting experience. The Royal Army couldn't depend on assault rifles in every single situation and the absence of their ammunition types having yet to be produced have left those gun types in idle or in demand for ammo. In the end, ammunition was a more important concern. Longinus had yet to return with his special machinery order from Austria and Switzerland, several batches of CNC machines, rifling machines and ammunition manufacturing equipment. Mr Chiffon even crafted him a decent set of suits to look the part of a businessman. Longinus wouldn't fail him, the idea of building a nations defense industry made him beyond ecstatic. Like building a cathedral, was the way Ajay saw Longinus imagine it to be. He was scheduled to be back tomorrow in fact but there could be unforeseen circumstances that delayed him and the shipments return. There was only one mode of travelling with such large equipment and that was by airlift.
The Condottieri were being contracted by Arjun to do a HVT escort mission till tonight, so they weren't around in the cabin at the moment. Ajay wondered if they'll wear a surprised face to see him back, he doubted so. Reminded about that time after the Meh Teh Offensive victory. They only acknowledged him after he paid for their drinks, it showed that he who grants drinks was god.
Ajay took Bhadra to the carpool where they procured a vehicle for their departure to the coordinates that Elina gave him. Bhadra sat in the passenger seat staring out into the breathtaking landscape, a huge contrast in the scenery to the valley in Southern Kyrat. The coordinates to the orphanage were off somewhere between Elina's village.
Ajay hadn't visited last time because the night had come after spending time at Elina's place and there wasn't a need to visit immediately after.
Ajay drove through the familiar route to the hidden village within the Valley of Death, not far from the Arsenal itself and only a ten-minute drive. The last time he drove with Maya, she was directing for him and wouldn't entrust him with the location. Perhaps because he wasn't familiar enough or it was to protect the village from external influences through Ajay's knowledge. But since Elina gave it to him causally he figured it had to have been the former.
He parked the jeep by the side of the road and walked through the street following the coordinates. People were sparing glances at them, they were unfamiliar people after all. But they didn't disrupt their daily routine to interact with them so it was fine.
They walked up a bending road up towards an enclosed stone courtyard. The sound of children playing around could be heard as they made their way up the final set of steps. Reaching the entrance of the courtyard they could see an old wooden estate that had seen better days, but it didn't deter the children, ages six to seventeen from enjoying their time in the centre field with a game of ball.
A kid kicked the ball towards Ajay and Bhadra.
"Ah! Arnav! You kicked it down the slope! How are we-."
"Look out!" The oldest looking boy called out to Ajay and Bhadra for the incoming ball.
Ajay had seen it come towards them slowly and skillfully caught it with his leg and juggled the ball around with his thigh.
"""Ooooo..""" His skill with the ball attracted the attention of the kids and good first impressions for him and Bhadra to the orphanage.
Ajay caught the ball with his hands and walked over to the eldest kid, the 17-year-old boy.
Ajay tossed the ball over to him which he caught with both hands.
"Whatcha doing here mister?" The boy responded seeming to care what was his business here. It seemed that there weren't a lot of adults that came up to the hill except the ones they already knew like their caretakers and former residents that grew out.
"I'm looking for Maya, is she here?"
"What's it to you?" The boy adopted a defensive manner of speaking.
"Biraj! That's not the way you talk to people!" An elderly man came out of the house while hobbling towards them.
"Gramps! You shouldn't be walking out in your condition!"
"And not greet the guests to our home? What's become of all those manners I've taught you!" The elder scolded the boy for his ill-manners. The boy came over to support the elder who walked in Ajay's direction. Ajay walked forwards to try and close the distance so he needn't walk too much.
"Hi, I'm Badala and this is Bhadra. We just moved into the region not far from here."
"Greetings young ones, I am Bibek the caretaker of the Asako tara orphanage. How can I be of help to you who've come all this way up the mountains?" The elder Bibek was extremely polite to Ajay.
"I'm looking for a friend of mine, Maya Kadayat and I'd like to introduce someone to your family. Bhadra come over."
Ajay called for Bhadra and brought her to meet with them.
"This is Bhadra, I was hoping to have her get to know some friends in the area."
"Any friend of Maya's is ours, come inside. I'll take you to her. Biraj, perhaps you would like to play some games with our young friend over here?" Bibek suggested Biraj introduce her to their small community.
Bibek seemed in a daze as he stared at Bhadra, Ajay chuckled a little as he say the rowdy boy was attracted to Bhadra beauty.
"Oi, squirt!" Ajay waved his hand in front of him to wake him from his spell.
"Ah?! What's your problem?!" The Biraj boy got mad at Ajay for breaking his fantasy.
"Biraj!"
"A-Ah!-…. Sure! Come along then!" Biraj walked up ahead and turned around waiting for Bhadra.
But instead of following Bhadra glared at the boy. The reason was quite obvious, he was already setting a horrible first impression by being rude to Ajay.
"Bhadra." Ajay called out to her to stop her from breaking the boy's confidence.
"Uh?- Yes?"
"Remember, you're here to make friends not chew hopeless brats." Bhadra giggled at Ajay's response.
"Who you calling hopeless?!"
"Right, elder Bibek. Please lead the way.-." "Hey! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" But Ajay ignored the boy's rantings and followed the elder into the estate.
"Ah-ehehe! Hi! I'm Biraj!" Being left alone with the pretty Bhadra made Biraj's cheeks flush red.
"Hmph!" Bhadra turned away.
"Uh!-…." Biraj looked in pain as Bhadra walked in the opposite direction towards the other kids who were all just as excited to meet and be friends with her. Ajay didn't have much to worry about her because she became instantly popular with the other girls near her age and were spending time talking and gossiping with one another.
Ajay had been led through a series of narrow corridors with creaking floors and the smell of rotting wood.
"This house seems to have a lot of character to it." Ajay opened up.
"Hahahahaha!….. You certainly seem to have a way with modest words, my lord. And please forgive that young rascal for his rudeness, he's always been a mischievous one"
"Badala will do, elder."
"Heh!... It's just as Maya had said, you really are a humble lord despite your impressive exploits!"
"That title was given by his royal highness, not something I was born with."
"Mmmm. If only all the nobles were like you…..(sigh)" Biraj lamented.
"How long has this estate stood for?" Biraj still didn't tell him the houses history.
"Ah, yes! This house has existed longer than even my aged self, it was once the house of a famous warrior general but was left in its current debilitated state. Over time it has switched hands through the centuries until it fell into my hands through inheritance."
"You were that general's descendent?" The old man nodded.
"Although the glory that was once the house of Khati has long gone. I'm the last descendant of that glorious line. Now, I life the simple life of a caretaker to the orphans I've picked up over the years. I'm not complaining about it, there is nothing more enjoyable than watching your children grow up. But… I'm getting old, and as their only means of support I worry for their future… I'm sorry, I let this old man get to you with his own personal problems." Bibek apologized for making it their conversation too personal.
"That's alright, was Maya raised by you?" Maya had mentioned this place many times as did Bipin, they seemed to hold dear memories to this place.
"I won't dare to say I raised her, that mantle of responsibility fell onto Mistress Yuma's capable hands. But this house did provide shelter for the two orphan siblings Maya and Bipin Kadayat when they lost their family."
"I see…."
They reached a door where Ajay could hear two female voices laughing in their conversation on the other side. Bibek knocked on the door.
"Maya girl, you have a visitor." Bibek said before sliding the door open.
"Who is it?"
Bibek stepped aside the doorway for Ajay to come through.
"Ajay?- Op!" Maya realized her mistake for saying his real name.
"It's been a while. You've made me send a half a day looking for you!" Ajay said with a smile.
"Uh- Badala-."
"There's no need to keep up the act now that you've spoilt it for the elders." Ajay told her.
"S-Sorry…."
"How have you been, Maya?" Ajay asked out of concern.
"I'm fine, no thanks to you! Leaving and making me run the factory in your stead!"
"I left it to you because no one else could do the job as decent as you, wasn't that what Elina was for. To manage the factory instead."
"Elina is managing the arsenal?!" The elder cried out in surprise.
"Our daughter is running a business?!" The old woman who seemed to be Elina's mother did the same as Bibek.
Maya panicked as she had not informed them yet of Elina's new job.
"Uh-…. I can explain."
Ajay joined Maya and the elderly couple, Bibek and Aasha Khati for tea in their living room. Who Ajay learnt were the parents of Elina and grandparents of Alisha.
-So that's why she gave away her fortune.-
Things were starting to make sense to Ajay. A large portion of the reward money was given to supporting her parents and the children in their household who needed it more than just Elina and Alisha. Prayan, their son-in-law was also giving a portion of his paycheck to maintain the livelihood of the orphans in the Khati household.
"This is a really noble thing you're doing for the children, sir and ma'am." Ajay commended them as he took a sip from the Chai which Aasha brewed for him.
"It's all for good karma for me and my beloved wife and our dear daughter and her family. I've heard from her your generosity, for that you have my eternal thanks, Badala." Ajay stopped Bibek from bending over to thank him.
"Still…. To be a vice-lord this young… my! What sort of achievements did you garner to attain such a prestigious title on your own?" Aasha still couldn't believe Ajay was the lord in their land.
Posters and village heads, briefed by the King's representatives were to only way the people knew of Badala. Although word of mouth had been the means of which they heard of Ajay's achievements.
"Ha! You call him a lord but he lives in a simple homestead on a hill. The townsfolk were even taking to calling him hovel lord!" Maya chuckled as she belittled Ajay. But instead of getting angry like he use to he spoke his reason for living like that.
"I've been living pretty modestly over the years, just having a good mattress, and a warm place to sleep is enough for me." Maya frowned slightly at the change in Ajay's attitude.
"There's something different about you, you've changed! What in the world happened during your mission?"
"Well let's just say, I've learnt to calm down a lot better now." Ajay picked up his cup to drink the addictively good chai.
"Oh really? Or is it because you get to wake up next to a naked hussy every morning!"
"Pfftt!" Ajay spat out the chai through no fault of its own.
"What the…. You knew Saras was living in my house and didn't say anything?!"
"Why would I? That's not my problem what she does in your house!" She puffed her cheeks.
Bibek looked to his wife who simple shrugged her shoulders at their bickering.
"Urgh…. Your right, it's not." Ajay cooled down quite quickly, much to Maya's dismay. So far, their conversations had always had arguments as a means to communicate with one another. Now that Ajay was giving in to her in the argument she was starting to feel a bit disillusioned.
"Uh- Yeah! Uh-hm! So why were you here in the first place?" Maya quickly changed the subject so as to not leave him hanging.
"I came with a young girl here."
"Didn't think you would turn so low-."
"Can you let me finish my sentence first? I brought Bhadra out of Banapur because she was being abused and hoped to give her asylum and a chance to enjoy her youth like she should!" Ajay rubbed his head, why did he always have to shout with Maya?
Bibek and his wife now understood why he brought the girl with him.
"I originally planned for her to stay with me but Elina said it wasn't socially correct. So I was hoping she could stay with you."
Maya put her hand to her chin thinking about it. When Bibek opened up.
"Why not have her live here? We'll always welcome another and I think the young girl's presence will please all the children."
"I appreciate the thought, elder. Elina offered the same but I refused her as well because of a certain condition."
"Oh. I see, well that's alright then."
"Maya, could I have a moment with you?"
Maya and Ajay got up to their feet and walked outside the living room where Ajay told her of Bhadra's special 'condition'.
"WHAT?!" Maya shouted in surprise. Making the Khati elders curious on what Ajay told her.
Maya came back with Ajay.
"Bibek, Aasha. I'm sorry but can we call it a day, I'll like to help Badala settle his new friend in."
"Oh don't worry about it, you're free to come by and visit anytime! Badala, please take care of our child Maya. She may be sharp tongued at times but that doesn't dissuade her from caring about the people close to her." Bibek went up to wave his goodbyes.
"I know. Don't worry yourself, elder. Take care of yourself and your wife."
"May Banashurs light shine on you." Bibek raise his hand over Ajay for a blessing.
"And may it shine upon you too." Ajay returned one to him.
Ajay left with Maya to lead the way out of the mini maze that was the estates complex corridors, she really did live here for some time.
"Did Yuma find you here?" Ajay asked.
"Mm! Even if she didn't I'd still be happy from the warmth of a family Bibek and Aasha gave me and my brother. I owe them everything."
"Then give them everything, you're welcome to borrow from me anytime." To Ajay, nothing was more priceless than the joys of family kinship. His time with his mother were the most precious years he had in his life and he treasured those memories dearly.
"So what's this about kidnapping the Tatun Matara?" Maya went straight to the point.
"She's not the Tarun Matara, and I'll burn Jalendu Temple if they ever dare to do that!" Ajay said as they made their way out to the exit.
"Was this because… of your mother?"
"…" Ajay was reminded of his late mother, an his expression saddened when he was reminded of the grief she endured.
"I'm sorry, I was being insensitive. Come on, let's take this girl back to your place."
Ajay meet with Bhadra who was happily conversing with some of the orphans, she had successfully gotten to know some same age peers that she could relate to. Ajay wasn't going to be around all the time and needed some place to take care of her while still giving her the freedom to enjoy.
"Bhadra, this is Maya." Ajay gave a brief intro of her to Bhadra.
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." They both shook hands.
"Badala, who is she?"
"She's your new bunkmate. There are some concerns by a few of my associates about me being alone at home with a younger girl."
"What, that's ubsurd! You don't think of me that way, do you?"
"Try telling that to them." Ajay said to her.
Ajay, Maya and Bhadra walked down the mountain to the village where Ajay parked the jeep and drove back to his house to get Bhadra's things which Ajay bought from the market in town recently. Sets of clothing, toothbrush and a few sets of clean underwear.
They reached the pathway of his house after a half hours ride down the hills. When Ajay begun to wonder where Maya had stayed all this while.
"Maya?"
"Hmm?"
"Where exactly do you stay? Not the Royal Fortress by any chance."
That was a military facility and Bhadra wouldn't be allowed to stay there at all, not that it was the ideal place for her anyway.
"Of course not….."
"Ok."
"It's right here." Maya pointed to Ajay's homestead. Ajay stopped on his track to his house.
"I'm sorry, I thought I heard you just direct to my house."
"Yup, here!"
Then it hit him, how else did Maya know Saras slept naked other than live in the same place as her.
"Maya, where's my key?" If Saras had one then by chance-
"Saras is the only one that has one, don't worry."
"Don't worry? You two have been living in my house without my permission since I left to infiltrate the Golden Path!"
"Jeez, don't be such a stingy miser! You made me work at your arsenal every day, I had to wake up early to read the reports and balances. The least you could do was accommodate for my convenience by letting me stay in your place that's like what-…. A three-minute walk to the Arsenal."
Somehow, Ajay could not fault her on that. She was doing him a huge favor in running the Arsenal for the last three weeks. So he should have just given in to her.
"So that was your plan, huh? Adding you into the household would solve the problem of living alone with Bhadra."
"Uh-huh!"
Ajay sighed, but it wasn't all that bad. At least he could keep a close watch on Bhadra now, although his house had an extra occupant.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Maya puffed her cheeks, she always felt good when Ajay gave his sincere thanks.
"So we're staying together?" Bhadra asked joyfully as she didn't think it was possible.
"Looks that way."
Bhadra skipped cheerfully to the front entrance of the house and waited for them to hurry up to where she was.
Ajay took out the keys and inserted it into the lock but found that the door was left open. He pushed the door open with his wits up ready to receive whatever was on the other side of the door.
"Welcome back dear!"
But his wits weren't ready to receive Saras wearing nothing but a kitchen apron.
"Oh!" She noticed Ajay with Bhadra and Maya this time.
"Back early, Maya?" Saras greeted her casually. -So they were staying in my house together!-
"Yeah." Maya went in like nothing had happened, leaving Bhadra the only one with an open mouth.
"Put something on before you catch a chill!" Ajay still couldn't believe she came back waiting for to surprise Ajay. Did she skip out on work early just to do this?
"Is that all? After I went through all the trouble to prepare myself for you!" Saras pouted.
"Clothes. We'll go out for dinner tonight." Ajay gave up on convincing them to leave his house. Saras was satisfied with his proposal and went off to his room to change. She still treated this like her house.
Ajay sighed with his hands to his face.
-I wonder what kind of life am I gonna live together with them?-
