"Huh. I just realized I never asked Arnav what he does for a living" Khushi said to the cat.The cat only meowed in response, following her to the kitchen. Khushi turned on the tap "Do you think Arnav will take me for a honeymoon?" Khushi asked the cat who obediently sat at her feet "I've always wanted to go to the city. I've never been out of the village. The thing is though I don't want to force Arnav. I mean I'm still not sure what his thoughts are of me, of us" she sighed, putting the last plate away "Maybe a little gardening will clear my head"
The cat did follow Khushi outside but immediately took shelter in the shade of a tree as fast as he could. He glanced at Khushi for a minute before yawning. He lied down and closed his eyes.
Khushi shook her head "You're so lazy" and then she got to work
The garden was coming along really well. All the dead flowers and weeds were long removed. New flowers were in the process of blooming. Khushi couldn't wait to show Arnav.
Later that afternoon, after two, Khushi was done for the day. The flowers had been well watered, thorns were ridden of, and there were no signs of weeds.
Khushi glanced at the cat. He was still sleeping. She frowned at him "Don't you sleep at night?" she muttered.
Wiping her hands clean, Khushi silently walked up to the cat and picked him up. He didn't wake up. She couldn't help wonder why she felt so attached to the cat. Was it because he understood her every word and was smarter than the average cat? Or was it because he reminded her of Arnav, her husband? It was quite odd. His black fur reminded her of Arnav's dark aura and well...his clothes. That man really liked black.
And the cat's eyes. Dark brown like chocolate. So intense. They resembled Arnav's eyes really well, especially when he looked at her as if he knew something she didn't.
Khushi shook her head. What was she thinking? She was comparing her cat with her husband for god's sake. It couldn't get any crazier than that.
As Khushi was carrying Arnav, the cat, inside, a beam of sunlight touched them. Arnav's eyes snapped open. With an agony filled meow, he launched himself out of Khushi's arms and raced inside the house as if his tail was on fire.
"Arnav?" Khushi called out concerned. She ran after the cat and found him sitting on the sofa in the living room, licking his paw intensively. Khushi approached him and sat next to him "What's wrong?" she asked picking him up and putting him on her lap.
Arnav let out a loud meow lifting up the paw he was licking. Khushi gasped. His paw had gone completely red.It was also badly swollen. The fur even looked singed.
Khushi picked Arnav up and hurried to the bathroom. Good thing her husband and her had gone shopping earlier. His mansion had almost seemed empty when she had first come. Khushi put Arnav's paw under the sink under cold water. He purred in relief. Wiping his paw clean with a towel, Khushi applied cream to his paw.She hoped the swelling would reduce soon.
What she hadn't noticed was the way Arnav had kept his eyes on her all the way through, his eyes expressing an unknown emotion.
****************************************
It was 5:59 PM when Arnav glanced at Khushi who was engrossed in the Hindi movie playing on TV. He silently jumped off the sofa and padded out of the living room. A minute later, Arnav, Khushi's husband came in.
He looked at her "Like the movie?"
That caught Khushi's attention "Arnav" she smiled. She looked at the empty space beside her "Huh? Where'd he go?" she muttered.
"Probably out" Arnav replied.
He took the seat beside her and pulled her closer to him "How about you pay attention to me?"
Khushi blushed but then her eyes fell on his red hand. She gasped and grabbed his hand "Arnav! What happened?"
Arnav tried to pull his hand back "It's nothing"
"It doesn't look like nothing" she frowned at him "In fact just this afternoon the cat got burned...by being in the sun for barely a second"
Arnav could practically see the gears moving in Khushi's head. He had to distract her before she even came close to the truth so he said the first thing that came to mind "I'm taking you on a honeymoon Khushi"
Khushi looked at him startled, obviously not expecting that but it did the trick "What?"
He nodded "You wanted to get out of the village right?"
Khushi narrowed her eyes "I had only told the cat that"
"Anybody trapped in their house for years would obviously want to explore the outside world" he said smoothly "You mentioned that uncle of yours keeping you locked inside your house and not letting you out"
Khushi bit her lip. Well that was accurate. Maybe she really was over thinking things. How could a human turn into a cat anyways. But his hand...
Khushi grabbed his hand "Explain this first"
"I have a strong allergy to lilies" he said "One of my employees had put a vase of them on her table and when I passed by my hand immediately reacted"
Arnav put his finger on her lip when she opened her mouth to ask another question "No more questions. Now I want you to go upstairs to our room and start packing. We're leaving tonight in less than 2 hours"
"But-"
"Tic toc Khushi" Arnav said waving his index finger back and forth "If you're not ready in 2 hours our honeymoon is cancelled. Permanently"
Khushi opened and closed her mouth like a fish before rushing to her room. Arnav let out a breath of relief and looked at his hand wondering how much longer would he be able to hide things from her.
****************************************
Khushi was ready in an hour and half. She gave her bags to Arnav who put them in the SUV. Of course even the vehicle was black. Heck, she was the only one with colours here.
When Khushi sat next to Arnav in the passenger seat she couldn't help but ask "Do you dislike colours?"
Arnav looked at her confused "I beg your pardon?"
"It's just you're always wearing black. Even the items you own are black. This car is black" she said exasperated.
He chuckled "I'm not that into colours" He started the ignition and stepped on the pedal.
Khushi let the topic go and looked out the window "Where are we going?"
"To the city"
Khushi stiffened "The city?" That's exactly what she had told the cat. Wait the cat!
"Arnav! Stop the car!" she shrieked.
Arnav slammed on the brakes "What the hell Khushi"
"We forgot the cat" she said opening the door.
"Get back in Khushi. If you haven't noticed then let me tell you that the cat disappears at night and appears in the day"
Khushi pouted "But he'll get lonely"
"Fine" he said "I'll bring him back before I leave for work"
Khushi frowned "You're still going to be working while we're on our honeymoon"
"Business is business" he replied "But the night is ours" he gave her a wink.
Khushi looked away, a small smile touching her lips "How long are we staying there?"
"For as long as you want" his hands suddenly gripped the steering wheel tightly. A harsh gasp broke out from him.
"Arnav?" she looked at him concerned "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine" he said and stopped the car.He looked at her "You look sleepy"
She frowned "What? I'm not sleepy"
"You are sleepy" he urged with a hardened edge to his voice.
A yawn broke out of her before her eyes felt droopy. She struggled to keep them open. That's weird. She had been completely awake a minute ago. Khushi managed to keep her open for a fraction of a second to look at Arnav. A sorry look on his face confused her even more. She mumbled his name before falling asleep but not before she felt him pushing her hair away from her neck.
****************************************
It was early morning when Khushi woke up. Really early morning. 1 AM in fact.
She pushed herself up from the really soft bed and looked at her surroundings. The room was really beautiful. The walls were a clean shade of white. The floor was made up of black tiles.There was a matching black dresser and closet too. The room looked expensive.
Khushi got up from the bed and went out the bedroom door. The place was really big. It was a cottage. A very well managed cottage.
She tip toed around wondering where Arnav was.
She gasped when an arm snaked around her waist "Looking for me?"
Khushi turned around to be caged between his arms. She smiled "Where are we?"
Arnav gestured around "One of my cottages"
"One of them?"
He nodded "Comes with being rich" he chuckled.
Speaking of which "What do you do Arnav?" Khushi asked curiously.
"I run a company" he replied "It has branches throughout the world" Khushi opened her mouth but Arnav hushed her by placing his index finger on her lips "Don't you get tired of asking so many questions? One day they'll get you in trouble" Or more likely him.
Khushi looked outside the window "It's still really early" she said.
"Perfect for us" he whispered against her hair, bending down to nuzzle against her neck "Let's make something of this morning before it goes to waste"
Khushi let a small squeal when Arnav picked her up and took her to the bedroom.
****************************************
It was 10 AM when Khushi woke up. She closed her eyes and stretched her arms above her head, letting the duvet fall to her lap. She moaned lightly at the sore spots Arnav had left behind. Only when she opened her eyes did she notice Arnav. That cat. Who had been staring at her this whole time.
Khushi widened her eyes and almost screamed, pulling the covers to her chest "Can't you meow or something so I know there's someone there before I go naked"
Arnav meowed but didn't stop staring at her. Khushi picked up the duvet with her as she got up. She bent and picked up her clothes that were thrown on the floor. Arnav helped by picking up her bra in his mouth and practically saying : if you want it take it from my mouth.
She scowled at him and grabbed the piece of clothing from him. She furiously marched to the attached bathroom muttering about how maybe asking Arnav to bring the cat along had been a mistake.
****************************************
After showering and putting on fresh clothes, Khushi took a tour of the house all by herself. It was really big so she couldn't help wonder if Arnav kept a maid to keep the cottage in order.
After a quick exploration Khushi went to the kitchen and looked around for food. Thankfully there was lots. She grabbed bread and spread. Then it was she noticed a red-like liquid in bottles "It's probably just wine" she muttered.
Khushi didn't drink so she wouldn't be touching them but it seemed Arnav drank. A lot. Khushi bit her lip. Arnav didn't seem like a drunkard...but he did sometimes seem disturbed or stressed.
Khushi sighed sitting down at a table. She'd ask him when he got back. Oh why was he so mysterious, she wondered while spreading the spread on her bread. Khushi had so many questions but Arnav only answered a few of them. She wondered how their married life would be.
Arnav, the cat, jumped up on the table. Khushi put milk in a bowl and put it in front of him.He only glanced at the bowl before pushing it away with his paw.
Khushi frowned "You don't like it?" she put the milk away "That's weird. I thought cats liked milk" Arnav meowed. Khushi waved a hand "I'm looking I'm looking" she said searching through the fridge "Hmm what would you like" she said to herself. Khushi looked at Arnav and found him munching on her bread "Haw! Arnav!" she pouted "You could have pointed to the bread. Now I have to make more for myself"
****************************************
It was 6 PM when Arnav, her husband, walked in.
He smiled at her and sat down next to her on the couch.
Khushi smiled back "You must be hungry. Let me get you something"
Just as Khushi stood up Arnav pulled her back down "It's alright. I had a big lunch at work. I'm not hungry"
"Fine" she said "But let me get you something to drink at least"
Arnav reluctantly let her go. Five minutes later she came back with a glass of milk.
He frowned at her "Milk?"
She grinned "Milk is good for you. Bones and stuff"
"I'm strong enough. I prove it every night. I don't need that"
"But Arnav-"
"Sorry Khushi" he said firmly "But I just hate milk"
And that's when Khushi truly began suspecting the connection between her husband and her cat.
For PMs please buddy me at KhushiPM
A widow, Gauri met her long lost friend Omkara in a family function, who still ...
Life Journey of two people poles apart in career, status and style. One is the ...
Drabbles for Shrimad Ramayana Contest
Comments (1)
View all
Gerli @Gerli
1 years ago
Bitte die PM an mich schicken, danke.