Chapter 16
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"Khushi why have you called me here so early?"
She didn't answered but kept on looking at him with those hazel eyes teasingly.The way she did when she had some plan up her sleeve.
"I am not missing another lecture to go watch another movie of your neverending list of favourite actors".He spoke in a rush only realising it once the words were out on how jealous he sounded.
"I have something for you".She replied getting the tiffin out of her bag and opening it for him to see.
"Halwa Puri".The shock and surprise was evident in his tone.
She grinned cheekily before replying."You mentioned sometime back that its been years since u had it,so I put myself to Google Baba's mercy.I have been practising it for days.After few hit and trails it looked somewhat presentable today,so Tadaa".She finished bowing dramatically for the added effect.
His eyes grew misty as he stared at her in absolute awe and wonder.He had barely mentioned it in passing as they recounted their favourite delicacies to each other.The knowledge she had spent hours in kitchen,the girl who had a herd of servants at her disposal and her first ever cooked meal was for him.
How long it had been since anyone ever did anything for him?.He had stood still as she had fed him.The halwa had been too sweet,the puri too crisp for his liking but it was the most delicious meal he has had in years.Bereft of his ability to form a coreherent sentence that could suffice what her gesture meant,he had enveloped her in his arms whispering a hoarse"Thank You" in her ears.
The same night during their routine nightly call,she has straightaway started speaking not giving him an opportunity to utter the conventional "Hello".
"Arnav I just realised something"
"You realised something on your own?.That's a first"
Ignoring his remark,she went on saying chirpily,sounding too cheerful for the lateness of the hour.But then that was his Khushi.
"You were jealous earlier today right,while mentioning my neverending list of favourite heroes"
He was stumped to hear her word aloud the emotion he experienced hours ago.Ignoring the discomfort the mere thought of it caused,he managed to say.
"I wasn't jealous Khushi"
"Yaa,keep telling yourself that".Knowing she hit the bulls eye,she continued with what she had to say.
"I liked seeing you jealous but you know Arnav they are all fictional and you are Real.I know the halwa puri was not good enough because I tasted it myself but it will be better next time"
And with that she has disconnected the line leaving him grinning with her admittance of him being the real one in her life and the many more times that was about to come.
Those have been some days,he mused.When they both have been shuffling between being best friends and something more.There hasn't been any earth shattering moment when he stumbled on the realisation of his feelings for her.It was gradual,the inevitable that was meant to happen sooner or later.
He had been planning on expressing his feelings when she had so foolishly asked him the one question that could still send his nerves flaring in anger.He had turned away not wanting her to know the despair her words has caused him when the unexpected had happened.
This crazy woman had admitted to being in love with him and his life had found its meaning.And now looking at her in their home,he found himself loving her a little more if it was humanly possible.
She was unique otherwise how could she being surrounded by all the worldly charms and lifestyle had managed to sustain her innocence.Despite being born with the golden spoon,there wasn't a spoilt bone in her body.
Walking towards her in measured steps,he wounded his arms round her waist as she instantly snuggled into his embrace.After moments of nothing but amiable silence,he turned her around and tilting down his head,spoke huskily in her ears.
"Lazybump.Since when did you become the one to leave scores unsettled?.I gave you,your wedding present last night but you forgot mine".
She stared at him in utter bewilderment when her gaze narrowed down to those tempting lips of his."Get off your one track mind.Mine was our home and yours is something that you have kept me waiting for days now".
Realisation dawned on her as she ducked beneath his arms announcing."Follow the lead for a change captain".
He sat on the bed as she came forth and sat besides him handing over the beautifully wrapped package to him.Ripping the wrapping paper,he took out what was his most priced possession.The first paperback edition of her first book.He lifted the cover and there it was engraved in bold italics.
"To My Inspiration"
It didn't matter that he had seen it before or the fact he had read it innumerable times.What mattered was she had made it on her own.And yet she called him her inspiration.It was the first of the many more to come.
Its hard to leave a place which has been a witness to all the monumental happenings in their life.It was an emotional farewell to their sanctuary but this time it was laden with the satisfaction that whenever they came back,this place will always be waiting for both of them.
"Arnav why don't you just go inside the cockpit,have a word with the pilot and check all the vitals since its third time ur checking if my seatbelt is properly fastened or not"
"Its our first flight together.I am just on the edge besides it comes with being a Pilot".
She pulled his cheeks much to his annoyance and whispered "Do you know how cute you look like that?".
He encased her hand in both of his and murmured grudgingly."No man like to be addressed as cute".
"But I am not referring any man,I am referring my man as cute so keep your opinions to yourself".She told him possessively,resting her head on his shoulder.
The scenic beauty of the city has captivated him the moment he has stepped in and he had known that if he and Khushi were to build a home in US,then Seattle is where it was going to be.
This house has held an uncanny resemblance to their home back in India and he had wasted no time in buying it.There wasn't a flicker of doubt in his mind on what her reaction will be life when he has brought this place.Maybe because he knew her better than she knew herself.
He could literally feeling the excitement rolling off her.Her trust in him never failed to overwhelm him.She hadn't asked him once why he chose Seattle or where and how it was going to be.She relied on her faith and he wasn't going to take it for granted ever.
He unlocked the lock and interwining their fingers took the first step inside their home.Appreciation danced in her eyes as she took in the surroundings though it didn't take long for it to disappear and be replaced with anger as she saw the living room and kitchen inspite knowing this was how it was it going to be.
"Is this how you lived the last 5 years?".She spoke agitatedly gesturing towards the white walls and the mimimalistic furniture that was all what the vast house occupied.
"What?.Why are you looking at me like that ?.We decided we would decorate our home together so how could I have done it alone?.Besides kitchen is your expertise,I wasn't going to interfere in that".
Knowing she would burst off any moment he took her in his arms and said "Don't think I got lazy like you and did nothing all these years.There is one,no actually two surprises for you"
Holding her hand,he led her to the last deck of stairs as he opened the door and gestured her to step in.Her eyes rounded in amazement seeing the literary heaven he has build for her.
"In all these years this is the first time you are rendered speechless".
3 YEARS LATER
"THE END"
[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RbcR_KSRB8[/YOUTUBE]
And speechless she was as she stood in the middle of her own inhouse library.Surrounded by the heavenly fragnance of books,her feet had a mind of their own as toured the space that was strictly built to her preference.From classic literature to poetry to historical romance this library was any reader's dream come true.
Knowing she had plenty of time to indulge in it later,she insisted on seeing her next surprise.And this time she couldn't kept tears at bay as it flew heedlessly from her eyes.There in the middle of the master bedroom was her treasure.The walls of the bedroom was filled with their memories,each moment a timeless capture.
She saw her husband shuffling around their living room trying to find a suitable place to keep her award.She laid back on the couch enjoying seeing him fuss for the perfect space.It was only an recognition of her writing and he was behaving as if she was honoured with Noble Prize.
She didn't know about how others fared but her husband was one in a kind since her success gave him more happiness than his own benchmarks that he kept crossing every now and then.
All those years back she has only had a faint inkling of what life with him will be like but she couldn't have been more wrong.Life with him surpassed her every dream and she woke up daily thanking all the forces that she was the one he chose to love.
3 years into their marriage and it seemed it was yesterday when he had returned to whisk her away.Its surreal how time passes when you are happy.It hadn't taken them long to settle into their married life.Their friendship and the raw honesty never let any major conflict to arose between them.
Sure they did fought every now and then given the fact they loved to annoy each other but that was the beauty of their relationship.
They went on to fulfill all those dreams they have woven together.It started from their travelling adventure as they toured the world.Whether it was jumping new avenues or trying every old trick in new ways,there wasn't anything that was left for imagination.
They had been pleasantly surprised when Arnav's closest friend Michael and his wife has thrown an reception party for them.Her heart swelled with pride seeing the admiration and respect she saw in his colleagues and juniors for him.
Their social circle extended with time and they made it a point to visit India once a year and her parents flew down as well couple of times.Time has healed her estranged relationship with her parents and though noone could fill in the space of Arnav's parents and she was always on guard when it concerned him,things were far more comfortable between them as well.
He continued reaching new heights in his flying career and she continued with her writing.The constant support and motivation from the other adding the fuel to soar higher in their respective careers.And today she was going to give him the news that would fulfill his deepest longing.
She saw him giving up his tryst of finding the suitable place as he placed it on the mantle above the fireplace.
"I think we need a new glass cabinet but should it be here or in the library?"
He waited for her answer but she just smiled to herself.They have never gone for the cliches so why start now?.She decided as she ignored his question and asked back.
"Do you still like the name Ananya?"
Before he could even comprehend what she was saying,she continued telling him off.
"And mind you,you can't and I mean it just can't call me Lazybump when she is around which means you will only get to say it very rarely.So you better start practising now"
She saw realisation dawning in his eyes before he rushed to her and encased her in a crushing embrace.He didn't utter a word but just kept holding her and as she was about to pull back and ask him when she felt wetness on her shoulders.
Tears pooled in her eyes but she reigned them in as the man who hasn't let himself grieve for his parent's death cried his heart out and she let him nomatter how much it pained her.She held him in her arms,soothing him with her love renewing the promise she has made to herself years ago of bestowing him with every happiness she was capable of.
Once he regrouped himself,he bend on his knees as he kissed her abdomen and then wasted no time in expressing his joy in the best way he knew how,to the woman who was the reason Arnav Singh Raizada was finally going to have his own family.
They sat contendly as she updated him about how she wanted to confirm it before breaking the news to him.Having a baby that was part him and part her was something they have been waiting for and though he wasn't happy she had gone about it alone,he realised where she was coming from.
As if just realising on what she has told him before.He announced animatedly.
"Ill never stop calling you lazybump but Ill make sure to not mention it when she is around"
"And if its a boy then?"
"Even better our daughters will have a big brother to look after them as well".He answered winking at her.
"Just how many kids are you planning Mr Raizada? ".
"For now lets try to do the best for the little one right here".He spoke concretly laying his palm on the her stomach which she covered with her own.She snuggled in his arms and he kissed her head whispering "I Love You".
"I know" was her only answer.
Arnav and Khushi will continue their journey donning different roles from time to time,dealing with every curveball life threw at their way bonded by the thread of love that was forever.
This Version Of "A Thousand Years" seemed to be writen for this Arnav and Khushi.Do Listen To It If Possible.
For PMs For Future Work,Buddy LiveLaughLovePM
Until We Meet Again.!!
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