Chapter 19
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Thread #3 thanks to all your wonderful comments. Special thanks to
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Desert Rose ' Chapter 18
His mouth claimed her
lips in an urgency that suffused her entire body with an intense, uncontrollable
longing for fulfilment. She responded with an abandon, opening her lips to
allow the insistent thrust of his tongue.Her entire body shuddered with
excitement as her dhak-dhak began in full force'.
Khushi
woke up with a start as her heart had started clamouring wildly. She opened her
eyes almost expecting to see the chocolate eyes staring back at her. But all
she could see was an empty bed.She had
been dreaming about him again.
She
couldn't believe that it was almost a month after Payal and Akash's wedding ---
a month of discoveries for Khushi in her new household.
On
the night of the Sangeet, she had cried herself to sleep when Shyam had told
her about Arnav and Ria. In the days following the wedding, she had kept out of
Arnav's way, talking to him only when absolutely necessary. After two weeks,
Arnav had left on a business trip.
In
retrospect, Khushi realized that she had no right to feel so possessive about
someone who didn't love her in return. He had married her dueto a sense of
responsibility and nothing more.
But she missed him. She missed
seeing him through the mirror as he came into the room sweaty from the gym. She
missed seeing him at breakfast. She missed seeing him before she fell asleep
across her pillows.Did being in love make
one weak and pathetic like it did her?
She
remembered her resolve about giving him his freedom after Akash and Payal were
settled in their married life. But Khushi had soon realized that it might be
easier said than done.
Mamiji,
still upset that things had not gone her way, had turned out be quiet the
tyrant. Naniji, much progressive than her daughter-in-law, inspite of her age,
had decided to go on a pilgrimage along with her friends. So in her absence
mamiji was having a field day. She had made it very clear that she no longer
wanted to eat food prepared by Hariprakash or Lakshmi, as it was the duty of
the new daughter-in-law to cook. She also expected Payal to get the pooja room
ready for the early morning aarti and then press her legs every night after dinner.
She left no stone unturned to treat like the hired help.Of all the things, it
was mamiji's snide remarks about the pregnancy that hurt Khushi the most.
Payal
being anaemic,in addition to suffering from severe morning sickness was having
a tough time coping up. Luckily for them, mamiji was too lazy to supervise for
more than a few minutes, allowing Khushi to cover up for her wherever possible.
She woke up early to get the pooja ready for the aarti and then managed to
prepare breakfast. Later on, she helped Payal prepare lunch and dinner, making
sure she did minimal work.
Though
Akash was a very loving husband,he often took a very neutral position --as far
his mother was concerned, which was in no way useful to Payal. He continued to
go on his weekly boys' night out leaving Payal all alone. Khushi realized that
Arnav was right about him. He was not ready for marriage.
The
one person Khushi could count on ' her sister-in-law, Anjali -- was just too
busy. The reason for that was that Anjali ran an NGO in collaboration with Dr
Manav. She accompanied Dr Manav on his rounds of the smaller villages where
they worked closely with the local Panchayats regarding issues like basic
healthcare and education. Khushi had once accompanied them on one such trip and
was amazed at the selfless work they did together.
'A
year ago, I was in a deep depression Khushi,' Anjali had confessed to her. She
had found out that she could not conceive because of a uterine defect. That was
the reason she had decided to stay in Raisar as the loneliness in Delhi had
been driving her crazy. One day, Manav had taken her with him on one of his
rounds, to one of the villages where Anjali had seen women with problems much
greater than her own. She had found her purpose in life. Arnav had agreed to
her idea of starting an NGO and had funded her organization.
'When
I first men Shyam, he told me he wanted to be an environmental lawyer. I think
I had fallen in love with his ideals. I wanted to be one too. But my parents
didn't think that would be an appropriate profession for a woman. They wanted
me to get married and settle down.
'Shyam
didn't become an environmental lawyer because it wasn't very lucrative. He
aspires to be in politics. That is not bad either. He could still bring about
change.' She had told Khushi.
Khushi
felt sad for her sister-in-law who was exuberant in spite of such profound
grief. She found an opportunity to cheer her up when she realized that it was
her birthday the following week. When she spoke to Akash and Manav about throwing
a surprise birthday party for her, they agreed that it would be a great idea.
But
there was one problem that had begun to bug her --- Shyam Manohar Jha. He had gone back to Delhi a week after the
wedding, but had returned a few days ahead in lieu of Anjali's birthday.She
wary of him, because of the way he had spoken about Arnav on different
occasions.He had wanted to join in the planning for Anjali's surprize birthday
party andit was during this time thatKhushi realized that Anjali's husband was
not what he seemed to be. His behaviour with her was bordering on inappropriate
--- superfluously touching her or complimenting her, his stare almost
lascivious at times. She knew there were people who were little more physical
than others but didn't were harmless. She wondered if she was being
unnecessarily paranoid about Shyam. Nevertheless, she made sure she was never
alone with him.
Though
Khushi enjoyed every moment of planning the party for Anjali, she wished Arnav
could also be with them. She was sure he would have enjoyed doing this for his
sister. But, Akash had told her that Arnav was really busy and that it was
highly unlikely that he would even make it to the party.
That
night in a hotel in Mumbai, Arnav tossed restlessly on his bed. Sleep didn't
come easily to him these days. He missed
seeing a certain face before he went to sleep.
He
got up from bed and mixed himself a vodka tonic. His thoughts went back to the
day of the Akash and Payal'swedding.
As he stood looking at
the bride and bridegroom taking their pheras around the fire, Khushi looking
on, her eyes moist with tears, Anjali had said ---
'Chotte, I know we have
already beaten this to death.' She paused. 'But as a woman, I want you to know
that getting married like this is what most girls'dream of.'As his sister
walked away, he felt an uneasiness swamp him in the region of his heart.
For
some reason Khushi's behaviour had seemed stilted after the wedding. After two
weeks of silent treatment he had been relieved when the trip to Mumbai had come
up, hoping work would provide some respite.
He
raked his fingers as he thought of the phone call he had received earlier in
the evening. It was from the police. They had called to inform him that they
might re-open Lavanya's case as they had found some evidence that linked her
death to two other women who had died under similar circumstance of drug
overdose in the last two years. They had requested him for any information that
might be of use to them. He downed the rest of his drink in one gulp and
slapped the glass back on the table.F@#$!He
didn't want this crap about Lavanya starting all over again.
On
the evening of Anjali's birthday, Khushi stood in the closet looking at the
clothes hung up on her side. Anjali had helped her re-arrange Arnav's clothes
so that her new clothes could be accommodated.
She
had found out a few days ago that Anjali was not the one that had laid out the
red lehenga for her on the Sangeet evening. A set of suits and sarees had
arrived for her after Arnav had left for his trip. The clothes were beautiful
and fit her to perfection. She wondered how he had figured out her size. Now
that she was Mrs Arnav Singh Raizada, it was natural that he would want her to
look the part as well, thought Khushi.
She
chose a dark red chiffon suit with tiny bronze buttons running the length of
it, from the V neckline to the hem. It had a bronze border on the hem and the
cuff of the long sheer sleeves.
A
little later, she joined Akash, Payal and Manav in the living room to welcome
Anjali's school friends who Manav had managed to invite.Shyam brought Anjali to
the house in the evening as planned, having taken her out to the city for some
shopping.When they entered the house, the house that seemed shrouded in
darkness, came alive with lights and shouts of "surprise", making Anjali squeal
with delight. She was overwhelmed with happiness to see her friends and well-wishers
gathered there to wish her.
When
Anjali went up to change into a better saree, Khushi went around making sure
the guests were being taken care of.
'Khushiji,'
said Shyam coming up to her, 'we would need more cutleries for the party. Would
you please come with me to the store room and help me find it? Hariprakashji
seems to be busy with the guests,' he added when he saw Khushi looking around.
Khushi
didn't know how to refuse him without making it obvious. As she nodded her
assent and began to walk with Shyam, she caught Manav's eye. 'Hey Khushi, what's up?' he asked her.
'We were going to store room to get some
cutleries,' she explained, heaving aninward sigh of relief at the interruption.
'You don't have to trouble yourselves for
that,' he said affably, 'Hariprakash!' he yelled getting the man's attention
right away. 'He is then better man for the job anyway.'
As
Shyam gave a tight smile, Manav said, 'If you could excuse us, I would like to
introduce Khushi to some of my school friends.'
Manav
led Khushi away from Shyam, stepping out to the patio garden. As Khushi sat on
the low parapet wall, looking out into night, the beautiful garden filled with bougainvillea
and desert rose plants, Manav spoke gently. 'What was with that SOS look you
shot me Khushi? What's going on?'
Khushi
hesitatingly briefed Manav about her anxiety regarding Shyam, adding finally
that it was probably just her imagination.
'Don't
ever disregard a sixth sense as nothing Khushi,' said Manav, 'you can never be
too careful with these things. My advice would be to confide in Arnav.'
'I
don't know Dr Manav,' she said quietly. She had deliberately misled Arnav once,
for her own gain. Why would he believe her if she told him about his own
brother-in-law who he knew for much longer than he knew her?
'I don't want to unnecessarily cause trouble
in Di's life based on a hunch, Dr Manav.' Khushi said in a low voice. 'She's
already had too much grief to deal with as it is.'
'So
you know about her not being able to conceive?' said Manav grimly. 'I am glad
she spoke to you about it. She was so sad last year that it scared me. I have
been pressing her to go see this specialist friend of mine, but she is afraid
she will get more disappointment. '
'She
told me how you helped her manage her depression.'
'Well,
I do have years of experience of being her friend,' he quipped. 'Anju and I
studied together in the same class for years,' he explained. 'We were best
friends. Arnav used to be so jealous about that. He would try and tag along
with us.' He reminisced fondly about how they had spent their childhood years
to youth playing, studying and having fun together.
Khushi
looked up at him. 'How do you manage to be around her Dr Manav?'
'What
do you mean?' he said he brows creased in query.
'You
are in love with her.' She said.
'What?
No!' he protested, his eyes going wide. When Khushi kept looking at him, he
admitted, 'is it that obvious?' He was silent for a long time.
'I
am sorry Dr Manav,' Khushi apologized. 'I had no right, I ----'
'It's
alright Khushi,' he paused. 'After our twelfth grade, we split up. I got
admission in Manipal Medical College in Mangalore and she went to Delhi for her
BA.
'When
I was away from her I realized that my feelings had grown to be more than
friendship. I was going to tell her when we met here in Raisar during the
holidays. But I was too late. She had met Shyam in Delhi and didn't talk about
anything else other than that.I didn't tell her.
'Later,
when her parents were looking out for a groom for her I was still studying. And
then, when they died in the crash, I was away in a remote village doing my
house surgency. The next time I saw her was at her wedding. I guess we were not
meant to be.'
'Dr
Manav'..' Khushi whispered sadly.
'I
know what you are thinking,' he told her bringing a smile to his lips. Don't worry; I am not going to ruin her marriage
and our friendship by telling her my feelings. I am happy that she is happy.'
'Chotte!'
exclaimed Anjali, thrilled that her brother had made it after all. 'I wasn't
expecting you.'
'Well,
since I couldn't be here to be part of your surprize party, I decided that I
should keep my visit a surprise.' He said affectionately hugging his sister.
'This
is the best surprise party ever!' she exclaimed.'Thanks to Khushi!'
'Di,
how can you forget about us?' Akash interposed.
As
he began looking around him, Anjalisaid her tone teasing. 'Hmm looks like
someone has missed his wife a lot.'
'But
the wife doesn't seem to have missed her husband at all,' said Shyam his tone
acrimonious.
At
a sharp look from Anjali he sobered, 'I mean, she has good friends to keep her
company in his absence. She is in the garden.'
As
Khushi sat silently listening to the usually affable Dr Manav, speak out his
feelings so intensely, unbeknownst to her, the man she had been missing, was
standing at the french doors of the patio.
'You
are a good man Dr Manav.' Khushi said placing a comforting hand on his
shoulder.
'I
hope I have your assurance that you will never discuss this with anyone?'
'I
promise,' she said, 'if you promise not to tell Di or Arnavji about Shyamji
just yet.' She said anxiously.
'You
have got to be careful Khushi,' Manav said his brows creased in concern.
'I
will Dr Manav.'
Just
as Manav smiled up at Khushi, he saw Arnav walking toward them. 'Hey Arnav!' he
yelled out to him, 'didn't think you were going to make it,' he said as Arnav
came closer.
Khushi
turned around, surprised and elated at the same time. Her heart began beating
an erratic dhak-dhak.
'Sorry
to have disappointed you my friend,' he said enigmatically.
'No
way!' said Manav laughing as he got up, 'Alright, I will leave you two alone
now.'
'That's
ok Manav. I didn't mean to disturb.'
'Oh
that was just random chit chat' he said, looking at Khushi, 'it's time to catch
up with my other friends. See you both inside?' He walked away leaving them
both alone.
'That
seemed like a very serious conversation,' he said after a few seconds. 'What were
you talking about?' Arnav asked.
'You
heard what Dr Manav said,' she replied carefully, 'we were generally talking.'
Khushi hated lying, but she knew that what Manav had revealed was relative to
Anjali and Arnav might not take it the right way. There was no point in digging
up old graves.
'Come
on inside you two, it's time for cake cutting,' Akash called out to them.
As
they went inside, Khushi once again threw herself in taking care of the guests.
But she was constantly aware of her husband's eyesfollowing her everywhere she
went. She knew from his body language that something was bothering him.
Finally,
the dinner was done and the party came to an end as most of the guests took
their leave. 'What took you so long?' said Arnav as soon as Khushi entered the bedroom
an hour later. The room was aglow with the low light from the floor lamp next
to the chaise on which he was seated. He working on his laptop, placed on the
coffee table in front of it. The incandescence from the floor lamp, threw his
features in shadows making him look harsh.
'I
was helping Haripraskashji clean up.' She said going up to the dressing table
to take off her jewellery.
He
came straight to the point. 'Why were you sitting with a Manav, alone in the
garden, away from the party?'
'Since
when did it become a crime to sit with a friend and talk?' she countered
irritated at his question.
Arnav
stood up to his full height. 'Since when did he become your friend?' he said
acrimoniously.
Khushi
turned around in anger, disliking his tone. 'I don't owe you any explanations!'
'Of
course you do!' he rasped as took a step toward her. 'I am your husband!'
'Oh
is that so? Then, maybe you would like to divulge your whereabouts on our
wedding night?'
'What
the f@#$!'
'On
the night of the Sangeet, you went with Ria Chopra to her hotel!' she spat out
angrily. 'Care to explain about that?'
The brown eyes glittered, and she saw a muscle
move beside his jaw. She had made him angry, she knew, and suddenly she wished
very much that she hadn't.
He
said softly, 'You really have a rock-bottom opinion of me, don't you, Khushi? I
may as well justify it.'
As
he strode toward her, Khushi shrank, but there was no retreat possible. She was
trapped between his advancing figure and the door behind her.
She
said pleadingly, 'Arnavji ' I'm sorry ''
'No,
you are not.' He shook his head. 'But you will be.' One arm went round her, the
other under her knees, scooping her up as effortlessly as
if she had been a child.
He
walked with her to the wide bed and dropped her, sprawling, on to the
comforter. For a second she lay there, robbed of breath,then she twisted,
attempting to roll across the bed and reach the floor on the other side, away
from him.
But
he was too quick for her. His hands caught her by the shoulders, dragging her
back, pinning her easily against the yielding softness of the mattress. Then
with one supple movement he was kneeling astride her, imprisoning her
struggling body between his knees.
Khushi
was breathing hard, her breasts rising and falling quickly, as she glared up at
him.
She
spat out 'I told you not to touch me!'
'So
you keep saying.' He said between his teeth, 'But, your body was saying a
completely different story on the night of the Sangeet''when I kissed you.
And
this suit you're wearing ''.is an invitation in itself.' The long fingers
reached down and unfastened the button at the top of the bodice, then moved
down, releasing the one at the hem, at the bottom, rucked up to the mid-thigh
by her struggles.
Her
little startled gasp broke off in her throat. She said, 'Arnavji 'please ''
'Please
what Khushi,' he said softly, mockingly. Unhurriedly, he did two more buttons,
brushing the loosened edges of the kurti away from her body.Her face burned,
and she sank her teeth into her lower lips as another two buttons gave away.
The fire was spreading to her body, because he was touching her now, his
fingertips moving softly, sensuously over her skin, her collar bone, the curves
of her breasts where they rose above the demure lace of her bra, along the
length of her thighs encased in skin tight leggings. Her pulses went haywire,
her heart fluttering against her rib cage like a trapped bird, and the liquid
heat began to pool at the pit of her stomach.
She
turned her head away, feeling feverish, closing her eyes as she did so, because
she didn't want to look at him, didn't want him to see her eyes.
He
was seducing her with his touch, she realized, dry-mouthed, tantalizing her
with this slow, calculated removal of her clothes, teasing her into wanting
more. And she wanted so much more, she realised as his hand moved to the last
remaining fastening at her waist, and her dress fell away.
She
felt him move. She wasn't his prisoner anymore, because now he was lying beside
her, his hands sliding the sleeves of the kurti down from her shoulders,
freeing her arms. He touched her face, cupping her chin, turning her gently but
inexorably towards him.
'I
haven't been with Ria or anyone else since the time you stormed into my life,'
he said looking into her almond eyes and then his mouth covered hers. A long
quiver ran through her body as her lips parted under his, shyly at first, then
completely as the intimate invasion of his tongue kindled her response.
Khushi's
heart sang with joy at his admission, knowing, as she stared into his caramel
depths, that he was telling her the truth.Her fingers curled into the woven
fabric of the comforter and her body tensed as his fingers traced the cleft
between her breasts. He was teasing, allowing his fingers to explore so far and
no further inside the fragile cups. Thenhis hand skimmed the flatness of her
quivering stomach, and curved about the rounding of her hip.
He
said her name against her lips, leaving her mouth to place tiny kisses along
the long length of her throat, down her chest, then the clip on her bra was
twisted free and she gasped as she felt his hand on her naked breasts. His
touch was a sensuous agony. His palm cupped the soft mound, his fingerscaressing
the hardening peak, sending a shaft of bewildering pleasure right to her molten
core.
His
lips continued their path down the cleft between her breasts, down to the flat
planes of her stomach, his tongue delving into the recesses of her navel.
She
felt a little moan rising in her throat. The blood was singing in her ears, her
senses were clamouring for the ultimate fulfilment.
Then
his tongue traced the path up her rib cage, to her breasts, and he took one
small engorged peak into his mouth, suckling, his mouth like molten fire
against her skin. She felt her body shudder in anguished delight, her hands
lifting of their own volition to twist in the thick, crisp hair at the nape of
his neck.
She
was sinking down into the softness of the mattress, the weight of his lean body
imprisoning her, creating new hungers in every trembling inch of her as she
strained towards him with a need that bordered on desperation.
His
hand slid below her stomach, his face absorbed, intent, his mouth hot and
seeking against her other breast. His hands were urgent as they stroked her
through the thin fabric of her leggings, with a swift and sensual purpose.
Her
hands moved down to his shoulders, her fingernails digging into the hard
muscles, her body lifting toward his in an arc of sheer abandonment.
As
she let out a strangled moan at the double onslaught, she vaguely became aware
of the loud knocking on the door, as Arnav lifted his head sharply, saying
'What the f@#$!'
It
was Akash. Arnav got off the bed, swearing under his breath as he strode across
the room to open the door.
Khushi
watched him go, feeling dazed and breathless and curiously bereft. She got off
the bed, sliding her arms into her kurti and clutching her dupatta to her
breasts, she rushed into the closet.She caught a glimpse of herself in the
mirror, and gulped, at the sight --- the tumbled hair, the flushed, aroused
face, her undressed quaking body.
She
reddened, huddling back into her bra, cursing at the numerous tiny buttons of
her kurti that he had undone so meticulously moments ago. She dragged her
fingers through her tangled hair, trying to tame the recalcitrant tresses.
Adjusting the dupatta on her shoulders, she walked back into the bedroom to
find Arnav,whose eyes that had been smouldering with passion a few moments ago,
now looking at her with anger.
'So,
you worked as a designer at the
boutique,' he said, his voice dangerously low.
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