Chapter 7

Arnav - Whats wrong in that... one in the house...one outside...why do you think I searched you ...just to be at home...dont dream you will get to be with me all the time...(Khushi was shocked to hear something like that from him who was all lovey dovey till now...she wanted to ask but Pranav and Aarthi came as the party got over)

Aarthi - See they are here...(Pranav smiles and they come closer)

Pranav - Amazing arrangements Khushi...you are really talented...

Khushi - Thanks Papa...

Aarthi - My sweet girl... (Caress her head) its too late...lets go home...

Arnav - Maa I am really tired...lets stay back here tonight...anyways we have place to sleep...

Aarthi - Fine as you wish...but get inside...dont roam in lawn like this...its too cold...

Arnav - Ok ma... (They all get inside)

Both have changed to their night dress. Khushi is sitting on bed and lost somewhere. Arnav bring some fruits and is concerned seeing her lost. He keeps the plate aside and sits next to her.

Arnav - What happened? (No response)...Khushi...(No response)...Khushi...(He raises his voice and she jerks...looking at him...) What happened?

Khushi - Nothing...

Arnav - Then why are you lost like this?

Khushi - Forget it...lets sleep...

Arnav - Not before you eat some fruits.

Khushi - I am full I dont want to eat (She was about to get up and pulls her back) what now

Arnav - I saw what you ate and how much you ate...so just eat it...(he forcefully make eat a piece of appl. She is chewing) Tell me what is it?

Khushi - I told nothing

Arnav - But I know there is something...tell me...

Khushi - Why are you so concerned for me...go show concerns to you girl friend. (Arnav understood her problem now)

Arnav - Ah...that...forget it Khushi...you know what...I actually felt so happy when I got to know you are my wife because you were so smart..but day by day you act like a duffer

Khushi - What... you called me duffer...

Arnav - Yes then what ...i was just pulling your leg and now you have made your face like a baloon for that?

Khushi - Pulling leg? Everything is so funny for you right? (She get tears filled up) you never understand my feelings...

Arnav - Yeah right...as though you told me your feelings...dont talk like this Khushi...you were running from me...I got you back...

Khushi - It would be nice if I had gone (She starts sobbing loud and in a funny manner) look what kind of husband I have...

Arnav - Hmmm whichever kind I am ...I am better than you (She sobs more louder) ok ok...no more jokes...atleast tell what did I do...I said it was just for fun...

Khushi - If it was fun then you could have chosen any girl...why did you refer to your college friend?

Arnav - Comen on I dint even see who she was...I pointed her just..(wiper her tears).wait wait...what did you say? College friend?

Khushi - Yeah ... Sheetal...

Arnav - Sheetal...??? You knew Sheetal??? (His expressions change from concerned to frustration)

Khushi - No I just met her in party...and she (she narrates everything that sheetal had told her) I think you both liked each other...you just got me back because you were married to me in childhood...just to give justice...(Arnav was already angry with the story she told which was all lie)

Arnav - Shut up Khushi...grow up...I never got you to give justice...I got because you are my wife...I cant believe you cant judge people...(he pulls her hand..) come with me...(he takes her towards the small outhouse of the guest house. While walking she remember flashback)

Khushi was showing the progress of arrangement and this outhouse was locked...

Khushi - Sir...if you can give me the keys of this outhouse we can get that cleaned and can use for sit out of some special business partners who may not like crowd...

Arnav - Good idea...but we cant open it just get a alternate plan Khushi... (smiles)

Khushi - Any problem sir?

Arnav - Nothing of that sort...just that... we have misplaced the keys and I dont want to breakopen the lock. Its little personal...

Khushi - Sure Sir (Smiles and continues with her explaination of other stuff)

In present Arnav was opening the lock and Khushi questions

Khushi - You had told the keys are lost...

Arnav - I dint want to tell truth as I dint know that you are my wife at that time...(Khushi mutters to herself...dont know how many other lies he has told) I heard that...just stop blabbering...come (he pulls her inside and locks the door. While getting in she stumbles on something)

Khushi - Why is it so dark?? What was it that stumbled on

Arnav - I am gonna murder you now thats why its all dark...you stumbled on a time bomb.. (chuckles to himself)

Khushi - look you cant do like this...you got me to murder how cheap... (he switches on the light...she sees a tidy house...everything neatly kept...their child marriage photographs arranged as they do regularly in house...She starts walking in as there were notes stuck at many places...started going towards them to read

On sofa - "Hey Khushi...I got this sofa for our house...hope you like it...when you come lets sit and chit chat on this spend some quality time...watching TV..and...ahem..I cant write everything right..." She thinks... "I would love to spend time here with you"...caressing the edges

Fireplace - "You know why I got this done? During some winter and rainy nights we can have this lit and spend cozy nights...dont worry I have this smooth furry and think fush...it wouldnt hurt you...did you like the idea?? **Winks**"(She feels the fush which was so smooth...blushes)

Kitchen Counter - "I dont know if you can cook or not but I am sure you can atleast make tea or coffee...I want you to come in this kitchen and mess it with you fragrance.."(She feels the new stove...smiling...thinking to herself "I can cook Arnav ji...")

Dining Table - "We would come here every sunday so all three meals you need to feed me...I missing you Khushi...please come to me..."(She get emotional with the way Arnav had waited for her all these days and his confidence to find her...Arnav comes closer puts his hand on her shoulder)

Arnav - There is a room upstairs...(He guides her..she is silently walking behind him and notices a note near staircase.. she picks it up reads while walking)

Staircase - "Dont get scared wifey...if you ever get tired to climb stairs I will pick you and get you to our room" (She smiles and walks further now they reached their room...it was a small yet a great looking room..with a attached pool...again she spots some notes)

Bed restboard -"Its our bed...uhhh you know it was so difficult for me to make a choice...I wish you were with me...anyway I have thought that we will have only one kid so this is good enough till our kid grows up and later we can shift the kid to his/her own room...or if you wish we can alter the room...I am sure you will help me at that time" (Khushi thinks "God he is so thoughtful...I am so lucky to have a husband like him")

Dressing Table - "You will dress up here and I would tease you a lot...touching you here and there ...tickling...I hope you are fun loving...because I am very much fun loving" (Khushi thinks "I have already realised it...I would love to be teased by you")

Poolside door - "Hmmm this is yet another special romantic place...where we would have lot of cherishing memories...I have a gut feeling that you would like it..."(She opens the door and get on to the poolside where there was a small pool with lot of space around and 2 relaxing chairs on one side and a coffee table set up on the otherside...she is speechless with the kind of feeling Arnav had for her even before meeting her...she goes back to the room and finds yet another stick note on the wardrobe door)

Wardrobe door - "This is my special treasure for you to compensate all the missing years of our marriage till date...I was unlucky to give you at the right time but would like to give the right person...this is all yours..." (She open the door. There were gifts packed and each had a letter associated with it...she starts opening them one by one...)

1 Year: Beautiful frock - Hey Khushi...mom told me that I should be responsible like papa now as I am married to you...but I dont know where you are...I am too small to search you myself...but I promise when I grow up I will surely search and get you back but today is out 1^st wedding anniversary and Papa always gifts mom on their anniversary...today I went and got you this alone...and dont worry I dint ask papa for money I saved all my pocket money for 8 months...to get you this...Mumma says husband should save for future but I spent most of my pocket money on this so sorry...from now on half of my pocket money I will save and spend it only when you come back to stay with me...and I hope you started going to school...study well...uffo see...I forgot to wish you...happy wedding anniversary...(She adored the frock)

2^nd Year: Mickey Mouse Bag - Hello Khushi...Happy wedding anniversary...its second year...you know I passed 5^th std with highest marks...still I couldnt get to meet you...I am so sad...its ok...today is a special day I should be happy...See I got you a bag this year...I have kept your share of my pocket money..1200...and will keep filling it every month...(She hugged the bag...and felt it was full...he had really filled it with his saving so far)

3^rd Year: Barbie and Prince doll - When are going to celebrate this day together?... Happy wedding anniversary Khushi...I got you these dolls this year...my classmates who are girls like to play with dolls so I think you would also like right? See I am so smart...you have to thank me for this when we meet

4^th Year: Reading couple Teddy bears - Khushi...its our wedding anniversary again but papa couldnt find anything about you...but I still wont lose hope...this is your gift this year...so that you remember to study...that blue teddy is me...I am trying to make you study...(a happy smiley was drawn)...you know I finished 7^th...will joining 8^th std I am a big boy now...my voice is changing I am sure you wont recognize me...

5^th Year: Friendship band - Its 5 years Khushi...see how dumb I was...I never gave you a friendship band...so here is your gift this year...do you remember me??? Maa was telling you were too small and would have forgotten me...(a sad smiley was drawn)

6^th Year: Kitchen set - Hello wifey...look what I got for you a Kitchen set...I know this excites you...though I dont like these girly stuff I will play with you when you come...be careful...some have sharp edges and you are small so you may get hurt...play only when I am with you...I am eager to meet you...(Khushi felt on top of world for her luck)

7^th Year: Stationary Set - Khushi darling...I got a stationary set ...I know this is the best gift at this point for you...see I am thinking like a big boy now...afterall I completed 10^th standard...all my friends are planing to have girl friends...since I already have you...I am tension free (a wink smiley was drawn) (Khushi smiles at his care at that age)

8^th Year: Bracelet - Listen sweety...I would love to call you like this ... thats your pet name from me...8 years of marriage...hmmm...without seeing each other after marriage day...this sounds weird still I am loving it...This elastic bracelet is of pure pearl...I specially got it when I went to Jaipur for school trip...(Khushi was so happy seeing it)

9^th Year: Dried Bouquet - Sorry sweety I couldnt get anything this year but I these flowers...I was on bed for 2 months as I hurt my leg during a cricket match...hope you wont get angry...even if you do...I will make up this year's gift with a kissi...when we meet...

This was getting too much for Khushi to handle...she had her favourite tears dwelled up in her eyes she turns back...Arnav was calm and watching her explore the things which he had saved for her all these years...this was his way to prove he never liked anyone apart from her...she runs to him and hugs him...tigher...starts crying...

Khushi - I am sorry...(Sobs...).I am really sorry Arnav ji...(Sobs...)...I think (He pulls her out of hug) I never des (He stops her from telling the word further by keeping his finger on her lips)

Arnav - Shhh... this was just my way to not miss you khushi...I understand you were too small to remember our marriage and had no one to remind...but when I did remember I just wanted to feel that responsibility as a husband...may be if I look back and see the initial gifts and letter they may sound so stupid but that was right for me at that age...no one was and no one can be between us...I hope you understand this...or do u you need further clarification on Sheetal???

Khushi - No I dont want...dont make me feel guilty further...I agree I acted all crazy...

Arnav - Finally you realised???

Khushi - Arnav ji...you dont tease me like this...how could you like me to this extent when you dint even knew who was I and whether you would be able to find me or not...

Arnav - I had the confidence...dint you see my notes in each place??? now I want you make all those wishes true...understand?? (he bends a littles and pecks her cheeks)

Khushi - Hmmm... (she couldnt utter more with blush...Arnav smiles)

Arnav - Oh oh... see you stopped at 9thh gift...you dont want to see the other anniversary gifts???