Chapter 7

The Morning After The Night Before

Chapter 7

Khushi awoke after a fitful night's sleep her stomach was still performing somersaults she felt dreadful. Who the hell said pregnancy was a beautiful time in one's life must either have been a man or have been in need of severe psychiatric care.

"Khushi are you alive in there?"

Her dad entered slowly poking his head round the corner "Ok so you are alive ! You just need a bit of help". With that he placed a cup of her steaming pick me up brew.

"You are like your mum in more ways than you know, he gently stroked her head "get some down you and will feel better, I guess I am not going to see you at work for a while"

Khushi stomach lurched and she ran to her bathroom. Along while later, when she felt calmer. "Sorry Dad, I just used your shirt like a towel - does this get any better? - lie to me if you have to"

Her dad held her still "Khushi, it really does"

"Mum went through this twice - voluntarily - she must have been certified insane! Why would you want to do this to yourself!"

"Khushi I will ask you that in about seven and a half months. Any plans? We have dinner at Arnav's tonight ok at 7.00pm"

"Go away - dad don't make my day worse for me"

"Khushi you will be married tomorrow - you will be moving in with them". Shashi looked at his daughter hesitantly , had she not realised - looking at her face the thought had not crossed her mind it was dawning on her know.

Marriage meant that she would be going to live with him and HIS FAMILY!

"DDDAAADDD!" was all she screamed. "OMG - what Have I done?

Shashi pulled out his phone "Hi cancel my meeting for this morning- I am going to be late"

Shashi sat there holding his little girl for a long while, Payal came in and Shashi signalled her out.

"Ok feeling better?"

"I have to leave my home - you, Payal?"

"Khushi they always say that a girls true home is her husbands. Our time was borrowed"

Khushi hugged her father -"Our time was never borrowed! And what makes you think I am leaving this house?"

"You will, one day, you will, all little girls grow up"

"Now more importantly when is the cougar making a reappearance at work? I don't pay you for doing nothing"

"You don't pay me at all!"

"You carry my credit cards and have complete autonomy over my bank accounts-that is as good as getting paid -you get your money and have full access to our money"

"hmm that's why I am the cougar and your daughter -I've got a good thing going haven't I ?"

Khushi looked up frowning

"Okay what's the cougar thinking?"

"Dad If i get married how much access does he have to our shares and our assets?

"Khushi I have already had the papers drawn up they are already with Arnav's lawyers you will both sign them before the wedding tomorrow OK. You feeling better ready to face the world."

Khushi was exhausted by 3.00pm. Payal had dragged her through every clothes and shoe shop in Dehli, ordinarily she would have loved it but at the moment she just wanted to leave. " OK Khushi just bangles and jewellery and you know houw you love choosing them.

"Err Jiji, I have a fitting at AR designs - you stay and I'll cab it home "

"No Khushi I'll drop you off at AR designs and then get the rest of the stuff"

Khushi found herself waving bye to her sister who insisted on dropping her off ,when all she really wanted to do was go home to sleep.

She climbed the stairs dragging one foot behind the other, thinking what will Arnav say.

Arnav on the other hand saw a pale exhausted Khushi coming up the staircase.

"Aakaash ,Khushi's here I'll be back in about 15 minutes you carry on here."

Arnav met Khushi half way up the stairs smiling "What brings you to these neck of the woods ? Couldn't wait till the evening to see me ? You look exhausted?"

All Arnav saw was her lower lip tremble and and tears filled her eyes, threatening to cascade over like a torrential downpour.

What had he got himself into -every time he turned round she was crying. Now here in the middle of his working day. What crisis could possibly have occurred to bring her here like this? Part of him was glad she was here, he liked seeing, he definitely liked kissing her but she was a distraction and he needed to focus. He abhorred crying females and she was definitely one of them. What had Pyaal said she was going to be one screwed up individual for the duration. Please god just let these mood swings be hormonal he thought otherwise he would have to contend with tears for the rest of his life. Whoa up Arnav, thought to himself where did God come into this conversation - forget about Khushi, he was losing the plot himself.

He reached out grabbed her had much to the wonderment of his staff.

They had never seen this side of him, he was an employer lease whose temper was on a short who couldn't tolerate incompetency in his work environment. They were all aware that he was getting married in a rush and the corridors were awash with rumours about the reason. Everything had been mentioned they had been caught in bed together , she was pregnant , her father had come after him with a shot gun. Khushi's brother had found them and all hell had broken loose.

But what the staff saw was a beautiful lady who their boss was gently leading towards the elevator. The stony ice hard ASR eyes had gone ,tender concern was reflected .

As Arnav and Khushi rode up the elevator to the penthouse.

The staff broke into monkey chatter.

Did you see her ,she is beautiful , OMG what happened to the boss, he didn't shout at as us or tell us to get on with our work, He left his meeting for her , must be true love , ASR tho gaye .What's her name ? Where did he find her ? The Milan Fashion Show, no he's been seeing her for about a year .

Soon as he got her to the penthouse the dam broke and the tears flowed. Helpless against the onslaught of tears waiting for them to subside. He just held her - nothing more his calmness and strength seemed to flow from him to her. Strangely in his arms she felt safe and secure -here she felt that nothing or no one could harm her. Slowly the storm died. She looked up at him, Arnav thought she has the most amazing eyes, those tantalizing lips to taste them now would be heaven. Slowly, very slowly he nibbled her lips seeking permission to enter and then passion took over and a tango of tongues ensued.

A long while later she sat on the sofa drinking tea with Arnav, her feet curled beneath her leaning on him for support. Neither uttering a word just content to be with each other.

"Khushi I need to go back to work"

" OK can i stay

"You needed to ask that?"

"I'll pick you up and take you to Shantivan for dinner and tell your dad that are with me ok . "

Khushi dreamed away into her fantasy land.

"Bhai that was a quick 15 minutes"

"Shut up Akaash and concentrate"

"Yeh like I am the one who's been making out"

"What?"

"Look in the mirror bhai"

Arnav returned with a sheepish grin " work Akaash"

"Bhai I'm glad, you're marrying Khushi whatever the circumstances for your marriage , she is good for you"

"Work" was the stern reply but the smile meant something else.

It was several hours later when his cell rang " Hi Chocolate box"

Arnav groaned with these two sisters around would he ever get any work done,and that name he knew it was here to stay.

"Hi Payal "

"Hey when you sending the bride home , she must have had her fitting by now?"

"Sorry Payal I got caught up at work" Arnav quickly explained the change in plans. Akaash it is nearly 7.00 you better get home for the dinner and I will go and get Khushi and bring her.

Dinner at Shantivan was a combination of awkward periods of silence followed by discussions of the wedding arrangements. How many guests had been invited how much food, boxes of mithai would be needed at the end.

"How much ish the mithai coshting ?"

Shashi began "Its not for you to worry about"

Khushi without thinking said 250 family invites order 300 boxes at Rs 691 including gift wrapping is around Rs 207,300 put in the probability factor that dad will want to send boxes round to all the people we have dealings with add another 400 boxes to the original amount you need an extra Rs 276,400. Total Rs 483,700- what a crime Dad. Lets just feed the orphans for that amount. What have i said now ?"

Khushi looked at everyone around her as Mammi Ji gaped Di and Akaash looked on stunned at how quickly the calculation had been carried out mentally. Arnav saw her in a new light.

Shashi smiled "thats her thing - she is and always has been a whizz at numbers- why do you think when i negotiate she is with me. They call her the Cougar in business - she has worked out the profit and loss margins and they can't fudge numbers with her." "Just exactly what do you think my sister does chocolate box ?"

"Cry !"

Shashi just laughed as Khushi scowled "Oh stop it Khushi you must admit recently your bawling has reached new heights and before you comment Arnav , piece of advice I'm her father , I can say what i like about her, You on the other hand i would remind you sometimes silence is the better part of valour - you may set the fountain of again"

"Dad I'm not that bad?...silence.,,,,,,,,,,,,,Payaal?...silence...Arnav?..."

"Your adorable" was Arnav's reply.

"Wise choice of words - a true politician at heart a non committal answer - you are learning fast , Khushi he will make a good husband"

Thereafter the mood lightened at the dinner table with even Nani and Mami Ji relaxing around the table.

"Khushi would you like to see my garden"

"Hey Chocolate Box is that what we are calling it now ?"

"Well the purchaser must have satisfaction guaranteed as there are no returns on this sale"

"Arnav! And Jiji stop calling him chocolate box"

By now the whole table was in laughter.

Khushi was muttering under her breath went across the table and grabbed Arnav's hand and led the way out the room mutterings she went to the echoes of laughter behind her.

Khushi stop - Arnav looked at her anger filled eyes and tucked a strand of stray hair gently behind her ear. "Where are you going sweetheart ?"

"I have absolutely no idea, this isn't my house"

"I thought as much"

Arnav body silently shook in laughter and then he led the way - "My room -soon to be our room"

Khushi looked around the room -it was huge with glass doors that opened directly into a private courtyard with plants and a 20 meter pool .

There is three ways into this area -two of them are permanently locked so the only way in is through our room .

Khushi and Arnav sat by the pool till Arnav got a message "Chocolate box time for the chief taster to go home"

"Khushi they are calling us"

"Hmmm"

"Look don't hmmm me its your sister calling"

"We have a long day ahead - I know it's a bit late - you OK with getting married ?"

"Getting married is the easy part -moving in that's a whole new story"

Arnav gently kissed her " till tomorrow"

"OMG Arnav I have to move into this house TOMORROW! Jiji ! Jiji ! Lets go home now !" Khushi flew out of Arnav room and down the stairs two at a time.

"What the ..."was all Arnav managed in disbelief -well at least it wasn't tears.

"Careful Khushi Bittia you might fall"

"Khushi slow down"

"Who's chasing you ?"

"Time, Dad, Time"

Khushi looked at her dad - he understood without a word. He caught her to him and hugged her "We had better leave now and stock up on chocolate ice cream on the way -no guests invited this is a strictly father daughter party "

For those of you asking - the actual wedding - with a definitely unusual wedding night .

harrybiggins2014-01-10 16:06:28