Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Adjustments

Over the next few days, Khushi tried several times to talk to Arnav but could never gather enough courage. She knew talking to him was important. She had the right to question him about the way he treated her... then and now. But somehow she couldn't bring herself to confront him and it was nothing to do with HIM, it was her own insecurities and fear that stopped her.

Finally she decided that she would wait a little before talking to him, observe his behaviour, see how he treated her. She decided to test him. She reduced the amount of resistance she was putting up against him just to check for any changes in his behaviour.

But to her surprise, he was very accommodating. In fact Arnav did everything he could to make her feel comfortable around him. He gave her privacy, never came near her unexpectedly or forced her for anything. She wondered why the sudden change.

But though Khushi didn't realise it, SHE was the reason behind Arnav's every behaviour, whether good or bad. His only fear was that she would leave him. It would scare him to no end. But as Khushi stopped arguing with him on every point of his, his fears though not totally erased, were calmed. He truly regretted for what he did to her and as a result he was scared that he would hurt her again. Though he had created circumstances that forced her to marry him, he didn't want to tie her down as a slave. He wished her to be free and happy. The way he had seen her behave with her friends when she worked at AR. All he wanted was to be able to see her, to know that she would always be there with him and somehow he could make her pain go away. He could do anything for that.

So unknowingly in a way it was both of them adjusting with the circumstances. Khushi had now accepted the fact that Arnav would drop and pick her up from work everyday and didn't complain about it, as a result Arnav didn't get angry over trivial things like she making him wait outside her office for a few minutes due to work or if it took a while for her to answer his calls.

Arnav would hold her hand when they would walk side by side, cup her face while talking to her or just sit next to her running his fingers through her long hair. But to Khushi's relief not once did he break his promise of not forcing her for a physical relationship. To her amazement he never said or did anything that would make her feel that he wanted to be intimate with her. His touch would be just that... a simple touch... nothing more or nothing less. This made her a bit relaxed and she didn't flinch with terror every time he came near her.

As days and weeks passed, Khushi kept stalling, putting off the moment when she would ask Arnav about the past.

~~~~~~

It was a Sunday morning and Arnav was alone in the living room reading a newspaper when Akash came up to him.

"Good morning Bhai." He greeted.

"Good Morning Akash." Arnav replied.

"Bhai actually I wanted to ask you something." Akash spoke.

"Yes?"

"Ummm... I'm taking Payal out for some shopping this afternoon, would you like to join?" Akash asked uncertainly.

Arnav lowered his newspaper and looked at Akash as if he had lost his mind.

Akash instantly realised what he had said and amended his question, "I mean would you and Khushi like to join us?"

Arnav relaxed. "Anything special that you want us to join you guys for shopping?"

"Actually yes, today it's been 3 months since we got married, I wanted to buy a gift for Payal. So I thought maybe you too would like to give something to Khushi." Akash hesitated, unsure if Arnav would approve of something like 3 month anniversaries.

Arnav on the other hand was a bit taken aback. Had it really been three months that Khushi was with him? It felt like just yesterday... He was lost in his thoughts when he was interrupted.

"Well Bhai? What do you say?" Akash asked expectantly.

"Yes, I think it is a great idea. We'll join you." He replied.

"Cool!" Akash said relieved. "I'll ask Payal to tell Khushi."

"No I'll do that." Arnav said and left for his room.

~~~~~~

Khushi was arranging ironed clothes in the wardrobe when Arnav walked in.

"Khushi?"

She turned to look at him.

"Are you busy this afternoon?" He asked.

"Not really, but why?" She asked suspiciously.

"Akash has planned to go for shopping with Payal, we could join them." He said.

She raised an eyebrow, "Shopping?"

"Uh... yes... it's three months since we got married. I wanted to buy you a gift." He was scared of her reaction.

"You don't have to Arnav. I don't want anything." She said turning back to her work.

"I know I don't have to but..."

"Khushi?" There was a knock on the door as Payal's voice floated in.

"Come in Payal." Arnav called to her.

Payal came in with a smile. "Arnavji have you told her?" She asked and he nodded. "Good. Khushi be ready on time, we'll be leaving after lunch."

Khushi immediately began to protest, "But Jiji..."

"Not now Khushi, Naniji needs my help rearranging her cabinet of spiritual books. Make sure you are ready on time." Payal repeated and left.

"Khushi please..." Arnav pleaded.

"Alright." She agreed. "I'll come but I still don't want anything." With that she walked out of the room.

~~~~~~

Arnav and Akash took Khushi and Payal to a large jeweller's shop in a mall where the two sisters sat looking at exquisite pieces of jewels.

Akash told Payal to short list whatever she liked and call him if she wanted any help. Payal smiled at him and nodded.

Arnav too asked Khushi to select something for her but she didn't reply.

Both the brothers sat on a sofa then discussing business.

The sales girl began to show various latest and antique designs of bangles, necklaces, earrings etc. While Payal looked through different items, Khushi's eye caught on a pair of particularly beautiful earrings. They were gold and diamond Jhumkas and the design was simple yet unique. Payal saw Khushi eyeing the earrings and urged her to try them on. The sales girl too forced her and she couldn't refuse. They were really beautiful and Khushi loved them when she saw her reflection in the mirror but she quickly took them off and returned them to the sales girl.

"What's wrong Khushi? They look lovely on you." Payal asked a bit confused.

"No Jiji, I don't want them. Have you chosen anything?" She asked.

"Yes, I think I like these gold bangles, I'll take them." Payal turned and signalled Akash to join them. He and Arnav walked up to them and Akash approved the bangles that Payal had selected.

"They are very nice Payal. So what has Khushi selected for her?" He asked looking at Khushi.

"Um... nothing Jijaji, I didn't like anything." Khushi said and got up to leave. Payal made a face which didn't go unnoticed by Akash and Arnav.

After Akash paid for the bangles, the four of them proceeded towards a coffee shop. They were about to sit when Arnav's phone rang and he excused himself, asking Akash to order for him. When he returned, their coffees had arrived.

Payal had taken out her bangles and Akash helped her wear them as Khushi looked at them fondly. Arnav could see her smiling at them and didn't miss the hint of sadness in her eyes.

They took a long drive out of the city, had their dinner and returned late. Payal and Akash could sense the awkwardness between Arnav and Khushi but they knew that both needed time for this relationship. Akash had purposely asked Arnav and Khushi to come along with them so that they could spend some time together.

When they returned to their room, Arnav stopped Khushi before she could go to change.

"Khushi, just one minute."

She turned to look at him questioningly.

"He pulled out a jewellery box from his pocket and held it out for her. "This is for you."

She uncertainly opened the box and was surprised to see the same Jhumkas that she had liked at the showroom. "Arnav these..."

"I know you liked them. Don't deny it. I could see it in your eyes when you were trying them on." He said not meeting her eyes.

"Arnav I said I didn't want anything. Why did you buy them?" She asked quietly holding the box towards him for him to take it back.

"Because I wanted to gift you something today. I got them for you and they are yours now. I'm not taking them back. If you don't want them, do whatever you like with them." He picked up his laptop and moved towards the poolside and sat their working with his back towards her.

Khushi glanced at the earrings once and then at Arnav's tensed back. She sighed and kept the earrings in a drawer in the wardrobe and went to change.

One thing that they both noticed was that neither of them had tried to bite each others heads off and discussed the matter very calmly.

~~~~~~

Next day at the breakfast table, Payal showed her bangles to Mami and Nani and they praised them a lot.

Nani turned to Khushi and Arnav who were sitting next to each other eating quietly. "So Khushi Bitiya, what did Chote gift you?"

"Actually Naniji, Khushi didn't like anything, so she didn't buy a gift." Payal spoke before Khushi could reply.

At that moment Arnav decided that he had eaten enough and walked away from the dining table but he was barely around the corner when he heard Khushi's voice and halted.

"Actually Naniji, Arnav bought me a nice pair of gold and diamond Jhumkas. I'll show you later." Khushi said and turned towards Payal. "The same ones that I had tried in the showroom."

Payal didn't say anything, just nodded and smiled knowingly at Akash. Khushi on the other hand didn't know why she told everyone about the earrings but when Arnav suddenly got up and left from the table she couldn't stop herself.

A ghost of a smile appeared on Arnav's face as he heard Khushi telling everyone about his gift. This would mean she accepted it. Feeling a little lighter he walked back to their room to get ready for work.

Khushi noticed that Arnav was in a much pleasant mood when he dropped her and again picked her back from work and even at home he sat chatting with everyone which he normally avoided. Once again she thought of approaching him with her questions. After dinner she found him by the poolside again, taking a stroll. She took a step forward but then paused realising that she had no idea how to start. She tried to think of the points and questions that she would put forth but the moment she did that and all the memories started coming back a raw fear surrounded her from all sides, making her retreat and move towards the bed. She lied down and began sobbing, infuriated by her own weakness.

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