Khushi washed her face with cold water. Her head felt heavy. She hadn't gotten much sleep since the nightmare. She was scared and shaken. She glanced at Arnav and then went down to get herself a cup of tea. She made her tea and took a stroll in the lawn. She kept walking looking around, trying to take in the fresh air when someone tapped her on the back.
"Khushi" he said. Khushi jumped in her place and turned around.. "huh?" she asked.
"You woke up so early today?" he asked with his comforting voice. "Yes" she answered trying to smile.
"Your eyes are swollen, again?" he commented. She rubbed her eyes.
"No, actually wasn't feeling too well this morning."
"Oh! Do you want me to call the doctor?"
"Oh no, that wouldn't be needed."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes.." she smiled again.
Yet again, Khushi didn't see the simple Arnav, she thought he was hovering. He was a very nice human being. If she weren't madly in love with Shyam, she would have loved her life with Arnav! Everything would have been perfect, Buaji had actually chosen Arnav very wisely. But again, only if Buaji had tried to understand Shyam, then maybe even Arnav's life could be saved from getting ruined.
_____________________________
Later in the day Khushi's mood improved as she watched TV. This was her favourite pass time. Arnav came down the stairs saying, "I'm done with my work."
Khushi smiled at him and then her eyes were glued to the television once again.
"What are you watching?" Arnav said while coming nearer to peek into the TV.
"I was watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S" she said..
"Oh. What is that?" he said.
'What? He didn't even know what Friends was? And he actually admitted it? What was wrong with him?' Khushi thought.
"You haven't seen friends?"
"No. Why? It is very good?"
"Yes! It is!" she said.
Arnav came and joined her. He understood little and kept commenting in the middle.
"This is so dumb! Why are you watching this.?!"
He received a frown from Khushi!
"It makes no sense!"
Another frown!
Do you want to go out?"
"What?" Khushi finally said something.
"Yeah!" Arnav said, finally getting Khushi's attention. "I could show you some other places here! As it is, we will be going back tomorrow.!"
"Oh yes! Our 3 day stay is over." Khushi commented. "Time actually went by fast enough." She lied.
"Yes, it did." Arnav smiled. "So? Want to go for a tour?"
"Ok fine, give me five minutes."
"Fine!"
___________________________________
First they went to the famous LONDON EYE.
Khushi looked and praised it. She had read somewhere that it was the world's highest observation wheel.. and she was very excited.
Arnav could see the excitement in Khushi's eyes as he got tickets and they got onto one of the 32 huge capsules, which Khushi counted. There were around 20 people with them in that one huge thing!
It was a breath taking experience for her and she looked in all directions admiring the place where as Arnav stood there admiring his beautiful wife. He smiled looking at her eagerness and excitement. He wanted to make her feel comfortable with him. He had realized that whenever he went close to her she felt awkward and became stiff so he tried not to go too close until she was comfortable.. Khushi saw so many buildings and the whole London could be seen from up there..
After this it became rather boring for Khushi, as Arnav took her to the Imperial War Museum, London Museum, The London towers and very keenly explained each and every incident. Khushi was pretty bored but she tried to smile and listen to whatever Arnav was saying, though hardly anything went into her mind; she still kept listening.
Later they stopped by to have lunch in Piccadilly Square. They ate crepes and chocolate fondue bread. After that delicious lunch Arnav took Khushi shopping. Khushi was very shy to buy stuff in the beginning. Arnav showed her many shops with fancy bags and shoes but she said she didn't want any.
"Buy something Khushi!" he pleaded.
"I don't want anything'" she said.
"Please buy something, for my sake!" he said, smiling. He had always heard his colleagues complain about their wives spending a lot. But here, here was something he hadn't expected.
"Good Idea.. We should shop for you!" she said.
"Bad Idea.. I hate shopping.!" Arnav exclaimed. Khushi laughed at his remark.
"Then what are we doing here?" Khushi said.
"Khushi, come , Ill buy you something!"
"But Arnav'"I'm not listening" he said as he entered a shop and started looking for something. They had started to open up a little.
Khushi Loved Shopping but she wasn't feeling up to it. Every minute she thought about her nightmare and what if all that happened for real' She also wondered why was Shyam so frightening in her dream. If he loved her he would never threaten to kill her! She knew that.
Arnav picked out a beige colour bag for Khushi.. she looked at it and frowned.. She liked lively colours like red, pink, yellow.. beige was too subtle a colour for her.. Arnav picked out another one but Khushi didn't like that either. Then Arnav finally gave up and asked her to pick one.. she picked up a red Versace that looked gaudy and dandy. She loved it so Arnav not showing his dislike towards the bag smiled and went ahead for the payment.
Khushi realized that the bag was very expensive! She told him to forget it and they could look elsewhere but he insisted on buying it! Khushi smiled. Slowly the wall between the two started to break and they started to talk freely and Khushi's lively-ness started to return. It was a new ray of light in the dark sky!
They roamed around in London city in the evening, drinking juice and talking about themselves, well at least Khushi was... Arnav quietly listened to everything she had to say where as Khushi went on and on about how she had irritated Buaji when she was young. There was little awkwardness and silence in between but that was quickly filled by either of them. Everything about Khushi made him fall more and more for her. He bought her a rose from the roadside and said something after a long time.
"Khushi, I know how you must be feeling, leaving your family and friends behind and starting a new life with me. I don't want to force you into anything. Maybe we should know each other first and then take our relationship to the next level. Will you be my friend, Khushi?" he said in his calm, firm and confident voice.
Khushi was silent as she clutched onto the flower he gave her. Khushi literally had tears in her eyes. She didn't know what to say, Arnav was a true man and she felt terrible that she hadn't put in that effort to make this relationship work. She was still stuck on Shyam and hadn't been able to move ahead with Arnav. Arnav, on the other hand, was genuinely making an effort to make this work. He was so sweet and kind to her and he respected her and her decisions. He was such a great man, she didn't know how to tell him the truth and she just didn't have the guts to do it then.
She slowly nodded and extended her hand. She wanted to make an effort. She knew what her life was now, she had to live with it and she had to move on. She had to forget Shyam and love Arnav; give him the love he deserves!
Arnav was very happy on seeing her nod. He was confident that soon they would learn to adjust with each other and life would be great!
As they reached home in the evening, they were tired and Khushi was almost falling apart due to sleeplessness. They changed and went to sleep. By the time Arnav came out of his bathroom Khushi was already asleep. He sat on his side of the bed and looked at the little angel sleeping next to him. He smiled to himself and extended his hand to touch her milk-white face and her soft skin but something deep down stopped him and he withdrew his hand immediately.
__________________
The next day was very quick. Arnav went to his office in the morning and Khushi was at home packing all their clothes to go back to Mumbai.
Again there were butterflies in Khushi's stomach. It would be her first step into her new life in a new town. She hadn't been to Mumbai either, but was dying to go there.
The flight journey was much better than last time. They talked without the awkwardness and Khushi no longer had a fake smile on her face. Three days wasn't enough to understand Arnav completely but it surely was a start. It was a start to her new life and she promised herself not to cry and be strong for everyone she loved, for herself and for Arnav. She couldn't get Shyam back and so crying wouldn't help. She had to live with it all her life. She knew her life was only Arnav now and she would do her "duties" well.
Arnav looked forward to his new life and thought it was a new beginning. everything was perfect. He was with a person he loved and this was just the beginning of their wonderful life!
X _______________________________X
Sneak Peek : Mumbai it is. Khushi comes home.
I hope all of you'll enjoyed the update. I tried my best to update as fast as possible. And this was another tension buster. Next update, there will be more tension & intensity
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-Manjari
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