Khushi stood making jalebis and wondering if Arnav knew about Shyam and her. She decided she should ask him about it.
Anjali entered the kitchen and said 'Khushiji! Good I found you here. I was about to look for you. Could you please take this rice kheer and give it to chotey?... Don't worry it is sugar free' she said, at Khushi's silent concern.
This will be a good opportunity to ask him about Shyam thought Khushi as she poured some kheer into a bowl. As she stepped into the living room, she saw Arnav coming toward her. She went up to him and said 'Arnavji ...' her sentence cut short as he took her hand in his, staring at her with his molten brown eyes. Khushi looked up him her eyes going wide in surprise. What was he up to now?
He led her to the sofa, held her shoulders and pushed her gently into it all the while looking into her eyes. Khushi felt the pulse racing and her dhak-dhak started all over again. Hey Devi Maiyya! I know I said I was not going to talk to you. But I need help! Arnav sat himself on the centre table in front of her. He leaned toward her. Khushi leaned back a little. Arnav took a little bit of the kheer with the spoon and slowly fed Khushi. Khushi's lips opened in surprise as she tasted the kheer.
Arnav felt his own dhak-dhak beginning. He didn't think her was ever going to feel it again. It looked like his heart had a mind of its own. So did his hand as it rose on its own accord to touch the corner of her lips. Khushi froze! His thumb lowly cleaned a small grain of rice stuck on the corner of her lips his finger lingering longer than was needed. Her breathing returned in an erratic pattern and she closed her eyes.
Arnav looked at Khushi's face. She looked breath-taking with her eyes closed. Her breathing had increased in intensity and her hands holding the bowl were shaking slightly. Khushi opened her eyes as Arnav took her right hand in his. Her palm looked small in his own large one. He slowly led her hand toward the spoon, dipped it in the kheer and then directed the hand toward his mouth. He opened his lips to take in the spoon as he tasted the kheer.
Khushi, unable to bear this onslaught opened her mouth in enquiry when she saw his eyes flicker toward the railing for one brief moment. Khushi realized what was happening. Anjali Di was watching them! She turned her head toward the railing to see Anajli Di stepping into her room. Arnav got up from the centre table, looked at her for one final look and walked away from leaving her sitting all alone on the sofa with the bowl of kheer in her hand.
Later that night, Khushi sat on the bed thinking. I have to find out if Arnavji knows about Shyam and me. But how do I do that? It is not that easy. What if he had no clue about it? I would then have to reveal the truth about Shyam hurting him and his Di in the process. Would he believe me against his own jeejaji? But then what did he mean that I have hurt him? I think I will have to figure this out in a different way. Maybe I will wait for him to tell me on his own. In the mean time ... he thinks that I should help him in maintaining this facade of fake marriage in front of the family does he? Hmmm alright two can play a game Mr Arnav Singh Raizada thought Khushi and smiled.
Arnav entered the bedroom. Khushi was sitting on the bed lost in thought. He walked up to the recliner and sat on it so he could work on his lap top. Khushi stood up in one sudden movement. She took some clothes out of the cover her buaji had brought for her earlier in the morning and went to the wash room to change. She came out wearing her nightly salwar suit. Arnav glanced up at her to see her sans makeup and hair left completely loose. He had never seen her like this before. He felt warmth creep up his neck. He turned back to look at his screen as he saw Khushi looking at him. Khushi walked up to the bed and picked up her pillow and comforter and lied down on the carperted floor at one end of the room.
'Khushi! What do you think you are doing? Aren't you supposed to _____?' he exclaimed pointing his thumb in the direction of the pool.
'Maamiji is up there with the binoculars. I could go there right away if you wish.' replied Khushi coolly without turning her head.
'Dammit! Looks like you will have to sleep here tonight' he grumbled.
Maamiji was one crazy woman thought Arnav. I don't know why I put up with such nonsense in this house. He glanced at Khushi's sleeping figure. Her long black hair lay on the floor in a pool. The comforter covered her all the way up to her shoulder with a dip at her tiny waist. Tiny waist? Where had that thought come from? When Khushi had come out of that wash room in that suit all scrubbed up and clean, she had looked like a school girl. Man! This was harder than he had thought. Well, he hadn't thought about this, had he? Arnav didn't want to think further. He slammed his laptop unable to concentrate.
Khushi smiled to herself before sleep claimed her.
The next morning, Khushi went down to the kitchen. She started making tea, when Anjali came up to her 'Khushiji, let's go shopping today. We could get some new saris'.
'I don't think I need anything Anjaliji' said Khushi smiling.
'Alright Khushiji. You don't have to buy anything. Just come along with me for company.' placated Anjali.
Arnav came down the stairs to see the entire family seated for breakfast. Great! He muttered to himself. He sat at his usual spot and reached for the coffee. 'Here. Let me pour your black coffee for you Arnavji' said Khushi standing next to him. As she leaned in to pour his coffee, her pallu brushed his shoulder and the sweet fragrance of roses assailed him. If the entire family hadn't trained their eyes on them he would have stood up and moved her bodily away from him.
'Khushiji? How do you know that Nanav takes his coffee black?' asked NK munching on his toast. There was pin drop silence while everyone squirmed in their seats uncomfortably. Khushi and Arnav looked at each other warily, both of them thinking about their only "date" at the restaurant where Khushi was thrilled to get a free biscoot with her tea.
'Khushi? Will you please sit down?' bit out Arnav trying to put a smile on his lips while he said that.
'But I have to serve breakfast Arnavji' said Khushi defiantly.
'I think we pay Hariprakash to do just that Khushi. Now, will you please sit down?' said Arnav his eyes showing the exasperation he felt.
Khushi complied by sitting in the chair next to him. Her elbow touched his for a second before she quickly moved it away. Man! He really hadn't thought about this! thought Arnav seething. He quickly finished his breakfast.
'Chotey? Can you drop me at the mall on the way to work?' asked Anjali. 'The driver is out on an errand and I need to go shopping.'
'Sure Di. Can you be ready in ten minutes'?
'I think we can manage' said Anajli smiling at Khushi.
We? Oh no!
Aranav drove in silence shooting sidelong glances at Khushi seated in the passenger seat. She was concentrating on the view outside. His Di had said she preferred to sit in the back seat and was currently engaged in a conversation on her mobile. He couldn't believe he was driving to a mall when he could have been happily working in his office. But he couldn't have refused his Di's request. Only, he didn't know then that Khushi was going along as well.
'Chotey you will have to drop me off at my doctor's clinic first. The receptionist called just now to tell me that they have advanced my appointment as the doctor will not be available at the scheduled time.'
'Sure Di. Would you like me to wait and take you to the mall later?'
'Oh no chotey! This will take time. You go ahead and take Khushiji to the mall and stay with her. I will call you once my appointment is done.'
'No!' exclaimed Khushi and Arnav at once.
'Hold on both of you! Khushiji has had no time before the wedding to buy saris. How long do you think she is going to live on borrowed saris? ' asked Anjali sarcasm lacing her voice.
Anjali gave a satisfactory smile when they acquiesced.
Khushi and Arnav entered the sari shop together. They had dropped Anjali at the doctor's clinic. They went up to a salesman who immediately started pulling out saris of different designs, colours and material. Khushi would look stunning in some of these ensembles thought Arnav as he remembered the other times he had seen her in a sari. What was he thinking? He stopped his wayward thought immediately.
'Go ahead and buy whatever you need. You don't have to look at the price tag any more. I will be on call as I have an important meeting. Just let me know when it is time to pay the bill.' said Arnav in a clipped tone as he walked away to find a quieter spot.
Khushi seethed at his condescending tone. How dare he? Alright Mr Raizada! Just as you say thought Khushi. She asked the sales man to show her more saris. One dark red sari caught her eye. It was a net sari with bronze work on the border and bronze buttas all over. As she gazed at it the sales girl said 'M'am why don't you try it on? This sari even comes with a ready blouse'. Khushi looked at the price tag and widened her eyes at the numbers written on it. It would serve him right! she thought impishly.
Khushi went to the trial room to try on the sari. She came out to look at herself in the full length mirror. Her pallu kept falling off as she couldn't find the safety pin she had taken off earlier. Khushi picked up her wayward pallu off the floor and looked in the mirror so she could drape it. She froze. Arnav was standing just behind her and staring at her!
Arnav couldn't take his eyes off her. The sales girl had come up to him and told him to go to the trial room. From the moment he had moved the beaded curtain to see what Khushi needed, he was zapped. Khushi had put up her long hair in a clip. There was something wrong with that blouse! In an instant he realized what it was. It had no back! There were only two strings that lay untied on either side. The blouse was so short that he could see the long length of her waist till his eyes reached her hips wrapped in red. He then looked up to see her eyes mirroring his own conundrum. His eyes moved lower to see the rise and fall of her chest, the long midriff, her flat stomach and her sari pleats tucked in just below her delectable navel. Delectable? He just had no control over his thoughts whatsoever!
'Can I help you?' asked the sales girl from behind him breaking his trance. 'No thank you!' they replied in unision. They looked at each other silently for a few seconds. Each second seemed like an eternity. Then Khushi spoke.
'Arnavji?' she said with trepidation.
'Could you please tie me up at the back?' asked Khushi at his enquiring look.
Arnav was quiet as he moved up behind Khushi. He tried avoiding her eyes as he started to pick up the strings. As he began knotting the strings, his knuckles brushed against her skin. Khushi jumped at the contact. Arnav looked up at Khushi's face in the mirror. Her eyes were closed. Why can't I make one simple knot? It seemed like he was all thumbs! It wasn't helping that Khushi's breathing had intensified.
Khushi thought she would faint any moment. She opened her eyes at the shrill sound of the cell phone. Arnav undid the clip in her hair in one quick movement and said looking into her eyes 'It's done' before he stepped away from her to answer the call.
Am I really up to this? thought Khushi as she walked back slowly into the trial room.
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