SS: Wooing Khushi: Part 11 updated on Page 147 - Page 18

Part 3

Khushi clenched her fists, somehow managing to stop herself from landing a solid one on Arnav's face, wiping the arrogant smirk off. She would get back to him, and soon, she promised herself. 'Sure Arnavji', she said blushing all the while for the benefit of the family, baring her teeth at him. Arnav nodded, surprised at the easy capitulation. He and Akash had reached the front door to leave for office when he heard Khushi. 'Oh Nanheji, would you please come with us, you have such wonderful choice. Remember the lovely bangles you had chosen for me'Do come please, I want you to help me choose my dresses'.

He turned back and glared at his wife, narrowing his eyes and got a wink and an extra-syrupy smile for his trouble. Knowing fully well that he could not do anything at this stage, he turned and walked away, tuning off Akash who was unable to hold back his excitement at the thought of his upcoming Honeymoon.

Khushi felt considerably lighter, as she accompanied Anjali, Payal and NK to the mall. Her Jiji looked so happy, a shy smile lighting up her face. Yes, this is what she wanted, her sister to be happy. This is why she was she had agreed to this sham marriage , what was a few days in Manali compared to the six months of hell she had signed up for.

Anjali was on a roll, in her elements completely, as she chose dresses, sweaters, jackets and shoes for her sisters-in-law with abandon. Payal and Khushi were being teased mercilessly as Anjali predicted the reactions of her brothers on seeing their wives in the new clothes. Khushi's eyes rounded at the mountain of clothes in front of her,while Anjali announced that these were absolutely necessary and they had to choose jeans as well as lingerie for the trip.

'Jeans?', both the sisters screamed simultaneously earning a wicked smile from Anjali. 'Of course jeans..how would you walk around in the snow otherwise?'' Or..wait a minute, are you guys planning not to come out of your rooms at all?'. NK guffawed and hi-fived Anjali, rendering both the Raizada bahus speechless. Khushi gulped, this Honeymoon did not sound so much of fun now.

After trying, discarding and finally choosing the number of jeans to satisfy both Anjali and NK, the women moved to the lingerie section, propelled by Anjali. Khushi clutched Payal's fingers, thoroughly intimidated by the never-ending arrays of silks, satins and laces. She kept her eyes downcast, stealing glances at the scantily-clad mannequins. 'Oh Khushi, look at this, you would look so beautiful in it. And its red too, Jethji would love it..' Payal nudged her sister, who glared at her. Traitor, since when Jethji's opinion mattered so much to her?

'Yeah Khushiji, don't feel shy, its your honeymoon after all. And you are doing this only for your husband'. Yes, her husband, Khushi thought gleefully, her husband who will be paying for the clothes he will never get to see. Anjali hid a smile as Khushi chose lingerie after lingerie, mostly in red. Chotey was in for a surprise, she thought, shuddering at the thought of her baby brother indulging in not-so-chaste activities and offered a puja to Devi Maiyaa.

Exhausted from the marathon shopping the party of four trudged home. Mamiji's eyebrows rose high at the endless parade of shopping bags, while Nani looked on approvingly. Arnav and Akash came home to find their wives sitting on the living room floor surrounded by what seemed like an avalanche of shopping bags and clothes. Nani and NK were deep in a conversation with Anjali while Mamiji was inspecting price-tags.

'Oh good, now Chotey and Akash are also here, Hari Prakashji chai laiye please..' Anjali called out. Khushi looked up and shoved the bags containing her lingerie under the sofa at her back. Arnav's eyes caught the movement, aha, Khushi was hiding something and of course he would find out exactly what. He walked in and sat on the sofa directly behind Khushi, drawing her startled form between his legs and pulled her so that she had to lean her back against him. 'Looks like you had fun shopping, got everything you needed?'. He asked Khushi, who turned back shooting daggers at him.

'And then some', Anjali replied.'Chotey, I hope Akash and you will be happy with our shopping today'. 'Hmmm let me see', Arnav leaned in, making sure to touch Khushi's shoulders and the entire length of her arms as he did so and snatched the bag from Khushi's hand. He grinned at her sharply indrawn breath and opened the bag to find the skinniest pair of jeans. His mind was full of images of his wife wearing the jeans and nothing much. Her coltish legs would look amazing in them. 'You like?', his wife asked, all sweetness and sunshine. 'Nanheji chose them for me'You are so kind Nanheji..'. 'Anything for you Khushiji'.

He fumed at the pair smiling at each other. 'She is your sister-in-law now, you should call her Bhabhi'. He barked. 'Chill Nanav, I like calling her by her name, hai na Khushiji?' 'Oh yes, Nanheji, you should call me by my name, no Bhabhi business'. Khushi gushed, raising his blood pressure. Arnav got to his feet, this girl made him so angry, he would end up committing murder one of these days. 'I will have my tea after I take a shower Di, please send it upstairs'. He noted the look of relief on Khushi's face and saw red. He bent and grabbed the bags hidden under the sofa, feeling victorious as Khushi blushed a bright pink and tried ineffectively to snatch them back.

'Its ok Khushi, let me take them. You will show me anyway, hai na?'

Half an hour later he looked up from his laptop at the sound of the door being shut loudly. Khushi stormed in and dumped her load on the bed, clothes and bags falling like huge raindrops. 'There, you can look at them all night if you want.'. She glared at him, hands on slender hips, an infuriated nymph. 'What got you so riled up', he asked mildly. 'You..you..', she spluttered, 'of all the bags there, you had to carry these bags, I 'I hid them under the sofa and you had to take them..Do you have any idea of the way I have been teased by everybody downstairs, esp., Nanheji and Anjaliji?'

'I am your husband Khushi, whats the harm in me carrying these? Nice choice by the way, Can't wait to see you in them,' his smile was wicked as he delivered the last line. Enraged, Khushi launched herself at him, clawing at his shoulders before he caught her hands, 'In your dreams Mr. Raizada'. 'Wrong, Mrs. Raizada, in my dreams you don't get to wear much.', he looked in her eyes and saw them widen into saucers as realization dawned.

Khushi freed herself and stepped back, cheeks read, heart racing and took a deep breath. 'Look Mr. Raizada, I don't know what games you are playing, but I don't want you to talk to me like that. Don't talk to me when no one is around and don't touch me, for God's sake'.

'And you don't let NK call you by your name'I want him to call you Bhabhi, tell him that.'

'No, I won't, I won't be his Bhabhi after six months, but I want to be friends with him, forever.', fuming, she walked away.

Arnav caught her alone again after dinner and tried to make her sleep inside. 'How many times do I have tell you, I won't', she grabbed her bedding and marched angrily to the poolside. Arnav watched her make her bed and lie down.

A couple of hours or maybe more later, Khushi woke up suddenly, feeling a presence beside her. Her heart pounded, her throat was so dry, she was sure she would not be able to even croak, let alone shout for help. She opened one eye slowly, it was dark, the lights of stars dim, she could hardly make out a blurred shape beside her, on the floor, covered with a quilt. Khushi sat up slowly, pressing her hand on her chest, 'Hey Devi Maiyaan, please save me'. Was this a ghost, or a corpse or God knows what. She gingerly tried to stand up and run for safety, while her toes touched the bundle and the quilt moved, revealing the irritated face of Arnav Singh Raizada. 'Why are you trying to kick me Khushi. Its quite late, sleep now, we will fight tomorrow.'

Khushi could not believe her eyes, what was he doing here, sleeping beside her, at the poolside, leaving his soft, king-sized bed.'Wh..what are you doing here? And when did you come here? How long have you been here? Do you know how much you have scared me? I could have died'.

'Oh stop this drama Khushi and go to sleep, I am here coz I am scared of sleeping alone, mujhey akele soney mein dar lagta hai' with this he turned on his side, ending the discussion.

Its long...I apologize. Couldn't stop myself ...

So how is it? Good, bad, ugly?