SS: Wooing Khushi: Part 11 updated on Page 147 - Page 63

Part 8

Khushi looked down at the scarlet heart nestled in the valley of her breasts; glowing with an inner fire, the surrounding diamonds flashing icily. Ice, yes, that's what Arnav Singh Raizada's heart looked like, a big block of ice; the fire well hidden by layers of cold, unfeeling frost. She understood what he wanted. He had given her his heart and now she had to reciprocate or at least tell him how she felt about the offering.

'Bahut sundar hai, this is beautiful', she remarked, touching the pendant. She stole a glance at him through the veil of her lashes and saw his face fall at her offhand remark. She knew how hard it was for him to articulate in words what was in his heart. That Arnav Singh Raizada was a man of few words was an understatement. And that he had made a gesture like this, gifted her his heart, was a marvel in itself. The largest chunk of her heart, the part that beat for him, even when he was his cruel self, prodded her to tell him that she understood the gesture for what it was, understood and accepted. But the little horned creature sitting on her shoulder shook its head and whispered no, not yet.

Arnav Singh Raizada was a man tortured beyond imagination. Here he had offered his heart to his wife, telling her without words that he was in love with her and what does the contrary woman do? She praises the worthless stone and does not even spare a word to put him out of his misery. He wanted to pick her up and shake her till her pearly teeth rattled, till she admitted that she loved him too. But that obviously would be the wrong method to apply now. You could not force someone to admit that they loved you too. He has never been in love before, lust of course, one did not reach the great age of thirty without experiencing pangs of lust, but love had always eluded him. And now love for this woman threatened his very sanity. A love so great that it overwhelmed him, blurred the line between right and wrong, truth and lies.

She touched the stone gently, drawing his attention to the curves of her breasts, the tips responding to his burning gaze; tightening in anticipation. He took a step forward, and she gulped. It was never a good idea to tease a tiger in its cage, you end up getting eaten. And she had no intention of being ravished, not right now. She wanted answers, but this did not look like the right time. There was a belligerent look in his eyes, the stubborn angle of his jaw indicated that he might not respond favourably to her intended interrogation. Deciding to retreat for the time being, Khushi exclaimed brightly 'Oh see how late it is now, I am sure Di is calling me. Dinner ke liye aa jaiye please', and made her escape.

Khushi was on pins and needles throughout dinner. Her new necklace did not escape the notice of the rest of the Raizadas and she was teased mercilessly by the joined forces of Anjali and Payal while a smiling Nani looked on indulgently. Mami had inspected the pendant closely and had gone on to harass Mama with a demand for a similar neckpiece, but in gold of course as it would be flashier. Khushi observed in awe as Arnav fielded questions about the shape of the pendant from Anjali and Akash deftly. 'What about the shape, I like it and it suits my wife.' The forbidding look on his face did not invite further questions. His eyes however, did not leave his wife's face, even for a moment. Khushi found it hard to move, swallow or even breathe under that gaze. It was as though he was trying to look inside her head and find answers to the question he had not asked yet.

Unable to bear the silent harassment anymore, Khushi pushed away her nearly full plate, looking regretfully at the tempting aloo-matar, paneer kofta and other dishes; the bowl of hot gulab jamoons beckoning seductively. She would probably choke if she tried to eat another bite; maybe after everyone went to bed she could sneak in and eat. She yawned delicately, 'I am so tired, I think I will go to bed right now. Good night', and before anyone could comment on her sudden sleepiness, she ran up the stairs to the sanctuary of the bedroom.

Coming out of the washroom, Khushi was glad to find the room blessedly empty, no trace yet of her brooding husband. She needed time alone. She was in love, completely, madly in love with her enigmatic husband and going by his gestures today, he loved her too. The wedding registration, the information passed on to both their families about her innocence regarding their secret marriage, the shares in the company, they were all leading to the wordless declaration, culminating in the ruby pendant.

She smiled thinking of the expression on the Laad Governor's face just after she had praised the ruby heart; crestfallen, he had looked like a child who had been denied his favourite toy, sulky, ready to throw a tantrum. She thought hard about her dilemma, raking her brain to find a solution. Lulled by the balmy air redolent with the fragrance of the blooming flowers from the poolside garden Khushi dozed off, sitting at the edge of the bed, dreaming about snow-covered hills, apple orchards, trees laden with jalebis and gulab jamoons.

She was rudely awakened from her sweet-filled dream by harsh lights flooding the room, followed by a silver plate thrust unceremoniously under her nose. 'Get up and eat. I don't want to hear your stomach rumbling throughout the night', bit out Arnav Singh Raizada, his tone matching the fire burning in his eyes. Khushi swallowed the clever retort jumping to burst out and looked incredulously at the hand still holding the plate. The gulab jamoons winked back at her and without wasting a minute she grabbed the plate and dug into the food, grateful that she would not need to make a foray to the kitchen in the middle of the night.

She quickly got involved with the mouth-watering food; relieved when he left her to stand outside, gazing at the night sky studded with twinkling stars. Finishing her solitary dinner in silence, Khushi dropped her plate in the kitchen and hurried back to the lion's den. He still stood outside. Khushi bit her lip, suddenly indecisive. Should she ask him to come inside? Would he take it as an invitation to join her in bed? What would he to do to her? She recollected how his mouth had tasted against hers; dark, hot, electrifying and suddenly she wanted more. Her breasts swelled remembering his touch; her nipples tautened, preparing for his fiery caresses, and a strange feeling pooled at the pit of stomach. She locked her thighs tightly, unable to bear the incomprehensible sensation at their apex.

Suddenly scared at the direction of her wayward thoughts, she switched off the lights and lay down right in the middle of the bed; hoping he would get the hint and sleep elsewhere. She would not able to bear it tonight if he decided to carry on with his earlier ministrations. Heart pounding, she waited on the bed, courting sleep, praying that he would sleep by the poolside, on the lounger, anywhere but not next to her on the bed.

The decorative lights from the poolside softly illuminated the room, the shadowy corners not threatening anymore. His shadow moved, coming inside the room and she held her breath, squeezing her eyes shut as he approached the bed. She felt the mattress sink a little at his weight; felt him staring at her. 'Hato, move', he whispered and placing an arm around her waist and the other under her shoulders he moved her. 'I know you are awake, there is no need for this drama'.

Khushi's eyes opened wide on their own, 'aa' aap yahan sone wale hain kya?', her voice trembled. 'Where else will I sleep Khushi?', he replied, 'My wife is sleeping here, so obviously I can't let her sleep alone. She is scared of being on her own, you know.'

'I will sleep by the pool then'.

'Fine, I will join you there', he picked up his pillow and extended a hand towards her. 'Come'

Defeated, Khushi fell back on the bed and glared at him. He plumped up his pillow, quite unconcerned with her ire and lay down with a deep sigh.

'I hope that you get enough sleep as I don't intend to let you sleep tomorrow night and the nights after that', he advised and turned on his side.