Early morning..
He was woken up by the gentle tingling of the bangles. Any other day he would have yelled at Khushi but, today was a different day. He had lots to do and understand. His mind was like an fresh college student, excited but at the same time nervous. He opened his eyes to look at Khushi – no doubt she looked beautiful, fresh from bath, dressed in his favourite red colour. With great difficulty, he suppressed his desire to kiss her passionately. Before he lost control, he got up and proceeded to freshen up.
"What is this new natak of Laad Governor?" Khushi wondered. "He got up quietly, did not argue or yell at her. This was truly strange." Anyways, Khushi did not have the time to fuss over the Great ASR. She had to rush to make breakfast for all. She rushed to the kitchen to join the other ladies. She came down to see creepy Shyam at the kitchen entrance. She was scared, but decided to face the fact, she had to see him and bear him everyday. That had become the reality of her life and she could not run from it. She could see the displeasure in her jiji's eyes and went forward to her. Shyam was buttering Anjali to come to the room to see some 'Surprise' he had kept there. "Rani Sahiba, you must come with me and stop stressing yourself with all this work. Now, you have not one but two efficient Bhabi's to work" he smirked. Finally Anjali relented and accompanied him not before saying, "Khushiji, aaj Chotey ki ek important meeting hai, aap please usse chai kamre mein de dijiye". Khushi nodded in agreement, smiling when she saw Shyam fume in anger.
Khushi reached the room with his tea murmuring,"God knows what this Laad Governor would get angry on now." She entered to see no one in the room. Keeping the tea on the table, she looked around to search him. Just then he arrived from the bathroom wearing just a big towel around his waist and a small one on his shoulders. Khushi felt lost seeing her handsome husband emerge from the bathroom just after having bath and she would have continued to look at him, if she had not noticed something just on his shoulder. She screamed loudly and Arnav was shocked.. What the.. he wondered, just a moment back this girl was adoring me and now she is yelling on the top of her lungs.. "Khushi!!! Chup raho.. kyun chilla rahi ho.." She was pointing towards him and he failed to understand… Just then, he felt something flying from his shoulders and going towards her. Khushi screamed again, but this time, she pulled the towel from his neck and moved towards him. He was caught unawares and lost balance and THUD! Both of them fell on the bed. He was now over Khushi, good thing was that she had stopped screaming. Their eyes met and were lost in each other. He moved his hands and realized that her hands were holding on to his bare back. He could feel the touch and then they heard the door open, and he was utterly displeased to see Shyam pulling Anjali with him walking in their room.
"Saaley sahib, what happened, why was Khushiji screaming?" he asked with concern. Arnav tightened his fist and Khushi realized something was wrong. They got up clumsily and Khushi could feel the sharp gaze of Shyam leeching at her at places where her clothes were wet due to the fall with Arnav. She slowly slid behind Arnav and unknowingly, clutched his arm. Arnav saw his Jijaji looking lustily at Khushi and was feeling like smacking his face. But, the concern on his Di's face stopped him and then he got the shock of his life, Khushi had just clutched his arm and shifted a bit behind him as if seeking for protection.
"Di, don't worry, Kuch nahi hua.. Khushi bas.. " and he stopped. He too wanted to know why Khushi screamed. "Woh Anjaliji, Arnavji ke kandhe par cockroach tha. Mujhe cockroach se bahut darr lagta hai. So hum darr ke maare cheekhe. Par woh Arnavji, Arnavji.." She blushed. Anjali smirked when she saw the lipstick mark on her Chotey's left cheek and sindoor on his nose. She tugged at Shyam who was by now super furious and pulled him out. Once out of the door, she said, "Aap bhi na.. kuch samajhte hi nahin.. Woh newly married hai. Cockroach ke bahane se hi sahi, Romance kar rahe the..Humne, unhe disturb kar diya." Shyam was burning with rage.
"Woh, I had come to give you tea. But, the cockroach." Khushi said looking at him skeptically. "Its ok Khushi. Mujhe bhi unse darr lagta hai. Good you did not tell me or else, I would have joined you in screaming." He went and picked up his tea and gulped it down. She saw the marks on his face and blushed.. she smiled a bit and Arnav caught it. "What is it? Why are you smiling". He asked. "Woh.. aapke.. aapke Chehare par" She felt embarrassed and ran out. "What the---" Arnav was irritated now, he turned around to look in the mirror and was shocked to see the marks on his face. The entire scene flashed before him and he was now more determined than ever to find out the truth.
He rushed to office else, he would be late.
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