SS Because I Love You... PART 13+14 WARNING 16+ - Page 18

Part 12

Khushi went down for breakfast expecting cold shoulders from everybody. Instead, he was greeted by a smiling family who openly welcomed her to the dining table.

"Aao Khushi bitiya, ab kaisi tabiyat hai aapki?" Nani enquired affectionately.

"Khushiji hume maaf kar dijiye, humne sirf aapke aur Chotte ki bhalayi ke liye aise…"

Khushi interrupted Anjali before she could even finish her sentence. "Nahi Di, maafi to hume mangni chahiye sab se. Hume maaf kar dijiye, pata nahi kya ho gaya tha hume, Arnavji ka gussa aap sab pe dikha diya."

"Lagta hai sangat ka asar hai." Aakash couldn't help but crack this one on his brother. Everybody burst out laughing, including Khushi. This had turned out to be easier than she thought.

As Arnav was walking down the stairs, he was greeted by the sight of his family laughing and having their meal, with Khushi right in the middle of the whole ruckus. He smiles, as a warm fuzzy feeling enveloped his chest. This felt right. So right. He quickly made his way to the dining table and took his seat, still smiling at everybody.

Seeing her husband in such a light mood made Khushi grin like an idiot. She just couldn't believe how easy all this was. It was almost as if it was meant to be. Like a natural flow of things. She got around to serving Arnav his breakfast.

Just as she was about to go the kitchen, she felt Arnav holding her wrist, stopping her. "Tum nahi khaogi?" he asked.

"Haan, but let me serve first?" she was confused as to what he wanted.

"No. Sit here and eat" he pulled back the chair next to himself for her.

"Par…" Khushi looked around at her family uncertainly, which was observing the couple fondly.

"Nahi Khushi bitiya, Arnav bitwa theek keh rahe hain. Aap bhi hum sab ke saath baith kar khaana khaiye." Nani gently reassured her.

Khushi sat beside Arnav, who was now busy serving Khushi, much to the amusement of the family. Arnav looked around the table, confused as to what to serve Khushi. "Err…Khushi tum pasta khaogi? Nahi…tum to pasta nahi khaati ho. Toh fruits? Yahaan par jalebi bhi nahi hai…"

Anjali burst out laughing, not being able to hold it in anymore. She was soon joined by Aakash, Payal and Mamiji. "What?" Arnav asked irritatedly. Here he was, trying hard to please his wife, and these people found it funny?

Khushi decided to spare the poor guy the torture. "Arnavji…hum doodh aur phal khayenge…"

Arnav finally got around to settling down and eating with everybody else. Arnav felt that it was the right time for him to make the announcement he had been planning for some time now. "Listen, I know how I got married to Khushi…was…forget not following traditions, it was just inhumane on my part…" he looked uncertainly at Khushi, who just silently shook her head at him, as if trying to reassure him that everything was going to be fine.

"So, I was thinking that I owe Khushi a proper wedding. With a pandit, the pheres, you know, everything…"

There was a moment of silence, followed by a excited frenzy. Anjali was going on about all the poojas she would organize. Nani was ranting about the decorations needed, and invited Khushi's family. Aakash and Mamaji were already clearing their office schedules. Payal was talking about how she would get Khushi ready herself this time. Mami, of course was talking about new clothes and jewellery.

But admist this chaos, Arnav noticed, one person had not said a single word. He knelt in front of her on the sofa and held her hands in his. "Khushi?"

Khushi looked up, her eyes brimming over with tears. Arnav panicked, wondering if he had upset her again. Instead, Khushi lunged at him and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. Arnav felt relief wash over him as he rubbed Khushi back to soothe her. "Hey, it's alright Khushi, I'm fine."

Khushi pulled back and quickly wiped her own tears. "Thank you Arnavji" she smiled at him before going around the family, talking to them animatedly about how the wedding was going to be. Arnav had never felt more blessed in his life.

Five minutes later, Arnav decided to go check what was taking Khushi so that. He made his way to the door, and what he saw there made his heart clench with hatred. Hatred for one man. Shyam Manohar Jha. Who was now busy harassing his wife. I'll teach that leach, he thought.

Arnav marched over to where Shyam was eerily smiling at a very upset Khushi. "Khushi! Tum kaha thi? Tumhe pata hai na tum munjhse paanch minute bhi door jaati ho to main she nahi pata hoon!" he pulled Khushi into his arms and planted his mouth on hers, kissing her hard.

Khushi, too confused to understand his actions, just welcome the opportunity and wound her hands around his neck, pulling him in closer as she started moving her lips rhythmatically with his. When they broke away for breath a while later, Arnav jerked his head towards Shyam. "Oh! Jeejaji aap! I'm sorry, I didn't notice you…I hope you didn't mind."

Shyam flinched at Arnav words. Not mind? How could he not mind! "Of course not saale saab, now if you excuse, I need to see Rani Sahiba…" his voice was dripping with honey coated sweetness.

As soon as Shyam had left, Arnav grabbed Khushi's hand. "Let's go Khushi," he simply stated, as he started hauling her towards their room.

Arnav let Khushi in first, and then turned around to lock the door behind himself. When he turned, he found Khushi looking at him with sheer terror written in her eyes. Dear Lord, is she scared of him? Or is she scared of me…NO…

"Khushi?" placed a hand on her shoulder. Khushi jerked up as if scalded. "Arnavji, humne kuch nahi kiya, hum…hum bas darwaza kholne gaye the…hume nahi pata tha ki…who humne kuch nahi kiya Arnavji…" she sobbed, her voice almost pleading.

Arnav wanted to kill himself in the most painful way possible. He had once again succeeded in killing part of her spirit. But he was not going to lose her this time. "Khushi look at me." He cupped her face and forced her to face him.

"Khushi, I know it's not your fault. I'm not angry. I love you." He kissed her softly, his lips slowly probing hers. Khushi pulled back to study his face, as if deciding for herself whether he was telling the truth. He leant forward once more, clearing all her doubts with a kiss that left her panting for more. When he finally pulled back, her face was flushed red and her lips were swollen from his kisses.

"Arnavji?" she called him timidly.

"Hmmm?" he rested his forehead against hers, breathing in her scent.

"Hume uss aadmi ke saamne shaadi nahi karni hai…"

"What?" he pulled back to look at her. Her face was painfully fearful. Fearful of is reaction.

"Woh Shyamji ke saamne dobara shaadi nahi karni hai…woh…he…when he looks at me…I feel dirty…it feels like my skin is being burnt with acid…I can't…I can't get married while he looks at me like that…" silent tears streamed down her face.

Arnav heart welled up with love and guilt. He had once made the mistake of letting Shyam run scott free after hurting Khushi. Now he was going to protect her from him. He enveloped her in a bear hug and whispered into her ear, "Yes Khushi, we won't get married in front of him. I promise, he will not ruin our moment. I promise."

After a while, Khushi stepped back from his arms and wiped her tears. "Hum neeche jaate hain…jiji hume dhoondh rahi hogi…Arnavji" she stepped forward silently. Arnav looked at her, not sure what she was up to. "Thank you." She whispered before quickly pecking his lips with hers and running off. Arnav smiled at her retreating form. "Pagal…" he chuckled, before whipping out his phone to make a few important calls.

Hope you liked it!