A PROMISE : PART 9 complete - Page 12

Khushi: Bhai! please show me the red one. With the new style sleeves. I think that is very pretty, don't you think Buaji? I think he will like it. You know ? red is his favorite color.

Buaji nods her head and smirks. She keeps busy in choosing sarees for the Raizada house. One for nani, one for Dadi, one for Anjali and for mamiji. Colors vary from one another. Khushi picks up another saree and sighs, "Buaji! Do you think Amma will like this one ? She seems a bit off with the whole remarriage thing. Also she keeps her distance. It was nice of Arnav JI to send the nurse."

Buaji: 'yes, sure, it was a nice gesture. He is a very good person. Seems tough and rude at times but very soft from the inside. With all the things happening I do not feel comfortable. You and him, it seems ok, but when the family comes into account, specially anajli and shaym, then I do not feel comfortable. Dadi is also very strict. I hope she settles down and accepts you as a wife, perfect for Arnav babua.'

Khushi: 'buaji, do not worry.'

Seller: 'Mam, Is everything alright? I have the latest designs and please see the new stock. We also have lahengas. Do you wish to try some out?"

Khushi jumps up at the opportunity and happily browses through the pile of new clothes. The shop keeper comes to her again and smiles.

"mam, if you wish , you can go to the changing room and try these out. Mr Raizada mentioned to show you these." He hands her some clothes and signs her to the changing room.

Khushi: "Bujai! I will be right back. He called them and told me to see these." She happily skips into the room and locks the door.

As soon as she enters the phone rings:

Arnav: hi!

Khushi: oh, hello!

I am in the changing room. I saw the ones that you told me to try on. They are beautiful. like the green kameez with red dupatta and churidar. It has very nice hand work and a lot of sequin embroideries. Also I liked the soft pink saree. Why did you pick all these? From online? Or did you come?

Arnav: I told them to send me catalogues. So I picked them and told them to make you try. Like the ones I like and I will be happy.

Khushi: NAH?

Arnav: no?

Khushi: NO?

Arnav: are you copying me? Listen, you better like the ones I picked.

Khushi: Arnav ji! Are you even listening to what you are saying? You told me to pick clothes and now you are telling me to pick the ones you like? Now where is this coming from? If you liked those, you can easily buy them.

Arnav: umm. Nope.

Khushi: Arnav ji! Please, is everything alright? What are you saying?

Arnav: Don't know.

Khushi: ok, I am hanging up. I do not need to try these. Will just pick them up and leave. Thanks.

Arnav: what are you wearing now?

Khushi: why? Why do you care? I liked and picked so many sarees and kameezes and now you tell me that you already pre selected. So what was the point of me coming and wasting time? Buaji is also with me. What will I tell her?

Arnav: what are you wearing now?

Khushi: ! I am hanging up. Ok?

(Silence '''''.)

Khushi: Arnav ji! Please. Now you are not even speaking.

Arnav: what are you wearing now?

Khushi: what will I be wearing? I took my kameez off. My salwar, my lining and ummm and my'.'... Holding the green kameez at hand and dupatta''''..OH! my!!...no'..i mean'.

Arnav, laughs out loud. His plan has worked. Khushi finally caved in and told him exactly how she is standing in the middle of the trial room and what items are on her right at this moment.

Khushi: WHAT THE !! this Is not right. You know very well that I babble out stuff when I get agitated. You knew it, right? So you asked me so many times. Not fair.

Arnav: what is the color of the lining? I mean the undergarment?

Khushi: no way I am telling you that. Are you insane?

Arnav: no, I am not insane. I am pretty sane so I am asking you.

Khushi: I am not answering that.

She keeps the phone on hold and quickly open the door to peek at the entrance of the room. Other doors are closed and the attendant girl is no to be seen. She was expecting Arnav standing in front of the room or something of that sort. Because she has gotten accustomed to see him here and there and everywhere, giving her 420 volt of jhatkas at times.

10 second passes

15'

25''

30 seconds passes

Khushi: Arnav ji! Please you know I cannot just say these.

Arnav: it is a simple question and a simple answer. Just tell me the color and that is it.

Khushi: enough , please.

Arnav: what is wrong if I know what color of lining you have under the kameez? It is not that I will not see it soon ? you know right? I can easily '.

Khushi: SHUT UP! FOR heaven's sake , SHUT UP. I beg. What sort of questions are you asking? Aren't you in office? What will people think?

Arnav: I will count to 5 and you will answer or I am coming in.

Khushi: WHAT? I just saw outside, you weren't here. WHERE are you?

Arnav:' '..( silence)

Khushi: uff! Speak, please.

Please Arnav ji, something happens. You will never know what goes through me. Don't ask things like these. I need to hurry and go back home. Let me hang up.

Arnav: I will count to 5 and you will answer . I am serious. I saw you peek out of your door and I was standing on the right.

Khushi: WHAT?

Arnav: you know I can break in, no one will say nothing. And legally you are my wife, so I have the right?

Khushi: green.

Arnav: green? Hmm. I know. I saw you.

Khushi: so why the drama?

Arnav: I just wanted an answer.

Khushi: you do not play fair.

Khushi sighs deeply.

Arnav: Khushi! I will never intrude upon you, dear. Never. I was just joking. Ok? I am not at the shop. You seem upset. Sorry ok? I really was just teasing you. I picked the clothes from a catalogue. I don't even know what you will like or not. Please choose what you like. These is no pressure, nothing. Ok?

I was just joking around. Why are you getting upset?

Khushi: why do you do this?

Arnav: what?

Khushi: taunt me like this? You knew very well I will tell you. I might say no. but eventually I will tell. I need to hang up.

She keeps the phone down, gets dressed and comes out. Do a quick choosing and comes back to Buaji's house. In her way back, she thought about the conversation. She was irritated but at the same time happy that he changing. He is opening up. Maybe all these are very new to him. he might not get the boundaries right, but he is trying and it is all that matters. But she makes her mind not to call him back. And make him wait.

Later that evening:

The door bell rings.

Khushi is on the bed, lying down. A bit grumpy after today's morning events at the shop. She keeps her head on the pillow and looks outside the window. A soft breeze blows.

Arnav: Khushi?

He is standing on the door frame. Buaji smiles and sings that is it ok to go inside. She also comes a bit forward and closes the door behind him. Khushi remain son the bed, grumpy mood turning into joy, but under a mask of fake irritation.

Arnav: so, you are not talking to me?

Khushi: huh! As if'.i am sleeping.

Arnav: oh ok.

Khushi: yes, sleeping. And you should not wake me up.

Arnav: ok, so you are sleeping. Then I will not wake you up.

He comes near the bed and looks at her. Timidly lying down, with a floral linen on her body, wrapped from collar to toes.

Khushi: seat, walk ,whatever you wish. I am not waking up. So do not wait for me. I am upset. And yes. It is for this morning.

Arnav:hmm. I think you are the first girl, who is sleeping and taking at the same time. I am humbled by your talents.

Khushi: whatever!

Arnav very slowly raises the linen and slips inside. Khushi jumps up. " You cannot come inside like this. What are you doing ? are you out of your mind?"

Arnav: no, my wife is unhappy and currently sleeping. So I thought I might give her some company and hug her, while she quietly sleeps.

Khushi: ha . h a. ha..very funny. Move away before Buaji comes in.

Arnav: I locked the door from inside and all the curtains are closed. Buaji left the house to do some shopping. I send her with my driver and he knows to delay it.

Khushi: WHAT?

Before she could get up and run, Arnav holds her down by the wrist and pulls her towards him. a very panting Khushi slumps down on the bed and palpitates.

Arnav: why are you scared? I will not eat you alive.

Khushi: please, let me go. This is not right.

Arnav: I also do not bite.

Khushi: ewww'.no'please. do not speak like this.

Arnav: hmm, I sometimes touch and look '.but now.

Khushi: Arnav ji! Please. STOP. La lalallalala ..lallaa..llaa..a.a

Arnav: what the ! oh my ! are you seriously thinking hat singing lalallalala llala..lalalla. will stop me?

Khushi: Please. STOP

Arnav: kiss me. Then I will stop. I might even leave .

Khushi: impossible.

Arnav: what are you wearing?

Khushi: LA.ALALALALLAA'..AAAHHH'please. Arnav ji! No more questions about me wearing, you doing enough. You are in my bed, I am under you and you talk these'what are you doing?

Arnav: ha h a'.ha..did you even think before you talk? Hmm..so me on top and you under. You like it?

She misses a bit'or rather her heart stops at this pleasant torture and her breathing evaporates.

Arnav gives her a alluring, lustful grin and blows her a kiss in the air.

Shivers.

Blushes

Butterflies'..

Khushi: let me go. Please.

Arnav: either answer, or give me a kiss. I will let you go. Deal?

Khushi: no deal. You just let me go. NOW.

Arnav: hmm..so do you like when you are on top or bottom or both?

Khushi: nooo'please. Enough.

Arnav: you know what the rules are. So pick. And you go.

Khushi: I cant bear this any longer. Ok . what do you want?

Arnav: kiss me.

Khushi: where?

Khushi looks adamant. Looks directly in his eyes and holds her ground. Arnav retreats.

Arnav: Khushi, what is up dear? You seem very edgy. Are you ok? Generally you react, get shocked, even faint at times and yes run. You run away a lot when I am in mood. See, after marriage, the second marriage that you guys are planning you cannot run away. I will make sure you stay put and exactly the way you should be.

Arnav: Under me.

Khushi: ewww!

Arnav: around me

Khushi: la la lalalalallaa'lalalla

Arnav: with me

Khushi: iss! As if !

Arnav: in me.

Khushi: what?

She changes from a flirty, naughty sweet mood to a very serious one. Her eyes get almost watery and the panting starts. She seats up, a wrist still in his hold. She collects her dupatta around her and seats with head down.

Arnav: what? Was it too much. You ok dear? I was just kidding.

Arnav was genuinely tensed. Maybe he has pushed it too much. Maybe he shouldn't have. Women, very tricky humans. You never know what will turn them on, what will turn them off. Arnav nods his head in confusion.

Khushi without notice, wriggles her wrist out of his grip and jumps up on the bed and laughs out loud.

Khushi: ha ha ha'ha'I was just kidding too. Oh! You should have seen your face. Oh! My! This is awesome.

Arnav looks up and watches the best scene on planet. His love laughing out loud, his love loving the fact that he can amuse her. Arnav observed for a while and did something that can easily cross the set boundaries.

He held her ankle with one hand and with another her knee. Pulled her towards him on the bed and she crumble on top of him. Before she can understand what is going on, he flipped and rolled all over her. She on top and in the next moment she on the bottom. Around him. near him, in him. on him.

Arnav had the sweetest, naughtiest smiles on his angelic face. That can light up the world even in a rainy day.

Khushi was flustered. Hair all over him, tied in knots. Dupatta on the floor. The pillow down under, the kameez fabric shagging on his buttons.

She shivered up.

He was laughing out of breath.

Khushi: Arnav ji! You do not play fair. You know that right?

Arnav: Khushi JI ! You also do not play nice. You know that one right?

Both looked at each other for a moment and then both broke down into a big laugh. Khushi trembling on top of him. He under. Arms in arms. Heart where it belongs. Smile on smiles.

Two lovers,

HELLO!