Chapter 22 : The Real One.
The worst was over, it was time to lessen the distances. Khushi gaped at Arnav as he got ready for his first conference. Black Suit. Black pants. White shirt. Black tie. Black boots. She sighed. They had reached Delhi this morning and Khushi had barely got time to unpack before when she saw Arnav come out of the bathroom. "What the..." Khushi muttered. Arnav looked up at her for some encouragement instead she said, "Take that off!" Arnav was really nervous. It had been very difficult for him to keep his cool in the midst of all this tension. This was a very important moment in his life, a huge opportunity and he wanted to make the most of it. "But why?" he asked innocently. "Arnav! It's a big project. There will be top fashion industry owners at the conference. Wear the suit I bought you!" she said. Arnav looked at her and his mouth twitched. Khushi had gifted Arnav a White Armani suit with a maroon tie. "Wear this!" she said handing it to him. Arnav looked sheepishly at Khushi. "But I--"No. I am not listening. Don't you get bored of wearing the same black and white everyday?" "Not really." Arnav said honestly. "Too bad then, I do. Wear it with a black shirt." She said pushing him inside the bathroom.
Khushi smiled as he shut the bathroom door giving up on her. 'Why is it feeling so different knowing that Arnav loves me? Why do I get butterflies in my stomach when he looks at me? I know it's a big thing. I know how I feel. Atleast I think I do. I think I'm in love too.' Khushi took a deep breath trying to slow her heart beat. 'I don't know how I'm going to tell him. When am I going to tell him? He hasn't even brought the topic up since he said it in his drunken state. He does love me, right? Should I just tell him? Should I wait for after the tender. If I tell him now then maybe he'll just get all flustered. Anyway he is so nervous. It's just two more days.' She thought trying to pacify her heart which wouldn't slow down. She had been having dreams lately. Dreams of spending her days and nights with Arnav. She had started to day dream too. Two days ago when Arnav came back from office he gave his bag to Khushi and asked her to keep it in the room. She took the bag upstairs into their room. At night when Arnav couldn't find his bag he asked Khushi wear she had kept it. Khushi had forgotten, she couldn't remember. She had been in her dreamland lately and had been messing up a lot. At the end, they found it in the bathroom under the sink. Arnav had just stared at Khushi like she had gone nuts. Khushi had blushed so hard. She didn't know where her mind had been. She just kept looking at her husband. Something was different. Something was changing and Khushi was liking it. She was in good spirits and actually excited about her life after a very long time.
When Arnav came out in the suit Khushi just couldn't take her eyes off him. He looked so different, so handsome. She just kept looking. "I know, It looks so bad!" Arnav said trying to read her expressions. "Are you kidding me?" Khushi broke her trance, "You are looking so se--handsome!" Khushi stuttered. Arnav didn't know what to say. He was way too nervous for the conference anyway and now he had to wear funny clothes as well? Khushi on the other hand just wanted to help. She wanted Arnav to look his best and, 'Oh My, the suit does make him look so sexy' Khushi thought. "Look," Khushi said seriously. "Relax, take a deep breathe, you will be fine." She said. "Fine? Fine is not good enough Khushi. I don't have any idea what to do." Arnav retorted. "You will be great, as usual but you will only be your usual if you are calm and composed." She said sighing. "Khushi, how am I ever going to get this done?" Arnav worried. "Like you do with the other projects. Don't treat this any differently. This is just like the rest." "This is really big Khushi, you see, this is the biggest project of my life, the most important atleast. I am actually risking a lot here. I have to get it right." He said gulping. "I have always dreamt of this day and this is most certainly not how I dreamt it would be." Arnav added. "I know how much this means to you. I am here for whatever you need but just be determined and everything will be okay. You have waited so long for this day, now you can't mess it up." Khushi said settling his tie. "Just remember, you get what you deserve, no less and no more. So give it your best shot then it doesn't matter what the result is." She said. Arnav gulped again. His stomach twisted inside him. He was just so nervous. Khushi walked Arnav to the door of their suite. "Arnav," she said as he was turning to leave. Khushi walked up to him and gave him a big tight hug. She said, "You deserve the best, and you are the best, just remember that." Going with her gut, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek for good luck. Arnav's eyes widened. A smile spread across his face and he looked right into Khushi's eyes which stared at the ground. "Now go," Khushi shyly said.
Arnav looked at Khushi for a few moments and then left after saying, "bye." Khushi shut the door behind him and sent a quick prayer for him to God. 'God, this man deserves greatness. He works very hard. Please just let him live his dream. He has done nothing but good, always. Give him the fruits of his labour. Give him what he deserves I ask for no more. Please.' She prayed. Khushi paced up and down the room worrying about Arnav. She hoped he would just be ASR and go and give his best. She just wanted him to be content and nothing more. God had given her everything she had wished for-- A loving Buaji, a perfect husband who was a great friend too. Now it was Arnav's time to get everything he wanted, what he desired.
It was around 1 when the doorbell rang. Khushi jumped up from the bed and opened the door. Arnav stared right back at her. "How was it?" "Okay, I guess." He replied coming in and handing her his laptop bag. "What do you mean by okay?" Khushi asked walking behind him. She had been desperately waiting and this is the reply she gets? "It was okay only. I said what I had to. They asked me what they had to. I did what I could." He said plainly. "Arnav! That means it went well so relax. I am sure you'll get the tender." "Don't get your hopes too high Khushi." He said. "What? Come on," she muttered. "Don't get all nervous again. You did what you could do. Now it's their turn. If they choose you, good, otherwise, it's their loss and I can have my husband all to myself." She said trying to change his mood. Arnav smiled weakly. "Forget all that, how about we go down for lunch?" she asked. "Yes, okay." "The weather also seems nice." He said.
Arnav and Khushi had lunch. They spoke for a while and Arnav went back on discussing about the tender when he said, "Oh yes, tomorrow, they have arranged a small party where they will announce their decision. This is a long time bond. If our company get's this one they will be in huge profits. We are looking at 500 Million worth order, that too just initially.
Khushi was very supportive of Arnav. She wanted to be there for him but she was slightly worried too. What if Arnav didn't get it? He would be so upset and probably really depressed. How would she help him then? Would he let her help or would he shut her out like he used to? Khushi didn't know what Arnav would do. She only knew what she would have to do. She would not let him keep her out. Not this time. She would have to fight Arnav and get through to him. Khushi still hoped for the best. She hoped Arnav gets what he's always wanted and nothing else would her happier than to see Arnav live his dream. Khushi tried very hard to keep her calm while Arnav was losing his.
After lunch, Arnav came and started to work on his laptop. Khushi decided she would read a book while he finished his work. One hour passed. The second hour was gone soon enough. It was five o'clock. Six. Seven. "What are you doing Arnav?" Khushi asked waking up from her nap she took two hours ago. "I am just going through my project too--"What? But you gave up your project! Now why are you going through it?" "I am just thinking about what they would think about my project." Khushi was about to lose her calm too. 'What the... What is wrong with this man? I am getting bored here and he is going through the project he already submitted. Oh God. Save my husband. Please let him keep his sanity.' "Arnav get up!" Khushi said calmly. "Why?" "Before dinner we are going for a walk. It's nice and windy outside too." "But Khushi I--"You will feel better. Get up!" she said a little more sternly. Arnav shut his laptop and agreed to go.
The wind was gushing through the leaves. Arnav and Khushi walked silently through the garden in the hotel. "Khushi," Arnav said. "Thank you for bearing with me." "You can thank me tomorrow, when you get the tender. And it was fun seeing this new side of you. Since I married you I have seen so many different dimensions of ASR that sometimes I lose track which one is the real you. The drunk you? Or the nervous you? Or the person who I met in Calcutta, all shy and quiet? Or the guy who loves you like crazy but just doesn't tell you--"This one." He uttered standing still. He turned towards Khushi. "This one." He repeated. "When I'm with you. I am me. Myself." He expressed. Khushi's smile widened and she just couldn't keep her feelings to herself any longer. "Arnav," she started. He looked at her. Their eyes met. It was evident that they were in love, new blooming love. Khushi's cheeks became a deep shade of pink and Arnav smiled slowly too. They noticed the small differences and the little improvements in their relationship. Even though they hadn't said it out loud yet (when they weren't drunk and furious at each other) but they knew. They knew that they were in love. Khushi was about to say something when there was lightning and almost immediately there was rain. Rain. Rain reminded Khushi of Calcutta. Khushi remembered how she would pull Buaji out in the rain and they would just stand there letting the rain fall on them and fill them with joy and happiness. It was moments like these that made Khushi feel full of life and very gratified. She held Arnav's hand sensing he was going to run.
"Khushi, you're insane! You'll fall ill." Arnav scolded trying to convince her. "No wait! Wait. Please." She said feeling the raindrops on her face. It had been so long since she got wet in the rain. Arnav stood there looking at his wife perform a little pirouette in the rain. The rain fell harder. No one was giving up tonight. As people everywhere ran indoor the two stood outside. "Arnav!" she screamed clutching onto his collar. The rain made him look even better. "I love you." She confessed. They stared at each other for half a second when Khushi flung herself at him and hiding her face in his shoulder. Arnav couldn't believe it. It took him a second to register what she had just uttered. This is what he had been waiting for. She had finally said it. "I love you too Khushi!" he said hugging her back "I love you Arnav," she repeated. She could say it all day. She broke the hug. Khushi went down on her knees and said, "You have been my best friend when I needed one, a parent when I cried so much and great husband throughout. You have been strong when I was weak, you stayed calm when I lost it, you had faith in me when I had none, you loved me so much that you made me fall in love with you ASR." Khushi said serenading to him. Arnav just listened. A huge smile was pasted on his mouth and it just wouldn't go away. "Will you, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, spend your whole life with me? Always and Forever?" she asked expectantly. "Ofcourse I will Khushi!" he said pulling her into his arms again. Only Arnav knew how much he had waited for this moment. He never thought everything would just become right in this one moment. He wasn't scared anymore. He wasn't nervous for the tender, he was exuberant and jubilant. He lifted her off the ground and spun her round. The rain wouldn't stop just like their feelings. They were both pouring their hearts out. Khushi held onto Arnav and kissed him. It was full of love, it was tender, not too strong. It was passionate but in its one way. They weren't pressing against each other, it was delicate. It was beautiful. It was blissful! They were both lost in love that they didn't notice the people who were staring at them.
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I hope you liked the update. Waiting for some review.
I have a question for you guys again.
Will Arnav Get the Tender or Not?
Just that much. It's for fun. 😳😆
-Manjari
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