Arhi OS Series : Shaadi ke side-effects [ Part 6 : Pg80 : 5/12 ] - Page 12

Side-effect 2 : Business ka Big-mess

Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada stood in front of the huge mirror at her dressing table. The designer blue anarkali suit, the beautiful diamond earrings, the myriad of colourful bangles, accentuated her natural beauty. She admired the intricate work on her suit, which was one of her husband's personal creations. Although she loved the beautiful dresses and sarees that now filled her wardrobe, she missed her old chamkilay dresses and their striking pom-poms.

The last one year since their remarriage, had brought about a lot of changes in her personality. She looked more like a Raizada daughter-in-law now, always impeccably dressed and well mannered. Her husband had not asked her to change... ever, but she had wanted to, for herself and for him. He had extracted a promise from her though, to never change her pure heart. He loved her sankiness and he made sure to show her every day and night, just how much. She blushed at the mere memories of how her laad governor had turned their nights into pleasurable delights.

Even though she had welcomed all the changes that life had brought along, one thing that she detested, were his business parties. They were still boring and pheeki, as she would like to call them. Devoid of any fun or good music, delicious food and entertainment, they consisted of instrumental melodies, bland diet food, business conversations or some boring local gossip. Khushi always felt out of place and constrained in such places.

Thankfully, most of the time, she had Payal with her as company. Arnav and Akash would be busy with their business associates and the two sisters would be busy adding salt and spices to the food, to make it a little tastier. However, today, as Khushi got ready for the party that she was to go to, she could not help but feel disappointed. Akash and Payal had gone away for a small vacation and Nanheji too was busy with work. That meant that she would have to accompany her husband alone and pretend to enjoy the party with the rest of the businessmen's girlfriends and wives.

Her eyes danced with happiness, when she noticed her husband walk into their room. Even after a tiring day at work, he looked as handsome and fresh like it was the beginning of the day. He threw his jacket and bag on the recliner and walked towards her lazily. Pulling her closer, he murmured in her ear, "You look so beautiful, Mrs. Raizada. Sometimes, I feel that you dress up like this on purpose, especially, when we have to attend a business party. It's a plan to break my self-control, so that I would keep you in this room all night, and forget all about work."

She laughed at his brazenness, and pushed him towards the washroom. Quickly laying out a crisp white shirt and a Navy blue suit, she sauntered off downstairs to check on the dinner preparations, for the rest of the family. In half an hour, she was seated beside him, in his favourite SUV, driving towards the Grand Palazzo Banquet. Arnav was telling her about the Oberois, who had organized this party to launch their new fabrics company. He told her about how he had been working towards striking a deal with Mr. Oberoi, for the last two months, as their fabrics and designs were top notch.

Khushi had paid attention to everything that Arnav had said and realized that these Oberois were very important for AR Designs. They had now reached the venue, and were out of the car, within minutes. Arnav held her firmly by the waist, like always... her possessive husband. She sighed dramatically, bracing herself for an evening, full of boredom and flashy conversations. Mr. and Mrs. Oberoi greeted them warmly. After the initial introductions, Mr. Oberoi walked away with Arnav, introducing him to his friends and acquaintances.

As Mrs. Oberoi introduced Khushi to a few of her friends, Khushi could not help admiring their beautiful clothes and accessories. She always felt a little incompetent in the field of fashion and brands. Even though she was Arnav Singh Raizada's wife, she had no knowledge about what Haute Couture' was. Not that her Arnavji ever complained about it, or so much as even tried to change her in these matters, but when she was surrounded by women of such flamboyance, she would certainly feel a little restless.

Khushi looked across the hall, staring at the handsome face of her Arnavji, who was now engrossed in talking to a few people. She smiled inwardly, admiring her husband who had come such a long way in love... and relationships. The shadows of his dark past had almost dissipated. He had learned to love... to live, and she knew that his life now revolved around her.

She could see his guilt and sadness, for treating her badly after their first marriage... every now and then. Even though, those bad memories were now merely a ghost-like image for her, she knew how well he remembered each of the insults and abuse he had hurled at her. He was making it up to her, in his own ways... loving her, cherishing her and most of all, giving her the respect that she deserved. That was one of the reasons; he was planning to inaugurate a small patisserie for her.

She was brought out of the reverie, when she felt his husky voice, right behind her, "Mrs. Khushi Raizada, stop day-dreaming about your husband... especially when he is right in front of you." She blushed at his perfect understanding of her thoughts and said, "I can't help it Arnavji... he is too handsome for his own good." He smiled back at her lovingly... in just the way, that could turn her into a puddle of mush. "Khushi, I am sure you are feeling hungry by now. Why don't you go and get a plate for us. Let's quickly eat from one plate and go home. I know these parties bore you. I am done with making my presence felt at this party and I am not much interested in hanging around here for long. Especially, when I could be utilizing this time to show my wife, just how beautiful she looks tonight."

Before Arnav could say anything more that would set her body blazing with need for him, she walked towards the food counters to fill up her plate with Arnavji's favourite dishes. A few minutes later, she walked back into the hall, scanning the crowd, trying to find her husband. Much to her surprise, he did not seem to be around as she walked through the crowd, looking through the annoying faces, that were leching at her. She had almost given up looking for him, and thought of making a call, when she noticed him standing in the balcony.

The curtains parted, as she stood rooted to the spot. The words that she was hearing, stunned her into silence. "Come on ASR, what do you see in her? She has no class, no taste... and for God's sake, she can't even speak proper English. Look at me, why can't you see that I am just perfect in all aspects. I am perfect for your image, much better than that behenji. I agree she has a good body, but so do I, ASR." Khushi's blood boiled with fury. How dare this woman talk so badly about her, in front of her husband? Wait until Arnavji slaps you... you chudail, she thought mentally.

However, the next few words completely shocked her. Her own husband was...? She heard Arnav saying in a soft tone, "Please Tanya, you know how things are. I am stuck with her for good. I didn't have much of a choice then. I agree that she has no brains and has been distracting me, while I work too. Her demands are atrocious and sometimes even downright stupid, but trust me when I say that I don't have a choice." Tears filled up in Khushi's eyes, watching the scene unfolding in front of her. In mere minutes, her world was crashing down around her. Wasn't this Mr. Oberoi's daughter... this chudail Tanya?

"ASR, I know you have been wanting to sign a deal with papa, for a few months now. I can help in convincing him... only if you can... you know!!" Tanya said seductively, moving a little closer towards Arnav. Khushi didn't notice the stiffening of Arnav's body, through the sheen of tears covering her hazel eyes. All she heard was his response, "Let me see what I can do, Tanya. Let me try to get rid of her."

The plate filled with her husband's favourite food, fell to the floor unceremoniously. Her fingers trembling, her face tormented and her heart filled with fury. She was never one to take injustice quietly. She wiped away the tears that were flowing freely down her cheeks and rushed towards the two shocked faces, that stood in the balcony, hidden from the crowd. She looked over at her husband's worried face once, before turning her full attention to the other woman' in their love story.

"You chudail, how dare you make such a dirty and cheap demand, in front of my husband? So what if we need that deal, your father is willing to offer? My husband will not leave me for a cheap woman like you." Khushi failed to notice the shocked face of Tanya Oberoi and her husband who was trying to pull her away and stop her from talking further. She turned towards him and said furiously, "Aap toh chup hi rahiye, Arnavji. I will speak to you, once I am done talking to this characterless woman."

"Haan toh.. you! You just go and tell your dad that we do not need your deal. Or should I tell him, what his daughter has been offering in return of the deal?" Khushi scowled at Tanya, who had now almost reached the exit. She seemed to be scared and angry at the same time. She managed to mumble, "You are going to regret this, ASR. This hysterical wife of yours is going to ruin everything." With that said, she stormed out of the balcony leaving behind an angry wife and an extremely shocked husband.

After a couple of minutes of complete silence, Arnav looked at Khushi, who was silently sobbing now. His heart felt immense pain, as he tried to recollect his conversation with Tanya and what had gotten her so furious. And then something clicked inside him, and he realized the reason for her outburst. His beautiful, adorable and crazy wife... only she could jump to such conclusions.

With as much patience and composure, as he could muster, he said, "Khushi, meri taraf deko... please." And when she did, he continued, "What was this all about Khushi? Why did you storm in and abuse Tanya like this?" He waited for her to flare up in anger, but she did nothing like that. Her tears continued to flow, as she said, "How could you do this to me, Arnavji? She kept saying such mean things about me. And instead of slapping her... you said... you said, you will get rid of me?"

Arnav could take no more, as he held his wife by her waist, and pulled her flush towards his body. Her softness, pressing against his muscular hard chest. He held her chin and tilted her face upwards, so that she looked directly into his eyes. "Khushi, is that all you know me? Don't you know how much I love you? Haven't I been showing you how beautiful and important you are to me?" After a small pause he continued, "Tanya was talking about our lead model Neha, Khushi. She wants to get replaced as our top model. She wanted me to offer her that post in return for the deal with Oberois."

Khushi tried to make sense of his words and slowly and steadily, she realized how foolishly, she had just behaved. She had never heard her name being taken and instead, had immediately jumped to conclusions... maybe, because of her innermost insecurities. Arnav had never shown any interest in other women, and she knew everything about his beliefs in love and marriage. She had been the only one who owned his heart and yet, here she was... acting like the sankadevi, that she was.

She threw herself into her husband's arms, clutching onto his suit desperately. Was he going to push her away? Was he going to be angry for messing up this deal? But surprisingly, Arnav put his arms around her and rubbed his hands over her back... soothing her distressed form. "Arnavji... sniff... Aapke business ka big-mess kar diya humne!!! Ab iss deal ka kya hoga?" She managed to mumble in-between the sobs, that were wracking her body.

Arnav smiled at his beloved wife. Did she really think he was going to be angry with her for the scene, she had created a while ago? He was more amused than annoyed. He reveled in her jealousy... He recollected her vague words from his bachelor's party... when she had spoken about any woman, who might dare to hit on him... "uss chudail ke baal noch lenge hum..." As laughter rumbled within him at the distant memory, she looked up into his eyes apprehensively.

He cupped her face, wiped the traces of tears, and said softly, "Khushi, remember I had told you... a year ago, ki tum meri zindagi ki sabse badi deal ho. I really don't care about this Oberois deal much, in comparison. I just need you to understand, that I love you and that there is only Khushi, for this akdoo Arnav Singh Raizada." She smiled at him brilliantly, and that was his best victory.

Arnav pulled her to himself and kissed her leisurely, relishing in her softness, her drugging scent, and the taste of her delicious mouth. His hands moved over her body that fit perfectly against his own. When he realized that this hungry, passionate kiss could lead to, much more... he pulled apart... breathless, and desire burning within him, like a slow flame. He quickly fixed their disheveled state and led Khushi into the party, once again.

After a series of apologies to Tanya, and a promise to try and get her on board of the list of lead models for AR, even if this deal did not work out in their favor, Arnav led Khushi to their car. He could sense her discomfort due to whatever had happened in the last one hour. When they were almost home, he heard her soft apology, "I am sorry Arnavji... for behaving like this. I should not have screamed at Tanyaji, without trying to understand what you both were talking about."

Khushi's sad face could melt Arnav's heart, and the only way to cheer her up was either food or...!! He smirked at his devilish thought, while parking the car in the driveway of Shantivan. He quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and as the tradition went, moved towards Khushi to unbuckle hers. He placed a swift kiss on her cheek and whispered into her ear, huskily, "I agree Khushi... you should not have screamed at Tanya... and definitely, should not have doubted me. I guess now I will have to punish you for you behavior, Khushi... I am going to make you scream so loud... that you are going to have a hard time explaining the reason to Mami, tomorrow morning."

Khushi blushed as his seductive voice, promised her a night full of pleasure and passion. He picked her up from the car, kicking the door to shut behind their retreating forms. Khushi instantly wound her one arm around his shoulder, and clutched his collar with the other. As they entered their room... within seconds, their clothes lay on the floor in a big mess... a mess, that she had definitely gotten used to.