Arhi OS Series : Shaadi ke side-effects [ Part 6 : Pg80 : 5/12 ] - Page 21

Side-effect 3 : Joru ka gulaam

The fragrance of flowers, incense sticks and homemade sweets wafted across the majestic hall of Shantivan. As Arnav made his way down the stairs, he saw a flurry of activity. Not that it was the first time that he was seeing all his family members, engrossed in the preparations for yet another pooja. He was used to this madness by now and had whole-heartedly accepted these rituals as a part of his life... especially because of his wife.

Earlier on in his life, it was only his sister who would emotionally blackmail him, pester him, coax and plead with him to attend religious rituals. However now, since Khushi had come into his life, it was a different matter all together. She drew him towards herself... like a moth to a flame. He would gladly follow her to the ends of the world and beyond... and the reason for it would only be his endless love for her.

Over the past two years, he had learned to accept the fact that everything about her affected him. His pride, ego, anger and arrogance was meant for the outside world, but faded into nothingness, when it came to her. The scars that he had inflicted on his innocent wife, would probably be embedded in his heart forever. They say that a person, who is guilty, lives under a torturous burden more than the victim... and he was certainly a living example.

He had now reached the kitchen, where he knew Khushi would be. Seeing her alone, he could not help but envelop her in his arms and placed a noisy kiss on her cheek. "Arnavji, someone will come. You can't just keep doing this in front of the family... all the time," Khushi admonished him. He saw her gaze take in his appearance with open admiration.

"You look so handsome in this kurta, Arnavji. I am telling you, you should wear these clothes more often. I am so happy that you are attending this pooja. Nani and Di will be very happy," Khushi said, running her dainty fingers through his hair to straighten them. Arnav simply smiled at her. He would never tell her, that refusing her was out of the question. He did act a little pricey, bargained with her on his own terms... but eventually, he always gave in.

Arnav helped carry the dishes to the hall, where the havan had been set up. He noticed that the Pandit was already present, with his Di hovering around to help. "Woah! Nannav!! Look Di, Nannav is attending this pooja and is also dressed in a kutta pyjama," NK said dramatically. Di laughed along with the rest of the family and corrected him as always, "Kutta pyajama nahi NK Bhai, 'kurta' pyajama."

Arnav was the only one who twisted his face in annoyance. It had been two years, since this foolish NK was in India. In this time, he had learned to love and Khushi had learned to relish Italian food... but NK still had not learned a smidgen of correct Hindi. Arnav settled down beside Khushi and looked around the beautifully decorated hall.

Diwali... the most special time of his life... a festival that had made him realize the true depth of his feelings for Khushi. Two years since that Diwali and here he was, madly in love with her. He could not help himself from taking in the beautiful face of his wife, throughout the pooja. She looked as fresh and stunning as ever. Her beauty was not just skin deep... it went beyond what anyone could comprehend. How else would a girl like her, have fallen in love with him, a shaitan?

Arnav was brought out of his stupor, when NK spoke loudly, "Nannav, stop staring at Khushji... your eyes will pop out. Nani... Di, have you seen how Nannav does everything Khushji tells him to do? He skips his meetings, to take her out for a movie. He attends family dinners, leaving his precious laptop in his room. He attends all these religious ceremonies and even accompanies her to the temple every Tuesday. Don't you think that mera bechara bhai, has completely become a Joru la gulaab?"

Much to Arnav's annoyance, the whole family erupted into hearty laughter. Khushi simply blushed and before anyone could correct the fool NK, Arnav muttered bitterly, "Gulaab nahi gulaam, NK! Do you try to be funny by making these stupid mistakes while talking? You know, right... that there is no one to impress around here anymore, with your broken Hindi??" He could not help taunt NK on how he would try and act funny around Khushi before their marriage.

A part of Arnav was still jealous of the bond Khushi and NK shared. Their friendship was so comfortable, that he felt uneasy seeing the two friends laugh sometimes. He always felt incompetent, at making Khushi laugh the way NK did. It was as if she was a completely different person around him. He knew his thoughts were a tad crazy, but one should never lie to themselves, right?

As the family stopped laughing and dispersed at the end of the laxmi poojan, Arnav could not help telling NK, "And NK... I am nobody's gulaam. Arnav Singh Raizada does not need to be a slave. I live my life, on my terms and conditions and no one can force me to do anything that I do not wish to... and I mean 'NO ONE'." Saying that, he stormed back to his room, leaving his crazy family to snigger silently at a glimpse of the old ASR... which was a rare sight indeed, these days.

He pulled off his kurta, frustrated... cursing loudly. What the! This NK was the limit! There was only so much he could control his temper around that fool. He had not forgotten the times, when NK had flirted with his Khushi. His current friendship with her did not go down well with him either. To add to all of this, NK had to go and challenge his mighty ego. Of course, Arnav Singh Raizada was not going to be termed as a 'Joru ka Gulaam', ever!

Did no one notice him ordering Khushi around? So what, if it was to keep her around him! Did they not see, that she would take his permission to even visit her parents? So what, if it was because he did not like to stay away from her, even for a day! And did anyone not realize how he was the one dictating to her about her career and her professional life. So what, if it was only because she had not agreed to join AR again and he wanted to be involved in everything related to her! Damn it! Arnav cursed loudly once again.

Pulling on his crisp suit, he looked into the mirror, one last time. He would show his family, that no one could dominate the mighty ASR... especially, not his wife..no..never! He knew deep down in his heart, that this entire pretense was useless... because the truth was far from it. He walked to where his family sat, chatting, laughing and eating the delicacies that were prepared on the occasion of Diwali.

"I am going to work. I have an important conference call and a presentation that I have to prepare. I will be back home late," Arnav said curtly to none in particular. The only one to react was Khushi. She immediately stood up and walked close to him. "Arnavji, you promised not to work today. Is the presentation really important?" she asked sweetly. Arnav was on the verge of telling her that nothing was more important to him, than her happiness. However, one look at NK's annoying face and he simply nodded in affirmation and strode out of the house, before he could change his mind.

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It was very late in the night, when Arnav parked his car in the Shantivan driveway. He did have to attend a conference call with his European delegates. Then, a presentation had to be sent across, as soon as possible. He would have ideally worked on it the next day, but NK had just rubbed him the wrong way. In order to prove something to NK, he had gone ahead and upset Khushi.

Arnav would have left much earlier from work, in spite of telling her that he would be returning late. One job after the other kept coming up, leaving Arnav and Aman, no option but to finish the tasks on hand. He noticed that the entire house was covered in darkness and everyone seemed to have gone off to sleep. He wondered whether Khushi had dozed off as well. He felt very sorry for disappointing her; today as well... maybe the Diwali day itself was jinxed for them.

He shrugged off his suit as he reached their bedroom door and opened it only to be stunned at the sight before him. He felt like he had just ventured into the world of Avatar'. The stars above their bed sparkled like diamonds. Beautiful fragrant candles spread a warm glow across their bedroom... but the most important part of his room was missing... his Khushi.

He dropped his bag on the recliner, pulled off his tie to throw it carelessly somewhere. All he wanted to do was see his wife, pull her into his arms and kiss her the way, she wanted to be kissed. He walked towards the poolside, spellbound by the beauty of it. His garden was illuminated by strings of sparkling fairy lights. The lights, Khushi had been entangled in herself, one memorable day.

He recollected that day, where he had disentangled his nymph with his hands and devoured her with his eyes. The events that followed had changed his world upside down. He noticed Khushi, standing by the shimmering pool, draped in an elegant red saree... Red! Always the colour for her... the colour he loved... the colour of their love itself.

It was like nothing had changed in these two years. Strong emotions surged through his heart as always. The red saree at the photoshoot... that had given birth to the desire he felt for this woman, the red saree on Diwali... that had made his heart pound dangerously, for the first time in years and a red saree today... that filled his heart with boundless love for the woman who held his heart... always.

She looked stunning; her long lush hair cascaded down to her waist. A few strands caressed her luminous face. Her tempting bare back, beckoned to be touched. Her luscious body drove him crazy, as always. She had put on a little weight after their wedding, making her look even more curvaceous and full at the right places... just the way he liked.

He was instantly reminded of the Diwali night, two years ago, where he had lost himself in her. Completely mesmerized by her beauty, he had let his guard down, making himself vulnerable for the first time in years. And then he had unceremoniously broken her fragile heart, which had dared to hope for a miracle... a miracle of making Arnav Singh Raizada, fall in love.

Like every other time, she knew he was there and swiftly turned around... a dazzling smile blooming on her angelic face. His breath caught in his throat, looking into those hazel orbs that gave him a glimpse into her soul. All he could ever see there was infinite love for him. He was entrapped by the emotions that shone in those eyes. The happiness she felt to see him and the desire that flickered across her face, taking in his entire form... unmanned him.

At that exact moment, he realized... that he had become a slave, long ago... Khushi's personal gulaam, like NK had called him. He had been enslaved by her beauty, imprisoned in her heart for this lifetime and forever, completely captivated by the love she showered on him. He saw her walk towards him, her voice alluring him, "Arnavji, you are here. Kitni der laga di aapne. I know you were angry with Nanheji in the morning. But you know, right? He always keeps joking. You don't have to take him seriously."

Her words were falling on deaf ears, because all he could see were her pouting lips, her delicate throat moving enticingly. All he wanted to do was treasure her... and that is exactly what he did for the rest of the night. Pleasured her, treasured her, made love to her the way, she wanted to be loved. He was the slave, who wanted to please his master. He knew that she was unaware of the reason for this sudden wantonness and he, for one, could never spell it out for her.

As they lay in bed, satiated and engulfed in the warmth of their heated bodies, he heard Khushi murmur softly against his chest, "I love you, Arnavji" before falling off into a peaceful slumber. He looked at her flushed face lovingly, admiring the perfect contours of it. He could only show her his weakness, but words were something he had never been good with. Some things were best hidden, like ASR the businessman would have said.

Yet Arnav'... the lover, was irrevocably in love with Khushi and that made a lot of difference. As he snuggled closer to the soft pliant body of his wife, he whispered more to himself, "I love you, Khushi. I am bound to you, body and soul... that would technically, make me your 'gulaam'." He chuckled softly before dozing off into the world of his happiness.

Khushi opened her dewy eyes, looking at her Greek-god like husband... who was a man of few words. When NK had teased him in the morning, she had known that he would be upset, like every other time. She had fallen in love with Arnav, the innocent boy who would go to great lengths for the happiness of his family. A man with a generous heart of gold and a persona that would make his enemies tremble with fear. His anger and ego ruled at work, while his loving heart dominated at home.

She had been waiting for him to return from work, and when he had actually come home, she had sensed something shift in him. His eyes always revealed to her the secrets that his words could not express. The way he had made love to her tonight, had confirmed her doubts. However, the words he had just spoken had brought tears to her eyes. She ran her fingers through his unruly hair and placed a kiss on his cheek. She would never want her Arnavji to be her slave... he was her rajkumar... her laad governor.

#4 : The way to a mans heart...

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