Khushi woke up when she felt the sunrays kiss her eyes. She sat up straight and tied her hair into a ponytail, after which she saw her phone. Three messages, all from Arnav.
"Gud mrng, my baby doll! Looong kiss, wit a lil tongue *wink*"
Khushi blushed as she read his message, and shook her head as she kissed her phone, and wished that Arnav was with her. Then maybe, she could have given him that tongue. Shaking her head at her brazenness, she read the next one.
"See u at nine. Ur spending sm time at my place. Wear smthn nice, bt nt too temptin, I may jus carry u to my room and... u know comes wat next... *wide grin*
She felt like she had to pierce her cheeks to stop grinning at that message. Biting her lower lip in anticipation, she knew the third one will also be naughty and bold like the earlier ones. And she wasn't wrong.
"we're going shoppin as well fr the wedding night gift. Let me give u a hint. Lingerie store. *wide grin* *wink*"
Khushi looked into the mirror and blushed more, if it was possible. It looked like her face would permanently stain to a shade of magenta. Throwing her face in her hands, she smiled to herself. If he was this bold before wedding, what would he do... she did not even want to think about it. Shaking her head, she stepped into the bathroom for a shower, after she was done with other necessities.
Khushi was just lying in the tub, soaking in the warm lavender bubble bath, when the phone rang flashing Arnav's name. "Hi Arnav" she picked up on the second ring, and he had to take a deep breath when he heard her husky tone. "Hi honey. I see you've woken up, but did not respond to my messages!" he said with a bit of an edge. "Someone's impatient!" When she heard him huff in frustration, she smiled. "Arey, I thought I'd text you after my bath" She bit her lower lip when she heard his teasing giggle. "So, you're having a bath right now?" She smiled and said yes. "Damn! Why didn't I make a video call?" he grinned and her mouth turned to a perfect O. "Arnav, you've become so shameless! And what makes you think I would pick your video call?" Arnav giggled louder this time. "well honey, it's not like I do not know how you look without your clothes on" She gasped audibly when he said that. A strange sensation ran through her body. He continued, "I do know you have birthmarks on your hip, on your right thigh, and just below your left breast" "Arnav!" her voice was like a whisper. She herself did not know she had these many birthmarks on her body, and she felt as though she was being watched by his hungry eyes. "Haha, point proven!" he chuckled as he imagined her horrified expression, and further said, "By the way, I'm coming to pick you up at nine. We'll go on a drive first. I want to take you somewhere special - a place close to my heart. Thereafter, we're having lunch at my place. Payal has already planned something special on the menu, and she will cook my bones for soup at dinner if I do not bring you over. And anyway, it's time you met my family as my future-wife" Khushi sighed. When she first met him, never did she expect him to be so romantic and sweet. In fact she thought he did not feel any emotion. And here she was today, listening to his sweet words, melting into a mushy puddle. "Can't wait to meet them" she said and cut the call, after blowing him a kiss over the phone. Quickly finishing off with the shower, she got ready in a white salwar and a multicoloured shawl, matching them up with some silver dangler earrings, bangles and anklets. She was definitely going the traditional way since she was meeting Akaash and family, not as an employee at the Raizada's, but as Arnav's future wife. And she was most definitely going to put in extra effort to how she looked.
When she reached downstairs, she saw her Dad was back and was having breakfast. "Papaaa" she screamed out loud and rushed to where he was sitting. "Hi my baccha! Look at you, all glowing! Seems like you had a really good time at Greece, eh beta?" She only managed a shy blush. "I did have a great time. It's such a beautiful place. And Arnav took a lot of care." This time, Shashi saw honesty, appreciation, respect and a newfound love in her eyes. The trust that her eyes held at the mere mention of Arnav's name brought a smile to his lips. But there was something else bothering him, and he knew better not to speak it out to her. He would only make her upset, and that was the last thing he wanted. "By the way, someone's looking very pretty" her Dad said, noticing that she was all dolled up. Without a doubt, he knew that she had plans with Arnav, but just wanted to hear it from her. "Papa, Arnav wants me to meet his family today." She said shyly, with her eyes to the ground. Shashi fell silent and that caused her to look up at him. "You don't want me to go, Papa?" Shashi saw slight disappointment in her eyes when she said that. "Nothing like that Khushi. It's just that, it feels like just yesterday you were my little girl that I carried on my shoulders. And today, you're all big, stepping into another phase of your life" She did not fail to notice the emotion in his voice. She knelt down where he was sitting, and placed her hands over his, which were at his knees. "Papa, I'll always be your little girl. And no matter what, you'll always be the first man I ever loved, and will continue to love" They only smiled at each other, emotions reflecting in their eyes in the form of tears. And before the tear could fall off his eye, Shashi brushed it with his thumb. "Come now, have breakfast with your old man!" Khushi giggled. "Papa, no one would term you old! You still look like, say 35!" Shashi only smiled at her and shook his head, while she grabbed the toast to apply butter on it.
Arnav buttoned up his white shirt and combed his neatly gelled hair. Someone knocked at the door, and Arnav opened it to see Akaash standing there, giving him an appreciative nod. "Nice" he said as he walked into the room. "What brings you here, that too at this hour in the morning?" Arnav asked with an amused smile. Akaash sat at the edge of the bed. "Arnav, there is something I need to ask you. Promise me you'd answer me truthfully, and not flip." Arnav sprayed a generous amount of fragrance, and then placing the bottle back on the table, he turned to Akaash. "Why exactly did you decide to get married to Khushi?" Akaash asked, and Arnav frowned in puzzlement. "'What sort of a question is that Akaash? What's going on in that head of yours?" Akaash sighed. "I don't know Arnav. All of this - marriage and stuff- it's happening too soon and all of a sudden. I mean, I am happy for you. But are you sure of marrying her, and then staying loyal to her?" Arnav drew a chair and sat opposite to where Akaash was sitting as he continued talking. "I know you through and through Arnav. I have seen you growing up since you were an infant. Arnav, are you sure you're not getting married to her out of mere stubbornness?" and before Arnav could interrupt him, he continued, "Even when you were a child, you would cry for each toy you set your eyes on. You would be inconsolable if you did not get what you wanted. And when you got it, you would be happy for some time, before you set your eyes on something else and cried over it, totally forgetting what is in your hand. I hope it's not the same case now!" Arnav looked on blankly at his brother. "What are you trying to say? That I treat Khushi like a toy? Please, Akaash! I love her"
Akaash sighed. "I'm happy for you if you truly love her. Because, she is a really sweet girl. Don't ever break her heart, alright?" Arnav nodded. "I won't. She means more than anything to me, even more than my own life. I agree I have been selfish Akaash, but hurting her is something which I can never do. All that meaningless fun is in the past. My present and future belongs only to one woman- Khushi." Arnav breathed deeply before he spoke again. "When I saw you and Payal get back together, I was happy for you both. Deep inside I realized that true love does exist. And watching our little Kavya made me want to start a family of my own. I'm marrying Khushi because I want to spend the rest of my life with her. She's the only one who can understand me and complete me." Akaash rose from his seat. "If that is the case, then I must say that I'm proud of you. Khushi has been successful in doing something that I never thought was possible" Arnav grinned. "And what exactly was that?" "Taming the lion and turning him into a cat" At that, both of them laughed aloud.
At nine sharp, Arnav stood outside the Gupta House, and even before he could knock, Khushi opened the door. Arnav's jaw almost hit the ground, and had to remind himself to breathe. She looked absolutely divine, as though she had stepped down from the clouds. He must have done some really good deeds in his previous birth for a woman like Khushi to fall in love with him. "Hi" she said in a soft tone, and he only kept smiling like an idiot, as though he was a struck by cupid's arrow. Only when she leaned forward and kissed his cheek, he landed back on the earth and greeted her. "By the way, that is not how I like my morning kiss! Din't you read my messages correctly?" he whispered in her ear, and she hit his chest. A few seconds later, Shashi appeared at the door. "Good morning Papa" Arnav smiled and greeted him. Shashi nodded his head with a smile. "Khushi, I need to talk to Arnav. I won't delay you both, it's a bit urgent." Khushi frowned. She had not known anything about this "urgent" talk earlier. "What talk, Papa?" Even Arnav looked clueless. "Work related" Shashi said, and Khushi smiled as she went out to wait in Arnav's car.
Shashi looked at Arnav, who said, "Papa I'm sure it's not work-related, since the project-related documents have already been signed, and the concerned heads of our company have already reported to Akaash that everything is going on fine. What is the matter?" Shashi nodded. "You're right. It's not work related. And I'd rather discuss this in my study. This way..." he said, and walked ahead as Arnav followed him.
As soon as they were in the study, Shashi locked the door after asking Arnav to have a seat. He then went to the cabinet, pulled out a book-sized envelope and placed it in front of him on the desk. "What is this?" Arnav asked looking at the brown envelope. Shashi looked into his eyes. "That is exactly what I want to know from you. What is this? I wanted to talk to you before I could reach conclusions and speak to Khushi, if she really wanted to continue her relationship with you" Arnav was a bit worried when Shashi spoke that way. He grabbed the envelope to look at the contents of it, and when he did, he was taken aback. Inside the envelope were several pictures of Priyanka and him, kissing. He instantly recognised them. It was clicked when she had thrown herself at him at the airport. When his expression changed, Shashi knew that the pictures weren't morphed. "So these pictures are genuine!" he said with gritted teeth, while Arnav was still staring at those photographs. "It is, but it isn't what it looks like" he said while Shashi just looked at him with cold eyes.
"Then please tell me what exactly it is, Arnav Raizada! Because it looks like you are kissing her. Or maybe she accidentally tripped and fell against your mouth!" His voice was turning rough with rage, but his tone was still soft. Arnav felt like a nervous student in front of the principal. "Papa this was..." "For now, I think it's better you stick to calling me Mr. Gupta only. I am still not sure if I really want to see my daughter getting married to a man whom girls keep kissing shamelessly even though he seems to be in true love" Arnav felt like he had been slapped and whipped thoroughly. He had cherished that fatherly feeling he got from Khushi's dad. And now, he was taking it all back, just because of a misunderstanding, without even knowing what the truth was! Suddenly, he was reminded of his Dad's funeral. He felt some deep pain all over again when Shashi asked him not to address him as Papa. It was as though he went through all that pain again.
Arnav stood up and straightened himself to his six foot four inches and shoved his hands in his pockets. "This incident happened when Khushi and I were coming out of the airport. From nowhere, this girl jumped over me. I won't lie and tell you that I do not know her. I did know her. Her name is Priyanka and we did have a passing affair. She is in my past and she stays in the past. But now I understand why she did all this. Surely, these pictures being posted to you were not a coincidence. Someone meant to do this to create a rift between me and Khushi! I am sorry that you had to see this, but trust me, I wasn't at fault." Shashi looked at Arnav and immediately knew that he wasn't lying. He had not sprouted gray hair in sunshine! He did know to read the eyes of people and find out if they were genuine. He had not earned that name and respect overnight, and his hard work did gift him the experience to read people. Shashi only nodded his head at what Arnav said. "I only hope and pray that you are right. Trust me, Arnav, if you are lying, and plan to hurt my baby, I swear I will not hesitate to put bullets into your head, right where you stand. As for these pictures, I don't know what to say. However, if Khushi understands you and is happy with you, then I too am happy. But I will keep a close watch on you. It's my baby's life after all!" Arnav nodded in agreement at the protectiveness of a father. He may not have had a child of his own, but he knew how protective he could get if someone would try to hurt Kavya. And Kavya is his niece, while Khushi is Shashi's daughter!
"I perfectly understand Pa... Mr. Gupta. I will neither break your trust, nor Khushi's. She means the world to me, and I mean it when I say that her happiness lies before my own. I hope you can forget all this mess." Shashi sighed. "As I said, I need a little time Arnav. I need to be completely sure if I am not making a mistake by letting my daughter marry you" Arnav swallowed a lump in his throat. "I will not fail you, I promise" he said in a soft tone, looking into his eyes. He immediately took out his phone and dialled a few numbers. "Hello, Anand... You need to search out all details about a girl named Priyanka Sharma. Where she stays, her contacts... everything. I want the details in a file on my table by tomorrow morning" He simply ordered and cut the call. Then he looked at Shashi. "If this is done on purpose, I need to get to the root of it" Shashi only looked at him and nodded. "You better leave, before Khushi comes up here" he said. Arnav left and went downstairs. Shashi saw him getting into his car from the window of his study. "I know you are true to your word, Arnav. I do trust you. But as a Dad, I have to look out for my little girl" He looked at the photos on the table. Picking them up, he looked closely. It did look forced; as though the woman was gluing herself to him. Shaking his head, he put the pictures back into the envelope and burnt the entire cover so that no one else could see those pictures. "I do trust you Arnav. And I know you aren't guilty. Please don't prove me otherwise..." he whispered to himself.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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