FF: Caretaker ~ Thread 5 ~ Part 21 (21/08) - Page 18

Part 19

Kiss? How could she kiss Arnav SIngh Raizada? She was pacing in her room with the flashes of she kissing his cheeks coming again and again in her mind.

Khushi: Bus Khushi. How long will you think about it? It happens sometimes. You were in joy because Palak called you Maa. That made you react this way. But What will he think? And Nani and Anjaliji? Even they saw. Hey Devi Maiyaa. Please let them not tease me on this topic. Please please please

She prayed looking at the Devi maiyaa Idol placed on the side table and thats when the door was knocked . She had no plans to open then door but it was a bad idea to remain inside unattending this person who was knocking. She opened the door and her anxiety, fear, nervousness took a toll again as she saw him standing before her with Palak in arms. Palak was asleep and he probably had come to hand the baby to her. But why He? Couldnt he let someone else do this. Their eyes met and somewhere both of them were getting lost in this heated passion between them. Palak squirmed in her sleep which made them come out of their world.

He moved past her , inside and placed Palak on the bed. She helped him with the pillows , securing Palak's side. Arnav stood there for some seconds admiring Palak who was holding his shirt button tight in her fist not allowing him to leave .He slowly opened her fist and allowed her to sleep peacefully. Kissing her little fingers, he then got up to leave. Khushi was noticing everything. It was very rare to see such a moment where a man like Arnav Singh Raizada was showering his love towards a baby who wasnt even his. She moved aside to give him some space to leave the room but not without meeting his eyes once. She saw the red lipstick mark on his cheek where she had kissed him some time ago still intact. It made her feel more embarrassed. She moved her fingers at his cheek and rubbed the mark gently so that it can erase but he held her hand.

Arnav: Main kar lunga. (I will do it)

Khushi felt more shy. She wanted to give some explanation to him to make herself feel better but little did she know that would make her land into yet another embarrassing situation later.

Khushi: I didnt mean to do it. But . It was so sudden that I didnt realise what I was doing. I was very excited and happy that Palak called me Maa for the first time. So. this happened. I am sure if you would have been in my place, you would do the same. Hai naa?

She was trying to build a normal conversation between them but guess Arnav Singh Raizada was too much impressed by that one kiss that he had nothing to say about it. He simply noded his head and left the room wishing her a good night. She sighed in relief that he didnt tease her about it but none of them could get peaceful sleep that night. Both hearts were beating fast thinking about that one kiss again and again. If this was their condition , what would happen after marriage? Arnav just hoped he sticks to his words and doesnt do anything wherein she gets a chance to point back at him for his attraction towards her.

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The next rituals were the Mehndi and Haldi .Arnav tried his best to stay little away from her on the Mehndi day because he didnt wanted things that happened on engagement day to repeat. And it was a typical ladies function so none of the family members pressurised him for attending it. But attending his own Haldi was very difficult for him especially when he saw her in the white Saree which she had draped in a different style today with all thise floral jewellery. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her getting down the stairs with her Buaji. He just hoped he doesnt get a heart attack when she is made to sit opposite to him for the Haldi ceremony to begin. Same thoughts were brewing in Khushi's mind too. She never had seen Arnav in Kurta and that too a white one. He looked so charming that all the girls who had come to attend this function were drooling him from top to bottom.

A WHite transparent cloth seperated the two as they sat opposite sharing some quick glances towards each other. Palak was with Nani when the functiom started .Every family member applied the would be couple Haldi , teasing them at times , making them more nervous. All these feelings were new for both . Especially Arnav. He never felt such butterflies in his stomach when he was engaged to Lavanya. That showed how weak and baseless that relationship was. But with Khushi it was so different. He yearned to be with her and that proved she was the one who was made for him and this family to take care of.

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Arnav was talking over his phone to the lawyer in the other room. He was extremely happy with what he was been told. He thanked the lawyer once for doing this work so quickly and cut the call. He wanted to give this news to someone and unexpectedly Khushi was the one to come there in the same room wiping off the little stains which the haldi had created on her saree. She didnt know he was here until she heard his voice.

Arnav: Congratulations

His bright smile made her think what he was congratulating her for.

Khushi: Whats the matter ?

Arnav came to her and pulled her closer.

Arnav :Roy had called me up just now. Umm. Roy is my lawyer .

Khushi: Ohh. Then?

Arnav: He has made all the transfer papers ready Khushi. You know he is just waiting for tomorrow when after our marriage ritually, we will also sign the legal papers and then Palak will just not be our legal child but she will also get every bit of Akash's property and savings which always belonged to her. You cannot measure my happiness Khushi. Feels like I am on top of the world.

Khushi was happy too but his excitement was much higher compared to hers and she was just admiring him and giving all her attention to know what he wanted to say further.

Arnav: I couldnt do anything for Akash. But the day I came to know about Palak, I promised myself that she will never be left with injustices . I will give her all the rights that she owns from her birth. I am sure wherever Akash and your Jiji are, they will be happy today just like us. Hai naa?

Khushi was emotional by his words but she didnt let the moment spoil .She smiled and unvoluntarily cupped his face .

Khushi : You are the best brother one could ever get Arnavji. You were always a good caretaker for Palak , I knew but today I can feel how lucky Palak is to get a father like you who thinks about her so much.

Arnav: Not just me Khushi. WE will be good parents for her. Humesha.

He didnt wanted to be partial. Proper parenting can be done to Palak not by he alone but only when they both work together over it. She realised how close they were and how possessively she was cupping his face . She moved her hands away from his cheeks looking down in embarrasement . But when she met his eyes again she started laughing seeing his nose and cheeks covered with Haldi which got applied to his face because of her .

Arnav: Whats wrong?

She pointed at his nose and kept laughing

Khushi: Aap ki naak. Peeli ho gayi hai. (Your nose has turned yellow)

She laughed again when he touched his nose and realised what was the reason behind it.

Khushi : Kahin aur ka toh pata nahi par yeh haldi aap ke naak pe bahut zachti hai. (I dont know about the rest but definately this haldi looks good on your nose. )

Arnav was mesmerised by the way she laughed. She looked more prettier . He couldnt rememeber anything beyond her face and his attraction for her. Wrapping his arms on her waist he pulled her closer. She stopped gigling and became serious looking in his eyes.

Arnav: Kisne lagaya? (Who applied? )

When he asked her this she again started laughing seeing his nose and thought of teasing him a bit more. She had forgot to think about their closeness now.

Khushi: Hum ne thodi lagaya? Woh toh humaare ungliyon ka kamaal hai. (I didnt apply it.. Its the magic of my fingers)

As soon as she said this, he rubbed his cheeks on hers making her gasp once due to the intensity with which he touched her.

Her laughs were controlled by this one action of his and it even made her close her eyes. She took the support of the bed behind not to fall down as she felt her knees weak due to the impact of this rub. He pulled himself back and scanned her blushing face once but that didnt stop him from continuing his actions .He repeated the same on her other cheek making her part her lips and gulp down the feelings inside not letting them out. Opening her eyes and watching him doing all this was impossible for her. Their breathes collided when he moved his nose closer to hers. It was her nose 's turn now to get coloured with the haldi that she coincidently had applied on his nose. Without brushing his lips on hers , he rubbed his nose with her nose gently making her shut her eyes more tight. It took him a lot of control not to kiss her being so close. They stood there in the same position for some more seconds.

Arnav: Ab theek hai. (Its good now)

His voice had a command and a winning tone which made her open eyes and see him with bewilderment.

Arnav: Ab tum bhi utni hi cartoon lag rahi ho jaise ki main. (Now even you are looking like a cartoon like I do)

He teased her? After all these moments he was still smiling and teasing her? How could he show so much of control , was the questions running in her mind .She tried to wipe off the haldi from her nose but he caught her hands.

Arnav : Its fine. Itna bhi bura nahi hai. (Its fine. Its not looking that bad)

She looked down feeling shy. The Servant came there and handed Palak to them and left. Arnav took Palak in his arms and rubbed his rough stuble on her cheeks too. She gigled feeling this touch and liked it.She wanted her Maa to do the same on her other cheek which Arnav left undone giving Khushi her share. Without delay Khushi rubbed the other cheek of Palak with hers and thus both of them coloured their baby with Haldi from their faces. She was a part of them now.

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