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She watched him from the poolside as he walked around their room with his Bluetooth in his ear. They argued, had differences, he made smart comments and she made them back. In all this there was still a relationship between Khushi and her husband Arnav Singh Raizada. Even if it was a love hate relationship at times both of them were together.
She looked at him oh so busy with his business she might as well stayed out here for all the attention he gave her and she did.
Why couldn't they have been like a normal couple, like a Aakash and Payal for instance but no it was so much more complicated. She plugged in her headphones into her laptop and lay back on the recliner by the pool and waved away the occasional fly bussing past her.
That was her evening, by the poolside with her choice of favorite Salman Khan film.
...
Come morning Khushi woke up to the sound of an unpleasant cough coming from within their room. In fact it came from the bathroom and along with it the smell of incense around her. Yes she'd fallen asleep by the poolside woken up with her laptop slouched on the side and as she squinted her eyes See soon put two and two together and at first some words slipped her mouth in a slur.
"Atcha hai Laad governor ki bolti toh band ho jayeygi kuch der ke liyey" (thank the lord at least it will shut him up for a little while.) and it was then that she realized.
The aroma of incense?!! And Arnav oh dear. She jumped up, threw the burnt out incense into the pool with wide eyes.
Khushi tu toh mar gayi! she said to herself and then like Khushi did she took a breather when anything like this ever happened. . Later she walked into the room where there was a little smell of incense but wafted it away with a pillow and sprayed ASR's aftershave on top of that before getting out of sight.
...
When Khushi appeared in her pj's ever so early in the morning out of blue Anjali wasn't quiet sure what was wrong.
"Di ham se na bohot badi galti ho gayi hai .." (Di I've done something terrible) she said frantically non of which made sense to Anjali not until Arnav himself was at the door to her room.
Kyushu however didn't turn her back even as she heard Anjali have a conversation with him she didn't budge to look at him that was because she really couldn't face him right now.
Meanwhile ASR had lost his voice, Anjali was obviously concerned but could make out that Arnav had something particular that he wanted to get across and it was that he needed Khushi to come to the office with him today so she could help him work.
It took his sister a second but when she did catch on she reassured him she'd send Khushi along without thinking twice. He did however wonder why Khushi who always was so perceptive to him didn't turn towards him at all but then he didn't have time to waste.
Anjali forgot all about what Khushi was saying before Arnav came in and instead of picking up where they left off Anjali just cupped her sister inlay's cheek and asked her to get ready.
Feeling guilty Khushi quietly prayed for forgiveness but maybe this was her devimayas way of giving her time with Arnav. She recalled the first time he had lost his voice and they were in the same situation.
...
She was still brushing her hair in front of the mirror when he was ready waiting for at the side. The good thing was that he couldn't shout at her but as ever she could feel his presence. Not even having to turn she knew he was just behind her in waiting.
"Ha.. just doe minute" she said without even turning her back which still surprised him today. How she managed that he'll never know.
He flicked through his file for a moment but then glanced to see her not making much progress. She was trying to put on her mangalsutra with struggle.
He crept up behind her to help. When she looked in the mirror she was pleasantly surprised.Even if it was to hurry her up it was sweet of him.
"Thank you " she said as she felt him hook the chain into place. He went back to picking up his file and she continued to finish up her touch ups. Sindoor was typically one of those touch ups.
In between the time that Arnav had helped her with her mangalsutra and turned back Khush had called him.
And when he turned back he saw her tidily collapse to his feet. At first his eyes took to surpise and then came the expression as he watched his oh so dramatic wife in action. Touching it his feet for no reason what so ever at this time in the morning when they really needed to get to work. Today he couldn't even raise his voice today he could shout instead his lips and mouth just gave out movement.
"Khushi ..!" they traced his eyes hinting sarcasm and irritation they were getting late!
He playfully hit her on the head with his file and when that got her attention she saw him pointing towards the door with it, serious eyes and all.
Kya (what?)..she looked up at him for being so insensitive, and then came the Khushi Singh Raizada waffle.
"Aise mokhe baar baar thodi na milte, Salon ka sapna pura hua satchi.. woh serial mein dekhate hai na . . (I've been dreaming about this for years, couldn't let this chance slip me by, just like they show on indian TV. )
When she could tell that she was testing his patience she stopped and got up.
"Theekh hai ek second". She said as he watched her gather all her things into her fabric bag on the bed by the time she'd picked up her back he'd already charged ahead out of the room leaving her to leap behind quickly.
...
"Lagta hai aap ke tara is ka gala bhi gharab ho gaya hai". She was very amused at her own humor when she tried to work the radio in his car on the way to work but failed. Of course he gave her a deadly look, oh today was going to be fun.
Rather than waste his time he just turned off the engine pulled out the car keys and left the car because they were at his usual coffee stop now.
Charming she thought and decided she rather stay in the car anyway.
...
"Right foot first!" She commented with a broad smile on her face as they entered the office he was going to just ignore her from now on that was going to be the best thing if they were to get through this day together but talk of footsteps and for some reason or other Khushi in that very moment took a wobble and before she could fall luckly Arnav had caught her.
There was nothing that would surprise him now he knew her too well and so when their eyes met he didn't think twice before carrying her up the stairs to his office himself whilst she was just so awestruck by him she knew why she loved him in this moment because when it came down to it there was something they shared whether he paid it heed or not but when he looked at her like that like she belonged in his arms it was just another little reason to love him more.
...
First appointment of the day it seemed had knocked on Arnav's office door but it happened to be just an employee in the end.
An employee who was requesting for the rest of the day off for not feeling well, even before Arnav could think of his words to get across Khushi had opened her mouth and decided on the total opposite from what her husband had intended.
"Bilkul aap ghar jayey aur aaram kijyey" she said on his behalf whilst Arnav looked on angrily how dare she! It was too late now the employee had gone and to go get her attention ASR slammed his hand on the table.
...
Whilst she went through a pile a tedious envelope stamping for the employee she had let go without Arnavs approval Khushi was sat looking rather glum at a desk along with other AR staff but of course she wasn't too far out of sight as she caught a glimpse of Arnav in his office writing on his whiteboard a little message for his darling wife too.
A smiley face just to add a little salt to the wound asking her to smile and she passed him a fake smile in response which he found amusing but it was the little things. It was certainly the little things khushi cherished and being with him in his office today meant she was constantly around him. Helping him in a meeting voice himself or just watching him work she appreciated these moments with him and often found herself In a daze with him.
When sat together in his office for lunch was one such moment, for they never really had time to lunch together and so each others company was somewhat refreshing. Khushi even mentioned that she like this, eating with him and he smiled. She wondered if he had his voice what he would say. Would he suggest they do it more often, if say anything at all.
She watched him eat for a moment and then it seemed as if he for some reason was looking at her rather intently, surely she was the dreamy one out of the two and not him but as he seemed to draw closer it seemed more and more like he was about to get intimately close.
Her heart racing khushi felt the world stop around her as she anticipated a kiss from her husband but instead she realized that it was simply a figment of her imagination as Arnav had reached out to wipe a little bit off food off the corner of her face.
Arnav was also fairly observant he could see that maybe his wife had misread his gesture it was adorable how she seemed a little flustered but he was kind enough to not make her feel noticed.
...
As Khushi cleared the plates probably as a means to overshadow the awkwardness Arnav happened to notice Khushi rubbing her arm here and there and when he took hold of her arm as she hovered closer to him he could see her inner arm dotted with what looked like mosquito bites. His eyes were inquisitive in fact they demanded to know how and why had she not doing anything about it?!
Woh kal raat ham poolside hamri ankh lag gayi toh .. majaro ko bahana mil gaya .. (oh I fell asleep at the poolside last night and the mosquitoes had a field day. )
He nodded his head in disapproval and then traced the word Stupid girl' with his lips khushi pulled a face giving back as good as she got. Aaap stupid.. nahin maha stupid! He was a little surprised because he tried not too say it out too loud but she even understood him then. She shouted and walked off to clear their rubbish whilst he pulled out his phone to message Aman and ask him to pick up some treatment for his foolish wife who thought it was a good idea to sleep outdoors.
...
"Stop it Khushi.." his eyes said every time she tried to itch a bit of her arm whilst he held up the suits she was supposed to give him her opinion on. These were the first samples of Arnav's new mens collection, gentlemens formal wear, the task at hand was now just picking the best ones. The thing was they all looked pretty similar to Khushi but Arnav took off his own blazer and tie to model the suits for himself Khushi could not keep her eyes off her husband. He was so very handsome and she was insanely embarrassed about being attracted to her own husband and she didn't even know why. Maybe because cultured ladies weren't supposed to express their indulgence even it was for their husband. Her eyes were that little more reserved, a little dreamy yes but mostly reserved.
he simply removed his own, blazer, unbuttoned his collar and pulled at his tie .. Khushi watched trying to not to give away that she found this very attractive and a little well nerve racking too but then he put on one of those newly designed blazers and turned to her .
His expression asked him for her opinion of course she thought he looked incredibly handsome but she was supposed to comment on the blazer. She smiled because she liked it.
The one after that was not so much to her liking and so she pulled face.
The one after that was a total write off and her comment on it yuk' was enough to stop Arnav for even putting it on, the one after that was okay but Arnav noticed that each time he turned to her with another blazer there was this cute look on her face. He noticed it yes he did and every time she smiled he smiled back.
With this next one Khushi watched him struggle a little. Not quite finding the arms but Khushi had stepped in to help her husband adjusting the blazer an little from the shoulders from behind him so he could slip into It a little more comfortably.
It got his attention so much so that there was certain eye lock that took place before Khushi walked back around to him. He watched her adjust his collar and then her hands trail upon the body of the blazer where she fastened the buttons. It was if she was reminding him that she was his wife and admittedly he enjoyed it too.
He did however want to know what Khushi was thinking and so he made a point of questioning her be it with the eyes so but she wasn't going to get away with ignoring him.
Yey rang aap pein atcha lagta hai.'. - (this color looks nice on you she confessed.) The blue bought out his eyes, she enjoyed seeing him this particular shade.
For the first time ever he looked into her eyes and was speechless because they were filled with what one could only describe as love.
It was always the case that a fine moment be interrupted and it was no different here. someone was knocking on the door and ASR could have refused only he did not have a voice in which to do so. They both looked towards the door and saw a office worker bring in a paper bag. It was the ointment Arnav had asked for.
Once the door was shut Arnav himself took out the cream which surprised Khushi and then when she realized what was going on she insisted that she would do it herself but he simply hushed her.
She turned her arm towards him and let him apply the cream it stung and her expression reflected that so much so that when he was done she literally hugged him spontaneously. He was of course surprised but put his arm around her finding it ever so adorable and after a couple of moments when she had loosened her grip a little from around him he bought her arm out and blew cold air onto her skin. It helped and as Khushi watched her ever so arrogant husband be the most adorable husband in the world in that moment and she felt guilty.
It was time to confess. "Arnavji.". she said to begin with. getting his attention.. He looked up at her for a moment.
"I used incense last night in the garden". She said it .. he looked at her now a little more concentrated still holding her arm. He could see that she was hesitating a little before him.
"Ham aap se naraz they isliyey ham poolside pein so gayey" I was annoyed at you and so slept outoors. She looked ashamed and a little afraid of how he would react so much so that she looked away from him as she spoke.
"Ham udaas they kyun ham kuch vakt ke liyey jiji aur akashji jaise rehna chahte they ..jaise woh dono hamesa ek saath hote hai. pati patni ni tara"
(I was upset because I realized that we aren't like payal di and akaash I wanted us to be like them like husband and wife..)
Magar aap..ko hamesha kaam hota hai aur jab nahin hota hai toh aap hame daat rahe hote hai.. (but you're always too busy and when you're not you spend most of the time yelling at me.)
She said all this in a soft unsure tone of voice without looking at him the once and he felt her innocence and feelings creep up on him and melt his heart.
How could he be angry at this beautiful little lady. There was silence for a moment as he looked upon her taking in what she had said.
It seemed as if she anticipated the worst from him but he would give better than his best. He took her hand into his for a second and bought her finger tips up to his mouth. It was odd it was a strange and odd thing to do it surprised her so much so that she lifted her eyes towards him. Maybe that was the intention. She felt her fingertips on his lips and she wanted to move them away straight away but he held them there as he spoke. She may not be able to hear his words but she would be able to feel them.
In that particular moment Khushi could feel his apology she took her hand away from his lips and apologized herself not anticipating that his response. He cupped the side of her face and slowly drew closer towards her and kissed her upon the lips. It took her a moment to realize what had just happened and when she did she hid within his chest innocently at which he smiled warmly putting his arm around her.
Indeed silence was sometimes a splendid thing.
...
She was on time this morning, so much so that she was the one waiting for him!
"Chale," (Shall we go..) she said as she saw him fixing his tie in the mirror but to her surprise he turned around ..
"Haha .?" (where?) he questioned her with a raise of the eyebrow and it dawned on her.
His voice was back he didn't need her now. Her shoulders dropped as did the smile on her face and he noticed both.
"I mean you can still come to work if you like and I'm dressed per your preference you'll at least enjoy the view he teased her and she smiled."
..
Thats it guys please do share you thoughts.. 😉 and watch out for a new story..
Sampoorna
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