Just felt like writing something after a long time. Life is been very busy... do drop a comment to let me know what you think about this piece. 😳
1:17 am
Arnav noted the time from the digital clock beside their side table as he entered the room, his eyes automatically drifted to the sleeping form of his wife. Making sure not to make any noise and wake her up, he quickly stepped into the washroom. After a steaming-hot shower and changing into his nightwear, he was about to slide under the covers when his eyes fell on the photo frame beside the side table.
It was a candid picture from her convocation day, with khushi giving away the most beautiful smile with a bouquet on her left hand that Arnav gave and her fingers on the other hand clutched the lapel of his navy blue t shirt as Arnav wrapped his hands around her and pressed his lips against her forehead, silently telling her how proud he felt at that moment. Being 3 years senior to her gave him a tough time to find the perfect opportunities in the college days to talk or just casually spend some time with her, after he perceived his feelings towards her. Being surrounded by the throw-themselves-on-him girls with overly sugarcoated words who visibly drool over him all the time in the 3 years of his university life had him exasperated and he would keep himself away from almost all the girls unless he really needed to talk to them regarding some important work. But that changed on the interior design competition day that both Arnav and Khushi took part in and coincidentally were on the same team. He still remembers how enthusiastic she was for the entire team with all the creative ideas ideas and alternative solutions to all the problems they were given, unlike the other girls who only stared at him or other guys, as if that's the only job and aim of their lives. She just had this positive vibe and innocent aura in her that struck the chord of his heart.
He smiled as he remembered the day he had proposed to her.
"wha...but...I... y..you... are you talking to me?"
"There's no one else in this room khushi"
After a long pause with her eyes staring at nothing but the ground, she had uttered, almost choked, "Why me?...I...I have so many flaws...I can't even... walk two steps without the help of someone, I don't know how anyone in this world look like... I don't even...I don't even have the ability...Arnav I'm blind and you-"
Holding her chin with his thumb and index finger, he raised her face to look at her properly. With utmost determination in his voice so she gets it loud and clear in her head, mind and heart, he said, "I said I love you khushi! Help me understand, what that has to do with you not being able to see? If that fact were to ever bother me, I would have never built this feeling that I have for you right now in the first place! All I want is you, because of who you are and that includes this so called "flaw" that you are claiming to have right now!"
"Arnav, I don't think you're in the right state of mind. You-"
"I don't think I have ever been in such a perfect state of mind Khushi", he said crossing his arms, looking at her intently.
"Don't you understand? You will literally have to babysit me all the time! I can't do anything without someone's help Arnav! I can't even wear my clothes or make my hair on my own and committing to marry would only be an injustice to YOU because I will be ruining your life. I'm just a burden for everyone Arnav, nothing else"
He gritted his teeth as her words stabbed through his heart. She's anything but a burden dammit!
"Why don't you let me decide what you are and will be to me? Claiming yourself as a burden is very convenient to reject a proposal Ms Gupta!" Flaring his nose, he shoved his hands into his pockets, "And what you are calling "babysitting" is what I call taking care of the most precious possession of my life, and even if that means that I will have to change your clothes, and do your hair, trust me sweetheart, I would be more than honored to do so because one, it's YOU I am doing it for and two, I strongly believe that loving someone doesn't mean the person has to be flawless, heck, he/she can be full of flaws and you can still be in love with the person. In my case, I don't even have that option of deciding, because you're effing flawless to me, and yes what you're claiming to be a flaw of yours that makes you so called burden for everyone, is what I claim as an opportunity for me to nurture and flourish the most precious possession, Ms Gupta!
He chuckled as he remembered how her face had turned into perfect tomato-red shade - courtesy to his "sweetheart" and blatant hint about their future with Arnav helping her change her clothes which he willingly and obediently does everyday now.
"Jaldi kijiye aur hamare paas aiye taki hum so sake"
Surprised as he turned his head to her direction as he saw her arms stretched towards him, as if inviting to come into her arms, he chuckled and put the frame away and slid under the covers.
Taking her in his arms as he pressed his lips on her forehead, he frowned, "Why are you still awake?"
Neend ati hai kya aapke bina, she wanted to utter.
"Couldn't sleep. How was your meeting?" , she asked instead, snuggling and taking in his scent
"Cracked the deal!", he paused and frowned as he felt something wet around her neck. He asked touching her shoulder, "Why is it wet here?"
Before she replied, his hands slide under her full sleeved t shirt and found her back was wet too.
Turning on the lamp, he got up to have a proper look.
"Are you sweating?"
"oh.. yeah porbably. I didn't realize. It's pretty hot today no?"
"Why didn't you turn on the A/C?", he asked as he got up to get a fresh pair of sleeveless thin fabric-ed t shirt.
"I...I coun\'t find the remote", she said in a low voice.
He turned to look at the downcast face and his eyes fell on the half drenched shirt. Clenching his teeth, he barked, "Where the f**k is Meera? Am I paying her for being invisible and snoring all day?"
"Arnav! Her kid is sick so I sent her home. It's just sweat, it's okay! Why are you-"
Striding towards her as he put her arms up and took off the drenched T-shirt, he slid the fresh one down her neck - something khushi has gotten used to in their 4 years of married life and refrain from blushing or getting embarrassed.
"Love, you know you catch cold very easily, sweating and being in that wet shirt would make it worse. You should have just sent her home after I got back"
Shaking her head at how her husband making something as small as this such a big issue and knowing that there's no point in making her stubborn and overprotective husband understand the situation of Meera , she just smiled, "I will be careful next time. I'm sorry!"
"How many times did I tell you not to apologize!", turning off the lamp, he took her in his arms and slid under the covers.
After a while, when arnav realized khushi hasn't slept yet, he threaded his fingers through her hair and asked, "What is it?"
She just shook her head a no, at the same time wondering how he always reads her mind.
"Khushi?"
"Do you ever regret marrying me? See, I can't even find a simple a/c remote, can't even change my clothes when I am sweating. You always have to do everything for me and-"
"I would have regretted all my life if I had not married you because of that, khushi. Put the nonsense thoughts that your otherwise smart brain brews at 2:45 am in the morning and get some sleep"
Smiling as he raised her head and asked, "Don't you ever wish for your wife to be able to get a glance of how her husband looks?"
The next thing Khushi knew was her back pressed in the mattress with her husband's weight on top of her as he took her bottom lip into his mouth and sucked which soon turned into a passionate kiss with equal participation and demand. Arnav was upset with her question and he just couldn't do anything else to shut her up.
Breaking apart, as they both panted for breath, he finally said, "Get this etched into your head, heart and soul, Mrs khushi Arnav Singh Raizada, There's no one and I mean no one, who can ever make up the presence, vibe and aura that you create, no one who can calm me down when I am stressed out about office, no one who would take care of me better than you do by making sure I had my breakfast, lunch dinner and medicines on time, no one can read my mind so precisely but you, no one who would love me the way you do, and not to mention, no one who is as comforting as you to fall asleep with. And to answer your question, no I don't wish you to be able to see me because I know you have etched a more than perfect picture of me in that little head of yours that I would never like to be erased, even when you get your vision back." He paused as he cupped her face and kissed her lips one last time, "Please love, don't let such thoughts overpower you. Words would never justify what you are to me, khushi!"
Khushi didn't know if she should crush him with a hug or sob in his arms. His action spoke louder about everything he had said just now but confessing it out loud to her just gave her a feeling she couldn't fathom. It was just too...overwhelming. Unable to utter anything, she gulped, "I...I'm sorry...I-"
"Apologizing again?"
"Oh sorry...oh I mean-"
Chuckling, he shook his head as he pecked her forehead, "Pagal! Sleep now. It's very late."
Kissing his cheek, she snuggled in his embrace as she whispered, "Good night, Arnav!"
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My ongoing SS: My savior - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/4822558/arshi-os-i-am-just-a-burden
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