OS: IPL syndrome
"Khushi move out of the way."
"NO!"
Arnav shut his eyes. He tried again to reason but couldn't stop the anger beginning to strain his voice.
"Move out of the way." He tried maneuvering himself on the bed to attempt to see behind his wife's shielding form but she was having none of it. Every time she would move to follow him, blocking whatever tiny glimpses he caught here and there of the television screen.
"Khushi...Khushi! What the hell do you want?!" He plonked the remote down on the bed and sighed exaggeratedly. Why was she always so unreasonable?
Khushi crossed her arms, her defiance never wavering. Sonia, her friend, had warned her about this-what she liked to call the "IPL cricket syndrome". It was said that all indian men suffered it at this time of year but Khushi had flat out denied her Arnavji to be one such sufferer, because well the man was no usual one. But she had been obviously proved wrong. Ever since he had got home two hours ago, he had been watching the same bloody match, with Akash originally, except Akash had finally been pried away by her jiji. Her "swamiji" however seemed to have his arse still glued to the bed. Would this match carry on forever? It seemed to have spanned over four days already, it becoming a regular occurrence for pati permeshvaar to come home (early as well!), grab a drink and some snacks, while he settled himself on the living room sofa with the other men in the house for a long evening, without even sharing a sentence-let alone a whole conversation-with her. The women of the house had to accept it of course. This was a tradition apparently. Nani and mami had moved into their respective rooms to watch their star plus serials while jiji and di busied themselves in various jobs. Khushi had tried to sit in with the boys and find the appeal of it all but on her part she had always failed. She had lost interest in the first two minutes; just how did they manage to sit for hours on end baffled her.
"So he can watch this without getting tired or bored but if I say I want to watch "dabang", he says it's too long and that he's had a stressful day at work?! Hmph typical Laad Governor! Salman Khan ji are you like this too? I bet it's all down to those "cheerleaders". Those short clothes...chi chi chi! They can even give Lavanyaji a run for her money!"
Today she had planned to spend some quality time together, something they hadn't done in a long time seeing as she always fell asleep before he came to bed. And here he was...the cricket had even now followed them into the bedroom! Freaking unbelievable! "No not tonight Khushi. You show him who's boss!"
"You know this is my room too right?! Put the remote down!"
"I have!"
"Well you know what I mean? Not tonight. It's Friday night. Turn the TV off!"
"And that's a six!" came the voice from the TV.
Arnav's eyes widened. "What the?! Khushi it's a six!" He leapt forward in bed, motioning towards the TV. But she didn't move.
"So? What do you want me to do?"
"What do I want you to do? I want you to move!"
"Six smix! What the hell is wrong with you Arnav?"
"What the? What is wrong with me?! Khushi do you know-anyway please just move! It's Dhoni man!" He crawled on his knees now, craning his neck to desperately see as he heard the commentator go wild. Why now?
"Kabhi Dhoni toh kabhi Sachin! Why don't you just go and marry them?"
Arnav was at the end of his tether now. Could the woman get any more infuriating? "What the hell Khushi?!"
"Oh at least you remember my name thank goodness! I was starting to have doubts!"
"Khushi stop being so bloody childish!"
She pouted in response and spread out her arms perpendicular to her standing form. This was a facepalm moment if there ever was one. Arnav desperately took a deep breath. Experience had taught him that now was not the time to blow up. The stubborn woman he married was relentless in pursuing what she wanted and he quite basically was putty in her hands (though he didn't like to admit it; it bruised the alpha male in him who wanted to believe he wore the pants in their relationship). He held his hands up as if in surrender.
"Fine! What do you want?"
She contemplated for a moment, hands on her hips. His jaw twitched; she was evidently just playing it out even more being the drama queen she was.
"Well swami if I can take a moment of your precious time, I want to TALK." She said rather sarcastically.
What the? Arnav gulped. This was bad. "We need to talk" always led to one thing. "You mean...you want to "talk"? What did I do now? You want to leave?"
Khushi rolled her eyes. "Oh ho!" She strode towards him, sat down in front of him and turned off the TV using the remote.
"Yes Arnav. Since you don't seem to care for me anymore I have decided to run away with someone else."
He jolted, obviously not picking up the sarcasm in her voice. "WHAT THE! Wit-with WHO?!"
"Hari prakashji. Mein unki bache ki maa bane wali hoon." She said with the most serious face she could put on, which in fact was not actually that serious as she felt a fit of giggles threaten to rise on seeing his face. One should most definitely keep a camera at all times with them for moments like these. It was a "Kodak" moment and his face right now would probably remain engrained in her mind forever, reserved for moments when she needed a source of laughter when things were blue or grey.
"Hari Prakash?! Seriously Khushi what the f- you got me worried there for a moment!" He felt a sense of relief, which was quickly replaced by a flash of anger at being taken for a fairly brief but still impactful emotional ride.
His wife erupted with laughter and he felt himself grow angrier. "Ok fine if your silly "let's bug Arnav" spree is over, can I get back to the game?" He reached for the remote but found it seized from his hands. He looked up surprised at his wife's face.
"NO!"
"But the Mumbai Indians are batting now! They've switched! " he whined.
"I don't care! I was serious about wanting to talk."
"Well as long as you're not leaving me, we can talk about it while watching the game right?" he tried to reason while reaching for the remote but she was too fast for him, putting it behind her.
"NO! Bohot hogaye!" She was fuming. He stared at her for a few moments, unblinkingly and sighed, his hopes for catching the game for tonight dashed. He would just have to catch up on the news tomorrow and then he would start recording all the games he decided. He laid back in bed, not removing his gaze off her to indicate he had given up.
"So what do you want to talk about?" he raised an eyebrow, not being able to help himself.
She beamed a smile at him and situated herself down next to him, snuggling into his chest while he fitted his arms around her. Well... this wasn't so bad. If he was going to get what he thought he would, it might just be worth giving up the match.
"Jannu I was just thinking...we don't spend anytime together anymore. I miss you." She began while tracing her finger lazily along his chest, feeling the muscles flex. Arnav smirked to himself. "Jannu"?! Oh yes he was so getting some tonight! And here he was thinking he was in trouble!
He clutched her tighter to himself, planting a soft kiss on her neck.
"But I'm right here baby." Sweet talk was the way now.
She looked up at him with wide eyes, a childish pout on her face. "I know but we never spend any time together. We haven't even you know..."
Arnav smiled, a cheeky grin settling itself on his face as he witnessed her blush. "No I don't know. Tell me." He leant in and nuzzled her neck.
"You know Arnav...anyway I wonder what time it is?"
"It's time we catch up." He replied planting another gentle kiss on her neck.
She smiled and turned her head towards the bedside clock.
"HAI DEVI MAIYAA!" Arnav started as he felt Khushi jolt up in an instant. He followed suit, alarmed.
"What's wrong?" he asked suddenly panicked.
She turned towards him, dismayed.
"It's ten past seven!"
"SO?"
"Saathiya! It's on!"
"What the? Saathiya...what the hell are you on about?"
She ignored him though and reached frantically for the remote.
He pressed on, confused. "Khushi answer me! What's Saathiya?"
"Oh ho Arnav! It's my favourite show-you know the one with Gopi. I've already missed ten minutes of it!"
Arnav gawked. What the? The anger began to rise again. She wasn't bloody serious was she?
"But Khushi what about our "talk"?" he said through gritted teeth.
"Arnavji not now."
"But Khushi-"
"Tomorrow. We'll talk tomorrow."
"WHAT THE?!"
"Yeh "what the what the" nah baar leke jaaye. Let me watch this in peace."
Arnav sighed in frustration. There was no use trying to get through to this thick-skinned woman. He would see to her later. He got up and stormed out of the room, leaving his smiling wife to now recline back in bed, enjoying herself for the first time that week.
Thanks for reading! yep pretty random 😆 but that's me! By the way does this ring a few bells out there for any other women? Let me know. Let all the frustration out here dearies!
Preity xxx
Bindi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Jodha Akbar
