OS: Inside My Green Shoes

Arnav watched Khushi by the French doors. Looking at her posture he knew she was worried about something. He had a small idea of what exactly that might be.

"Khushi...?"

Khushi fixed herself and put on her fake smile. Arnav raised his eyebrow and sat next to her.

"What are you sitting here and doing?"

Khushi shrugged, ''nothing just thinking about my colorful past.''

"Colorful past?,'' Arnav questioned, confusion etched to his face.

"Yes, colorful past. A past full of my old lovely relationships, especially a particular one,'' Khushi replied coolly, bring out her acting skills. This time she made sure not to over act because in order to get his reaction, she had to be cool about it.

The word past relationships arose anger at the pit of Arnav's stomach. Another man with HIS Khushi? There was no way this was true. Clenched fists, and licking his lips Arnav asked Khushi calmly as possible, ''past relationships? What do you mean?"

Khushi smiled shyly, ''just like you Arnavji, I had a special someone in my past. Although it meant nothing either, but still... it was a nice relationship.."

Bubbles of anger busted in Arnav's gut at her answer. He controlled himself from lashing out and inhaled fresh air. His mind kept on ranting, 'calm, be calm, just be calm, ask questions, be calm.'

''I see... what was his name?,'' Arnav asked her strained. His knuckles were white from the furious clenching. Khushi smiled even wider and turned to face Arnav. Mentally she did a small happy dance seeing her husband's temper rise. Oh how she missed that.

In a dreamy tone she replied, ''his name is Adit. Oh how amazing it was. I remember how he used to send me secret letters through one of the neighbourhood kids... Then he would sneak at night to come see...'' Smirking slightly she carefully studied Arnav's face. Any moment a volcano was going to erupt, but she continued. "And the beautiful flowers he used to send me... young love is-"

In a blink of an eye Arnav grabbed Khushi by the shoulders and hoisted her up. Eyes burning with fire, his chest heaving, grip tightened, Arnav held her. Her eyes widened at the sight of her husband, but she prepared herself for it.

"Arnavji... what happened? Why are you so angry?'', Khushi asked him acting innocently.

"Why am I angry? Why am I ANGRY?,'' Arnav asked/ yelled at the same time. Khushi raised an eyebrow at him and shrugged, ''yeah... why are you angry? I thought we were having a normal conversation..." At her answer arms moved to her waist, and he pulled her in more closer, firmly.

"NORMAL CONVERSATION? Khushi how do you expect this to be normal when you are happily speaking about you EX BOYFRIEND. HUH, HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO BE CALM ABOUT THIS?" His booming voice thundered down at her. This still did not bother Khushi. It was the perfect reaction she wanted.

Innocently she replied, ''but Arnavji... I don't understand...''

"Understand this Khushi! YOU. ARE . MINE. NOBODY ON THIS PLANET CAN LOVE YOU, BUT ME. I LOVE YOU AND YOU LOVE ME. DO YOU UNDERSTAND. ADIT OR WHOEVER THAT bas***d IS NOT PART OF YOUR LIFE. I DON'T WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT HIM, SEE HIM, OR EVEN THINK ABOUT HIM. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?", His breath came our rapidly as his anger rose in his body.

Triumply Khushi smirked, 'bingo' she thought. Arnav drove the nail right to his temple, just the way she wanted. Her tiny hands pulled away his strong arms, and backed away with a smile.

"So it angers you when I just speak about him, but you working with Sheetal is okay?"

A shocked Arnav stood still unable to speak.

"How do you think I felt when you told me that Sheetal and you were previous lovers?"

"But Khushi it meant nothing."

"So? Even my relationship with Adit meant nothing, but I can't even speak about him?"

Arnav was lost for words, and Khushi continued.

"If that makes you feel uneasy and terrible, then just imagine me knowing you're working with your ex. Whom you will be seeing every day. I trust you, but still that twinge of jealousy is still there. Now look at how you reacted just because I WAS SPEAKING about my ex. It didn't feel good did it? Of course not, otherwise you wouldn't react the way you did.

Understanding of her situation dawned on Arnav.

"I am sorry Khushi... I guess I just didn't think it would affect us since to me Sheetal means nothing, but I know it's still hard on your side... like it was hard for me to digest you were with someone else before me."

Khushi nodded, ''I know Arnavji, but Sheetal is a woman and we women don't forget easily. For you it might have not meant anything, but for her deep down it did. The way she looks at you says a lot."

"Alright, I will not hire her,'' saying that Arnav pulled Khushi closer, ''remember Khushi I am yours and you are mine. Nobody bloody person will or can come between us." Khushi smiled and hugged Arnav tightly, ''good because if anybody does I will rip their hair off and burn their designer clothes.''

Arnav chuckled, he knew she was mainly talking about Sheetal. He lowered his lips to her ears and whispered, ''I don't mind if you burn my clothes... if you know what I mean." Shivers trailed down Khushi's back at his seductive comment.

"Shut up Arnavji,'' she whispered slightly smiling.

Arnav smiled too and gathered her in his arms as he sat down on the recliner inside. Cuddled in each other's arms, curiosity got to Arnav.

"By the way Khushi... who is Adit?"

She laughed at his question and played with his collar, ''he is my imaginary ex I made up to make a point.

Arnav's jaw dropped, ''YOU DID THAT ALL TO MAKE A POINT? "