Vignettes- 3.Saturday Nights- Eng Translation-Pg 3 - Page 2

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2. Evening Rituals

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3. Saturday nights

Khushi woke up with a start. It took her a moment to get her bearings, considering that she was lying sideways with her back against the head board. Feeling something pressing up against her stomach, she looked down, only to see her husband's face pressed up against it. "Living with me, Laad Governor has also started sleeping in weird poses...", she smiled.

The lights were all blazing away. Squinting up, she focussed her bleary gaze on her alarm-clock. "Hey Devi Maiyya, it's half-past-twelve! I'ven't fed him or given him his medicines! How can I be so irresponsible? "she exclaimed, jumping up.

"Khushi...", Arnav murmured in his sleep, extending his arm for her, missing her warmth already.

"Arnavji, get up", she leaned over him. Trying to pull her down into his arms, he murmured, "Khushi, I just want to sleep. I'll eat tomorrow."

"No, Arnavji. If you take your medicines without eating first, your stomach will be upset. And after the last check-up the Doctor has also given strict directions that you can't skip your medicines. We'll eat quickly and sleep. Anyway, tomorrow is Sunday, I promise I'll let you sleep in and not wake you up for the morning pooja."

Cracking open one eye, Arnav looked at his wife bustling around, gathering his medicines and putting away his wet clothes. Knowing that she wasn't looking at him, he smirked , "Then you'll have to sleep in too. You know I can't stay in bed once you get up and leave. You've spoiled me throughly, Khushi, I'm not able to sleep at all if you're not with me."

Missing the his full-blown ASR smirk, she replied, "Okay, fine. I'll make sure I don't get up early and leave you alone. Shall we go now?"

Stretching out his arm for her to pull him up, Arnav smiled at her. Eyes softening at the peace and love she found on his face, Khushi pulled him up and hugged him tight, not letting him go. Returning the hug gladly, he stood in her embrace.

"I love you a lot, Arnavji. I didn't even know I could love someone this much. I think of you every moment of every day, every single item in this house reminds me of you, and every minute away from you is sheer torture. I just want to stay in your arms like this for ever." Dropping kisses along his chest and neck, she breathed him in. "Love is a confusing thing. It make us smile, it makes us weep, it make my heart leap and it hurts too, and at times it scares me. Do you also get confused by all that you feel, Arnavji?"

Eyes moistening at his wife's innocent confession, he wound his arms tighter around her. Kissing her head, he leaned back, so that she could see his eyes, so that she could see in them what he felt, what he would never be able to express in words. She was his heart, the keeper to his soul, his happiness, his strength, his weakness. She was his protector, she was his most precious treasure. She was the best thing that had happened to him. She was his everything. As she had put into words just now, it scared him sometimes. But it was good to have so much to lose. It was as if fate was making up for all that was taken away from him.

Gathering her dear face in his hands, he smiled at her, the unspoken words in his smile telling her how much she meant to him. His wife smiled back, her eyes tearing up at the sight of his defenceless, emotion-filled face. Leaning back into his arms, she hugged him with all her strength.

"Khushi...I love you, more than ever".

"I know and haven't I told you before? I've been made just for you."

Her loving words were his undoing. Gathering her close, he kissed her, putting into that one kiss all his love, his awe, his need, his soul. Moving on to her neck, he kissed her before resting his forehead against her shoulder. They stood silently, loving eachother, being loved by the other.

After one final squeeze, he asked, "Shall we go down?" She nodded and arms around eachother, they headed down.

*********************

Arnav sat at the dining table, chin pillowed on his forearms, watching his wife bustling around quietly in the kitchen. Di had left their dinner on the hotplate to keep warm. His gaze involuntarily went to the pooja room, silently thanking the Gods for the two women in his life - his sister who continually surprised him with her resilience, who was his mother in more ways than one, and his wife, the one person in the world who he knew would love him at his worst, who would take his anger, his arrogance and give back shot for shot, all the while loving him beyond all else. It still amazed him, that he, Arnav Singh Raizada, was loved unconditionally despite all his faults. It was humbling.

"Here, eat your dinner."

Breaking his reverie, Khushi kept his plate before him. Looking up to see him gazing at her unblinkingly, she asked, "What?'

'I love you, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada...I really do."

Her cheeks flushing becomingly, she kissed his forehead, "I love you too...Now, stop talking and eat quickly."

Noticing that she had brought only one plate, he looked up, "What about you?"

"Huh? Won't you share?"

"Wow! Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, you've decided to stop ruining romantic moments and started initiating the romance?", he gave that endearing lop-sided smile that still caused acidity in her.

"Yup! I should learn something from you, seeing how i've survived a whole year with you...Now, will you feed me or keep wasting time chattering?"

"What the! Khushi! I chatter?"

"Yes...When it's only you and me, you chatter just to rile me up. Or you end up doing something and I end up wearing long sleeves and dupatta to hide the hickies...", She stopped abruptly, spotting the full-blown smirk on her husbands face.

Holding out the first morsel to her, he murmured, "Ohkay...then prepare yourself. You'll be walking around covered from head-to-toe tomorrow..."

Choking, she stared at him, shocked beyond belief. "Haun! Shameless!"

Laughing delightedly at the sight of his wife's reddening face, Arnav reached for the glass of water. Catching the look on her face, he paused midway while taking a sip. "What happened? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I love it when you laugh, Arnavji. When I make you laugh like this, it feels like I've been gifted the most priceless treasure in the world. Always stay happy like this..."

Smiling gently, he cupped her face, "It is indeed a priceless gift that you've given me. You've given me all the happiness in the world. My Khushi..."

Turning her face, she kissed his palm. "I love you, Arnavji...so much..."

Caressing her cheeks, he replied, "I know...Now, my wife, let eat and go back to our room."

The rest of the dinner passed in a soothing discussion of their day, each updating the other of each and every tiny detail.

A short while later, Arnav stood leaning against the pillar, watching Khushi put away the utensils. Unable to help himself, he walked up to her and hugged her from behind. Leaning back against him, she stretched her hand back to stroke his cheek, "Done. Shall we go?"

Pulling her behind him, Arnav strode towards the stairs, "Finally! Come...I've plans...something that'll make you red all over, let alone your tiny button nose!"

The last of what was heard of the couple was a startled "Haun!" from Khushi which her husband quickly and gladly silenced with his lips.

*********************

Later, much much later, watching his exhausted wife sleep in her usual "let-me-be-my-husband's-blanket-pose", Arnav chuckled to himself, "Saturday nights are fun!"

And Sunday was yet to come!