Thanks for the amazing responses to my other writings, guys!
"Ha! I win, you lose!" yelled Anjali as she laid down the winning cards of the Poker game, defeating self proclaimed Poker Queen Khushi.
"This is not possible. I can't believe this, I'm the expert of Poker, no one's ever beaten me! How did this happen?" ranted Khushi.
"Well, dear Bhabhi, now you've met your real rival- me! After all, I did learn from the best," Anjali said, throwing a glance at Nani, who smiled discreetly.
"Urgh, fine. I lose. Happy?" asked Khushi, disgruntled.
"Nope, now you have to fulfil your bet," said Anjali gleefully.
"Wh- what bet?" she asked, alarmed. How did Anjali know about her and Arnav's bet? She cast a glance at Arnav seated on the couch farthest from her, engrossed by whatever was on his laptop screen, typing furiously.
"The one where the loser does whatever the winner tells them to do!"
"How did- how do you-?" Did he tell his sister about the bet?
"Okay, so since you lost, you'll do what I tell you to!" exclaimed Anjali, happily oblivious.
"Oh, the game bet!" said Khushi without thinking.
"Duh, what else?"
"Uh, nothing. So what do I have to do?" she diverted the topic, sneaking another glance at him, and saw him still staring at the screen, except with a smirk this time.
"Let me think." Anjali tried to come up with a good enough use of the rare opportunity, while Khushi's thoughts wandered to the morning, lying in Arnav's arms.
"You know what?" she asked lazily, as they woke up together to the sunlight.
"What?" he said in a sleep filled husky tone that never failed to send shivers down her spine.
"We need to quit sneaking around the house and… you know… at random places. Mamiji almost walked in on us in the kitchen yesterday…" she said, tracing random patterns on his bare chest.
He chuckled. "We were just kissing, Khushi, you're talking as though we were doing something much more…"
She blushed, but did not reply.
"Why do you worry so much, anyway? They know we're married. Or am I not entitled to romance outside the bedroom?" he said.
"Yes, but…"
"Khushi, we have to do something about this painful shyness of yours," he said conversationally. "Alright, here's what we do. I'm giving you a dare. I dare you to call me Jaan in front of the family," he said, smirking.
Her cheeks intensified in colour. 'Jaan' was something she called him during their lovemaking.
"What childishness, Arnav! I'm not going to-"
"Are you chickening out? Khushi Kumari Gupta-Singh Raizada is actually backing out off a challenge? I never thought I'll come to see the day..." he taunted, knowing what her response will be.
As expected, she stiffened. "Fine, I accept. If I win?"
"If you win… I will be your slave for one whole day; I'll even take a day off from work. If I win, you'll be my slave… And let me tell you, if I win, we won't be leaving the bedroom unless the house is on fire," he said, smirking the famous ASR smirk.
She gulped. "Done," she said.
"Payal, give me some ideas, please…" whined Anjali as Payal plopped down on the couch, bringing Khushi out of her reverie.
"Uh… I don't know, sing a song?" Payal replied absentmindedly, as she texted Akash to come home early.
"Alright, fine. Khushi will sing a song."
"That's it, that's too easy!" she said.
"Hmmm, you're right. Let me make it difficult…" Anjali brought out her rare evil smirk that gave genetic evidence as to whose sister she was. "You should sing a song… describing a person."
"What person?" Khushi asked, confused.
"That person, whom you love the more than anyone else in the world. And you should address the song to them. Ha!" Anjali exclaimed victoriously, proud of her master plan.
Arnav's eyes popped up to see Khushi darting yet another hasty glance at him, and then back at Anjali. He smirked.
"No, Di. I'll do something else, I'll… I'll make the dessert for a week, or I'll…"
"No, Khushi, this is what you should do, no altering!"
Khushi began another feeble protest, but was cut off by Arnav.
"Leave it, Di. Khushi's too much of a coward to fulfil her bets anyways," he said, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. Now all he had to do was count down… 5… 4… 3… 2… And…
"COWARD?"
And 1. There.
"Khushi Kumari Gupta-Singh Raizada is NOT a coward!"
"Really? Prove it," he said smoothly.
She looked at him with widened eyes. Oh, now you've done it, Sanka Devi. You've landed yourself in a knot again. Unconsciously, she bit her nails, an almost comical worried expressionon her face, a classic Khushi.
"So will you sing, Khushi?" asked Anjali.
Think, Khushi, think! Hey, Devi Maiyya, give me some idea, how do I get out of- IDEA!!!
She grinned so fast, you couldn't even see the grin forming.
"I'll do it," she replied to Anjali, while looking at him.
He gave her a look that plainly said 'Oh?' and turned down the screen of his laptop, waiting expectantly.
She looked around, avoiding everyone's expectant eyes. Most of the family was gazing at her. She looked down, blushing at the prospect of singing what she was about to sing. She hummed the first few notes.
Looking up, she took in his deep brown eyes that she loved to drown in, looking back at her with affection and love, giving her courage.
"Thode badmaash ho tum,
Thode naadan ho tum…
Thode badmaash ho tum,
Thode naadan ho tum…
Haan, magar yeh sach hai,
Hamaari jaan ho tum…"
She couldn't help grinning as she sang the last line, and saw him suppressing an appreciative smile at her wit of combining the challenges. Oh, but she thought a step, yet ahead.
"Thode badmaash ho tum,
Thode naadan ho tum…
Haan, magar yeh sach hai,
Hamaari jaan ho tum…"
She winked at him at the word Jaan the second time around, already planning in her mind what to do with the two days of slavery he was committed to, oblivious to the smiles and knowing glances she was receiving.
He rolled his eyes, accepting defeat. Someone was a sore loser today, she thought.
She sang on, her eyes glazing over as memories took over her mind.
"Mere saanson ki jhankaar ho tum,
Mera solah singaar ho tum
Meri aankhon ka intezaar ho tum..."
Her breathing hard as he came closer, frantically trying to tame her heartbeats... Him applying a pinch of sindoor on her forehead each morning as they got ready, a daily ritual… Her waiting up for him to return from the five day trip at two in the morning, falling asleep on the couch, only to wake up in his arms as he carried her upstairs…
"Mera eemaan, meri shaan, mera maan ho tum…
Thode beimaan ho tum, thode shaitaan ho tum…"
She was jolted out of her memories as she felt his arms enveloping her from behind, as he stood behind her, leaning over the couch. She gave him a surprised, yet pleased look, blushing furiously at the innocent public display of affection. He smirked in reply. Everyone snickered at their exchange.
"Ho… Thode beimaan ho tum,
Thode shaitaan ho tum…
Haan, magar yeh sach hai,
Mere bhagwaan ho tum…"
She turned to look at him with all her love as she sang the last line. He gave her an equally intense look that conveyed all that he felt for her. That line was as meaningful to him as it was to her.
She smiled.
Thode hmm….. Hmmm naadaan ho tum…"
She trailed off humming, as he rested his chin on her shoulder, both swaying to the music. As she came to an end, he kissed her quickly on the cheek, causing everyone to grin and look away, and her to smile, chuckle and tap her head to his, whispering "Badmaash…"
Tell me how it was!!!!
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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