New SS: Rumor has it, Ch9,pg65 - Page 19

read all the parts in one go :D I love this SS!!

LOL!!! Her idea of throwing him in the water had me in stitches...absolutely hilarious :) And the fact that it was all she thought about when he suggested honeymoon destinations LOL!!!

Chapter 5: Great expectations and Hard Times

"So, this is nice," said Khushi looking around her cottage.

"You like it?" asked Arnav hopefully.

"You pulled out all the stops. What's not to like!" said Khushi. She was standing by the window admiring the mists outside. After some dithering, she had changed her mind and decided on Kodai as a honeymoon destination. She had a thing for hill stations. And they hadn't gotten tickets for Munnar. It was too booked up, and even ASR couldn't reverse an airline strike. And he was a tycoon, but he wasn't tycoon enough to own an airplane. He sometimes rented a chopper when he wanted to impress the opposite party. But that was about it.

So, they had come to Kodaikanal. A tiny hamlet in the Palani hills of Tamil Nadu. Their cottage was in Vilpatti, a small village, several kilometers away from the main town of Kodaikanal. It was early afternoon and inspite of it being summer it was cool outside. Clouds hung low over the hilltop at Vilpatti. Khushi could see misty green hills from her window. And best of all, she couldn't hear a thing. No cars. No trucks. No incessant honking. An occasional bird chirped. But that was about it. Khushi thought she would enjoy her 5 days here. It would have been even better without the laad governor in tow, but one couldn't have everything. One took what one got.

Truthfully speaking, Khushi was tired. She'd been through 9 of the most stressful days of her life. She needed a break. To get away from it all. The Raizada Madhouse and its nutty inhabitants had sapped all her energy lately. The older sister who was blind inspite of having 20/20 vision. The grandmother who couldn't see past her goat. The Mami whose eyes were glued shut because of the weight of her eye make-up. The Mama who was scarred for life because he had slept next to a "Mami sans make-up" at night for almost 30 years. The Jijaji who was well-meaning but nothing more. And the Jiji who honestly, even in the eyes of a loving younger sister, was no more than an invertebrate who had made pleasing her MIL her life's mission. And Shyam. The snake who had moulted while her husband was away. Previously he'd been more of a bumbling, gay cousin Robin, rather than a badass Batman type of personality. He had done, but nothing much had happened. In Arnavji's absence he had begun to exhibit shades of Voldemort mixed with a dash of Kancha Cheena. And she really, really needed to get away from his advances. Kneeing him in the groin while the family knew nothing of his misdeeds was not an option. And Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada had had quite enough to putting up and shutting up. She had decided to speak up and act up. And Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada was recipient number one of her new resolve.

"So, what do you want to do?" asked Arnav, breaking her reverie.

"Hmm. I think I just want to sit in the patio with a book," said Khushi, not looking away from the window. Arnav looked disappointed, but said nothing. She found her book and walked to the nice porch that overlooked the hills. He joined her a few minutes later and said," I've asked for some tea. They'll be around with it soon."

"Thanks," she said, head buried in her book.

"What are you reading?" he asked.

"The Grapes of Wrath," she said, looking up.

"Good choice!" he said weakly.

"I'm sure Steinbeck appreciates the endorsement," said Khushi drily.

"I didn't know you read English novels," he said, making a valiant effort to make conversation.

"I didn't know you cared," she said, holding up a Hindi-English dictionary to show him her language aid.

"I care. I want to know everything about you."

"Umm. Right now, I want pakoras with my tea. Can you make arrangements for that?" she asked lightly.

"Yes Ma'am!" he said, walking back in to make the phone call. He wondered why she was being so pleasant. She's been quiet but not snappy throughout the journey. And while she's said a few sarcastic things here and there, she'd seemed less upset than 3 days ago when he'd first showed up. He decided her anger had cooled, and wondered if she'd be willing to listen to his side of the story now. He really wanted to come clean and tell her where he'd been.

Several hours after the pakoras had been consumed and the book had been finished, Arnav and Khushi found themselves in their bedroom faced with the one problem that married couples never really thought of as an issue in real life. There was only 1 bed. Plus, there was no recliner. Or even a poolside.

"Err'I could sleep on the floor," offered Arnav politely.

"Just sleep on the bed," said Khushi curtly. She had changed into her nightsuit and jumped in under the covers. "Aur haan, ye hamaara paala hai. Side! Samjhe aap?"

"Of course, of course. No problem. I'll take the other paala. I mean side," said Arnav, finding it very difficult to hide his glee. Things were getting better and better, he thought. He got under the covers and made himself comfortable when he felt a leg sliding up his.

"Khushi, is that you? What are you doing?" he asked, frazzled.

"I am running my leg up your inner thigh. Any problem?" she asked.

"No. No problem," he said weakly, wondering what had gotten into his wife. Maybe the air in Vilpatti was too rarified for her, he thought. She snuggled close to him and ran a hand over his unshaven chin.

"You should shave every day. I hate that stubble. It looks good, but it pokes," she said, bending to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"Huh? Khushi, what are you doing? I don't understand this," said Arnav, completely confused at this bizarre exhibition from his wife. You see, ASR had gained a healthy dose of perspective in his 9-day sojourn. He didn't think he was God's gift to the universe in general and his wife in particular anymore. He was convinced that as a human he ranked somewhere between pond scum and a wad of chewing gum stuck under a table. He was puzzled, but turned on at the same time. It was somewhat pathetic and highly disturbing.

"I thought I was coming on to my husband," said Khushi coyly, running a hand down his chest.

"But why?"

"I thought that's what couples did on honeymoons, no?"

"Yes, but we can't!"

"Why not?"

"Err. We have a lot of issues we need to sort out first. I really think we need to talk first. I want to tell you why I was away and.."

"Look, can we just have sex? I just need a good lay. Really. I don't want any emotional nonsense. I don't want your explanations. I'd much prefer if we just, you know'did it!" she finished huffily.

"I'm sorry Khushi, but we really can't!" said Arnav, pulling away firmly.

"Why ever not? You are able to, right?" she said looking at him doubtfully.

"Of course I am able to! What do you mean?" he asked outraged. "I just don't want to. And besides, we can't anyway," he finished sadly.

"What do you mean we can't?" she asked, now more convinced than ever he had issues deeper than his ego.

"I didn't bring any'you know'protection. And I don't think you're on the pill. Are you?" he asked. She nodded in the negative.

"What sort of a man doesn't bring protection on his honeymoon?" asked Khushi, thoroughly put out.

"Khushi, I slept by the poolside 2 nights ago. You've barely given me the time of the day since I got back. How was I to guess you'd want to make love?" he said weakly.

"OK Arnavji. Good night." She said, turning away from him and scooting over to her side.

"Wait a minute..that's it? Good night? Can we talk? We can cuddle you know! Don't need protection to cuddle!" he said valiantly.

"Umm..I don't want to cuddle. I wanted a hot, passionate, steamy romp in bed. You said it's not possible. End of matter. Good night. Please turn the night lamp off."

"Good night Khushi," said Arnav, wondering what the next 5 days with his apparently mad wife would bring. His last thought before drifting off to sleep was that he was an idiot for not bringing the protective gear. Complete, unadulterated, big-time, no-holds-barred idiot.

Have fun reading and let me know your thoughts!

WW11

Chapter 6

his last thought is about protection 🤣!!!!

What the ... Our girl Khushi has become the aggressor! Love it! If only ... ,!!!!😃

Hmm where could Arnav have been. The mystery is now bugging me. Nice update and thanks for the pm.

i was laughing throughout!!! Loved the new Khushi!!!

I loved how Khushi turned the tables on him. She's turning him inside out and I love it!!! Loved her description of the whole Raizada household too.

I think my parents think I'm crazy for laughing at my laptop screen!!!!! THIS IS FANTASTIC!!!!!! I just read all 5 chapters and I'm loving it!!!!!! Could you please add me to your PM list I would really really really really love to read more!!!😃