New SS: Rumor has it, Ch9,pg65 - Page 43

Waiting...waiting...waiting...😍

Unbelievable😡I miss this😕 should get my eyes checked

Hey Wonderwoman, when are you going to surprise us with an update? Do let ASR come up with a good surprise- he's getting the solid bashing he so deserves, but like your KKG said, do to him what he did to her- be nice only to be nasty again.😆

Arnav has certainly got his work cut out for him - do update soon!

STALKER ALERT!!!

when will u update ????????? pls update soon !

Just started reading it today. Seems very interesting.

Sorry for going AWOL on you guys. I had some stuff going on and then I had a heavy case of writer's block. Anyway...next offering is here. Hope you like it.

Chapter 9: A Midsummer night's dream

Khushi was piqued, intrigued and impatient. Her husband had left her alone in the hotel room and had been gone for a good 4 hours. When he'd come back he'd offered a cryptic explanation for his absence. Basically, all he'd said was, "Wait for it!" It was clear to her that he had something planned. It was also clear that it was something big. And something he seemed very confident about. There was a spring in his step and a twinkle in his eye that had been missing since he'd returned from his "trip to London".

They drank their evening tea sitting on the patio. They'd gotten used to the insects buzzing around their heads while they sipped their tea quietly. Bug spray was their friend. "What are we doing tonight?" asked Khushi, trying to be casual about it.

"I thought we'd go to the lake for a bit," said Arnav, reciprocating her easiness of manner.

"Lake? Raat mein? Are you planning to push me in and leave me to drown in the darkness of the night?" asked Khushi warily.

"Yes. That's exactly what I have planned Khushi. I was out making sure there would be no one else around at night, when I do the dastardly deed. I have the entire lake booked for our benefit. I paid out a large sum of money so I could murder my wife publicly," he said exasperatedly.

"OK. OK. I get it. Stupid question," said Khushi, smiling lightly. "What should I wear?" she asked him. He looked at her surprised. "Anything, really. But make sure you're covered up. No wispy saris and barely there blouses, OK? Save those for a romantic dinner some night!" he said with a wink. She emerged 20 minutes later in a pale green salwar suit, carrying a black pashmina shawl with her for the cold.

He drove them silently to the lake. Neither spoke, but the silence was an easy one. Sometimes words were superfluous and silences said more. This was one was instance. They were both looking forward to the evening. One was nervous. The other was excited. The air between them crackled. The awareness made up for the lack of words. They both felt that something momentous was about to happen. A shift in the dynamics of their relationship seemed imminent.

He pulled into the lakeside. She shivered as she stepped out into the cold night and drew the shawl around her shoulders. "What's next?" she asked him quietly. For some reason the flippant jokes seemed to have deserted her.

"This way," he gestured that she follow him. He led her to where a small speedboat was docked. He got in first and held a hand out to help her. Once they were settled her revved the engine up and navigated the boat out to the open lake. Once they were in the center of the lake, he killed the engine and looked at her. She was gazing at the shore that was dotted with tiny lights. Lights from homes where mothers badgered their children to do homework, and from chai-wallahs who stayed late because they were always in demand. Good, he thought. She'd paid no attention to what he wanted to show her.

He'd been sitting facing her while steering the boat. He now walked to where she sat and sank into the plush leather seat next to her. She smiled at him. "This IS nice!" she said. He grinned and pushed a lever under her seat. It reclined, so she lay almost flat, gazing up at the sky. He followed suit.

"It's a nice night," she said softly, looking at the clear night sky. There were very few clouds and moonlight shone soothingly on the inky-black waves on the surface of the lake.

"Khushi, look there…" said Arnav pointing to Venus who shone startlingly bright tonight. Brighter than she would for the next 105 years. He'd picked an astronomically favorable evening to do his courting, had Arnav Singh Raizada.

"That's my Mom, right there. Do you know why she's shining so bright tonight?" he asked softly. Khushi said nothing.

He swallowed and plunged on. "She's shining bright tonight because she's looking down and seeing her Son so blissfully happy for the first time in a long time. And you know why I'm happy, right? He swallowed and went on before she could respond. "I'm happy because you are with me. You make me very very happy, Khushi. And she knows it," he finished. Before he could say anymore, she had launched herself into his arms.

"Stop talking. Just stop talking," she said, her voice muffled as she buried her head in his neck.

"Khushi, are you OK? Did I do something wrong?" he asked, wondering how he could have screwed that one up.

"Will you shut up and kiss me!" said Khushi exasperatedly. Arnav heaved a sigh of relief and proceeded to do as she asked. When he pulled away, they were both breathing heavily.

"You hungry?" he asked pulling her into an embrace.

"There's food here on this boat?" she asked, surprised. He produced a packet of soggy chutney sandwiches. They polished the sandwiches off in a jiffy and washed it down with a bottle of red wine. They lingered for a while after dinner. Too many lost kisses had to be found.

When they drove back to their cottage in the wee hours of the morning, it was a silent ride again. Arnav and Khushi were both lost in thought. They both wanted desperately to hold on to this night. Because tomorrow morning would bring some unpleasant truths that neither wanted to deal with.

"Ay me, for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth. . . ."

-From a Midsummer Night's dream.

Cheers!

WW11

Awww! Finally ArHi have a romantic night! :)

And no smart ass comments from Khushi... Yay! :)

Great update. Thanks for the pm..