It was now a week since Anjali and Aarushi had come home. By now Khushi, was also slowly getting back to her normal self. Scan results of Khushi's babies had also arrived amidst all the hullabaloo of the kidnapping and they had revealed that the babies were doing fine, growing well. Khushi treasured the pictures of the babies seemingly hugging each other, and wept tears of joy regularly whenever she happened to see them.
She was getting a saree out of the closet one day when Arnav's wallet fell open to reveal a miniature of the babies' ultrasound picture along with a picture of Khushi cut out from the family pictures taking during Akash/Payal's pre-wedding Havan ceremony when Arnav had gifted Khushi the bangles.
Khushi clutched the pictures and the wallet and wondered how and why that particular picture of hers had ended up in Arnav's wallet. A curious sensation began in the pit of her stomach..and she had a half smile on her face. Did it mean that Arnav cared for her as much as he cared for his babies? But why this photo? And then she recalled, There were no other pictures taken of them together...After all, he had cheated me out of a wedding by forcing me into a farcical ceremony that made fun of my beliefs. And Khushi's face changed rapidly to become bitter and sad.
Arnav, standing by the poolside in the morning, while busy on a call, saw all these changing expressions on Khushi's face. He had become so attuned to her thoughts by now that he knew exactly what was going through her head and he cut the call after apologizing to Aman. He almost went in to comfort Khushi and convince her that it was not so ...He loved her to have married her...Would not have married if it had not been Khushi involved and that saving Di's marriage, had just been an excuse. But he stopped himself...He did not want to stress Khushi out and also realized the enormous wrong that he had done of Khushi; a wrong that had yet not been righted.
***
It was almost noon. Payal bustled into Khushi's room, "Chal Khushi, today I will massage oil onto your head. Amma ne kaha hai ki iss dhoop mein tumhe thanda rehna chahiye. Let us also apply the special Almond oil, that Di gave you, onto your tummy - You dont want stretch marks and need to be regularly doing this." said Payal, taking charge. She had got a specially brewed hair-oil that was a mixture of Chameli ka tel (the one that Akash was allergic to, but jijaji was not), crushed hibiscus flowers and amla (gooseberry). She had diluted the stronger Chameli ka tel with some coconut oil. She asked Khushi to wear an old lehenga and a loose top so that she could massage Khushi's neck and shoulders as well.
Khushi was feeling a little drowsy as she lay on the lounge chair by the pool side, comfortably - the warmth of the sun had a soporific effect on her senses and she decided to take a tiny shut-eye until jiji came back with the warm oil. She was wearing an old orange lehenga and a stretchy blue, loose cotton top without her usual chunri - Laad governer is in the office working on churning out more money anyways and wont be back till 7 PM and so is not likely to see me like this, was her last thought as she fell asleep.
***
On his way to his room, Arnav almost collided with Payal who was getting the warm oil. In his hurry to avoid trying to explain his side of the story and stressing Khushi out further, Arnav had hastily beat a retreat to office. However, it was not until his work was well underway that around 11 AM, he had discovered that he had left his wallet at home. Without the wallet, he could not give the company lawyer, his driver license card for making a copy for filing some paperwork. He could have asked OP to retrieve the wallet and give it to the driver to bring to him...However, he had an irrestible urge to make sure Khushi was doing okay and also sneak a peek at his adorable niece, Aarushi. I must be getting soft in the head, he thought as he had Aman reschedule some meetings so he could go home in the middle of a busy work day.
NK and Lavanya sneaked in telling glances while grinning at each other on seeing how Arnav made excuses to go home.
"Main jaake wallet le aaoon, Nannav? Main Khushi ji se tumhara hello/hai bol doonga...", NK teased.
"Tumhe abhi jaane ki koi zaroorat nahi. Dont you have a deadline to meet for the Alacrity project?", Arnav demanded,
"ASR, you also have a deadline for the Mitra project. I dont have anything going on ...Maybe I can help and go get your wallet. Chamkeeli and Anjali di will be so happy to see me...", Lavanya also added cheekily.
"How about you take up the Mitra project's work, Lavanya? I know Ms. wallace really liked your work last year. I have to go, I also need to get some files that you will not know where to look for", Arnav blustered making excuses to rush back home. As he strode out, NK and Lavanya had a good laugh at ASR's expense ...NK was feeling over the moon as well...Lavanya seemed to hold no grudge or non-platonic feelings towards ASR and it seemed like their relationship had never existed. He stopped laughing midway, words tripping from his mouth "Dont you ever feel that this was the ASR you loved who is now madly in love with Khushi?"
Lavanya stared at him for a moment and contemplated NK's suddenly expressionless face. "I knew ASR and I were not meant to be when I came into Shantivan. I somehow thought that if only I could win over his family, he would start seeing me in a new light and so went along with Anjali di's plan and Chamkeeli's ideas. However, I was slowly turning into someone I was not - I still believe in all the values, the beliefs that Chamkeeli took pains to explain to me...But I am also my own individual and I felt that I was losing that identity of mine trying to be someone that both ASR and his family would like. I could see what was happening in front of my eyes...ASR was falling for Chamkeeli and fighting it. She had no clue at all that all of ASR's fights with her were basically fights he fought with himself - his heart yearned for her, recognized her as his soul mate even before his mind did. The two of them had no clue at all that they were meant for each other...I realized then that ASR and I were not meant to be. Yes, I did feel jealous...But it was of the two of them. I want a love like that for myself and I know I will get it one day.", she declared smiling. "Let's go, I have been dumped with a new project for all the ASR-baiting I helped you with", she said walking out of ASR's office leaving a bemused but happy NK in her wake.
****
"Oh Arnav ji...Aap?", Payal asked.
"Haan, main apne wallet laane chala aaya...", Arnav responded.
"Par ...driver..?", Payal drew out slowly...until a bulb lit up in her head, its brightness lighting up her face. "Khushi ke baalon mein yeh tel lagaane wali thi aur uske peth par yeh almond oil...kya aap..", she hesitatingly, shyly but slyly asked. It was like Payal was handing over an excuse to touch Khushi, on a platter to Arnav who grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
"Haan ...Tumhe lunch banaane mein kaafi kaam hoga...aur phir di ka bhi madadh karna hai. Main sambhaal leta hoon Khushi ke baal ko. ", (Yeah , you must have a lot of work in preparing lunch and then also helping Anjali di. So, let me take care of Khushi's hair).
"Saavdhaani se...garam hai..", (Careful, its hot) Payal said before handing over the bowl of warm oil and the bottle of almond oil.
Arnav made his way upstairs, set the two oils by the bedside table and took off his shoes and socks, changing into more comfortable clothes. He had expected to see Khushi in their bedroom , but she was outside lying on the lounge, shaded by the walls of the enclosed pool area. she was asleep he saw as he noiselessly made his way behind her lounge chair. He slowly poured some oil on his hands, rubbed them together and inserted his hands into that glorious waterfall of inky, black hair. He slowly massaged the roots of her hair, and worked his way slowly over the entire head. Khushi did not wake up..."mmm" she murmured her pleasure in her semi-awake/sleepy state. He made circular motions with the tips of his fingers, kneading the scalp and taking care not to apply too much pressure. "aahh","hmmm", Khushi's muted sounds was the only sound apart from the chirping birds.
The smell of the jasmine oil along with the massaging he was doing combined with the muted sounds of pleasure that Khushi was making all aroused Arnav. Something about the slick and sweet smelling oil and a pliant Khushi was playing havoc with his senses and he clenched his jaws to avoid making any sound or taking her in his arms. "jiji ..tere haathon mein jaadu hai ...main roz abhi karvaoongi..", (Jiji, there is magic in your hands, Now I will have you massage everyday) Khushi drowsily said. Arnav let his eyes roam over Khushi's still supple body. The mound over her tummy was just barely peeking out from under the short blue top. After fighting a losing battle with his mind, Arnav let his hands roam over Khushi's back as she turned over to her side obligingly, still asleep. He pinned her well-oiled hair above her head before embarking on her back. He made sure that his male touch was not tough on her tender flesh as he made rotating motions on her neck and gently lowered the blouse to expose more of her shoulders. He pressed her gently over her shoulder bones, her neck, collarbone, tips of her shoulders,her upper back. He almost bit his lip in frustration and suppressed desire as he went about his ministrations.
All Khushi could feel was pleasure and a sense of well-being. She felt the oil sink into her skull cooling her and whatever jiji was doing to her back was just out of this world. How was it that I never realized jiji's hidden talent .. I wasted so much time all these years when I could have had her massaging me, Khushi thought as she sank further into a relaxed state. The hand on her hair and back stopped moving and she groaned her frustration drowsily...
She then felt those same pleasure-giving hands with some wet oil on her tummy. The touch was feather light and almost skittish in touching her on the tummy while she also felt a kick from within "ji ji..tum bhi na...it is okay. the babies will be fine, you can ..." and her eyes flew open as she saw the person kneeling down beside the lounge with one hand splayed across her tummy.
Khushi was shocked...but she was more so, when she saw the reverential look in Arnav's eyes. Due to her slight frame, her tummy was prominent and she swore that she could sometimes see a kick if it happened, though it was early days yet. As Arnav had massaged the oil onto Khushi's tummy, he had been kicked from within and was staring at Khushi's open midriff with a stupefied, fascinated look on his face.
Khushi shrunk back slightly, wishing that she had had a chunri to cover herself. "Khushi, please...mujhe feel karne do ...", Arnav begged. Khushi stared at him goggle-eyed. was this the same Arnav who always demanded and took without asking, she thought. But she did not have the heart to deny him from feeling his babies. She nodded slowly. Arnav, continued to gently massage Khushi's tummy. The kick had seemed like a "Hi" with the promise of further conversational kicks...now it seemed more like a "Hello, Hi, Bye, Bye" all rolled into one as there were no further kicks.
His hands were causing a coil of desire to uncurl in the pit of her stomach as they dipped and caressed the lower portion of her tummy, skirting the lehenga tied low on her waist. She almost stopped breathing when she thought he would go further...But then, he stopped. And she almost cried out in frustration. Arnav was looking at her. She appeared as aroused as he did, he thought. But now was not the time. He did not want to overpower her senses sexually when they still had unresolved trust issues. It was enough that she had trusted him enough to let him massage her, he thought. Baby steps, baby steps, Arnav chanted to himself in his mind as he helped Khushi up to get back inside.
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Hope you all like this edition. Trying to leave it to the imagination. đ
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