A love sensation!! (page9) chapter 5- Page 5

Every cell in her body was jangling with awareness of him, the rippling joy in his laughter and the brilliant vivacity it brought to his all too handsome face.

CHAPTER 5

Khushi was nervous. Her breathing got heavier with each passing moment. She could feel the penetrating gaze of her husband towards her but was scared to look at him. She knew that one look from him was enough for her to fall into whatever he put forward. Her vulnerability was not hidden. Arnav was fully aware of that too and he was also aware that Khushi did the same to him. However, he still couldn't get his eyes off her, she looked like an angel. He observed her face; her big fiery eyes, the cute nose, her perfectly lush lips and those rosy cheeks. His memories took him to that time where he had kissed her cheeks. A faint smile spread across his face. He again remembered the time when he almost kissed her on the lips, the feelings from that evening came rushing back to him. He looked at the 'Mangalsutra' around her neck which brought memories of the marriage. He suddenly felt sorry for having Khushi go through all that pain. His mesmerized gaze travelled back up to Khushi's face, just as she lifted her lashes. Both of them looked away instantly, fireworks exploding in their hearts. They were both hugely relieved when the waiter came back again to take the order.

Waiter: "What shall I get you Sir, Madam?"

Arnav: "Umm……"

Arnav felt like a little stupid as he had completely forgotten about the menu. He very quickly skimmed the menu.

Arnav: "Khushi, what will you have?"

Khushi's mind finally came back to the ground and so she felt at ease now. Amidst all the moments she shared with her husband, she completely forgot how hungry she was.

Khushi: "I am starving Arnavji, Bhaiyya could you get me Sheermal, Awadhi Dum Aloo and Mutter Paneer?"

The waiter looked at Khushi clearly confused.

Arnav:" khushi, they don't serve all of that here."

Khushi: "Why?" she inquired looking surprised.

Arnav: "Because this is the Chinese Lounge of the Hotel Khushi, now stop embarrassing me and order from the menu."

Khushi: "Sure, I would order if I knew any of the dishes listed here. I don't understand anything Arnav ji. Why have we come here and why Chinese?"

Arnav: "Because I am fond of Chinese cuisine and forget it I will order for the both of us."

Arnav rolled his eyes and he finally ordered.

Arnav: "Could you get us some Vegetable Manchurian, Stir fried eggplants Schezuan style with Pok Chow and some Hakka noodles please?"

The waiter wrote the order and informed that the dishes would be served briefly.

Khushi: "Arnav ji, I have never eaten Chinese food before."

Arnav: "so?"

Khushi: "So, will we be eating with our hands? Because Bua ji says in such big hotels you don't eat with your hands and also here I don't see any spoon or fork."

Arnav: "We use chopsticks."

Khushi: "Huh? What, these sticks? How can anybody eat with these?" Khushi started playing with the chopsticks.

Arnav rolled his eyes, partly in amusement of his wife's antics and partly in embarrassment as people nearby were starting to take notice. Soon the waiter made his way towards their table with their food.

Khushi: "Hmm…..the smell is good but not like our Indian dish. Anyways, I will have to be content with this food only." Khushi's complaint received by Arnav with a daring stare.

Khushi took one chopstick in each of her hands and made an attempt to use it and as expected failed miserably.

Arnav: "Forget it Khushi, you are only going to embarrass be further, I will ask the waiter to bring the cutlery for you."

Khushi: "Why? You don't think I can eat with these? Listen Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, I know you are very clever and you are doing all of this deliberately so that I will lose the challenge. But I will not give up. I will eat with these…. what do you call them…..chopsticks..."

Arnav: "What challenge? Fine do as you please, you are the one who is starving".

Arnav started eating, his fine chopstick skills making Khushi's eyes widen in surprise. She looked at her husband's hands and started to mimic his moves but failed each time. She hardly got any food in her mouth as most of the time, no food remained caught up in the sticks. But she wasn't going to give up. She was going t o show the laad governor that she was well capable of living upto his stupid challenges.

Arnav couldn't watch his wife struggling anymore. He calls the waiter and he brings the cutlery.

Arnav: "Khushi, take the fork and stop creating a scene." His eyes narrowed with frustration.

Khushi spoke nothing but continued her attempts.

Arnav: "Khushi….look…."

Khushi: "Arnav ji look, I caught this round thing," an excited Khushi exclaimed as she was successful in grabbing one Manchurian with her chopsticks.

Her face gleamed with happiness and on seeing that Arnav couldn't help but appreciate Khushi's persistence. He knew his wife was never going to give up. He smiled a little as he looked at her, her child like excitement after doing something for the first time was adorable.

Khushi very carefully brought the Manchurian towards her open mouth. Her hands were shaking and the sticks were wobbling.

Arnav: "Khushi…careful…"

And as he said this, the Manchurian fell off the chopsticks and Khushi was left with an open mouth staring at Arnav. Arnav couldn't help but laugh at the insanely hilarious moment that they shared just then. His wife's actions were too funny.

Arnav: "Khushi….u….." his laughter not letting him complete his sentence.

Khushi stared at him and for a while lost herself in his laugh. She looked away with a slight smile and looked back at him again, he was still laughing. Every cell in her body was jangling with awareness of him, the rippling joy in his laughter and the brilliant vivacity it brought to his all too handsome face. She kept staring, mesmerized at how precious she thought these rare moments were. Laad Governor laughing was something that people hardly got to see and there he was in front of her bursting out and there she was lost in him.

Arnav controlled his laughter and looked at Khushi in amusement. He wondered how she did it and where her grit came from. He takes the fork and hands it to his wife, the vivacious smile never leaving his face. Khushi smiled too, in embarrassment this time as she took the fork from his hands and then finally ate something.

They shared a quick moment of passionate glance at each other as they were still very much confused about their feelings, both trying their best to hide it and yet both of them somehow wanting to express. Who knew if it was love or something else? They did feel the sensation; a love sensation that always brought them together no matter what. The escalation of their feelings for each other let them to the brink of confronting their affection for each other but perhaps the moment was not right and who knew when that moment would ever come in their lives or if it would ever come at all.

Both of them walked slowly towards the exit gate after a lovely evening of dinner. Nothing had gone according to what they had expected. They thought it was going to be an awkward night and it was for some time but somehow they both enjoyed it. It was a momentary relief from all the chaos they both had gone through in the past two months and a much needed one too.

Arnav walked with Khushi's pace this time, he was in no hurry to get home. As they sat in the car, it was Khushi who broke the silence.

Khushi: "Chinese food is not that bad, the only thing is I had to work so hard to eat it. Now the only thing left to do is have something sweet."

Arnav remained silent. Khushi looked for some reply and cheekily looked at him from the corner of her eyes. But still, her husband didn't speak a word. She wondered if she had said too much. She knew he had diabetes and that sweets were a complete no for him. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything at all. She didn't want his mood to get sour again. As these thoughts circled around Khushi's mind, she bluntly cursed herself for opening her big mouth. In her heart, she began praying to Devi Maiyya. Suddenly, Arnav stopped the car somewhere in a busy street. He swiftly got out of without saying anything and deliberately left his car keys inside.

Khushi: "Arnav ji, where are you going?"

As Khushi was about to unbuckle her seatbelt, she saw the car keys and hence decided not to leave the car.

Arnav returned momentarily and handed a packet to Khushi. Confused by the situation, Khushi promptly looked at what was inside the packet. Her heart leaped with immense joy as she saw orange rounds of sugary delight, her favorite Jalebi.

Khushi: "Jalebi!!!" her voice squeaked with elation. "Arnav ji, you had gone to bring Jalebi?"

Arnav: "Why? Didn't you just say that you wanted to eat something sweet?"

Khushi: "Yes, but I thought……"

Arnav: "That's your problem right there, you think too much."

Khushi: "No, I meant……."

Arnav: "Now stop blabbering and eat your Jalebi."

Khushi was ecstatic with this gesture. It had been a long time since she had seen this side of her husband. Her life was miserable since their ill fated marriage but after what happened tonight it seemed like things could get a bit easier for her to handle. His hatred always dented her heart to cause unbearable pain. He surely didn't love her, she would never even consider that as a possibility but maybe he didn't hate her all that much. A big smile spread across her face as she constantly looked at the Jalebis. They were probably the best packet of Jalebis she had ever seen in her life.

They reached their house and found Anjali, Dadi and Mami eagerly waiting for them.

Mami: "Hello hi bye bye, you two have come very early." Sarcasm in her words clearly understood by everyone.

Arnav: "Di, have you had your medicine?"

Anjali: "Yes Chotte I have taken them.""

Arnav: "Good, I'm going to my room now, do let me know if you need anything."

Saying this, he went upstairs but made sure he caught a quick glimpse of his wife when she was not looking. That smile had never left her face and he enjoyed looking at her that way. Khushi's bright smile didn't get unnoticed by Anjali and others either.

Anjali: "Khushi ji, you seem very happy, how was the dinner? She teased.

Khushi suddenly realized that she must wipe that smile off her face. Her feelings were getting too obvious, she needed to hide it.

Khushi: "Yes, the dinner was really good. I had Chinese for the first time."

Hearing this Mami made a sour face and started to walk away from there but before she left, she made sure she said something to insult Khushi.

Mami: "Phati sari and Chinese, what a combination!!"

Khushi didn't pay any attention to her words; she had officially become immune to her harshness.

Nani: "Khushi bitiya, what have you got there in the packet?"

Khushi": "Nani, Jalebis, will you have some?"

Her offer was not denied by the ladies and both of them ended up tasting a few. After talking for a while, Khushi went upstairs to her room. she found Arnav working on his laptop. She stole a quick glance at his face, he looked so calm while working.

Arnav: "Khushi, pass me one Jalebi will you?"

The night was getting weirder and weirder. She couldn't believe that Arnav Singh Raizada was asking for Jalebi.

Khushi: "But……"

Arnav walked towards her and raised his eyebrows to inquire.

Khushi: "You shouldn't eat sweets, its not good for your health. You have diabetes, have you forgotten that or what?"

Arnav: "I won't die if I eat one. Besides, I can………"

Khushi clamped her hands on his mouth before he could speak further. He looked at her in surprise.

Khushi: "What are you saying? Bua ji says that you shouldn't talk rubbish at night. Why are you talking about death? Have you ever thought what will happen to me if anything happens to you?"

She spoke those words and stopped abruptly halfway. She looked into his eyes, her hands still clamped on his mouth. He stared back, unable to react. He reached to hold her hand that shut his mouth. His touch sent electrifying waves of shock down her body. She shivered at his sensation as Arnav slowly removed her hands but he didn't let it go. He kept holding it and locked Khushi's eyes with his gaze. Khushi was spellbound and scared of what was going to happen next.