Learning The Alphabet... Arshi Style! [COMPLETED] - Page 4

D for... Deal? Sauda!

"Khushi!" he insisted, his temper rising.

But she ignored him, picking her clothes to give to Hari Prakash so that he could send them to the dry-cleaners.

"Fine!" he growled as she walked out. "You don't want to listen? Fine! I won't talk to you either!"

***

At dinner, she came and dumped his food before him without a word. Anjali nudged her grandmother's elbow and glanced at the pair of them.

"Khushi Bitiya? Aap bhi khaaiye," Nani told her. (Khushi? You eat also.)

Khushi shook her head crossly. "Nahin Naniji, humein bhookh nahin hai." (No Naniji, I'm not hungry.)

She stalked her way to her room but Arnav shrugged and started attacking his plate.

"Chhote?" Anjali shrieked disapprovingly at him, her brow creased in a frown.

He looked up at her. "What? Oh right!" He rolled his eyes and got up too, following his wife, the plate in hand.

***

He put the plate on the little table where he used to keep his laptop and stepped up to her while she was angrily arranging her clothes in their cupboard though things were in perfect order. He smiled softly, slipping his arms around her still-slim waist.

"Khushi, tum jaanti ho gussa bacche ke liye theek nahin hai, na?" (Khushi, you know anger is not good for the baby, right?)

She didn't answer him again. Arnav felt the blinding fury well up but he tried to suppress it, for his unborn child if not for his very moody wife.

"And you should eat too, right? Humaare bacche ko bhookha rehne dogi?" (... You'll make our baby starve?)

Khushi froze. She hadn't thought about that. And anyway, she was getting hungrier indeed. Her stomach had even grumbled painfully before he had come in. Arnav turned her in his arms.

"Khushi," he said her name with the childish pout he had recently acquired and practiced to use against her when he really needed to cope with her mood swings.

"Humein aapse baat nahin karni!" (I don't want to talk to you!)

"She was just my personal assistant, Khushi! Aman is sick, so she's replacing him."

"Achha? Humein pata nahin tha ke personal assistant ka kaam hota hai apne boss ke saath uss tarha chipakna!" (Really? I didn't know a PA's job was to hang off her boss!)

She looked away scowling but Arnav chuckled heartily, causing her to glared at him.

"Khushi! She slipped. Maine bas uski madat ki-" (...I was just helping her-)

"Madat aise ki jaati hai?" (You help people like this?)

"Khushi! Okay, hum iss baare mein baad mein discuss kareinge. Tum pehle khaana khaalo, theek hai?" (... We'll talk about that later. You eat first, okay?)

She let him make her sit on her recliner and feed her. Still frowning, she made him eat a few morsels too, without looking at him though, because she knew he would be smirking in triumph at her. she was just concerned about his health. It didn't mean he was forgiven. Arnav stood up to go keep the plate in kitchen but Khushi was holding onto his hand. When he looked at her, her eyes were full of unshed tears.

"Pakka voh sirf aapki personal assistant thi?" (You sure she was just your PA?)

He smiled at her. "Pakka." Finally she returned his smile. (Sure.)

***

"Arnavji?"

"Hmm," he replied drowsily. He had had a long day, and all he wanted was a good night's sleep. And here, his wife was waking him up just as he was falling asleep.

"Voh sirf aapki PA hi thi na?" (She was just your PA, wasn't she?)

"Hmpf... yeah..."

"Theek hai! Par yaad rakkhiye! Agar humne aapko phir kissi doosri aurat ke inte kareeb dekheinge na, to hum usse chudail ki aakhein naunch leinge!" (Fine. But remember! If I see you like this with another woman, I'll tear that witch's eyes out!)

Sleep had suddenly flown away to be replaced by a sort of fiery curiosity. So far, she had never shown herself jealous. He was itching to know that side of his wife now.

"Really? Phir?" (...Then?)

"Phir? Phir, hum usske baal ukhaareinge, phir usski jaan leleinge! Aur usske baad hum aapko bhi maardaaleinge!" she retorted hotly. (Then? Then, I'll uproot her hair from her head and I'll kill her! And after that I'll kill you too!)

In one swift movement, he had pulled her on top of him. "Really?"

"Ji haan!" (Yes!)

"Okay. I'll help you. Agar aisa hoga to! Deal?" (...If this happens!...)

Khushi couldn't help giggle. "Sauda!" (Deal!)

She saw his eyes darken in that dangerous way she knew too well. "Mind if I start by killing you tonight?"

Before she could protest, he had rolled onto her, drinking her squeal in his ardent kiss. Who cared about a good night's sleep when you had a beautiful wife to seduce?