Chapter 8
"Khushi think carefully, it is not correct to decline somebody for no good reason" Shashi spoke softly.
"Give us a proper reason as to why you are saying no and if it is good enough we will not go ahead with it" added Garima.
Everyone stared at Khushi who sat on the sofa with her arms folded and a scowl on her face.
Few minutes later she snapped, "Fine!"
Shashi relaxed as if a huge burden was lifted off his shoulders, Garima jumped over to grab the phone and call the Raizada house.
While her parents were on the phone, gushing and laughing, Khushi slipped up to her room.
The nerve of that man to make such a big decision on a whim, thought Khushi. He turned out to be three steps ahead of her. The only thing left for Khushi to do now was, wait. She had no contact information of him…"Arnav Singh Raizada" she growled.
Though it was her idea from the beginning to carry out this play, the man's words still hurt her…a tiny bit…like when it hurts by a prick of a needle. No matter how much she tried to be strong and unaffected by the world, in the end she was a woman and feelings always got in the way.
~~~
It was a small ceremony. Luckily both the soon to be bride and groom did not want it to be extravagant in any manner.
It had been two weeks since they had exchanged their phone numbers and only once did they communicate, which was all about clarifying the rules.
Knowing this all meant nothing for either of them, still their heart beats had picked up pace, gaze kept travelling back and forth between the family member's heads and that excitement bubbled lower in their bellies.
Close family and friends were buzzing with happiness in the decorated hall. To Khushi's surprise there wasn't any sort of clash or awkwardness between the high society people and her upper middle class people. Everyone sort of had joined hands for this occasion…or maybe everyone weren't terrible.
Khushi new she wouldn't be able to sit down calmly in one place so she opted not to sit on the made up stage till it was time to put on the rings. Instead she helped Payal and Anjali, talked to guests, shot glares at Arnav when he wasn't looking and tried not like her soon to be brother in law, Dhruv, which turned out to be very hard.
Arnav meanwhile tried his best not to look at her but his eyes involuntarily landed on her. He noticed nearly every person's stare to be on her as well. How could they not? She looked like a goddess, even though everything on her was so simple. He liked that…simplicity. It was the second time he noticed in her.
His pride swelled when he thought of owning this beauty soon. For no reason, his heart pathetically wanted her all for himself. He was snapped out of his other personality's la la land when Akash handed him a plate of food.
"You will need some energy in a bit..." Akash pointed at the food.
"Not hungry" Arnav didn't bother even looking at the food.
"Eat it. And just so you know, your staring is very obvious" Akash tipped him.
"Huh? Staring..I don't know what you are talking about" Arnav grumbled.
"You know when I was getting engaged I was like that too. I couldn't keep my eyes off Anjali"
"Yeah okay, I remember how you were back then…a love sick fool and still are. I don't want to hear back then stories now" Arnav started to steer away from his brother.
"Fine. Don't come to me when in need of help or ideas to woo the girl" Akash narrowed his eyes at him.
"Really bhai, do you think I will go to anyone for anything?" Arnav raised his eyebrows.
"Not the 'I am Arnav Singh Raizada' attitude please" Akash mentally rolled his eyes.
"Fix your tie" Arnav retorted.
"Your fly is open" Akash won.
~~~
Khushi stood next to him, her hands clasped together tightly, waiting for the women to get done with whatever they were doing.
This is the culture and traditional Khushi liked, the weddings and engagements with all the proper steps. Unfortunately she couldn't enjoy her own or concentrate on what was going on.
Standing there she regretted not dreaming about the perfect man or the perfect wedding. It was all new and foreign. Here she was next to the man who she will be tied to for life and couldn't understand any of the emotions she was going through.
Anjali moved the tray forward, towards Arnav. He gently yet firmly took her cold, moist, small hand in his warm big one and slowly slid the diamond onto her ring finger.
Not once did she look at him, her eyes were on his fingers.
It was her turn to put the ring on and she did the same thing. Without looking up at him, she held his hands with her tips, and in flash had the ring settled on his finger.
Everyone swamped over the couple, congratulating, hugging, kissing, and crying.
"Naniji would have been the most happy amongst us all" a teary eyed Anjali hugged the grandfather.
"Oh surely she would have!" Abhay replied, his own eyes moist.
As soon as the crowd around them thinned, Arnav grabbed hold of Khushi's hand and making an eye contact with her, he brought it up and softly brushed his lips over her knuckles.
It was barely even a kiss, but the light touch of their skins, blanked their minds to everything else but the sensation of the kiss.
~~~
"That wasnt hard" Arnav put his hands in his pocket.
They were standing outside Khushi's house for some 'personal time'. The family insisted they go for a drive so they could get some time alone. It was bhabhi's idea of course, thought Arnav.
Instead they opted to stand in the fresh air and stare into dark.
After fifteen minutes, Arnav opened his mouth.
"Yeppp" Khushi sighed.
"Listen we will have to act like a normal couple in front of people. I hope you didnt take that kiss seriously..." he glanced at her.
The slight breeze moved her blue, royal blue lehnga against the ground. Her gray silver blouse was fit perfectly, highligting her round mounds. A random thought of them heaving popped in his head.
He shook his head clear, straightened his sleek black suit jacket and waited for her response.
"Ofcourse I knew it meant nothing" she snapped.
A small smirk appeared at the corners of his mouth.
"No, not all normal couples have to do something in front of people to show everything is fine between them. Some people dont like public display of affections and we will be that kind of couple" she stated stiffly.
"Okay sure. But youre forgetting we just got engaged."
Saying that he took a step closer to her and slid his hand over her bare waist, making her visibly shiver.
"What are y-" Khushi started.
"Ssshh" he hushed her with his finger on her lips.
His gaze went down from her wide eyed face to her chest that was fulfilling his imagination.
As soon as the giggles reached their ears, Arnav stepped back.
"Ahem" Anjali cleared her throat.
"Bhabhi!" Arnav said loudly.
"Would you guys like some more time?" Payal inquired.
"No! We are done" Khushi shot up.
"Bhabhi we will be in, in a minute" Arnav politely hinted at them to leave.
They werent completely inside the house when Khushi blew up.
"Dont you dare touch me again!"
"Woah there. I didnt mean to make you all flustered" Arnav replied coolly.
"I am not flustered. I am pissed. Keep your hands to yourself when youre around me. I thought I just made it clear about not acting like a normal couple" she gritted out.
"You dont need to repeat yourself. I heard the first time. I have no interest or wish to touch you Miss Gupta so dont get carried away. I was just checking whether you meant it or not...and I think you need to work on controlling your feelings" he snapped and strode back inside.
Khushi took a deep breath in and out to cool her anger before she followed him.
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