Chapter 9
Today it had been a week since her engagement and the Raizada's were out with a big party, so they could introduce her to their crowd.
Khushi didn't understand why she had to wear a saree of all outfits she could have worn. With difficulty she tossed the blue green pallu over her shoulder and pinned it in place.
Luckily for her, she didn't need much time to get ready. Slipping on the ridiculous heels, she picked up her phone and left the guest room she was given to use by her soon to be in laws.
As soon as she reached the ground floor, she was pulled by Anjali into the crowd.
She was real nervous in the beginning but as she kept mingling with people, her confidence seeped back in. She had to keep reminding herself this was all temporary. After answering the gazillion questions by the old ladies, Khushi made herself a plate of food and went to find the young crowd.
She sat in the group and mentally slapped herself for not thinking before she approached them. They all were sadly a definition of snob. Lazily, she chomped on small bites of chicken and played with the lettuce on her plate.
A girl in a pencil skirt suit, bob cut hair slid into the chair next to Khushi, not noticing her.
"Lavanya! Where were you?" one of the girls asked.
"Was just catching up with Arnav" she winked.
The girl's smile froze in place as she awkwardly mumbled something.
"So where is this fianc of his? Gotta check her out…" she sneered.
"Uh-hh L-lavaya this is Khushi, Arnav's fianc. Khushi this is Lavanya our friend…." the girl quickly introduced them.
Khushi replaced her confused face with a smile and said hi.
Before a conversation started, Khushi made up an excuse and left the scene. It was not hard to figure out there was something between that girl and Arnav and she did not have any interest in being the target of the girl in any way.
Khushi walked around the house, talking and smiling, till her jaw started to hurt. This party was nowhere near an end. She thought of getting herself an ice cold water to relax her muscles when a voice stopped her.
"Can you make any less mournful face?" Arnav came up behind her.
"I am tired. When is this going to end?" Khushi turned to see and then started her walk again.
"Tired already? There will be many more of these, get used to it" he stated.
"Oh no! I am not doing anything I cant do" she replied.
"You have no choice sweetheart" he drawled.
"Do.not.call.me.a.sweetheart. and I do have a choice or at least I'll find a choice" she snapped.
"Uhuh"
Khushi pursed her lips together and sharply made a turn towards the grandfather.
"Dadaji" she smiled brightly.
Abhay smiled back and enveloped her in a half hug.
"Dadaji I had a long day today, can barely concentrate on what's going on. May I please leave?" she asked him sweetly.
"Of course! I hope you had a good time"
"I did! Thank you, it was wonderful meeting everyone"
He hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead bye.
Khushi turned around, glared at Arnav and hurried out of the house.
~~~
"So Arnav how are things going?" Anjali teased.
"Fine" he murmered.
"Fine for you but not for her" Anjali rolled her eyes.
"Whatever bhabhi" he gulped down his orange juice.
"Why dont Akash, you, Khushi and I go out for dinner tonight?" she exclaimed.
"Sure. Let everyone know" he got up from his seat and put on his jacket.
"No you tell ask Khushi" she said.
"No, your plan, you ask her" he finalized and left the house, leaving a worried Anjali behind.
~~~
The table buzzed with chatter. Anjali was going on and on, while Khushi politely nodded her head.
Arnav for the past twenty minutes was fiddling on his phone.
Akash was oblivious to everything except his wife.
"I am talking a lot. Khushi now you tell us about yourself" Anjali took a deep breath after her non stop chatter.
"What do you want to know?" she smiled.
"Likes, dislikes, hobbies.."
"Hmmm I am a very moody person. Everything depends on what and how I feel at the moment..."
"Aaah Arnav will need to be on his toes all the time" Akash laughed.
Anjali glanced at Arnav and noticed his lack of interest. Being a nosy person and always wanting good for others, she planned on somehow leaving the two alone.
As they got ready to leave, Anjali said, "Arnav you will be dropping Khushi off. I would like to go home with my husband" and wrapped her hands around Akash's arm.
Inwardly glaring at her, Arnav obliged.
Khushi was the last one to get up from the table. On her way up her dupatta got stuck on a fork and it came flying across hitting Arnav square in the chest.
"What the!" Arnav angrily snarled.
Stiffling their laughter Akash and Payal muffled a bye and ran from there.
"I-I am sorry!" Khushi covered her mouth, her eyes wide.
"Righttt" he muttered.
Arnav stormed to his car with Khushi half running and half walking behind him. Without bothering to wait for her he sat in the car.
By the time Khushi settled in the car, her temper was beginning to rise.
"Keep your temper in check" she stated, her arms folded across her chest.
"Excuse me? Dont tell what to do" he snapped.
"I will if it has something to do with me, at me, because of me or anything with me" she snapped back.
"My mood doesnt work by you Miss Gupta. Dont forget we have discussed our relationship before, nothong has changed even now" he said sternly.
"Oh I do remember and that is why I am telling you to keep your "moods" in check. I do not want to be and will not not be a target of your anger, frustration or happiness " she replied in the same tone.
"What did I do?!"
"Got angry at the me for the fork that hit you and well I feel like I wasnt given respect when you stormed off ahead of me...that was not a correct behavior. I have the same feelings for you as you do for me."
"Aaahh I see. Do you really have the same feelings for me as I for you?" he smirked, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes" she said tightly.
They soon pulled up in front of her house. Khushi quickly unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed her bag.
As she moved her hand to open to door, Arnav bent forwarded, up close to her.
Immediately she moved back against the seat.
"What the heck are you doing?" she asked.
"Putting my feelings into action?" he whispered.
"Whaa..huh?" panic started to build in her.
He came closer to her, his breath washing over neck, making the hair on her nape stand in...fear or excitement?
"You probably know what I am feeling right now, right Miss Gupta?" he inhaled her scent subtly.
"A-Arnav we are h-ho-ome" her whisper turned inaudible.
Softly he took her long strand of hair in his fingers that was wrapped around her neck and brought it back to the side.
"Are you okay? Why did you stop speaking?" Arnav asked her, back in his seat.
He eyed her slightly heaving chest and stiffened.
"Your house is here. Are you going to leave or do you plan on coming home with me?" he snapped.
Khushi came back to her senses instantly. She stepped down and turned to him angrily.
"Next time, just tell me if something is not right and I will fix. You do not need to come near me or touch me!" she growled and slammed the door shut.
A chuckle bubbled deep in his chest at her response and he saw her flee into her house.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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