Hi everyone
I am overwhelmed by the response
I got from all of you for the second part. I cannot thank you all enough for
the beautiful heart warming comments, the love and the encouragement.
I had written the third part
earlier but when I was about to post it last night I changed my mind, it seemed
to contradict with the pace I wish to take this story ahead with, so I am going
to keep it for the next chapter and I wrote a completely new chapter to post as
the 3rd part for this story, it's not proof read so kindly ignore any errors.
It took me several hours to write
this chapter, and I'm going to get back to writing my finance report now. I hope you all enjoy
it.
Presenting,
PART 3:
"Bhai, kahan ho yaar aap? We've been waiting for you in the food court for almost an hour now."
Khushi lamented through the phone to her busy brother who was supposed to have picked them up from the mall over an hour ago.
Her wedding with arnav was in a week and she had come to the mall for the final fitting of her bridal dress at her designer's with her friend cum bhabhi shanaya.
Shanaya and Rohan had been together since school, the cutest love story, having disliked each other since grade 6, it had come as a surprise to both of them when they had fallen in love with each other in grade 9. So till date, they had been together for over ten years, no surprise there, they were absolutely perfect for each other. While Rohan was practical and logical with a heart the size of the sky, shanaya was the sweetest person one would ever encounter with just the right amount of spice to make her real. Khushi was fond of both these people, while Rohan was her role model, shanaya was her friend, but the similarity between the two was that they both treated her as their child, always looking after her, doing little things for her, pampering her.
How did khushi meet shanaya? shanaya had joined the same university khushi went to, for her masters and they had hit it off instantly, before that khushi had only heard about shanaya, never had the chance of meeting her, thanks to her mothers orders of no girlfriend talk in the house before her bhai's parhai was complete.
Khushi heard her brother apologize and inform her that he was stuck at work and would take some more time hence they arrange for someone else to pick them up.
Khushi groaned slightly but then an idea struck her, and even though she knew the chances were minimal, she tried her luck. She sneaked a glance at shanaya who was looking at her questioningly, probably indicating to what her brother was saying.
Putting her plan into action, khushi sighed dramatically, and spoke into the phone,
"But bhai, shanaya hasn't met you in two weeks, oww owww,... bhai what with my wedding shopping and her relatives from abroad, I only dragged her out of her house today, oww oww shanaya! ... so you two could spend some time together na, come on, she really wants to see you... owww ... give me the phone..."
Khushi's voice drained out of the line as shanaya snatched the phone from her hand, while still smacking her on her arm repeatedly - which she had started only the second she had heard her name slip from khushi's mouth, understanding her plan of action - and spoke through the phone,
"Haan, Rohan?" Shanaya asked in the softest, sweetest voice possible by any human, filled with so much love, it made khushi grin like an idiot. Ignoring the stupid look on khushi's face, shanaya walked in the opposite direction holding the phone close, she repeated when she was in a quieter area,
"Haan Rohan?"
"I can't come pick you people up shanaya, I'm sorry, I'm just so loaded with work, I was supposed to get off earlier but it is the year end and unexpected work came up." He let out a tired sigh which didn't leave shanaya's notice.
"That's okay, you do what you have to. But, eat something, its almost time for dinner, haan?"
Rohan nodded at the other end, similing now. Then continued after a while,
"I'll have dinner here, but it's late, you both should get home fast, can someone pick you two up, you won't be taking a cab at this time."
"It's only 8 Rohan, we can get a cab..."
He cut her here,
"Yes you can, but you won't." His tone marked the end of the topic, and shanaya sighed with understanding and submission.
"Okay okay, I can't ask Garima aunty to come out at this hour, we will see what we can do."
"No, wait..." He let out a sigh, "I'll call arnav, he will pick you two up. Just don't get out of the mall, sit in the food court, and shanaya?"
shanaya, who was silently nodding her head uptil now and smiling at his orders was alert instantly, understanding what he was about to ask, she turned around to look at khushi who looked back and grinned like a fool, and smiling indulgently shanaya averted her attention back to the phone in her hand
"yes, khushi will be with me only, your bacha is absolutely fine and grinning like a fool currently, another failed attempt at teasing me with you."
Rohan let out a small laugh at that,
"Thanks jaan." He waited for a response but he knew she was blushing, over ten years to their relationship and she still blushed at that endearment like she had the first time so many years ago. After a moments pause, he continued,
"I have to get back to work now, I've already texted arnav from my other phone, he must be there in no longer than fifteen minutes. Take care of both my girls, I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Hnm, I love you..."
"I love you"
Disconnecting the call, shanaya walked back to where she had left her little baby, only to find her wrapped in arnav's arms. Shanaya rolled her eyes and walked towards them. She didn't believe in being an intruder but how could anyone let an opportunity like this go? She was going to have fun.
'''''''''''''..
"Couldn't wait, now could we?" Khushi almost jumped out of arnav's arms but arnav held onto her waist and only straightened to acknowledge their intruder with a smile. Khushi on the other hand was embarrassed beyond means, she wanted to hide her head in arnav's chest but knew how shanaya would use that against her so she restrained, instead she pretended or rather tried to pretend like nothing had happened, like her future bhabhi had not just found a reason to tease her to death.
"Shanaya, what did bhai say? Waise we don't need bhai to come now, arnav is here so he can drop us home", then turning slightly in arnav's arms to look up at his face, she asked him, "right Arnav?"
Arnav was about to tell her that thatwas the very reason he was there but before he could speak Shanaya spoke, addressing him only with that evil smirk on her lips
"Oh you didn't tell my baby, arnav? Busy, were we? A little pre occupied? Not that I'm complaining but it is a public place and you are getting married in a week."
Khushi had gone from pink to crimson in just a second and she only wanted to run away, shanaya was getting back at her for all the times she had tried to tease her and Rohan.
And much to her embarrassment, arnav laughed, yes, he laughed, openly at that, at khushi's misery, joined by shanaya. That brought her attention back to shanaya's statement, why was arnav there anyway but before she could question him or even admonish him for teaming with her bhabhi to make fun of her, arnav spoke, addressing both the ladies,
"I have absolutely no idea what all the teasing is about but Rohan told me you both needed a lift home and since I was nearby, I got here real quick."
Then his arm around khushi's waist tightened slightly, twisting and pulling her closer so her front was pressed against his side, he pressed his lips to her temple and squeezed her lightly in his arms, creating ample comfortable room for her there, and smilingly asked,
"Now, can we leave for home? I'll have to drop you both and then go to Di's place, some arrangements need to be made for our wedding."
The last bit was said looking at khushi who smiled up at him, her embarrassment momentarily forgotten but of course short lived, shanaya was still there afterall, but did they know that?
"do you two want me to get you both married off in the temple tonight only? I really don't think you both will survive a week."
Khushi was too embarrassed to even show her face to her bhabhi right now, giving into temptation she dug her face into arnav's chest and clutched his suit lapels in one hand while the other circled his waist, earning a low chuckle from arnav. She hit him on his chest lightly, silently begging him to make the teasing stop, she was well aware of shanaya trying to muffle her laughter.
Taking control, arnav kissed the op of her head and circling his arms possessively around her said to shanaya,
"Okay okay, no more teasing my wife, only I have the right to do that."
That earned him another light hit on his chest which he took graciously, with another kiss on khushi's head.
Giving, up, shanaya lightly ruffled khushi's hair, who peeked shyly from inside his arms and smiled a genuine smile when she understood she wasn't going to be teased anymore, shanaya's motherly avatar was back on.
"Let's get going now, okay ladies?"
Khushi nodded against arnav's chest while shanaya simply smiled and walked ahead of them, giving the couple the privacy she often craved with her Rohan.
'''''''''''''..
After arnav and khushi had dropped shanaya off to her house, having greeted her mother and promising her a visit after their wedding, they both drove off.
Arnav silently took hold of khushi's hand - from where it was beside her - and brought it to his lips, he kissed her knuckles and further placed it on his lap under his own, only leaving her hand when he needed to shift gears.
They drove in silence, comfortable in each others presence, happy for the privacy. Khushi smiled to herself, silently thanking the love for giving her this beautiful man, for giving her his love.
It had been a while since they were driving when khushi looked outside the window and noticed that it wasn't the way to her house, she turned in her seat to ask him about it,
"Where are we going Arnav? I need to her home, mom will kill me if I'm late, bhai must be worried too."
"I already told ma and Rohan you'd be late, we are just going out for dinner khushi, we haven't properly sat together in so long."
Sincerity dripping from his voice, khushi felt her breath catch, what had she done to deserve this man. Smiling brightly she slightly pushed herself off of her seat and grazed her lips against arnav's stubbled cheek. He groaned in frustration,
"Not fair khushi, I'm driving right now."
She chuckled lightly, and pushing off of her seat once again, placed her lips against his earlobe. Arnav caught hold hold of her hand that had travelled from his lap to his shoulder and gently jerked her back into her seat and placed her hand back under his on his lap, while khushi now laughed openly at his helplessness.
Suddenly she remembered something and inquired,
"But you said you had to go see Di for something? we can't go for dinner like this."
"That's okay; I'll see Di after dropping you off."
"Hnm"
She settled back into her seat and they resumed their silent journey.
...
"Arnav, try this na!" khushi readied a bite and placed it in front of his lips, forcing him to open his mouth and try the godforsaken spicy kabab, and having no other option he opened his mouth and swallowed the morsel. He instantly grabbed the glass of water next to his platter and gulped the whole glass down.
Khushi looked at him in concern and stated sadly.
"I still don't get it, we are so different, how is this possible, how are WE possible?"
Arnav chuckled lightly and ignoring her little tantrums, dug back into his Chinese platter.
Khushi hugged and puffed for no major reason , contemplating a million reasons in her head, and spoke again
"How can you not like spice? It's the essence of good food, Chinese is bland. I'm warning you arnav, shaadi ke baad ghar mein acha khana bane ga sirf, food is tasteless without spice."
"Shaadi ke baad ki toh koi problem hi nahi hai na, jaan. Then I'll have you for all three meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner, every single day. You are enough spice to last me a lifetime."
Arnav had never been so cheesy in his entire life, but hell he just couldn't help it, the words were out of his mouth before he could alter his thoughts.
Khushi gasped, in a completely inelegant manner, a piece of roti held in her hand near her mouth, her mouth forming a perfect 'o' but she recovered almost instantly, dropping the piece of roti to her plate, she dabbed the napkin on her mouth and took huge gulps of air, hoping that arnav would take the cue and Chanel the topic for She was way too embarrassed to speak right now, the blush rising on her cheeks, but Arnav did no such thing.
Realizing that no help was going to come from Arnav, khushi started fidgeting in her seat, looking everywhere except his eyes, where she knew raw desire resided, at the same time trying to hide the desire evident in her own.
Arnav smiled to himself, seeing her as a nervous wreck because of a harmless cheesy joke like that. The rest of the dinner passed in silence, Khushi's blush never leaving her but only intensifying with his heated gaze.
Arnav paid the bill and pulling khushi out of her chair, placing his arm around her shoulder walked her out of the restaurant and into the car. He fixed her seatbelt for her and placing a fleeting kiss on her temple closed the door and walking to his side seated himself.
While driving, arnav again took hold of her hand and placed it on his thigh, feeling some comfort come back, khushi lightly placed her head on his shoulder.
He wanted to give her the surprise he had planned for them but he wanted to tease her just a little bit more before that.
"You know I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted you for all my meals"
khushi's head shot up at that, and she instantly tried to snatch her hand away, but he held it tightly in his and continued,
"Okay, sorry, I was just teasing."
Khushi relaxed a little but to her utter dismay arnav wasn't done,
"But still, you need to be comfortable with the idea, I'd never force you into anything, remember that."
He spoke solemnly, and khushi silently swore to herself to always keep this man happy. Understanding that this was her time to speak and evade any blossoming misunderstanding, she put aside her embarrassment and turned to arnav, only to realize that he had stopped the car and they were now parked outside her house. Having decided of not letting this chance go, she spoke shyly
"I'm comfortable with the idea..." she took a pause and arnav held his breath,
"I'm just, I'm just ... shy..yy." She averted her gaze to elsewhere by the end of her statement, the blush rapidly rising up her cheeks.
Arnav didn't wait for another word. He was already grinning like a fool; he instantly grabbed khushi by the chin and pressed his lips to hers.
Their eyelids drooping shut, arnav basked in the glory of having her trust, having his woman in his arms, khushi enjoying the feeling of being in the arms of the man she loved. They kissed languidly, thoroughly, not in a rush, just enjoying the closeness, just happy.
When they parted, arnav grabbed her around her waist and held her close to himself, while constantly pressing butterfly kisses into her hair. After a while of just holding her close, he felt khushi mumble something against his chest, he adjusted her so there was some space between them and asked her what she was saying.
"I need to go inside, arnav." she stated shyly bit confidently looking into his eyes with her geet in her eyes.
"yeah." he said sadly but let her go, she waved him bye and was about to enter the gate to her house when he remembered his surprise and called out to her,
"Khushi!"
She instantly turned around, only to find arnav jump out of the car and run towards her, taking hold of her hand be pressed a kiss to her palm then silently placed it against his heart and covered it with both his hands.
khushi smiled and looked at him questioningly,
"woh, I forgot, I had a surprise for you."
Khushi's eyes instantly brightened and shone with excitement at the prospect of getting a gift,
"Acha? Where is it, arnav? what is it?"
Arnav smiled at her and stepped closer, leaving almost no space between the both of them, he felt khushi's breathing increase, felt her breath against his neck, he leaned closer and spoke against her ear, his lips grazing her earlobe in the process. Khushi shuddered with anticipation,
"We are going to Switzerland on our honeymoon, for a whole month, no family, no restrictions, no work, just you and me, and my meals."
He instantly stepped back to assess khushi's reaction, and instantly felt his chest burst with pride, for having his right on this woman.
Khushi stood there, with the most breathtaking smile across her lips and her eyes eyes brighter than he'd ever seen before. Before he could lean closer to kiss her again, she flung her arms around his neck and placed her mouth over his, sharing her happiness, her joy, her consent, her faith in him, in them, sealing their future in that one kiss. Arnav relieved and content at the same time, wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer and off the ground, and kissed her back, pouring all his love, his pride, his trust, in that one kiss.
Breaking apart, they stood with their foreheads against each other, smiling foolishly to themselves.
"I love you." she spoke.
"I love you." he said placing butterfly kisses on her jaw, resulting in her tinkling laughter that made his world just that much more colourful.
It's strange how little moments in life become so significant, but it is because of the significance these little moments hold that life becomes significant on the whole. It is because of the love you share in these little moments that you feel loved in your life. It is because of the joy you feel in these little moments that your life becomes eventful. It is because of the cute bickering in these little moments that you get I laugh at your silly antics later in life. Life itself resides in these little moments, so try to recognize these moments at the right time and enjoy them to the fullest for these moments will be the cause of your smile for uncountable years ahead.
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