'I don't get this. You want to sleep by the swimming pool to sleep by the swimming pool, just to spite me?' Arnav asked, incredulous that someone had just refused his attempt at generosity.
'No. I am doing it for myself. My self esteem. You won't get it,' she said, tiredly.
'Yeah right. I don't get self esteem from a girl who is ready to beg and scheme her way into marriage,' he taunted and immediately stopped. He had promised himself he would be civil.
Her face fell and she closed her eyes. 'Go away Arnav. Leave me. I am fine. You owe me nothing as my husband,' she said.
'Not as a husband perhaps. But as a human being, I care for your well being. So, have this food. And at least sleep on the couch,' he requested.
Silently she took the food from him.
He waited till she finished and cleared the food trays. As he was leaving her voice stopped him. 'Did you eat?' she asked.
Her concern always puzzled him. It did not gel with the image that he had of her. He was happier with that image and did not want to try finding the girl he once thought he knew.
But remembering his promise, he nodded and left.
Lying on his bed, he could not sleep. He knew it was November and it was becoming cold in Delhi. He knew that the blankets could not protect her.
Restless, he walked up t the French doors adjoining the pool side.
She was doubled up in the cold, clutching her blanket to her.
The sight made him upset and angry at the same time.
Whom was she punishing? Herself? Or him? And what was the need, when he had been gracious enough to offer his bed?
With a determination, he walked over to her and without a second thought picked her up. She was too deep in sleep to protest. Good! She was easier to handle this way.
Laying her on the bed, he covered her with blankets.
He stood looking down. Strangely he felt at peace seeing her in his bed. Well he had always been weird, he told himself. Hadn't he spent most of his life trying to please his mother who had hurt him beyond imagination?
Snippets of the conversation with his mother from the past came to his mind.
'I think you will turn out as worthless as your Dad,
'Your Dad ruined my life. If you are like him, you will ruin some girl's life'
'Get off my lap Arnav. You are too old to be petted by your Mom'
'Arnav you have that man's blood. I really wonder if you will escape his genes and turn out to be a good person.'
No human being would have the power to hurt him again. No one would make him vulnerable again. He knew he had nothing to worry about when it came to Khushi. What she had done had ensured he only had contempt for her.
Yet, if he ever weakened, like he did now, he would always remind himself of his mother. That would be enough,
Turning around, he lay down on the couch, his eyes focused on the bed, on the girl sleeping peacefully. The sight lulled him to sleep, tough the 'why' aspect of it still disturbed him----
When she woke up, she felt disoriented. Instead of the hard ground, she felt something soft beneath her. Then she realized she was on the bed---his bed. Shocked, she got up with a jolt. Looking around, she realized it was quite late because the clock showed 9.30. a.m.
She looked around for Arnav. He must have left for work. Her heart sank. She could not bear one more day alone.
The thought of the lonely house and the lonelier day, took away all her motivation to wake up. Gathering all her energy, she went about the morning chores.
When she went down, she was surprised to hear some noise from the kitchen. Was the servant Arnav had mentioned earlier back?
Glad for any human company, she rushed to the kitchen and was stunned by the sight of Arnav bent over the toaster.
'You did not go to work?' she asked, her heart lifting at the thought that he had stayed back.
'No,' he said simply.
'Why? Don't you have work?' she asked .
'Yes I do. But I will work from home. You are not well and I can't leave you alone. Now eat the breakfast I have made,' he said shoving a plate towards her.
Her felt lighter. He wasn't so bad. He did care. After a week almost she felt she could breathe. But, like all her happiness this too was short lived.
They had barely finished breakfast, when he announced, 'I will be going out after a while and will be out for lunch. I have to meet my friend Ria. She hasn't met me for long and wanted to meet me for lunch. She had something important to discuss. I should be back by 4.00 p.m.
I will order lunch for you.'
Tears pricked her eyes as she looked at him, still holding the empty plate, he had just made for her. Looking at her crestfallen face he said,
'Khushi. We are not a happily married couple. Not even a normal couple. I can meet any girl I want and do anything I like without giving you any information.
But I still shared, because you should know where to reach me and when I will be back.
So, don't throw those hurt, accusing looks at me. I am not guilty of anything.'
With that he strode out of the kitchen without a second glance.
Khushi remained seated at the breakfast table for what seemed like hours. So, he would meet other girls? She had heard of Ria, even when she was working for AR Advertising..
She was some kind of a family friend with whom he was seen at parties.
There had been speculations about them, though no rumors of romance had lasted. But, her heart ached with the thought that her husband of merely two days was going out to lunch with another woman.
After she had cried to her heart's content. She came to a sudden decision. She would not sit and mop around and wait for him to come home.
She would go to the temple.
When Arnav came down all dressed up, he was surprised to see Khushi in a red salwar kameez, looking stunning with matching jewels.The black beads round her neck and the sindoor along with the chudha (bangles of married woman) added to the beauty.
'You are going somewhere?' he asked.
'Yes. I will see you later,' she said and walked away.
'Wait. Where are you going?' he asked.
'I don't know,' she said and walked away.
Arnav watched her leave, confused about whether to stop her and ask more details or whether to let it be. Finally he decided in favor of the second.
Just as she could not question him, he could not question her.
She had lived all her life in Delhi. It was not as if she would get lost---
Little did he know that he would end up regretting the decision later---
10