4. The Honeymoon Again?
Arnav walked upstairs towards the designing room with a large portfolio in his hands. The eyes of the employees whose cabins were on the edge of the floor beneath him, were trained on him as he walked all the way around instead of using the elevator.
Arnav stopped as turned around which caused minute of hustling and led all back to work. The studio was his own little world like his study where he had spent countless hours mustering up small pieces of unique styles that were later imprinted into larger and collective patterns.
He entered and placed the portfolio on the table. Opening it, he took out a colored print and stuck it on the board on the left corner of the room. A picture of Khushi from the calendar photo shoot fell from behind bringing back memories. A string pulled inside him letting him smile.
He needed to see her. His eyes fell of the red and blue silk sari that was wrapped around a mannequin and the note pinned to it. "Anniversary gift! Don't forget this time!".
A day ago was Payal and Akash's anniversary and Khushi, being a hopeless bollywood fan had expected Arnav to do something for them. He smiled and stepped out locking the door. Checking the time to be of lunch hour, he rushed outside towards his car without signaling the guards to open the gates.
He walked in the room surprising her and pulled her away from wardrobe letting the clothes in her hand fall. She tripped over her own feet and fell in his arms. "I love you" he whispered in her ear pulling her closer to himself. The door was open ajar. She gasped not understanding anything at all.
He craned in his neck and placed soft butterfly kisses on her collarbone before letting them slip onto the bed. She felt his grip tighten around her waist as he buried himself in the crook of her neck.
"Arnav ji, the door is still open. Anyone can walk-in on us." she responded laughing gently.
He broke away from her, his hands tracing the profile of her face. She looked with eyes full of curiosity and questions. What the hell had just happened to her husband. She was the one with hormonal shifts.
"I love your eyes. You know their is a hint of gold each time the sunshine reflects on them and there are golden specks in between the hazel."
"Are you sick? Did somebody say something to you? Did you take up any tips from NK again?" she responded
"No, I just love you and I don't think I show it often enough the way you like it." He placed a soft peck on her cheek. "We need a getaway. I'll appear on the meetings through online conferences. We never went on a proper honeymoon."
"We went on a trip to Nainital a month after our wedding." she replied trying to break apart from him.
"We went together because Di wanted you to come along with me and the only thing we did over there was watch sunsets. I was busy with work."
"You have a fashion show coming out in three months."
"Shut up Khushi." he uttered impatiently pulling her underneath him and placing a kiss on her lips. She gasped before responding immediatly as he senses hazed away. They broke apart in few minutes with Arnav rolling her across the bed, with him on right and her on left. "So we are going this time, somewhere else other than Nanital. We made two trips together there and both were disastorous."
"Simla?" she smiled, her grip loosening on his collar and hand sliding down to his chest.
"How about Venice? It's in Italy and it's one of the most remarkable places."
"Does it snow there?" she questioned with a blink marking in her eyes.
"No, but there is a lot of water around there. The whole town is made on water and adjoined by bridges. People literally use boats for traveling half the time." he replied bending towards her, there noses almost touching.
"Then I have no problem."
A soft knock on the door brought them back to the door. It was Anjali and Payal looking towards stairs stifling their grin. Khushi turned to see and immediately pushed Arnav away who stood up on his own pace and leaned on the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Yes?" Arnav asked frowning almost.
"Well, we were all going shopping today. Is Khushi ji still up for it?" Anjali asked.
He turned around seeing her shaking with nervousness. Chuckling a bit, he uttered the unforgivable five words. "I don't have a problem actually."
"Khushi?" Payal spoke peeking in. "Neechein a jana thori deer mein. Hum intezaar karleingein jab tak." They walked away giggling like teenage girls.
"Aap hamre saath aisa kar saktein hain!" Khushi screamed closing the doors with a thud. "Now it'll be more of teasing Khushi than shopping. Laad Governor" She yelled storming off with another suit towards the bathroom.
The women knew what was exactly was happening again. "Hari Prakash, Did you ask the driver to take the car out yet?" Payal asked the passing servant who was himself seemingly mopping over something.
"Yes. I'll tell you and didi as soon as it is in front of the gates." He nodded before walking away.
"Lets go." Khushi came down wearing her plain chiffon dress along with a small clutch in her hands.
"Sure." Anjali replied getting up.
"The car is ready Didi." Hari Praksah called from the door. The ladies smiled at the youngest among them and let her lead them out the way.
*"Bhai, I thought you were upstairs in your own studio. Did something happen? Where did you go?" Akash threw questions towards his distraught brother who had walked back into his office after two hours.
"I went home. Khushi needed few things." he replied waving him off and signaling him to sit. "You needed something?" He asked taking his seat and opening the portfolio in his hands.
"Yeah, I wanted to know if I can do more than just overlook the line. I mean I know you prefer to do the designs yourself before the collars but.."
"Actually yeah." Arnav cut him off. "I want you to be holding the meetings for next two weeks. I have been looking for a time for break and that's kinda impossible with so many collections running hand in hand. I think it'll be better if you get into holding the conferences with Sharmas and Saxenas especially and that way you would have more to deal with. Also, sent me copies of the designs you want to add so I can see if we can do them in this line or shape the upcoming one with you sense."
Akash looked up at his brother in awe. He was not going to be sitting around overseeing something while carrying the tag of executive. He was actually going to have more than regular input.
"Just in case you are wondering why, I am planning a short getaway with Khushi and I feel sometimes I should give you a chance as well. I hog too much lime light on page 3 anyway." Arnav replied amused at his brother's expression.
"Oh..OH!! Oh, okay!" Akash exclaimed smiling before walking out smiling to himself.
He turned back towards the portfolio lying in front of him. The tall lean sketch of a lady wore a sari with roughly patterned sequin. He smiled as he flipped through the book and called his executive assistant in.
**Arnav entered the house and handed his things to the servant to who came towards him. "Hari Prakash!! Coffeee!!!" he yelled as he moved towards the dinning area where all the commotion seemed to be happening.
"Arnav bitwa bhi aagaee." Mami spoke pleased.
"Khushi bitya, bring the food." Nani addressed the eldest bahu silently taking the seat. Arnav noticed the comical tension that was lingering between all.
"What happened Nannav? You don't want dinner today? Do you have other plans?" NK broke the silence in his teasing tone.
"I don't know Jeethji. Maybe something you dismissed your lunch for." Payal chipped in.
Arnav looked wide eyed at Payal not believing what he had heard. He looked towards Akash who refused to meet his eyes and then towards his wife who was carrying a tray full of food.
"Actually" he cleared his throat as Khushi sat beside him, "I don't really have any such for today but I do wanted to tell you all something. Me and Khushi are leaving for Venice tomorrow evening. Our flight is at ten. We'll be there for around two weeks."
"I thought you were joking." Khushi hissed after seeing the astounded look on everyone's faces.
"Do I ever joke Khushi." he hissed animatedly back at her.
"Yeah.." she started in obvious tone but shook her head seeing the look in his eyes. "No. Never. No jokes. It's all serious stuff." She stuffed the egg salad made for him inside her mouth and made a face realizing her distraction. He chuckled as the family returned to normalcy.
"So then what about shopping? If you would have said anything earlier we would have gone and gotten things needed for traveling." Anjali uttered breaking the silence.
"It's okay Di. I did all the shopping that was necessary and everything's been delivered." Arnav responded.
"Well then, it's decided. Nannav and Khushi ji are going away from us for their uninterrupted sessions of romance." NK exclaimed receiving gasps from the elders around the table.
"Beta, tum kuch lo ge?" Mamma ji asked to change the topic. The laughter erupted on the table as everyone busied themselves with the events of shopping.
**"Do you have any idea about the endless teasing I had to face today?" Khushi said as she tucked herself in the quilt.
Arnav pushed the suitcase inside the wardrobe before shutting it. His silence led Khushi to whine again. "Do YOU REALIZE ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA what I had to go through?"
"I dunno Khushi. Harmless teasing that turned that small nose of yours red?" he shrugged climbing in the bed and draping his arm around her.
"Get away from me. I'm not talking with you."
"Well if that's the case.." he uttered stepping away to which she freaked out. "OKAY OKAY!" she pouted. "Everyone's off the hook. BUT Just for now."
He smiled burying his face in her hair. Finally few days of normalcy were ahead of them. No one but just them.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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