Thank you guys for concern the lovely comments; I've replied to some on pages 41, 42 & 43. Alhamdulillah, I'm better now.
Chapter Fifteen
Opening Up
Arnav was overwhelmed with Khushi's change, that she accepted their relationship, that she realized that they need to work on it moving to a new level of understanding and most importantly that she wanted him to share everything with her.
Clutching the bed sheets over her shoulders as some cool air blew, Khushi waited for Arnav patiently. When she head the sound of the door knob turning, Khushi looked at Arnav as he emerged out of the bathroom. A blow of air wafted his after-shower cologne urging something inside her to snap as she felt a shiver running down her spine
"You smell nice," said Khushi with a melodious voice that Arnav could not miss. Replying with a low 'thanks', he shook his head at her innocence, and the direction of his thoughts.
Seeing Khushi all cuddled on the bed, Arnav moved to close the French door of the poolside before slipping on the curtains.
"The weather is changing." He broke the silence commenting on the first thing he could talk about.
"Yes. Winter is so cold this year," Khushi said. It did not matter if they were talking about the weather or any less important thing since they were not hesitant.
Sitting on his side of the bed, Khushi's right side, Arnav cleared his throat deciding to tell her what occupied his mind during his quick shower.
"Well...so...I'll start with the reason behind what I did in the morning." As Khushi nodded, Arnav was encouraged to continue, "it's just because..I just remembered Ma." Khushi could feel the uneasiness and heaviness in his voice, and notice a sad change in his eyes before he closed them.
"Arnav ji." Khushi smiled encouragingly as she unconsciously moved close to him. As she had experienced the same pain, Khushi put a hand on one of Arnav's squeezing it.
"I felt the need of some warmth, so I did that." Saying this, his eyes met hers to gauge her reaction. He could see a reflection of what he was feeling within him in her eyes. As their eyes exchanged a non-verbal support, Khushi asked expectantly, "How was Ma like?"
A sad smile curved on his lips when she called his mother Ma. "She was amazing...a mother, a friend a sister and a wife. I actually can't talk about her without mentioning dad. Her sisterly, friendly and motherly love was something and her love for dad was another great one..unconditional...they taught us love.." he said the last sentence looking at Khushi in the eyes before continuing, "theirs was a love marriage. I'm still amazed at this fact." Arnav chuckled, "I asked Ma about their marriage once and she actually blushed when recalling her love story with dad. I mean..they got married like 32 years ago and they knew each other three years before marriage. Ma said that love is exists as long as humans do, so it's not like we couldn't have a relationship before marriage at that time though things were different." A smiled adorned Arnav's face though his features displayed a pain, the pain of a loss.
"What did she tell you about their love story?" Khushi asked not masking the curiousness in her voice as she wanted to know more about Arnav's parents. It all felt like a lovely tale for her.
Arnav put a hand on their joined hands answering the question, "Ma said this literary, in our first encounter I called him an idiot as he was acting crazily in front of me getting on my nerves, but after some wooing and all I found myself helplessly in love with him...She told us this when I was eleven and Di was thirteen. I guess that's why she did not tell us the whole story. Di has asked her, what do you mean by 'wooing and all'? and Ma said, you'll know later when you find your prince charming. I teased Di when she got engaged reminding her of this question." Arnav sighed with a small smile. "Life with them was like a fairytale where everything looked perfect." Khushi hugged him hearing the despair in his voice, the longing and much more.
Arnav wrapped his arms around Khushi seeking solace and warmth. "Then?" Khushi whispered after some moments of silence, only their breaths could be heard. Arnav lay on the bed taking Khushi with him, his eyes asking her for the permission, and Khushi just nodded.
"One day, when I was fifteen, we woke up hearing dad screams of Ma's name. She just...died naturally..dad had a heart attack after seeing her dead body. Nani, Di and I went to the hospital crying an hugging each other. Dad asked the doctors to see us...for the...last time and he told me his will," Arnav paused taking deep breaths and closed his eyes while Khushi put a hand on his stubble rubbing it.
"He asked me to take care of Di and Nani, to study business and take on the responsibility of AR. He said that he wouldn't be able to survive without Ma, he always promised her to be together." A tear dropped from the side of Arnav's eyes. "I tried to stay alone for hours after that, but Di and Nani wouldn't leave me fearing that loneliness may affect me negatively. They showered me with love reminding me of what my parents used to say about love and togetherness. Because of their support I could survive." Arnav stopped with a heavy heart and gratitude to the women who helped so much.
Silence filled the room for moments before Khushi's crying voice broke it.
"Sorry I shouldn't have done all that to you. You needed love, care and someone to understand you while I just hurt you. I'm so selfish. .." Khushi cried speaking with a sincere honesty regretting what she did more than any time before. Arnav leaned over her not touching her with his hands on the sides of hers.
"Khushi, kitni baar bolna padega ki I never thought of you to be not good. I understand very well the situation you've been in." Arnav was slightly frustrated with the way she still think about herself. He bent down to kiss her tears away assuring her that he was not upset with her. As Arnav raised his head, he could almost swear that he felt a change in Khushi's eyes at being touched and soothed like that, but he chose not to let that tenderness leave her eyes letting her know that he noticed the difference. However, Khushi was thinking of another opposite thing.
"I'm still wondering, how can you be so good like this? You're the best person I have ever known," Khushi wondered wrapping her arms around Arnav's neck pulling him lower a little. Arnav eyes bored into Khushi's to gauge the change in her eyes that now he could read easily. Desire flickered in the deep brown eyes at Khushi's innocent gesture. She looked ethereal at night with the dimmed light in the room and a calm expression on her beautiful face. Hopefully and helplessly, Arnav bent down to kiss her cheeks and delicate neck wanting to take their relationship to another level after the heartfelt sharing of a very important and huge part of the person he is. Khushi gasped at the surprising yet not sudden contact; his eyes already passed hers the message. Closing her eyes tightly as Arnav sucked her skin, Khushi arched back involuntarily giving Arnav more access to her neck slightly amazed at finding his touches to be pleasurable. Her heart thudded as he kissed her more moving his tongue over her throat. Khushi winced of pain and pleasure as Arnav bit and sucked on a sensitive area. At that point, Arnav raised his head to see her reaction feeling pleased as didn't find a sign of rejection or dislike; only hesitance with a red glow on her cheeks were their which were good signs. The intensity of his feelings for Khushi was something he feared that she wouldn't take it. Smiling at her as she started opening her eyes slowly, Arnav kissed her forehead lingeringly telling her that they should sleep as the day had been long and tiring for them. He held her in his arms smelling her hair while praying for a future with his lovely wife.
At morning as Arnav was stepping out of the bathroom, he heard Khushi mumbling loudly.
"There is some purple mark on my neck." Khushi said showing Arnav the mark.
"Oh! That's a hickey," he said sheepishly. The mark flickered something in his insides as he was the cause of it.
"A hickey?" She asked confused.
"A love bite." He replied loving the mark of his on her when Khushi blushed before uttering a 'what the' angryily amusing Arnav.
"What if someone sees it?" Khushi turned to the mirror to see how can she hide it.
"You just can hide it with your dupatta, simple or.."
"Oh really? Not that simple, Mr. Raizaada." Khsuhi said doing just what he told her.
"You just sound like me, Mrs. Raizaada." Arnav smirked hearing Khushi's tone.
"I know."
"What do you mean by this?" Arnav asked catching the angry yet sad look her eyes had.
"Nothing important."
"Khushi?" Arnav put a hand on her shoulder making her face him. "Won't you tell me what happened?" Suddenly Khushi threw her arms around Arnav not knowing how to tell him.
"I'm listening." Arnav said with a soft voice.
"Some girl said that now I'm married to you, I've changed my language and everything, that the wealth and fame must have changed me. That's not true Arnavji. It's just that after living with you for some time I just spontaneously speak like you." Khushi pouted.
"I know this, Khushi. What did you tell her?" Arnav asked gritting his teeth to control his rage.
"At the beginning, I did not say anything. Then I had to stop her so I did." Khushi said mischievously.
*********
I hope you like the update.
My best wishes for the people who have exams nowadays.
Sh~ Edited by bridgeofdreams - 11 years ago
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