If interested, read my other stories too
OS- It's FIFA World Cup 2014 -https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4096860,
OS- When two scarred sould met - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4105410,
OS-Arranged for her, Love for him - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4482874
OS- Budding Love - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4566369
SS- Pyaar Overloaded - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/129379200
SS- It's Time to Move On https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/4596914
SS - 3 letters & a short story - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/133339507
It was the 2nd week of December in Delhi & as usual quite cold outside. But Khushi was feeling as if it is the coldest night, she has ever witnessed in her life . She is not sure whether she is feeling the coldness in her bones due to the actual weather outside or because of nervousness. She is very nervous, scared, shy & what not to even step out of her washroom & is very conscious of the fact that her husband is currently waiting for her outside in their bedroom. It is technically' their first night. Well technically, because of the fact that they had gotten married a day before & had immediately shifted back to Delhi as Khushi was slated to join her office day after tomorrow. Khushi 's home city is Kolkata & her workplace is in Delhi. Well, she was allowed to take a months' leave from office in a year including all medical, casual & privilege leaves , but she had already used 14 days of them to visit her hometown to help her parents in her wedding preparation & reserved the remaining 14 for her actual wedding. But there was another twist. Her two BFFs & colleagues - Ratul & Shreeja were also getting married during the same time (with each other obviously), as it is a oath taken by them, that they would get married around same time but not on same date (as they don't want Khushi to be left alone when Ratul- Shreeja get married) . Two auspicious dates were found in the span of 14 days & since, all of them had to resume their offices immediately, they not only decided to skip their receptions but their honeymoon part as well. So precisely, a day after Khushi get married, she has flown back to Delhi with her in-laws & her husband. So, to compensate the loss of their reception or honeymoon, Khushi's in laws mainly Arnav's elder twin-siblings Aakash & Anjali have decided to arrange for a special first night' for them. After reaching Delhi, they cut short of the after-wedding rituals . Completing the dinner with rest of the family, the newly wed couple was driven to Arnav's penthouse on the 16th floor of his office building & on reaching there , without wasting any further time, Akash along with his wife Payal & Anjali along with her husband Shyam had taken leave from them . Everything was happening so quickly that Khushi didn't get any chance to think about anything, & suddenly when she was all alone with Arnav , she got tensed. To avoid that, she let her eyes roam around to take in the appearance of the furniture, designs & everything that is infront of her.
Arnav seeing that cleared his throat, Well Khushi, since we have to stay two days over here, before resuming our work, you will get enough time to see the rooms & furnitures. Since, you seemed like tired why don't you get freshen up'.? Come in, let me show you our bedroom.' He held the door open for her & Khushi entered the room. Hearing the door closed behind her, she saw Arnav locking the room.
Khushi replied with an awkward nervous smile ,'O...Okk. You are tired too. You go first. I will go then. I will take more time than you.
Arnav replied with a smile ,'Ok. Let me help you take out the jacket'. & stretched his arm to remove Khushi's jacket.
Khushi jumped back,'N..no. I mean, I can take it out myself. D..don't worry' .
But seems like Arnav is in no mood for that, so inspite of Khushi's protest, he helped her in taking out the jacket, slowly caressing her arms over her shirt . Khushi couldn't understand whether it was intentional but she avoided confronting. Arnav . After sometime, Arnav came out all freshened up & without paying attention to how he is looking , she hastily entered the washroom. & now she is praying continuously that by the time, she entered their bedroom, Arnav should be asleep.
Well, Khushi's nervousness is also due to the fact that theirs is an arrange marriage. She used to work as an Interior designer in the firm owned by Mr Avinash Raizada - Arnav's paternal uncle who is younger to Arnav's father. Aakash, Anjali & Arnav - lost their parents in a car crash when they were 16 & 13 respectively. In the same accident Avinash also lost his wife Nandini. So, it is practically Aninash who raised these three children all along with his son Nandkishore who was only 8 yrs then. Arnav has always been most favourite to Avinash because of his nature & also due to the fact that he resembled his late brother & Arnav in turn always obliged to whatever his uncle said.
The old man has known khushi for a long time & always joked how he wished to have a daughter like her. Sometimes, he even said that, if Khushi's parents would have allowed, he would have adopted Khushi long time back. Khushi knew Arnav & their entire family through Avinash sir only & even assisted Arnav in designing one of his restaurant . But their relationship never progressed beyond that. After settling down in her job, at the age of 28, Khushi's parents reluctantly' started looking for a perfect groom for her . Well reluctantly', because of the reason that Khushi's family has a tradition of love marriage' for last 3 generations. So, even at the age of 28, when Khushi couldn't find herself a boyfriend, her family decided to intervene. Rehne de, tujhse nahi ho payega' - was their words . It was then Avinash brought the proposal of Arnav to her family, as he knew Khushi's family on personal level too. Well Arnav was nurturing a heartbreak for last 4 years , but since all insisted him to give his love & life a second chance, he agreed. Well, to be very honest, Khushi was busy with her job, friends, hobbies that she didn't thought about relationship. With her parents aging & her elder brother already settled with family, everybody thought of getting her married, fearing, she will start feeling lonely very soon. Well, on her part, she agreed understanding their logic & also due to the fact that she possibly couldn't make her BFFs wait for eternity to get married. Though this marriage has been an arranged one infront of everybody including Khushi's eyes, there is an angle to Arnav's side known only to Aakash - Payal & Anjali-Shyam
Arnav has been excitedly waiting for his wife to come out of their washroom, afterall he has more reasons than one to be happy. But looks like, his wife is in a mood to torture him for god- knows- what reasons, for she is taking forever to come out. After patiently waiting for an hour, he decided to intervene. He knocked the door,'Khushi are you ok? Is there any problem'???
Khushi who was nervously praying, hearing Arnav's voice, realize, it was all wasted. She replied in a small voice,'No problem. 5 mins'
Arnav internally groaned- 5 mooore minutes !!!!! He realized Khushi is feeling nervous & awkward, so he decided, not to ask anything more. After another 5 more painful minutes Khushi emerged from washroom. She was wearing a long t-shirt with a geometrically printed PJ & with her long wet hair, she was creating a mesmerizing picture to her husband. Arnav continues staring at her. He got into a trance seeing her nervous, shy beautiful wife. He slowly got up from the bed & walked towards her. Khushi got more nervous. Arnav walked into her personal space & held her face into his palms. He continued slowly,'hey, so finally you got changed. What took you so long. I have been waiting for you'.
Khushi didn't know what to reply. Arnav continued,'It is so much cold here. Why did you wash your hair. What if you would catch cold'?
Khushi slowly replied,' I guess my hair got dirty, so I needed to wash them'.
Arnav leaned forward & kissed her forehead. Then inhaling her fragrance continued,'hmmm, you smell very nice & must say quite mouth-watering'
Hearing this Khushi snapped at him. Arnav grinned & continued,'What?? I am joking Khushi. Can't I do that much with my wife?
After a moment of silence, he asked in a low voice,'What do you think, I am a cannibal & eat you up?' after pausing for sometime continued in a low husky voice,'Well, seeing you in such a cute attire & smelling so deliciously , I cannot guarantee that'.
Khushi got extremely scared .So, to ease her, Arnav hold her hands & make her sit on the bed
Relax. Why are you so nervous? Arnav asked.
Khushi thought, there is no way in delaying the entire thing, so she confessed,'Well, I am uncomfortable with you. Well don't take it otherwise . It's just that I don't know you so well & only interacted when we were working together . Even after our marriage got fixed, we both are so busy with our work that , we hardly met & spoke over telephone for few times. I know you married me because of you felt obliged to your uncle & I agreed because of my family & friend. But, the fact remains same that we are practically strangers. & I don't understand but seems you are very comfortable with me. Don't you feel awkward or weird in sharing a life, room & even your bed with a stranger like me'?
Hearing Khushi, Arnav smiled. He decided to tell Khushi his part of story too. Well Khushi, I agreed that you do not know me that much, much I can tell you that is not the case with me. Chachu used to tell me so many things about you, that I already kind of felt, as if I know you personally. Well while working together, I got a chance to know you on a much closer note & trust me I have always liked you. Remember the time, when we were just talking about random things, you suggested me to talk to my ex-girlfriend - Sheetal. You told me, that since I didn't got a proper closure to my past relationship, I am not able to move on. Though I didn't quite agree with you, but later, I went & talk to Sheetal. We talk the whole evening that day about our relationship, why she broke up with me, how, we both are stuck, how she still feels guilty & how I can't move on. While talking, I got my much needed answer, & decided without interrupting her married life, I will too move on. At that time, if you hadn't talk to me on behalf of Sheetal, I would have hold grudge against her for my entire life & would have never thought of moving on. I admired you that inspite of not knowing Sheetal, you tried to make me see things from her angle too & hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have thought about marriage. It's because of you, I agreed & it's only with you, I want to give my love & life a second chance. During our courtship, may be we didn't meet or chat a lot, but the little things that I come to know about you during our little conversations make me fall for you.'. After a little pause Arnav added mischievously ,' & with a life time ahead, I am sure , I will make you fall in love with me .
The way Arnav said those words, it makes Khushi smile. After few moments of silence, Arnav asked hesitantly ,'But the time we worked together, did you for once, never liked me ?
At these, Khushi shyly replied,'Well, I liked you a lot too.'.
Arnav asked mock hurt,'Then, why the hell did you act all pricey till date'?
Khushi rushed to clarify,'Well it's not like that. Actually rest of your female employees too liked you a lot. Moreover, you were my boss's nephew, so totally a forbidden territory. I was trying to save myself from a sure heartbreak, so didn't allow my heart to walk into that territory'.
The moment Khushi finished, both of them started laughing. After composing themselves, Arnav asked,'Since, now you know my story, will you allow your heart to walk into that territory'?
Khushi lowered her lashes & nodded. Arnav bend forward to kiss her as a promise of a beautiful, colorful & cheerful future ahead.
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