Heated passion failed to compensate for lack of breathe and they had to withdraw.
"Shall we sleep?" Aru asked out of the blue.
Mukhi looked at her bewildered and then shook himself mentally to gain control of his senses.
"Yes, you had a hectic day today", he smiled nonetheless.
Aru felt her heart drop. Her indecisiveness was hurting him. He had given her the reins of their relationship because he wanted her to be happy but there was no way she could become happy at the cost of his pain.
"Mukhiji..." she called from behind.
He turned around and looked at her questioningly.
"Vo...vo...aap..." she stuttered trying to form a meaningful sentence.
"What happened?" he asked perplexed.
"Why...why did you...crop your hair and beard?" she asked, mentally rebuking herself for deviating from the actual question.
He scrutinized her for good two seconds until he became sure that she hadn't minced her words.
"I told you already, it is just for an image change".
"You are lying. The man who refuses to change his tattered shoes, changing himself just for the heck of it doesn't sit right by me", she accused, closing in.
"People change gaurani", he replied softly.
"For the sake of people they love..." she completed trying to read him.
He in took a shaky breath and turned away from her alluring eyes.
"It's true, I thought of changing myself for the sake of complementing you better".
"Even though you keep saying that I don't need to change", she replied back.
"You won't feel embarrassed while introducing me", he tried to reason.
"So you feel embarrassed to have an immature, childish, bratty woman as your wife?" she asked back.
"Of course not", he replied haughtily.
"Then how can you feel that I will be mortified to introduce you to anyone?" she asked shaking him.
"Because, you are young and smart and educated and I..."
"You are mature, sensible, logical, knowledgeable, innocent, honest, nave, adorable and headstrong", she finished staring right into his eyes.
His shoulders slumped. No one can beat Gaurani in arguments.
"You say all this because you...you..lo...respect me", he stammered.
"I say all this because this is the truth and I say all this because I love you, to the point of being insane about every stupid habit and quirk of yours", she replied, angry.
He smiled. He could always count on this woman to be bold and headstrong when needed.
"Honestly Mukhiji, should I pronounce my love in front of the whole world by going on my knees to assure you that I like the way you are- unruly, rough, simple and suave", she asked exasperated by his insecurities.
He nodded his head in negative, seeing the tears brim at the corner of her eyes and reflect in his too.
"Wait, let me prove my undying love for you...if you want a blunt confession...then I will give it to you", she stated and wiped her eyes for any unshed tears.
And with that she went on her knees and held his both hands in hers.
"I, Arundhati Kataara love you a real lot, Mr. Raidhan Rajkataara, for being the kind of man you are. I love your dressing style and I love your moustache that you curl with pride and I love your stubble that pricks when you kiss me and I love these unruly locks that let me pull you closer while threading my fingers in them and I love your smile that makes my heart flutter and I love your deep voice that gives me chills and I love the way you present yourself as if a graceful swan is swimming across a lake. Honestly, when you are in front of me, I can only see you and my mind goes totally blank when you come near me and my body feels odd and legs become like jelly when you pull me closer by my waist and...and...and...I..don't...know what to say anymore because I love all of you, everything about you", she panted heavily from speaking in flow.
She looked up to see her husband's eyes moist.
She got up and took both his hands closer to her lips and kissed them gently.
"Whenever I introduce you as my husband my chest puffs up with pride because I got a man like you as my life partner who considers my dreams his and gives me the freedom to soar high into the sky assuring me that he will be there to catch me if I ever fall", she spoke gently wiping his tears.
"And...and...if you feel that the reason I shy away from you is because of my hesitation in accepting you than you are dead wrong. It's just that you mean the world to me and I want it to be a special experience for you...I...I..."
"Kitta bolti hai...pattar...pattar... he interrupted her wiping her tears and then pulled her into the safe sanctuary of his arms.
Where the rhythmic beating of his heart soothed her nerves and lulled her to peace.
"Now, you won't ever feel insecure about me? About our relationship?" she muttered feebly snuggling closer.
"Never...ever...again", he promised smiling.
"Koi Pyaar kare toh aapse kare,
Aap jaise ho vaise kare,
Koi aapko badalkar pyaar kare
Toh vo pyaar nhi sauda kare
Or janaab, pyaar mein sauda nhi hota", she spoke cheekily.
He laughed at her dialogue and that laughter made butterflies erupt in her stomach, just like that.
"I love you a lot", she whispered.
"I love you a lot lot", he replied smiling basking in the feeling of warmth, the warmth coming from happiness, and the happiness coming from being accepted the way he is.