Chapter 15

Arnav comes home and sees the house is dark. He rolls his sleeves as he walks into the living room and sees the light above the dining table is on and under the light, Khushi is sleeping like a baby with her head on the table.

She was wearing a white salwar and puffed sleeve kameez with thin red border. Her hair is open and spread over her one arm. The glow from the overhead light is making her look like an angel.

His heart squeezes painfully in his chest and tears come to his eyes. He slowly walks up to her and puts his hand on her shoulder and calls her name: Khushi?

Khushi jumps as if on a spring and opens her sleepy eyes: Huh? Arnavji?

Arnav smiles at her sadly: Yes, it's me Khushi. You did not eat dinner?

Khushi smiles back: No. I wanted to have dinner with you. (She blushes).

Arnav smiles: Then let's have dinner together.

Khushi jumps up: I will quickly heat up the food and be right back.

She runs to the kitchen and heats up the food in a hurry.

Meanwhile, Arnav starts to feel dizzy. He had not had any food since the afternoon.

Khushi comes out with food and sees Arnav swaying in the chair.

She runs to him, drops the food on the table and grabs him before he falls.

She pats his cheek with her other hand and calls his name: Arnavji, Arnavji… What happened? Are you okay?

Arnav manages to speak: No food… after lunch…

Khushi gets worried. She hurriedly breaks a piece of poori, grabs potato from the curry and holds it to his mouth.

Arnav opens his mouth and starts chewing.

After repeating the process a few times, he starts to feel better. He looks up at Khushi's worried face and teases her to lighten her worry: I'm fine now. But if you'd rather feed me the entire dinner, I don't mind.

Khushi leans back and says angrily: Why didn't you eat anything? What if something happened to you?

Arnav smiles at her angry face: I'm okay sweetheart. Sit down.

Khushi stomps to another chair and sits down. She serves herself poori and potato curry and starts eating.

Arnav realizes that Khushi is angry. He looks at her with a smirk and just waits for her to react.

Khushi was stuffing food in her mouth when she suddenly realizes that she is being watched. Her hand falters in front of her mouth and then drops the poori back into the plate. She swallows hard and blushes crimson under his hot gaze.

Arnav smiles inside pleased with her reaction. He gets up from his seat at the table. But the moment he gets up, Khushi gets up and runs to the kitchen with her dirty plate.

She drops the plate at the sink and mutters while washing up: Laad Governor always does that. I know just what he is upto…

An amused voice asks from behind her: You do? Do tell, sweetheart…

Khushi jumps and whirls to see Arnav standing leaning against the kitchen door and smirking at her.

She blushes and then remembers her anger. She wipes her wet hands on a kitchen towel, slaps the dish towel on the counter and stomps to Arnav.

She puts her dainty fists on her hips and pokes her finger on his chest: No, I won't say anything. You tell me.

Arnav's smile gets wider seeing his feisty lady. He nods his head with a smirk: Okay. I will tell you. I love you. Now it's your turn.

Khushi's eyes narrow: Don't think you can fool me, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada. You tell me what's going on. (Her eyes become sad) Why are you so worried, Arnavji? Why do I see sadness in your eyes? Are you not happy with this marriage?

(Her eyes become fierce again) And don't try to fib me off.

Arnav heart starts beating fast. It never fails to surprise him how Khushi can read him like an open book when no one else can. His eyes soften in love. He reaches forward, holds Khushi by her waist and pulls her towards him: Khushi, how can I not be happy with our wedding? You are all I ever wanted. You are the first woman I ever loved and you are going to be mine. I could not be happier to be called your husband, darling.

Khushi's eyes become sad: Then why do I see pain in your eyes, Arnavji? Are you missing your parents? Do you wish they were here?

Arnav sighs and touches her forehead with his. A drop of tears drops from the corner of his eyes.

Khushi takes that as his answer. She holds his face in her small palms and looks deep into his caramel colured eyes with her big hazel ones: I wish my parents were here too, Arnavji. But wherever our parents are, I'm sure they have become very good friends and they are very happy for us.

Arnav smiles at this amazing woman he loves more than anything in the world.

Khushi wipes her own tears and pushes him: Now go to bed and let me clean up. Tomorrow the decorator is coming to decorate the house. Anjaliji has asked me to be there when the decorator shows up. So I will have to be up by then too.

Arnav leans forward and whispers in her ears: You will also have to finish the bet.

He kisses her cheek again, winks at her blushing face and leaves the kitchen.

Guest bedroom, Shantivan

Khushi finishes up her cleaning and goes to her room. She completes her nightly ritual of cleaning up and then goes to the poolside. She peeks into Arnav's room and sees that he was sleeping on the recliner with a frown on his face.

She thinks to herself worriedly: When I guessed the reason of his worries, he did not confirm nor deny my queries. May be there is more than what meets the eye.

She goes to the recliner and puts the blanket that he kicked off in his sleep back on him. Then she slowly caresses his hair with all the love in her heart and bends down to kiss his forehead softly. As she straightens, she notices that his frown gets smoothed out and his face becomes calm and in peace.

She backs up slowly and goes to her room.

As Khushi turns to go, Arnav's eyes open slowly and a tear rolls out from the corner of his eyes.

He closes his eyes in pain and when his eyes open again, they had changed into determination.

Up in the sky, the stars shine and sparkle like a blanket of tears.