Chapter 16

Arnav wakes up very early the next morning and comes to the door of Khushi's room.

He sees Payal coming out of the room in a yellow saree. He asks her: Is Khushi up?

Payal smiles inside and says: No, she is still sleeping. Shall I wake her up?

Arnav says: No. There is no need for that.

Payal goes downstairs eager to share this piece of news with Buaji and Garima.

Arnav, oblivious to the teasing Khushi will have to hear, goes into Khushi's room and sees Khushi sleeping like a baby while the morning sunlight is bathing her in an otherworldly glow.

He slowly walks up to the bed and sees her stubborn bang is hanging over her face like always. He sits down on the bed and slowly puts the bang behind her ear and kissed her forehead.

Khushi wakes up at the kiss to see her Arnavji is looking down at her with such tenderness. She smiles back, but then suddenly her upper body swings up as if shot from a spring…

She panics and whispers: Arnavji, what are you doing here?

Arnav cocks his eyebrow and asks: Waking you up. Why?

Khushi whispers back: Ssshhh… If someone sees you here, then I'm so dead (makes swishing motion back and forth on her neck)…

Arnav leans back on the bedframe and makes himself comfortable: That's okay. Payal already saw me when I was coming in and since you are not dead, that means no need to worry. So just relax…

Khushi (open mouth): What? Jiji saw you coming in? (About to cry face) Now I will have to listen to Jiji and Anjali ji going on and on all day…

Arnav (smirking): Well, I have a solution for that.

Khushi (wide eyed): You do?

Arnav nods calmly: Yup. You complete your bet and I will handle them.

Khushi (blushing & stammering): I… I… will… Di.. Did I say I won't? I said I will today. Now you go and handle them.

Arnav raises his brow: I won't handle them until you complete the bet. So…

Khushi (miffed): Okay fine. May be I'm just worrying for no reason. May be, its fine.

She starts to nibble on her finger worriedly.

Arnav (smirking): Okay. Take your chance then.

He gets up from the bed, smacks a kiss on Khushi's cheek and whispers: Good Morning…

He was about to leave when he turns and winks: And come down for breakfast.  I will be waiting for you.

Khushi pokes her tongue at him and mutters: Laad Governor. 

Then she smiles and goes to the washroom to get ready for the day.

Dining Room, Shantivan:

Everyone is sitting at the table for breakfast. Arnav left a chair by his side empty for Khushi and kept sneaking glances at the stairs to see if she is ready yet.

Naniji was seating at the head of the table with Arnav on one side. Arnav had a chair empty on his other side, then Buaji, Garima, Shashi and Mamaji was on other end of the table across from Naniji. On Nani's other side and across from Arnav, one chair was empty, then Anjali was seating, then Payal and Aakash and then Mamiji, who was sitting beside Mamaji across from Shashi.

Then he notices that Khushi is coming down the stairs in a chiffon saree which goes from cream near the neckline to turquoise to finally navy blue and all the shades in between with very thin sequence work in the border which was glittering as light hit the saree… She was wearing a navy blue slim strap blouse with the same sequence border as her shoulder strap.

Her fair skin was gleaming against the navy blue sequence in her shoulder and the only jewellery she was wearing was a sapphire and diamond earrings with her engagement ring on her finger. Her hair was tied in a low ponytail and her bangs were framing her face like a priceless masterpiece.

Arnav could not take off his eyes from Khushi. Anjali notices his expression and winks at Payal.

As Khushi comes closer to the table, Arnav discreetly pulls the chair beside him.

Khushi blushes and smiles, but as she was about to go to that chair, Anjali calls Khushi: Khushiji, sit beside me please?

Khushi looks at Arnav's irritated face and makes a pleading expression but seats beside Anjali right across from Arnav.

NK arrives then too and just plops on the chair beside Arnav. Arnav glares at him angrily. Poor NK looks at his angry face and exclaims: What?

Arnav decides that this family will never let any romance blossoming ever and starts eating his breakfast while sneaking glances at Khushi.

NK notices Khushi sitting across from Arnav and he exclaims: Wow, Khushiji… You are looking so beautiful. Just like a barmaid…

Khushi exclaims: What?

Everyone looks at NK in shock. Arnav glares at him.

NK stammers: Yes, you know the beautiful women who are half women and half fish? Who sing under the water?

Khushi sighs: You mean mermaid, Nanheji.

NK nods eagerly: Yes yes… That's what I meant. Mermaid…

Khushi smiles at him: Thanks Nanheji. How sweet of you.

She swings her smiling gaze at Arnav to see him fuming. Her smile falters and she looks at him questioningly.

Arnav unclenches his teeth and says: Khushi, when you are done eating, do you mind coming into my room? I need to talk to you.

Khushi knew that tone by heart. Arnav used it every time when he was about to blow up. She gulps and looks at Anjali: Anjali ji, I need to be here when the decorator arrives right? I can't leave now.

Anjali smiles at her: Khushiji, you can go and see what Chotey wants. I will call you when the decorator arrives.

Khushi sighs worriedly.

Anjali smiles again: Khushiji, I'd really like if you can call me Di.

Khushi smiles back at her: And I'll do that if you call me Khushi.

Anjali smiles bigger: Agreed.

Arnav sees the interaction between two special people in his life and his eyes becomes soft.

Khushi notices that and whispers to Anjali: Thanks for saving me from Laad Governor's anger, Di…

Anjali leans to her and whispers back: No problem, Khushi. You will handle him just fine.

They smile at each other.

NK, in his eagerness to make up for his blunder, blurts out: Khushiji, if you are free after the decorator leaves, would you like to watch a movie with me? I will get any movie you like?

Khushi chirps happily: Really? I'd love to see any Salman Khan movie. How about Maine Pyaar Kiya or Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?

NK happily exclaims: I will get both of them for you.

None of them notices a volcano about to erupt any moment.

Arnav stands up abruptly, almost knocking off his chair. He bites out: Khushi, my room, NOW…

Khushi looks at him wide eyed, wondering what went wrong this time.

She looks at Anjali pleadingly: Di…

Anjali looks at her sympathetically: Khushi, I can't help you here. Go and see what's going on…

Khushi gulps and goes to washroom to wash her hands. She tries to take as much time she can to wash and then slowly goes upstairs to Arnav's room with trembling heart.

Arnav's room, Shaantivan

Arnav was fuming and walking back and forth on the carpet like a caged Tiger: How dare he? That bloody NK. How dare he ask my wife for movie? And how dare she accept? She does not know who she belongs to?

He looks at the watch and fumes some more: And how long does it take to come from Dining room to my room? Why is she taking so long?

He strides to the poolside impatiently and starts pacing there. Then he hears a tentative knock on the door.

He barks: Come in.

Khushi jumps at his tone but comes in to the poolside: You called me, Arnavji?

Arnav sneers: I did. And I believe that was 30 minutes ago. So I hope you did not have any problem trekking through the living room?

Khushi looks up suddenly as her temper gets up at his tone: No, it was no problem. Now tell me what you want so that I can go and watch movies.

Arnav strides to her in anger and grabs her by her arms: Oh really? So now you are so eager to watch movies with NK, is it?

Khushi's eyes cloud with pain and she says: Let me go, Arnavji… You are hurting me.

Arnav suddenly realizes his strong hold and let's Khushi go. He turns his back and pushes his fingers through his hair.

Khushi turns to leave and in her hurry trips on her saree. She sprains her ankle and cries out in pain.

Arnav turns hearing her cry and runs to her: Khushi, are you okay?

He tries to grab her hand to support her, but she jerks away in anger.

He grabs her hand forcefully and after some struggle she gives in. Arnav makes her seat on the chair by the poolside and bends down to check her ankle.

They both remember last time when he was sitting just like that kneeling in front of her to fix her broken ankle on a sparkling night of Diwali.

He notices that her eyes have become shiny with tears. His heart squeezes in his chest painfully at the sight. He whispers in broken voice: It will hurt a little.

Khushi nods slowly giving him permission. He twists her ankle back into place. Khushi hisses out at initial pain and grabs his shoulder.

Arnav looks at her teary eyes and says: I'm sorry Khushi. I don't know what came over me. It will never happen again.

He gets up suddenly and turns his back to her. He pushes his fingers through his hair: I don't know why I get so angry. I am trying to control it, but I just can't. I don't know what to do. When I saw NK complimenting you and asking you out for movie, it seemed my brain stopped working. I know I hurt people when I'm angry and trust me; you are the last person I want to hurt.

Khushi feels his pain as her own. She gets up, comes closer and puts her palm on his shoulder: Arnavji, I know you did not mean to hurt me.

Arnav turned to her with pained eyes: Khushi, don't forgive me so easily. You have no idea, what I have done and what my punishment is. If you forgive me so easily without even knowing anything, I won't be able to live with my remorse.

Khushi cups his face and tells him: I don't need to know what you did Arnavji. All I need to know is that you love me and I love you. Everything else is forgotten and forgiven.

Arnav shudders and lowers his eyes to hide his pain but it does not go unnoticed by Khushi.

She pulls his face down slowly, stands up on her tiptoes and leans forward to press her mouth on his. She feels his entire body shudders at the touch of her lips on his and waits for him to respond.

Arnav pulls Khushi closer lifting her off the ground and opens his mouth and Khushi slides her tongue in his mouth as he did last time, mimicking his actions.

The last kiss was all passion and animal attraction. But this kiss spoke of love, of hope, of shared pain, of remorse, of forgiveness…

The last one was frantic and all consuming, but this one was slow and tender and heart wrenching…

The last one was establishing exclusive right on their body, this one was owning their heart and soul…

They kiss slowly; exploring, tasting, feeling each other…

The entire poolside seems to be quite and in awe of the magical moment between these two soulmates. Not even wind was passing through the leaves. As if even nature did not want to intrude between them.

Khushi slowly pulls back as if in a daze but still in Arnav's arms. Arnav looks at her in a daze too.

Suddenly a butterfly comes flying and sits on Khushi's shoulder breaking her trance.

Khushi pulls away from Arnav and blushes. Arnav leans forward and whispers: Thank you.

Khushi looks up at him and smiles back: You are always welcome.