Chapter 36

Omoraboti

@Omoraboti

33 (B)

"Can I borrow Khushi away for few minutes?" Arnav asked leaning against a pillar near the entrance to the kitchen.

Khushi looked up from the pan where she was frying a batch of jalebis soon to be soaked in the rosy syrup. Her eyes traveled up and down his length. His hair was unkempt. His stubble seemed darker on his freshly bathed skin. He was unusually casual and breathtaking as always. Blue was definitely his color. She watched him smirk slightly, letting her know he was fully aware that she was checking him out. Khushi smirked back, shamelessly, still checking him out. She had always believed men were just to be looked at once, admired and then forgotten. And she was right until Arnav had come into her life. She never got enough of him. She never was a bit less charmed' by him. She never got tired of admiring him.

"Borrow her?" Mamiji's shrill voice broke through their eye play. "Why, Arnav Bitwa? We are still not done cooking. And why is Akash so late today?"

"Manorama .." Naani scolded her lightly. "Even today you have to work, Arnav?"

Anjali chuckled at Nani's fake understanding.

"Haan, Chhotey. Let it go, naa. Can you two not work, now at least?"

"You know very well, Di, I never compromise with work."

Everyone but Mamiji bit their lips to not let out the grin at his somewhat smug remark. Work. Yeah right!

"Arnav, you please go." Khushi requested as she shifted the jalebis into the syrup from the hot oil. "I will join you in few minutes. I am almost done here."

Arnav nodded unwillingly.

"Di, you invited her for dinner and then you are making her cook?"

Anjali pouted guiltily.

"Woh, Khushi ji's jalebis are so good that we could not refuse when she offered .."

Nani and Manorama nodded guiltily too. Arnav shook his head incredulously.

"Khushi, quick. Ok?"

"Ji. Bas, five minutes."

Some fifteen minutes later, Khushi entered Arnav's room wiping her just washed hands with her dupatta. Arnav was standing in front of the glass door watching over the swimming pool, waiting for her. He turned as he could sense her and stood with his arms crossed, finally looking at her without interruption and peacefully. She continued to wipe her hands as she smiled at him, raising her eyebrows. What?

Arnav smiled back, his head tilted on his right. Just watching you.

She was in a coral chudidar with delicate embroideries in off-white. The dupatta almost matched with her skin color and anyone could miss it if not looked closely. Lone pearls dangled from her ears, her hair lose, her face little tired but eyes were as bright as the morning star.

Arnav sighed in contentment. She was all he needed.

"So why am I borrowed?" Khushi's eyes danced with humor as she walked towards him.

"I want to show you something."

"What?"

Arnav pouted naughtily as his fingers touched the button of his baby blue shirt. He slowly opened the first button and Khushi's reaction did not disappoint him. Her eyes started to widen immediately and also her mouth started to round. Satisfied, he started opening the buttons lazily one by one, his eyes fixed on her face.

"Wha .. what are you doing?"

Khushi nervously glanced at the door. It was not even locked. What the hell was he doing?

"Told you. I want to show you something."

"Arnav! Are you out of your mind? What will your family members think if they find us like this?"

"You think I care? And we are not doing anything wrong, are we?"

"You are .. you are .." Khushi got flustered as he finished unbuttoning his shirt and started walking towards her slowly.

"Your shirt is open." She swallowed.

"So?" He stopped some three feet away from her, standing near the edge of his bed.

"Arr-nav .." Khushi swallowed again as her eyes traveled over the exposed expanse of his torso, the toned muscle of his chest, the flat abdomen, the hipbone ... she forced herself to look up to see him smirking suggestively at her but only to allow her gaze drop again in the next instant. He was .. a pleasure to look at.

Khushi felt the butterflies dancing in her stomach as he leisurely got rid of the shirt and threw it on his bed. She glanced at the king sized bed and heat rose through her body, remembering the random daydreams she often had, about being with him in his house, in his room, in his shower, in his bed ... Her lower abdomen tightened without any warning and she started to feel the temperature slowly rising. She bit her lips. Damn this man. He was up to no good.

"See?" His raised his eyebrows.

"See? What?" Her voice was dry and hoarse, her eyes busy savoring.

"This?" He drew a circle in the air over the left side of his abdomen.

And finally she saw it. There were two long, red scratch marks from the side of his chest till the left side of his lower abdomen. They looked fresh and raw and her eyes widened again.

"Shoot. How did that happen?" In seconds, she covered the distance between them and then she was checking the marks closely. Though her body was still reeling from the after effects of desire, her mind was now occupied with concern, the inferno of lust completely forgotten. She brushed her thumb against one of the scratches and he flinched.

"How do you think I got these?"

Khushi looked up from his stomach feeling the humor in his voice. His smile said it all and she flushed like she had never before. Shoot.

"When .. when did I .." She mumbled.

"Well, I don't recall exactly' when you did that but I can tell you this much .. it was some time, early in the morning today .. when you and I were .."

"Where .. where .. is the first aid box?" Khushi interrupted, completely flustered, not letting him finish. "You should use some anti-septic."

"That won't be needed."

"Please, Arnav."

Arnav shrugged and got the ointment from the drawer. He handed it over to Khushi and she started applying it immediately. As her fingers softly massaged the cream on him, Arnav could feel the soothing effect. It was not only a balm to his wounds but also to his longing. He had not let anyone care for him. He never wanted to feel dependent on anyone. He did not even let his Di pamper him much. But for the first time in his life, he felt like depending on someone .. to have someone to share some of his burdens with, someone to share his solitary life with. Khushi was that person and he was getting sure of that more and more as every day was passing. Was this how love felt?

Arnav stared at her face with fondness. Her eyes were fixed where her fingers were busy. Her face was tight with concentration, her forehead furrowed, eyebrows twisted. The loose bangs were messing with her eyes but she was totally occupied with the work in her hands. Arnav sighed. Yes, this was perhaps how love felt. Crazy. Beautiful.

"Done." Khushi declared, still investigating the wounds, bringing Arnav out of his dreamland. Arnav shook his head slightly and smiled. He was a goner. And he was loving it.

"Hmm." He checked out the scratches which were now almost hidden under the heavy coating of ointment. "Looks ok."

Khushi smiled satisfied but Arnav was in no mood to let it go so easily.

"That won't redeem your act of violence Khushi Kumari Gupta."

Khushi stepped back nervously. The devil could not be trusted!

"What do you have in mind?"

Arnav picked up his shirt from the bed and started wearing it, his gaze fixed on her. She was busy fidgeting with the hem of her dupatta, eyes everywhere but on him.

He took a step towards her and leaned forward but she took another step back.

"The d-door is not locked." She mumbled.

Arnav stared at her and then again took a step towards her. She should know by now that once his mind was fixed on something, he never backed away. He leaned forward and before Khushi could protest, placed a loud kiss on her left cheek.

"I will ask for it when the time is right." He smirked and walked away.

Khushi swallowed. If she knew him even a little bit, she should know he did not have anything innocent in his mind.

"I .. I should go now .. and help serve the food."

"You are the guest, Khushi." Arnav replied half-lying in his recliner. "Let them treat you!"

"You wait here to be pampered like a guest." Khushi snapped. "I am going."

Arnav followed Khushi to the kitchen. He tried persuading her and the others to let her rest. She glared at him in response to his snide remarks and Arnav gave up. Women! He watched them chatter nonstop and giggle over everything and nothing as the dining table was being loaded with dishes. Akash joined him few minutes later.

"Bhai, looks like you are very hungry." Akash sat beside him, surprised to see Arnav simply sitting and doing nothing.

"Hmm. Little. When did you come? How are the slides coming?"

"Ten minutes only. Mom kept calling .. so I had to stop midway. I will finish the slides tonight. We can go over those tomorrow."

"Akash .." Arnav hesitated a little. "You told Di that Khushi is here?"

"No, Bhai." Akash corrected quickly. "I told mom, not Di."

"Oh." Arnav paused. "But .. why?"

"Woh Bhai .." Akash smiled nervously. "Mom, I think, likes Khushi very much. She kept asking me about her and she told me to tell her whenever Khushi is here. So I just told her .."

"I noticed Mamiji is very fond of her." He smiled inwardly. "In fact, who isn't?"

"Right, Bhai."

The dinner was quite a noisy' affair. The whole time Arnav listened to the nonstop chattering of the ladies and shook his head incredulously at times. Unlike Akash, he hardly participated but the little smile never left his face.

As per plan, Arnav dropped Khushi at her buaji's place. He was in his best mood when he was entering Shantivan even though he wished she did not have to go. While crossing the living room, he noticed his Di, Mami and Nani still chatting, relaxing on the sofa.

"You are still not done talking? It is late." He walked up to them.

"We are very excited, Chhotey." Anjali's face beamed with her brightest smile.

"Ok?" Arnav enquired.

"Arnav Bitwa!" Maami seemed ecstatic. "We are going to Lucknow."

"What??"

"Yes, Arnav." Nani added smiling. "Khushi bitiya has invited us to her sister's wedding. So we have decided to attend."

"It has been so long since we have been there last." Anjali clapped her hands in glee like a little girl. "I can't wait."

"I have to go shopping." Mami exclaimed. "Maa ji, I will need some jewelry too. I cannot go to her place in ordinary clothes. After all, I am the mother .."

"Chhotey, will you go with us?" Anjali asked innocently.

"She has not invited me." Arnav muttered. "Yet."

"She has invited the whole family." Anjali assured. "Don't worry."

"Where is Akash bitwa?" Maami squealed. "I must go and give him the good news. We are going to Lucknow. To get the Bahu of the house."

"Bahu ..?" Arnav watched as Maami ran out of the hall. He was completely confused by now.

"Haan, Chhotey." Anjali replied innocently, her eyes shrewdly scanning every movement of his face. "Since her sister is getting married, we think it will be alright to talk to her parents now."

"Haan." Naani added enthusiastically. "We will meet her parents and will also put forward the proposal. What say, Arnav?"

"What proposal?" Arnav exclaimed in frustration. What the f**k were they talking about? Bahu? Proposal? Have they gone mad?

"It will be really unwise to let such a wonderful girl go." Naani said seriously. "So we have decided not to take any risk and we will start the alliance right away."

"Will you please care to clarify what you are up to?" Arnav barked this time.

"Arrey baba!" Anjali said dramatically. "We are talking about getting Khushi in this house. Permanently."

"Haan." Naani added. "She will be perfect as a Raizada Bahu."

Raizada Bahu. Arnav's heart started thudding. Was his family already planning his wedding to her when he still had not been able to go that far?

"Bahu .." Arnav mumbled. "But .. isn't it too early to decide something like that?"

Not satisfied with Arnav's reaction, Anjali decided to break the news in details.

"What to do, Arnav?" Anjali pretended to be a little sad. "We wanted to get Akash married only after you would. But it is unfair to punish him because of you. So we have decided to go forward this time. And as Nani said, you don't meet a girl like Khushi everyday."

"Akash?" Arnav asked confused. "Wait.."

His brain started functioning rapidly and suddenly the puzzle fitted perfectly. F**k. They were talking about Akash and Khushi. AKASH AND KHUSHI? Damn.

"Wait, wait, wait. Are you planning to get Khushi married to Akash?"

"Yes!" Anjali blinked. "Aren't they perfect for each other?"

"No!" The word left his mouth before he could control.

"What?" Nani frowned. "Why do you think so, Arnav?"

"Look, Chhotey." Anjali frowned too. "You cannot let your ideas and views ruin Akash's life. Maami has liked her in the first instant. We love her. You seem comfortable with her too. So .. I don't see any reason why we should not proceed."

"She will not agree." Arnav grumbled. "Why don't you understand?"

"Why?" Naani blinked.

"Because .. because .. she .. likes someone else."

"How do you know?" Anjali raised her eyebrows.

"I .. she .. told me."

"She told you about her love interest?" Anjali's jaw dropped. "Of all the people.. YOU?? And you want me to believe that?"

"Believe whatever you want." Arnav snapped. "But this alliance is not happening."

As Arnav stomped off, Anjali and Nani looked at each other and grinned from ear to ear. Well, the only bad thing in all this was that they had to break Manorama's heart. Otherwise, it was a treat to watch Arnav's face crumble in shock and despair. If he needed a push, this was all they could have done. Rest was up to him now.

This alliance surely was not happening.

But they could not wait to have Khushi as the Bahu of the house.

-Reviewed By: ritz/ iritz [What will I do without you? 🤗]