Chapter 8

-Zesty-

@-Zesty-

Part 12

Arnav frowned in his sleep as he felt something soft moving on his bare chest. It felt soft ...warm ...so ...so ...good. He opened his eyes slowly to adjust his sight to the sunlight filling his room. Soon a giggle fell on his ear, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He looked down to see her lying on his chest, her beautiful browns shining mischievously at him. He was about to hold her by her hip and pull her up, but stopped as he again felt the caress on his bare chest. His eyes moved to his chest, and his eyes widened little.

"Kusi?" he looked at her beautiful face.

"Ji?"

"What are you doing?" he gestured at her hand, which was inside his shirt, her soft fingers caressing his chest.

Khushi's smile widened. She moved little up to hover over him, her right hand still inside his shirt. "I ...tomorrow saw Maria Jiji doing this to Akash bhaiya when they were in the garden, and then Akash bhaiya gave her magic"

Arnav bit his lips to stop the bubbling laughter. "First , a correction. It's yesterday, not tomorrow. And now .." he caught her by her hip and flipped her off him, coming over her. "You shouldn't be a bystander to someone's private moment. It's bad manners. Understood?"

Khushi's brows furrowed. "Private moment? What is private moment..?" she asked innocently.

Arnav dipped his head and kissed her cheek. "This ...when two people are romancing ...means , kissing ..." He kissed her lips softly. "caressing ..." his thumb rubbed against her delicate neck, making her shudder. "Touching .." his hand went inside her chunnari, touching her bare waist. "This is called private moment ...Would you appreciate someone looking at us right now?" Arnav asked huskily against her soft petals.

Khushi shook her head, her whole body on fire. It always happens to her when he touches her body. Something starts growing painfully inside her chest, demanding more of his touch, more of his caress, more of his magic.

"Good ..." he caught hold of her thick long hair and placed it on the pillow. "Jesus! Kusi, your hair is so long.."

Khushi opened her eyes to look at his smiling face. She looked beside her at the pillow. She smiled too. "Acche hain na? At my village, my hair was the longest..sabse bade ...everyone was so jealous of my hair..." she grinned.

Arnav chuckled. "Yes ..its very beautiful...Thick, long, soft like silk ... Like a dark cloud" He ran his hand over her hair. "Very beautiful.." bending down, he dropped a kiss on her hair, loving her jasmine smell which belongs to her and her only. "Aren't you forgetting something, Kusi?" Arnav bobbed his one eyebrow at her.

Khushi's delicate brows furrowed adorably. "Kya? Magic?"

Arnav rolled his eyes. Her day starts with magic, ends with magic. "No, sweetheart.." He pecked her lips and got off her. Walking towards his cupboard, he opened it. Taking out a packet, he walked back to the bed.

Khushi sat on the bed, her eyes fixed on the packet.

Arnav kept the packet aside and pulled her on his lap. Holding her close by his one strong arm, he lifted the other to tuck a strand behind her ear. Staring in her beautiful eyes for few seconds, he dipped his head down to rest his lips on her soft twins. His lips moved delicately on hers, making her moan against his lips. His tongue traced the line of her lips, urging her to open her mouth, and she obliged. His tongue found home, tasting and exploring the sweet recesses of her mouth. His hands moved to her back, crushing her soft body against his hard one, wanting this moment to never end. But he knows it has to.

Leaving a soft peck on her thoroughly loved lips, he moved back. He stared at her sweet face till she opened her dazed eyes to look at him. Arnav smiled.

"Happy birthday, pearl.. "

"Birthday...my birthday?"

"Yes ... birthday ... I can't believe you forgot ... You were so excited about this day from weeks.."

"Yes... Pata nahi kyun I forgot .."

Arnav smiled and made her sit beside him. "This is for you, Kusi ..." he picked the big packet and placed it on her lap.

Khushi looked down at her lap. "Gift?"

"Yes..gift ..won't you open?"

Khushi took the packet in her hand , too happy. She unwrapped it excitedly to reveal a beautiful white and red gown. She frowned. But it didn't look like the gown she had wore last time.

"I really like what you wear ..." he pointed at her cloth. "This cloth which you were, I like it very much ... And you like gown, don't you?" he asked.

Khushi nodded.

"So I asked our tailor to make something really beautiful , something really different, a combination of what you wear, and gown...and he made this, which I liked very much... you like it?"

Khushi lifted the beautiful gown in her hand and inspected it. It was like a gown, but a red cloth was draped on the upper half, in the manner she takes her chunnari. And a separate netted chunnari was there too. She smiled. It was different, but beautiful too. "It is very beautiful ..."

Arnav smiled. "I am glad you liked it ..."

Khushi grinned at the dress in her hand. It was her first gift from her husband. "Hume bohot pasand hai ..."

"So now, go and get ready. We are going out."

"Sacchi? Where?" she placed the gown carefully on the bed and stood in front of him.

Arnav circled his arms around her waist and pulled her close. "It's a surprise. You go and take your bath, and when you are ready, I will tell you. OK?"

"Understand..." She immediately took her dress and hurried towards her room.

Arnav smiled seeing her all excited.

Khushi came out of the bathroom wearing her gown, grinning at the onliest and beautiful dress her husband has gifted her. Walking carefully towards the dressing table, she looked in the mirror, admiring her dress. It was so beautiful. Smiling, she took the comb and started running it through her thick long hair. Combing her hair, she tied her long hair in a single fluffy braid and rested it on her right shoulder. Turning around, she took the white netted chunnari lying on the bed and placed it on her head. Looking at herself in the mirror, she twirled around, giggling, loving her dress very much.

Arnav chuckled, probing against the door frame.

"Really liking the dress, aren't you?"

Khushi turned to look at her husband. She grinned and ran towards him.

"Careful..."

"Hum aache lag rahe hai na? Thank you for the gown.." she caught hold of his collar and standing on her toes, kissed his chin. "Thank you .."

Arnav smiled down at her softly. "You are looking very beautiful .." his eyes admired her. Her innocent beauty sparkling life in the gown. Her long hair tied in a single braid was swapped over one shoulder, few tendrils dancing against her milky cheek. She looked like a beautiful dream.

"Saachi?" she twirled again, giving him a better look.

Arnav nodded. "Scchi ..."

Khushi giggled at his hindi . "I want to teach you hindi..." She coiled her hand around his strong arm. "You know nothing in hindi ..."

"You will teach me?" Arnav asked as they started towards the door.

"Yes... I know hindi, I know English ...and you know only English ... Accha nahi lagta na... It's not nice ..."

Arnav chuckled. "Ofcourse ... You are so intelligent, Kusi ..."

Khushi giggled. "Thank you ..."

"Hey there giggling missy ..."

They heard the voice as they reached the corridor. Khushi turned towards the voice.

"Akash Bhaiya!" She smiled broadly and left her husband's arm to reach him.

"Wait wait , I am getting there ..." he smiled and started walking towards her.

"My my , look at the birthday girl." He stood back and inspected her up and down, making Khushi blush. "Looking all princess, uhh?"

Arnav smiled as he saw her turning all red.

"Hume bas aache kapde pehne hain ...Aur kuch nahi " Khushi flushed and again caught hold of her husband's arm, little embarrassed at being teased.

Akash chuckled. "OK ...so not bothering my birthday girl anymore, shall we start with the gift?" Akash smiled and forwarded his left hand. "Here's a beautiful doll for my Khushi doll .."

Khushi gaped at the beautiful doll in his hand. It was so beautiful. Wearing a beautiful white gown, golden long hair reaching till her ankles, the doll was so mesmerizing. Khushi extended her hand and took the doll from his hand. "Dhanyavad Akash bhaiya, ye gudiya kitni khoobsorat hai... "

Akash smiled, glad, and leaned to drop a kiss on her cheek. "Happy birthday, darling. I got it made especially for you. I am happy you liked it."

"Hume bohot pasand aaya.."

"Now go and keep it in your room, Khushi. Remember, we have to go out?"

Khushi nodded at her husband, and started towards her room.

"You brought her a doll, Akash?" Arnav asked his brother disbelievingly as he saw Kusi walking towards her room.

Akash smiled and looked at his brother. "She is so excited and happy about her birthday, so I wanted to give her something which should give her more reasons to smile, and add to her happiness. No amount of precious stones would have managed to bring that genuine smile on her face. She just love dolls."

"You both are weird. And I am stuck with you both." Arnav shook his head.

Akash smiled and put his hand around his brother's shoulder. "But you love both of us too, don't you?"

Arnav shrugged his hand away. "Aye aye...Who told this nonsense to you?"

"Your eyes did, it always does. You can try to mask your emotions all you want, but your eyes gives away everything. Well you don't have to feel embarrassed, I love you too ... And Khushi loves you too ..."

Khushi loves you too. His words reverberated in his head. "She loves me..?" Arnav asked in a daze.

"Ofcourse , she does..." Akash replied and saw Khushi coming towards them.

"Don't you, doll? You love bhai, right?" Akash asked smilingly as Khushi came and stood beside her husband.

"Love? Pyaar? Ha ...Hum inse bohot pyaar karte hai ... Hum aapse bhi bohot pyaar karte hain, Hum Maria jiji se bhi bohot pyaar karte hai ..." (Yes...I love him very much ...I love you too, and I love Maria jiji too ...) Khushi replied, smiling cutely.

Akash sighed. He forgot he was talking to a girl who thinks she will get a baby once everyone starts calling her a woman. He sighed again.

"That's so sweet of you, Khushi ... Come, now we should get going ..." Akash said.

Khushi nodded and coiled her hand around her husband's arm.

They started walking towards the door.

Arnav looked at his wife and then at his brother, little anxious.

"What did she say?" Arnav asked leaning close to Akash's ear.

Akash bit his lips to stop the smile.

"Hmm...She told she loves you ..." Akash nodded his head, his face straight.

"Really?" Arnav whispered back. "But she took your and Maria's name too."

"Woh... She said, she loves me and Maria too, but she loves you the most ... " Akash lied.

Arnav's brows furrowed at his brother, not really believing him. Kusi was right - He should start learning Hindi.

Khushi kept her hand on her husband's extended hand and stepped out of the carriage. She looked at the magnificent building in front of her. They ascended the few steps leading to the building and turned around. Her eyes widened little, her body unconsciously shifting close to her husband. Thousands of people were gathered in front of the building, everyone's eyes on her. Khushi looked up at her husband, feeling scared.

Arnav looked down and smiled at her. "They have gathered to see their Duchess, and enjoy the fest arranged on the occasion of their Duchess's birthday. Don't be scared. As they have never seen you before, they are just curious to see and know about their Duchess. So they are looking at you.." Arnav told her, trying to make her clam.

Khushi nodded her head, still feeling jittery. She pulled her chunaari over her shoulder, feeling conscious.

"Smile at them, Kusi ..." Arnav whispered.

Khushi again nodded her head, her lips quivering into a smile. Leaving her husband's arm, she joined her hands. "Namaste .." her voice came out a meek, which barely reached her husband, who stood beside her.

Arnav chuckled. Wanting to ease out her nervousness, he took her hand in his, and looked straight at his people. "Good morning, everyone.." his dense voice rang in the air. "This fest is arranged on the occasion of our Duchess' birthday, and a hearty thank you all for coming here and making it a success. I hope you all enjoy the fest. Thank you"

Khushi stared up at her husband in awe as his strong voice silenced the hush whispers in the air and everyone listened to him attentively.

Arnav tilted his head down to see his wife looking at him, unblinking. He smiled and blinked his eyes at her. "Relax , sweetheart. Now the people who have brought gifts for their duchess will come and give the gift to you, OK? They will come one by one, no need to be scared, Akash will be with you. Once we are done with this, we will go inside the church , and then back home, OK?" He kissed the back of her palm and gestured Akash to take his place. "I will be here only, sitting on that chair .." he pointed at the beautifully crafted stone chair at the left-side corner of the Church. His nobles were present there already.

Khushi gave a small smile and nodded at him.

Akash stood beside her and gave her a broad smile. "Looks like the whole village is here to get the first glimpse of their duchess... Feeling special?" Akash teased her.

Khushi shook her head slowly, still nervous about the people staring at her.

"Then let's make you feel special .." Akash gestured the guards to let the villagers in.

Khushi looked in front to see a little girl, wearing a pink frock, hop towards her, making her dark curls bounced against her milky cheek. She was followed by a lady.

The little girl stood in front of Khushi and smiled . "Happy birthday , my lady" She wished Khushi in her sweet voice.

Khushi smiled at her and joined her hands. "Thank you.." Khushi thanked her, making the girl grin.

The girl slowly inched closer and touched Khushi's chunnari. "You are so beautiful..."

"Linda, no.." The girl's mother pulled her back. "You should not do that ...Apologize .." She scolded Linda.

"No no , it's fine..." Khushi looked at the girl and smiled. "Thank you... You are also beautiful ... " she said, making the girl grin broadly.

"Thank you, my lady" Linda looked at her Mother. "Mamma, we should give the gift, no?"

Linda's mother nodded at her and looked at her Duchess. Smiling, she forwarded the gift. "I made this bonnet for you, your highness... Happy birthday, my lady.."

Khushi looked at the bonnet in the lady's hand. She had seen her Maria Jiji wearing that around her head whenever she goes out. She smiled at the lady and took the bonnet from her. "Thank you. It is beautiful."

"You like it, my lady? I also helped Mamma in making the bonnet for you" Linda smiled cutely.

Khushi nodded her head and gestured her to come forward. As Linda obliged, Khushi bent and kissed her cheek. "Thank you. Your gift is very beautiful, just like you.."

Linda's hand lifted to rest on her cheek, too shocked. She looked at her Mother. "Duchess kissed me, Mamma" Linda said excitedly, making her mother smile at her.

"I will tell everyone! Duchess kissed me!" She hugged her mother's leg, feeling too happy and special at being kissed by her Duchess.

Khushi giggled.

Arnav smiled as he saw Kusi smiling, giggling, laughing as one by one the villagers came and presented their gift to her. Her warm and loving nature winning everyone in an instant. She was so excited about this day, and he wanted to make this day really special and unforgettable for her. And now seeing her happy and enjoying herself, brought a content smile on his face. The day has started with her beautiful smile, and now all he want is, the day to end too looking at her happy and infectious smile.

Hope you all liked it! Was that too long?