Arnav was in a good mood as he drove back home, a light smile playing on his lips. Warmth once again flooded his heart as his mind replayed the fact that Khushi would be at home, waiting for him. Not with hurt and sadness floating in her eyes that he had always seen when he got home from work during those painful six months, but with love and only love.
He was going to give her every happiness he could afford. She deserved no less.
He looked at the white envelope resting on his car's dashboard and his smile turned mischievous.
**
Abhay had already walked into Anjali's room and a frown marred his handsome face by the time Khushi caught up to him.
"Where's she?" He didn't waste time asking her.
"What's up, Abhay?" Khushi asked noticing that he looked less like himself.
"Where is Anjali?" He asked her again and Khushi observed him very keenly as she told him that Anjali went for her the checkup with Payal.
"Why will she do that? I told her I'll take her. I just got stuck in a stupid meeting for fifteen minutes. Couldn't she wait?" Abhay said now looking sad and Khushi smiled at his response.
"What are you smiling at now? First Anjali ditches me and now you smile at that?" Abhay asked in an exaggerated hurt tone.
"I didn't know you cared so much, Abhay. One would say you look heartbroken" Khushi answered, tongue in cheek.
"Heartbroke...What? You are stupid, Khushi. Why would I be heartbroken? And of course I care! Anjali and I are friends now. I told her I'll take her to the doctor. But she went with Payal. This is just a friend really pissed at another friend. Got it?" Abhay explained, trying his best to sound convincing.
"Well if you say so, I'll buy it. For now" Khushi said and started walking out of the room.
Abhay ran after her.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Abhay asked her with narrowed eyes but Khushi just grinned.
"I think you'll figure it out sooner or later" Khushi answered, chin in the air.
"Now, I need to go look pretty. My husband said he'd be back soon" She answered and left Abhay alone in the corridor.
"She really is Sankadevi" Abhay muttered to himself as he too walked down the stairs.
"Are Abhay bitwa! When did you come?" Naniji was in the sitting room and Abhay decided he'll wait for Anjali to come back home.
"I thought I should spend some time with the most beautiful lady in the house. So, I came to meet you, Naniji" He answered indulgently and Naniji laughed as both of them got into an easy conversation.
**
Anjali was sitting by the window seat in her car as Mohan drove them back to Shantivan.
Payal was sitting next to her and was on phone with Akash.
Anjali would often note the smile that played on Payal's lips and the blush that will colour her cheeks every time Akash would say something.
She tried not to feel jealous or sad. She tried to concentrate her thoughts on the only good thing happening in her life. Her baby.
Yet she couldn't help but think about Abhay every time she thought about the baby.
The handful number of days she had spent knowing Abhay, he had always treated her like she was the only woman in the room. Like her baby was not just hers but theirs. She didn't know what to make of it. Was it only because Abhay loved kids? Or was it because he saw her as a woman in desperate need of pity and concern?
That was the thought that had been nagging her since the last night. That was the thought why she had asked Payal to accompany her to the appointment. She had purposely left the house early so Abhay couldn't take her.
She told herself she didn't need another man in her life to fake concern for her. She didn't need any man in her life at all.
She has a family who loves her enough. Enough to fill the gaping hole Shyam burned into her heart.
She does not need the pity of Abhay.
**
It was almost lunch time by the time Arnav reached home.
He stepped into the drawing room and found his Nani having an animated conversation with Abhay about the Lucknowi cuisine and how she misses it.
Abhay looked deep into the conversation as he talked about the 'Basket Chaat' he had enjoyed at Aminabad Bazaar on his last visit to Lucknow but Arnav noticed that his gaze kept running to the watch on his wrist and the door.
That is how Abhay noticed Arnav standing there with a very visible frown on his face.
"Arnav! Hey Man! Where were you? I and Naniji were just talking about.."
"Hello, Abhay. Nice to see you here" Arnav said in a clipped voice and then started walking towards his room.
It wasn't that he didn't like Abhay. The man helped him sort the problem of the wedding expenses for Shashi Uncle but Arnav found his constant presence in the house exasperating.
Doesn't he have a business of his own to run?
All thoughts of Abhay and his frequent visits jumped out of Arnav's mind as he reached the door to his room and felt Khushi's presence.
His face broke into a small smile and his demeanour lightened. Khushi effect. Arnav liked to call it.
As he pushed open the door he found Khushi stacking his clothes into the closet.
She was dressed in a baby pink coloured Sari and her hair were left open. Her face was clean of any make up except a small bindi she had placed in the center of her brows.
She looked ethereal, thought Arnav.
And then she flashed that beautiful smile of hers at him and Arnav felt familiar desires stir.
He found it surprising how he could not get enough of her.
Their morning love making flashed before his eyes and his body grew tense with the same need.
"Arnavji, you're back!" Either Khushi didn't notice the change in his eyes or she ignored it, as she squealed in happiness.
"You should go get fresh. I am heading to the kitchen. It is almost the lunch time and I am very hung..."
Arnav reached her in three long strides and cut her words off by sealing her mouth shut with his lips.
He kissed her desperately and yet languidly, his lips moving upon hers as desire coursed through his body.
"I too am hungry, Khushi" the voice came out raspy and shaky as he removed his lips from hers and started kissing her neck, placing soft kisses there.
"Arnavji" She breathed out his name, her fingers running through his hair.
He smiled inwardly. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Her need for him always left him breathless. He recalled her passion the two times they had made love so far.
"God! Khushi" He chuckled as she brought her lips back to his and tugged at his hair rather brutally.
"What?" She asked, her hands already undoing the buttons of his vest.
"I love you" He replied, pushing her against a wall and unpinning the pallu of her Sari.
"I love you more, Arnavji" She answered, her lips now tasting the skin on his neck and he restrained himself from groaning in pleasure.
"We left the door open" She murmured as his rough hands moved up from her waist and towards her chest.
"I don't care" He swore as she tucked his white shirt out from his trousers and her hands slid underneath it, running over the planes of his chest.
"Someone can walk in" She moaned as his fingers touched her bosoms from over the blouse.
"Then we should make this quick" He replied hoarsely, guiding her hands to his trousers.
"You're very demanding, laad governor" She said but did not waste a second as she unbuckled his belt and reached for the zip.
"Should've thought about that before you married me" He replied and then cursed as her hand brushed against his aching need.
He quickly undid her sari before she could do or say anything else.
Silence fell into the room for a second as Arnav stared at her half dressed body and she at his.
Then they leaped upon each other, letting the shyness and hesitation jump out the window as they claimed each other once again.
**
Abhay had been trying to catch Anjali's gaze ever since she walked back into the house with Payal but it seemed as though she was purposely avoiding looking at him.
Strange! He thought.
After Nani had asked her about the check up and details Abhay was going to ask her why she hadn't waited for him but it was like she could sense his question. Even before he could ask she excused herself saying she had to go and change.
Abhay swallowed back the words and stared after her. He couldn't help but feel hurt at her cold behaviour.
Minutes ticked by and there was no sign of Anjali. Abhay decided he should leave. He didn't want to impose himself on her.
As he asked Naniji to take his leave, the elderly woman admonished him saying he could not go back without having lunch.
So, he stayed.
Arnav and Khushi walked towards the dining table after everyone had already settled and Khushi looked pink in the face for some reason.
Abhay couldn't help but feel happy for his friend as the newly wed couple kept stealing glances at each other.
Lunch was served and it was then Arnav asked where Anjali was.
She still had to come down.
Khushi offered to go and bring her but heaven knows what struck Abhay as he cut in and said he'll go and ask her to come.
Arnav frowned at that but the damage was done.
Abhay looked at everyone's face and it was only Khushi who looked at him with that knowing glance which he didn't understand what was for.
He slowly left the table and walked towards Anjali's room. He didn't know why he felt nervous.
He knocked and found that the door was open.
He walked in.
Anjali was sitting on her bed looking through an album.
A pang of jealousy hit Abhay in the face as he noticed she was looking at her wedding pictures.
He coughed to let his presence known but he was pretty sure Anjali already knew he was there. But she didn't look up.
"You should come out and eat. Everyone's waiting at the table" He said. She nodded and closed the album.
He turned to leave but then he stopped.
"Why did you went with Payal for the appointment? I told you I'll take you" He didn't know how the words left his mouth but suddenly he was angry at her.
She looked up at him, finally. Really looked at him.
"I don't need you in my life to help me with every little thing, Abhay" She answered, not breaking his gaze and he nodded.
"I thought friends help friends but clearly I was wrong" He replied.
"Thank you for being around these past few days. But, I do not need a friend anymore. Thank you, but no thank you" She answered, now her back at him.
"Why?" He asked.
"I told you why. I don't need someone's pity" She answered.
"Now let's go. Everyone must be waiting.." She turned on her heels and started walking towards the door but Abhay caught her elbow.
"I don't pity you, Anjali" He said in a voice that made her look into his eyes and search.
"Then, why?" She asked.
"Why do you care?" She asked again and he let her go. Stepped back.
"If only I knew that myself" Abhay whispered out loud and further backed away, striding out of the room. Anjali stared after him.
**
Arnav stood unmoving where he stood, baffled by what he had witnessed from the open doorway. He had come after Abhay to check on them as it was late but what he saw and heard left him surprised.
He stood there and Abhay stopped when he saw him. The two men looked at each other in utter silence and then Abhay walked away.
Arnav tightened his fists and looked at the retreating figure of Abhay who was now walking out of the hall instead towards the dining table.
Good. Thought Arnav as he dared a glance at his sister who still stood in her room looking destitute, unaware of Arnav's presence.
Arnav swallowed back all his words and emotions as he walked back to the table where his wife waited.
**
After the lunch was done Khushi offered to clear the table and asked Payal and Anjali to go and rest. Anjali merely nodded and stood up. Akash helped her and escorted her to the room.
Everyone retired to their rooms and Khushi had noticed during the lunch that Arnav looked distracted. She decided she'll ask him about it once she was done in the kitchen.
Another thing that caught her attention was how Abhay had abruptly left the house without any explanation whatsoever. Naniji had even called after him but he was long gone. Khushi wondered what could have happened in the room as she finished putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
HP requested her to go and rest and that he would manage the rest of the work and Khushi thanked him before leaving.
She walked back into her room and found Arnav sitting on the bed, working on his laptop.
She too got into the bed sitting close to him and he gave her a small smile followed by a quick kiss on the forehead before he got busy again.
She exhaled and wrapped one arm against his torso, looking at the screen where he typed non stop.
"Arnavji?" She asked, trying to read whatever he was typing but his speed was way too fast for her to read.
"Hmm?" He responded, still typing.
"You look sexy when you are immersed in work" She replied, biting her lower lip.
She felt his shoulders shake as he laughed softly and looked at her.
"After all that we have done together in this room, on this bed, against that wall, my work is what you find sexy? I think I am offended" He replied, flicking her nose with his.
"Nooo.. I mean..." She blushed and he enjoyed the look on her face.
"I mean I like it when your eyebrows are set in concentration and your eyes are fixed on the screen and you keep typing without even looking at the keys. I think that's sexy" She replied, her eyes looking at his fingers with awe.
"You know what I find sexy?" He asked in return.
She shook her head in response.
"You. When your eyes go wide and your lips form that perfect 'O'? That is sexy as hell" He answered and she blushed some more, scooting closer to him.
Arnav placed the laptop away and both of them sat in silence for a few minutes as Arnav combed her hair with his fingers and she counted his heartbeats, her head resting against his chest.
"You looked a little distracted during the lunch, Arnavji" She said in a slow voice.
Not a question. Arnav noticed. Nothing misses her eye, he wondered as he continued running his fingers through her silky strands.
"Yeah. I was thinking exactly how I should show you this" He replied a moment later, reaching for the envelope which now rested on the headboard of the bed.
"What is it?" She asked when he handed it to her.
"Open it and see for yourself" He replied, trying not to feel too bad about withholding the real reason behind his worries. He decided he would tell her once he knew himself for sure what actually was going on.
He knew Abhay was her friend and saying anything against him would only hurt her. So, he would first talk to Abhay and once he had enough knowledge of the situation, he would tell Khushi.
He watched Khushi's face as she eagerly opened the envelope and he couldn't help but laugh again as her eyes widened and her lips rounded to form the 'O'.
"Tickets to Venice?" She looked up at him.
"Yes. Our Honeymoon destination" He answered, finally feeling light and happy.
"Honey-Moon" Khushi repeated the words like she was in daze and then a smile broke upon her lips.
"I have never travelled in an airplane" She confessed.
"Now you will. With me" He answered and placed a quick kiss on her parted lips.
"This is so..Thank You, Arnavji" She squealed and hugged him closer and Arnav felt her excitement buzzing in his head as well.
"I love you, Khushi" He repeated in her ears and she nodded, too overwhelmed to reply and Arnav's heart grew double in size as he realised just how happy she was by such a small gesture.
He felt a pang of emotion and buried his face in her hair.
She was here, with him. And he will never let her go. Never. He told himself.
________________________
Hello friends,
Thanks a lot for reading the previous chapter and leaving your comments. I really hadn't expected that so many of you were still interested in reading this story. I am really happy to see you guys here.
This was the second last chapter of AAO. The next chapter will be more like an epilogue where the story will finally wrap up. Thank you for your patience. 😳
PS:It is really good to be back. Thank you for the welcome messages. I love you guys. ❤️
comment:
p_commentcount