ARSHI FF: COLOUR ME IN LOVE : PART 50 11/10/19 PG.82 - Page 55

So, is there a mole in Raizada resources and security ? How is it that all his information has reached his enemy, who seems to be in hibernation, yet plotting his revenge well...

Who is this person who was trading the info?

Now, I am loving the way Arnav and Khushi’s relationship is shaping, will this anniversary prep make them take the inevitable leap...?

Amazing story. Your writing is entertaining. Your Arnav and Khushi got me hooked completely. This fiction didn't have any fillers till now, Awesome. Superb work.

Hi dear when are going to update next chapter as it’s been more than a month since you last updated.

COLOUR ME IN LOVE: PART 50

The clouds were ominously grey, hanging over the city with easy dread, forcing people to hurry along in a bid to get home before they opened up and drenched the city. The howling wind outside was encouragement enough to force everyone to get a move on.

However,none of what was going on on the streets below interested Arnav as he stared broodingly out of his high rise office. To say he was confused would be an understatement. It had been a while since he felt so at a loss on what to do, or how to attack a situation and force a favorable outcome. The last time he tried it, he almost lost everything in the gamble of life. It was sheer providence that had saved him from divorce court. Now though….? What in the world happened to his wife?

Khushi was pulling away from him again, and he had no idea why. He had tried to askher what the matter was but she had declined to answer. It was like he was inan alternate universe where all the progress they had made didn’t happen atall. It seemed she was slipping back into her old reserved self, only thistime, she was perfectly fine and didn’t need him at all.

Sighingheavily, he ran his hand over his hair, turning to glance at the clock. It wasnow almost 5pm, but the urge he usually had to go home was just not there. He’dbeen on eggshells for a week and his patience was running low. He was not usedto pussyfooting around anything and he would be damned if he started now. Ifhe’d done something to offend her, the least she could do was tell him. It’snot like they were kids and resorting to the silent treatment would getanything solved. But then again, this was Khushi. There was no telling how shewould react to his being firm in finding out why she was suddenly giving himthe cold shoulder.

Therewas a knock on the door, effectively pulling him out of his gloomy reverie,“Come in.”

TheLiason contact from the Security Company he hired to watch their backs and digout every bit of information they could about Nahar and his minions, walked in.

“Mr Raizada,” he said by way of greeting.

“’Evening Gaurav. Please sit,” he said, going to take his own sit behind his desk, “So where are we now?”

“We still have nothing out of the ordinary to report, but in my expert opinion, I think this is the calm before the storm.”

Arnav grunted in agreement, because he had that niggling feeling that chess pieces were being moved around, but they were still in the dark as to what move their enemy was about to make.

“There have been no sightings of Nahar Verma,” Gaurav continued, “but I would still recommend we stay on high alert.”

“That goes without saying,” Arnav said dismissively, “I need results Gaurav. This man should be behind bars by now. I do not trust the Police as far as I can spit.There are moles in their ranks and I will be damned if I let any harm befall my family because of their ineptitude.”

Gaurav nodded in agreement, “We’ll keep round the clock surveillance of the house and offices. We’ll swap out the security details at the house and with your in-laws. This is precautionary so they don’t get made, but we’ll keep your personal details and that of your wife the same. We don’t want to make any sudden moves to spook them.”

“That makes sense, but I would like to meet each and every one of the new hands, and I would like to have them independently vetted,” Arnav said.

“Fairenough,” Gaurav said, rising, “I’ll take my leave now sir. You have a niceday.”

Shakinghis hand, Arnav nodded as the other man exited his office. No sooner had theman left than he returned to brooding. He’d long given up any pretense ofworking, as thoughts of Khushi plagued him nonstop.

Whatwas her deal now? How could she suddenly start blowing cold as if they hadnever made any progress in their relationship? Frankly he’d had enough, hethought, coming to a decision. Grabbing his keys off the table, he pushed thebutton for Aman to be put on alert that he was leaving.

…………………………………………………………….

Khushisat pensively staring into space as she kneaded dough for a pie crust. Shewondered if it was the right thing they were doing or if it was taking thingstoo far. It was not like she didn’t enjoy a good laugh every now and then, butas things stood, it seemed they were pushing their luck. She would have tospeak to the rest of the family. It didn’t help that everyone was so gung-ho about the stunt they were pulling…she just had a bad feeling about it, but what could she do? Her reservations fell on deaf ears.

She would have to put a stop to it. She had come to know one thing about her husband. He didn’t take kindly to being yanked around, and this was on a magnitude all its own. They needed to stop before someone got hurt.

“What are you thinking about so seriously?” Masi asked, turning from stirring a bubbling pot of stew.

“Masi…”she began hesitantly, “I have been meaning to tell you all…I just…I can’t continue with this game anymore.”

“What game?” Masi was confused.

“The one I’ve been co-opted to play with Arnav.”

“Oh that!” Masi said waving her away, “It will be fine. Besides, he will be grateful in the end. You’ll see.”

“Masi,all I see is a man who is fast getting desperate, and desperate men do desperate things.”

“Oh don’t be so filmi,” Masi waved the spoon at her.

“Me?! Filmi?!” Khushi cried incredulously, “It’s Anjali Di who’s filmi! I’m not theone who thought up this harebrained plan! What, you think I have a death wish?That husband of mine is as scary as they come and I really think we need torethink this.”

“Rethinkwhat?”

Bothwomen gasped, turning toward the doorway in which an imposing Arnav stood, hisshrewd eyes travelling between Masi and Khushi.

“Arnav,you’re home,” Khushi said unnecessarily, throwing Masi a wary glance.

“Soit would seem,” he said, stepping into the kitchen and focusing on her, “Whatare you rethinking Khushi?”

“Oher…well nothing really,” she said flippantly, knowing full well he could seethe lie she was telling for what it was, “It’s nothing…really,” she finishedlamely, unable to meet his eyes.

Hestared hard at her, his eyes almost hidden by the play of lights and his longlashes. After what seemed like an eternity of Khushi squirming under his intensegaze, he nodded and turned on his heels.

“I’llbe in the bedroom,” he said curtly, turning to walk away without a backward glance.

“I will…meet you there in a bit,” she stammered, relieved that he had stopped with the twenty questions. She turned concerned eyes on Masi, “See what I mean?”

“Mmm”Masi agreed, pensively watching Arnav’s retreating back, “Perhaps you’re right.He does seem rather tense.”

“Masi please help me with the dough. I have to at least go upstairs,” she said,tossing the apron aside and going to wash her hands.

Once upstairs, she cautiously approached the door, taking a calming breath before pushing it open to find Arnav emerging from the closet, having changed into a pair of khaki pants and tennis shirt. A scowl flitted across his face.

“Bad day?” she asked tentatively.

He made a noncommittal sound and went to his briefcase to pull out a few files.She went quietly to the bed and picked up his discarded jacket.

“Leave it,” he bit out, not looking at her.

“It’s no big deal,” she said softly, “I’ll just…”

“I said leave it,” he said, his tone taking on an edge.

“But Arnav,” she said in confusion, “It’s just…”

Before she completed the thought, he snatched it from her hand and tossed it back on the bed, “I can clean up after myself just fine. You don’t need to bother about it.”

“What are you so mad about?” she asked softly, watching the hard set of his jaw as he went back to sorting files.

“Are you serious?” he asked, fixing her with a scathing stare, “I should be asking you what game you’re playing Khushi.”

“G…Game?”she blanched under his intense stare, “I’m not playing any games.”

“Really?”he asked, tossing the files and giving up the pretense of being busy, “What would you call what you’ve been doing the last few days? What is it with you anyway? One minute you blow hot and I think finally, finally we’re making progress. Next thing you’re blowing as cold as the arctic ice, and I can’t for the life of me figure out what I could possibly have said or done to cause that about-face. So I’ll ask you again Khushi,” he said, coming to stand in front of her, pinning her with an intense gaze, “What game are you playing?”

Her once endearing imitation of a fish out of water with her mouth opening and closing in confusion that would normally amuse him, just served to piss himoff.

“You know what Khushi, don’t answer that. Because I think you have no concept of what you want out of life any more. I once told you Khushi, this is me. You get the good along with the bad. If this is too much for you, then please take the time you need to make up your mind and let me know your decision, because I’m done being yanked around, and tiptoeing around your sensitivity, only for you to make decisions about our lives without my input.”

The snort that escaped Khushi was out before she realized the sound had left her,but then she raised defiant eyes to his raised brow.

“Believe me, the irony of that statement does not escape me, but I chose to believe we were past that,” he snatched up the files and turned to the door, “Excuse me.”

Khushi didn’t know what to say…well what could she say? He wasn’t to blame for what he was feeling. Anjali Di was, she thought, and so was she for going along with it. Rising to her feet, she went in the direction of Anjali’s room.

“Didi?”she called, knocking on their door.

“Coming Khushi!” Anjali called, before swinging the door open with a flourish, “Bhabhi darling, what can I do for you?”

She was about to lay into Anjali before she turned around and saw Arnav’s dark gaze trained on both of them as he stood at the bottom of the stairs. Grabbing Anjali’s hand, she shepherded her back into the room, closing the door loudly behind them.

“Khushi,what’s the matter?” Anjali asked, concerned about the look on Khushi’s face.

“I know this plan of yours sounded good when you first thought it up, and knowing your brother the way I do I also think I was crazy to go along with this plan,but we have to stop it.”

“What?!”Anjali was incredulous, “Stop the plan? No way! We’re almost there luv. Its four days to your anniversary. Stopping now would ruin everything.”

“It’s ruining it now!” Khushi cried, “I just got an earful from Arnav because he thinks I’m suddenly confused as to whether or not I want to be married to him.”

“My dear, that’s what makes it even better. Let him jump through a few hoops…”

“He’s been jumping all year Di,” Khushi said dryly, looking at her dubiously, “And I think you’re enjoying this a little too much.”

Anjali waved her off, “That is of no issue. Listen to me dear, just hang in there. My brother will no doubt appreciate you all the more when he realizes why you pulled this elaborate stunt. I mean…it’s not like you can go ask him to give you some space, or even let you move to Payal’s for a bit. He’ll push himself into everything that concerns you and make it that much harder for us to pull off the grand plan. Just hang in there for a few more days, please?”

Khushi still looked worried as Anjali hugged her and pushed her toward the door. Arnav no doubt knew their Anniversary was this week, and her keeping him at arm’s length was no doubt pissing him off more than he cared to admit, but in all honesty, she loved Anjali’s idea a whole lot, but was its actualization worth losing Arnav over? I mean the man could jump to conclusions faster than a mad scientist!

“I hope this doesn’t come back to bite us,” she said to Anjali, “I don’t want to risk losing what we’ve built over that last few months over this. He’s deeply hurt Di.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him to calm things down. My brother never liked surprises,but I’m guessing this one, he’ll love. Especially as it has to do with the love of his life,” Anjali winked at her, causing Khushi to blush, “Now go make him dinner. I’ll be down shortly, okay?”

Khushi nodded and began to make her way downstairs somewhat reassured. A while later when the table was set and they’d all gathered.

“Khushi,where’s Arnav?” Shyam asked, “He left the office before me but I don’t see him anywhere.”

“Perhaps he’s back in the room,” she suggested.

“No,I checked. Not in the Study too,” he continued.

“I’ll go check,” she said, wiping her hands and heading up the stairs. Pushing open their room door, she glanced around, fully expecting to see him. He wasn’t there. “Arnav?” she called, going to check the closet, bathroom, balcony, no sign of him. She headed back downstairs to the Study, still not finding him there. She looked through the window to his garden and he still wasn’t there.

Cold dread crept up her spine as she made her way back to the table, a dumbfounded expression on her face.

“Did you find him?” Shyam queried.

“No,”she said softly, “I don’t think he’s home.”

Anjali who was in the process of dishing food into Shyam’s plate paused, “Did he mention he was going back out?”

Khushi shook her head in denial, a meaningful look in her eyes as she stared back at Anjali. “I…I’ll go call him up.”

“Oh dear,” Anjali said softly.

Upstairs,she dialed his number and it rang out. She called him three times before he finally picked up.

“Yes?”

His caustic tone gave her pause, “You didn’t tell me you were going out,” she said softly, deciding not to antagonize him.

“Something came up. Don’t wait up for me,” he said, and he hung up again.

Khushi stared at her phone for long minutes before setting it aside. This was what she had tried to avoid. She knew this much about Arnav. He was removing himself from the situation even though there was none…but he didn’t know that. She wasn’t even sure how long she had sat there, because Anjali came up with a tray of food.

“Khushi dear, you didn’t come back down so I brought something up for you,” Anjali said brightly, clearly trying to ignore Khushi’s sullen face, “Come now, the food will get cold.”

Khushi didn’t make a move or respond, deep in thought.

“He just …left,” she said.

Anjali sighed, “That’s what he does. Don’t bother yourself about it. He’ll be home soon enough, and then I’ll pull his ear for making you worry. Besides, Dadi arrives tomorrow from Haridwar and we can at least depend on her to keep him inline.”

“No one keeps Arnav Singh Raizada in line,” Khushi said immediately, before blushing profusely at Anjali’s teasing gaze.

“Trust me Bhabhi, it will be fine. My brother is just throwing a tantrum. He’ll be back and it’ll all be over before you know it, mmm?”

Khushi gave her an uncertain smile, but said nothing otherwise. She wasn’t so sure the storm that was Arnav could so easily be reasoned with. He was just warming up from what she could tell.

“I’ll leave this for you, but make sure to eat something,” Anjali warned.

“Will do,” Khushi nodded, as Anjali left.

………………………………………………………..

Arnav stood over his wife’s sleeping form, deep in thought. He had returned sometime past 2am, to find her curled on her side of the bed, an obviously untouched plate of food beside her on her dresser. She didn’t have dinner. He’d done nothing but drive around for hours, no destination in mind. But considering the fact that she would rather speak to Anjali than him about whatever was bothering her, he’d needed to put some distance between them before he did something he couldn’t take back.

He’d overheard the tail end of her conversation with Masi about him being scary and them having to rethink things. He thought he had proved to her that she had nothing to fear from him. So what had he done to make her think he could further or anyone she cared about? Had he not gone above and beyond to show her how he felt about her? How many more ways did he have to express his love? Would she even recognize it for what it was if she couldn’t see it even now?

His mind wandered back to all the times they’d spent together ….it couldn’t all have gone the way of the wind without a reason. So what was it? Did she suddenly have second thoughts because their Anniversary was around the corner?Was it the disaster of how they got married that was plaguing her? If that was it, couldn’t she talk to him about it? Why was she more comfortable with Anjali?

Damn it Khushi, he thought tiredly, you should know I would do anything for you.What happened to make you mistrust me all of a sudden?

The next morning, Khushi woke up to an empty bed. Arnav’s side of the bed hadn’t been slept in. Hurrying into the bathroom, she freshened up and made her way downstairs, hoping to catch him before he left. Forget the Grand Plan, she was ending this now. Anjali would just have to get over it.

“Morning Khushi,” Shyam greeted, “I see you slept well.”

She smiled noncommittally, asking instead, “Has Arnav already left for the office?I was hoping to catch him before he left,” she added at Shyam’s curious gaze.

“I’m afraid he left almost at the crack of dawn,” Shyam said, taking in her crestfallen face, “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine,” she said, turning and all but fleeing back upstairs.

“Oh Khushi good….”

She didn’t stop to respond to Anjali’s greeting as she hurried past her up the stairs, causing even Anjali to start to worry.

“What’s going on with her and Arnav?” Shyam asked, “I know he came home pretty late and left first thing this morning. Did they have an argument?”

Sighing Anjali sat beside her husband, “Yes, and I think it’s all my fault.”

“You rfault? What did you do?”

“You know their Anniversary is coming up? And we…well I…” she corrected herself,“Wanted to do something special for their day. So I convinced Khushi to give him some space…much like a mini period of separation, but knowing Arnav, you can’t just ask for space as he won’t give it. So…”

“Hold on. Separation?”

“Not how you think,” Anjali hedged, “I just wanted that they maintain a respectable distance until the Anniversary.”

“For what purpose?” Shyam asked incredulously.

Anjali looked at him guiltily, “We wanted to get them remarried…properly this time.”

“And you had to separate them to do that?” Shyam queried.

Anjali stared at her husband, “Well you put it that way…”

“Anjali you know your brother. He doesn’t take kindly to things like this.” Again she looked guiltily at her husband, “Oh no. Anjali what did you do?”

“Arnav….doesn’t know about it,” she said.

“Wait…you’re planning his wedding without his knowledge?”

“Surprise,”she said, with a guilty shrug of her shoulders.

Shyam sat back regarding his wife in wonder, “And Khushi agreed to it?”

“I convinced her, though she didn’t want to do it.”

“I wonder why,” he said throwing up his hands.

“Don’t be like that my love,” she said with a pout, “I was going to ask for your advice…”

“Oh now you want my advice?” he said, “I would have told you to leave well alone.”

Anjali fell silent, obviously hurt at his disapproval. “You make it sound like I was out to hurt them.”

“My dear this does hurt them,” he said, softening his tone, “I know your heart is in the right place but the execution is all wrong. You know how your brother is. When he can’t figure something out, he’d rather take it out with a sledgehammer than chisel away at it till he gets an answer. I’m even surprised he’s held out this long before reacting.”

“He loves her,” Anjali said simply, “He won’t do anything to hurt her.”

“You should have told him.”

“He forced her last time. I wanted it to be about her this time.”

“Ah….you’re punishing him?”

Anjali smiled mischievously, “Only a little. But it’s all for the greater good. This time it will be consensual, and they will make new memories far removed from the debacle of last year.”

“I’ll talk to him when I get into the office,” Shyam said on a sigh, understanding where his wife was coming from.

“Thank you darling!” she hugged him.

“But what else have you got planned?.”

Anjali’s excitement returned full force as she relayed the details of the small but intimate ceremony planned in the next two days.

“Will Khushi be alright?”

He asked.

“Do you mind talking to her? I think it would make her feel better about everything,” Anjali implored.

“No problem,” he said, dropping a kiss to his wife’s forehead as he headed up the stairs. He found Khushi sitting on her favorite window seat, staring listlessly onto the garden below. “Khushi?”

She stood immediately, surprise at seeing him registering on her face, “Jija-ji did you want something?”

“Please sit Khushi,” he said, sitting beside her, “So I hear from Anjali another wedding is in the works? This time you will be the one calling the shots.”

A small laugh escaped Khushi at the comical way Shyam had summed it up, before she sobered again, “That is if the groom doesn’t disappear before said day.”

“As I told Anjali, you women should have involved us from the start. Your husband is not the average man Khushi. He deals with things differently.”

“Don’t I know it,” she muttered.

“So it appears Akash and I will have our work cut out for us managing Arnav, but I promise you all will be well. Okay?”

Khushi nodded in agreement, offering a hopeful smile at his intervention.

“I’ll be on my way.”

“Have a wonderful day.”

“You too.”

………………………………………………………………….

It was later that evening and it was a full house. Akash and Payal were present as were Ajay and Dia. Dinner had been served and it was a noisy affair as always. Khushi had been in her element, laughing, teasing and joking, much to Arnav’s chagrin. He often glanced at Shyam who gave him a ‘patience’ sign as he looked thoroughly pissed over her completely ignoring him.

After dinner, they subconsciously broke into groups, Khushi, Dia and Payal disappearing into her bedroom while the men sat down to discuss business and whatnot.

“So,”Payal said, plopping down on the futon attached to the bed, “How’s the plan going?”

“Horrible,”was Khushi’s immediate response, “I swear sometimes I think Anjali Di is trying to end my marriage.”

Dia laughed, “And to think this was a marriage you didn’t want in the beginning.”

“The fault lies with both you and that husband of mine,” she said, giving Dia the eye.

“But admit it Di,” Payal said, “There was always something there from the moment you two met.”

Khushi looked surprised for a bit, then a blush crept over her face, “I suppose you’re right Payal,”she conceded, “I mean….I’d been with one man for years, was ready to settle down, and then this…this man, shows up out of the blue and I have to fight to remember I’m in a relationship.”

“I hear you on that,” Dia said, “Even I would have gone down that road had I not realized that as soon as he saw you, he was a goner.”

“What?”Khushi scoffed incredulously, “That is so not true.”

“That is so true,” Dia insisted, “You should have seen him the moment he saw you. You were watching Payal dance at the older Rathore’s wedding. He was watching you watch her.”

“How do you know that?” Khushi queried.

“Because I was watching him watch you,” Dia said with a shrug, “That man had it bad. I don’t think he realized it until he found out you were engaged.”

Khushi stared at Dia for a bit, “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything Di. You’re where you’re meant to be, about to celebrate your first Anniversary, and that makes me giddy with joy!” she hugged a blushing Khushi hard.

“Which reminds me,” she pulled back from Dia, “Have you and Ajay fixed a date yet?”

Dia groaned, “Please don’t start with that. I’m the one to agree right? I’ll get to it when I do,” she said, “In the meantime, let’s put the final touches on your second Wedding Day.”

“Yeah,I mean we don’t have enough time. Akash was upset we didn’t loop him in from the get-go,” Payal said, “He and Shyam bhai have been running interference all day.That husband of yours is such a stubborn man. They literally had to drag him home today.”

“Well it’ll all be over in two days, and we can all heave a sigh of relief,” Dia said.

“Where is Dadi by the way?” Payal asked.

“Flight from Dehradun was cancelled so she’ll be arriving in the afternoon tomorrow,”Khushi supplied.

“That’s settled,” she said, “So where’s the suhaag raat going to be? Back at the Hotel like last time, or coming home?”

“I think you should come home,”Dia said, “Everyone else can stay at the hotel or better yet, go to the Farm House.”

“Arnav will be concerned about ….”

“I think he will be more concerned with undressing his wife finally,” Dia said, cutting off whatever Khushi was about to say.

“Oh!You are so vile!” Khushi exclaimed, her face aflame in embarrassment as she chucked a pillow at Dia.

“I for one, cannot wait to be the one teasing you about your first night,” Payal said, “I nearly passed out from all her teasing.”

“WellI just might surprise you two,” she said, a sassy smile curing her lips, “Alack of experience doesn’t always mean a lack of knowledge.”

“You don’t say,” Dia perked up, “Pray tell, what intel have you gathered about first times?”

Khushi cleared her throat, “I will have you know, that the internet is your bestfriend. There’s all kinds of…” she paused, giving them a wicked smile. “…stuff on there that are both exciting, and cringe-worthy.”

“Didi,”Payal pulled her on to the bed, obvious surprised-excitement at seeing this side of Khushi, “Please tell me you haven’t been watching adult movies.”

“Huh?”Khushi frowned, then as comprehension dawned, she smacked Payal’s arm, “That’s disgusting!”

“I had to ask!” Payal cried, laughing as she rubbed at her arm, “I have to say I am liking this new you!”

“Okay,so let’s play make believe,” Dia said, pulling Khushi up, “Say I am your dashing husband, and I come through the door, intent on pleasuring my beautiful wife. What do you do?”

Khushi grabbed her dupatta off the bed and draped it over her head, schooling her face into a sultry look, and sashayed over to Dia.

“First of all, I would look him in the eye, because I think my husband would be that kind of man,” she added as an aside, “And I would say ‘my dear husband, here I am. Take me!’”

Payal and Dia squealed in shocked excitement at her dramatic declaration, “Didi what are you saying?!” Payal cried, laughing at Khushi’s antics.

“Ravish me!” Khushi grabbed Dia by her shoulders, schooling her features into what she hoped was a sultry look and declaring, “I’m about to rock your world!’”

All three women screamed, Payal and Dia falling on the bed and laughing hard while Khushi covered her face with her dupatta to muffle her laughter.

“Oh my goodness Didi, I don’t know what has come over you, but I like it!” Dia said around fits of laughter.

“I wish I could see his face if this were to truly happen,” Payal said, wiping at her eyes, “It would be priceless!”

“You think I can’t do it?” Khushi sassed.

“I know you can’t,” Dia said, emphatically, “but I’ll give you an A for effort.”

“Want to bet?”

“You’re on,” Payal said, “But how do we know if you really do it?”

“Yeah.It’s not like we can go ask Jija-dearest how his darling wife asked him to ravish her,” Dia added.

“Oh you crazy, crazy people!” Khushi threw a pillow at both her sisters who were again laughing, but wasted no time in retaliating, catching Khushi square in the face and abdomen, “Oh you’re going to pay for that.”

Soon all three were screaming and running around the room in a free-for-all pillow fight. So engrossed were they that they didn’t hear the door open until Khushiin a bid to escape Dia, barreled into a confused looking Arnav who had just entered the room.

“Ooof!”she gasped as he caught her, holding her to himself before she could fall.“Arnav?”

“Khushi?”he queried, looking from Payal to Dia, and back to her again.

“Umm…we were just…umm...” She glanced helplessly at Dia who was a few feet behind her.

“Just what?” he asked again.

“Yeah Didi,” Payal taunted, “Tell him exactly what we were just doing.”

Khushi looked back at a curious Arnav and said, “We were….practicing.”

“Practicing?”he looked at her dubiously.

“Yes,”she said, trying to wriggle out of his embrace but he held fast.

“Practicing what exactly?” he asked, noting the other women giggling uncontrollably at their exchange.

“Arnav let me go,” she whispered, glaring over her shoulder at the others.

“Now why would I want to do that?” he asked just as softly, forcing her alarmed eyes back to him.

“What do you mean?” she asked, renewing her efforts to disengage from him.

“You’ve been avoiding me for days,” he said, tucking her hair behind her ear with his free hand, “Now I find you…. practicing,” he said softly.

“Arnav!”she bit out again, her face going a shade redder than before. He made the word sound so….so dirty.

“Jija-ji,”Payal said, smiling mischievously, “You should know that whatever Di was or wasn’t practicing, is all about you.”

“Is that right?” he turned, raising amused brows at Khushi, “Now I really have to know what you were …practicing.”

Embarrassment gave way to anger which emboldened her a bit, “You want to know?”

“Absolutely,”his lips quirked at the corner, daring her to run.

“Really?”she asked, and he shrugged in obvious enjoyment of her predicament.

That look, combined with her sisters snickering behind her, emboldened her to give a fitting reply to all three of them. Without stopping to think, she grabbed his shirt collar and pulling him down to her and fastening her lips on his, taking in his very stunned expression, before letting her eyes flutter close.

“Oh my God!”

“Holy crap!”

TBC………………………

Loved the update. i hope they can pull off the surprise.

OMG!! Thanks so much for updating 🤗🤗🤗

How are you doing? Hope everything is going well in AD.

Coming to the update, I feel like smacking Anjali. What the hell is she thinking?! That is such an absurd plan. She knows that her brother and his wife's relation has already weathered several storms. Where is the "fun" element in keeping them separated? But I am glad that Khushi is finally able to make sense out of the situation. Poor Arnav! I felt so bad for him. He has suffered enough for his mistakes. It must have broken his heart to see Khushi ignore him and not trust him enough to talk about what was going on her mind.

Looks like Shyam has given Arnav a heads up, before he walked into the sisters' "practice" session. He is back to his flirting mood, and I like that. But the award for being the most spontaneous goes to Khushi "Kumari" Gupta. She is going to turn into a fully red tomato when she realizes what she just did, but what is Khushi if she doesn't rise to a challenge?😎

Looking forward to the remarriage. That is one thing I appreciate about Anjali's plan. I just wish she hadn't kept Arnav out of it. It's about time that Arnav & Khushi actually live the life of newly weds. We knew that Arnav always had his heart set on Khushi, but to hear it from her that she was also pulled towards him despite being engaged to another was heartwarming.

I hope Nahar doesn't raise his ugly head and spoil the celebrations. Now with Khushi by his side, Arnav will stop at nothing to ruin Nahar, if he as much as tries to touch Khushi's hair.

This is a wonderful story Ezther, and I love the narration. Thanks for continuing!

hahaha.....the end part was awesome.........earlier i was busy cursing Anjali for torturing Arnav so much............. poor Khushi......

I’m so happy that you are back with a new chapter,poor arnav has no idea why his wife is again avoiding him n is in delimma that may be she is thinking to be divorced but he is in for a big surprise,the naughty talk between sisters was hilarious n khusi in her anger kissed her husband.

You have updated!👏

I have seen roller coaster rides in a whole story or a relationship or a whole track. But you gave us a roller coaster ride of a chapter.

To tell you the truth, I was scratching my head to figure out the story, until Nahar was mentioned. Villains are not always bad and they can come in handy sometimes 😊. Then when I read it was Khushi's plan, I felt flabbergasted. What was she thinking? They just made some progress and it's all going to be wasted. But, as soon as she decided, she can't do it anymore and it is actually Anjali's plan, I can't tell you what I felt. I will come back to that later. The way Anjali behaved so nonchalant about Khushi's concerns, I wanted to smack her. Khushi had her heart at the right place. She knows it might backfire. She knows Arnav well. She was unconvinced and her concern for Arnav and vice versa made me smile.

I loved Shyam's wisdom. It looks like Khushi and Shyam know Arnav better than Anjali. When Arnav was doing all those wayward things, she could not do anything, but now when he was at his mellowed best, she unknowingly almost got them separated. Shyam was right when he said, her thought was good, but execution was not right.

The three sisters and their interactions, simply hilarious. I can't believe Dia and Payal thought they need to teach Khushi birds and bees. It looked like Payal and Dia were about reprimand Khusi for sneaking into sites which are prohibited for children. So damn hilarious.

Finally, poor Arnav, there are no half measures with him. His wife has caused enough grief in the whole chapter to unknowingly make it up with a kiss at the end. Was it their first kiss? Loved it.

Wonderful update and loved reading it.

Cheers......

Oh, I can't tell how much I missed the story....

Welcome back!!

And what an update it was ..Khushi kissing Arnav.....awwww...

Waiting to read more ..