OS: Be my Diwali Pataka

"Arnavji? Are you ready?" he heard her voice first and then saw her head, as she peeped into their bedroom, slowly pushing open the closed doors to check if her husband had got ready for the Lakshmi puja.

"Err… I think so." Arnav replied, looking at himself in the mirror, checking out the silver coloured Sherwani he was wearing for tonight. Urgh! He hated these traditional dresses, but Khushi had particularly insisted on him wearing the Sherwani for this joyous occasion. And ofcourse, he couldn't refuse it since his wife herself had gotten it stitched up for him.

"What do you mean you think so?" Khushi asked, annoyed that he still wasn't ready and pushed open the doors completely to step inside the room.

Arnav Singh Raizada turned around to face her, only to be left completely dazed at the sight before him.

His wife was standing before him, holding her hands on those flattering hips of hers, and wearing a deep red georgette saree embroidered with silver work all over it. His eyes slowly travelled upwards to her face, to find her pouting at him with those delicious pink lips and that was when he realised that she had picked up his outfit to match it with her saree.

Had he ever seen her so beautiful? What was it that suddenly made his heart gallop against the winds at one glimpse of her? Was it her shiny black tresses that lay over one side of her shoulder revealing the other? Or was it her creamy soft midriff that was visible through her semi-transparent saree? Or was it the way she blushed in his presence, the hue highlighting her cheeks and her innocence?

Whatever it was he couldn't figure it out.

The whole annoyance about wearing a sherwani that had been bothering him for the past hour vanished in an instant.

Damn! Why had his wife decided to join the other women in another room to change into this gorgeousness? Atleast, he would have helped her out in draping that thing and well, got some opportunities to run his hands on her.

Nevertheless, the day was not yet over and he wasn't going to rest tonight until he had a share of her.

"Arnavji, can I say something?" Khushi finally broke his spell as she slowly walked towards him.

"Yes." Arnav nodded with a smile.

"Why don't you wear sherwanis more often? You look quite good in it." Khushi continued, stopping right in front of him, as she put her hands over his neck and adjusted the collar.

"Only good?" Arnav asked, quirking his eyebrow while he grabbed her wrists filled with bangles, his mother's leading the whole bunch.

Khushi stared into those molten brown eyes, biting her lower lip in anxiousness at what his reaction would be to her reply, not realising the havoc that she was creating in his body with that one gesture of hers. Unable to meet his eyes, overcome with shyness she lowered her eyes, letting her other senses take over, as she inhaled his aftershave, letting his masculine scent envelop her.

"You look…" Khushi inhaled a deep breath as she gathered all her courage and once again, met those eager eyes awaiting her reply. "Handsome. Just like the prince charming of my dreams."

There, she had said it aloud, the first thing that had popped in her mind as she had stepped into the room and let her eyes scan her husband.

And then, she felt it.

The dhak- dhak.

And she was sure, she would faint right there, if it hadn't been for him holding her arms.

Arnav smirked at her, his heart actually doing a tango, hearing his wife praise him for the first time.

Carefully lifting her one hand, he pushed down the bangles to reveal her wrist, the point where her pulse throbbed against her skin and continuing to gaze into those shy hazel eyes, he placed a soft feathery kiss on it, doing the same with the other hand.

"And you look beautiful too." He whispered, leaning closer to her ears, as he carefully glided his one arm over her waist through her saree and suddenly pulled her flush against his chest, giving her no time to react to the assault.

Khushi felt like her heart had stopped for the entire minute, as his lips brushed her ears and traced her jaw. That husky voice was enough to make her knees jelly. Hey Devi Maiyya! Why did she have to open her mouth now? It was time for the Puja and here she was, all flushed up in her husband's arms.

"Arnavv…" she stammered, the 'ji' part of his name, simply drying up in her throat.

"Hmm?" he hummed in the most sensuous way possible, tracing his finger mischievously on the hem of her saree draped on her waist. He simply loved the effect he was having on her and he loved to see her getting worked up like this.

"Everyone… is… waiting for us." She managed to complete, gulping down the last part, trying to free herself from his arms. But she couldn't even budge an inch against his strong grip.

"But I'm waiting for you." He replied, as he bent forward his forehead to lean against hers.

Khushi closed her eyes, unable to bear that heat and desire in his eyes, and she realised that if she didn't put an end to this immediately, all her plans for the puja would be flop. And the most horrifying thought that crossed her mind was that of their family members coming up in search of them and realising what they were upto.

No, that would earn a year of embarrassment until the next Diwali. No, she had to put an end to this as soon as possible.

Opening her eyes, she went ahead with the first solution that popped in her mind, and suddenly, pressed her lips on his cheek, hoping that he would be satisfied with this. "Happy Diwali." She smiled at him and immediately felt his hands loosen his grip at the unexpected kiss and grabbing the opportunity, she pulled herself away from him.

That was smart of her, Arnav smiled back at her, a little bit upset at letting her go so easily. He hadn't been somehow expecting the quick yet sweet kiss. He had thought that his wife was too hypnotised by his charms to make a first move. But he was in a playful mood right now and there was no stopping him tonight. If she thought he would let go of her so easily, then she was wrong.

Khushi! talk! Say something! Anything that would distract him! Her mind screamed at her as she saw him prowling towards her.

"Patakas! Crackers!" Khushi screamed the first word that came on her tongue.

"What?" Arnav asked in an amused voice continuing to walk towards her.

"Arnavji… I wanted to burst crackers so badly. But then, I thought about the environment and decided not to pollute it." Khushi said, not realising the fact that with every step he took towards her, she stepped backwards.

"Yeah, good idea." Arnav nodded, as he tried to close up the distance between them. "But even I like Diwali Patakas." He continued with a wicked smile.

"Really?" Khushi asked with a confused voice, wondering from when did her husband like playing with crackers, not at all understanding the suggestive meaning behind his words. "But Arnavji, it's too late now. We didn't buy any patakas for tonight." She continued, eager to keep this conversation going. Atleast it was better than getting all flustered up in his arms.

Or so she thought, when her back suddenly collided with the wall behind her and she slowly realised that she had nowhere else to go.

With one quick stride, he was in front of her, blocking her sides with his two hefty arms.

Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada was once again trapped by him like a helpless prey trapped by a predator.

"So what?" Arnav asked, leaning forward, enjoying every bit of where this was heading to.

And Khushi felt her palms chill and her cheeks heat up at his mere closeness to her.

"Be my Diwali pataka for tonight." He whispered in her ears and Khushi felt her breath hitch as the impact of his words struck her, turning her tomato red.

And within a second, she was turned around, her back pressing against him, as he held her arms with both his hands and pinned it on the wall, above her head.

"Arnavvv.. ji!" Khushi bit her lower lip, unable to contain the excitement building within her any longer. She could feel his breath on her neck, as he carefully pushed aside her to reveal her back.

"Khushi…" he whispered, pressing his lips on her nape, inhaling the strawberry flavoured fragrance of her body wash.

"Chottey! Khushi!" they were suddenly interrupted by voices from downstairs and they knew their family was waiting for them.

"We have to go." Khushi struggled to free herself, but the more she struggled, the more she leaned onto his chest, arching herself against him.

"So will you be my pataka for tonight?" he asked, once again, nuzzling his nose against her ear, while he freed her one hand and using that free hand, began to trace a line down her bare back, ending at the dori of her blouse and playfully tugging its ends.

Hey Devi Maiyya! The word pataka itself sounded so sinful to her. And what was up with his fingers? Why did they ignite excitement in her every time he caressed her?

"Khushi?" he asked once again and she knew, he wouldn't let her go without an answer.

"Yes." She barely whispered and soon found herself spinning around to meet his eyes.

"Ok then. I'm sure you are going to love it when I make you explode." He winked at her and she suddenly pushed him away, blushing at the outrageousness of his words. Khushi tried to run away from the room, but instead found the pallu of her saree being pulled from behind her.

Hey Devi Maiyya! What more was about to come? Wasn't this enough?

She slowly looked back and saw him grinning at her, with his eyes lowered to the floor.

"Happy Diwali!" he said, slowly lifting his gaze as he walked towards her and offered his hand to her. "Let's go down together, shall we?"

Khushi hesitated for a minute, but then, slowly inched her hand towards his, and with one touch, found his fingers instantly entwining with hers.

What was it that made her for a minute, want to get away from him and yet, the next minute, drew her back to him like a moth to a flame?

Maybe that was love, she realised and smiling warmly at him, they both descended downstairs, hand in hand like they were always meant to be.