Once she stepped out, he let go of her hand as he closed the door behind her. Anjali, who was already waiting for them impatiently, waved them forward and then guided them towards where they were supposed to make the grand entry from.
The same round of compliments and wishes took a couple of minutes as Arnav and Khushi greeted their families and close friends.
"Okay. Your entrance! It's nothing too crazy...you two walk in, pause for a quick dance on the dance floor and then walk over to the stage. Not a slow dance though...save that for later. Just bust out some impromptu moves, yeah?" Anjali clapped her hands together excitedly.
"Anjali...you know I don't dance." Arnav frowned.
"Oh come on Bhaiyya!" his sister whined almost immediately. "It's just a small segment...we have the Dhol group on standby too! I swear it's a short segment!" Anjali pleaded with her brother.
"So you want me to make a fool of myself out there? Forget it. I don't dance." Arnav deadpanned.
"But Bhaiyya"" Anjali began but stopped when Khushi put a hand on her shoulder.
"If he doesn't want to, don't force him, Anjali." Khushi turned to look at Arnav and smiled. "Don't worry about it. We'll make a simple entry."
Before Anjali could argue further, the DJ announced for everyone's attention. She threw a dirty glare in Arnav's direction and then focused her annoyance on Khushi. Arnav and Khushi gladly ignored the glare and pretended to be paying attention to what the DJ was saying.
After a short speech over viewing the event, he announced for Khushi's parents to enter the venue. Applause and cheers sounded as they walked out from behind the hedge into the entrance tunnel.
Khushi felt the odd fluttering in her stomach return at the sound. This was like the engagement party all over again. Oh, how she hated being in a spotlight. For someone who had made countless presentations, she was oddly nervous through all these wedding ceremonies.
Next, Arnav's parents walked through the tunnel and Khushi felt the nervousness increase as her turn got closer. Devyani entered next flanked by Akash and Payal.
"Ugh...I can't believe you two are ruining what I had planned...and to make things worse, I have to make my entrance with this loser..." Anjali muttered crossly, adjusting the pins in her hair more securely.
"I'm not particularly fond of the idea either Miss Raizada, but if you wipe off that sourpuss expression from your face and smile instead, you might not ruin your brother's reception pictures." Aman smirked.
"Khushi! You're brother's being mean!" Anjali whined. Everyone was being mean. All of her plans were going down the drain tonight, apparently.
Khushi threw her a dirty look and then glared at Aman. "Bhai, stop it!"
"Just go!" Arnav groaned when the DJ announced their name, equally annoyed of their constant bickering.
"Oh god..." Khushi muttered once Aman and Anjali walked into the passage.
Reaching out, she held Arnav's upper arm for support, very aware of the fact that his eyes were set on her.
"Thank you for understanding about the whole entrance thing." Arnav shrugged apologetically.
"You shouldn't have to do what you really don't want to." Khushi shook her head, dismissing the topic. "Won't let me trip?" She gazed up at him expectantly.
Arnav smiled, recalling the same moment from the engagement that she was referring to. He snuggled his arm closer to his body, locking her slender hand between his arm and his torso.
"Never."
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for the newlywed couple, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada and Mrs. Khushi Gupta Singh Raizada."
The enthusiastic and welcoming cheers were twice as loud as Arnav led her into the entrance. Khushi took a couple of moments to take in her surroundings.
The tunnel she walked through was formed by a canopy of silky white drapes with chandeliers hung overhead at consistent intervals. The path she walked on was covered in white and red rose petals, filling the small enclosed area with the heady, summery aroma. Any trees in her view at the end of this fairytale tunnel were covered in fairy lights. Crisp off white table cloths with matching elegant white and red table settings took over the entire garden area.
She didn't even realize that her face was currently lit up brightly by a brilliant smile which had nothing to do with the spotlights that focused on the two beautiful people as they made their way towards the small makeshift stage at the farthest end of the garden.
Amidst all the smiling faces, two faces showed some traces of disappointment. Anjali, because they'd ruined her entrance plans. And Khushi's mother.
Khushi grimaced inwardly knowing that this time, her mother was disappointed because she hadn't dropped the Gupta' from her name. Khushi brushed off the sliver of worry realizing that once Garima figured out that Arnav wanted the same, she would be fine. Funny how with the traditional customs, your daughter's wishes never took precedence before the family's Damaad's wishes.
Aman gave them two thumbs up and Khushi raised her eyebrows in confusion. She was just about to look at Arnav to see what was going on when she felt him pry her hand off of his arm. With a smirk on his face, he took her hand in his and held it over her head, twirling her three times before pulled her a tad bit closer. The disbelief of the small surprise had Khushi in a bout of giggles which echoed in the depths his hazel eyes.
"You are so unreal..." Khushi muttered, looking up at him. Her statement was a compliment in every sense of the word. Sometimes she wondered whether this was a dream. She loved her brother to bits and even he had his flaws...so far, this man that she had married was a character right of a perfect love story novel!
With a small smirk playing at the corners of his lips, he lifted her left hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles briefly in a gesture of admiration. "Just trying to keep you entertained..."
Her hand still held delicately in his, he led her to the stage and sat her down on the love seat before taking his own seat next to her. Khushi's eyes scanned the crowd and all the smiling faces raised a wave of warmth which took over her being, brushing away the initial anxiety.
Anjali walked up onto the stage and blew a flying kiss in their direction before taking the microphone that someone offered to her.
"Good Evening everyone." She paused to ensure that she had the crowd's attention. "Thank you all for taking out the time to be a part of this joyous occasion for my family on this beautiful evening. Of course, marriages tend to be a happy event for everyone...okay, well...most people...Some, like me, would agree that marriage is an institution formed for some kind of psychological torture." Anjali corrected, earning a few chuckles here and there while Arnav simply rolled his eyes.
"For me...my Brother's wedding has brought me thrice the joy. Firstly because it is my brother's wedding! Secondly because it is my best friend, Khushi's wedding! I had never given it much thought but today I'm realizing how fast time flies. It seems like just yesterday that I was chasing my brother around on holi or bothering him while he tried to study his butt off to become a doctor! With Khushi, it seems like the two years I have known her were as long as a lifetime...simply because she loves and cares unconditionally...Only in the two years that I've known her, I was already making plans to somehow play the cupid in their life...so now that they're married, my third biggest reason to be happy is because it's one of my long cherished wishes come true!"
Aman's eyebrows raised higher up on his forehead as he watched Anjali become sentimental for the first time since he'd met her. The notion that this woman could be serious and mature was news to him. Pleasantly surprising news.
"Now of course...I need to warn you, Khushi, that my brother can be very irritable at times, he can be snappy, and he can be as moody as a pregnant woman who didn't get the item she was craving for. he's particularly picky about his coffee...don't you ever put a single molecule of sugar in it! Andplease, I beg you, do not touch his plants! he's as possessive and protective of them as he is of us. When we talk more, I'll tell you ways to calm him down and cheer him up and then finally, I'll show you where we lock him up when he becomes annoying..."
Arnav glared and rolled his eyes at his sister who smirked at him.
"but with all of that, I have to admit that he's kind, considerate, and and loving. We're all like his beloved plants to him. He burdens himself with the responsibility to take care of all of us...without thinking about himself...So I ask that from you...Please take care of him..." anjali's eyes brimmed with tears, as she looked at her brother, the strength of their bond obvious and pompous in the moment.
"Khushi...You have always been like a sister to me but today, I want to officially welcome you to our family...as my sister-in-law!" Anjali went on, smiling brightly at Khushi. "We promise that we'll love you enough so that you never have to miss your maternal family...we'll have enough fun to make your brother jealous...and I will be claiming enough of your time to make your husband jealous. And with that, I wish you both every joy in the world because amazing people like you two deserve every bit of it. I love you guys!"
Anjali ended her speech with her voice getting just a tad bit shaky from the sentiments rushing within her. Walking up to Arnav and Khushi, she gathered them in a long, loving embrace while the crowd applauded the display of affection between siblings and friends.
No sooner had she parted than Aman and Payal stepped up on the stage, picking up their own microphones. Anjali walked off the stage to join the table where her parents and Khushi's parents were seated.
"Good Evening everyone! After Anjali's surprisingly sentimental wish to the newly married couple on everyone's behalf...I think it's time to unfold some of Khushi's secrets to Arnav. What do you think?" Payal's short pause was awarded by encouraging cheers from a few youngsters. "So Arnav Jiju...and that's the only time I will be calling you that...listen up because I'm about to tell you a few of Khushi's secrets."
Arnav watched Payal with interest while Khushi touched her forehead with her fingers, dreading the kind of embarrassing things Payal would say out loud here, in front of all these people.
"Now, let's start with all the good stuff. Khushi is one of the most amazing people I have met in my life." Payal smiled at Khushi.
"She cares like a mother, protects like a brother, scolds like a teacher, and motivates like a true friend...how good of a wife she'll prove, I can't say..." Payal shrugged shortly, looking at Arnav with a friendly warmth in her gaze. "But considering what a caring, loving, and warm person she is...I'll bet my money that she'll be an amazing life partner. She tends to be like a burst of sunshine and her presence brings liveliness in her surroundings...when she's not around...there is a tangible decrease in the energy. Trust me; I know...I've had to spend two years without her!" In the short pause that followed, Payal and Khushi shared a look that wordlessly expressed how much they had missed each other in those days.
"You won't ever have to worry about boredom with her because she can talk days at ends about anything and everything! She'll hold your secrets, understand your worries, double your happiness, and help you battle difficult hurdles...and in return, all she asks for is a tad bit of companionship. What you invest in her will be returned to you twice as more. Khushi, I know I don't say this often but I'm lucky that I have you as my best friend."
Arnav heard Khushi squeal lightly in awe before she stood up to embrace her friend. Out of an emotion he couldn't quite pin-point, Arnav stood up as well. In that moment, Payal let go of Khushi and gave Arnav a hug which he returned stiffly, feeling a tad bit awkward. He was never the hugging type of guy. He'd made exceptions for his Dadi, his mother, his sister, and now...his wife. Others' embraces still made him feel a bit weird. Nevertheless, he smiled at Payal as she pulled away from him.
"Now the bad stuff..." Aman's voice caught their attention. "The things that you actually need to know. First thing...don't ever mess with her laptop. I don't think I'm wrong when I say that a part of her soul lives within that thing."
Payal smirked, seeing the glare Khushi threw his way. Arnav pressed his lips to keep from chuckling.
"Don't ever try to stop her from making jalebis..." Aman shook his head vehemently. "She will put you on the worst guilt trip ever!"
Aman, Payal, and Anjali burst into laughter at the revelation, because they'd both experienced that.
"But when she is making jalebis...and I mean a mountain of them...that's your biggest clue that she's upset." Aman smiled at Khushi. "When she's upset...if she's not making jalebis, she's either screaming, crying, or absolutely quiet. Now there are general guidelines, you see...
"The screaming is good...that means she's not that upset. The crying is a little more serious...but if she's completely quiet, you know you're in a lot of shit!" Aman paused strategically, letting everyone's chuckles subside. Khushi's cheeks burned from the embarrassment but she couldn't deny anything he was saying. It was all true.
"You have messed up BIG time if she's giving you the cold shoulder." Aman nodded at Arnav. "Now...of course I can continue the list, but I'm thinking I'll terrify you in installments rather than have you go screaming from this party...so for now, make a note of those things and make sure you keep her happy because if you hurt her...You'll have to go through me." Aman ended the perfectly cheerful speech with a stern look in Arnav's direction which was more serious than the preceding words.
As the crowd applauded and cheered for Aman, Arnav leaned closer to Khushi. "You know...for someone who thought of this possible relationship, he isn't showing a lot of trust in me."
Khushi chuckled and shook her head, looking at Arnav with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Don't tell him I said this but I've always thought that Bhai's a little crazy..."
"We're in agreement on that." Arnav chuckled, ignoring Aman's narrowed gaze.
"And now I shall hand this mic over to my sister so she can bore you further." Aman gestured towards Khushi who stood up at strode towards him with a grin on her face.
Arnav looked on surprised. He had no idea that she was making a speech too! Had he known, he might have prepared something too.
"Thank you Payal for your exaggerated yet kind words. I'll have you all know that I bribed her to give that speech..." Khushi joked. "And Bhai, just so you know, you're not getting a single penny from me after your listing of my bad habits." Khushi turned to face Arnav and smiled at him, nodding slightly, silently asking him to join her.
Immediately, he stood from his spot and walked up until coming to a step beside her.
"Once again, thank you everyone for being here today. From family to friends, your presence here means more than I can ever describe in words." Khushi resumed.
"I would like to send out a special thank you to my parents. Maa, Papa...Thank you for all the love and affection you have raised with me with. You've supported all my goals and all my whims. You've always believed in me far more than I have and I know that wherever I am today, it's all because of your never ending support." Khushi blinked rapidly, feeling the tears begin to prickle the backs of her eyes.
"Papa, you have always been my backbone in life and Bhai has been my pillar of strength, constantly seeing to my happiness and success. I just want all three of you to know that whichever corner of the world I end up in, you will always reside in my heart. I love you so so much." Her voice shook dangerously and she took a pause to gather herself again.
She smiled to herself and took a deep breath, feeling Arnav's hand patting her back gently, encouraging her to go on.
"I would like to extend another thank you to my best friends, Anjali and Payal. You two girls bring out the best, the craziest, and sometimes the angriest in me but I love you both to bits. My life, as I know it, is incomplete without you two in it...and I think I'm just lucky to have the bonus of being Anjali's sister-in-law...and I'm sure she agreed." Khushi looked at Anjali with raised eyebrows.
"Hell yes!" Anjali bellowed cheerfully and the crowd laughed yet again.
"I would also like to thank my in-laws." Khushi smiled warmly at her new family. "Mom, Dad...Dadi...Thank you for welcoming me into your family with open arms and hearts filled with warmth and affection. For a girl, leaving her parents' home to go to a new one is a difficult step but the way you have accepted me has made me realize that I haven't left my family, I've found a new one...now I'm lucky enough to have two sets of parents, and a grandmother. I hope that I can return all your affection and spread nothing but joy in our family."
While Devyani and Arvind smiled at Khushi, Asha blew her a kiss which Khushi returned. Arnav watched the exchange with peace surrounding his heart while his mind busily logged every word coming out of Khushi's mouth.
"Last but definitely not the least, my most special thank you goes to my husband." Khushi turned to face him and held his surprised gaze as she spoke again. "Arnav, you have lived up to the promises of the seven vows from the very first day this begun. You have been patient, understanding, considerate, and very supportive thorough this journey which began with our engagement. It is through you that I've become a part of this beautiful family and I look forward to our lifetime together."
"Me too, Khushi." His deep voice was amplified by the mic Khushi held between them. "In the short while that I've had the chance to know you...I've figured that life is never going to be boring with you."
Aman circled his thumb and index finger, using it to blow a loud whistle in response which was accompanied by Anjali's 'woohoo' and Payal's 'aww'.
And then there was no time for serious words as the music was turned up. The crowd mingled along with each other, while Khushi and Arnav sat on the stage, greeting the guests as they came up to wish them. Half an hour later, Khushi's face was in pain from smiling for all the pictures and she was sure that she would go blind from the flashes.
The dance floor was already occupied by a few of the guests and the fun-loving members of the family, namely Asha, Akash, Aman, Anjali, and Payal. For once, Khushi's eyes didn't wander in that direction too often because they were too busy trying to catch her husband's. She was feeling his gaze on her occasionally but almost every time she looked, he had looked away. The few times she had caught his eye, though, she had noticed an emotion in his eyes that she'd never seen before.
At last when the visitors diminished, Aman picked up the microphone and asked the couple of the night to grace the dance floor with a slow-dance. Hand-in-hand, Arnav and Khushi made their way to the makeshift dance floor which was patterned like a chess board with rose gold tiles instead of black.
As his arms snaked around her waist, her hand found its place on his shoulder. After giving them a minute of solitude on the floor, other couples joined in to share a moment of the romantic song with their beloved.
"You should have told me you were going to give a speech." Arnav spoke quietly once there were enough people around to take everyone's attention off of them. "Now I feel bad for not having anything ready."
"I liked your short and impromptu speech..." Khushi smiled recalling the dreamy words he had spoken regarding their married life together. "By the way...for someone who doesn't like dancing...you're pretty good with this."
"You have no idea how much I'm focusing right now to make sure I don't step on your toes." Arnav spoke seriously, the faintest crease appearing between his brows.
Khushi threw her head back slightly and laughed out loud at his comment. Her tinkling laughter brought a wide, care-free smile on Arnav's face and warmth in the hearts of the four parents who watched them.
"Hey...no monopolizing the bride." Aman poked Arnav's shoulder teasingly.
With a gentleman's grace, Arnav gently handed Khushi's hand to Aman and took a step back. Almost immediately, Anjali took her brother's hand and began moving in the time to the music. It wasn't very often that one could find Arnav Singh Raizada on the dance floor. Today, he was in a good mood too. How could Anjali possibly let the opportunity pass her by? In all this shuffling of dance partners, Akash and Payal's romantic dance didn't seem out of place.
For the rest of the night, the guests danced and celebrated away with Aman, Khushi, Payal, Akash, and Asha while Arnav spoke to more people. He found himself gazing at his wife more often than he had all these days.
Something about the atmosphere, or maybe it was the words she had spoken earlier but he could not keep his eyes off of her. He noticed more things about her and immediately took a liking to her little quirks. From the way she flipped her hair over her shoulder with a small jerk of her head, the way she smiled warmly at anyone who greeted her, the way she pouted when Aman or Anjali seemed to be teasing her, the way she would playfully glare at Akash and Payal from time to time, and then his favorite...the way she would look at him, hold his gaze for a couple seconds, smile and then look away. Everything about her was drawing him in.
On the other hand, Khushi was in no different place. It brought her an unexplainable joy, knowing that she had his attention. All night she had had wanted to break away from the crowd to go speak to him but the celebrations had kept her somewhat occupied.
"Instead of staring at him from here, you could go join him, you know." Payal elbowed Khushi gently at last, having noticed that her friend was very distracted by a certain Dr. Raizada.
"I think I will." Khushi smirked and winked at Payal.
Ignoring the howls and whistles behind her from her brother and her friends, Khushi lifted the skirt of her dress slightly and began walking towards Arnav when her mother caught up with her.
"Maa!" Khushi hugged her mother. "I haven't gotten a chance to talk to you all night...I wanted to explain the whole last name thing."
"It's okay Khushi. Arnav bituwa already told me that he asked you to keep your name." Garima smiled.
Khushi's eyes immediately darted towards Arnav but he was busy speaking to one of his colleagues she was introduced to earlier.
"I don't understand you kids and your issues with these traditions...but as long as you guys are happy, I won't complain." Garima smiled somewhat ruefully.
"I am happy Maa. Very happy, in fact." Khushi reassured.
"It makes me really happy to see you like this..." The corners of Garima's eyes crinkled with the brilliant smile.
"Yeah?" Khushi chuckled, basking in on the rare moment in which her mother was speaking like a friend rather than a strict traditional mother.
"Yes, Khushi." Garima's tone became serious. "I know you and Aman, and even you Papa, think that I'm too traditional...too backward minded but I have my reasons. Your generation scares me when it comes to the institution of marriage. You kids take it all so lightly and immaturely. That's why the rate of unsuccessful marriages is increasing day by day...I didn't want my kids to end up like that and that's why I have been so hell bent in instilling our traditions into your minds."
Khushi watched her mother with interest, having the first glimpse of her mother's thought process.
"Just like any mother would, I want my son and my daughter to have a happy married life. Is it really that bad that I've adapted to the more traditional way of discipline to ensure that you two didn't stray?" Garima sounded unsure and suddenly Khushi realized that she was seeking reassurance.
Garima wanted to know that she hadn't upset her kids, that they understood her reasons. All she wanted was a good future for them and she believed that she had to shelter them in their tender age to ensure that.
Khushi stopped walking and embraced her mother. "No Maa...I've never felt that you've changed my life for the worse." She pulled away and smiled down at her mother. "I admit that I may have been apprehensive about the whole arranged marriage thing but I'm beginning to realize that a love marriage doesn't guarantee success either. Ultimately it's in our hands to make or break a relationship."
Feeling Arnav's eyes on her, Khushi turned to look at him. He gave her a small embarrassed smile at being caught and turned away. Khushi chuckled softly and turned to face her mother before embracing her. "You can rest assured that your daughter has every intention to make her life as blissful as her mother's has been. Your daughter is going to give it her all to make sure that she has a successful marriage."
"I know...and that's why it makes me happy to see you like this." Garima pulled apart and kissed Khushi's forehead affectionately, both women equally unaware of the pairs of eyes that observed them from two different corners of the venue. With an affectionate kiss to Khushi's forehead, Garima walked away from there, knowing that Khushi was headed in Arnav's direction before she interrupted.
"Hey you." Khushi chirped as she walked up next to Arnav. "What are you doing here alone?"
"Just needed a break from all the socializing." Arnav shrugged and took a sip of his drink.
"Is it okay if I stay here?" Khushi asked with raised eyebrows.
"You don't have to feel obliged to stay Khushi...you looked like you were having fun...you don't have to stay here to keep me company." Arnav fixed her with a gaze.
The next moment, they were surrounded by their dear friends, putting an end to their solitude. From that point until they got home, Arnav didn't get the break from the crowd that he wanted nor did Khushi get the moments alone with him to discuss the pace of their relationship.
Even once they bid goodbye to everyone well past midnight, Anjali unceremoniously plopped down between Arnav and Khushi in the car on their way home. The small closing conversation and the good-night wishes took up more time and by the time Arnav and Khushi finally retired to their bedroom, it was a quarter to 3 in the morning.
While Khushi took off her jewelry, Arnav freshened up and changed into his night clothes in the washroom. Once he stepped out, Khushi walked in, smiling at him thankfully.
Arnav stretched his back one more time as soon as the washroom door closed. The back was sore in the morning but after the busy day and lots of standing at the reception, he was in more pain now than ever. As he picked up the pillow and a blanket from the bed, he decided that he would take a pain-killer before sleeping tonight. After placing the articles on the lounger, he headed towards the kitchen to fetch his pain-killer and water.
He's been gone all of three minutes when Khushi stepped back out of the washroom, wiping her face with a towel, feeling light after removing what little make up she had on and changing into her pajamas. Seeing the pillow and blanket set on the lounger already, she paused in her actions and glanced around the room and the poolside for signs of Arnav.
This was the moment to put her decisions into light. The fact that she felt no hesitation going forward with her decision gave her more strength as she walked towards the lounger, picked up the pillow and the blanket, and returned them back to the bed. Feeling oddly content, she returned back to the mirror and began brushing her hair.
Once she finished, she walked to the French doors leading to the poolside and watched the sky reflect in the still water of the pool. Her thoughts wandered back to the countless memories from tonight. From the wishes of the guests, to her friends and brother's speech, to her mother's worries, to Arnav's silent glances that promised more than words could...every moment was etched in her memory with minute perfection.
A slow blush spread across her cheeks as she recalled her own words to Arnav. The gratitude she extended to him was never a part of the speech but rather an improvisation in the spur of the moment. However, that fact did not diminish the truth in her words.
Hearing the faint click of the door closing, Khushi turned to look at Arnav and found him standing by the bed, looking between it and the lounger confusedly.
"I put them there." Khushi spoke, offering an explanation to his wonderment. The question in his eyes didn't disappear...it changed.
His eyes and expression silently asked why she had moved the pillow and blanket to their rightful place.
Khushi walked up and stood in front of him, looking up at him with a calm expression. "I can't tell you how grateful I am to you for what you did last night. I was nervous beyond reason yesterday and you were kind enough to sleep on the lounger. I know that all day your back has been bothering you because of it, but you haven't complained even once."
Arnav's lips parted in surprise and the emotion was clear in his eyes. Khushi chuckled and shook her head.
"I may not be a doctor but I'm fairly observant, Arnav." Khushi smirked in response to his sheepish smile.
"Look, if you're doing this because of that..." Arnav began but Khushi interrupted him by putting her hand on his arm.
For a second, both seemed a tad bit taken aback at the feelings the casual touch invoked within them. Khushi's eyes lingered on her hand on his arm, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering slightly but then she dragged her eyes up to meet his.
"I'm not doing this out of guilt...If I felt uncomfortable with you on the bed, I would have volunteered to sleep on the lounger tonight..." Khushi reassured. "I can give you a lengthy explanation but the simplest version is that I trust you. I don't have a single reason to not. We're both mature adults and now considering the relationship that binds us both...sharing a bed is very normal, is it not? And what's the worst that could happen?"
"What's the worst that could happen?" Arnav crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly. "Really?"
Khushi tilted her head challengingly. "I'm not worried about you crossing your limits...in any case, I can protect myself."
Arnav chuckled softly. "That's good to know..."
"Remember our conversation this morning?" Khushi raised her eyebrows. "You're right. We haven't set a pace. And I think it'd be best if we do."
Arnav's amused smirk lifted just a tad bit more. "Yes M'am...but can we do that tomorrow? It's a quarter past three in the morning."
Khushi grinned. "So we're cool? If you're so afraid to sleep on the same bed as me, then I'll take the lounger today."
Arnav watched her for a long second before an almost devilish smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I'll sleep on the bed...on one condition."
Khushi's smile faltered just a tad bit and a perfect eyebrow arched up.
"You'll have breakfast every day." Arnav smirked. "Starting tomorrow."
Khushi threw her head back and laughed out loud at his condition. "Seriously, Arnav...breakfast?! Of all the things you could have asked for..."
"Nothing as important right now." Arnav shrugged. "What do you think?"
"Fine!" Khushi grumbled and walked around to her side of the bed. "I wasn't aware that striking deals was a skill on a doctor's resume."
"It's not." Arnav walked to his side of the bed and lifted the covers to slide in. "But since my wife is a businesswoman, I figured that it's best that I master this skill. I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of deals to be cracked."
"Maybe...Maybe not. We'll see" Khushi giggled, pulling the covers up to her chest.
With considerable distance between them, both stared up at the ceiling quietly. The satisfaction of taking this step didn't evade Khushi. She felt contentedness settle in as slumber followed shortly. Reaching over, she turned off the lamp on her side of the bed.
"Can I ask you a question?" Arnav spoke into the dim light.
"Hmm?"
"When we first met, why did you ask me about my thoughts on divorce before anything else?" The question had clouded his mind for days. Was she hoping that if he would consider divorce then there was an escape set aside for her? Was she checking how quickly he would leave her if the opportunity ever presented itself?
Khushi turned to face him and feeling her gaze on him, he turned to look at her as well. Her expression was oddly blank as she spoke, the slightest hint of amusement in her eyes.
"I needed to know that the man I may end up marrying would fight to save the relationship." Khushi smiled. "There is no point in taking the seven vows with someone who doesn't want to make an effort to save the marriage when things go wrong. Why do you ask?"
"I'd always been curious about that question..." Arnav turned back to look at the ceiling.
"Well, I hope my answer was satisfactory. Good night, Arnav." She spoke quietly, turned her back to him and closed her eyes to embrace the sleep.
A small nudge on her back a minute later made her open her eyes. She turned slightly to look at him again.
"When do you start office with Papa?" He questioned.
Khushi shrugged. "When your leave from the hospital is over."
"Oh. Okay."
Confused at the randomness of the question, Khushi turned on her side again and closed her eyes one more time. This time, when he nudged her again, Khushi wanted to groan and laugh at the same time but sufficed with a smile.
Instead of turning to face him, she rolled over completely so that she lay on her side, facing him. He imitated her movement until he lay on his side, facing her.
"Go on a date with me." He spoke gently.
Khushi's eyes widened slightly and her lips parted in surprise. Whether it was a question, a request, or a demand, she wasn't sure. "w-what?"
"I'm asking you to go on a date with me, Khushi." He repeated patiently.
There. He said it. He was attracted to her, he liked being around her, and he was going to let her know that.
"You've got to be kidding me..." Khushi chuckled. For some reason, the idea of going on dates with your husband seemed absurd to her.
"Believe me, I'm not." Arnav held her gaze, compelling her to pay attention to the seriousness with which he spoke. "I still have a week away from work and so do you. Once we go back into that routine, we'll both get busy...I say let's make the best of the week we have. And if you agree, then this is us setting the pace, so to speak."
Khushi thought for a few seconds before the puzzles fit together. "As in we set a sort of schedule, a time-line for our relationship?"
"Not as definite, no. that would be like hustling to meet deadlines..." Arnav frowned slightly.
Khushi mirrored his frown. "So let's say we start this...dating thing. Then what?"
Arnav shrugged as if the answer was obvious. "And then we let the chips fall where they may. We follow our instincts and see where this leads..."
Khushi was quiet as she contemplated and deliberated over his words.
"There's no rush. Think about it and let me know." Arnav smiled with the kindness, which Khushi was quickly learning, was one of his profound characteristics. "Goodnight Khushi."
This time, he turned his back to her while she chewed on her bottom lip, thinking about what he'd said.
His suggestion was logical and it made sense. They were married, yes, but their relationship was sort of like those two people who were fully aware that their friends were trying to hook them up.
The dating phase that he was suggesting would give them the time that they didn't have before getting married. It would be the time to get to know each other better, the time to make note of each other's perfections and flaws, the time to admire them, the time to perhaps fall in love, the time to give the obvious chemistry between them a chance to bloom and lastly, it would be the time where the pace if their relationship"in all aspects"could grow at a steady pace.
Reaching out, she poked his shoulder twice with her index finger and waited for him to turn to face her.
"A date sounds great...just...Don't tell my husband. I don't think he'll be too happy." Khushi unsuccessfully tried to suppress the shy smile that lit up her features.
A moment later, both of them burst into quiet laughter, both hearts silently sighing at the first step forward in the sudden relationship they'd found themselves in.
That night, both dreamt of a bright and a happy future together.
Author's Note:
The chapter may seem wordy with the speeches and what not but none of that is 'for no reason'. those speeches were put in very deliberately and I've taken more time on them than you would think...there is a lot of foreshadowing and a lot of things pointed out which will play a significant role in how the characters change in the story.
Love,
Katie <3
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