Chapter 11

He sat somewhat displeased, somewhat amused, somewhat mesmerized as he watched his family--including his wife--flip through his childhood album. He was displeased because his father, mother, and grandmother were overly keen on telling Khushi every embarrassing story that any picture warranted. Then, he was amused because Khushi paid apt attention and the myriad of expressions on her face was intriguing. And, finally, he was mesmerized because Khushi had a captivating laugh.

He found himself stealing glances at her whenever she laughed. The simple and frequent sound was quickly becoming one of his favorite. The tinkling laughter brought with it a feeling of peace and happiness. It was the kind of sound that could erase the worst of one's worries. It was the sound that could brighten up a glum day.

What the hell is wrong with you, Raizada? You've been married less than twenty-four hours and you're already turning into a freaking poet. Get a grip! If she weren't your wife, your thoughts would be classified as creepy'. Stop it!

"I completely understand you, Arnav...but it's rude to stare." Arvind muttered under his breath so that only Arnav could hear.

"Huh?" Arnav snapped out of his reverie and turned to look at him.

"She's your wife, yes...but staring is still rude. Especially at the dining table." Arvind smirked, seeing the expression on his face.

"I wasn't staring." Arnav whispered back, on the defense.

Arvind snorted and shook his head. "If you say so."

"I was just making sure she's comfortable here..." Arnav whispered exasperatedly, frankly flustered because he was caught.

If Khushi hadn't spoken up at the moment, Arvind probably would have said something more. Arnav turned to look at her as she scanned the last picture in the album.

"Wow...it seems like you had your hands full with Arnav and Anjali all these years!" Khushi chuckled as they finally, much to Arnav's relief, closed the album.

"Oh yes...which I why I'm glad that he's handed over to you now." Asha smiled. "I can stop fretting over him."

And just when would they stop talking about him as if he wasn't here?

"Oh please!" Anjali scoffed. "We all know that Bhaiyya is going to be the one fretting...did you not see his face when Khushi refused breakfast?"

Arnav gazed at Khushi sheepishly, knowing in his mind that Anjali was right. Khushi turned her head until the questioning emeralds settled on Arnav's face.

"I'm surprised he didn't force her to have at least something for breakfast!" Anjali rolled her eyes. "If it were me, he would have spoon-fed me a bowl of cereal! So unfair!"

Arnav was surprised himself that he didn't force her to have breakfast. Maybe because it wouldn't bode well for him to be telling her what to do already!

"There's an easy fix for that..." Dadi perked up in response to Anjali's comment. "You can escape him once and for all...by getting married."

A round of chuckles issued from the table at Anjali's sullen expression.

"Don't start that with me." Anjali sat back in her seat. "Let's not take away from Bhaiyya and Khushi's thunder."

Okay. That's it. Time to get out of here, Raizada.

"Right. Khushi, we should go if we want to be back in time for the reception." Arnav pushed his chair back, not wanting to sit through another round of awkward teasing.

Thankfully, Khushi seemed just as eager to escape for she also stood up right after him. They courteously took their leave from everyone and listened intently as Asha and Dadi explained the pag-phere ritual. Even they stopped at the entrance of the house while Khushi and Arnav continued on towards the car.

They walked in silence until they reached the SUV where Mohan held the door open for Khushi. As she took her seat and fastened the seatbelt, Arnav took the keys from the driver and walked around to the driver's seat. He slid in behind the steering wheel with familiar ease and pushed the key into the ignition.

Khushi couldn't help but note the languid movements with which he carried out the most mundane task of maneuvering the car off the driveway onto the bustling roads of Mumbai. Feeling her gaze on him, Arnav decided to answer the question he had assumed she must've had.

"I like driving." He shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable which was a mission in its own with the sore back. "Are you excited?"

Khushi nodded thoughtfully. "I think this will reassure them that I'm alright and it will reassure me that they're fine."

"And I'm sure there won't be any leg-pulling with your parents." He muttered grumpily, recalling his mother and Dadi's teasing sessions fuelled by Anjali's craziness.

Khushi giggled. "Not with Maa and Papa...but, I can't guarantee the same about Bhai and Payal, though."

As if Arnav needed to be afraid of Aman...well, actually...maybe he should be.

"I apologize on behalf of mom, Dadi, and Anjali...they get carried away sometimes." He cringed inwardly as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat once again, his lower back aching in protest.

"There's nothing to apologize about. All the teasing is done out of love...they don't mean harm." Khushi smiled. "We may have mutually set a pace at which we want to move forward but to everyone else we're husband and wife...not many will look past that."

"But have we set a pace?" He couldn't help but ask. It was something that he wanted to bring up with her to make sure they were on the same page. After seeing her nervous and flustered last night, he didn't want to have this conversation and make her even more nervous.

"I...we...well..." Khushi fumbled, having been caught off guard with his question. "No, I guess not..."

"We have a lot of time to decide." He declared, letting her know that she didn't have to worry about it.

Sleeping on the lounger wasn't exactly a party for Arnav. His back was sore now because of it but in the middle of the night, when he had woken up from the discomfort, he'd found her asleep on the bed. She looked content and at peace. The small smile on her face was enough for him to decide that if this is what she was comfortable with then this is how it shall be until she decided to change it.

For Arnav, his family has always been a priority after his duty as a doctor. Khushi was an integral and a large part of that family now considering that she was now his wife. For him her comfort, her happiness, and her wishes preceded his own.

"So what was that this morning about breakfast?" Khushi questioned, curiosity getting the better of her.

"its one of my issues." Arnav grimaced. "I insist on everyone in the family having a healthy breakfast to start the day...a doctor's mind you see...it can't comprehend the idea of people skipping the most important meal of the day."

"Really? It bothers you that much if someone skips it?" Khushi bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"I know it seems ridiculous but it is what it is..." Arnav mumbled, eyes trained on the road.

"just out of curiosity...why didn't you push me to eat this morning?"

Arnav looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Would you have been impressed if I'd tried to boss you around?"

"a fair argument." Khushi accepted. "I think we need another round of question answer tonight. There is still so much about you that I want to know."

"You make me sound like a complicated human being." Arnav chuckled.

Khushi laughed shortly. "Not complicated...just...still very new to me."

The rest of the drive was spent in companionable silence"something that Arnav already liked about them. There was no need to constantly have a word exchange. Silence loomed between them without any awkwardness. This will be very handy in the future considering that he doesn't speak all that much.

Once he pulled into the driveway of the Gupta House, Khushi was out the door and rushing towards her waiting parents before he even step out of the car. He approached at a casual pace, giving them time to share their greetings and hugs. He should have expected that they would treat him no differently but because of his own lack of attention, he was surprised when Garima, Shashi, and Aman gathered him into welcoming embraces as well.

After a warm welcome, everyone settled in the living room and that's when the conversations begun. Various moments from the wedding ceremony were spoken about as if they were filling Arnav and Khushi in on them. The two of them had been so focused on their weddings hymns and vows, they didn't know about anything else that had gone on.

Closer to lunch time, Garima retired to the kitchen to overlook the preparations while Payal whisked Khushi away for a much needed girl talk. Aman and Arnav's curious eyes followed them.

"don't even bother...In all these years of my life, I've never figured out what about weddings makes women act like they're fifteen years old." Shashi shook his head and chuckled.

Arnav and Aman focused on the TV once Shashi switched it on and tuned into a sports channel. Immediately, the topic of discussion changed into the match on the TV at the moment.

On the other hand, Payal pulled Khushi into Khushi's bedroom"ex bedroom"and closed the door behind her. "Tell me everything!"

"What?" Khushi tried to play dumb, hoping to avoid this conversation.

"Oh don't act smart. Tell me how it went. Was he considerate? Did he try something? You two didn't..." Payal trailed off suggestively.

"No!" Khushi answered at once. "Nothing like that. My God! What is wrong with you and Anjali?"

"Hey!" Payal crossed her arms. "Don't even deny that you wouldn't have asked the same things had you been in our shoes!"

"Oh whatever...just because you and Anjali have become great friends in the span of four days, it doesn't mean that you two can gang up against me." Khushi plopped down on the bed.

"I'm just trying to get information...I need to know if I need to go down there and beat him...that's all." Payal shrugged and sat next to Khushi.

"No. there's no need to beat him. Anyway...tell me how Maa and Papa were afterwards..." Khushi chewed on her bottom lip.

"Aman calmed them down fairly quickly...and then when they weren't looking, he cried like a baby...right here." Payal patted her own shoulder. "By the time you called, everyone was fine and chatting, trying to wind up everything here. Uncle and aunty were worried about you more than anything...after they spoke to you they really relaxed...that was a good idea on your part."

"It was Arnav's idea." Khushi admitted. "He assumed that they'd be worried here."

"That's very considerate of him." Payal smiled. "Was it awkward last night?"

"You have no idea...stupid Anjali scared the crap out of me, of course...I couldn't keep the nerves in control after that...He obviously noticed so he made me talk to Maa and Papa...then we sat and talked until we got sleepy..." Khushi sighed. "He knew how nervous I was and the reason behind it...so...he slept on the lounger."

"And you're not pleased about that because..." Payal prompted.

Khushi smiled. "You catch onto everything, don't you?" A sigh escaped her as the guilt put its foot down in her mind. "He slept on the lounger to make sure I wasn't nervous or uncomfortable around him and now he's got a sore back."

"He told you that?" Payal raised an eyebrow.

"No...he keeps stretching and twisting to make it better...I don't think he knows that I've caught him a few times." Khushi shrugged.

"Are you uncomfortable around him? Do you think he'll try anything? I mean...as far as I understood...you trust him...especially after he made your dream proposal come to life...right?" Payal spoke seemingly nonchalantly.

"I do trust him...I think it was just the stereotype of a nuptial night and then Anjali's stupid comments..." Khushi trailed off.

"You should do what you think is right. If you think that you need a bit more time, a bit more space...let it go on but if you think that you may have overreacted last night, then you need to change the situation." Payal suggested.

Khushi nodded. "I know...I'll talk to him about it. We're both mature adults...we should be able to handle this better. I don't see any disadvantages of this settlement."

Payal's jaw dropped. "Listen to yourself! God bless Arnav! He's all empathetic and warm and considerate and you're not leaving your business mind out of this! Will you take a piece of advice from your friend?"

Khushi raised an eyebrow questioningly, asking Payal to go on.

Payal placed her hand over Khushi's and squeezed encouragingly. "Try to decide with your heart when it comes to Arnav...let your heart precede your mind. I say this because I want you to find your happily ever after with him. Sometimes you tend to over-think and over-analyze situations...but when it comes to your married life...your relationship with Arnav...go with what your heart says...follow your instincts. It's the only way that leads to love."

Khushi smiled and nodded thoughtfully. Her choices were always in front of her but sometimes it's good to confide in friends and know that they agree with your thought process. Frankly put, Khushi didn't know what love was. What she did know was what a successful marriage looks like...because she had grown up witnessing one. Her parents'.

She didn't want much in life; a career where she felt at home, where she could enjoy her work and a loving family to come home to. She was no different than she was a few weeks ago before she had met Arnav. Her priorities and wishes hadn't changed in that time. What had changed was the fact that her arbitrary loving family now consisted of clear faces: Her in-laws and her husband. Her maternal family and Payal just completed the picture.

Payal was right. The mind's work was until she had to think and make a decision, until she agreed to marry him. Now all the logical thinking and consideration was done. Now she was Mrs. Khushi Gupta Singh Raizada and it was time to embrace that with all her heart. Apparently, Arnav had already embraced the idea for he was trying his best to put her wishes first and not just last night. Her mind immediately raced to the conversation they'd had on their engagement day about her finishing her degree.

He had been putting in effort to ensure her happiness from the get go and now it was time for her to match that effort.

"I've never seen you so quiet and quite frankly, its scaring the crap out of me." Payal rolled her eyes.

"I'm just wondering how you became such an expert on this topic." Khushi smirked.

A fleeting flustered expression crossed Payal's face before she masked it into a grin. "A lot of movies and tv serials and mills and boons books will do that to you..."

Khushi threw her head back and laughed, absent mindedly adjusted the fall of her sari.

"That's another thing I wanted to ask you...how the hell did you end up in that?!" Payal pointed her chin towards the sari.

"That's tradition." Garima entered the room and the two young girls stood up out of respect. "I would have been very upset with her if she had shown up here in t-shirts and jeans."

"I hope you prefer a daughter with broken limbs then because I keep tripping in this...it's a miracle that I've survived so many hours without cracking my skull open!" Khushi rolled her eyes.

"You'll get used to it." Garima shook her head. "Lunch is set..."

"Oh good!" Payal rushed towards the door. "I'm starving."

Khushi put her arm around her mother's shoulders as they followed Payal. Garima smiled up at her daughter as they walked downstairs.

Arnav fell in pace with Khushi as everyone headed towards the dining room.

"Everything okay?" He questioned. He's been somewhat worried when Payal and Garima both had disappeared upstairs with Khushi. His first thought was that there must've been something that she couldn't share with him...perhaps something that was worrying her, or something that had upset her.

"Everything's great..." Khushi smiled at him warmly. "Just some girl talk..."

"Ah...Anjali's going to be upset that she missed out on it." Arnav chuckled.

"Oh I'm sure she is having her own fun terrorizing everyone at the reception venue." Just as she finished the sentence, she tripped on her pleats.

Just like this morning, before she could fall, Arnav's arm shot around her waist and put her in a stable stance immediately.

"Thank you." Khushi muttered, quickly thanking her stars that no one saw the incidence. The next moment she cursed inwardly when she saw Aman grin goofily at them.

"Don't you dare." Khushi jabbed Aman's chest and proceeded towards the dining table.

"I second that." Arnav narrowed his eyes at Aman in warning.

Aman held his hands up defensively. "I don't plan on messing with Mr. and Mrs. Raizada just yet."

"I'm here! You can go ahead. I'm on your team bro." Akash settled in the chair across from Payal, while Arnav, Khushi, and Aman raised their eyebrows at him.

"What?" Akash shrugged innocently. "Aunty invited me...and after this, I'm supposed to drive Payal to the reception venue so that she can help us out."

Aman raised an eyebrow in response. "I could have driven her there, Akash...I was headed there after lunch any way."

"Right..." Akash took a long sip of water, buying himself time to form a supporting lie. The truth was that he wanted to see Payal. "I guess I didn't think of that. Oh well."

Payal narrowed her eyes at him, which didn't go unnoticed by Arnav and Khushi. Throughout lunch, Khushi watched Payal squirm and suppress giggles, though she wasn't sure what exactly was so funny about the current stock market discussion. It was when she caught a smug expression on Akash's face that she realized that the two things were tied together.

Moreover, she saw Aman keep glancing at the two and smirking as if he knew a secret. She would confront him about it later to avoid embarrassment for Payal and Akash just in case her mind was wandering off into nonsense land.

"Can you please pass me the pepper, Arnav?" Khushi pointed her chin in the direction of the pepper shaker and yelped the next second when Garima slapped her arm.

"Khushi!" She reprimanded. "What did I tell you about addressing Arnav Bituwa?"

"It was my idea." Arnav defended at once, handing the pepper to Khushi. "I...I'd rather she call me by my name than add a ji' to it."

"See, Garima?" Shashi chuckled. "I've been telling you for years to call me by my name but you insist on adding the ji' and continue to make me feel old...You're lucky son...at least Khushi listens to you unlike your mother-in-law."

Shashi's comment instantly lightened the mood and Garima resumed eating without a comment. She wasn't too impressed but if this was Arnav's wish, then Khushi was right to abide by it.

After lunch, Khushi bid goodbye to her family once again, but unlike last night, there were no tears today. The drive back to Raizada mansion was spent in companionable silence again with small spurts of random conversation.

No sooner had they stepped into the living room than Anjali came rushing.

"You're late! You were supposed to be here exactly six minutes and twenty seconds ago! Now I won't have enough time to get you ready, Khushi!" Anjali grabbed Khushi's arm and pulled her away.

"When did we decide that you were going to help me get ready?" Khushi sounded terrified of the idea.

"Just now." Anjali waved off her queries and turned to face her brother. "Bhaiyya...we will see you here in exactly two hours. Don't you dare be late. I want you two to practice your entrance one more time."

"We have an entrance?" Arnav wondered out loud although his question was unheard by Anjali.
_____

Arnav adjusted his cufflinks as he looked at the reflection in the mirror. Compared to the attire he was in yesterday, this was much more comfortable. A fitted Navy blue Armani suit paired with a crisp white shirt. The tie that Anjali had thrust into his hands lay on the bed.

"I don't care that it's not black...it matches Khushi's outfit and you're going to wear it." was what Anjali had said before walking away haughtily.

He picked up the silk strip of fabric in deep blood red and put it over his head. He tied it with expert ease and closed the buttons of the vest. Just as he threw on the coat, Akash walked into the room, without bothering to knock.

Without warning, Akash all but showered Arnav in sprits of cologne.

"What the--!" Arnav made a face at the strong scent. "What the hell are you doing?"

Akash shrugged. "Thought you might perspire excessively because of nervousness."

"I'm not nervous and with this much cologne, everyone is going to faint." Arnav waved the air in front of his face to breathe easier.

"Stop being dramatic like your sister. It was only four sprits. And speaking of your sister, she's going to murder you." Akash shook his head. "You're late."

Arnav glanced at his wrist watch. "No I'm not...I still have fifteen minutes left."

"No you don't. Not when her and Khushi are already downstairs." Akash folded his hands.

"Oh damn!" Arnav turned on his heels and left the guest room.

On his way o the staircase, he noticed that his bedroom"the same room out of which he'd been thrown out by Anjali"was closed with the lights turned off. Arnav rushed down the stairs with Akash on his tail and immediately launched into an explanation when Anjali frowned at him.

"Its Akash's fault...he kept me distracted with conversations. He went on and on about how gorgeous you look and he's not wrong. You look stunning." Arnav kissed Anjali's cheek, putting all his charms into effect.

Anjali rolled her eyes. "Save these compliments and excuses for Khushi...I know you inside out, Bhaiyya."

"If you two have finished arguing, can we go?" Asha walked up to them impatiently and stopped to look at her son. "You look so handsome Arnav."

Arnav smiled and thanked his mother while returning the compliment. After a quick round of appreciating everyone's attires, Asha and Arvind made their exit followed by Akash.

"Oh, Khushi, there you are!" Anjali looked over Arnav's shoulder.

Arnav instinctively turned to look at her and froze. Dressed in a deep red and blue lehenga dress, she looked an epitome of grace as she walked up to them, holding Dadi's hand. As usual, minimal make up and jewelry completed her look along with the long hair that fell around her in loose curls. The scent of vanilla mingled with the usually lavender scented air of the Raizada mansion, the mixture hitting Arnav's senses like a wall of bricks.

To him, she was ethereal in the sense that she was a perfect combination of beauty, intelligence, and a golden personality. He had never met someone who had all these qualities and still had their feet rooted to the ground.

Anjali snapped her fingers in front of Arnav's face. "Take a picture, Bhaiyya, it will last longer."

Arnav looked away sheepishly while Khushi smiled at his expression. Dadi stood in front of them as Khushi halted next to Arnav. Smiling at the two of them, the elderly lady wiped a bit of kohl from the corner of her eyes and briefly touched the backs of their ears, warding off any evil.

"No dramatic scenes right now Dadi...we need to go!" Anjali wrapped an arm around her grandmother and led her towards the exit, leaving Arnav and Khushi to follow.

"Thank you for the compliment." Khushi rolled her tongue into her cheek.

Arnav frowned in confusion. "I...didn't say anything."

Khushi looked at him and grinned. "You didn't have to. You're looking quite dashing yourself."

The faintest tinge of red made its way to his cheeks and Khushi's heart faltered. Was he blushing?! A triumphant wave took over her senses for a brief moment. She found herself blushing around him all the time and the fact that she was blushing was out of character for her only added to her annoyance at not being able to control the blood from rushing to her face. The fact that she had turned the tables on him this time was oddly exhilarating.

Their faces had smiles plastered on them as they made their way to the awaiting car. It was a beautiful night with a clear night sky where stars glimmers pompously, drawing attention of anyone who glanced up towards the infinite ceiling. A soft breeze was constant in the atmosphere, bringing with it a soft wave of serenity.

Khushi stared out the window as Mohan veered the car towards their destination. It was hard to believe that just a few weeks ago; she'd been on her way to her engagement venue in a similar fashion. Just twenty four hours ago, she was seated in a car, decked up in her bridal attire next to her husband as they'd headed towards Raizada Mansion. She'd had her head rested on his shoulder while his hand had held hers quietly while she tried to regain control of her tears. Today, those tears were far away in another world.

"Khushi?"

His voice brought her out of her reverie and she turned to look at him, realizing that he must have been speaking to her.

"Sorry?" She questioned.

Arnav looked at her scrutinizing her expression for a couple seconds before repeating his question. "Do you know what entrance Anjali was talking about?"

"I have no idea...she didn't mention anything to me..."

Arnav nodded towards her window. "I guess we're about to find out."

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