The Royal Fling - Part 40

PREVIOUS PART 



Chapter 40

Khushi tossed in her sleep, only to be pulled behind by his arm. She mumbled something when his lips touched her earlobe. Damn.. It had to be a sweet dream. She didn’t dare to open her eyes. She felt nice and warm, inside the quilt, with the man of her dreams sleeping behind her and his arm snaked on her waist. She pushed her back to glue him again. The touch was familiar. And the cologne too. Was he Arnav Singh Raizada? It had to be him!! But what was he doing in her dreams? She opened her eyes and the beam of light from the French windows hit her face. It was morning. And this wasn’t a dream. She was in her bed, cuddled to her husband Arnav Singh Raizada. The moment she realized this, she instantly pushed him and sat two feet away. It broke his sleep.

“How dare you?” she shouted rubbing her eyes, still unable to believe they slept like that.

Arnav Singh Raizada had expected a similar reaction when she woke up so he wasn’t shocked. He yawned, stretched and raised himself to sit with his back touching the headboard of the bed. He blinked a couple of times to appreciate the glory of his wife in his White Shirt.
“You look.. cute.. in that…” he uttered followed by another yawn.

Khushi immediately looked at her attire and realized she was wearing his Shirt.. JUST SHIRT!! She pulled the duvet to cover her legs.

“What am I doing in your shirt? Where are my clothes?” she snapped.

Arnav pointed to the Recliner where her red designer Saree and the jewelry were lying lifeless and unattended.


“And your sandals are under the bed” he added.

Khushi’s jaw dropped. She tried to recollect how she ended up being here? They were at the party and slowly she recalled everything scene by scene. She had a heated argument with her father last night which made her drink beyond limits. Then the role play.. She danced with Arnav, who later brought her in the room. He took care of her.. and she fell asleep. Luckily she recalled everything and was glad nothing happened the way it looked like. She was embarrassed by her silly actions.

“I think you should drink every day. It’s good for our marriage” he teased.

“Shut up”

“I got the best sleep last night. And so did you” he affirmed. “You didn’t let me go away from you”

“I said shut up” she threw a pillow at him which he caught. “I regret doing all that”

“You do?”

“Yes”

“Fine” he shrugged. “Give me my shirt back”

He came closer to get his Shirt and she moved away, almost dropping herself off the bed.

“Careful” he shouted seeing her so muddled.

“Don’t you dare come near me”

Arnav rolled his eyes. She ran to the bathroom.

“At least tell me which role I am playing today? Co-actor? Servant or your mother?”

She locked herself in the bathroom to avoid having any contact with the man on the bed. Damn!! How could she do all this? Arnav smirked hard. It was a wonderful night and pleasing morning. He wanted her to remember everything and he was glad she did.


******************

Thankfully when she showered and came out, Arnav was in the balcony making a few calls. She tip-toed to the door and hurried out before he could tease her again. The breakfast went normal. Khushi sat next to Payal who wasn’t happy that she retired from the party so soon.

“Where were you Khushi? I kept looking for you in the party. Then Anamika told me you and Arnav left back in the room”

Arnav gazed at his wife to see what explanation she would give now. Khushi turned to Anamika who was at the living room, making flower garlands. She was going to accompany Daadi and Payal to the nearby temple today. That means Anamika saw Arnav carrying her all the way to their bedroom last night?

“Khushi?” Payal shook her. “Say something”

“I wanted to rehearse for my shoots” she lied.

“Really?” Akash chuckled. “What was Bhai doing then?”

“Audience Akash” Anjali teased. “Every Actor needs an audience to appreciate his/her work”

“For a change” Arnav interrupted. “I was playing her co-actor”

Khushi gripped the fork.

“Seriously?” Anjali was elated. “What kind of scene were you both enacting?”

“Comedy”

“Romantic”

They both replied two different answers at the same time. Everyone stared at the two.

“It’s a romantic comedy. I am giving an audition for a Web series and it’s a romantic comedy” she explained.

That was true. Arnav knew about it. And the auditions were this weekend in Mumbai. After her shoots there, she was going to stay back for 2 days and give the auditions.

“Web series?” Daadi finally opened her mouth. “Are you seriously going to work in such platforms?”

“Why not?” she queried back.

“But”

“Daadi” Arnav intervened. “I think this is an old news now. Lets not dig it every day. I am going to drop Khushi at the airport today evening”

Daadi zipped her lips. She couldn’t argue further if her grandson had no issues with his wife’s profession.

*******************

Despite Khushi resistance, Arnav decided to drive her to the Airport. She was going away for 4 – 5 days this time. They both were quiet half the way until he decided to break the silence.

“Why did you drink so much last night?”

She didn’t answer.

“Khushi..” he raised his tone. “I know you wont do it for fun. So tell me”

She exhaled.

“My father and I had an argument last night in the party”

He didn’t realize when this happened. He was too busy introducing Akash to their new clients.

“Your Daadi told him about my career choices despite being one of the Royal now and since you have given me approval to continue, she asked my father to convince me”

Arnav gripped the steering wheel. Why couldn’t Daadi understand?

“Forget all that” he uttered. “Give them time. They will either stop bothering or they will accept your choice”

“Just like you have?” she queried staring at him.

Arnav didn’t reply. Yes, he had accepted her choice. He wouldn’t meddle with her career anymore. If that made her happy, he was ready to adjust. As they got down at the airport, where his Private charter was waiting for her to board, Khushi stopped by Arnav.

“The plane would get you back on Sunday. You just need to confirm the time when you are ready to fly” he informed.

“What if I don’t want to come?”

Arnav’s smile was gone. He was back in his Royal mode.

“I am giving you enough liberty to make decisions for yourself Khushi. I have stepped out of my comfort zone to do this for you. It’s high time you realize and appreciate it. You can work, act, earn for yourself, do all that you want but at the end of the day, you will still be my wife and act like one. Just running away and breaking ties is not going to happen. I won’t let that happen”

Khushi stared at him impassively.

“Are you also going to spy on me when I am away?” she had to ask him this.

“Only to ensure you are safe”

“I don’t like it, Arnav” she made it clear enough. “I don’t want your eyes on me constantly over all my moves. That’s not liberty. That’s not freedom”

“People in your profession have guards to protect them. That’s all I am providing you. I want you safe and no arguments over it”

“Guards?” she snapped.

“They will pick you up at the Mumbai airport”

Khushi felt her body burning again.

“I don’t want your guards. Just tell them to back off. NOW”

Arnav blinked hard. His frown deepened but he obeyed her command. He didn’t want her to leave stressed. The panic attack she got earlier had opened his eyes. He would do nothing to bring that kind of situation again. He dialed someone and asked them to back off from the airport.

“Happy? Now go. Have a safe flight”

Khushi was pleased that he didn’t argue much and pulled back the guards. At least she could breathe freely in Mumbai without worrying who were tracking her moves. She climbed the stairs of the Plane and turned around to meet his gaze again. She could read on his face. He didn’t want her to go. She entered the plane without analyzing their feelings at this point. These 4 – 5 days distance between them should sort everything out.

****************

Mumbai

This was her temporary rental apartment. The one she usually stayed in whenever she shot in Mumbai. Millie helped Khushi settle down the luggage.

“Ma’am, we have an early morning shoot. So, I will pick you up by 06:00”

“I will be ready” she replied.

“What about your dinner Ma’am? You want me to order?”

“I will order something, thanks Millie”

Millie happily walked out and Khushi locked the door. She was terribly hungry and a sandwich or a Burger was all she craved for. She decided to take a shower and then place the order online from her favorite restaurant. Taking a relaxing bath, she picked her phone to place the food order when the doorbell rang. She opened the door only to find a delivery boy.

“Your Order Ma’am” he stretched the Parcel bag.

“Order?” she asked. “I didn’t order anything”

The delivery boy checked the name.

“Are you Mrs. Khushi Singh Raizada?”

Khushi frowned. She realized who might have placed the order for her.

“That’s me. Thanks” she took the parcel and shut the door. She scrolled her contacts to dial Arnav and ask him why he ordered on her behalf. Did he even know what she liked to eat?

“I see your Dinner has arrived” he said picking her call.

“Who gave you this address?”

“I wanted you to give me but since you didn’t, I took it from Millie”

Khushi clenched her jaw. She had to give some strict instructions to Millie on what to share with her husband and what not to.

“Arnav, you don’t have to do all this. I can order my own food. I don’t want to eat what you think I like to eat”

“Open the parcel” he groaned.

She exhaled and then unpacked the food. It had one Veg Sandwich without cheese, One pita bread burger and one glass of Watermelon juice. This was her favorite combo meal she preferred during her shoot schedule.

“How… how did you.. know?”

“Millie is very resourceful source” he replied.

Khushi rolled her eyes.

“Thanks but you don’t have to do this again. I can order myself”

“Finish the meal before it gets cold”

He disconnected the call and Khushi stared at her mobile screen blankly. Why was he doing this? He was on a full swing to woe her. But was she ready?

*******************

Shantivan
“I don’t understand Rani Saheba” Shyam snapped. “You wanted to stay away from this joint family. Now when I have arranged for it, you want to extend a few more weeks here in Shantivan? Why?”

Anjali sighed.

“I am not leaving until Payal’s Baby shower” she argued.

“We will attend the baby shower. But you don’t have to stay here until all that. I know how much it hurts you to see someone else carrying a child”

“You don’t understand, Shyam. Payal is new to this house. She is all alone as Khushi is not here either to support her. I want to be there for her”

Shyam was clueless.

“Why?” he asked. He knew his wife. She wouldn’t take such a decision without a strong reason. “Until you give me a good reason to stay, I wont agree. We have got the split of our Royal property. I don’t see any more reasons why we should stick here”

Anjali’s heart clenched explaining the reason behind it.

“They say, if we take care of a pregnant woman.. there are chances God blesses us too with a child” her eyes teared.

Shyam let out a sigh of frustration.

“Who fed you this?”

“Anamika”

“She is insane. Don’t believe it”

“Shyam please” she clutched his hand. “Just few more days”

Shyam couldn’t see her sob. He loved her too much to deny her wishes.

“Okay”

She hugged him back. If there was anything, she could do to be a mother, she would try.

****************

Mumbai
The early morning shoot went well. Khushi was back in her vanity van when she saw all those bouquets inside.

“Millie” she called out heading in.

“Yes Ma’am”

“What is all this? Who sent all these flowers?”

Millie had a deep blush on her face.

“Come on Ma’am. You can guess it easily”

Khushi frowned but the name soon flashed in her mind.

“Arnav?”

Millie nodded.

“Sir sent these flowers for you. He is so romantic”

Khushi’s lips thinned. Wasn’t he going overboard?

“You have to stop giving him my location details. Don’t tell him anything about my shoots or where we are shooting Millie. I don’t like it”

Millie pouted.

“But Ma’am. I have already shared it with him”

“What? When?”

“Even before you had reached to Mumbai. When you boarded the flight, he called me to inform and he asked me to mail him your entire schedule till weekend”

Khushi head spun. She had to do something about this before she actually tangles in his web forever.


To be Continued.


NEXT PART 

________________________________________________________________________________

Buy PDF Copy by Card 

Buy PDF Copy by Paypal 

This Edition includes the below mentioned Stories:

1. Bride Lost & Found
2. His Destined Bride