Bride of Sheesh Mahal - Season 3 - Part 7B

(BANNER TO BE POSTED SOON) 

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Chapter 7B


Khushi’s POV


Babuji is overjoyed seeing me and Arnav getting down the car and heading towards him at the office. He quickly hugs me and then kisses my temple.


“Bitiya, you don’t know how much happiness you gave me today.”

I hug him tight. Arnav on the other hand is still with us. He doesn’t leave and probably is waiting for me to finish this conversation with my father. When I pull away from Babuji, Arnav leans down to take his blessings. I am stunned by his action. I never thought he would do that so early.

“God bless you,” Babuji blesses him.

“Daadi will call you today to progress ahead with this proposal” Arnav mentions and Babuji quickly nod in agreement.

“Yes. Yes. I’ll wait for her call.”

“Good. I’ll see you later then. Got some work to do.”

“Sure.”


Arnav gives me a glance before heading towards his small cabin. This office is very small and hence his cabin is very small too. But he has never complained. In fact he never treated any staff member here rudely or indifferently. He was always at his best behavior whenever he worked amongst us. That trait is definitely something I hadnt expected from such a powerful rich man like him.


“Khushi, what made you suddenly agree to this proposal?” Babuji raises his query.


I swallow and then put a smile on my face. I don’t want him to think I am marrying Arnav under any pressure. He or anyone else wouldn’t understand the real reason behind my approval.


“I thought a lot last night. Arnav is a good man and his family is really kind. Even you wanted the same, didn’t you? So how could I deny?”

“Yes yes. I wanted the same. You have no idea how much relieved I am that you are finally going to get married. Otherwise I thought you would never marry in your life.”


I had those exact plans. Never marry. I wanted to be a devotee of Devi Maiyaa forever and take care of my father. I wanted nothing else. But seemed like Devi Maiyaa wanted this and I couldn’t ignore her hints.

“Anyways, I will speak to Subhadraji and see when they want this marriage to happen. I am yet to make you jewelry.”

“Babuji relax. There is no hurry. We can do one thing at a time. For now, we both should resume to work. I have so many accounts to tally.

“Okay okay. You are right. I too have some work. Let us meet after office. We will go home together today.”

“Jee”


He leaves and I rush back to my desk. The whole day I am busy with Bakshiji, my senior and handling the accounts. It is only when I log off from my computer that I see Arnav Singh Raizada again. He is speaking to my father who looks happy again. I don’t know what they speak but then they look at me and my father nods. They are definitely talking about me. I grab my sling bag, and then make way towards them.


“Why not? I don’t mind at all,” Babuji says to him which I still don’t understand is on which context.


Arnav’s gaze holds mine for a second until I break it and look at Babuji.

“Should we leave?”

“Yes Yes. We should leave now so that you get some time to get ready again.”

“Ready again?” I frown. “for what?

Babuji is about to respond but Arnav does it for him.

“I am taking you out for dinner tonight.”


My jaw drops. He is taking me out?

“But why?”

“I might sound lame but this is what I am in terms of befriending with a man. I have never talked much even to my school and college boys.


“What do you mean why?” He debates. “we are going to marry which means we should know each other well. And to do so we need to spend time with each other.”

“Yes, but we spend time in the same office. The whole day in fact..”


Arnav gives me a ‘are-you-serious’ look before exhaling. Babuji intervenes.

“Khushi he is right. And spending time at office is different than spending time alone.”

“I don’t agree..” I snap. “How can I go alone with him?”

“Why?” Arnav argues. “I wont eat you up.”

“I didn’t mean that…”


He doesn’t let me speak but turns to my father.

“I will pick her up by 07:30pm,” he says and walks away.


What is this? How can he decide that? I didn’t give him permission to take me out yet.

“Khushi what is this behavior?” Babuji inquires. “He is going to be your husband. How can you talk to him so rudely?”

“I wasn’t rude. I am just surprised that he is taking me out before marriage. Just him and me, I mean..”

“So? What is so wrong about it? You know I also took your mother out before marriage. This is common. In your generation, couples tend to spend more time with each other before marriage and I don’t see anything wrong in it. Arnav is a good man. He will never misbehave.”

“It’s not about misbehaving. I think its too early. I want to spend time with you which I wont be able to do once I become his bride.”


Babuji now understands my problem and pinches my cheeks.


“You have to stop thinking about me so much. I will be fine. And who said we won’t meet much? I will come to see you every weekend and on weekdays we will meet here at office.”

I nod painfully as he explains me. I don’t want to upset him but I still have my reservations about why Arnav wants to take me out for dinner tonight? What will be speak? Or rather .. what would be Do? With me? I place my palm over my thudding heart to ease it down.


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

Arnav’s POV


Sharp at 07:30pm, I park my vehicle at the Gupta house. Shashi Gupta comes out to greet me and I get down the car.


“Is she ready?” I ask, hopeful that Khushi is not up for more tantrums.

“Yes, she is almost ready.”

“Oh..”

“Till then why don’t you come inside?”

“No thanks. I am fine here..”


I don’t want to get in the house and then again waste more time. I just want to take her out and spend some time with her. To be honest I am nervous. Hell nervous than she might be. Marriage scares me too and especially the way my body has started reacting to hers is what scares me more. I have never felt such connection before with any other woman. I also need to know more about her and what she expects from me so that we are both on the same page hereon. I don’t want her unnecessary tantrums later. Whilst I am still lost in these thoughts, I see her coming out from the main door. In a simple yellow Salwar Kurta, Khushi has adorned the cutest look tonight. Even her simplicity is such a huge turn on.


“There she is.” Shashi Gupta exclaims.

As soon as Khushi reaches us, she smiles at me clutching her sling bag tight. She loves that bag, doesn’t she? I have never seen her without that bag ever. She carries it everywhere all the time.

“Babuji, your dinner is ready. All you have to do is heat it and serve yourself. And don’t forget to warm your water. I don’t want you to drink cold water which can hurt your throat. The weather is already chilling.”

“I’ll be fine, Khushi. Stop worrying about me. Go now. You two are getting late.”


I smile at him and then open the door for Khushi to get inside. Once she is seated, I say goodbye to her father and then take the driving seat. After a mile away from her home, Khushi breaks her silence.


“Where are we going?”

“Wherever we get good food. Do you have any such place in mind?”

“You didn’t reserve a table yet?” she looks surprised and I simply shrug.

“I wanted to take you where you are comfortable with me.”


I glance once at her and find her admiring me with a surprised expression.

“You sure you will like my choice of restaurant?” she queries.

“The food should be good. That’s all I need right now..”


She smiles and then helps me with the directions. At around 8 miles, I stop the car at a Punjabi Dhaba. It’s pure veg restaurant and I am not surprised.

“You don’t eat non veg?” I ask.

“I do. But I don’t eat on specific days like today is Thursday and its Devi Maiyaa’s day. So, I don’t eat.”


I will keep that in mind henceforth. Parking the car, I get down and so does she. The Dhaba is open-styled with small cots to sit and a small table between two cots where the food would be served. I haven’t really got much time to explore India but seems like now I can do that with Khushi alongside.


“This is the most famous dhaba in our town.” She explains. “People from far off cities come here to eat. Can you believe?”

“I can believe,” I murmur and lead her towards a vacant cot at the corner. We sit opposite to each other. It’s cute!! The open dark sky instead of an Air conditioned room, the noise of crickets and other small insects instead of a romantic music and fresh air. She is way beyond comfortable right now and that makes me happy too.


The waiter keeps two glass of water and I am about to pick one when Khushi picks the same glass. Our fingers brush and she instantly pulls away as if she touched a ghost.!! Now I know why she chose this place. It’s open with people around and not cosy and private where its just we two. She is a touch-me-not devotee after all, how could I forget? She picks the other glass and gulps some water before turning again to me.


“This wont work for long..” I mutter..

“What wont work for long?” she pretends being oblivious..

“Your touch-me-not thing..” I answer gulping some water and then put the glass down.


Her cheeks turn red but she maintains that cold expressions as I continue.


“I hope you know a couple is allowed to touch each other.”

She squeals at that remark, pulling her legs closer and I can’t control that blush on my face. Even the mere thought of what couples do can get that reaction from her then what would she do with me in future?

“I know” she swallows. “But there is still time for our marriage..”

“You mean I can’t touch you before marriage at all? Not even hold your hand?”

“You can hold my hand when it is necessary..” she argues.


I see!! I Like this discussion already.

“Like when we click pictures together during our Roka and other ceremonies and we have to be closer, its fine.”

My brows twitch again in surprise.

“What else can I do after our Roka and apart from touching your hand?”


Her jaw drops in embarrassment.

“You got me here to discuss all this?”

“Not just all this but also all this..” I comment. “And as you know I like to have transparency between me and my partner. It’s better we already define what we can and we can’t so that we don’t hurt each other.”


She looks away, as if avoiding this chat. The waiter interrupts us and we quickly place the order. Khushi knows better what is the best food here so I let her place the order on my behalf. She orders Lassi too and I see the glow on her face as it is served. I think she loves Lassi. Huh! Tonight is going to be a memorable dinner date and I can’t wait to see how it ends!!


To be Continued.

NEXT PART

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