Bride of Sheesh Mahal - Season 3 - Part 19

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Chapter 19


Arnav’s POV


“Khushi you are scaring me dammit! What happened? Why do you look so scared?” I scowl at her as she gently moves her hand away from me and her Mangalsutra.

“I saw a shadow on Sheesh Mahal,” she murmurs.

“Shadow?”

I turn around and there’s no one here whose shadow could fall on the Sheesh Mahal.

“It’s gone now” she swallows.

“Let’s get inside..” I drag her to the door where the family is waiting to welcome us.


Khushi and I quickly put smiles on our faces to show everything is normal. After circling the Puja thali before us, Khushi is made to push the rice kalash and then she steps in the house.


The moment she steps in the house the lights go off. Khushi clutches my arm and I soothe her hand to convey her its okay.

“This is a bad shagun.. The bride just entered the palace and the lights went off” one of the old woman from our relatives speaks from behind.

Daadi and Di panics but soon Daadi ignores it and still welcomes in the house. I ask the servants to check what the hell is wrong with the lights and they usher to the basement to check on the same.


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

Khushi’s POV


I wait with Anjali Di until they light up diyas and candles in the living room until the lights are fixed. Arnav hasn’t stopped glancing at me from the group of his friends whom he is with. I know he didn’t like when someone pointed out it was inauspicious for the lights to go when I stepped in the house. That’s enough for me that he is always there to support me. I scan the living room once where the guests are enjoying despite there being little light in the room. I wonder if this is the doing of the shadow that I felt outside. Wish I had some premonition on what is going to happen in future with Arnav but now that I am married and Arnav wants to consummate this marriage as he told me in his message on haldi, I am going to lose that power too like my mother did after her marriage. How will I protect Arnav then? All these thoughts haunt me when suddenly Anjali di speaks.


“Khushi come on now, you and Chotte will have to play some post wedding games. Are you ready?”


I swallow my fear and put back a smile. Soon, we are made to sit opposite to each other and big utensil filled with milk, rose petals and some pebbles is kept between us. Anjali di puts a golden ring in it and we are asked to fetch it with one hand. The one who finds it first will be the one who will dominate the marriage. As soon as we start fetching there are many instances when Arnav’s fingers stroke mine and the intensity with which they do it makes me enthusiastic of the moments we will be alone. Both me and Arnav find the ring at the same time and we raise it together. Everyone claps for us and it means according to them that we will mutually lead this marriage with equal respect and love for each other. Arnav makes me wear that ring in one of my fingers and then raises my hand to kiss that too. I hide my blush but it’s too late as Arnav has already seen my state and he knows I am equally eager for the next.


After a few more games like this, the guests disperse and I am finally taken to Arnav’s room upstairs. Sheesh Mahal is no less than a king’s palace. I haven’t got much time to know about its past but now that I am the bride of this palace, I’ll make sure to learn some. Arnav is still down with his cousins and will be coming upstairs some time later. Anjali di makes me sit on the decorated bed and then cups my face.


“Happy wedding night, Khushi. I’ll convince Chotte not to tease you much..”


My cheeks flame at that remark.

“And I guess the no lights in the room is making this night even more romantic, isn’t it?” She adds.

I shy away. Wish the lights come soon because somehow I am still confused why the lights went off like that. The entire house is only lit with candles and diyas just like this room which is lit with the same. Once Di leaves I take out the box which my mother wanted me to open after my wedding. The curiosity to check its contents made me keep this box close by so that in the free time I could check it. Now that Arnav is yet to make it to the room I open the box. Something shines inside it making me all the more eager. There’s an old giant key inside with a white diamond of around 2 cm in diameter. Is it real? I don’t know but the shine it has and the laser cut design of it which looks very antique and authentic makes me believes so. How can my mother have a diamond like this with her? What does it imply? My father was a simple man and he couldn’t afford a jewel this expensive. And this key? What is it? Why did my mother wanted me to have this box after my marriage? Did she get some premonitions about my marriage? Is this box related to the clue I need to save Arnav? I don’t know. I hear the sounds of Akash, NK and Arnav on the passage to the room and I quickly put the box in the side drawer. I haven’t told Arnav anything yet about it and would do once I am alone with him. Maybe not tonight but soon.


The door opens and before Arnav, NK and Akash rush in the room.

“Hello Bhabhi.. Hope you are comfortable”


I turn to Arnav who glares at his brothers for wasting his time.

“Jee..” I smile back.

“Good.. Anything you need you can always tell us. Bhai is usually busy with his work but me and NK are like you little brothers now and we will be more than happy to fulfil any duties you give us..”


I like to hear that.

“Alright guys, get out” Arnav roars.

“Bhai one minute. What’s the hurry?” Akash grins and turns to me again.

“Bhabhi, let me tell you a secret” NK joins the conversation. “Bhai snores at night.”


I hold my laugh when Arnav rolls his eyes and literally drags the two by their sherwani collars to the door.

“Get out you two.. Enough of your drama.” Arnav groans pushing them out and shuts the door.


The moment we are alone, my smile vanishes and I become stiff watching him get to the bed which dips when he sits on the edge.

“Tum theek ho?” He asks and my body relaxes again.

He is always so caring.


“I am sorry for what happened down there. The lights going off was technical fault and my relatives pointed out at you which is so ridiculous.” He sighs in frustration.

“It’s okay. I .. I didn’t take it seriously.”

My response eases him too. He then gets up.

“You can change. This heavy Lehnga is wearing you out, I know.”


I quickly look at my attire and then nod in denial.

“It’s our wedding night. I can’t change this dress. It’s a tradition.”

Arnav is baffled at my reply but then he grins and reaches me from the other side of the bed so that he could access me better. He cups my face while standing next to the bed.

“If that’s so, I would love to follow this tradition.” He leans closer. “I’ll be the one to get you off this outfit tonight”


My eyes widen at his romantic approach. My lips quiver as he places a gentle kiss on my forehead and then steps back.


“Are you exhausted?” he asks. “I need an honest answer.”

I don’t know why he asked me that. I am tired but not that much.

“I am not sleepy right now.” I almost chew my tongue when I finish responding.


Another grin crosses his lips and he nods.

“So when you feel sleepy, can you tell me? We can stop there and I’ll let you rest.”


Okay. That definitely sounds better. After Payal explained me what happens between a man and woman after their wedding, I was mostly scared when I heard a few examples of first night of our other friends. Most of their husbands were desperate to consummate but Arnav is not one of them. Yes, he wants me in every sense but he also wants to give importance to my wishes and health which I appreciate.


I realize he is waiting for my reply and I quickly shake my head agreeing to tell him when I feel sleepy. Thank God there is no much light in the room and he can’t see the color change of my cheeks which I am sure is happening. The next minute I see him getting rid of the Sherwani kurta and I instantly close my eyes with my palms the moment I see him shirtless.

The bed dips again and in a few seconds I realize Arnav is sitting next to me.


“Why have you closed your eyes?” he murmurs, taking off my heavy earrings.


I let him do that and respond with my palms still shutting my eyes.


“Because you are.. you are shirtless..”


The last time I had seen him without his shirt was in the car when I asked him to take off the shirt and show me the bruises on his arm which matched with my fingers. Also the other day when he gave his shirt to our office security guard’s son who was shivering in cold. But both the times he had a sleeveless vest on him and this time the absence of it made me shiver.


“It’s sad..” Arnav pulls my wrists away so that I stop hiding my face from him. But my eyes are still shut. “Because whatever we do hereon, will need us to be less clothed..”


Hey Devi Maiyaa.. why does he have to tease me so much by his direct speech?

He kisses my cheeks one by one and I am on full alert. Everything that Payal told me started with this. Hey Devi Maiyaa..

“Hey..relax..” He holds my shivering hands. “God you are shivering..”


Am I? Of course I am. Arnav rubs my palms to get me some warmth and that little gesture is enough for me to open my eyes and watch him. He is so engrossed to make me feel better that I forget all my shyness and touch his cheek.


He finally looks back in my eyes and we both smile.

“Hum theek hai..” I mention before he asks me.


The next instant Arnav pulls my arm and places it on his heart. I do realize my palm is in direct contact with his chest but I don’t pull away.


“You feel this?” He murmurs softly. “My heart is beating frantically.. all thanks to you..”


He is right. It’s beating too fast.

“I am as nervous as you are Khushi Kumari Gupta..”

“Singh Raizada” I add, keeping my other palm over his chest too. Arnav grins at my remark and then grabbing both my hands, he pulls me for a hug.


This hug surely eases off all my worries, confusions and tensions which I had for tonight. I know Arnav can handle this as smoothly as I want him to. He rubs my back, his fingers playing with the knots of my Choli but the moment I wriggle, he pulls us away, scoops my face in his palms and kisses me.


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

Arnav’s POV


I don’t know what happens to me when I kiss her. She’s the tastiest thing I have ever tasted now that I know what she tastes like. It’s hard to believe we are finally married despite all the spooky stuff that kept us both on our toes from past few days. I always believed Khushi was not going to be an easy nut to crack in terms of intimacy but tonight even after shying away she was going beyond herself to give me what I needed. But I wasn’t going to be that harsh on her either. I understand she needed time to get used to this and hence whenever and whichever moment she wants me to stop, I’ll gladly accept her demand and let her rest.


Right now, I focus on the kiss which has shot sparks in our bodies which can light the whole of Sheesh Mahal. We pull away to breathe and then kiss again needing each other more. The kissing soon turns out to making out as I lay her on the bed, and hover on top of her to kiss her neck, while my fingers play with her exposed waist between her choli and lehnga. I am almost on the verge of untying her dress when we hear a sharp scream from outside. Khushi is the first one to break that moment.


“What was that?” she asks little horrified.

“Ignore..” I mutter lazily before getting back to my work. But the next scream is even more intense than the previous ones which obviously I can’t ignore too.

I pull away from Khushi as I hear the sounds of Akash and the rest of my family members at the passage as if they are out of their rooms too.


We get down the bed and Khushi quickly straightens her outfit.


“I’ll go check what’s wrong.” I say.

“I am coming with you..”

“Khushi no. You stay here and..”

“I am not letting you go anywhere without me.”


I realize why. She is more worried of me so I let her along. We hurry out and meet Di at the stairs.

“Di what happened?”

“Chotte, one of the servants who were checking the lights issue in the basement has got injured.”

“Injured?” I snap. “How?”


We hurry to the basement with her.

“He was repairing the socket which had a problem when someone put the fuse and he got shock. Fortunately the other servant hit him by a wooden log and he survived. But he is still shivering. Akash has called for an ambulance.”


We reach the basement and the instant we reach the electric board where this entire thing happened, Khushi grabs my arm tight.

“There’s some negative energy here,” she says scanning the place as if reading it.

“Not now Khushi.. We have someone to save first..”


She nods and we join the rest of the family. The ambulance reaches in 5 minutes and the servant is taken to the hospital. NK and Akash go along with him and another servant to complete the hospital formalities. I take a look at the electric board and then turn back to the other people who worked on getting the lights back.


“Who the hell put that fuse when you knew one of them was working on it?” I shout.


They all tremble in fear.

“We… we don’t know Sahib. Why would we do it?”

“But someone did right? And you all are answerable.” I snap.

Manohar Uncle soothes my back.

“Arnav, its okay. Don’t stress. I am sure no one amongst us would want to harm anyone. We will talk about this tomorrow. And don’t worry he will be fine. Akash and NK will handle everything. Khushi and you should get back to your room. It’s your first night after marriage. Don’t stress over this incident. I’ll keep taking updates from Akash and will let you know if anything is needed.”


I sigh in anger and then scoot out of that room. Khushi follows me and I am so angry right now that something like this happened in my palace that has literally spoiled everything and all the excitement of being married too.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

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A Standalone Office Romance by Madhuri Tamse.

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How does it feel when the most charming man in the city chooses you for a dance, ignoring every other gorgeous face around? Splendid, isn't it? And what if that man is also your Boss who has never shown a bit of interest in you so far? Bizarre!! But that's how Ritwik Bajaj, the most eligible bachelor in the Fashion industry, also known for his playboy nature, swooned me. It was not just a ball night to remember but the most nerve-tickling three weeks of my life after, where he fulfilled all my romantic fantasies, which I wondered a man like him will ever shower upon me.

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