Bride of Sheesh Mahal - Season 3 - Part 20

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Chapter 20


Khushi’s POV


As soon as we reach back our room, Arnav turns to me.

“I am sorry, Khushi.. I .. I don’t think we can focus on us tonight knowing such a tragedy has happened in the house.”


His honesty in openly telling me about it touches my heart. He is a kind man and feels other’s pain very easily even though that other person is not from his family and just a worker of this palace. I stroke his arm.

“It’s fine. I understand. You don’t worry. He will be fine.”

“I hope so..”


He raises my fingers and kisses them before leading me to the closet where my bags are stored.

“Get changed. I’ll make calls to Akash and see what the progress on that worker’s treatment is..”

“Okay” I nod and he quickly moves to the poolside to make a few calls. Even after I change my heavy lehnga and come out wearing a simple churidar, he is still on call. I wait for him on the bed, hoping things are fine and no idea when I fall asleep.

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Arnav’s POV


When I finish my calls and return, Khushi is already asleep. She’s changed her dress and is sleeping at the edge of the bed. One turn and she might fall down. I quickly make way to her and then gently picking her up in my arms, I put her back on the bed at the center. She’s so fast asleep that she doesn't even realize this. I can’t believe this angel is mine.. Mine to love.. mine to devour. I recall the small moment we got with each other to kiss and make out before that incident happened. If it hadnt, we might have even consummated our marriage on this very wedding night. Seems like we’ll have to wait a bit longer.


With the hope that it doesn't stretch too far, I get changed into my night pants and T shirt and flop on the bed, next to my wife. She’s still sleeping peacefully and very much rolled to my side of the bed. Good for me. I quickly turn off the table lamps and cuddle her to me. She molds into my body like she’s used to this.. used to me and my touch. Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead I shut my eyes to sleep.

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

The next morning, I feel someone pulling something from my grip and I wonder what that is. When I open my eyes I see Khushi almost leaning over me to pull away her arm which I have gently tugged to my heart. A sweet smile pops on my face seeing her flushed state.


“Good morning, wife.”

“Leave my hand.. I am late..” she mumbles.

Late? For what? I don’t leave her and pull her close to me instead, this time by sliding my palm on her nape. She knows I’ve pulled her for a kiss and she instantly freezes.

“What?” I am amused at her behavior.

“We haven’t brushed and we didn’t even have shower yet… Plus Puja is still pending. You can’t think of all this early morning..”

“Says who?” I groan.

“Traditions.” She debates.

I roll my eyes and sit up, with my back at the headrest. But I don’t leave her arm yet. I know the moment I do, she will run away.

“I don’t know about your traditions, but in mine, a couple can start the day making love to each other in the morning.. that’s best to keep them active and fresh throughout the day.”


She shuts her ear from her other hand.

“How can you talk all this in the morning. Such things are restricted only to night..”

“Says who?” I groan aloud this time and she shuts my mouth with her palm.

“You’ll let the entire family know what you want from me..?”

I kiss her inner palm, “I wont mind.. Haq hai mera.”


Now she shies. And only when I am about to kiss her, she pushes me hard and gets down the bed.

“I am going to bath first. It’s mooh dikhai today and also my first rasoi at Sheesh Mahal.”

“Feed your husband’s desires first.. then his stomach.”


I get down from the other side of the bed and she runs into the bathroom in the fear that I might drag her to bed again. I literally hold my laugh at her gestures but I don’t stop her from continuing her work. She’s already accommodating me and my desires a lot. I don’t want to overstress her with more.

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

The Rasoi tradition where Khushi prepares a sweet dish for the family goes well. Daadi is super excited that she made two dishes and not just one. Everyone likes it and Khushi is gifted with stuff and blessings by almost everyone in the family. All I do is admire my wife secretly and at times even openly, waiting for the night to come soon. She too knows and acknowledges my open admiration but doesn't show it off like me.

It’s evening by the time I finish talking to the doctors about my worker’s condition. He seems to be fine now and still in a semiconscious state. I have compensated his family apart from paying the medical bills. That man is not going to be out from the hospital at least for next two days and even after that I am not letting him work here for a week more. He needs rest.


I realize the bedroom door is locked but I still open it with the digital key which I do at times not realizing that my wife is half-dressed in blouse and skirt, trying hard to drape a saree. I thought she was down already with my family. The moment she sees me inside Khushi clutches the bunched Saree to cover herself and it’s hard to take my eyes off her when she shies like that.


“Turn around..” she scolds me as if I did a mistake. “It’s bad manners to see a woman dressing up.”

A sly grin crosses my face. And though my body signals me to make way to her and take Khushi in my arms, devour her to my heart’s content, I still make no such attempts knowing it can scare her even more.

“You are right, actually. Even a husband doesn't have right to admire his wife dressing up unless his wife has no problem with it,” I accept and without waiting for her to repeat, I turn around. “But don’t ask me to get out of the room. This adjustment between us might not go well with my family if you push me out.” I say over my shoulder, without looking at her. “You can dress up while I promise not to turn around.”

“That’s not happening. I’ll need more time to wear this saree by myself. I am not expert in it.”

“Take your time,” I manage to say holding my chuckle.


I hear Khushi murmuring ‘Hey devi maiyaa’ again but she is not very audible.


“Should I help?”

“No” She snaps.

“Come on Khushi. We don’t have enough time. The guests have started gathering. Di will be here any moment to call you down. Imagine what her reactions will be if she comes to know the Bride of Sheesh Mahal doesn't know to drape a Saree.”

“I might be naïve, Arnav. But I am not a fool. I know your intentions very well. Stay wherever you are and keep your eyes shut. I don’t need your help.”


Damn!!

“Okay.. What if we tie something on my eyes? Then will you let me help you?”


She thinks over my suggestion and I take that opportunity to quickly walk to the bed where her discarded dupatta is lying. I take it and pass it to her, making sure I still don’t turn around and embarrass her again.


“Tie this on my eyes.. Come on.. You know you need my help.”


She hisses and finally snatches the dupatta from my hands only to shut my eyes. Finally!!

“Should I turn..?” I ask as soon as she blindfolds me.

“Wait. How many fingers are this?”

“What?” I am confused. “How am I supposed to see when you have tied this on my eyes?”

Khushi giggles.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to know. If the dupatta is tied properly or not. That means you really can’t see anything?”


Oh. Now I understand. I nod in agreement.

“I can’t see anything.” I assure. “But.. my sense of touch is still alive, Khushi Kumari Gupta singh Raizada..”


And that’s right. So what if I can’t see her half-dressed, I still get to touch her while draping the saree and that’s one heck of a feeling in itself. The moment Khushi realizes this, she tries to move away but I use my hearing senses and quickly grab hold of her wrist before she can escape. I haul her to me, crushing her body to mine.


“Sshhh.. it’s okay. Trust me. I won’t touch you inappropriately and if you feel I am crossing lines, you can always ask me to stop. Okay?”


I don’t know if she has nodded in response as I can’t see her but I surely know she is flushed.

“I need words Khushi.. I can’t see you..”

“Yes” she murmurs.


I happily take the saree from her hand and then arrange it in my fingers to drape it around her waist.

“This is the correct side?” I ask again to be sure.

“Yes”


Her tone tells me she is very embarrassed even now. So to make her feel better, I shift the topic while making her wear it.

“How come a Devi Maiyaa Devotee like you doesn't know to drape a Saree?”

“what is the connection between Devi Maiyaa and saree?” she cross questions. “A devotee can wear any type of clothes according to their comfort. That’s their personal choice. And I can’t wear saree that well because I never had anyone to teach me. If Maa was alive..”


She goes silent and I stop. I touch her eyes only to find them wet.

“A lot would be different If your mother was alive, I know.” I cup her cheeks. “But believe me she is there.. around you all the time and she is happy. Very happy.”

“How do you know she is happy?” she innocently asks and my smile turns into a grin for sure.

“Because you married me. I am the only man who can keep her daughter happy, desired and loved. She knows that.”


Khushi taps my chest in a gesture to stop praising myself and continue helping her which I do. I slide the Pallu on her left shoulder and then wait for the pleats to be done.

“How do you know to make a woman drape Saree?” she queries.

“You mean how many woman I have helped draping a saree before to get this much experience?”


She pushes me away.

“You have done this before?”

I stretch my arm and bring her back to me.

“Never.. You are first.. But… I have seen on videos how this is done and before you get any dirty ideas what kind of videos I watch, it was with my Di. She wanted to drape a saree for Jeejaji once before their marriage and there was no one at home to help her. So I insisted her to check on the YouTube and I gave her company in watching a few videos. That’s how I learnt.”

“Oh”


I have made the pleats and all I need to do now is tuck them at her belly. That’s the trickiest part since I don’t want to touch her inappropriately. When I am about to tuck them, Khushi instantly holds my wrists and stops me. I know she wants to take it up from here but I am not willing to.

“Let me..” I urge and my husky tone does it for her. She loosens her grips on my wrists allowing me to do the needful and I slowly tuck the pleats. My fingers brush gently on her abdomen and she tucks her tummy in to hold her breath.


She literally gasps when I graze more of her exposed skin to satiate this sinful desire I had at the moment and she doesn't stop me nor pushes me away. I am still blindfolded so I can’t see her expressions but I can sense it. She moves closer to me, liking my touch and I take that as a clue to raise my other palm to her face and bring her closer to my lips. Within seconds, our lips meet and I kiss her with so much heat and passion that we both forget the world at that moment. I use my free hand to take off the blindfold and then pull away to see her flushed face once before kissing her again.


The kiss turns feverish in its intensity as my free hand now slides around her exposed waist, rubbing and feeling her skin there. She doesn't stop me. I have longed for this and her acceptance to me is all I need at the moment to pull away from her lips and devour the rest of her face. I kiss her face everywhere like she is the cutest obsession I ever had and then suck the sensitive skin at the crook of her neck. She brings out this wild side in me which at times becomes hard to control and this time I bite her leaving a bluish red bruise.


She hisses in pain pushing me away realizing what I just did. I instantly feel guilty not for giving her a hickey but for the pain it might have caused her. Before she can scold me, the door knocks.


“Khushi??”

Its di. Khushi rushes to the dressing table to hide my teeth marks from her neck and once she is done concealing it, I open the door for Di.

“Chotte? Oh.. So you too are inside. Hmm. That’s why I wondered why Khushi is taking such a long time to dress up.”


I grin turning to Khushi who is red like a tomato.

“Di.. I’ll come in five minutes,” Khushi requests.

“Sure.. Take your time. You have really draped the saree well. I thought of asking if you needed any help?”

“I helped her drape it.” These words just come out of my mouth. Khushi’s jaw drop and Di blushes.

“Oh wow. That’s why it shows on her face. Your bride is glowing.”


I smirk at her tease.

“And what about me? Am I not glowing too?”


Khushi is extremely embarrassed at our bold discussions. She continues dressing up quickly while Di pinches my cheek.

“You are glowing since the time you met Khushi. Happy? Now come soon downstairs. And yes, Akash said the CCTV footage of the basement is ready. Once you are available, he can watch it with you to know how exactly that incident happened last night.”


I nod. This had literally skipped my mind.


“Sure. You people carry on with the function, I’ll sort this with Akash.”


I turn to Khushi to check with her once if she needs anything from me and only after her approval, I make my way down.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

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