The Wait - Chapter 10

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CHAPTER 10


KHUSHI ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA


When I come out changing into a simple night salwar-kurta, Arnav stares at me a little baffled. He probably hadn’t expected me to wear this but a nightdress or a gown maybe which of course my mother has packed in plenty but I didn’t want to wear those revealing satin gowns tonight. I wouldn’t be comfortable sleeping on the same bed exposing so much of my body to anyone. This would be the first time I’ll share my bed with someone.. with the man I’m married to.


Arnav has changed into his night suit and he walks to the bed and pulls the comforter from both the ends so that we get inside. My heart beats frantically as he dims the lights in the room. Fisting the sides of my soft pink kurta, I look around uncomfortably thinking what to do next when Arnav reaches me. I raise my chin to meet his eyes nervously.


“What?” he shrugs. “Don’t make me sleep anywhere else except beside my legally wedded wife, Khushi. We didn’t marry to sleep in two different beds.”

I swallow nervously at his openness. Arnav is so vocal about what he wants unlike Dhruv who at times was very secretive.

“I don’t kick or roll on the bed,” he continues explaining. “I do snore but hopefully not loud enough to disturb your sleep.”

It brings a small smile on my lips. He didn’t have to tell me that. I would have found that out eventually.

“Nor I sleep walk or sleep talk,” he adds taking a step closer to me. “When I hit the bed, I just sleep Khushi,” he whispers and I don’t know why my body heats up at his husky voice.


It’s sinful to feel even innately conscious of this little attraction that my body has been feeling for him but I can’t help. Arnav Singh Raizada might be the harsh, rude and tough personality for the rest of the world, for his family he is soft, kind and lovable. And if I am reading him right, for his wife he is the most adjusting husband in the world.

“Do you need any more assurances to sleep next to me or are they enough?” his voice breaks my stupor.

I look down feeling utterly lost again. But then I show some courage and meet his eyes.

“It’s not you I worry about but me..” I reply.

He looks curiously at me to process what I meant.

“You sleep walk?” he asks and I nod my head in denial. “Sleep talk then?”

I roll my eyes.

“Snore?” Arnav continues and before he can go on guessing, I hold his hand to make him stop.

“I roll in my sleep.. maybe even.. kick..” I bite my lip to curb my embarrassment.


For a few seconds Arnav just gapes at me which is scary. Is that too much for him to adjust with? Before his silence starts bothering me, Arnav lets out a laugh. I stare at him blankly until he holds his stomach and stops laughing. The next I know he grabs my upper arms.

“Roll, kick, snore.. do anything you want, I wouldn’t mind. Now come on, lets get to bed. It’s too late to be awake besides I’m damn sleepy.”

He drags me to the bed and I’m finally a bit relaxed around him. I think that’s what he wanted to make me feel before we share the bed – make me comfortable. I slip inside the sheets and so does Arnav on his side of the bed. Thankfully the bed is wide enough and we have ample of space between us so there’s no question of our bodies touching. I turn away from him and close my eyes after he shuts the night lamps completely off. I can never sleep well in new places, I always take time to adjust yet tonight just a few minutes later of hitting the bed, I doze off.


ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA

When I wake up in the morning, Khushi’s side of the bed is vacant. I’m married to her!! I grin at that thought before getting up. Last night was easy, and I’d got the best sleep processing the fact that I was sharing the bed with Khushi. She didn’t kick or roll on my side of the bed as she had warned me about and though I’d wanted her to do that, I’m still happy with the fact that I could make her comfortable. It’s a fresh start of our life. A life where I’d promised to give her all the happiness of the world. Being a husband seemed the best role and responsibility in the world for me at the moment. I get down the bed and head straight for a shower. The fragrance inside the shower cubicle of fruity shampoo tells and body wash tells me Khushi has taken her shower here not very long ago. I touch the glass walls of the cubicle to feel her touch, promising myself that the day wasn’t very far when these same walls will witness me making love to her right under this shower. Soon!! Another wide grin pops on my face which is throughout the time I shower and come out of the bathroom.


Khushi is downstairs, arranging the breakfast on the table with Nani and Maami telling her about the food choices of everyone in the family. In a pink Anarkali dress, with her freshly washed hair still semi wet and hanging loose on her shoulder, Khushi looks busy and determined to make a mental note of everything what Nani and Maami are telling her. I’m glad its just the family now in Shantivan and no guests to disturb us.


“Good morning Arnav bitwa,” Maama slides his arm around my shoulder, leading me to the dining table and it definitely draws everyone’s attention on me.


One eye lock between me and Khushi and she quickly heads in the kitchen. What the F*ck!! Why can’t she just stay at one place and let me drool at her?

“Good morning Nani.. Good morning Maami.” I say, my eyes glancing at the kitchen door waiting for my wife to show up again.

“Good morning,” they both greet me together. “So? How was your Suhagraat?” Maama whispers..

I am dumbfounded at his direct question. Akash, my cousin, Maama’s son instantly joins us.

“Dad, Bhai cannot share his intimate details with you..” he replies.

“Thanks Akash..” I mean it.

“You are welcome, Bhai. That right of asking you about your first night is mine..”

What!! I punch his chest.

“Ask me again and I’ll ensure you don’t get married for another five years.”


Everyone laughs as I threaten Akash and take my seat at the dinning table. Khushi is out again with the coffee kettle. She’s just brewed some fresh coffee which without me telling her anything she starts pouring in my mug. How does she know I like to have a freshly brewed coffee the very first thing in the morning? Everyone takes their seat at the table.

“We are so lucky to have Khushi as your bride, Chotte. She’s already taking such good care of all of us.” Nani mentions.

Khushi is about to go back in the kitchen when I grab her wrist. She flinches at first and it doesn’t go unnoticed by the family members. I don’t care what they think.

“Where are going? Sit here with us and we are having breakfast together.”

She looks around and just like that everyone’s eyes soften seeing my affection for her. I pull out a chair for her and she hesitantly sits next to me. I quickly start serving in her plate knowing very well that my entire family is blushing and admiring the view. Khushi stops me when I continue adding another pancake in her plate.


“I don’t eat that much. One is enough.”

“One is never enough.. And besides, you will love these pancakes. Our chefs are some of the best cooks in the world.”

Khushi smiles at me and lets me add another pancake to her plate.

“Bhai never served us with so much love, did he, Maa?” Akash asks Maami who giggles with Nani and Maama.

“You wouldn’t understand this yet Akash.. when your wife steps in this house, you too will feed her the same way,” Maama replies and then everyone laughs together except me and Khushi as we eat quietly.

Life already feels good!!


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


The rest of the morning passes with me spending time making a few business calls. I’d ignored work a lot in the last few days as I was busy in my own wedding and also handling Di’s wedding in turn. It’s not easy to have two weddings together but now that all this was done, I gave a few hours of morning to do some business. Akash and Maama gave me a heads up of what was happening at office and I took over from there.


I’d heard Khushi was going to go to her Mayka and Di was coming here too by late afternoon and they would be staying tonight at their respective homes and not with their husbands. Tomorrow Jeejaji would come here to pick Di after this Pag phera ritual and I would go to Gupta House to get Khushi back home. I hated the fact that I’ll have to sleep alone on my bed tonight though all these years I’ve done the same. Wanting to spend some time around Khushi, I try to look for her, even ask one of my servant to send Khushi with another cup of coffee but though the coffee is sent, she is not the one who gets it. Another maid gets me the coffee and I lose my mind.


“Nani where is Khushi?” I ask a bit annoyed. I haven’t seen after morning breakfast.

“Why?” Nani chuckles.

“What do you mean why, Nani?” I snap. “It’s been a day just since we married and except her husband she has time for everyone in the family. Where is she?”

I don’t care if Nani thinks I am desperate for my wife. So be it. Nani laughs hysterically at my reasoning.

“Manorama..” Nani turns to Maami. “Is he the same man who showed so much disinterest in marrying Khushi at first?”

I roll my eyes.

“Haan Sasuma, he is the same man. Today Arnav bitwa proved that marriage changes a man completely and in favor of his wife.”

They both laugh again and that’s it. I lose my patience.

“I’m asking you for the last time. Where is Khushi?”

“In the kitchen,” Maami finally answers. “She is making your favorite kheer. It’s her first rasoi after marriage.”

“What? Kheer? Nani.. she is a new bride and you both made her work in the kitchen on her day one of married life? I.. I can’t believe you two.”


I march towards the kitchen.

“Bitwa.. it’s a tradition..” they both shout back at me and continue to laugh. Tradition or not, I’m not going to let my wife strain herself. The moment I reach the kitchen door, my steps falter at the sight before me. Khushi has climbed a stool and is trying to reach for some bowls which are at the top rack, much away from her reach. Though her effort to grab those bowls is cute, her attire baffles me completely. Today morning when I saw her, she was wearing a simple Anarkali dress but now… she has worn a plain yellow saree, the end of her Saree Pallu is neatly tucked around her milky waist to hold it in place so that she can work with ease. My gaze fix on the shining waist chain which she has once again hooked around her waist, enough to give me a hardon right at this instant, in the middle of afternoon, just by a look at it.


If I stand here looking at her, I might embarrass myself a bit more if Khushi happens to notice my bodily changes for her. The moment I decide to leave, I see the stool she is standing on slightly shifting. Khushi loses her balance and is about to fall down when I sprint to her and before she fully loses her balance and falls, I reach her and take her in my arms. Khushi breathes hard, her eyes still shut imagining the impact of her fall, her soft fingers fisting the fabric of my Tshirt, her nose rubbing the skin of my neck. I take a sigh of relief that I didn’t let her fall. That I saved her. I always will. Khushi slowly pulls away her head from my neck and looks into my eyes.

“What were you doing up there?” I ask angrily.

“I.. I needed those bowls to serve the kheer..”

“Bowls,” I groan. “Khushi you could have asked the servants to take them down for you. Why did you pull this stunt?”

“I’m not a baby, Arnav,” she retorts. “They were not very far from my reach so I tried..”

“Tried?” I scoff. “And what was the outcome? You were falling down hard.. dammit.”

“But I didn’t..”

“That’s because I saved you..”

She clenches her jaw.

“Well then don’t save me next time.. As is.. I don’t need you.”

She tries to get down from my arms but I pull her tighter to me.

“What did you say?” I angrily mutter. Did she just say she doesn’t need ME? Khushi recalls what she said that made me so much angry all of a sudden and her expressions ease.

“I…” she stutters. “I didn’t mean that..”

“Then what did it mean?”

I think my nostrils have flared and my face has ever expression of being angry and annoyed at my wife.

“We got married yesterday,” I say. “You are Mrs. Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada now. And if you don’t need me.. to look after you.. to keep you away from troubles.. who else do you need then?”


Khushi struggles to find the right words to explain me but I don’t think she will ever find those words to soothe my heart. I put her down but she doesn’t leave her grip from my Tshirt.

“Arnav…??” she murmurs.

I force her to open her fist and then once her grip is off me, I stand on the stool and get the bowls for her. I place them on the kitchen slab and then walk out.


To be Continued.

NEXT PART 

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𝘽𝙇𝙐𝙍𝘽
𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚
I know to make money, a hell lot of it, and that’s what has made me the man I am today. But a tenacious woman named Alisha Sethi, owning a prime property that I wanted in Mumbai’s hottest real estate sector, stood in my way. Though I kept women at bay, there was something in her I couldn’t ignore. Alisha’s one condition smashed down the barricades of my heart, and despite all the hot and cold conflicts, she turned into an obsession I couldn’t get over. No matter how far she planned to test me, lest did she know when I was dared, no one but me won the challenge.

𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢
I firmly believed my prince charming was just a dream away. But all I got was a pompous and demanding as hell real-estate billionaire, Armaan RaiSinghania, who was continually hounding me to negotiate a deal with him for his next project. I’d sworn never to give up fighting for what I believed in, and yet, one night, one earth-shattering moment changed it all. I’d waited for a romantic lover and got a fiery inferno instead. Armaan might live in the illusion of winning me over, but lest did he know the game had just gotten interesting.

𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚’𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭?

𝑨 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒗𝒔 𝑰𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒛𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑨𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒂, 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝑺𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊, 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆.