CHAPTER 17
KHUSHI ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA
As I enter the kitchen, the warmth of the morning sun mixing with the aroma of freshly cooked food greets me. However, my surprise is palpable as I see Nani and Maami bustling around, preparing breakfast. It's evident they've been here for a while, considering the variety of dishes filling the serving bowls.
"Nani?" I inquire, my voice laced with curiosity. "What are you both doing here?"
Nani turns towards me, a smile lighting up her face. "Khushi, good morning," she greets me warmly. "We thought of making breakfast today. Dhruv has returned, and we want to celebrate his homecoming with his favorite dishes."
At the mention of Dhruv's name, I feel a sudden stiffness settle within me. Memories of our past relationship and his sudden reappearance in my life flood my mind, creating an undeniable tension. I try to compose myself and respond to Maami's inquiry about my well-being and health, assuring her that I am fine.
Determined to ease the awkwardness and be of assistance, I insist on joining Nani and Maami in the kitchen. We begin making aloo parathas together, the familiar routine of cooking helping to distract my racing thoughts.
Soon, the tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked parathas fills the air, and we move to the dining table. The family has gathered, their presence a mix of comfort and apprehension.
Just as I start serving, I hear Dhruv’s voice.
“Good morning lovely people,” he says giving a hug to Nani, side hug to Maami and then a high-five to Akash before smiling at me. “Hi Khushi.”
Had it been the old times, I would have smiled back normally without having to think much but now each gesture of mine towards Dhruv have started becoming calculative.
“Hi,” I murmur, before turning my gaze on the stairs where I see Arnav getting down. He glances at me once before turning his head and looking at Dhruv. They share a stiff eyelock, their gazes filled with unspoken words and complicated emotions. I realize the weight of our unspoken history, the fact that I was once Dhruv's girlfriend and now stand as Arnav's wife, adding an undeniable layer of discomfort to the room.
Standing by the table, I try to maintain a calm demeanor, my eyes flickering between Arnav and Dhruv. I can't help but wonder what thoughts are running through their minds, how they navigate this new dynamic with me at the center. It's a delicate balance, one that requires understanding, patience, and acceptance.
Arnav wishes everyone and then reaches me.
“I told you, no need of serving us. We all can self serve,” he says, before leading me to the nearest chair and making me sit.
He takes the empty one next to me, opposite to that of Dhruv and then smiles at me again.
“Relax,” Arnav whispers, only for my ears. “Remember, amidst the complexities and uncertainties, some things remain constant. You are my wife now, Khushi. So, I don’t care what your past was and so shouldn’t you.”
I swallow nervously. It’s easy to say this but so difficult to do when your past is right under your nose in your present.
“Arnav Singh Raizada is a philosopher too?” I try to change the subject.
He grins at me as if appreciating my curiosity.
“I’m a lot more than just a good husband and a philosopher and you’ll see that someday.”
“Love birds,” Maami’s voice breaks our trance and we focus back on the family. “I know you two fill your stomachs by just admiring each other, but the aloo parathas are getting cold. Have it. C’mon.”
“Aloo parathas?” Arnav sighs. “Where are my pancakes?”
“Chotte, we cooked Dhruv’s favorites today,” Nani replies.
“And you know how much he is fond of Desi food,” Maami adds caressing Dhruv’s back as he is sitting next to her.
Before Arnav can respond, Dhruv joins the conversation.
“Aloo parathas aren't just my favorite, they're Khushi's too, right Khushi?”
Yes they are. But he didn’t have to assert his understanding of my preferences before everyone. His intentional remark aims to highlight the connection he shared with me and to remind Arnav that he knew me well too. It's a subtle provocation, a reminder of the bond we once had. Though the family ignores how Dhruv knows about my favorites, I can’t miss Arnav suddenly stiffening.
I smile at everyone, not realizing the discomfort it stirs within Arnav. When I steal glances at him, hoping for reassurance or a connection, he remains distant, his gaze fixed on his plate as he quietly begins eating his breakfast. The silence between us is palpable.
“C’mon, Arnav,” Dhruv pokes again. “You can adjust for a day for your wife, can’t you?”
I can’t believe Dhruv is doing this. What does he intend to do?
"A day?" Arnav finally breaks his silence. "I can eat only my wife's favorites for the rest of my life."
"Really?" Dhruv smirks. "For someone who always wants things to be done his way, it's hard to believe."
The table falls into an awkward silence as everyone's attention is fixed on Dhruv and Arnav engaged in their debate.
"True love," Arnav continues, his hand gently touching mine over the table. "Love can reduce anyone to anything."
As he says those words, my heart skips a beat. Did Arnav just say he loves me? Did he mean it, or was it just a ploy to provoke Dhruv further?
Dhruv glares at our handhold, clearly disliking the display of affection. Meanwhile, the rest of the family happily appreciates what Arnav said, praising how love and marriage have changed him for the better.
Arnav then turns to Dhruv, a hint of smugness in his voice. "You wouldn't understand this yet, Dhruv. To truly understand, you need to fall in love."
Dhruv clenches his teeth, clearly irritated. Maami suddenly pats Dhruv's back and playfully adds, “Now it's Dhruv's turn for marriage. Khushi, as the new bahu of this house, it will be your responsibility to find a bride for Dhruv.”
I flinch at the mention of this new responsibility. I discreetly shrug my hand from Arnav's hold and force a smile. This conversation is completely getting out of hand.
“Oh yes, Khushi knows exactly the kind of woman I need,” Dhruv responds, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “I hope Arnav gives her enough time and space to focus on my needs too, so she can find a suitable bride for me.”
Arnav's anger flares up at Dhruv's comment. I'm tired of this ongoing cold war between the brothers.
“I don’t think Khushi has that much time to focus on your bride for now.” Arnav rebukes. “She is the new bride in this family and still adjusting to her new life.”
Will someone stop this argument? And though its thoughtful of Arnav to not let me get involved in finding a bride for Dhruv, he didn’t have to declare anything on my behalf. I’m capable enough to deny it.
“Besides,” Arnav wipes his lips with the napkin. He hasn’t even finished the breakfast yet. “Before taking up the responsibility of a wife, I think Dhruv should first take over his duties at office.”
“He is right,” Nani agrees. “But he has just returned. Let him rest for some time. Business is going nowhere.”
“How about Dhruv joins office and also we look a bride for him parallelly?” Akash suggests. “That way, my turn to get married will also come soon.”
Everyone laughs it out except me. I don’t know how to react to all of this. Unable to bear the tension any longer, I get up.
“I just remembered I’d to call Mumma. Excuse me.” I come up with an excuse, and quickly leave the room. As I step out, I take a moment to collect myself. This family dynamic is becoming more complicated by the day, and I find myself yearning for some peace amidst the chaos.
ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA
Khushi is standing at the poolside, her gaze fixed on the serene water. I can sense the tension in her, the unease that lingers after the breakfast table episode. She didn't finish her meal, and I know it's because of the atmosphere we created.
"Spoke to your mom?" I inquire, coming up behind her.
Her body tenses as she turns around, clearly surprised to see me once again in such close proximity. "Ye-yeah. I did," she stammers, trying to compose herself.
I reach out and gently grip her shoulder, a small reassurance of my presence. "Khushi, we agreed not to hide anything from each other. You don't have to lie to me. I know that calling your mother was just an excuse to leave the table."
She looks at me, her eyes searching mine for understanding. "Then why are you still here? Shouldn't you be leaving for the office?"
A faint smile forms on my lips as I brush a strand of hair away from her face. "I wanted to see you, to make sure you're doing fine. And yes, I'll admit, I have my reservations about leaving you alone with Dhruv. I trust you, Khushi, but I can't help worrying about how Dhruv might continue to bother you."
Her expression softens. "Arnav, I'll be okay. Dhruv is a part of this family, and I can't avoid him. We have a history together, and I want to treat him as family again."
I hold her gaze, my voice filled with determination. "I will never stop you from being Dhruv's friend or treating him as family. That's your choice, and I respect it. But I want you to know that amidst all this, I won't tolerate Dhruv misbehaving with you or causing you any harm. Your well-being is my priority."
Khushi's expression softens as she absorbs my words. She understands my determination to protect her while respecting her desire to treat Dhruv as family again. But now, it's time for a lighter moment, a playful side of me that I want to share with her.
"There's another reason why I came here and didn't leave for the office right away," I say, a mischievous glint in my eyes. She looks at me with confusion, unsure of what I'm about to say.
I lean closer to her, my voice filled with a playful tone. "I wanted you to kiss me every day before I leave for work."
Her eyes widen in surprise, and she lets out a heavy breath. The idea catches her off guard, and she hesitates. I reach up, cupping her face gently, and continue, "It's a symbol of our relationship moving forward, a reminder of our connection. With my beautiful bride at home and me working at the office, I'll need some fuel to sustain me throughout the day without you."
As I inch closer to her lips, her own part slightly, but she pushes me away gently. Her voice is soft yet firm as she speaks, "Arnav, we're still in the process of establishing the foundation of our marriage. Just yesterday, we shared some of our past secrets. It's too early for me to forget everything and dive into intimacy. You'll have to earn that trust and comfort level."
I sigh, feeling a tinge of disappointment, but I understand her perspective. I nod, accepting her words. "Okay. I'll wait patiently and trust you. I want us to progress at a pace that makes you feel comfortable."
But I can't resist the urge to shower her with affection. I pull Khushi closer by her nape and press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "At least a forehead kiss is non-negotiable," I say with a playful smile.
I stroke her cheek lovingly, savoring the moment, and then reluctantly let her go.
"I'll see you at evening, Khushi. Take care and remember, I'm just a phone call away."
With those words, I leave for the office, my heart brimming with anticipation if she will call me today or message when I am at work. I hope she does.
****************
AR Office
I glance at my phone placed on the desk, my attention divided between Aman's explanation of the contract details and the anticipation of a message or call from Khushi. Aman notices my distracted state and smiles.
“Is everything alright, Boss? I mean, is there's somewhere else you need to be?”
I can't help but grin at his observation.
"Why do you ask, Aman?" I inquire, genuinely curious about his insight.
Aman chuckles, leaning back in his chair. "Well, since this morning, I've noticed you glancing at your phone every now and then. It seems like something is on your mind."
I nod, acknowledging his observation.
“How many years since you married, Aman?” I ask.
“Two years.”
That’s still a long term. I recall Aman had invited me to his wedding but I wasn’t in the country. All I did was sent him a gift and flowers for his wedding and of course given him a two week off for his wedding and honeymoon.
“Does your wife call or text you often when you are at office?” I probe further.
He looks suspiciously at my curiosity to know about his personal life but he doesn’t hide it.
“She used to text me all the time during the initial days. But as time went on and we both settled into our routines, the number of messages reduced. It's natural.”
Hmm! I reflect on his words, finding solace in the fact that each marriage is unique and unfolds at its own pace.
“I'm still in the early stages of my marriage, and I find myself expecting Khushi, my new bride, to message or call me,” I say looking at the phone again. “But she hasn't reached out yet, which is why I keep glancing at my phone."
"Ah, it's the husband thing, isn't it? That eagerness to hear from your wife," Aman teasingly responds.
I smirk, realizing the truth in his words. "Yes, it seems so. I suppose I'm still adjusting to this new aspect of married life."
I really am the old school types. I want my wife to keep checking on me if I reached office, if I had my lunch, what time I am returning home, if we are going out on weekends. She coaxing me for a movie date or shopping. And then we spending the weekends in our own private bubble. I have literally imagined all of this with Khushi when our marriage was fixed. Now I can’t wait for them to turn out true.
Though Dhruv’s return has shuffled my original plans of winning Khushi’s love, and Khushi has wanted some time to adjust to everything happening around us, I'm sure she will reach out to me when the time is right.
With that, I continue our discussion, focusing on the contract at hand.
KHUSHI ARNAV SINGH RAIZADA
It’s clearly a busy day especially when the family decides to hold a party for Dhruv’s return and celebrate the news with their loved ones, all relatives and friends. All the brainstorming of what kind of party, when and where has left me exhausted. Thankfully Dhruv wasn’t a part of this discussion as the family wants to surprise him with the party. It’s evening now, and I am about to retire to my room when I hear his voice.
“Hi Khushi,” Dhruv calls me from behind.
My heart skips a beat as I hear Dhruv's voice calling out my name. I freeze in my tracks, my mind racing with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. Dhruv steps forward, a smile playing on his lips, as he stands before me.
Internally, I'm filled with turmoil. Meeting Dhruv alone, away from prying eyes, feels both dangerous and unethical. I don't want the family to overhear our conversation and uncover the shared past we have been desperately trying to keep hidden.
Dhruv breaks the silence.
“How are you coping up after last night?”
I don’t understand at first.
“Did you confront Arnav about his knowledge of our affair in the past?” Dhruv adds.
My heart clenches at his words.
“I talked to him.”
“Good,” he smiles. “What did he say?”
The curiosity to know what conversation Arnav and I had, is palpable. However, I keep the details to myself, refusing to divulge more to Dhruv.
“Dhruv, I.. I don’t want to talk about it.”
His expression twists with disbelief.
“Fine. But I'm shocked that you're still being cordial with Arnav," Dhruv remarks. "Have you forgiven him so easily? How can you be so nonchalant about it?"
I take a step back. "Dhruv, please don't involve yourself in the decisions I make. I know what I'm doing. Excuse me.”
Before I can turn away and leave, Dhruv surprises me by reaching into his jacket and retrieving a small pink rose. My confusion deepens as he presents it to me.
“For you,” he says. “I still remember your love for roses. That’s why I went out and got this one for you today. I hope this changes your mood.”
I'm taken aback by his gesture, feeling a mix of shock and unease. It's not right for Dhruv to be giving me a rose now.
Suddenly I feel him. Arnav slides an arm my waist, standing next to me. Both Dhruv and I are stunned by Arnav's sudden presence. I turn sideways to look at him whereas Arnav is too busy giving glares to Dhruv who has still held out that rose for me. Gosh! This is bad!
To be Continued.
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AMAZON REVIEW
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The famous French proverb is the ultimate gist of Madhuri’s new novel ‘The Gamble.’ Before I start pouring down the outburst of my emotions for this part of trilogy, let me first compliment Madhuri for choosing this kind of intense theme. Though it has an enemies- to- lovers trope but it’s far ahead from the regular stories that we read. Of course being a contemporary romance it has all the elements but fit the first time I was not really interested in lovey-dovey banters between the protagonists & the palpable thick tension between them. I didn’t care how Meher & Ayaan would eventually fall in love… of course that was bound to happen & trust me this is not the way I generally react while reading romance. With every chapter I was more intrigued with the suspense building up & that was the adrenaline kick for me.
Since the beginning of the story, you could look into the head of the King Aayan Shergill- a whole world of feelings, images, ideas, emotion and passion & a zeal to win but…. The mistakes were also there on the board, of course waiting to be made.
I would divide the first part of this trilogy into three stages: the first, when Ayaan had the over confidence that he had all the advantage, the second when he believed that despite falling for his enemy’s daughter he still thought he had the advantage and the third... when his plans starts getting screwed up because of his over confidence and blind trust in his lady love.
Story theme is simple… Pratap Walia & Kailash Shergill have conflict of opinion & political interest Meher a caged princess struggling with her wings to fly across the sky meets a hot-headed stud Aayan & of course ‘PYAR TO HONA HI THA’ reverberates in the background 😉.
Enmity between the parents but kids falling in love we have seen enough… all thanks to Bollywood. I have read this theme repeatedly in most of the Desi & international Mafia romances where you can predict the entire story in advance but trust me when I say you won’t be able to handle the climax suspense. I mean… I was like how this could be?
As the climax started building up I knew he’s going to lose but how?? This is something where you’d see and feel Madhuri’s brilliance. Phew… it’s a cliffhanger and I am hanging on a thin thread of patience.
All I can say this is a phenomenal piece of work & shows Madhuri’s journey as an author. She has not written this like a typical romance author would. Except few in the mid where you’d find glimpses of Madhuri’s dreamy sweet clean romance scenes, every other chapter is intense & unfolds something new. You’d struggle to find out is Pratap Walia really a villain or is it Aksh? And that brooding rook Vishnu will overpower your senses especially in the last scene… as it is said move in silence & speak only when it’s a checkmate. Damn it!! Why it had to be cliffhanger… I hate it as my mind is still reeling up.
As always it was wonderful to read your book Maddy but this time all I can say you’ve outgrown from a typical romance author style and that’s what I liked the most. Kudos to you for taking this step & I am sure this is going to be your best work so far… All the very best.
"In life, as in chess, forethought wins."
