Part 59 Lie

"You were so patient when she was injured. Just think she has not yet healed. Then, it won't be hard for you" Arvind smiled.

His smile vanished hearing Arnav's next stance.

"But she healed and we already completed our first night." He said making Arvind thunderstruck.

"Whaaaat? Completed? But how? Why?"

"What's the big deal, Dad? She is my wife and with me... she healed too... I just lost my control in my wife's beauty... simple" he shrugged his shoulders as if it was not a big deal.

Arvind was staring at him horrified.

"She just removed the final band-aid from her leg only yesterday... then... how?" Arvind asked.

"Dad... It was not a band-aid but a GRIP BAND. It was me who insisted on her not to be careless. So, I made her wear it. She became fit and fine three days ago. I wanted her to not roam here and there. That's why I asked her to be resting on the bed"

Arvind rolled his eyes, tightening his jaws.

"Why are you so annoyed, Dad?"

"Chotte, I thought you are a responsible guy... I didn't expect this from you. Do you know how important this ritual is? This is not only about your future but also about the future of your child"

"My child's future will be great... why do you doubt?"

"You don't understand..."

"Of course, I don't understand. How do you think IT will happen exactly on the date and time you fixed? It's all about feelings, Dad...! We can't force our feelings to PERFORM in the sacred time... it just happens... just like a poem... just like a drizzle... just like a breeze..." he said with a smile as if he was reading a poem, drenching in the drizzle, and standing in the breeze.

Arvind gulped down hard. Seeing his face, Arvind guessed that Arnav was recalling the moment and Arnav knew that. More to make him think, Arnav stretched his body closing his eyes and smiling.

"It's something Dad..." A soft chuckle escaped from his throat.

Arnav saw restlessness on his face. What was wrong with this man? He frowned. There was something that should be sorted out as soon as possible. He decided.

"Ok, Dad... stop all your ritual formalities that already happened" he walked out.

Arvind stood and could do nothing.

Arnav came to Lavanya's room where Khushi was sitting, biting her nail. He smilingly advanced her. She stood up, seeing him.

"Let's go..." he lifted her clutching her hand.

"Where?"

"Where else? To OUR room..."

"But, Aunty asked me to be here"

"No need... I SORTED out the issue"

"Sorted out? But how?"

He leaned towards her ear and whispered.

"I said we already finished our first night"

She looked at him widening her eyes shockingly.

"Why did you..." before she said the word LIE, he closed her mouth.

"shhhh... don't you dare...!"

She was dumbfounded.

"Are you coming with me or, should I pick you?"

Khushi nodded no.

"Come"

He tried to clutch her hand but Khushi pulled it back and walked. Arnav rolled his eyes and followed her. When they came out of the room, he circled her shoulders, making her stun. He walked with a smile.

Ratna saw them going to their room.

"Ooooiiii... what's this? Didn't Dad tell you the matter?"

"I told him the REAL matter, Mom... go and ask him"

Ratna flinched.

"What matter?"

"Mom... it's unnecessary to arrange something that is already DONE"

Ratna's eyes popped out. She nodded her head like, DONE? Arnav nodded his head pressing his lips. She looked at Khushi who was looking down embarrassingly. Ratna sighed.

"I thought to decorate your room grandly..." she said feeling sad.

"Mom, if you feel bad about it, you can do it every day... I have no problem..." he said seriously.

Khushi closed her eyes awkwardly, whereas Ratna hit his shoulder chuckling.

"I don't know you are a spoilt brat... already finishing it urgently, do you want me to decorate your room every day?" she chuckled.

"Mom, look at my wife...! how beautiful she is...! Why would not I be spoilt if she is with me...?"

Khushi removed his hand from her shoulders and ran out of the place. Ratna again hit his shoulder.

"You made her embarrassed..."

"She will get used to it"

"Shut up... some things should be secret...that's the beauty of the relationship"

"There are a lot of secrets between us. They are more beautiful than anything you know!"

She sighed.

"Are you upset with me?" Arnav asked.

"What's there to be upset? It just happens...!"

"Exactly...! But Dad was so upset. Maybe angry"

"Angry? why?"

"He thinks this is a matter of my child's future"

"Leave him... there is no use in talking about something that can't be changed... everything will happen as per destiny. Nothing is in our hands"

"You are great, Mom..."

"Haan... it's because I'm supporting you?"

"Not at all...! You are going to decorate our room every day... that's why"

"Oh, really? Go... your wife is waiting to peel your skin for making her condition awkward"

"I know how to OFF her"

"Mischievous...!" She pushed him playfully and went to the kitchen.

Arnav headed to his room smilingly. He saw Khushi sitting on the bed, biting her nails again. He closed the door smilingly.

"Why are you doing this?" she stood up.

"Don't you know why did I do that? To be with you..."

"I know that..."

"Then?"

"Why did you talk to Aunty like that? What will she think of us?"

"We can't live our life if we concentrate on, WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK OF US..."

She sighed.

"Why did you lie to Uncle?"

"It's because MAKING LOVE to my wife is completely my personal interest... I don't want them to FIX a time for it"

Khushi averted her gaze.

"But, it's a custom..." she said.

"Khushi, I'm not going to pounce on you right away... at the same time, I'm not going to wait for one and a half months..."

She sat on the bed, closing her face with her palm. He came and sat next to her. She looked at him.

"I know you too were so tensed to be away from me...! I saw you biting your nail all tensed"

She looked somewhere.

"Didn't you?"

"Arnavji..."

Arnav kept his index finger on her lips.

"Leave custom and ritual behind... you don't have to bother about elders... I broke the thread. Just tell me the truth. Will you be separated from me?"

She blinked her eyes. Arnav smiled.

"Simple..." he removed his finger.

"I have not answered yet..."

"But, your eyes did... they were so restless..." he smiled.

Taking her hand, he clutched it in between his palms.

"Khushi, we have the same wavelength. You have the same feeling I have in me. Don't confuse yourself. We will take our relationship slow and steady."

"Then why did you lie?"

"It's our life, Khushi. I can't let someone RULE it"

"But... they will do anything for our betterment right?"

"Sometimes..."

Khushi was supposed to say something,

"Go and get fresh... you were so tense thinking about being away from your husband. We will have a hot coffee. You will feel good" he teased.

Khushi pouted.

"Go..."

Khushi went to the washroom. Arnav smiled at her. That was when he got a call on his mobile. He removed it and saw, Father-in-law flashing. He raised his brows. Shashi was going to ask him to stay away from Khushi and he had to LIE again.

"Hello, uncle..."

"Arnav, I want to say something to you"

Arnav rolled his eyes... here, it came!

"Arvindji called me and told me about the ritual date"

"yeah, uncle, he told me too... actually..."

Cutting him,

"Yes, Arnav, he said the date has been fixed for next month 26th. I think we should consult some other astrologer"

Arnav was struck. What Shashi was talking about? Didn't he call him to ask him to stay away from Khushi? He straightened himself.

"Why do you want to do it, uncle?"

"Actually, Garima believes such thing more than your father does"

Arnav listened to him silently.

"When we came to RM last week, we saw Khushi walking in your room without effort. We knew Khushi would heal sooner. So, Garima went to the astrologer to whom she regularly goes. She asked him how Khushi's present time now is and also about the ritual..."

"oh... what did he say?"

"He said from today onwards, continuously three days are very suitable to both of you"

"Is it?" Arnav wondered.

"Yes...! Everything he said is happening so far... nothing went wrong. I think your father is dealing with a fake astrologer. Please make sure of it... making kids wait for one half a month doesn't make sense..."

Arnav felt a prick. Yes, it didn't make sense. That was why he lied to Arvind. What the hell was his problem?

"Please don't mistake me, Arnav..."

"No no, uncle. Not at all...! Thank you for making me aware of it,"

"I just..."

"That's ok, uncle..."

"Where is Khushi? Is she alright?"

"Yes, uncle... she is getting fresh"

"Ok. I will talk to her later"

"Ok..."

He disconnected the call thoughtfully. Something was fishy with his father. He dialed Rohan. He attended it right away as usual.

"Yes, ASR"

"Rohan, could you listen to my father talk?"

"Yeah, through microphone"

"Do it... I want to know with whom he talks and what he talks"

"Ok, ASR"

"How will you insert a microphone in him?"

"Leave it to me. I will take care of it"

"Mmm..." he disconnected the call.

Why his father was doing this? What was there in his mind? He was annoying him a lot these days...! Arnav composed himself to see Khushi coming out of the washroom. He kept the phone on his ear and said,

"Is it, uncle? Ok uncle... sure uncle... Khushi will not disobey you. I will ask her to call you, uncle..." he pretended to disconnect the call.

"Was that my Babuji?"

"Yes..."

"What did he say?"

"it seems your parents went to an astrologer to ask about your future and our first night. Do you know what he said?"

She nodded no.

"He said from today, continuously three days are super suitable for us to perform our first night..."

Khushi looked at him shrinking her eyes doubtfully.

"If you don't trust me, you can talk to you Babuji..."

Khushi nodded her head from left to right and was about to walk away, but Arnav stopped her, clutching her hand.

"I said, talk to your Dad..." he said seriously, making her gulp down.

To be continued...