Part53 

It took almost an hour to come out of the washroom for Arnav and Khushi. While Khushi wiped her hair, Arnav gave her the hair drier.

Khushi: I won't use a drier. It causes hair fall.

Arnav: It won't happen at one time. Your long hair won't get dried easily. Sleeping with wet hair will lead you to fever. Come on... let me help you.

He turned on the drier and started to dry her hair, keeping it in enough distance.

When they back to the bed, he rubbed a balm on her feet and palms.

Khushi: What are you doing?

Arnav: We had been in the water for a long. You may get cold.

Khushi: What about you?

Arnav: Mine is a steel body. I will stay in the water for one more hour too.

Khushi: Ohh... finished?

Arnav: One more is there.

Khushi: What?

Arnav: your body seems chilled up.

Khushi: So?

Arnav: Let me share a warm hug.

Khushi: I will be happy if it is ONLY a hug.

Arnav: I can't promise.

Khushi: Then keep a distance from me.

Arnav: Are you asking me to keep my distance from you, Khushi?

Khushi: No... I'm asking about this bed... Recliner... mirror...

Arnav: Thank God, I thought you asked me.

He grinned.

Khushi: I'm sleepy.

Arnav: Go to sleep who stops you?

Khushi fell on the bed, covering herself with a quilt. Arnav slipped inside the same quilt to give her the much-needed warmth.

Next day morning

Dinning

Ratna and Arvind looked at Khushi with concern who was sneezing continuously.

Ratna: Khushi beta, are you alright?

Khushi: Ji Amma...aaach...

She sneezed again.

Arvind: Did you have anything cold?

Khushi: No Papa... Aaach.....

She sighed whereas Arnav smirked.

Ratna: Chotte... Don't you know anything?

Arnav: She bathed for a long mom.

Khushi closed her eyes, gritting her teeth.

Ratna: Bathed? When?

Arnav: Last evening...

Ratna: Did you swim the last evening?

Khushi nodded NO.

Arnav: She doesn't know swimming.

Khushi nodded yes.

Ratna: Chotte will teach you.

Arnav: Yeah... it will use for another BET.

He said in a gauzy tone, only Khushi to hear.

Ratna: But why did she take a bath for long, for any particular reason?

Arnav: You were not at home... Simple...

Ratna and Arvind frowned at him whereas Khushi pinched his thigh.

Arnav: Aaaaa... Khushi, why do you pinch me?

Khushi did hit on her forehead.

Arnav: But I can't understand one thing... Why I'm not sneezing?

Khushi glared at him, gritting her teeth.

Ratna: Khushi beta, you no need to glare at him. Assume that we understood nothing. Am I right Arvindji?

Arvind: Yes... I understood nothing and I have forgotten what Chotte said. You too forget it Ratna.

Ratna: Oh sure... I will forget it. Khushi beta, you can sneeze tomorrow too. We won't remember anything.

Khushi: Amma please... stop it. I have never heard about such teasing in-laws. (looking at Arnav)You are the reason, you intentionally revealed everything to make fun out of. I won't talk to you.

She left for her room leaving laughing family members behind.

Arnav: This is too much mom. Because of you, my wife is upset with me.

Ratna: You are talking as if we came to your room and saw what happened there...

Arvind: Chotte, I never thought you can be a tease. Why are you making fun out of her? She may feel embarrassed, Chotte.

Arnav: She is upset, Dad. She is not showing it to us but she is feeling extremely sad. I just am trying to divert her.

Ratna: What happened Chotte?

Arnav told them about Anu and Rohit.

Arvind: She is not just upset... she must be distrusted. Gaining her trust is very important Chotte. She will start to see everything in different ways. But it's not her fault. Her bad experiences would have taught her that.

Ratna: A girl won't trust anyone that easily but if she believes a person, she does that wholeheartedly. You should be more conscious about it, Chotte.

Arnav: Yes mom... I will take care of her.

Ratna: What about the trip you planned? She will be relieved if she spends time with her parents.

Arnav: I'm not sure about it now.

Ratna: Why?

She asked perplexed.

Arnav narrated what Khushi had done with Lavanya's letter.

Ratna (proudly): Wow... didn't I say? A girl never hesitates to take her husband's side.

Arvind: She had given you a respectful place in her heart, Chotte. Never dare to spoil it. It's not easy to get such a dedicating soul in our lives.

Arnav: I know dad.

Arvind: I hope there won't be any change in the trip...

Arnav: Not at all, Dad. We are going this weekend.

Arvind: I will call Shashiji to convey it.

Arnav nodded yes.

Ratna: You go and try to console your wife.

Arvind: I think Chotte needs a shield to protect himself.

Arnav chuckled while walking towards his room.

He saw Khushi applying a balm on her head.

Arnav: May I help you?

Khushi: Don't you dare...

She threw the pillow on him which Arnav caught smilingly.

Arnav: Why are you angry with me? What did I do?

Khushi: Stop pretending...

Arnav: I don't know why you are getting angry with me.

Khushi: Don't you have shame? Does anyone reveal everything in front of his parents shamelessly?

Arnav: I didn't say anything.

Khushi: Ohh really? Why did you say you are not sneezing?

Arnav: Because I'm not sneezing. That's why.

He said shrugging his shoulders.

Khushi: That's why they understood what happened.

Arnav: They understood... it's not my fault. They are clever, Khushi. You are scolding me like if I told them about we bathed together.

Khushi: I will kill you if you do that...

Arnav: ChiChichi I won't. Don't I have shame?

Khushi: Do you?

Arnav (spreading his hands): A lot...

Khushi: Only God knows where that resides in you.

She said wearily.

Arnav: Do you want me to show?

Khushi (joining hands): Enough is enough...

Arnav: Why are you getting weary?

Khushi: Please don't do that Arnavji...

Arnav: From where that JI came?

Khushi(sighed): Everything has its limit... you are teasing me a lot.

She pouted.

Arnav dragged her to the bed and made her sit beside him.

Arnav: Touch your heart and say won't you like to be teased?

She pouted again.

Arnav: They are treating you like their own daughter. Enjoy their company. At this age, they will start feeling lonely. We should not let it happen. You should make sure of your parents too. They need us. I don't want them to be separated generation wise.

Khushi was looking at him adorably.

Arnav: Stop eating me.

Khushi: Who are you to say that?

Arnav shrugged his shoulders.

Arnav: It may backfire...

Khushi: I don't care.

Arnav: What about swimming? I will teach you if you want.

Khushi: No thanks.

Arnav: You won't get such a talented trainer... think again.

Khushi: Yeah... I know how talented you are.

Arnav: Still, you don't want to learn?

Khushi: That's why I don't want to learn.

Arnav: But why?

Khushi: Who knows what's cooking in your dirty mind?

Arnav: Dirty mind? It's not dirty... it always thinks about enjoying myself with my wife.

Khushi: In a dirty way...

Arnav (whispering): It seems, you have not been out of yesterday's bathing session yet? I will show more ways if you permit. What about chess?

Khushi: I have a lot of work.

Arnav: One game Khushi...

Khushi: Shut up...

Arnav: Khushi...

She rushed out leaving laughing Arnav.

To be continued...