Part 48 Feeling Superior

Arnav and Khushi stood at the doorstep with stock, seeing the decorated bed. They understood why Aman took Arnav to the terrace and Noni took Khushi to her room. Khushi looked at Arnav from the corner of her eyes. He was rolling his eyes with annoyance. She came to the composure.

"Naniiii" he was about to go to Nani's room, but Khushi stopped him.

"Arnavji please..."

"Khushi this is ridiculous..."

"Of course, yes... but, let it be..."

"What do you mean Khushi?"

"From here on, we should keep everything between us, no matter what is happening between us."

Arnav looked at her awestruck, understanding the meaning of her words.

"We don't have to let them know the essence of our relationship. It's our private issue. How we are handling it is what matters"

Arnav swallowed hard.

"They just did what they have to... It does not mean we should react to it..." She smiled, making Arnav smile.

Arnav walked in and Khushi followed him. Arnav went to the recliner and looked at Khushi. Before he started talking,

"Arnavji, let me clear one thing. You said this is OUR room. If it is so, I'm going to stay in this room forever. So, think once, before taking the decision of sleeping on the recliner. It won't be a good decision to sleep on the recliner every day... Lifelong..."

Arnav bit the corner of his lip. She had point. Of course, Khushi always thought logically. They got married and he brought her to his room. Then, what was the point to sleep on the recliner?

"If you are not comfortable..."

Cutting him,

"I will get used to it. In fact, we should... if YOU (She stressed) are not comfortable with my presence, it's better I will go to my room rather than let you sleep on the recliner"

Arnav looked at her stunningly.

"Decision is yours"

Arnav stood hesitatingly.

"Or, I can wait outside until you sleep..."

"No need... I will sleep on the bed" Arnav said.

"I know you Arnavji. I understand very well how our marriage happened. I won't take advantage of the situation. You can trust me. I will be at my limit" she walked to the bed and lay down, not caring about the flowers that had been spread on the bed.

Arnav was gazing at her. She never missed a chance to amaze him. No one would handle the situation simply as she did. She knew how to make people comfortable around her.

He came to the bed and took the other side. He saw Khushi laying, facing her back to him. There was no movement in Khushi. Arnav thought she slept. That amazed him more. How could she behave so cool? What a terrible situation they faced...! How peacefully she was trying to sleep as if nothing happened...!

Why won't she be peaceful, if her life got settled down with the man she loved? She was sleeping in her husband's room. What else other than that she wanted?

But, Arnav's condition was not like Khushi's. He never wanted to get into a relationship but today he got married. It was the biggest turning point of his life. Yet, he was not feeling discomfort with Khushi's presence. In fact, he felt a sense of calm... he wondered about it. He didn't know how he was going to turn everything. He felt an immense connection with her. He felt Joy being with her. This girl had magic in her. Thank God, she didn't let him sleep on the recliner. If he had started sleeping on the recliner, don't know how many days he would have been sleeping on the recliner. He would have shifted to bed even if his back had ached. He turned towards Khushi's side smilingly.

Even though Khushi was facing her back to him she sensed his gaze on her. Turning behind, she looked at him. Arnav immediately closed his eyes and pretended like sleeping. Khushi again turned opposite to him. Maybe, she would have understood Arnav's pretense. She tried to sleep not wanting to embarrass Arnav. Yet, Arnav slept only after Midnight.

The next morning

Though Arnav slept late he was the one who woke up first. When he opened his eyes from sleep, his sight fell on Khushi's face. His lips unknowingly curved into a beautiful smile. Keeping his palm under his cheek, he looked at her smilingly. We can't say he was doing that with all his senses because when Khushi moved into her sleep, he jerked and became embarrassed. He sat on the bed instantly.

Khushi opened her eyes and saw Arnav sitting on the same bed in which she was lying. She didn't understand anything as she didn't come out of sleep fully. She recalled the last day's happenings. A cute smile appeared on her face.

That was when they heard a weird noise from outside. Khushi sat on the bed. They glanced at each other, and could not understand anything.

Arnav got off the bed and opened the door. He got stuck, seeing his mother Amrita. She was fighting with Nani, taking Arnav and Khushi's wedding issue.

"How could you let them get married? Who are you to do that? who gave you the rights? Just because you brought him up, would you do anything as per your wish? Without getting my permission you did everything and gave an interview to the channels... what are you thinking of yourself?"

Nani didn't talk about anything. She didn't think it was worth talking to her.

"Do you know with how big-shot's daughter I have been planning his marriage? How could he marry someone who doesn't even have a penny?"

This time Nani could not be silent. She was about answer but Arnav took lead.

"Who are you to question me?"

"I am your mother..."

"That relationship ended long ago..."

"You have a reputation Chotte..."

"To save my reputation only I got married to Khushi because I don't want my wife to think of second marriage just like you did. Khushi is not such a girl" Arnav said gritting his teeth.

"Just because I got married for the second time, I am not a bad woman. Understand that"

"You too understand I am married now. I won't tolerate if anyone degrades my wife."

"Is she more important to you than me?"

"She is more important to me than anyone in this world. I don't owe to give an explanation to anyone about my actions. This is my life. Decisions will also be mine. Now, get the hell out of my house." Arnav roared.

That was when, Khushi came downstairs, listening to their talks. Even though she knew Arnav's stand she got the courage to hear him supporting her.

Amrita saw Khushi coming.

"I never thought you would be so clever to trap my son. How brilliantly, you denied helping me that day... It seems you are such a..."

Cutting her,

"Enoughhhhhhh" Arnav shouted, making all of them jerk.

Amrita looked at him wrathfully.

"I said get out..." He sneered.

"I will see how you are going to live with her... don't I know you?" Amrita said sarcastically.

She turned towards Khushi.

"Don't fly high as he is supporting you... he may do that now as it was a beginning but you won't be in RM for long. Count your days... You yourself will run away leaving him, could not tolerate his tantrums... such a beast he is... mark my words"

Arnav gulped down hard, closing his eyes. He never expected Amrita would degrade him in this way, that too in front of his wife. He felt low as her words lowered his confidence level.

Of course, a woman can make a man feel low... at the same time, a woman can make a man feel superior too. It depends on the woman's character and her mindset. Arnav never heard such words that can make him feel superior... he just got the chance through his wife.

Amrita was about to go,

"One minute..." Khushi stopped her.

Amrita looked at her spitting fire at her.

"I won't FLY high because I would like to STAND beside Arnavji forever. I'm going to be in RM with Arnavji, always. So, I don't have to count my days. I will never run away leaving Arnavji alone. People will run away only if they don't LOVE their spouse. It won't happen in our matter because I LOVE ARNAVJI more than anything in this world. You don't have to bother about me. I know how to handle my husband's tantrums. Thank you for your advice" She joined her hands.

Amrita left the place fuming. Nani was smiling at Khushi proudly. And a couple of eyes looking at her with mixed expressions. We couldn't understand what they were trying to convey.

To be continued...