Part 54 Nightmare

Khushi looked at Arnav who just filled her partition. What did that mean? Had Arnav also had feelings for her? This was what Devi Maiya wanted to tell her. She was overwhelmed.

They finished the pooja. Nani called them for dinner. Khushi sensed Arnav's eyes stealing her glances. That tickled her sense.

"Di, where is Shali?" Khushi asked.

"She slept..."

"So soon?"

"She woke up soon today morning. That's why"

"Oh..."

"Are not you going to do anything tomorrow?" Khushi asked.

Anjali pressed her lips together. Arnav wanted to know what was tomorrow. Before he asked about it, Nani did.

"What's tomorrow Khushi bitiya?"

"Tomorrow is Shali's birthday, Naniji"

"Is it?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Won't you celebrate it?"

"We always celebrated it..."

"Then, why don't you do anything this year?"

Khushi looked at Anjali who was silent.

"I think she doesn't want to do it because she is at our place," Arnav said.

"Not like that Arnav... I just don't feel to..."

"No Anjali bitiya, no matter how many problems pressurizing us, we should not disappoint kids. She has only you and Khushi..." Nani said.

"Don't make her feel like, you don't celebrate her birthday because you are in her Massa's place. She may think her Maasa is not a good man" Arnav said.

Anjali chuckled whereas Khushi controlled her smile.

"Chotte has point. Let our home get the honor. Let's celebrate her birthday" Nani said.

Anjali nodded ok.

"If it is so, you guys should accept my gifts" Anjali put a demand.

"We are the ones who should gift Shali on her birthday," Nani said.

"You can gift her... It's different. I want to gift you for my satisfaction"

"Is it necessary?" Arnav asked.

"For me..."

Arnav rolled his eyes smiling.

"Ok, go ahead"

"What do you want to gift us?" Khushi asked.

"You will get to know that tomorrow"

Khushi pouted and Anjali laughed whereas Arnav stuck, seeing her cute pout.

All of them went to their respective rooms. Khushi came to their room, followed by Arnav. She wanted to go to the washroom to get change. So, she went to the closet and took the night dress. She felt a strong gaze from Arnav. She looked at him and he shifted his gaze to somewhere swiftly. Khushi smiled inwardly.

"Arnavji..." she stood, folding her hands with her dress.

"Haaannnn?" he looked at her.

"I would like to give something to Shali as her birthday gift"

"Mmmm"

"I don't think we can go out this time"

"Tell me what you want to gift her. I will ask Aman to get it for you"

"THANK YOU, Arnavji"

Arnav looked at her and said nothing. Khushi could not understand what that LOOK meant. She walked to the washroom with clothes. Khushi could sense a kind of hesitation in Arnav. He was so cool with her till yesterday. After seeing the SESSION sequence of the newly wedded couple, there was a lot of change in him. He avoided, seeing her face straight. But, he stole her glance when she didn't see him. Arnav never did that. He always did anything daringly... including their marriage. She got changed thinking about it.

When she came out of the room, she saw Arnav already lying on the bed. She came to the bed and lay on her side, covering herself with the quilt.

Khushi drifted into sleep but Arnav could not. He gulped down, seeing Khushi. He closed his eyes to get to sleep but he opened his eyes jerking as he remembered their closeness. The way they stood air-tight, disturbed him like hell. He saw Khushi sleeping peacefully. He knew she loved him. Yet, she looked firm. Didn't their closeness disturb her as it disturbed him? A bunch of hair strands fell on Khushi's face and brushed her cheek. Arnav's hand automatically extended to tuck it. At the same time, Khushi turned in her sleep. Arnav fisted his finger and pulled his hand back. He covered her face with a quilt and he turned opposite Khushi. He never felt so helpless as he felt that day. He was suffocating to sleep. He again turned towards Khushi. He slowly closed his eyes and opened them in the same instant, hearing something weird.

"Mmmmm.... Ahhhhh... mmmmm"

It seemed Khushi was blathering in her sleep. He could not conclude as he covered her face with the quilt. Arnav got close to her, sharpening his ears. He gulped down hard, hearing her moan. He slowly pulled the quilt down. He saw her panting hard in her sleep. Her lips quivered. She wriggled in her sleep as if she was suffocating from something intolerable. Her breath was deep.

"Mmmm..."

Arnav was about to tap her cheek, but he stopped gulping down, hearing,

"Arrrrnnnnaaavvvjjiiii" from Khushi.

He made his fingers into a ball, getting horrified. It was not hard for him to understand in which state she was. She was moaning his name. it didn't seem like a nightmare. She had been affected by something that disturbed her. She didn't show it out, but it didn't mean she was not affected. What tickled his sense was, she moaned HIS name. Was he in her thoughts? What was he doing with her in her thought? He could not resist himself recalling the newly married couple again. was she thinking, of keeping THEM in their position? Arnav got Goosebumps. Khushi's tone became high, little by little. He couldn't stand it anymore. He tapped her cheek slowly.

"Khushiiii..."

Khushi clutched his hand and caressed her cheek with it, breathing hard, making his spine chill. She planted a wet kiss on his palm. Sweat drops bloomed on Arnav's face. His condition could not be described in a few words. He lifted her up, clutching her shoulders. in no time, Khushi hugged him tight and caressed her cheek with his, making his condition worse. Her body seethed in heat. Arnav panted hard, could not stand this.

"Khushiiii... Khushi look at me" He pulled her back from him.

"Khushiiii"

Khushi opened her eyes and looked here and there. Arnav was looking at her horrified. She moved back from Arnav hurriedly, getting awkward. It told Arnav, she was aware of her dream.

"Oh... I..." she stammered.

"Did you see a nightmare?" Arnav asked.

Khushi looked at him and nodded NO. That surprised Arnav. Was not that come into the NIGHTMARE category? He was sure of what she felt in her sleep but she said she didn't see a nightmare. What did that mean? Khushi wiped her flushed face with her palms. Arnav was staring at her sharply. Khushi lay down, covering herself with the quilt.

Arnav also lay down. He looked at her again and again. he saw a slight movement inside the quilt. Khushi didn't sleep. After a while, the movement inside the quilt stopped. This time, Arnav didn't get the courage to pull the quilt down. He lost his sleep that night completely. He slept only early in the morning.

The next morning

Arnav woke up late. He stretched his hands and stopped as he remembered what happened last night which gave him Goosebumps again. He ran his eyes in a searching manner. He didn't find Khushi in the room. After taking bath, he came downstairs. He saw Khushi having breakfast with Nani and Anjali. She was feeding Shali side by side. She lowered her eyes, seeing Arnav.

"Chotte, enough of sleeping?" Nani asked.

Arnav sat in front of Khushi, and said nothing. He saw Khushi trying to be normal and avoiding, looking at him. But, she stole his glance cutely. Arnav smiled inwardly whenever she stole his glance.

Khushi thought something and looked at him. he understood that she wanted to say something to him.

"Oh... Aman..." she stammered.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Did you decide what you want?"

She nodded yes, looking at Shali. Arnav understood she didn't want to reveal her gift to Shali.

"Text me," he said.

Khushi nodded ok and texted him MINI CAR. Arnav called Aman and asked him to send one.

Aman himself came to RM not only with a Mini car but also with a few more things. Arnav was confused, seeing extra bags in his hand. Anjali took them with a smile.

"Thank you, Aman," she said.

"You are welcome," Aman said.

Arnav wondered. Aman came to RM not only to deliver the mini car but also to give something to Anjali. Didn't Anjali say she would gift them something on Shali's birthday? So, she also asked Aman to bring them just like he did.

Shali shouted in joy, seeing the mini car.

"Is this for me?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Thank you Kuchi..." Shali hugged Khushi and kissed her.

She started riding the car happily.

"How much should I give you for the car, Aman?" Khushi asked.

"ASR already sent me money," Aman said.

Khushi looked at Arnav and smiled awkwardly.

"I had given," Arnav said.

"How much?" Khushi asked.

Arnav shrank his eyes.

"I just..." she hesitated.

"I said, I had given..." Arnav said, lifting his left eyebrows contently.

At the same time, Anjali came to them and extended paper bags to Khushi.

"This is for you and your husband"

Khushi took it from her.

"Thank you, Di" Khushi gave the bag to Arnav. he took it from her.

To their surprise, Anjali gave a bag to Aman too.

"Whaaat?" Aman asked.

"This is for you"

"For me?"

"Yeah... you are my mischievous friend after all" Anjali chuckled.

Aman rolled his eyes.

"Go and get ready everyone," Nani said. There was a saree in her hand, given by Anjali.

Khushi nodded ok and went to their room. She opened the gift and saw a RED saree in it. She was delighted as she liked it very much. she headed to the washroom with the saree. Arnav saw a suit in the bag. he got ready in the room itself. He raised his eyes, hearing the washroom opening sound. He got stuck, seeing Khushi in RED who looked breathtakingly gorgeous.

To be continued...