“I'll be back in a jiffy arnavji.”

He watched her retreating figure with a grin plastered on his face, which recently adopted the obstinate habit of not to let go off his lips. There's some magic woven around her frame that makes him frenzy everytime she looks up at him with her innocent yet enthusiastic look. He so wish to grasp that moment in his hold and want to drown into it, but who has the power to stop the time from ticking, not even the almighty could do that. So he swore himself to alter every second of their life into something memorable. And now he's going to take the very first step of it. He's going to sow a seed for her dreams. Perhaps he started already.

“Arnavji. Shall we?”

He jolted back from his musing and stared at the innocent grown up women in front him. The girl in her is still hiding behind the facade of dutiful sister and wife.

“Arnavji…” She clicked her finger in front of his eyes seeing him unresponsive towards her statement.

“Haan?”

“What happened to you? Where are you lost?”

He took a step forward with a penetrating gaze “You.”

“What?”

“Lost in you!” He whispered huskily drawing random patterns on her cheeks.

She cutely lowered her lashes in shyness. She couldn't comprehend the sudden change in her body. But she can proudly admit that, there's some magic woven around her husband which makes her frenzy every time he looks at her with love and affection. Love? She doesn't want to explore more into that word where she has less knowledge about it. As far as she has seen in movies, the hero proposes heroine and do all kind of things to get a simple yes. But here, his words and gestures itself makes her feel wanted and feeling loved. Does she need those filmy things in her life? She has no idea for now.

“Where are you lost now?”

“You.” The word almost rolled out on the tip of her tongue but she swallowed back in right time and nodded simply in denial.

He blinked his eyes and gestured outside “Come.”

She quietly followed him with a shy smile. Predictions regarding his surprise long forgotten. And the smile on her face refuse to fade throughout the journey.

.

.

.

.

“Arnavji… this…?” She fumbled with words seeing the crowd filled building where many people going in and out. Her brain omitted the words written in English and read the one's written in hindi.

“Arnavji?” She looked at him questioningly.

“We shouldn't delay good things khushi. When you’ve opportunity you should grab it without second thought. This is only first step towards your dream. There are much more to come. Now come inside.”

She stood perplexed to say anything and stopped him from moving further “Ji this?”

Arnav took a deep breath gauging her confusion and he decided to clear it before starting afresh.

“You wished to study Khushi. I want to change that wished to wish. I want you not to regret anything in your life, when we turn back our life after having wrinkles on our forehead and glasses on eyes. This is the surprise I want to give you. I can buy you thousands of gifts at anytime but that come with an expiry Khushi. But this… this will remain forever with you and moreover this will be useful not only for you but also you can change something in this society owing to your dream job. I know you dream to be a civil aspirant. For that, you should complete your schooling and graduation first. Since you're drop out and already completed your penultimate year of schooling, you can directly appear for boards. That's why we came here to apply for your exams. I believe there wouldn't be any other materialistic gift which will give you the euphoric feel than this.”

Meanwhile, Khushi stood dumbstruck, loss of words. She's feeling cloud nine to say least. Apparently she never expected this type of thought process from him. Yesterday only he told her to continue her studies and today he implemented it. And how he knew about her dream?

“I've my personal encyclopaedia of my wife.” He winked as if reading her thoughts.

“What? Enclo..pi..dea.?” She stammered to pronounce that word and looked at him questioningly.

He squinted his eyes in understanding her query and cleared her doubt  “I meant Meera and don't worry about anything, I'll teach you everything... later.”

Failed to come up with words, she hooked her right arm around his left elbow, shifting close to his frame conveying what her mouth failed to do.

“Shall we?” He whispered lowering his head. She mutely nodded her head and let him guide her through the crowd. He disentangle himself from her hold and went forward to grab the necessary forms and came back to her.

“Khushi fill these forms… Haan… wait I'll do it.”

He chose a cosy place to sit and fill up the form. The moment he filled the name box she shrieked out in alarm shocking him again.

“Khushi.” He uttered in low decibel.

“Arnavji… It's not Khushi Kumari Gupta.” She bellowed clutching his right palm stopping him from writing further.

He frowned not getting what she meant “What?”

“It’s Khushi Singh Raizada.” Along with answer she stared him as if he has grown horns.

“Come on, you're my wife not my baby.” He delivered casually continuing to fill the form.

It’s her time to frown deeply “What?”

“Uff… Khushi why do you want to change your maiden name? It's your birthright. Just because you're married you don't need to change your surname. I won't even allow that. See, did I change my surname after marriage? No na. Let you carry your maiden name. You've your own unique identity other than being my wife and I want you to explore that identity. I want my wife to known by her identity not by the addition of my name. Now stop this questionnaire session.”

Once again on that morning she dumbfounded by his actions. There's some feeling which can't be described in words, that's how Khushi feels now. Starting from not receiving her father's love, almost forced to marry some old man and finally getting hitched with a incredible handsome man, the progress of man in her life is lengthy yet it was worthy at the end. She realised he's handsome not only from looks but also his inner self is so precious than it displays out. Could she be blessed more than this?

“Lost queen, now get up… Once we submit this, we can roam freely today.” He patted her arms waking her up from her dreamland. She followed him in daze still finding it hard to believe everything happening for her is indeed real and it's not any dream.

After submitting the forms, they head back to home owing to Khushi's overwhelming feeling. Not habitual of getting so much happiness in short period she had hard time in coping up with the new found happiness. Seeing her giving him single word answers, Arnav got scared about her health and instantly dropped the idea of roaming around and bring her back to home.

“Khushi why are you stubborn to not consult with doctor? Your face turned pale.” He raised his voice the moment they set their feet on home. Her daze finally came to end by his voice and she raised on her toes with a scintillating smile on her face.

Cupping his cheeks in between her soft palms, she looked directly into his eyes permitting him to read her soul “What will happen to me when I've you with me? I am much more good than ever you know arnavji.” Saying this she tiptoed and soundly placed her soft pink petals on his old day stubble cheeks. The noise it made, had him  close his eyes in pleasure. Her eyes closed automatically and her lips glided down to his chin. Releasing a sharp breath, he snaked his arm around her waist and raised her a little above the ground so that their lips can meet and contact each other. The atmosphere turned tense as his lips smoothly run over hers and her palms captivated his head in place. Minutes turned seconds as they broke for air.

“That's an amazing return gift wifey.” He mumbled hoarsely on her ears with a grin and she hid her lateritious face on his chest.

_____

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