Part 37 Preparation Time

"Are you scared?" Arnav asked.

She nodded no, hurriedly.

"Good..." he pulled her closer towards him, making her heartbeat loud.

Khushi looked at him shockingly. He smiled at her widened eyes. She didn't expect he would move closer to her on their first night itself. She thought he would give her time to prepare herself. Would it be their first night? Her body temperature rose suddenly. She didn't know if it was a fever or, it was a cause of his closeness.

Arnav softly tucked her hair, who was blankly staring at him.

"I know you are surprised about me casually moving with you. right?"

She gulped.

"I know I didn't give you time to prepare yourself. But I had plenty of time to do that. Since I decided to marry you, I have prepared myself for this relationship, knowing that whatever I do, it must be perfect."

PERFECT? In which sense? She thought nervously.

"You know what, Khushi, when my father went to jail, I was at the end of my teenage years. That was the dangerous age when anyone struggled to control their mind. Because many unwanted thoughts and desires would dominate our minds, but I didn't have such problems. Because I was in a big trauma at that time. Even though my friends were with me, they didn't discuss any adolescent matters in front of me. They all had a crush, and Aman fell in love with Lavanya, but I didn't get into anything. As I was like crude, I thought no one would love me, because I don't like to be smooth towards anyone. Due to my rude behaviour, girls were scared to even talk to me."

Khushi's face softened. She listened to his story intently.

"When you told me you liked me, I really thought it was an infatuation. But you are the first girl who talked to me without fear and hesitation. I like it very much. I felt bad after leaving you on the bus alone. I thought you would be alright in some days and forget me, as it was just a matter of two days."

"No, I didn't forget you. I was highly disappointed with you for leaving me on the bus. I could not forget you. I didn't think I would meet a person like you, who didn't give heed to a girl who stayed with you in the same room. I was drawn to it like a magnet."

"I, too, felt the same pull towards you. I didn't believe my eyes when I saw you in my class as one of my students. I didn't expect it to happen ever. I was surprised. I found the same surprise on your face, too. So, I concluded that it was a coincidence."

"But, I never felt you were crude... You were so gentle with me."

"I, too, wondered about it many times. Anyone would have to change if they met the right person. Right?"

Khushi smiled.

"But, it's not only the reason for my smooth behaviour."

"Then what else?"

"It's because I liked you."

She smiled.

"I never wanted to hurt you. When you joined our college, I expected you to be free with me. I didn't want to restrict you for any reason. That's why I said you were my father's friend's daughter. As I said that, everyone believed. When you put yourself at risk and saved me from Seema, I wasn't just pleased, but I felt blessed."

He caressed her cheek with his fingertip. She closed her eyes slowly. He got close to her and kissed her forehead.

"Our wedding happened suddenly. I know you were not prepared for it. I don't want to embarrass you more."

She looked at him, raising her eyelashes, as he was lying so close to her.

"You are a student now. Our wedding is an unexpected one, but at the same time, unavoidable too. Being a professor, I know students' pulse. And I know how madly you love me."

Khushi smiled, nodding her head slightly.

"I don't want to divert your mind. Studies are more important than anything."

Khsuhvi looked at him shockingly, like, what he was up to.

"It's just two years... you will finish your master's. It will pass in the blink of an eye. Until then, we will be at a distance. That will keep you focused on your studies..."

Khushi unknowingly dropped her jaw. TWO YEARS? How could she wait for two long years? How could he decide something without her consent? Was he thinking he could stay away from her? On the other hand, he was not staying away from her, but was so close to her. Then, how could she have been waiting for two years? Damn this man... he said he loved her. now he was ready to wait for two years. Didn't he have any feelings? What kind of man was he! Could anyone think about STUDIES on their first night? Oh GOD...! She thought everything in the blink of an eye.

Arnav struggled to control his smile, seeing her facial expression. He composed himself and kissed her forehead again.

"Don't be stressed. Go to sleep. Good night..." He said seriously.

She looked at him like, GOOD NIGHT? Damn...!

Seeing her expression, Arnav controlled his smile and lay, straightening himself. Khushi looked at him unbelievably, blinking her eyes slowly. She wanted to tangle his neck. After making her relax by telling his story, how could he sleep? If he didn't want to stress her, why would he come close to her? Didn't he know she would like to be close to him? Damn this man...! She raised her hand as if to hit him, and whined and pouted.

"Did you say something?" he asked seriously.

"I... i... nothing..." She pouted wearily.

"I'm so tired, you know..." he again closed his eyes.

She wanted to bang her head on the wall.

"Hey, Devi Maiya, why are you testing me like this?" She looked at Arnav, slightly lifting her head from the pillow, to see if he was really sleeping. She sulked wearily, seeing his face with no expression.

He slept peacefully. She could not believe that. It seemed he was a quick sleeper, but she could not.

"Why should he circle my waist and pull me towards him if he is sleepy? Why should he tell me the story about how he fell for me?"

She wanted to pinch his cheek, which shone in the dim light. She turned towards him and gazed at him. Her lips wore a smile unknowingly. He was her husband. She waved her hand before his face. There was no movement in his eyes. She slowly got close to him and pulled his eyelid up. Yet, his face was plain. She slowly leaned towards his lips and pecked them softly. She drew herself and smiled, looking at him. She was taken aback when Arnav opened his eyes and looked at her. Her facial expression changed, horrified.

"Don't you sleep?" he asked, not smiling.

Without answering, she lay, facing her back to him. In no time, he flipped her towards him and heaved her onto him, making her eyes widen. She looked at him, perplexed, lying on him.

"What did you do?" he asked, wrapping her in his arms.

She shook her head from left to right hurriedly.

"You were blabbering, thinking that I slept... and now, you are looking like an OWL...!"

She gulped down hard.

"What do you want?"

She again nodded NO.

"Don't you want anything?" He smiled.

She looked down. He lifted her chin.

"I asked you something..."

"I just..."

"I know what you want..." he smiled, and she gave him a sidelong glance.

He flipped her underneath him and caressed his lips on hers, and slightly sucked her thin lip. She held his shoulders, closing her eyes. He deepened the kiss, and they shared their first kiss after their wedding, on their first night. It was that passionate, even Khushi didn't expect. It extended for more than a minute. He broke the kiss and looked at her, who was dizzy.

"I love you..." He said, pressing his lips on her forehead.

"I love you too..." She said in a soft tone.

"I know..." he caressed her hair lovingly.

"Now, sleep like a good girl..." he said, making her shock again.

"I know you like kissing me. I found out when you kissed me for the first time. So, we will share a kiss every day. Don't worry. Now, you got today's quota. You can sleep now. We should not think about more than a kiss. You were so nervous as I didn't give you time to prepare yourself for the wedding. I don't want to make the same mistake again. You have two years to prepare yourself for the next level of our wedding. Sleep relaxingly." He dashed her forehead, lovingly and lay facing his back to her.

Khushi looked at his back wearily and punched the pillow.

To be continued...