Epilogue

I and Khushi were ready to go to London. Raizadas and Guptas came to the airport to send us off. Akash and Payal accompanied us as I wanted Akash to introduce us to his friend who was in London. At the same time, I wanted it to be their honeymoon too. After settling us in the new flat, Akash and Payal went on their honeymoon.

Akash brought needed servants to London to serve his sister.

Khushi joined the culinary college. She was so excited to go to the college for the first day. Her uniform was issued. The Chef Coat and Cap...! Khushi looked so majestic in the dress.

More than Khushi expected, the culinary course was tough. She struggled to cope. Yet, she didn't give up her interest. After all, it was her dream.

I didn't compromise in dropping her in college and picking her up from the college. It was my routine. I passed the UK driving examination and got the license to do that.

I felt bad whenever Khushi returned from her duty all tired. The metal shoe she wore was eight hundred grams in weight. I wonder how she was walking, carrying nearly two kilograms by her fragile legs. It was safety shoes that protected Chefs from getting hurt, in case the sharp knife or heavy objects slipped from their hands while working.

As I said, Khushi needed a pedicure often. Sometimes, in tiredness, she fell on the bed without even taking a bath. I didn't hesitate to press her legs at that time.

.........

I was waiting to pick her up. Khushi came out smilingly. I started the car and drove off.

"How was your day?"

"Don't ask me that... I peeled three hundred kilograms of pineapple today" she said fisting and opening her fingers. it must be pained.

"Yesterday, you broke seven hundred eggs... and today three hundred kilograms of pineapple..."

"Yeah...after all, it's a star hotel... it remains always busy"

"Feeling hard?"

"I would have felt hard if you had not been with me" she smiled.

We came home.

"What do you want me to cook?" She asked.

"You don't have to cook anything... come and take a rest" I took her to our room.

"I'm alright, Arnav"

"Yeah, you would be alright after peeling three hundred kilograms of pineapple. Go and get fresh..."

I sent her to the washroom. She came, taking a hot bath.

"What did you eat in the afternoon?" she asked sitting next to me.

"I ate rice and fish curry," I said taking her legs on my thighs and pressing them.

"I will prepare fish with garlic wine sauce this Sunday," she said.

"Wine sauce...?"

"Yup... you won't forget its taste. It was so awesome you know"

"That's great..."

"Don't you feel bored being alone at home, Arnav?" Khushi asked.

"I'm conducting Zoom meetings and running AR from here. Then how do I feel bored?"

"Shall we go outing tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Don't you have classes tomorrow?"

"I have... I spoke to my senior Chef about my OFF. He agreed. So, I can take off"

"But, why?"

"Just feel to spend a day with you"

"We will spend Sundays... you don't have to bunk the classes"

"Ok, I won't take off next time but tomorrow"

I knew why Khushi wanted to take an off. She was guilty of making me sit at home. That was why she wanted to take off for me. In fact, I'm not bored. I got time to do something that I liked to do... Painting. I didn't get time to do it in India as I had a busy schedule. After coming to London, I got a lot of time for painting. I liked painting very much. Due to my situation, I could not continue it. Khushi was right. The luckiest people were those who could do what they wanted. Now, I felt lucky as I was doing what I liked. It was bliss. Recently I painted a drawing... it became my close to heart drawing...! I painted Khushi. Panting was my favorite thing... and drawing Khushi was the most favorite thing.

We had dinner and went to bed. I was watching TV, leaning on the headboard. Khushi placed her head on my chest and circled my waist. I started caressing her head softly.

"Feeling tired?"

"No..."

"Are your legs aching?"

"No"

"May I press your legs...?"

"Mmm... nooo"

"Ok, go to sleep..."

No answer from Khushi because she slept. I knew she would sleep soon. That was why I caressed her hair. I could find out if she was tired by seeing her eyes.

I made her lay on the bed. Kissing her forehead, I lay hugging her.

The next morning

Khushi looked brisk. This was how she worked. A deep sleep was enough for her to make brisk no matter how tired she had been.

We got ready as Khushi wanted to go out. She was the one who prepared breakfast. She didn't listen to me...! Sometimes, she was extremely adamant, especially when it came to cooking. I stopped arguing with her as I knew I could not win her.

She prepared something. Its name didn't stay in my mind but its taste. It was awesome. That was also the reason I stopped arguing with her. If she was adamant about cooking something, it must be with an unbeatable taste.

After finishing breakfast, we started.

"Where are we going, Khushi?" I asked her driving the car.

She just directed me.

"What's the spot?"

"We are going to an ART GALLERY..."

"Art Gallery? Really?" I became excited. After all, I'm an artist...!

"I got tickets from my friend. As you are an artist, you will like it"

I smiled. Yeah, Khushi liked my art. Whenever she went to RM, she used to look at my paintings.

We reached the Art Gallery. Parking the car, we walked in. Khushi's friend welcomed us. We were taken to the huge hall where a lot of paintings were kept.

I was stunned to see the paintings because all of them were MY paintings. I looked at Khushi bewildered who smiled at me pleasantly.

"Khushi... these paintings are..."

"Undoubtedly yours..."

"But how?"

"I arranged it through my friend..."

I was standing like a statue, looking at her. I never thought my paintings would be recognized this way.

"Recognizing a creator's talent is true respect for the creation...! Your creations deserve respect" Khushi smiled.

Taking a step ahead, I hugged her tight. She was right. Recognition was the only expectation of the creator. What was the value of the creation if it was not recognized? I was happy my Khushi understood that. I was surprised when Khushi said,

"Happy Birthday, Arnav"

Breaking the hug, I looked at Khushi.

"This is my Birthday gift"

"No gift would be better than this," I said emotionally. Khushi made me emotional.

"I saw all your paintings. I know you like paintings, how much I like cooking. You made my dream come true. This is my turn... start doing painting, Arnav"

I smiled.

"See, how excitedly these people are looking at your paintings... your creations have values, Arnav... please don't stop it"

"I didn't stop it. I recently drew a painting"

Taking my phone, I showed Khushi's painting photo to her. Khushi's eyes widened, seeing her photo.

"My God... it's so beautiful, Arnav. Your hands have magic"

"It's because you are beautiful"

"Anything can be shown beautifully by you"

"Thank you for the super surprise. It was least expected by me"

"You no need to thank me... I did nothing compared to you"

"Don't compare... my happiness is not less than your happiness. I thought no one knew what my passion meant to me but you do. I'm glad about it"

Khushi smiled.

After Eleven years

I drove the car towards the FIVE-star hotel owned by us, THE PRINCESS'S KING. Khushi named the Hotel, leaning on my shoulder. It was nothing but a Mini Palace. We modified it into a Five Star Hotel, spending one hundred crore more, five years ago.

I and Khushi were in RM now. Khushi wanted our kids to be in my parent's shadow... especially my mom's. Yeah, we had two kids, Aarushi and Arsh. They were sitting in the back seat. Arushi was nine years and Arsh was seven. They were excited to go to the Princess's King because a big party was going to be held in the Hotel because that was my birthday. I'm turning forty today. Every year, this day would be celebrated by Khushi grandly and differently. I didn't know what her plan was this year.

"Didi, will Dad cut the cake?" Arsh asked with curiosity.

"Yeah... Mom would have made a big cake for Dad" Arushi said.

"What cake?"

"Don't know. Mom would have tried something new"

I smiled upon hearing them. It was the effect of Khushi. She made everyone special by treating them that way.

We reached the Princess's King. I was stunned seeing the décor. It was full of wine color fancy curtains and wine color lights. When we entered the venue, the mild band played to welcome us. Khushi was waiting with Raizadas and Guptas having a wine-colored flower bouquet. I could not understand what she was trying to hint at with the WINE.

She took me to the hall hand on hand that was reserved only for us. I rolled my eyes when I saw the cake that was kept in the center hall. It was a WINE cake and 'YOU ARE AGING LIKE A FINE WINE' was written on it.

I know why Khushi got such an idea. Recently I spoke about getting old. That was why she upgraded me, comparing me with WINE which was the only thing that would increase in value as it aged. That was how she lifted me in every single matter.

We were made for each other. I never thought an arranged marriage would get such an output that was far better than love marriages. Usually, love would take the couple towards marriage... but our story was different. Our marriage took us towards LOVE...! Our love was like a WINE and its value was increasing day by day...!