Part 37 Declaration

Arnav was shocked to the core by the sudden HUG. He stood like a statue without a blink. He could not understand anything. No one ever hugged him before, not even his mother. He was a man who didn't usually hug anyone. That was the first time, he was being hugged... that too by a GIRL! His heartbeat rose even though Khushi was the girl he loved. Maybe, that was why his heartbeat was raised. His brain stopped working. It took one full minute for his brain to resume its work. He could fight with the biggest troop but with his feelings.

What happened to Khushi? What made her hug him? Was she emotional? But why?"

"K...Khu...shi..." The man who was a warrior stammered.

Khushi tightened the hug and buried her face into his chest, worsening his condition. Arnav slowly closed his eyes not wanting to think anything. after a few seconds, his arms automatically raised and surrounded her. There bloomed a soft smile on his lips. How ecstatic the feel was to be in the beloved one's arms!

Khushi could not tolerate the news of Arnav's death. Though she wanted to go to her era she could not stand when she got to know Arnav would die without her. There was nothing in her mind other than Arnav. How could she let him die the only great man she had met in her life? She could not even imagine his demise. She felt like, she would be left alone in the world if Arnav had not been with her.

Khushi understood one thing. The avoidance she showed toward Arnav was not true. Her heart had already fallen for Arnav and she didn't realize it. That was why she felt the same pain of her parent's demise, hearing about Arnav.

Arnav opened his eyes when he heard the laughing sound of girls who were playing downstairs. He looked at Khushi, pulling her back from the hug.

"What happened to you, Khushi?"

She composed herself and decided not to tell Arnav about his FATE. She didn't want him to think she married him out of sympathy. After all, he was a warrior...!

"Nothing..."

Arnav raised his brows, wondering.

"Why are you looking at me like this?" she asked.

"Tell me the reason for your hug. Why did you hug me suddenly?"

"I just felt to..."

"Whaaat?" He chuckled.

"I told you, you would feel awkward about my actions. Didn't I? I will feel to do something crazy anytime... just like this hug..."

"So, you hugged me without a reason?"

"Do you want me to have a reason to hug you?"

Arnav rolled his eyes.

"I don't think you hugged me just because you felt to hug me because you looked a little emotional when you hugged me,"

Khushi was stunned. It seemed Arnav became an expert in studying her.

"Emotional and me?" She chuckled and nodded no.

Arnav folded his hands and smirked.

"Ok... I will tell you the truth," she said.

Arnav nodded yes.

"I was overwhelmed by your love. I didn't expect you would take it to your parents... I was stunned by your quick and straightforward approach. You are a nice man. I didn't realize it. I would have missed you for some unnecessary reasons,"

"Are you ready to marry me wholeheartedly?" he asked with disbelief.

She nodded yes.

"Is it?"

"I will do anything wholeheartedly only. If I don't feel it heartily, I won't do it,"

She again hugged him, to prove her action, making him awestruck. She was not ready to be the reason for Arnav's death. In front of Arnav, the parallel universe seemed NOTHING to her.

Arnav could not believe Khushi was ready to marry him wholeheartedly. She hugged him just because she accepted him. He reciprocated her hug with an unbelievable expression. Without breaking the hug, Khushi looked at him raising her head. Arnav smiled at her delightedly.

"Whaaat?"

"I can't believe a so handsome man is going to be my would husband"

Arnav's smile broadened.

"But, I'm not modern like your era guys,"

"You don't have to be modern... be yourself. That's your specialty,"

"I can't believe you are hugging me,"

"Either me..."

"Did you agree to marry me just because the sand clock is missing?"

Khushi was not surprised. She expected it.

"I will marry you even though I get the sand clock back,"

That answer wondered Arnav.

"What happened to you, Khushi? I can see a sudden change in you?"

Breaking the hug, she said,

"Ok, let me go to the King and say I don't want to marry you" She took a step to go, but Arnav pulled her towards him, making her collide with his chest.

Khushi looked at him amazed.

"Don't you dare..." he said.

As he didn't expect, she kept her palms on his shoulders and said,

"Then, stop doubting me"

Arnav smiled biting his lip.

"What?" she asked.

"You are so unpredictable"

"Why?"

Without saying anything, he looked at her palms on his shoulder.

"Do you want me to keep my distance from you?" She asked.

Before he answered,

"Don't you dare think like that! I just can't" she said.

"What will you do?"

"Do you want me to show what I will do?"

"Will you?" He lifted his brows.

"Why not? Let me show you..."

She pinched his cheeks, dashed his forehead with hers, she tickled him, making him jump backward.

"Oiii... what are you doing?" he giggled.

"This is how I will play with you" She continued, tickling.

"Khushi... stop it..." He clutched her hands panting hard.

"You are unbelievable" He laughed.

"Leave my hands," She said.

"Ok, but you should not tickle me"

"Ok... but you should carry a piggyback"

"Means?" he shrank his eyes.

"Let me show you"

Arnav left her hands. Khushi came behind him and jumped on his back, circling his neck. Arnav was dumbfounded.

"Would husband carry his wife like this?"

"Not everyone..."

"What should I do now?"

"Nothing..." She jumped down smiling.

"Will you be like this always?"

"As of now, I'm like this...who knows what will happen tomorrow?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Are you really ready to marry me, Khushi?"

"What's wrong with you, Arnav? When I was not ready, you were firm in your decision and now, you are confused"

"I mean your era is so advanced in technology... you were so comfortable with machines... traveling is easy... and..."

Taking a step, Khushi kept her index finger on his lips, giving him goosebumps.

"If you keep on questioning me, when will you start loving me? Mmm?"

Arnav was staring at her, not answering. Everything seemed new to him. Playing, pinching, ticking, everything...! These kinds of gestures from girls were something he didn't know about. His era girls were so shy and hesitant. They won't even talk with their husbands. Then, playing with them would not even be in their dream. Would his future be like this with Khushi? He was thinking of all of them.

Suddenly, he jerked, hearing a noise from outside.

"What happened?" She asked.

"I think Queen is coming," he said hastily.

"Queen?"

"Your mother-in-law. Didn't she say she will come to your place?"

"Oh, is she coming to my room? I have to go..."

Khushi rushed to her room. When she went inside, Medha stepped on the first floor. As Arnav predicted, she went to Khushi's room. Khushi saw her entering with a group of maids who had plates in their hands. Those plates had jewels and silk clothes. Khushi was stunned, seeing them. She looked at Medha perplexed.

"Don't think I want you to wear them. This is just a formality. Being a Princess of this kingdom, you should have everything. I don't want you to lack for anything. Tomorrow, there is a Pooja at our palace. It's being arranged for Arnav and your betterment. I want you to participate in it with Arnav"

Khushi nodded okay and touched Medha's feet.

"Livelong happily with Arnav"

Khushi smiled, understanding the meaning.

Taking a long and thick chain from a plate, Medha wore it on Khushi's neck.

"Welcome to our kingdom"

Khushi smiled.

"You are free to enter my room from here on"

Khushi nodded ok.

"I'm leaving"

Khushi again nodded ok.

Medha left her room. Khushi sat on the bed, looking at the chain on her neck. She smiled closing her eyes.

Arnav and Khushi's wedding news spread like a forest fire. That surprised a few, delighted a few, angered a few... Chandrika was one among them.

To be continued...