Valley of flowers Chapter 19

KHUSHI woke up with a start realizing it was probably late again this morning. Arnav and she had returned back from the farm house, in the wee hours of the morning and gone right back to sleep.

She had been a little nervous as she entered the kitchen but to her relief she was informed that Mamaji and Mamiji were out visiting.

 As she picked up the breakfast tray, she saw Arnav dressed for work talking on the phone at the pool side on the ground floor. She stepped in and placed the tray down on the table and just as she was about turn away he caught her to him,pulling her flush against himself, her back to his front, placing wet kisses behind her ear, as someone droned on the other side.

‘Arnav!’ Khushi bit out horrified that someone might see them.

‘It’s on mute.’ He whispered back continuing his journey down the nape of her neck. ‘Alright Lavanya, I will get back to you on that.’ He concluded his phone call.‘Why are you wearing this unflattering suit today?

As Khushi secured her dupatta around her neck, Arnav moved it aside and pulled at her neckline. ‘F@#$!’ He looked at the dark bruise on her nape meaningfully. ‘Last night?’

‘Why were you talking to Lavanyaji?’ She prevaricated, her heart beating wildly in her chest.

‘She works for me remember?’ Arnav said as he sat on the pool chair picking up a piece of toast.

‘Is she going to continue working for you?’ She said tentatively.

‘When I met her at NK’s engagement she assured me that she would be more attentive to her work in the future. It’s not like I have a whole lot of choice. You don’t to have worry about all this anymore.’

‘Oh,’ Khushi said in a low voice. How could she not worry?

 If you think that this so called farce of a marriage is going to stop Arnav and me you are highly mistaken

Arnav was never really interested in marriage. Would he really follow the vows of marriage they had taken around the marital pyre? Or would Lavanya manage to lure him back into their relationship just as she had threatened?

He stood up wiping his hand on a towel.‘If I don’t get to work in the next five minutes I will be losing a deal worth millions of dollars and Nani will probably regret her decision of bringing me here. In other words – I have got to go. But I do have time for ---’He pulled her to himself and took her lips, making love to her mouth, slowly and tenderly.

‘There is only one other taste better than the kalmi kabab you made yesterday.’ He said huskily.

‘I thought you were too drunk to notice the taste.’ She said trying to catch her breath.

He raked his hand through his hair. ‘Was I so drunk? Did I say anything?’ he said squinting his eyes.

‘You said I was like your mother.’ She said trying to keep a poker face.

‘’F@#$ I said that?’ He said looking incredulous. She nodded trying to look innocent. Then they both broke into peals of laughter as the absurdity of it hit them simultaneously. As their laughter subsided they looked up to see the entire family watching them from the other side of the glass panes, staring at them in amusement.

Later that morning, Khushi stood outside the radiology department waiting for Anjali’s cast to be removed. The assistant orthopaedic doctor, Dr Mukherjee, an young Bengali man had requested Dr Manav to send her outside. She had been terrified looking at the power-saw they used to cut through the fibre glass cast and her squeals had made him nervous.

A little later Anjali, Khushi and Manav sat in the food court of the hospital where Manav had taken them for coffee.

On the way to the hospital this morning, Anjali had revealed to her that Dr Manav was a widower. His wife had died last year after a long term ill-ness due to arthritis of the lungs. They had been married just for three years and had no children. Khushi’s heart went out to this man who had gone through such a grave tragedy in his life.

‘Di tells me you own this hospital?’ Khushi asked as she sipped her coffee.

‘Yes it is,’ he answered, ‘During the day, I end up doing a lot of administrative work.  Running a hospital can be quite taxing. I see patients in the evenings.’

‘But he squeezes in some time for the patients of Ashray,’ Anjali said an appreciative gleam in her eyes. ‘He treats them for free.’ She added.

‘Anjali please.’ Manav brushed off the compliments looking a little embarrassed. ‘It’s the least I can do. You work there for peanuts, yourself, don’t you?’

As they began discussing some of their patients Khushi realized how animated Anjali seemed with Dr Manav.The mutual admiration they had for each other was quiet obvious.

In the ten years she had known Anjali, Khushi knew that Anjalilived in her own world of books and kept mostly to herself. But she was a very warm person at heart.She remembered the fun times they had when she had come home before Payal and Akash’s wedding, five years ago.

Since she had come back from Mumbai, however, Anjali seemed to have receded into a shell. She had hardly seen Anjali and Shyam exchange more than a few words with each other. During her conversation with Anjali, she had gathered that Anjali had not really been interested in marriage and her mother had coerced her into marrying Shyam because her she wanted to see her daughter settled before she left for the US.

Mamma practically dragged me to the altar before leaving for the States

She said she had never asked me anything in her life but I would have to listen to her this time. I was guilty. I agreed to get married to the boy she chose for me.

Shyam’s erratic behaviour with her on the terrace and then later at holi had bordered on inappropriate. Was it possible that Anjali and Shyam had never found happiness with eachother? What might have happened if Anjali had met Dr Manav five years ago?

‘Anjali, I am worried about the way you fell from the stairs. I think you should move to a different place. You don’t even have a room downstairs in your house.’

‘What do you mean Dr Manav?’ Khushi said curious about what Dr Manav had said.

‘Anjali has already had prior fracture in her left foot because of which it is a little weak. I feel she should avoid going up and down the stairs too much.’

‘I slipped because the strap of my house slipper tore.’ Anjali said.

‘But Di, didn’t you buy those during Diwali when we went shopping?’ Khushi reminded her. ‘Those slippers were quiet robust. How can they tear so soon?’

‘You are right Khushi, it was a good brand too and I paid a fortune for it. I will take it back to the store and demand a refund.’

‘Demand a refund?’Manav’s eyebrows rose incredulously, ‘You will have to sue them for your injury Anjali.’

‘Alright Mr Know it All,’ Anjali said affably. ‘I will take you along when I to go to the store. I guess you will be helpful in proving my point to the owner, you being a doctor and all.

‘Khushi and I will get going now,’ Anjali said looking at the time on her phone.‘She is coming home to help me clean up.’

‘Di,’ Khushi said as an ominous feeling entered her heart. ‘As Dr Manav suggested you should find a place that has a room downstairs. Until then, I think you should stay with us.’

‘I think that is a good idea.’ Manav agreed.

‘But ---’ Anjali hesitated.

‘Please Di,’ Khushi implored, ‘are you uncomfortable ---’

‘No Khushi, why should I feel uncomfortable? After all it is my brother and bhabhi’s house.’ She smiled affectionately. ‘Let’s just go home and pick up some more clothes ----’

‘No,’ Khushi said firmly. ‘You go home. Didn’t Dr Mukherjee say your legs are going to feel wobbly for a day or two? I will go and pick up your stuff.’

A little later Khushi entered Anjali’s house with apprehension. The last time she was here she had found Anjali at the foot of the stairs, unconscious, scaring the living daylights out of her.

Today as she looked around, she saw a living room, extending into a dining area with an open kitchen on one side. Modern contemporary furniture filled the room, with chocolate brown and cream curtains matching the furniture. Anjali’s tastes were very similar to her brother, thought Khushi. She was however, surprised to find the house looking clean as though someone was using it regularly. As she went upstairs to the bedroom to pack Anjali’s clothes, she found the bed unmade which surprised her again. Khushi quickly took the clothes out of the wardrobe and packed it into a duffel bag. She quickly came down stairs and found Anjali’s slippers stowed away under the stairs. She began stuffing them into the side pockets when she heard a noise.

‘Khushiji? What a pleasant surprise.’

‘Shyamji!’Khushi jumped up, startled out of her wits when she heard the slithery voice of Shyam ManoharJha. She had managed to stay out of his way since holi, but she had felt his gleamy eyes on her giving her the creeps. Khushi took a step toward the door. ‘I …I just came to pack some more clothes for Di. I was just leaving.’

‘What’s the hurry Khushiji?’ He blocked the door. ‘This is the first time you have come home.

Won’t you allow me to make some tea for you?’

‘Maybe some other time,’ Khushi evaded. ‘I am sure Mohanji is waiting for me outside.’

‘I don’t think so,’ Shyam answered evenly. ‘I spoke to Anjali sometime back. I told her not to bother sending Mohan as I was already in the area and that I would be happy to bring you home.’

‘Oh.’ She wished Anjali hadn’t done that. Khushi’s heart began to pound wildly.

He went into the kitchen and put the water to boil. ‘I have heard Mamiji and Mamaji are planning a trip to Australia. You managed to get rid of them pretty quickly I must say, Khushiji.’

‘I didn’t do anything!’ Khushi was appalled at his accusation.

‘Khushiji, a beauty like you doesn’t have to do anything. Men will just fall all over themselves awaiting a command from you.’

Khushi cringed at his crassness. ‘Shyamji!’

‘From the moment I saw you I have been living in regret of the moment I rejected your proposal.’

‘Shyamjiwe spoke about this!’

‘I was so taken in by your beauty, your grace and your innocence. I thought you were purity personified. ’

‘Don’t talk nonsense Shyamji!’

‘I was so fooled by your innocence that I decided to save you from NK.’

A shock went through Khushi’s spine. ‘So you were the one who called NK’s mother?But why?’

‘I made a mistake. When I got your jacket from the hotel, I seriously believed that you were innocent. But I soonrealized this was your plan right from the beginning. You seduced him in Agra and manipulated him in such a way that he came right on time and married you.’

‘You have a twisted way to see things don’t you?’ Khushi raised her voice. ‘Why are you even talking about all of this? This is none of your business!’

‘You have your husband twisted around your little finger with you beauty, your body. I have seen you frolicking shamelessly with him.’

What did he mean by “seen”? Bile rose up her throat.

‘And now you are the mistress of Raizada Mansion, owner of all the Raizada money, properties.’

‘That is enough Shyamji!’ Khushi exclaimed. ‘I am going to call Arnav right this moment.’ She began looking for her phone.

‘You know what I am very curious about Khushiji?’ Shyam said indolently. ‘How did Arnav marry you even though you betrayed him five years ago?’

‘What?’ Khushi went pale. How did Shyam know something even Anjali didn’t? ‘I …I just left for my studies.’

‘Come on Khushiji,’ he said sardonically. ‘You can stop all your pretences. You gave Sharada Raizada sleepless nights when you trapped her beloved son into an affair,’ he said with rancour.‘In spite of all the money she paid you for leaving her son, she still had to resort to blackmail.’

‘How do you know about all that?’ Khushi whispered dazedly.

‘Do you think that Sharada Raizada had the brains to pull all this by herself?’ He said scornfully.‘I had met her a few times on behalf of my boss regarding some litigation case. She had seen my talent at fabricating evidence first hand.

‘She had begun talking about the “problem” she was facing with her son. I advised her. Simple.’

And just like that he had sealed her fate.‘So those papers were fake.’ Khushi said resignedly.

‘Absolutely!’ he laughed

The letter was in pure hindi. ‘You wrote that letter on my behalf.’

‘Yes, that was my handiwork too.’ He agreed smugly. ‘At the time I didn’t know you and I didn’t care. I just did what that old lady asked me to do because – of Anjali.’

‘Oh my God, you convinced her to give her daughter’s hand in marriage?’ Khushi was horrified.

‘Unfortunately it was no use marrying her daughter as I realized too late that the scheming old lady had no money of her own. Nevertheless, being associated with the Raizada name had its uses.’

‘You are sick!’Khushi held a hand to her head.

‘When I saw you for the first time I thought you were innocent and there must have some misunderstanding but now I am sure you were trying to trap him since that time. We are two of a kind Khushiji.’

‘I am nothing like you!’ She cried in desperation.

‘Then why haven’t you told him about his mother – unless you want to use it as leverage?’

‘How much do you want?’ Khushi asked him silently, ‘How much money do you want to keep the secret about Arnav’s mother?’

‘Why do you want to keep it a secret?’

‘You won’t understand.’

‘Is that right?’ He stared at her curiously. ‘Alright, since you insist, give me five lakhs.’

‘Five lakhs?’ Khushi was shocked at how quickly he had agreed. I don’t have that kind of money.’

Shyam laughed eerily. ‘You are the wife of a millionaire!’

‘I can’t take money from Arnav!’ She said emphatically.

‘Let’s start with 1 lakh then.’’

Much later into the night, Khushi paced about in the pool side as Arnav slept in their bed oblivious of what was going on in her mind. How was she going to come up with so much money?

Khushi heard a muffled scream coming from the bedroom and rushed inside to see Arnav thrashing about mumbling something incoherent.

‘Arnav! Arnav, wake up.’ She shook his shoulder, leaning toward him. She switched on the bedside lamp.

He instantly came awake, the memory to the dream lingering in his mind. Raking a hand through his hair he released a ragged breath.

‘Are you all right?’ Her voice was deep and low with concern.

‘Yeah…I’m fine…just a nightmare. Sorry.’ He rubbed a hand across his eyes, attempting to shed the lingering discomfort of the dream. ‘What time is it?’

‘It’s two o clock.’

‘I am sorry I woke you.’

How could she tell him that she hadn’t slept a wink. ‘Were you dreaming about your parents?’

‘Yeah.’ It was easier to acknowledge the trauma rather than deal with the ghosts of his disturbing past.

He couldn’t imagine why he had this dream. It had been years since he had suffered the nightmares that had once plagued him nightly. He had thought they were finally, truly behind him.

 ‘You want to talk about it?’

‘I don’t know Khushi. With dad gone I thought everything was over. But the night mare came back again.’

‘Is this because of your parents’ divorce?’ Khushi ventured tentatively. ‘I remember you had a nightmare in Dehradun when I first met you.’

‘No Khushi it is not the same. Earlier I used to get nightmares about my parents fighting. But this one is different.’

‘How so?’ She sat down beside him.

‘When I was seven years old, we lived in Lucknow. My dad took me to the fair. Mom and Di stayed behind that day because Di was not feeling well. That day, when my dad was buying something for Di I slipped away from his side following a puppy. After playing with the puppy for some time I looked around and realized I was lost. I began to cry and a woman came up to me and I told her I couldn’t find my dad. It was dark by this time. So she took me to a park that was inside the fair and we sat on a bench. She told me we should wait there and that she was sure my dad would find us there. I think I dozed off on her lap. Then a little later I felt being lifted up and realized my dad had found me.’

When he remained silent for some time Khushi touched his shoulder and said, ‘What has this incident got to do with your nightmare Arnav?’

‘In my nightmare my dad leaves me on that bench and walks away with this woman. I keep crying out for him to come back to me.

 ‘I began getting these night mares after mom told me that there was another woman in my dad’s life.’

‘Oh my God!’ Khushi was astounded by this revelation.

‘Mom told me that dad knew this woman before they were married and had never been able to forget her. She told me he could never love her because of this woman.’

‘I am sorry Arnav. How long have you known?’

‘Mom told me all this just a few months before she died,’ he looked at her his brown eyes filled with anguish. ‘Khushi, this is the first time I am talking to someone about it. I haven’t even told Di or Nani about this.’

‘I understand Arnav,’ she stroked his hair gently. ‘I will keep this to myself. Do you know who this woman was?’

‘No, mom didn’t know either. But something tells me she was the same woman I saw in the fair. When my dad found me with that woman, he sat down on the bench talking to her. I was too sleepy to comprehend the words but I know they spoke for a long time before my dad took me back home that night. Few days after the incident at the fair dad met with the accident and our life turned topsy -turvy from that day onward.

‘I tried talking to dad about this when I met him at the hospital. All he would say was he was sorry.’

‘Arnav,’ Khushi said tentatively. ‘Your dad kept talking about a fair when I used to visit him in the hospital. I didn’t tell you because it didn’t make any sense to me at that time.’

‘He spoke to you?’ Arnav said emphatically. ‘Why?’

‘I don’t know,’ Khushi said shrugging her shoulders. ‘He also kept calling me some name …..I think it was laali.’

‘Forget it Khushi,’ Arnav said suddenly his eyes clouded with pain, ‘dad was completely out of it in the end. We will never know what was going on in his mind. There is no use talking about it.’

‘I only feel bad for what mom had to go through with dad’s illness and then her own brother sent her away from this house.

‘I tried my very best to make her feel better when we went to the US. But I don’t think I succeeded. She kept talking about dad all the time. She was very hurt by his betrayal.’ A tear trickled down the side of his face as he tried hard not to give in to his anguish.

Khushi gently placed her lips on her forehead trying to smoothen the creases that had formed there. Then she kissed his eyes, one after another followed by two smooth velvet kisses on his cheeks. Then she took his lips between hers, increasing her pressure until she felt his heart calming down. Arnav lay still savouring the feeling until he couldn’t stop himself from taking control from her.

‘Khushi,’ he murmured, pushing her on the bed and kissing her eager mouth. She was kissing him back, dissolving at the touch of his hands on her skin, body hungrily reaching. They came together with the ease of familiarity. Moving to a rhythm growing steadily faster and fiercer until all sense of time and place vanished and they were floating in a free fall into an abyss.

Valley of Flowers Chapter 18

ARNAV came into the bedroom to find Khushi trimming the plants at poolside. It was dark except for some light filtering in from the bed side lamp in the bedroom.He hadn't expected her to be awake as it was almost 2’ o clock.

‘Khushi,’ Arnav called from the sliding doors. Khushi ignored him. ‘Khushi!’ He walked up to her and took the scissors from her hands and threw it on the floor. ‘Why aren't you asleep?’

‘I felt like gardening.’ She replied evenly.

He looked at the pathetic state of some of the plants. ‘I wish that is what you were doing.’

‘Are you angry with me?’ She shot back.‘Why don’t you walk out?’

‘Shut up Khushi!’ He swung her around, holding her upper arms crushing the soft flesh.

She shrugged off his hands and hit his chest. ‘Why did you walk out of our conversation?’

He raised his eyebrow hands on his hips. ‘Do you expect me to stand quietly listening while you support your ex?’

‘You didn't pick up my calls.’

‘I didn't pick up because I was tired of listening to you defending that moron!’  He said exasperated.

‘I was defending him because I don’t care Arnav!’

‘I don’t care that he didn’t come to the wedding!’

‘I don’t care that he slept with Ria!’

‘I don’t care that he thinks we slept together!’

‘What the --?’

‘But I do care what you think.’ Tears streamed down her cheeks.‘I did not tell him that you hurt me. He guessed that there was someone in my past. I didn't want to talk about it and he made assumptions.’

‘Of course he did,’ Arnav’s voice broke on a catch in his throat.‘That is what that moron is capable of.’

She advanced on him. ‘If you know -- why did you say such things?’

‘What things?’

‘That you were delusional?’Khushi moved toward him.

Arnav took a step back and felt the wall against his back.‘I was jealous.’

‘How can you be jealous when you were so sure I didn’t love him?’ Khushi demanded.

‘But you were so angry with me instead of being angry with him.’ Arnav pointed out.

‘So? Do you want me to be angry with someone who doesn’t matter to me? Someone who means NOTHING to me?’

She threw her arms around him and pressed her lips against his with fervour, sending a jolt right into his gut. She lifted her head and searched his face.

‘I love you Arnav!’

A varied range of emotions passed through his brown eyes in just a few seconds. Suddenlyhe swung her around to press her against the wall as his head descended and his mouth imprisoned her lips, taking advantage of her gasp of surprise, to possess her mouth with shocking intensity and purpose.

Automatically her hand rose to his shoulders to brace herself against his onslaught. He made no attempt to control or hide the arousal of his body as it hunted against hers.

Frustration – or was it anger? – lent his actions an intensity which shocked her as his tongue seduced her. As if she had been plugged into the mains electricity supply her whole body became transformed, trembling with a need which could be assuaged only by him.

She sighed her satisfaction as Arnav’s fingers lifted the heavy fall of her black hair from her neck, his eager fingers undoing the pin on her pallu to caress the delicate skin on the nape of her neck.

She heard the increased power of his breathing, felt the heavy hammer of his heart as it echoed against her breasts. Responding with a blind passion, she exchanged caress for caress, returning his eager kisses with an ardour of her own, feeling her body crave for the promise of fulfillment.

He slipped his fingers into her waistband, pulling out the pleats so the saree fell in a heap around their ankles.He paused to move the material out of his way and his eyes darkened when he saw her in her blouse and in-skirt, her hair in disarray. In the dim light, his eyes roved over the creamy expanse of her skin, her rib bone jutting out, her quivering stomach and her navel just above the waist band of her in-skirt. He felt his body hardening in response.

‘You look ….beautiful,’ he said his voice husky with desire.

He bent his head and placed a wet trail down her jaw, down to the nape of her neck. As he took the delicate skin between his lips, Khushi thrust her breasts toward him and Arnav slid his fingers inside the neckline of her blouse arousing the peaks into tight  buds. When he nipped the delicate skin with his teeth, simultaneously pinching her bud between his fingers, Khushi couldn’t help letting out a strangled moan as she arched her hips toward him seeking.

Arnav laved the spot soothing the ache and moved down to her collar bone, down to the swell of her breasts until he reached the neckline of her blouse. One hand pulled down the material to expose one creamy breast and shoulder even as the other unclasped the hook at the back.

He made a wet trail in the valley between her breasts, down her midriff and then dove his tongue into her navel making her arch like a cat. 

Then he traced his way back and took one hardened peak in his mouth, suckling as his hand slid down the flat planes of her stomach to slip into her in-skirt to dip into the centre of her heat.

Khushi jumped up when his fingers began stroking her gently, and she clutched at the hair at the back of his head as the heady double onslaught created cataclysmic sensations coursing through her veins reaching her very nerve endings.

As his urgent hands then undid the ties of her in-skirt, Khushi clutched at his hand, ‘Arnav, not here!’

‘It’s okay….’ Arnav moved her hands out of way, peeled them off her legs along with her panties. Widening her legs with his leg he made her jump again as he inserted one finger into her molten core.

‘Relax Khushi,’ Arnav said pushing deep into her. As she began to get used to the feeling he inserted a second finger, circling her nub with his thumb. Khushi was thankful for the support of the wall behind her or she was sure she was going to collapse any moment.

Khushi dug her fingernails into his shoulders, tugging at his shoulder until he took her lips in his swallowing her moans. As the frenzy of the strokes increased, Khushi swayed into the bewildering haze as the fires in her body ignited further and further until she tumbled into the abyss and splintered into a million fragments of mind-numbing pleasure. 

He was still kissing her when he swung her up in his arms and carried her through to the bedroom, pressing her down on the softness of the bed by the weight of his own ardent body.

As Arnav gathered her in his arms, Khushi hugged him tight floating in oblivion, her nerve endings tingling with indescribable sensation.

Once her heartbeat began to return to a state of normalcy, Khushi pulled him to her, taking his mouth as her fingers unbuttoned his shirt to trace the muscles of his shoulders, down to chest and down still to his abs and rested just above the waist band of his jeans hovering there --- hesitating. Her ardour egged him to lift himself off her to discarded his clothes deftly.

He muttered something incomprehensible and reached beneath his own body, but Khushi was quicker; seizing the initiative, she guided him to her, offering herself for his conquest, crying out her joy as he made her body his own, filling her with his heat and warmth and power. Filling and completing her -- one with him.

Khushi bent her legs, rocking back on her hips, inviting, alluring, demanding and Arnav did not disappoint her, as her hand fanned over his muscular back and she felt the dampness of his skin.

With a master’s touch he loved her and incited her, drawing her steadily along the road to fulfilment until she gasped out his name, until the final, soaring moment of release. She was still making incomprehensible ecstatic mews of pleasure when Arnav achieved his own summit within her velvet fastness. His full weight pressed her contented body into the mattress for only a few seconds before he gained enough control to roll away from her, only to drag her to himself as breath sawed in his chest.

Bit by bit Khushi’s body returned from the floating limbo which had overtaken it. Her heart regained its steady rhythm; her mind cleared although a pleasant lethargy held her in its grip. She knew she would not hear the words she craved to hear -- nor did she expect it. The one moment of wariness in his eyes had clearly expressed his doubts Why the betrayal?Was it time to break her silence? she wondered before sleep claimed her.

Khushi woke up as the rays of the sun sliced through the curtains. She checked the bedside clock and jumped up. It was 9.oo AM! It had been wee hours of the morning by the time Arnav and she had slept and she was still feeling a little groggy. She moved Arnav’s arms from around her waist and quickly rushed into the bathroom for a shower.

‘Arnav, wake up and shower!’ She called out to him before rushing out of their bedroom. As she walked down the stairs, she stifled a yawn with her hand.

‘So you finally found time to come down and make breakfast?’ Mamiji shouted, startling Khushi out of her lethargy.

‘Keep your voice down Manorama,’ Naniji said as she came out of her room. ‘What is going on?’

‘Khushi hasn’t prepared breakfast today.’ She announced.

‘But there is breakfast on the table,’ Anjali countered, ‘Omprakashji is taking care of it.’

‘Who is Omprakash?’ Mamiji said.

‘He is Hariprakash’s cousin,’ Anjali explained. ‘Hariprakash arranged for his cousin to come here and cover during his absence.’

‘Who asked him to do that?’

‘Arnav.’ Shyam supplied.

‘I don’t know why you never asked Hariprakash to do that before he left Manorama,’ Naniji countered. ‘Now that we have breakfast waiting for us let us all proceed to the dining room.’ Naniji said firmly.

As breakfast was underway, Omprakash came up to them and told them that there were couple of delivery men at the door. They were here to deliver a dishwasher.

‘Dishwasher?’ Mamiji’s eyebrows creased in confusion. ‘Akash did you order a dishwasher for the house without asking me?’

‘No ma, I didn’t.’ He looked clueless.

‘I did.’ Arnav came up to the table and took his seat. He looked at Omprakash. ‘Tell them to put in the utility room and then bring me the receipt for me to sign.A technician from Seimens will come in later for installation and demonstration.’

‘Who asked you to order a dishwasher for this house?’ Mamiji demanded.

‘No one.’ Arnav began buttering the toast and omelette Khushi brought him. ‘Khushi, sit down and have breakfast.’

‘We have a maid to clean the dishes.’

‘By maid, you mean Khushi right?’ Arnav’s brown eyes simmered. ‘Khushi, I said sit dammit!’ Khushi sat down in the seat next to him.

‘Oh I see.’ Mamiji said with a nod of her head. ‘You got Omprakash here, ordered the dishwasher – all this so your wife just sit and relax.’

‘Why not?’ He replied smoothly, taking a bite of his toast. ‘That is what everyone else is doing.’

Mamiji was outraged. ‘How dare you talk to me without respect?’

‘Take it easy mamiji,’ Shyam placated. ‘Saale saab is not used to our traditional ways having stayed in the western world for a long time.’

‘What’s this got to do with tradition and western ways?’ Arnav said looking at Shyam. He took a sip of his coffee. ‘If you think speaking out the truth is disrespecting, then that is your problem, not mine.’

‘What is wrong in doing work?’ Mamiji demanded. ‘She is the bahu of this house.’

‘Well, Khushi did a major part of the cooking, baby sat Ashu while Akash was ill, worked part time at AR while still managing her dance classes in the weekends – even when she was not yet the bahu of this house.’

Khushi placed her hand on Arnav’s forearm. ‘Arnav please --- it’s alright.’

Mamiji turned her angry eyes at Khushi. ‘Yes, also do explain to your husband that you were doing all this because you were carrying you parents’ burden. Akash had actually hired you as favour even though you were not qualified for the job.’

‘Ma, please’ Akash interjected. ‘Khushi did her job exceptionally well.’

‘Thanks for the vote of confidence Akash,’ Arnav said. ‘But I would have appreciated if you had helped your in-laws instead of making it an obligation.’

As Akash and Payal went red in the face, Mamiji stood up. ‘Who are you to tell my son what he should or should not do for his in-laws? Do you think we run a charity here?’

‘Manorama!’Naniji intervened.

‘Why is that you always admonish me and not your favourite grandson? You have always been partial to your daughter’s children.’

‘What are you saying?’ Nani said taken aback by Manorama’s vehemence.

‘Right since childhood you have doted on them more than Akash!’

‘How can you even talk like this Monorama? You know very well that they needed all the love and affection they could get. You know Sharada’s problems ---’

‘Yes Sharada -- your beloved spoiled daughter. So arrogant that she couldn’t adjust in her husband’s middle class house and came running to her parents, camped here with her children, bossing everyone around like she had every right.’

Khushi held on to Arnav’s arm looking at his knuckles go white with anger. Anjali’s eyes filled with tears.

‘This was her house too!’ Naniji said. ‘Tell your wife to stop!’Naniji implored to her son who sat quietly.

‘Now her son is doing the same,’ mamiji continued her tirade. ‘Behaving like this house belongs to him!’

‘Manorama!’ Naniji stood up her body quaking with rage.

‘Naniji, would you please calm down?’ Arnav urged. Khushi went up to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. ‘This sort of stress is not going good for your health.’ Anjali added.

‘Don’t stop me today,’ Naniji’s eyes widened in anger. ‘This woman used the same words to send my daughter out of this house. I will not stand here today and see history repeat itself!’

‘I didn’t send your daughter out. She left because father-in-law had written this house in my husband’s name.’

Naniji looked at her son. ‘You deceitfully had this house written in your name fooling your sick father while I was admitted to the hospital at the time for pneumonia. By the time I came home it was too late.’

‘Amma, Sharada got her share of the property when she got married and then when she came to live here, babuji had to carry the burden of taking care of her and her two kids. She went to live with her son which is exactly where her place was.’

‘THAT’S ENOUGH!’ Arnav thundered, slapping his hand on the table.  He put up his hands. ‘You know what? I don’t need this bull s@#$! Khushi and I will leave ---’

‘NO!’ Naniji exclaimed loudly. ‘I will not let you leave your own house like this.’

‘Nani please!’ Arnav implored.

‘What do you mean Amma?’ Mamaji hadn’t missed the words that Naniji has spoken. ‘This is not his house.’

‘Arnav bought this house from the man you had mortgaged this house to.’ Naniji declared.

‘What?’ Both mamaji and mamiji exclaimed in unison, their faces going pale. ‘How could he do that without me knowing?’

‘I had joint ownership to this house remember?’ Naniji said. ‘I signed the documents.’

‘Amma how could you do this?’

‘You think I was going to stand and watch while strangers took over this ancestral house?’ Naniji asked her son. ‘Not only that -- he bought other properties including the farm house.’

‘So you came here to take revenge for what happened to your mother?’ Mamiji hit out at Arnav.

‘Revenge?’ Arnav said raking his hand through his hair. ‘Do you think I have time for crap like that? I came here because Nani asked me to.’

‘All lies!’ Mamijji spat out. ‘You have taken away this house. I am sure you have designs to take over AR as well. Akash you better go and check the papers.’

‘Stop it ma!’ Akash raged in anger. ‘Just stop it. How can you talk like this to the man who gave up his rights to his own company in return for my marriage with Payal?’

‘F#$%!’ Arnav swore under his breath. ‘What is with everyone today?’

‘Is this true?’ Naniji, Anjali and Khushi looked at Arnav astounded.

‘Yes, bhai made a deal with mom when she threatened to leave the house over Payal and my relationship.’

‘Akash!’ Manorama admonished her son.

‘In spite of what happened bhai came back to save AR and bring it back to its former glory,’ Akash continued. ‘In just six months.’

Looking at Payal’s pale face Khushi wondered why her sister had never mentioned this to her. If not then Akash was bound to have told her at a later time.

Arnav got up from his seat. ‘It was no big deal because I didn’t want to live here anyway!’ He looked at Khushi. ‘And this is exactly why I don’t like staying here. People are just too emotional here and make mountains out of molehills. All this drama  -- just because I happened to buy a frigging dishwasher!’ 

He walked away from the house, closing the front door with a loud bang.

Later that night, Khushi knocked on the door to the farm house. Arnav hadn’t returned from the office and his phone was switched off. So finally she had made up her mind to go to the farm house, knowing very well that it is where he would be. And she wasn’t disappointed. Arnav opened the door his eyes looking a little glazed. ‘Khushi?’

‘I don’t think it is a good idea to drink on an empty stomach,’ she said looking at the drink glass in his hand. ‘I brought you some food.’

‘You drove all the way here?’

‘No, I flew.’ She walked into the room and put the box on the table.Come and eat you dinner.’

‘Khushi ….I,’ he paused, ‘I am just too drunk tonight. Let me just sleep it off.’

‘No,’ Khushi said firmly. She took his arm and led him to the dining table. She took the food from the boxes and arranged them on a plate.

‘Kalmikabab?’ Arnav raised his eyebrows. He took a bite. ‘This tastes homemade. Who made this?’

‘I did.’

‘How?’ He didn’t believe Khushi had the guts to defy mami in spite of everything that had happened this morning.

She smiled mischievously. ‘I made in Hariprakash’s quarters.’

‘You are a vegetarian. How did you even know how to make this?’

‘My roommate in Mumbai used to make it and I learnt it from her,’ she explained. ‘Now stop asking questions and eat.’

Arnav looked at Khushi’s determined face and complied silently. After eating two rotis he said, ‘I am done. Have you had dinner?’

‘I will eat a little later,’ she said, ‘Let’s get you to bed first. You look like you are going to collapse.’ She took him upstairs to the bedroom and laid him down the bed, covered him with a comforter and stroked his hair gently.

‘You know …Khushi,’ he slurred, ‘you are just like mom…..’ He paused.‘When I was little, she used to stroke my hair like this when she tucked me into bed.’ He closed his eyes and the next moment he was fast asleep.

Khushi’s thoughts went back to the incident at home this morning. Even though Arnav had stayed out of the country for too long, he had taken up more than his share of responsibility for his family. Giving up his rights to the company so Akash and Payal could get married had come as a big shock to her. Then he had come back on naniji’s behest to help the sinking company and brought it back to its former glory. He had also saved the family honour by buying back his grandfather’s properties that had been mortgaged by mamaji.

The way he had made a huge donation to her dance school and arranged for her parents’ monthly expenses, without making a big fuss about only went on to say that he didn’t care for appreciation or adulation. He had a good heart and her own heart had always known. That was why she had fallen in love with him even when she was too young to understand.

Looking at how vulnerable he looked in his sleep, Khushi’s heart went out to Arnav. Even though he hated to be out of control he was drunk tonight. That is the reason he had stayed away from the house. He had gone through an immense emotional upheaval today. Mamiji’s words about his mother had hurt him immensely.

In the last six months, having spoken to Anjali, she had gained enough insight about the close relationship Arnav shared with his mother. It must have hurt him deeply when his uncle had deceitfully sent his mother away from her father’s house in addition to the disparagement she had to go through.

She knew she had done the right thing by not telling him about his mother. She could never break her silence.

Valley of Flowers Chapter 17

ARNAV woke from his sleep when he heard vigorous clinking. He stretched his arm to grasp at thin air, realizing that Khushi was no longer in bed. Why did she have to be up before him every morning? He walked toward the clinking sound.

His eyes widened and his heart beat increased at the vision that welcomed him. Khushi stood at the pool side, her head bent to one side, drying her long and lustrous hair in the morning sun. She wore a beautiful orange saree, her creamy back exposed, except for the thin strip that held the blouse together. As he stepped into the pool side, his hands raised of their own volition to trace the shoulder blades jutting out temptingly.

Khushi jumped up at his touch and swung her head, her hair plastering itself across his chest, spraying him with water. ‘Arnav …I am sorry.’

‘Are you?’ He raised his eye-brows. ‘I am not so sure about that.’

‘I am I --’ Khushi stopped when she saw her husband’s bare chest, his pyjamas hanging really low on his hips. She lowered her eyes, the colour on her face going up a few shades higher as she took a step back.Arnav moved ahead a step, for each step she took, never taking his eyes off her, until her back touched the wall.

‘What are you going to do now, Mrs Khushi Singh Raizada?’ Arnav challenged his wife.

Suddenly a jolt went through him as he felt Khushi’s hands tracing his abs,her luminous eyes staring up at him. As her hands inched up to his chest, Arnav’s jaw tightened as he felt his body hardening. She raised herself on her toes and brought her glistening lips to an inch from his and just as he closed his eyes, she pushed him out of her way and ran around the pool and stood across from it laughing.

‘Khushi, I think you forget that we share a room,’ Arnav said, his lips twisted in a smirk. ‘You are going to pay for this.’

‘Go for a shower and get ready,’ she called out as she stepped out of the pool side. ‘Your breakfast will be ready by then.’

A little later, Khushi made Arnav’s Columbian coffee and brought it for him as he sat munching on his toast, reading news on his ipad. Before she could go could back into the kitchen, he grabbed her hand, ‘Join me.’

‘Arnav,’ she hesitated, ‘I have to see to breakfast. You know Hariprakash is not here.’

‘Please?’

There was no way in hell she could say no those hypnotic caramel eyes. She sat next to him and picked up a toast while he devoured his omelette.

‘This omelette is fantastic Khushi,’ Arnav said sipping his coffee, ‘what have you put in it?’

‘Why don’t you also ask her who gave her permission to make it in the first place?’ Mamiji’s shrill voice filled the otherwise silent house. ‘She knows we are a pure vegetarian household.’

Khushi stood up from her chair. ‘I …. I used a separate pan for this mamiji.’

‘How did you even think of buying eggs Khushi?’

‘Amma,’ Akash came up just behind his mother. ‘The eggs were already in the house. The doctors recommended them to me for more protein, remember?’

‘Thank you for reminding your mother for us Akash,’ Naniji joined the group at the table.

‘If you are done serving your husband his special breakfast, can we expect some breakfast for ourselves?’ Mamiji addressed Khushi.

‘I will look into it right away mamiji.’ Khushi rushed into the kitchen.

Arnav’s anger went up a few notches. When Payal came in to breakfast with little Ashu in her arms he said, ‘Payal, could you please help Khushi in the kitchen today?’

Payal looked at Akash who stood up and took Ashu in his arms. ‘Go on Payal.’

Mamaji, Anjali and Shyam joined them. Soon Khushi brought hot piping parathas and began serving them.

‘Now will you tell us why you asked us all to assemble for breakfast?’ Naniji asked her daughter-in-law.

‘I just wanted to let you all know that my nephew Nandakishore is getting engaged this evening.’ She announced looking smug.

‘What?’ Akash was stunned at the sudden announcement. ‘NK is getting engaged? Is maasi here?’

‘Yes she is here for the engagement. But she decided to stay with NK,at his flat. She is uncomfortable coming here.’ She looked at Khushi pointedly.

‘Isn’t this a little sudden? Akash said.

‘This was the exact same question people asked me after Arnav and Khushi’s wedding.’

Akash was visibly embarrassed at his mother’s snide remark.

Arnav stood up. ‘I have to get to work,’ he said looking at Khushi, indicating her to come up with a small movement of his head. Khushi acknowledged that with her eyes and the slightest smile on her lips. This entire exchange went unnoticed by everyone except for one man – Shyam. He fisted his hands in frustration.

Khushi came into the room just as Arnav unplugged his laptop from the power source, so he could pack his bag.

‘What’s wrong with mami?’ he said winding up the wire of his laptop. ‘Why does she just sit around and order you about like that?’

Khushi picked up his coat from the bed and walked up to him. ‘Arnav this is a joint family. You have been away too long.’

‘Joint family doesn’t mean that one person works her a** off all the time.’

‘Let it go Arnav.’

Arnav pursed him lips in exasperation. ‘Be ready by five,’ he said when Khushi helped him with his coat. ‘The party is in Mr Malhotra’s farm house. It will take some time to get there.’Arnav looked as handsome as ever in his charcoal grey suit and white shirt.

Khushi’s eyes widened. ‘Are we going to Nanheji’s engagement party?’

‘Why?’ Arnav asked her, adjusting his sleeve. ‘Is there a problem?’

‘It’s just that …I thought ….’

‘Khushi, he is the one who didn’t turn up at the wedding. He is the one who should be ashamed of himself. Why should we avoid him?’

‘But ---’

He turned around to look at her, his brown eyes serious. ‘We are going there tonight on Mr Malhotra’s invitation.’

A lock of his hair fell across his forehead and Khushi’s heart skipped a beat. ‘You already knew about this?’

‘Yes I did,’ he agreed. ‘Don’t worry, I am not going to rough up your Nanheji,’ he assured her. ‘That’s what you were worried about, weren’t you?’

‘No.’ She shook her head even though her almond eyes reflected her guilt.

‘And before I forget,’ he said fastening his tie, ‘be ready to go to Agra this Saturday. We have to meet Mr Sheik.’

‘Again?But I have classes in the weekend.’

‘I think it is time you made some changes Khushi.’

‘What about the office?’ Khushi said in a low voice, dreading what he was going to say.

‘Do you want to work in the office?’

‘Not really --’ She paused. How could she tell him t hat she needed the money for her parents? Marriage changed everything, Khushi thought with dismay. ‘It’s just that ---’

Suddenly, he pulled her to himself holding her waist and took her lips between his, taking his time exploring her mouth with his tongue. Khushi grabbed his shoulder, her entire body heating up.Helet her go just as suddenly. ‘Payback was never sweeter.’ He smirked.

That afternoon, Khushi stepped out of her father’s room. She had sat talking to him until he dozed off for his afternoon nap.Buaji was out visiting a relative, making it obvious that she was still upset with her.She looked at her mother preparing something in the kitchen.

Earlier in the morning, she had been pleasantly surprised to find her in the living room, talking to naniji. Garima had surprised her further whenshe had told her she had come to take her home for her pag phera.

Khushi had waited all her life for this – her mother’s attention. When she had come to her maasi’s house after her parent’s death, she had craved for Garima’s affections, but her maasi was reserved toward her, lost in her own quiet world, having built impenetrable barriers around herself.  In her heart Khushi knew that Garima loved her but hesitated to express it openly in the presence of the ever irritable Buaji. All that had changed on the evening of her wedding.

Garima shut the door and came up to Khushi. ‘Why are you saying no to Arnav, Khushi?’ she demanded.

Khushi was completely taken aback by her question. ‘Aren’t you angry with me?’ She looked at Garima and then at Shashi.

‘Khushi, we both know you only agreed to NK’s proposal because we wanted you to accept.’ Shashi nodded his approval.

‘I have been such a horrible mother.’

‘No Amma!’

‘Let me say it Khushi. I have neglected you so much. It’s just that there has been so much tragedy in our lives. Your ammababuji and before that  ---‘ She paused, ‘—never mind. I had been wallowing in grief and had not realized that you were a little girl who needed more than just a roof over her head and a meal in her stomach. I am sorry.’

Khushi went up to Garima and hugged her real hard. ‘Please don’t say such things amma.’

Garima hugged her daughter and stepped back, holding a hand to her cheek. ‘Khushi listen to me. I know you love Arnav. You loved him five years ago and haven’t ever forgotten him. I have seen you pining for him. Follow your heart dear girl.’

‘Amma,’ Khushi said sadly, ‘the problem is Arnav is not interested in marriage.’

Garima smiled at her daughter. ‘Khushi, the way Arnav bitwa stood up in your support today, I truly believe he has a good heart. You know you will be miserable without him. Don’t let go of this chance at happiness.’

Khushi went up to her babuji and sat down next to his chair. He put his hand on her head. ‘Your mother is right bitiya. Be happy.’

Khushi went up to her mother and hugged her from behind. ‘Amma, thank you so much for bringing me home for pag phera.’

‘Well, you should also thank your husband.’

Khushi stepped back and turned her mother toward her. ‘What?’

‘Since your father-in-law fell ill the day after your wedding and passed away within the week, I couldn’t bring you home. And then I wasn’t sure when the time would be appropriate. Arnav bitwa called me yesterday and told me I should bring you home for pag phera.’

‘Oh?’ Khushi was stunned. Arnav had called her mother and reminder her? Why? Then she remembered the conversation she had with Arnav with regards to her work. ‘Amma, this month there might be a little change in the monthly expense amount as I --- ’

‘Monthly expense? You don’t have to worry about it anymore.’ Seeing Khushi’s surprise she said, ‘Didn’t Arnav tell you?He has made arrangements for a monthly allowance to be deposited in our account starting this month.’

Laad Governor! Couldn’t he have told her? Khushi wondered why Arnav was doing all this for her. He had told her he wanted to put the past behind them, but had he really forgotten everything to this extent?

Hearing a knock on the door, she went up to it to open it and was surprised to find Arnav standing at the doorstep.

‘What are you doing here?’ she said her dhak-dhak beginning.

‘Firstly, your mom invited me for coffee,’ he said moving her bodily out of the way. Secondly, we have to go to NK’s engagement remember?’

Khushi put a hand on head. ‘Hey Devi Maiyya, I forgot!’

‘I thought so,’ he said.‘Thankfully you have a very perceptive husband.’ He handed her a gift bag.‘Get ready.’

Khushi went into her room feeling a little irritated by her husband’s imperiousness. He had to control everything didn’t he? She took her gift out of the bagand was momentarily stunned by its beauty.

 It was a soft georgette sareein a darker pink shade. The design on the border was a flower and vine design. There were three flower motifs, of which one wasmade of soft blue satin material, embellished with dark blue and white stones and a huge white stone adorning the centre.The other two flowers had lavender satin embellished by baby pink and white stones. The vines were made of dull gold sequins, and the leaves were a combination of green and blue sequins. Lines of gold and light blue sequins adorned the pleats. The blouse was crepe in matching colour with blue and gold sequined work all over it.

Next, Khushi found a box inside the bag along with the saree. She opened it to find the most beautiful, delicate, intricately designed necklace and matching earringsand bracelet in white stone. Though there was no label on the box, Khushi was sure the stones were real diamond.

‘I can’t wear this!’ Khushi came out and stood in the living room, draped in the saree.

Khushi looked stunning as the soft material hugged her curves like a second skin, the little diamond drops in her ears, sparkling as it caught some light.Arnav didn’t speak for a few seconds as he put the cup of coffee down on the table and stood up.

‘What the ---?’ He cleared his throat. ‘Why?’

‘This is too much,’ she said sweeping her hand toward herself. ‘This design is gaudy. I am not used to wearing such things.’

‘Khusi, this saree is beautiful.’ Garima said evenly. ‘It is not at all gaudy.’

‘Only you would call a designer saree gaudy Khushi.’ Arnav said in a clipped tone. ‘In any case there is no other choice. We are already running late.’

As they entered Malhotra’s farm house, Mr Malhotra and his wife greeted them warmly. Vishal Malhotra briefly mentioned his regret about what had happened, hoping they would let all bygones be bygones. As he took them to meet the Chopras, one of the VM’s directors,Khushi saw speculation in the guests’ eyes.  She didn’t blame them. The last time she was here she was introduced as NK’s fiancée and today, at NK’s engagement, she was being introduced as Mrs Arnav Singh Raizada. She began to feel cold,as a strange anxiety filled her.

Suddenly, she felt Arnav slip his fingers into hers and the warmth from his hand seeped into hers calming her frayed nerves,considerably.

As Akash came up to them, Arnav gave their excuses and pulled her away from the group. Khushi saw Mama and Mamiji sitting at a table with Payal.There was a woman sitting next to Mamiji and the uncanny family resemblance left no doubt in Khushi’s mind that it was NK’s mother.

‘Dadi decided to stay back and babysit Ashu,’ Akash explained Naniji’s absence, ‘Where is Di?’ ‘She had to go to the hospital to get her cast fixed,’ Khushi said, ‘She should be here soon.’

As Arnav introduced Khushi to some of his acquaintances, she felt a little bad for the fuss she had created at the house earlier about the saree. The envy in the women’s eyes was palpable as they complimented her saree. Khushi knew it was not the saree that was bothering her. It was Arnav.

He had arranged for a monthly allowance for her parents and earlier he had made a donation to her dance school enabling scholarship for six students. Reminding her mother about the pagphera was the sweetest thing. He was sweeping her off her feet.

‘Khushi,’ Arnav broke into her thoughts. ‘Di is here.’ Anjali was being wheeled in by Dr Manav.

‘How are you Dr Manav?’ Arnav shook hands him.

‘I am fine thank you,’ he said in a deep voice.Dr Manav looked different today, thought Khushi as she took in his crisp white half sleeved shirt, beige trousers and brown shoes. She realized he had trimmed his beard, making him look younger than she thought he was. He was in his mid-thirties Khushi surmised.

‘Where is Shyam?’ Arnav enquired about his brother-in-law.

‘I don’t know.’ Anjali replied. ‘I have been waiting for his phone for so long. When I tried calling it was switched off. Since it was too late to call you, Manav was forced to drop me.’

‘It was absolutely no trouble at all Anajli,’ Manav smiled. ‘Now that you in safe hands I should leave.’

Just then Mr Malhotra came up to them. ‘Dr Manav! It is so nice to see you. It is my daughter’s engagement. You have to stay. Come, I will take you to them.’

‘Congratulations Mr Malhotra,’ Manav shook hands with the older man.

‘Manav is a psychiatrist,’ Anjali whispered to Khushi when the men went ahead of them. ‘I am guessing half the crowd here are his patients.’

‘Dr Manav is a psychiatrist?’ Khushi was surprised.

‘Yes, he consults at the facility where I work,’ Anjali explained. ‘He was dad’s doctor. He also owns the hospital where dad was admitted. Since he knew me – and dad well, he took a personal interest in his treatment.’

As they walked together, Khushi’s heart began beating a little unevenly in anticipation of the awkwardness.As the wishes were being meted out, Khushi was surprised to find herself absolutely relaxed when she saw the radiant look on the Ria Malhotra’s face, even though that was not the case with her fiancé. NK looked handsome in his steel grey suit, blue shirt and a scarf around his neck. His straight black hair looked perfect, contrasting with the fair skin on his clean shaven face. But he looked uncomfortable as he accepted their wishes.

When other guests came to wish the couple, Khushi stepped back heaving a sigh of relief. Arnav was engaged in a conversation with Mr Malhotra and seeing Anjali being wheeled toward the buffet area by Dr Manav, she slipped away from the room and stepped into the patio area at the far end of the living room inhaling the crisp night air.

At first Khushi thought there was no one there as she stood inhaling the crisp night air but then the hair on the back of her neck stood up as she heard the shrill voice of Lavanya Kashyap Singhania.

‘Youdid exactly what I was afraid of.’

‘Lavanyaji?’ Khushi turned around in surprise.

‘How could you be so cheap? You went behind my back and jumped into his bed when I was not in town for the past month. You knew he would be forced to marry you!’

‘That’s not true Lavanyaji!’

‘Just shut up!’ she spat out.‘If you think that this so called farce of a marriage is going to stop Arnav and me you are highly mistaken!’

Khushi couldn’t hear anymore. She ran into the sprawling lawns as fast as her legs could take her. In her hurry she almost bumped into someone and quickly apologized. ‘Sorry.’

‘Khushi…’ She looked up to see it was NK. Hey Devi Maiyya! It was just not her day was it?

‘Nanheji.’

‘I am really sorry Khushi,’ he began again.

‘I don’t want ---’

‘Please Khushi…..please let me explain what happened.’

NK began to speak when Khushi stood silently. ‘After you told me about Arnav being the man in your past, it began to bother me a little bit.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Khushi demanded.

He shrugged his shoulder. ‘I had so gallantly told you that it didn’t matter to me that I felt awkward,’ he said kicking an imaginary stone with his shoe. ‘So I thought a trip home, to Australia would clear my head. After a few days, Ria came there – to meet me. I … I told her everything and she yelled at me for being a complete fool. We fought and she walked away.’

‘I didn’t know what to do as we were supposed to leave for Delhi the next day. I found myself going back to Ria’s place to apologize and one thing led to another ---’ He left the sentence unfinished.

‘When I got back home, mom told me about the anonymous phone call she received and told me that she was going to call off the wedding. She was extremely distraught.

‘I told her that the stranger could be lying. But she called the hotel right away and found out that you had dinner there and that they couldn’t give her information if you stayed there or not. I was confused ---’

‘Confused my a**!’ Arnav’s chilling voice reached them in the dim garden light. ‘You suddenly decided to believe some stranger over Khushi.’ NK and Khushi turned around to look at Arnav.

‘You better beg for her forgiveness you spineless b@#$&*!’ Arnav grated. ‘You left her at in the middle of a wedding. Do you know what she had to go through with the obnoxious aunts breathing fire down her neck?’

‘You have some nerve calling me names!’ NK retorted angrily. ‘If you hadn’t come here all this would never have happened.’

‘You have got to be kidding me!’ Arnav mocked. ‘Could you be that blind you couldn’t see Khushi was not into you man? I can’t be held responsible for your delusions.’

‘Arnav, no!’ Khushi exclaimed anxiously.

NK’s was outraged. ‘How dare you call me delusional? You say Khushi was not into me. And why do you think that was? She was still hurting from the pain you gave her years ago!’

‘Nanheji!’ Khushi put a hand to head. In her attempt not to reveal much about her past she seemed to have created confusion in NK’s mind about what actually happened. She could see Arnav’s anger building up as his fisted his hands. NK wasn’t it the mood to listen to her.

‘Now, when she could have found some happiness with me you had to butt right in. Ria had been warning me about you but I didn’t take her seriously.’

‘And you think Ria was doing this out of pure friendship,’ Arnav remarked. ‘This is exactly why I called you delusional.’

‘How dare you?’ NK came up to Arnav and held the lapels of his jacket.

‘Get your hands off me right now! ’ Arnav’s menacing voice sliced through the air.

‘Are you threatening me Arnav?’ NK said mockingly. ‘Do you think you are a hero or something?’

‘Let it go Nanheji. He will really hit you.’Khushi intervened. Being heavier than Arnav in build, NK obviously thought he could take on Arnav. But he hadn’t seen him single handedly tackle the four men who had attacked her near the Shiv-Gauri mandir. He fought with the grace of a panther, light and quick. NK wouldn’t even know what hit him.

‘Do you think I am afraid of him?’ Then he turned toward Arnav. ‘Why are so worked up anyway? My no-show worked out in your favour.’

‘That is besides the point,’ Arnav said his anger going up another notch.‘Don’t think that I married Khushi because you didn’t show up. I had already made up my mind. I made it on time for the wedding which was supposedly advanced to an earlier date. When forces of nature couldn’t stop me from getting here, what are you?

‘You had absolutely no chance whatsoever. Khushi belongs to me. Always.’ Arnav held NK’s hands and pushed him away with enough force that he staggered.

‘Nanheji, are you okay?’ Khushi exclaimed in agitation. NK looked at Khushi his face twisted cruelly. ‘Keep your false sympathies to yourself,’ he spat out. ‘You gave everything to him years ago and pretended to care for me. You told me some cock and bull story about losing your way in the fog when the truth is that you were warming his bed in The Oberoi, Amarvilas!’

NK found himself sprawled on the floor in the next instant. ‘Don’t you dare speak to my wifelike that you son of a ---!’

‘NO!’ Khushi interposed herself, a hand on Arnav’s chest, knowing he would beat NK to a pulp in the rage he was in. She looked at NK, sitting on the grass nursing his bleeding lip. ‘I told you he will hit you.’

She flashed her angry eyes at Arnav who was still poised to fight and walked away her whole body quaking with rage.

Later that night, Khushi and Arnav entered their bedroom after bidding good night to Anjali.

‘Khushi, are you angry with me?’ Arnav said as she saw Khushi striding into their bedroom, her body language clearly telling him she was still angry. She had given him the silent treatment all through dinner. He hadn’t been able to talk to her in the car as Anjali had accompanied them back.

Khushi ignored him as she unclasped her diamond bracelet putting it on the table with a little more force than necessary.

‘Great!’ He took off his tie and threw it on the floor. ‘I wish you had shown this aggression to NK.’

‘Why?’ Khushi demanded as she took off her earrings. ‘What was wrong with what he said? I did pretend with him. He has every right ---‘

‘This is unf@#$%ingbelievable!’ He took off his jacket and tossed it on the bed.‘That man doesn’t turn up at his wedding – your wedding, and you say he has every right? ’

‘He was confused.’ Khushi took off her necklace and put it on the dresser, refusing to react to Arnav’s fury.

‘Was he confused when he took Ria to his bed?’

‘Don’t talk crap Arnav!’ She flashed her eyes at him horrified.

‘God! How can you be so naive? Didn’t he say he went to Ria and one thing led to another? What do you think that means?’

‘So … so what?’ She said defensively. ‘It is good that they realized they love each other.’

Arnav lifted his hands, his brown eyes simmering with a barely controlled temper. ‘I give up. I can’t believe you are still supporting a guy who didn’t trust you when you told him the truth about what happened in Agra. Why Khushi?

‘Was it because he lent you his frigging shoulder when you cried to him about how I hurt you cruelly five years ago? He strode angrily to the door and yanked it open. ‘Maybe I am the one who is delusional.’

He left her standing, her shoulders slumped, tears streaming down her cheeks.