Valley of Flowers Chapter 21

ARNAV turned around to see Khushi standing with her hand folded, shooting daggers with her eyes. He walked up to her and took her hand. ‘Come on, let’s go.’

‘No!’ She shrugged off his hand.

‘Don’t create a scene here,’ he grated,‘People are staring at us.’

Khushi’s eyes widened. ‘I am creating a scene?’ she shot back. ‘What about what you did?’ She reminded him of the kiss.

‘Come,’ He put forth his hand peremptorily. ‘Let’s talk about this in the room.’

‘I don’t want to go with you,’ she said adamantly. ‘I will order another taxi.’

‘Khushi,’ Arnav’s voice dropped down an octave. ‘Don’t push me.’

‘Or else?’ She challenged him.

He picked her up in one swift motion, walked into the lobby, past the wide-eyed people and into the open elevator. He put her down and punched the button to their floor. Khushi refused to talk to him, her entire body seething with anger.

When the elevator stopped, Arnav took her hand and dragged her to the room, using his free hand to insert his card and open the door.

‘What was all that drama back there?’ He said as they stood just inside the door.

‘Look who’s talking!’ Khushi exclaimed.

‘Come again?’

‘The way you smoothly put Lavanya in that taxi and sent her to Delhi.’

‘So?’ He looked clueless, squinting his eyes in confusion. ‘How else am I supposed to send her to Delhi?’

‘You were planning to send her to Delhi,’ she stated sardonically.‘And what were you planning to do in this room?’

‘I was planning to do --- er..be with you.’ He shrugged his shoulders.

‘With me? ’Khushi’s anger rose up a notch. ‘Are you trying to tell me you knew I would come here?’

‘I wasn’t sure --’ He paused, ‘— I had a hunch –since I told you I was going with Lavanya.’ He added sheepishly.

‘What?’ Khushi raised her eyebrows in astonishment.

‘I know you are a little jealous of her.’

Little? Khushi’s heart filled with anguish.‘How can you be so casual about it Arnav?’

‘Come on Khushi,’ Arnav said affably, ‘Most of my business associates tell me their wives are jealous of their female colleagues.

‘Unbelievable!’

‘We work in the business of sales and marketing Khushi. Many of the associates are women – and some of them are quiet attractive. We have to interact with them.’

‘Can you define “interact”?’ She demanded.

‘We work, talk, share a cup of coffee ---’

‘Share a bed.’ She said tersely.

Arnav went completely still, his brown eyes simmering. ‘Look Khushi, I agree that I was no saint.

But they were all “no-strings-attached” relationships and none of them meant anything. It is all in the past now.’

It was probably “no-strings-attached” only from Arnav’s side. Was it possible to be with him and not fall in love with him, she wondered.

‘Are you telling me that you have never been with Lavanyaji after we got married?’ She waited with bated breath.

‘His eyebrows snapped together as he came up to her and grasped her arms. ‘I have not been with anybody since I saw you again six months ago!’

‘Oh!’

‘And why do you keep harping about Lavanya? I was just joking when I said you were jealous of her. But you seriously think I have been having an affair with her? Didn’t I tell you downstairs that she is married to a business associate of mine? Do you think I will stoop down so low?

‘Whatever gave you that idea Khushi?’

‘Lavanyaji.’ Khushi shrugged off his hands and looked him square in the eyes.

‘What?’

‘Since you came back, she has been accusing me of stealing you away from her.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me this before?’ He grated angrily.

‘I saw no point at the time.’

He nodded his head. ‘I see.’

‘After all she was the girl your mother chose for you to marry.’

‘But I didn’t.’ He said quietly, his eyes simmering with a barely controlled temper.

Khushi went on. ‘Lavanyaji said you got -- close when you spent time together after your mothers’ passing away.’

‘And you believed her.’ It was more a statement than a question.

 ‘These things are known to happen.’ She said defensively.

‘We did get close --’Khushi’s heart plummeted. .Arnav advanced on her backing her into a wall. ‘Emotionally -- not physically. I realized that Lavanya was going through a rough patch in her marriage. I was trying to be supportive -- as a friend.’

‘But ….but at Nanheji’s engagement she implied you both were still ---.’ She stuttered.

‘Khushi I did am not having an affair with Lavanya!’ He roared. ‘Not when my mother died and not any time before that either. Not ever!

‘I have never thought about Lavanya that way. In fact I feel brotherly toward her. She is little bit of an air head.’

Brotherly? Khushi’s heart fluttered with joy.

Before he could utter another word Khushi snaked her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

 ‘Does this mean you believe me?’ He seemed surprised.

‘Yes.’

‘Just like that?’

‘Between you and Lavanyaji, I choose to believe you.’

‘Why is she doing this?’ He hit his hand on the wall in anger.

‘Because she was in love with you.’ She said simply. ‘I feel sorry for her.’

‘Oh please!’ Arnav mocked.‘You were freakishly jealous of her a little while ago.’

‘Not at all.’ Khushi defended herself, stepping back from him.

‘So you came to Agra to see Mr Sheik?’ He said he tone laced with sarcasm.

‘Of course!’Khushi said.

Arnav burst out laughing and Khushi turned around and walked up to the door and yanked it open. Arnav was quick when he caught the door and shut it back with a bang. ‘No you don’t!’ He pushed her back against the door and took her lips in a fierce kiss. Though she pushed at him initially, the pressure of his tongue sent an electric jolt, fraying her senses into submission.

After what seemed like an eternity Arnav lifted his head. ‘Admit it Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada.’ He smirked. ‘You were jealous.’

‘So what?’ She hit back. ‘You were jealous of NK even though you claimed I never loved him.’

‘I knew you never loved him,’ he said.‘I was jealous that he wanted you.’

‘You make it sound like I was an object he wanted. He wanted to marry me because I would make him an ideal wife. That is all there is to it.’

‘Bull shit! He wanted to have you because you are beautiful.’

‘No I am not.’

‘What the --!’ Arnav couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Khushi didn’t think she was beautiful?

‘I think Lavanayaji is beautiful, sophisticated ---’

‘That sophistication comes at a price Khushi.You know she spends a lot of time in the beauty salon to look the way she does.’

‘When I was a young girl, Buaji always told me that I was too pale and too thin. She said I didn’t have the pretty features that Payal had.’

‘F@#$!’ Arnav was livid that Buaji would be this mean to a child. ‘Who cares what she thinks? Khushi you have worked in a Television show for God’s sake!’

‘They hired me because of my dancing skills not because of my looks.’ She said doggedly.

‘Khushi, you are not too thin.’He tried to make her feel better.

‘I know that,’ she said in dismay, ‘because Buaji said I was too thin, I tried to put on weight and as a result of that I ended up gaining weight on the lower part of my body.’ She stepped back and pointed to herself. ‘See? Don’t you think my hips are too wide?’

With a look of complete disbelief on his face Arnav took her hand and led her to the dresser, making her stand in front of the mirror. He walked up to the curtains and drew them. The reflection of Taj Mahal shimmered in the pale moonlight.

Khushi gasped. ‘Oh my God Arnav! It is the Taj Mahal,’ She remembered the hotel manager who had proudly informed her that all rooms had a view of the ethereal monument. ‘It looks beautiful.’

‘Not more beautiful that you are Khushi. See what I see.’

Khushi looked at herself standing there in her jeans and kurti. ‘This kurti always makes me look good.’

‘Is that so?’ He whispered looking at her in the mirror. ‘Let’s take it off then.’

Khushi’s heart began its erratic dhak-dhak as Arnav took her long black braid in his hand and unravelled it slowly. He took the thick tresses in his hand and moved it to her front, laying it on her breast. He moved his hand to her back and began unbuttoning her kurti, one button at a time, making her shiver each time his finger touched her skin.

Arnav peeled the garment off her shoulder, brushing her skin as he brought the material down her arms. Khushi gasped looking at her own body –her delicately rounded shoulders, the swell of her left breast above the cup of her bra, while the other remained hidden under her hair,the curve of her long waist and her navel quivering just above the waistband of her low rise jeans.

Arnav moved his right hand to her midriff and moved it downward to dip into the waistband of her jeans unbuttoning the single button, before sliding the zip downward. Khushi realized that she had never ever looked at herself like this in the mirror. She looked --

‘Sexy.’ He whispered her thought aloud. She felt herbody heating up.

Khushi’s breath hitched in her throat as Arnav’s fingers traced her delicate collar bone moving them under the strap of her bra, sliding them slowly off her shoulder. As Khushi watched the scrap fall, she realized he had already unhooked the clasp on her bra.

He wrapped his hands around her tiny waist. ‘I love how I am able to wrap your entire waist with my hands Khushi,’ he whispered into her ear. ‘I love how the difference in our skin tone looks, don’t you?

Khushi was riveted by the sight of his tanned hand on her fair skin, spanning her waist.

Then he moved his hands to rest on her hips. ‘I also love that this lower part of your body is wide, compared to –‘ His hands moved up to cup her breasts.‘Makes you look irresistible in a saree.’

Khushi held both his hands and tried to remove them. ‘Arnav, please.’

‘Shh we are not done yet.’ He hooked his finger inside the waistband of her jeans and peeled the material along with her panties down her long, smooth legs.

She closed her eyes.

‘Khushi, open your eyes.’  He urged huskily.

The slow revealing of the creamy expanse of skin was beginning to cause an explosion in his gut. It was like unveiling a masterpiece. Khushi looked like one of the statues of the goddesses in the temples.

Exquisite. Beautiful. For him alone.

Khushi opened her eyes and looked at Arnav’s caramel brown ones simmering with desire. She understood.

She turned toward him and burrowed into his chest, her entire body shivering, hot, her heart clamouring wildly in her breast.

His head descended to claim her lips in a bruising kiss even as he put his hands on her waist and lifted her up on the dresser moving between her legs.Her fingers slipped into the crisp hair at the back of his head as she deepened the kiss. He discarded his clothes quickly and entered her in one swift motion and heard her gasp and shudder as he urged her to wrap her legs around him. He slid in and out of her, finding himself building to a climax. He moved faster, kissing her mouth, kissing her neck until he felt the entire world explode around him as he dropped off the edge of the precipice.

As he came back to rational consciousness, he realized what he had done. ‘Khushi I am sorry, I didn’t meant to --’

She touched her lips to his in a gentle kiss. He picked her up in his arms and laid her gently on the bed.‘You have had a long day Khushi. I will draw you a bath.’

A littler later, Khushi stepped out of the bathroom, clad in a white, terry bath robe. She realized that Arnav had stepped out of the room. For the first time since her entry, she observed how beautiful the room was.

A grand arm chair and ottoman in taupe sat in one corner of the room, flanked by a tall and elegant floor lamp. Right next to it was a curtained wall in cream, which probably lead to some sort of balcony.  On the other end of the curtain there was a work desk. But what dominated the room was a huge king sized bed occupying the centre.  It was decorated with several throw pillows in different shades of blue, maroon and taupe. Two tall lamp shades stood majestically on either side of the bed. Then she saw the dresser and heat suffused her body.

The door opened and Arnav walked in. ‘Good, you are done.’ There was a box in one hand and a bag in the other and he walked up to the work table. ‘Come here.’

Khushi walked up to the table and saw that he had brought her a cake which had the words “sorry”. She looked up at him in astonishment.

‘I have been meaning to do this since the day we argued but each night I came home, you had already slept.This is for smothering you with my highhandedness.’

His caramel eyes bore into hers.‘Khushi, you can have all the space you want – and more. I will not interfere in the future. In case I forget -- you have every right to slap me.’

Khushi wished the earth would just open up and swallow her as she watched Arnav cut a piece of cake. ‘Arnav I --’ He stuffed it into her mouth shutting her up.

‘Don’t you want a piece?’ She stopped ‘  --- Oh! this is probably not sugar free.’

He pulled her close. ‘A little taste is not going to kill me.’ He bent his head and touched his tongue to the side of her lip and licked off a dab of cream. Just as her heart had begun to flutter, he let go off her disappointing her immensely.

He picked up the bag. ‘Here is something for you.’

Khushi looked up in surprise. ‘What is this?’

‘You can look for yourself when I quickly grab a shower.’ He walked toward the bathroom.

A little later Arnav stepped out of the bathroom, wearing only his pajama bottoms. His heart skipped a beat when he didn’t find Khushi in the room. But then he saw the gap in the curtain. He went up to the door and found Khushi staring out at the Taj Mahal clad in the night gown he had bought for her at the hotel boutique. She had the matching robe on. Her long and lustrous hair hung down her back.

He switched off the lights in the room and drew the curtains so the moonlight filtered in brightening the room with its luminance. When he opened the door, he was hit by a blast of hot air reminding him it was summer.

‘Khushi,’ He paused. ‘I know you don’t wear these kind of --’

He couldn’t finish the sentence when he saw Khushi turn around, undo the belt at her waist and slide off the robe and drop it on the floor. The wine coloured satin gown clung to her curves sensuously. The deep V neckline, trimmed with soft french lace in a flower design, showed off the creamy swells of her breasts to perfection. The thigh-lengthgown revealed the long expanse of her shapely legs. Even though he had seen her with nothing a short while ago, he found himself hardening. He walked up to her.

Khushi placed both her hands on his abs, tracing the cut of the muscles slowly inching upward to brush against the hard contours of his chest and shoulders. Arnav felt a fire start in his body at the first touch of her delicate fingers, but he had made up his mind to exercise control unlike before. She went on her tippy toes and wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. The fire turned into an inferno when he felt her soft satin clad breasts crushed against his chest as she deepened the kiss. He moved his hand down to her pert bottom and lower still and lifted her up, urging her to wrap her legs around his waist. He walked toward the bedroom, one thought reverberating in his mind. Slow. Slow.

He entered the bedroom and shut the door behind him. Placing a knee on the bed he laid her gently on the bed.Her fingers slipped into the crisp hair at the back of his head as she pulled him toward herself. He ran his fingers into her hair, sucking on her lower lip, teasing her with his teeth. He put his free hand on the small of her back and she arched, letting him know that despite wanting to pull away a sight bit she wanted more. He kissed her jaw line, moving to her neck, kissing her as softly as the brush of a butterfly’s wing against her skin. Then he bit her neck hard, not hurting her, but in the way she liked. She clutched at him, and he hardened as it always aroused him to give her pleasure.

He touched his tongue on the sore spot and she ran her hands along the hard muscles of his back, turning her head to the side so he could have easy access. He alternately bit and laved the hollow of her neck, whispering sweet nothing into her ear -- I need you. You are so unbearably beautiful – except the words she wanted to hear.

He lowered his mouth to her breast and kissed the soft swell of her breasts, softly at first, tongue moving along the lace on the neckline. He slid off the strap from the shoulder, pulling down the soft material to her waist. He once again bent his head to her breast and flicked his tongue around the hardened bud with slow precision. He kissed the underside of her breast as his hand moved to the other breast, kneading it gently. He took her nipple into his mouth, tugging on it as he suckled it with the right amount of pressure. A tumult of sensations began spreading through her veins even as a liquid heat began pooling at the pit of her stomach.

Soon, she pulled him up by his hair and kissed him hard, her hand moving down to trace the hard contours of his muscled chest and abs. Her hand then inched down to the waist band of his pant, but he held her hand and pulled it slowly to his face and kissed her wrist sucking at the delicate skin there making her gasp.

He kissed her ribs, his hand moving up and down the inside of her thighs, slowly, stopping just before reaching her centre. She had parted her legs slightly, and he moved downward with his mouth, his hand moving upward and closer each time.

He slid the gown down her hips and off her legs and threw it on the floor. He looked at her lying there on the bed, her golden skin glowing in contrast to the black lace panties. Exquisite.

As his tongue dipped into her navel his hands began to tease her at the edge of her panty line. He moved his hand on top of them and felt her push against his hand. He stroked her right through the material, moving in time with the rhythm of her hips. She moaned in pleasure as he slipped his fingers into the waistband and brushed against her curls, feeling the heavy moistness.

He slipped off her panties moving down her legs with them. He tossed him onto the floor, next to her slip.

He kissed her ankles and began moving up slowly, kissing every inch. When he got to her upper thigh, he slowly spread her legs a bit further apart. He reached out with his tongue, a feather touch.

Her body clenched, jumped. ‘Arnav!’

He held her firmly in place. ‘Relax Khushi.’

He took his time, his tongue stroking, memorizing every secret place. When she clutched his hair in a tight grip, in a silent plea, he pushed two fingers into her tight sheath, in a long stroke that had her crying out.

She was so beautiful wanting him. He loved the cloudy, sultry look on her face, the heat of her body as her muscles clenched tightly around his fingers. He loved the way she trusted him so completely and the excitement, the sheer pleasure washed over him in such intense waves.

He swirled her nub insistently, and then moved downward, stroking continuously until she finally capitulated to her body’s yearning. She clutched at his shoulders and he felt the beginning of a hard release coming. Her climax was wild and he felt it, the rippling explosion, the hot liquid, the intensity of pleasure exploding in her body, in her mind.

Seeing her lose control he couldn’t wait anymore.He tore off his pant and briefs and sank into her in one swift motion and the ecstasy of it blew him away.

For Khushi, too, the contact was electric. She arched to meet him, to get as close as possible.

Together they found the perfect rhythm. His parted mouth wandered all over her body, tasting, devouring, until she was clutching him, digging her fingernails into the strong muscles of his shoulders.

His was breathing harshly, in ragged gasps.

Earlier whenever they made love she tried to hold a part of herself back from the tidal wave that engulfed her. Now she resisted nothing, wanted everything. She was totally uninhibited in her response. He arms and legs enclosed him, and she lifted herself to meet him with a need that matched his.

The fire built again, increasing in intensity until it roared out of control and exploded consuming her completely causing her thighs to clench and her fingers to clutch at his hair.

She cried out her pleasure, and Arnav soon followed crying out her name. They clung to each other limp and trembling helplessly as they floated back to earth.

He lost the strength to hold himself up any longer, and he kissed her slowly as he rolled over to her side. She laid her head down on his chest and he put his arms around her, sifting his fingers through her hair, which was damp from their lovemaking, until her deep, even breathing told him that she was asleep. As his eyes drooped close, the pristine Taj Mahal stood silently in the distance, a mute witness to the celebration of love.

Valley of Flowers Chapter 20

ARNAV stood a little distance away as he watched Khushi watering the lawn, looking pensive. As the alamanda, plumaria and ipomea bloomed against the clear blue skies, Arnav realized Khushi looked like one the flowers in her baby pink saree.

His heartbeat quickened when he saw a drop of sweat trickling down the center of her curvy back, toward her waist.He went up to her. ‘A penny for your thoughts,’ He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her into him, placing a kiss on her neck just below her ears.

Khushi shivered delightfully. ‘It’s just this patch of lawn is drying up and I am not able to figure out why.’ She grimaced.

He reluctantly walked over to the lawn and squatted on the ground, inspecting the patch. ‘I think it has been attacked by termites. I will write down the pesticide needed for this one. Have the gardener spray the lawn with it.’ He took the hose pipe from her hand and threw it on the floor.

‘Now that I have solved this problem tell me what’s really going on with you.’

‘Nothing.’ She said in a low voice.

He pulled her close and lifted her chin,looking deep into her eyes. ‘You seem very preoccupied from the past few days.’

‘I have begun to teach classes every day now. I am not used to it. It’s probably just fatigue.You asked me to change my schedule remember?’ She said defensively.

‘Alright alright…. No need to get so uptight about it.’ He moved her errant lock out of her eyes.

‘Now that you don’t have weekend classes, I will schedule that meeting with Mr Sheik in Agra for this saturday.’

‘This saturday?’ Her face fell.

‘What’s the problem now?’ His brows snapped together.

‘I am choreographing for a show which is on Sunday.’ She said tentatively. ‘I will be busy on Saturday.’

‘You have taken up choreography?’ He took a step back. ‘You didn’t tell me.’

She had been afraid of this but she couldn’t back out now. ‘I didn’t think you’d mind.’

‘I don’t Khushi,’ He paused. ‘It’s just that – I thought -- ’ She saw familiar tightening of his jaw when he was trying to control his temper. He looked at his watch. ‘I am running late a meeting.I came down here to tell you that I have some bank forms for you to sign.’

‘What are they for?’

‘I am planning to open a joint account for us.’

‘Why?’Khushi’s face expressed her dismay.

‘So I can share your earnings.’ He said seriously.

‘Arnav, are you joking?’ Khushi said anxiously.‘What do you need my earning for? I earn peanuts compared to you!’

‘Look Khushi, I have seen many couples fight over finances. I didn’t want that to happen with us.’

 ‘Why would we fight about it?’ Khushi argued. ‘You arranged for my parents to get a monthly income without even asking me about it. Did I say anything?’

‘You just did.’ He bit out.

‘Arnav, I need some space,’ Khushi said wringing her hands in anxiety.‘I have lived by myself for the last five years. I am used to making my own decisions. Don’t try to take over my life.’

Arnav’s face turned into an unreadable stone mask. ‘I was kidding when I told you I wanted a share of your earnings,’ he said, ‘I just thought you could have your own credit card and a cheque book you could use when I am not around.’

The words hit Khushi like a splash of cold water. ‘Arnav, I am sorry I ---’

He walked away from her, his entire body stiff with anger.

A little later, Khushisat down on the floor at the pool side looking at the light shimmering on the surface of the water in the pool.Tears streamed down her cheeks when she thought of the conversation she had with Arnav in the morning. She hadn’t meant to say those things to Arnav but she had sworn to protect the secret about his mother. What could she do?

A week had passed since her encounter with Shyam and she would soon have to arrange for the the 1 lakh the vile man had demanded for his silence. She had received Rs 50,000 as a part of a pending payment from her show, which the producers had finally deposited in her account after a long delay. But she still had to come up another fifty grand. She had contacted Mr Mehta who had told her to perform in a Bollywood based show but she had refused. Though she loved all forms of dance, she had told herself she would never professionally perform in a non-classical dance form. Then he had offered her the position of choreographer which she had gladly accepted.

She desperately wanted to go to Agra with Arnav but how could she refuse Mr Mehta who was kind enough to find her a gig at such a short notice.

I need some space…

Don’t try to take over my life….

When he mentioned opening a joint account she had panicked. How would she be able to draw such a huge amount of money without him knowing?

She didn’t want space.

He was her life.

Why was life being cruel to her when she had finally found happiness with the only man she had ever loved?

All those years ago Sharada Raizada had left no stone unturned to separate her from Arnav. And now, five years later,even though she was no more, she was still doing it – through Shyam.

Sharada Raizada still had the power to haunt her even in death.

On Saturday morning, Khushi found Arnav packing his overnight bag and realized that he was going to Agra.

‘Will you be staying overnight?’ She ventured tentatively. Arnav had been reserved with her since their argument in the garden few days ago.

‘Yes,’ He said laconically.

‘I did try to get out of it, but --’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ he cut her off.  ‘Lavanya will attend the meeting with me at The Oberoi. Send her all the information you have regarding the project. She has time till evening to update herself on this. I will convince Mr Sheik that you couldn’t make it.’

Khushi felt a knife being twisted in her heart at the mention of Lavanya. But there was nothing she could do about this. She had dug her own grave.

Later, at the rehearsals, Khushi went through the motions like an automaton. Her heart was just not in her work. By lunch time, she was dead tired and had a splitting headache. She just wanted to go home, curl up on the bed and sleep.

She overheard two girls sitting nearby, chatting with each other. One girl was lamenting over the fact that her husband had not taken her along for a business trip. And here she had refused to go along with even though he had called her repeatedly. The irony of the situation just struck her with a force of a thousand blows. What the hell was she doing? She was pushing him away into Lavanya’s arms and for what? So she could protect him from a truth that was going to hurt him immensely. What was she doing now?

One hour later, after apologizing profusely for not being able to oversee the final rehearsals, Khushi sat in a taxi, on her way to Agra.

Khushi stood in the lobby of the The Oberoi hotel, oblivious ofthe beauty and opulence of the venue. Her heart pounding wildly, she enquired about the meeting at the reception, mildly surprised when they directed her to the conference room where the meeting was being conducted.

Shetook a deep breath before she raised her hand to knock on the door and tentatively turned the knob.As she pushed the door open, she saw Arnav standing near the white board, a marker pen in his hand, his caramel brown eyes shuttered. Lavanya and a man she couldn’t recognizesat on one side of the table while Mr Sheik sat on the other side with his assistant, Asif.

‘It is so nice to see Miss Khushi,’ Mr Sheik stood up and the other men followed suit. ‘Oh I am sorry, its Mrs Raizada now isn’t it?’ He gave her a warm smile.

‘Please call me Khushi.’ Khushi went red in the face, suddenly becoming the centre of attention.

‘Mr Raizada told us that you will not be able to join us today.’ He mentioned affably.

‘Well, Mr Sheik,’ Arnav walked toward Khushi, his eyes sweeping her from top to bottom, taking in her short kurti and jeans, his expression unreadable, ‘you have been married longer than me. I am sure you are very well aware about wives and their mood swings.’ He directed her to one of the chairs.

Mr Sheik began to laugh out loud at Arnav’s sardonic comment. ‘I am sorry Khushi,’He looked at Khushi, his face crinkled with amusement, ‘but I have to agree with Mr Raizada on this.’

Wishing she was anywhere but here, Khushi took her seat next to Asif, her face flushed with embarrassment. Just because she had refused to come along for this trip, he had gone ahead and brought his – she couldn’t even think of the word without cringing -- on this trip, without even thinking for one moment how she would feel about it. How dare he call her moody?

Khushi sat through the meeting, Lavanya’s hate-filled gaze burning holes in her. It hadn’t helped that she was forced to correct Lavanya, answering Mr Sheik’s pertinent questions regarding the project.It was only natural as she had been the one working on the project from the beginning.

Once the meeting had concluded, they proceeded to the restaurant for dinner. After dinner Mr Sheik retained Arnav and Khushi, while the rest of the group proceeded toward the lobby area.

‘I would like invite you both to my home for lunch tomorrow.’ Mr Sheik said.

‘It would be our pleasure Mr Sheik,’ Arnav accepted.

‘You are most welcome stay at my house tonight.’ Mr Sheik offered.

‘That is so gracious of you Mr Sheik, but I have a room here at the hotel already reserved.’

‘Oh of course,’ Mr Sheik said, his eyes crinkling with mischief. ‘How silly of me to invite a newly married couple.I will see you both tomorrow.’

He shook hands with Arnav and bade them good night. Just as Arnav went up to Lavanya, Khushi walked toward the reception desk and spoke to the girl who stood there. She stepped out of the lobby and moved toward the taxi that drove up to her. Arnav caught her hand before she could reach the car and dragged her to the darkened corner of the building.

‘Where the hell do you think you are going?’ He grated in his husky voice, his caramel eyes simmering.

‘Home.’

‘What the f@#$!’ He swore under his breath. ‘Why?’

‘I came here to attend the meeting and now I am going home.’She said nonchalantly.

‘What about Mr Sheik’s lunch invitation tomorrow?’ Arnav grated.

‘Take the one you have reserved that room for!’ Khushi’s eyes flashed with anger.

 ‘What the f@#$ are you trying to say?’ he asked a little too softly.

Khushi stared up at him in mounting consternation, as his mouth thinned into a hard, angry line. But she had gone too far to retreat now, and, raw with the angry motions which surged inside her, she wanted to see his reaction when he realised that his secret liaison wasn’t so secret after all.

‘Your “good” friend Lavanya Kashyap.’

‘Yes Khushi,’ He grasped her shoulders, pushing her body toward the wall. ‘Lavanya is a good friend – married to one of my business associates, Karan Singhania.’

‘Separated from him,’ she bit out, ‘I have been told it is because of ---’

The words died in her throat as Arnav’s head descended and his mouth captured her lips, shutting her up effectively. Warm and trembling, Khushi’s skin shimmered with an electric response at his practiced touch and she found herself returning the ardent pressure of his mouth,her hands beginning to wind around his neck. Then she froze, her eyes widening as she saw Lavanya standing beyond Arnav, her mouth open with shock. Khushi pushed at Arnav’s shoulder.

‘What?’ Arnav turned around to where her eyes were focussed and then turned back toward her. ‘Relax Khushi, it is just Lavanya. You are behaving like you just saw your buaji.’ He walked toward Lavanya.

‘Hey Lavanya,’ he addressed the shocked woman, ‘this taxi here will take you back to Delhi.’

‘What?’ Lavanya’s eye brows snapped together in confusion, ‘You want me to go back alone?’

‘Of course not,’ Arnav called to the man she hadn’t recognized earlier. ‘Aman will go with you.’

‘Aman?’ Lavanya looked at the other man in dismay.

‘It is absolutely safe Lavanya,’ Arnav lowered his voice, ‘I would trust him with my life.’

‘Why aren’t you coming?’ She asked looking beyond him, to Khushi, shooting daggers with her eyes.

‘I have some unfinished business with my wife ---,’ he told her with a straight face, ‘—which might take the entire weekend.’ He ushered her to the backseat of the taxi and shut the door.

‘Have a good weekend. I will see you in office on Monday.’ 

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.