CHAPTER 08: Shades of life...
04:00 AM
She snuggled a little closer to him as the alarm beeped inside their room disturbing her sleep, she quickly patted her hand to turn it off. Then she slowly opened her eyes and smiled looking at the view of the whole room, she blushed remembering the last night and how bold she has turned. Khushi got up slowly so that Arnav won’t get disturbed from his sleep and went inside washroom to take a bath... She came out wearing a gown with wet hairs and opened her wardrobe to decide what to wear...but turned around as she heard Arnav's cell-phone ringing.
"Ufff!!!" Arnav made a face hearing his phone ringing and covered his face with another pillow.
Khushi smiled at his act and came forward to pick up his mobile and cocked her eyes: "Reminder-alarm..?" as she saw a reminder flashing name flashing. She sat down next to Arnav on the bed and saying: "Arnie, what is this reminder-alarm for baby..? You don’t usually put alarm and ask me to remind you..." frowned snatching the pillow away from him.
Arnav pulled back the pillow whining: “What yaar, let me sleep! In fact you too sleep with me...” as he tried to pull her with him.
Khushi started wiggling trying to get out of his hold saying: “Arey, if you wanna sleep than sleep but let me go...”
He made an annoyed face at her attempts of escaping and he tightened his hold said: “Why do you wanna go... isn’t it too early?!”
She replied: “It’s satya-naryan puja today, I need to go downstairs to eat before sunrise.”
Hearing this Arnav’s eyes flew open and sat up abruptly saying: “Oh shit! I forgot...”
Khushi stare at him bemusedly said: “It’s okay you go back to sleep and let me go downstairs.” as smiling still laying on the bed.
Arnav looked at her answered: “No I’m also coming with, just let me get ready...” and rushed to bathroom before she could say anything.
Khushi just shakes her head at his antics and getting off the bed she walks to the wardrobe, taking a simple red sari with golden border and got ready. Just then she stood in front of mirror wore matching bangles and picked up sindoor box to fill her maang when he came out of the washroom wearing white shirt and blue jeans, drying his hair. He smiled at her seeing her looking at him through mirror than throwing the towel he walked up to her and filled her maang with sindoor smiling than picked up her mangalsutra, making her wear. They both stood in front of the mirror smiling at the reflection they presented of Khushi standing in simple red sari with Arnav behind her with arms wrapped around her waist, their eyes shining with love and cute smile on lips as their face glowing with love.
Arnav and Khushi came downstairs to see Manav, Veer, Neev and Abir sitting in living room chatting casual, Ishaani sat of dining table chair casually chatting with Amaya, Sana and Arpita who were setting the table. Arnav joined the gents in living room while Khushi smilingly went where the ladies were. Arpita smiled at her daughter-in-law and gave her pre-fast thaali which had all the dishes which were Khushi’s favorite she prepared herself and another thaali contenting dress and matching accessories. She also gave Sana and Amaya thaali too while Ishaani wasn’t fasting as she is pregnant. After the thaali giving rasam the guys too joined the ladies and the early morning eating which was a fun affair with teasing and romance.
---------------------------------
G.K. CONSTRUCTIONS, DELHI, 11:30 AM
Yuvi walked out of Arnav’s empty cabin scratching his head, he was looking for Arnav for clarifying some doubt but he couldn’t find him nor did he see Khushi. Lost in his thoughts when he banged into someone making him come out of his world as he looked down at the fallen files and started apologizing: “I’m really sorry, I didn’t see you coming.” bend down to pick the files.
The other person also helped him and said: “It’s okay.” Yuvi looked at Akash whom he had collided with. They both got up after collecting their fallen files as Akash asked: “Hey bro you’re okay..? Seem lost somewhere...”
Yuvi replied: “Actually I was looking for Arnav, have you seen him..?”
Akash: “I haven’t seen him today either... you wanna go down and ask in reception?”
Yuvi: “Yeah I think I should do that.”
Akash: “Okay I’ll come with you too.”
With that they both went in the elevator and reached the ground floor which had the reception and employees area. They were going to reception when they saw an employee talking to a pretty talk lady with long chestnut knee-length long hair, her back facing them so they couldn’t see her. Akash stopped Yuvi and pointedly asked: “Hey dude, who is she..?”
Yuvi too followed the direction and replied: “I don’t know, is she some new employee or something..?”
Akash: “No idea but man she seems to beautiful... I mean look at her hair, the longest I’ve ever seen.”
Yuvi: “Yeah, I use to think Lavanya has long hair... it’s longer than her.” looking around checking for something he said to Akash, “Wanna check her out..?”
Akash looked at his friend startled said: “Oye, do you wanna get us killed...!”
Yuvi: “Arey, nothing will happen.... just a little harmless flirting please.”
Akash too gave into and they both walked towards the lady and standing behind her, Yuvi cleared his throat to get attention spoke: “Ahem, excuse me... may I know who you are?”
The lady turned around making Akash and Yuvi’s jaw dropped in shock as they checked the lady in front of them from head-to-toe in disbelieve. It was Khushi in red net sari with stone border, her hands full of red glass bangles, for the first time her hair open and her maang filled sindoor also mangalsutra on her neck. She looked like a prefect Indian Barbie doll as they stared at her in disbelieve.
Khushi looked at them confusedly asked: “Yes..?”
Snapping out of their daze, Akash asked: “Khushi you... what is...” feeling loss of words.
Khushi looked down at herself then back at them asked: “Is something wrong..?”
Yuvi: “No no, it’s just we’ve never seen you in anything Indian... and today sari..?”
She smiled softly replying: “There’s a puja today at home in late afternoon.”
They just did an ‘Oh’ and not knowing what to say, Yuvi changed the topic by asking: “Actually I was looking for Arnav... you know where he is..? I had some doubts I wanna clarify about...”
Khushi smilingly replied: “Yeah he is in meeting with Mr. Gupta... which should be over anytime.”
Just than an arm sneaked around her waist as she turned to see Arnav stepping beside her and peeked her lips as he smiling charmingly said: “Hi my Desi-girl!”
She too gave him a cute smile greeting him with: “Hi to you too Handsome...” as he flicker her button nose with his making her giggle.
Arnav turned to the other two guys as he formally asked: “Yes Mr. Kundra, you were asking about me..?”
Yuvi replied: “Yeah I had some clarifications to make... are you free for discussion..?”
Arnav: “Is it too urgent?”
Yuvi frowned in confusion replied: “Not too much.”
Arnav: “Great, then I’ll clear your doubts first thing in the morning because I’m leaving now...”
Akash: “You’re going home?”
Arnav: “Yeah I didn’t wanna come office today it was just this urgent meeting that cropped up or else I wouldn’t be here today and I wrapped it up as fast as can.”
Akash and Yuvi frowned in confusion, asked at same time: “Kyun..?” (Why..?)
Arnav replied: “Because there is a puja today at home and Mahi is fasting... I don’t want Mahi to be working today or taking any kind of stress.” as if the most obvious fact.
Akash and Yuvi again felt loss of word which Khushi didn’t notice much thanks to her naughty husband who kept distracting her with his naughty fingers dancing on her waist under the sari. Arnav said to two guys: “So I’m taking a leave than...”
He was about to leave with Khushi but she stopped him: “Arey wait, I had something to say...” and he looked at her confused but ignoring his looks she turned to them saying, “Ah there is new year party tonight at our house, so you all are invited. Can you please tell the others..? Here are the invitation cards and the theme is traditional wear like lehenga, sari, sherwani and stuff.” She took out the cards from her purse and handed to Yuvi with a smile. Then Arnav lead her out leaving behind his still-in-shock friends.
***
Lavanya, Payal and Anjali saw Arnav leaving office with Khushi and they were too surprised seeing them leave early and even more to see Khushi in sari. Though none of the three admit openly but in mind all had same thought of Khushi looked too gorgeous in Indian wear. They saw Akash-Yuvi standing too and went to them to ask, reaching them Payal snapped her finger in front of both to bring them out of their trance asking: “Akash and Yuvi to earth!”
Akash and Yuvi looked at the three women who were looking at them with questioning eyes as they just said ‘Hi’. Anjali questioned: “What are you two doing here..?”
Yuvi replied: “Actually I was looking for Arnav and we came here to ask at reception about him.”
Payal: “We saw him leaving right now...”
Akash: “Yeah we know that... there is some puja at their place and Khushi is fasting, so they left early.”
Lavanya frowned asking: “Puja..?”
Yuvi shrugged his shoulder saying: “Yeah that’s what he said and Khushi invited us all for new year party at their place tonight.”
Anjali: “New year party..?”
Akash: “Yeah and theme is traditional...”
Yuvi: “By the way I never knew anyone could look so hot in sari but Khushi definitely changed my view on that. No wonder Arnav married her... she looked so beautiful in sari. And Lav, I thought that you only had long hair like your hair is waist length... but man, does Khushi have long hair...”
Akash too added praise for Khushi: “Yeah she has like knee length long hair, I noted she has long hair but never expected this long. Well I get why Arnav is die-hard about her as we all know he has a thin for long-hair beauty.”
Hearing this Lavanya felt burning with rage, she didn’t like this praising at all. She angrily said: “We’re going to that New Year party and I’ll show Arnav that I’m better than that Khushi. Tonight he’ll have eyes on me, only me... and I’ll make sure to show that girl that she can’t take him away from me.”
Lavanya was determined to get back what was hers at any cost and she will get it. The others looked at her could see the determination in her eyes, Anjali put an arm around her sister in gesture of showing her support... Khushi has to go from their life was what the both sisters could think of.
***
Sitting inside the car back sit as the driver driving back to Raizada Mansion as Arnav annoyedly asked Khushi: “What was the need to invite them..?”
Khushi smilingly replied: “Arey, we’re working with them and they’re your friends. So of course it was important to invite them.”
Arnav making a face: “Okay then couldn’t you just given formal invitation to the seniors. What was the need to invite all of them, especially that Lavanya; she’ll definitely create some drama... I’m just so not up for it.”
Khushi held his hand saying: “You’re over-reacting, I mean you had cleared on the day that moved on and I’m sure it was quite shock for her. One that she got her heartbroken that day and now why are you saying like that about her..?” frown at his talks.
Arnav rolled his eyes answered: “You don’t know them and definitely not Lavanya... they’re not one of those who understanding at one time, they themselves make things in their mind on their own and I’ve interest in clearing their concepts anymore.”
Khushi: “It’s not like that; you’re just exaggerating a little too much.”
Arnav said: “We’ll see that... but for now I’m in no mood to talk about them anymore...”
Khushi: “Than what you wanna talk about..?”
Arnav: “Who said I wanna talk, I’ve better things in mind.” giving her the flirtiest smile.
Khushi turned red and lowered her eyes said: “Arnav we’re in the car...”
Arnav simply: “So?” coming near her.
Khushi back almost laying back stammered: “The driver will see...”
Arnav smirked: “So let him, I’m romancing with my wife... haq banta hai mera!”
with that he sealed his lips on hers, kissing her with passion and tenderness making her get lost in his touch as he slid his under her sari running his fingers on the canvas of her soft skin. Khushi ran her fingers in his hair lost in the magic her husband castes on her; she loves a lot... more than anything in this whole world as they both got lost in the heated making out session in the back seat as the driver smilingly adjusted the front mirror giving the couple privacy and concentrated on the road ahead.
04:00 AM
She snuggled a little closer to him as the alarm beeped inside their room disturbing her sleep, she quickly patted her hand to turn it off. Then she slowly opened her eyes and smiled looking at the view of the whole room, she blushed remembering the last night and how bold she has turned. Khushi got up slowly so that Arnav won’t get disturbed from his sleep and went inside washroom to take a bath... She came out wearing a gown with wet hairs and opened her wardrobe to decide what to wear...but turned around as she heard Arnav's cell-phone ringing.
"Ufff!!!" Arnav made a face hearing his phone ringing and covered his face with another pillow.
Khushi smiled at his act and came forward to pick up his mobile and cocked her eyes: "Reminder-alarm..?" as she saw a reminder flashing name flashing. She sat down next to Arnav on the bed and saying: "Arnie, what is this reminder-alarm for baby..? You don’t usually put alarm and ask me to remind you..." frowned snatching the pillow away from him.
Arnav pulled back the pillow whining: “What yaar, let me sleep! In fact you too sleep with me...” as he tried to pull her with him.
Khushi started wiggling trying to get out of his hold saying: “Arey, if you wanna sleep than sleep but let me go...”
He made an annoyed face at her attempts of escaping and he tightened his hold said: “Why do you wanna go... isn’t it too early?!”
She replied: “It’s satya-naryan puja today, I need to go downstairs to eat before sunrise.”
Hearing this Arnav’s eyes flew open and sat up abruptly saying: “Oh shit! I forgot...”
Khushi stare at him bemusedly said: “It’s okay you go back to sleep and let me go downstairs.” as smiling still laying on the bed.
Arnav looked at her answered: “No I’m also coming with, just let me get ready...” and rushed to bathroom before she could say anything.
Khushi just shakes her head at his antics and getting off the bed she walks to the wardrobe, taking a simple red sari with golden border and got ready. Just then she stood in front of mirror wore matching bangles and picked up sindoor box to fill her maang when he came out of the washroom wearing white shirt and blue jeans, drying his hair. He smiled at her seeing her looking at him through mirror than throwing the towel he walked up to her and filled her maang with sindoor smiling than picked up her mangalsutra, making her wear. They both stood in front of the mirror smiling at the reflection they presented of Khushi standing in simple red sari with Arnav behind her with arms wrapped around her waist, their eyes shining with love and cute smile on lips as their face glowing with love.
 |
| KHUSHI'S SARI |
Arnav and Khushi came downstairs to see Manav, Veer, Neev and Abir sitting in living room chatting casual, Ishaani sat of dining table chair casually chatting with Amaya, Sana and Arpita who were setting the table. Arnav joined the gents in living room while Khushi smilingly went where the ladies were. Arpita smiled at her daughter-in-law and gave her pre-fast thaali which had all the dishes which were Khushi’s favorite she prepared herself and another thaali contenting dress and matching accessories. She also gave Sana and Amaya thaali too while Ishaani wasn’t fasting as she is pregnant. After the thaali giving rasam the guys too joined the ladies and the early morning eating which was a fun affair with teasing and romance.
---------------------------------
G.K. CONSTRUCTIONS, DELHI, 11:30 AM
Yuvi walked out of Arnav’s empty cabin scratching his head, he was looking for Arnav for clarifying some doubt but he couldn’t find him nor did he see Khushi. Lost in his thoughts when he banged into someone making him come out of his world as he looked down at the fallen files and started apologizing: “I’m really sorry, I didn’t see you coming.” bend down to pick the files.
The other person also helped him and said: “It’s okay.” Yuvi looked at Akash whom he had collided with. They both got up after collecting their fallen files as Akash asked: “Hey bro you’re okay..? Seem lost somewhere...”
Yuvi replied: “Actually I was looking for Arnav, have you seen him..?”
Akash: “I haven’t seen him today either... you wanna go down and ask in reception?”
Yuvi: “Yeah I think I should do that.”
Akash: “Okay I’ll come with you too.”
With that they both went in the elevator and reached the ground floor which had the reception and employees area. They were going to reception when they saw an employee talking to a pretty talk lady with long chestnut knee-length long hair, her back facing them so they couldn’t see her. Akash stopped Yuvi and pointedly asked: “Hey dude, who is she..?”
Yuvi too followed the direction and replied: “I don’t know, is she some new employee or something..?”
Akash: “No idea but man she seems to beautiful... I mean look at her hair, the longest I’ve ever seen.”
Yuvi: “Yeah, I use to think Lavanya has long hair... it’s longer than her.” looking around checking for something he said to Akash, “Wanna check her out..?”
Akash looked at his friend startled said: “Oye, do you wanna get us killed...!”
Yuvi: “Arey, nothing will happen.... just a little harmless flirting please.”
Akash too gave into and they both walked towards the lady and standing behind her, Yuvi cleared his throat to get attention spoke: “Ahem, excuse me... may I know who you are?”
The lady turned around making Akash and Yuvi’s jaw dropped in shock as they checked the lady in front of them from head-to-toe in disbelieve. It was Khushi in red net sari with stone border, her hands full of red glass bangles, for the first time her hair open and her maang filled sindoor also mangalsutra on her neck. She looked like a prefect Indian Barbie doll as they stared at her in disbelieve.
 |
| KHUSHI'S SARI |
Khushi looked at them confusedly asked: “Yes..?”
Snapping out of their daze, Akash asked: “Khushi you... what is...” feeling loss of words.
Khushi looked down at herself then back at them asked: “Is something wrong..?”
Yuvi: “No no, it’s just we’ve never seen you in anything Indian... and today sari..?”
She smiled softly replying: “There’s a puja today at home in late afternoon.”
They just did an ‘Oh’ and not knowing what to say, Yuvi changed the topic by asking: “Actually I was looking for Arnav... you know where he is..? I had some doubts I wanna clarify about...”
Khushi smilingly replied: “Yeah he is in meeting with Mr. Gupta... which should be over anytime.”
Just than an arm sneaked around her waist as she turned to see Arnav stepping beside her and peeked her lips as he smiling charmingly said: “Hi my Desi-girl!”
She too gave him a cute smile greeting him with: “Hi to you too Handsome...” as he flicker her button nose with his making her giggle.
Arnav turned to the other two guys as he formally asked: “Yes Mr. Kundra, you were asking about me..?”
Yuvi replied: “Yeah I had some clarifications to make... are you free for discussion..?”
Arnav: “Is it too urgent?”
Yuvi frowned in confusion replied: “Not too much.”
Arnav: “Great, then I’ll clear your doubts first thing in the morning because I’m leaving now...”
Akash: “You’re going home?”
Arnav: “Yeah I didn’t wanna come office today it was just this urgent meeting that cropped up or else I wouldn’t be here today and I wrapped it up as fast as can.”
Akash and Yuvi frowned in confusion, asked at same time: “Kyun..?” (Why..?)
Arnav replied: “Because there is a puja today at home and Mahi is fasting... I don’t want Mahi to be working today or taking any kind of stress.” as if the most obvious fact.
Akash and Yuvi again felt loss of word which Khushi didn’t notice much thanks to her naughty husband who kept distracting her with his naughty fingers dancing on her waist under the sari. Arnav said to two guys: “So I’m taking a leave than...”
He was about to leave with Khushi but she stopped him: “Arey wait, I had something to say...” and he looked at her confused but ignoring his looks she turned to them saying, “Ah there is new year party tonight at our house, so you all are invited. Can you please tell the others..? Here are the invitation cards and the theme is traditional wear like lehenga, sari, sherwani and stuff.” She took out the cards from her purse and handed to Yuvi with a smile. Then Arnav lead her out leaving behind his still-in-shock friends.
***
Lavanya, Payal and Anjali saw Arnav leaving office with Khushi and they were too surprised seeing them leave early and even more to see Khushi in sari. Though none of the three admit openly but in mind all had same thought of Khushi looked too gorgeous in Indian wear. They saw Akash-Yuvi standing too and went to them to ask, reaching them Payal snapped her finger in front of both to bring them out of their trance asking: “Akash and Yuvi to earth!”
Akash and Yuvi looked at the three women who were looking at them with questioning eyes as they just said ‘Hi’. Anjali questioned: “What are you two doing here..?”
Yuvi replied: “Actually I was looking for Arnav and we came here to ask at reception about him.”
Payal: “We saw him leaving right now...”
Akash: “Yeah we know that... there is some puja at their place and Khushi is fasting, so they left early.”
Lavanya frowned asking: “Puja..?”
Yuvi shrugged his shoulder saying: “Yeah that’s what he said and Khushi invited us all for new year party at their place tonight.”
Anjali: “New year party..?”
Akash: “Yeah and theme is traditional...”
Yuvi: “By the way I never knew anyone could look so hot in sari but Khushi definitely changed my view on that. No wonder Arnav married her... she looked so beautiful in sari. And Lav, I thought that you only had long hair like your hair is waist length... but man, does Khushi have long hair...”
Akash too added praise for Khushi: “Yeah she has like knee length long hair, I noted she has long hair but never expected this long. Well I get why Arnav is die-hard about her as we all know he has a thin for long-hair beauty.”
Hearing this Lavanya felt burning with rage, she didn’t like this praising at all. She angrily said: “We’re going to that New Year party and I’ll show Arnav that I’m better than that Khushi. Tonight he’ll have eyes on me, only me... and I’ll make sure to show that girl that she can’t take him away from me.”
Lavanya was determined to get back what was hers at any cost and she will get it. The others looked at her could see the determination in her eyes, Anjali put an arm around her sister in gesture of showing her support... Khushi has to go from their life was what the both sisters could think of.
***
Sitting inside the car back sit as the driver driving back to Raizada Mansion as Arnav annoyedly asked Khushi: “What was the need to invite them..?”
Khushi smilingly replied: “Arey, we’re working with them and they’re your friends. So of course it was important to invite them.”
Arnav making a face: “Okay then couldn’t you just given formal invitation to the seniors. What was the need to invite all of them, especially that Lavanya; she’ll definitely create some drama... I’m just so not up for it.”
Khushi held his hand saying: “You’re over-reacting, I mean you had cleared on the day that moved on and I’m sure it was quite shock for her. One that she got her heartbroken that day and now why are you saying like that about her..?” frown at his talks.
Arnav rolled his eyes answered: “You don’t know them and definitely not Lavanya... they’re not one of those who understanding at one time, they themselves make things in their mind on their own and I’ve interest in clearing their concepts anymore.”
Khushi: “It’s not like that; you’re just exaggerating a little too much.”
Arnav said: “We’ll see that... but for now I’m in no mood to talk about them anymore...”
Khushi: “Than what you wanna talk about..?”
Arnav: “Who said I wanna talk, I’ve better things in mind.” giving her the flirtiest smile.
Khushi turned red and lowered her eyes said: “Arnav we’re in the car...”
Arnav simply: “So?” coming near her.
Khushi back almost laying back stammered: “The driver will see...”
Arnav smirked: “So let him, I’m romancing with my wife... haq banta hai mera!”
with that he sealed his lips on hers, kissing her with passion and tenderness making her get lost in his touch as he slid his under her sari running his fingers on the canvas of her soft skin. Khushi ran her fingers in his hair lost in the magic her husband castes on her; she loves a lot... more than anything in this whole world as they both got lost in the heated making out session in the back seat as the driver smilingly adjusted the front mirror giving the couple privacy and concentrated on the road ahead.
