ARSHI FF: Gustakh Dil... (Stubborn Heart...)

CHAPTER 07: Amaye Ador Kor... (Love me...)

Arnav: “Khushi...!” She started walking across the hall to the stairs when she stopped hearing Arnav’s voice. 

Khushi: “Hmm?”

Arnav: “Chalo, Aren’t you going to make breakfast”




Khushi: “I will after they finish the Puja. I need to go upstairs and get your things ready”




Arnav: “Later, I’m hungry. It’s going to take quite a while for them to finish their Puja” He pouted. “I need my meds too”

Khushi: “Acha Baba, Chalo” She said walking towards the kitchen to carry out the Chula Rasam for the first day of cooking at her in-laws, whilst he breathed a sigh of relief. 

Seeing her walk back to the kitchen, he quickly rushed up to his room and picked up the bags he had left in there earlier. He smiled thinking about what she would say when she would see his surprise.














.............















40 MINUTES LATER














He had just come out of the shower to see the workers finishing off the remaining parts of the surprise while he made himself presentable. He double-checked everything, making sure everything was perfect and when satisfied with what he saw, he sneaked the workers out of the back door, making sure nobody noticed them. And with Khushi engrossed in her cooking, and the rest of the family stuck in the Mandir, this wasn’t so difficult. 








He walked over to the living room calmly to see the rest of the family exiting the Mandir, all looking extremely exhausted. Arnav quickly diverted his attention to his wife who seemed to be still engrossed in the kitchen by the sounds of it so he walked up stairs to check everything one last time. 










Arnav: “Mishti...!” He screamed out repeatedly, whilst everyone was wondering who the hell he was calling. They all looked around to see if any one of them would respond but was shocked when they saw Khushi coming out of the kitchen.





Khushi: “Coming...!” She screamed out and it didn’t take long for the rest of them to realize who Mishti was. 

Hearing this Lavanya was on fire...He never called her anything other than Lavanya; he didn’t even give her a loving nickname after dating for years. Here, it hadn’t been barely a year since Khushi has entered his life, and look at them...

Anjali: “Chotte has changed much towards Khushiji...” She said slowly not knowing whether she was saying this in a happy or displeased way. “It seems like nothing even matters to him anymore” She said in her mind. 

Shyam (In Mind): “Sale Saab...How dare you! You will soon take that back” He said with his fists tightened, ready to burst. 

And above all, Garima and Buaji were questioning her behavior? She seemed so happy with him; like nothing even happened...She didn’t even both to pacify their anger towards her. This was the heights...!

...............















Khushi entered the room in a hurry but stopped in her tracks to take in her surroundings when doing so. Her mouth was left hung open seeing the whole room filled with her and Arnav’s photos. Above the bed was a life-size picture of their wedding photo in the mandir, one she didn’t know they took. She looked intently at each and every one of them and was surprised to know that he actually had these with him. He had kept all the pictures of their past events securely with him...Including Lucknow fashion show when she fell in his arms, her first AR Photo shoot, pictures from Payal’s wedding functions and even a picture of her on Diwali. And right in the center of the room was her husband, who was staring at her lovingly, waiting for her response. 

Arnav: “Surprise...!” He said making her jump up and pull him into a disintegrated hug, not allowing him to say much more. He held on tightly, stroking her hair contentedly. 

Khushi: “Amaye Ador Kor...” She said in a barely audible whisper. 

Arnav: “Huh?” He said pulling out of the hug and Khushi pouted at the loss of warmth. “What did you just say?” He asked. 






Khushi: “Love me...” She repeated in a daze. “Sorry, I start speaking Bengali when I get all emotional and you know how easy it is to get me going and...” She continued blabbering, being her old crazy self. 







Arnav: “Ssshh...” He hushed her up by putting his finger on her lips making her silence immediately; knowing the havoc his touch was doing to her. “I think it’s very cute” He said tapping her nose lightly. “Ama Ad...” He tried copying her making Khushi burst into fits of laughter. 







Khushi: “Arna...v...Oh...Please...Stop it...My stomach is hurting” She said holding her stomach from the laughter. She looked up still giggling to see his annoyed face. Seeing his irked face, she tried controlling as much as she could, much to her failure as she was unable to control it. 

He chuckled mindlessly seeing her trying to control her laughter, and grabbed her by the waist, instantly hushing her up. 










Khushi: “Sorry...!” She said holding her ears and pecked him on the lips making him chuckle. 








Arnav: “You look adorable in this Bengali attire...Just like a bride...My bride” He said making her blush. “Come” He said holding her hand and bringing her in front of the mirror. He pulled out his phone and held it in front of the mirror.






Khushi: “What are you doing?” She asked confusedly to which he simply told her to smile. 

Arnav: “I’m going to frame this today and put it up, constantly reminding us of our times” He said after taking the picture, making Khushi look at him emotionally. 





Khushi: “Thank you” She said brimming with tears.

Arnav: “Anything for you...!” He said kissing her hand and nodding a ‘No’ to her tears. 





Khushi: “I’ll just change and come”





Arnav: “No, stay in this” 






Khushi: “I can’t eat in my Puja sari” She explained. “I’ll just change and come” She said walking into the bathroom with her red net sari. 







Arnav: “Khushi...! How long are you going to take” He said screaming out for her again, the fourth time. 







Khushi: “I told you to go and I’ll meet your downstairs” She said walking out of the bathroom. 

Arnav: “I can’t go without you”

Khushi: “Chalo...Teek Hai. How am I looking?” She said giving him a twirl. She was wearing heavy silver earrings and simple bangles, adorned with her mangalsutra. She wore red lipstick, making an extra effort to look like a newly wedded bride and brushed her hair back into a loose bun. 

KHUSHI'S SARI & LOOK

Arnav: “Good. Now come on, I’m hungry” He said acting like a typical husband. 

Khushi: “Fine” She said walking out their room with him moodily. 

When they got to the stairs, he grabbed her by the waist and whispered in her ears “You look beautiful, today, every day. I don’t need to keep telling you that” He said making up, whilst Khushi playfully smacked his chest and held his hand walking down the stairs with a huge grin on her face, satisfied with her life.