Scars ~ Part 2

Arnav woke up the next morning and slowly turned. Khushi was still asleep beside him. He shook his head and got off the bed and went into the bathroom with his clothes and towel. Arnav stripped his clothes away and went into the shower cubical and turned the cold water on. The water cascaded down his body. What had his life come to? He had finally allowed his sister and nani to make the biggest decision of his life. He was now a married man, with a mere girl as his wife. What were they thinking? She was only 19! Still a child in his eyes. How could they think this marriage would ever work, given the fact they knew he would never have a place in his heart for her. Once he felt himself calm down, he turned the hot water on and showered normally.

When Arnav got out of the bathroom he saw that Khushi was awake and had tidied the bed.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning Arnav ji.”

She smiled and then went into the bathroom to get ready.

Arnav waited until she was ready and they went down to have breakfast together.

Anjali saw the new couple walking down the stairs and smiled.

“The bride and groom are finally coming!”

Khushi blushed and Arnav simply nodded in acknowledgement. Anjali watched her brother come and sit down; he was how she had expected him to look. Anjali signed and sat down at the table as well.

“Khushi beta, sit down.”

Khushi nodded and Anjali passed Khushi a plate and helped her get food.

“Did you sleep well Khushi?”

“Yes I did Anjali ma’am.”

“Is chote looking after you?”

Khushi turned to Arnav and smiled and then nodded her head.

“Do you want anything, is there anything we can get you to feel more at home?”

“I am fine there is nothing else I want.”

“Khushi, please, you can’t call me Anjali ma’am anymore. Please, call me di.”

Khushi blushed and then nodded.

“Ji, Di.”

Arnav rolled his eyes and finished eating.

“I’m going to work di.”

“You can’t go to work, you’ve only just got married!”

“And? I have important work to do and Khushi has you guys to look after her. Any way, when are Akaash and Payal coming back?”

“Should be in the next few days, they want to see Khushi before you go off on your honeymoon.”

“Right, whatever, I’m off.”

Arnav finished his breakfast and left the table. Anjali sighed and realised that Arnav wasn’t going to move on with Khushi and forget about everything that had happened before.

“I will make sure you accept this relationship chote, I’m not going to let you hurt her, we are now her family, the only people she’s got and we have to take care of her.”

After finishing her breakfast, Khushi sat with Anjali, nani, mamiji and NK. They talked about many different topics. Anjali showed pictures of their family from when they were younger. Khushi laughed to see some of the expressions Arnav and Anjali had pulled.  One of the most recent pictures, showed Arnav shirtless holding a football trophy in his hands with many other men around him. Khushi gazed at the photograph. The man in the picture was her husband. His body was well built and toned. Khushi blushed looking at it, and turned her head away.

*****

“Chote why aren’t you back yet?”

“Di I told you, I have lots of work to do here.”

“Yes but you should be here, helping Khushi getting settled.”

“Di, you’re there, you do what you do best and make her feel comfortable.”

“When will you be back?”

“I’ll be late, don’t wait up for me.”

Before Anjali could say anything more, Arnav disconnected the call. Anjali sighed, maybe this was going to be harder than she had imagined.

Anjali went downstairs and helped to start getting dinner ready. Once everything was done, everyone came together to eat.

“Di, I’ll wait until Arnav ji gets back and I’ll eat with him.”

“He said he’ll be late Khushi, you eat with us.”

“Di, I’ll feel bad if I don’t serve him dinner.”

“You’re so cute! Alright, fine, but if he’s too late, you eat and go to bed.”

Khushi smiled. Everyone finished dinner, cleared up and then went to their respective bedrooms to go to sleep. Khushi sat at the table with her phone in her hand, playing a game. She looked at the time, it was only half 8, he wouldn’t be too much later now.