The door rang and Garima jumped.
“Someone answer the door, the grooms family have arrived!”
“I’m coming!”
Khushi rushed from across the room and went to open the door. Before doing so she moved her hair back and made sure her sari still looked ok. She then opened the door and saw the Raizada and Bajpai family.
“Namaste and please come in.”
They all came in and Khushi showed them into the living room and everyone sat down. Khushi spoke to everyone in turn and then stood by the side and looked over at Arnav. He was in his usual black suit with crisp white shirt. He looked at her smirked and then winked. Khushi shook her head and looked at her future jiju. NK was sitting down, looking around nervously. He was wearing a suit too, but with a lilac shirt.
Garima and Shashi walked in and greeted everyone.
“Sorry we weren’t there to greet you at the door, we’ve just had a bit of a mix up in the dining room.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine, we are hardly guests, we are your own people, there’s no need to apologise and of course we had our Khushi bitya to welcome us.”
“Welcome any way, Khushi get the drinks please dear.”
“Ji aunty.”
Khushi walked away and went into the kitchen. She reached out for the large tray when a hand stopped her. The person’s hands went around her waist and pulled her into themselves. Khushi back hit a hard chest and the person whispered into her ear.
“You haven’t greeted me in our usual way yet.”
Khushi turned around and looked into the dark eyes of her husband.
“What re you doing here? What will everyone think?”
“Who cares what they think, I’m talking to my wife.”
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too baby.”
Khushi wrapped her arms around Arnav’s neck and he pulled her closer and lowered his lips to hers. Their lips were millimetres apart when a voice echoed through the kitchen.
“Khushi, dear, where are you with those drinks.”
Khushi suddenly realised and pulled herself away from Arnav and grabbed the tray and rushed into the living room. Khushi handed everyone a drink and then moved away.
“Khushi, where’s chote, he said he was going to see if you needed anything.”
“Oh, er, he’s…”
“I’m here di.”
Arnav came back and sat down and looked straight at Khushi. His need evident in his eyes. Khushi looked away from him and looked at mamiji’s sister, Lavanya’s mother in law to be. She looked a lot like Manorama, but she chose not to wear multi coloured saris like her sister and her English was better because she had spent most of her life in Australia.
“Khushi, where is my daughter in law?”
“She’s getting ready Maasi ji.”
“Khushi, please go and get Lavanya now.”
“Ji uncle ji.”
Arnav watched as Khushi rushed up the stairs again. He knew this would happen. NK and Lavanya’s wedding story would start playing and it would mean putting a pause in his and Khushi’s relationship.
A few minutes later, Khushi came down the stairs with Lavanya. NK looked up and smiled. Garima got up and Khushi sat Lavanya down there.
NK’s dad then spoke.
“Well this is just a formality really, there’s really no need for all of this. Our son has chosen the girl he wants we have no objection! And its even better that her sister is married into the same family, we really don’t have to worry.”
“But we want to get our daughter married off properly.”
“Yes we understand, that’s why were are here!”
“She really is beautiful, my son has picked a jewel of a girl!”
“I know I have mom!”
Lavanya looked down and blushed. Khushi smiled. She knew she had been married into the best family in the world, but now; there was no doubt whatsoever. Everyone sat around for a while planning when the wedding would be.
“We had thought that maybe in 3 months time we would have the wedding. Is that ok with you?”
“We are fine with that. We have only one daughter left, we want to keep her with us for as long as we can.”
After a while of talking, the elder people went to eat and the youngest remained where they were, to talk. NK got up and sat beside Lavanya. Khushi came and sat down beside Arnav and took her sandals off and massaged her feet.
“What’s wrong Khushi?”
“Nothing Jiji, just been wearing these all day and my feet are hurting a bit now.”
“Khushi are you going to come home with us?”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I’m going to have to stay and help tidy everything.”
“But that’s not going to take too long.”
“I know. But there’s so much to do Arnav, I can’t leave.”
“But I need you.”
Khushi was going to say something when Lavanya squealed in delight. Khushi’s attention diverted to her.
“What happened?”
“Sia and Ayaan are getting married NEXT WEEK!”
“What seriously? So soon?”
“Yeah she’s just said next week Sunday, because his dads really ill. She said she’s been calling you, but you haven’t been picking up.”
“Yeah my phones upstairs. Oh that’s so lovely.”
“And we’re all invited to go!”
Khushi, Lavanya, Payal and Anjali started talking about that and Arnav felt highly neglected by his wife. Arnav held Khushi’s hand and pulled her against him, everyone noticed.
“What are you doing Arnav?”
“You’ve been neglecting me all this time!”
“Arnav…”
“Khushi, go with chote, he needs you.”
Khushi got up and held Arnav’s hand. She led him up the stairs and they went into her room.
“Arnav, what’s wrong. We’ve been away, but it’s only been a day. What’s the matter?”
“I’m… I’m…”
“You’re what?”
“I’m sexually frustrated!”
Khushi looked at Arnav trying to hold back her laughter.
“Is that all?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
Khushi kissed his cheek and smiled.
“There really is something wrong with you Mr Raizada!”
“How?”
“I’m pretty sure I’m in a worse condition than you are.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
They started at each other, stuck in the moment. Arnav managed to pull himself out before Khushi. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close and kissed her full on, on the lips. He tugged her closer, making their bodies almost merge together. Arnav held the back of Khushi head and pushed his tongue into her mouth, pushing it to as far back as it would go. Khushi did the same and they duelled for dominance. Arnav’s hands began roaming her body, from her back to her bottom, to her breasts and then back again. Arnav held her tightly to her waist and guided her towards the bed without breaking the kiss. He took Khushi down onto the bed…
*****
2 and a half-hour later.
“What the hell just happened?”
“We started kissing, then we started touching, then we started getting naughty, then I took you down onto the bed, then I undressed you, then I undressed myself and then I thrust my big, hard, thick length into you over and over until you were screaming my name in ecstasy.”
“You always have to explain things in excruciating detail don’t you?”
“That’s what happened though!”
“I know, I know. But what will everyone think! Look how long we’ve been here for!”
Khushi was putting her sari on again but the pleats kept falling out. She kept trying, only to keep failing. Arnav got annoyed and took the fabric and began making the pleats. Khushi watched, amazed.
“How do you know how to do that?”
“I work in the fashion industry you know!”
“And that involves making pleats on saris?”
“Not really. But these designers, they always come back and ask what kind of pleats I want in a certain design and I end up making prototypes, so yeah I know how to make pleats.”
Khushi laughed and then arranged her sari properly while Arnav zipped up his trousers. He buttoned up his shirt and slipped his jacket back on.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Then lets go.”
They left the room and made their way down the stairs to find Shashi, Garima and Lavanya sitting in the living room, making wedding plans.
“Ah, Khushi, Arnav beta, you’re down. Excellent. I’ll just your food ready.”
Garima left and went into the kitchen. Lavanya looked at Khushi and smirked.
“Uncle ji where’s di and everyone.”
“Oh they left quite a while ago.”
“But they left me!”
“Beta, we all thought it would be better if we left you and Khushi alone. We understand you need your time together, after all, you are newly married yourself.”
Khushi looked at her uncle.
“But uncle what will everyone think! I mean it doesn’t look right!”
“Khushi, it looks fine. Why shouldn’t it look right?”
“We just went missing.”
“Beta, you went missing with your husband in your own home. There’s nothing wrong with that. We were all against you coming and staying here because we knew that it would be hard for you and Damandji.”
“No its fine!”
“No Khushi. I spoke to your nani ji and she has agreed with me that you and Arnav beta will go home, whether it is to your home, or to the Raizada house is entirely up to you. You have full permission from everyone to come and go from here as you please over the next 3 months, and nearer the wedding time we will want you to stay here, but for now, you will return home to Arnav every evening.”
“But…”
“Khushi listen to everyone. We all think the same thing. Khushi I know you wanted this to be like old times before our lives changed completely. But our lives have already changed and it can’t be like old times any more. I mean you hardly slept last night, you were worrying whether jiju had his medication, whether he was asleep yet, if he found his folder or not. Khushi you’re not the same Khushi any more. You have become Mrs Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. You’ve changed and no matter what we do, we can’t bring old times back.”
“Fine.”
Garima brought Arnav and Khushi’s food out and they sat down to eat. When they were done, they left for their flat.
*****
Arnav and Khushi got back to their flat and sat down.
“Khushi why does staying at your maternal home matter so much all of a sudden?”
“It’s because once NK and La get married, eventually La will go to Australia too and we’ll hardly see each other any more. I can’t imagine how it’ll be; we’ve been living together since we were 8! And then, I don’t know, maybe its insecurity, but I feel that once Lavanya’s gone, uncle and aunty wont want me around any more.”
“Oh Khushi, is that the reason! Uncle and aunty would never not want you any more, you are their daughter to them, and they would always want you. And as far as Lavanya and NK going to Australia, you can web call her every day, ping her, call her, and when you really miss her, I’ll take you Australia or they can come here!”
“I just don’t want to lose my sister and the people who are practically my parents.”
“You wont Khushi. I promise you, I’ll never let that happen.”
Tanzeela’s Creative Writing Corner 