40. OS 18. Too Tempting to Resist (Part 40)

Part 40

All were having their breakfast, laughing and chattering away as they made inroads into parathas and toast.

Khushi looked at Arnavji’s mouth chewing toast and looked away at the carpeted floor. Had that mouth actually touched hers? Had those hard lips actually captured hers? She bit her lower lip. She lifted her eyes to gaze at him. Her raised eyes clashed with hot, incendiary, molten chocolate eyes.

She gasped and quickly lowered her eyes.

Arnav’s lips twisted in a smirk. She had woken up before him and run away downstairs. He had been unable to have a word with her alone, but the day was just beginning. His eyes lingered on her rosy, flushed face.

“Khussi bitiya, Chotey is going to office,” nani reminded her before she could hide in the kitchen under the pretext of clearing the table.

“Ji, naniji,” she murmured. She looked apprehensively at the broad shoulders of her nemesis as he turned away to shrug into his coat.

He grabbed his laptop bag and throwing a look at her which was a clear order to see him to the door, walked away.

Khushi pretended not to understand him and looked away.

Mami said, “Khussi, go bith hamre Arnav bitwaa. Naahi to he bill shout at all the boyjj and girljj working at his ophice.”

All chuckled. Khushi’s face flamed red.

The whole family watched with interest as Khushi made her unwilling and slow way to the door. Even HP peeped from the kitchen to see his Arnav bhaiyya’s hitherto unseen and unknown romantic ways.

Arnav halted at the door and turned his head.

Khushi was standing at least two feet away from him.

“Come closer,” he murmured, his husky voice sending a secret message to all her nerve endings.

Khushi drew in a deep breath and took one step closer to him, her wary eyes on him. There was no saying what he would do!

Arnav took the step needed to bring him near her.

Khushi lowered her head.

Arnav bent and kissed her cheek gently.

The press of his hard lips on the soft satin skin of her cheek sent her reeling.

All the members of his family stood with their mouth open at this sight of a Romantic Singh Raizada.

“I will see you in the evening,” came the ominous murmur in her ear. “Till then think of what happened in the storeroom.”

Her eyes widened to their maximum.

His finger flicked her pale cheek. He then left the house, a small smile on his lips.

                                                                 ***

A couple of hours later, her phone rang.

The conversation stopped as if a switch had been put off. All eyes turned to Khushi, eagerly anticipating that it would be from their darling Chotey.

Khushi paled as she saw his name on the display.

“Is it Chotey?” Anjali asked eagerly.

“Ji,” Khushi murmured.

“Take the phone, Khussi,” mami urged. “Aphter shaadi, hamre Arnav bitwaa ijj quite the lover-bai, hello hi bye bye!”

Khushi flushed as she answered the call.

“Khushi, I am sending you a gift. Wear it and be ready at six. I want to take you out for a drive,” he murmured in her ear.

Khushi could only try to swallow through a dry throat.

“Khushi?” he called.

“Jiiii,” she answered throatily.

“Will you?” he asked.

She couldn’t refuse, what with many pairs of excited eyes trained on her.

“Ji,” she said softly.

“Good,” he said before cutting the call.

“What did Chotey say?” nani asked as soon as Khushi cut the call.

“Woh...,” Khushi blushed. “He said he wants to take me out for a drive.”

All beamed, delighted that their Chotey had red blood flowing through his veins.

“He is sending a gift. He...he wants me to wear it,” she mumbled.

The happiness on the faces of the Raizadas was beyond description.

Anjali limped up to Khushi and hugged her tight. “I am so happy Chotey married you, Khushiji,” she murmured against her cheek.

Nani, mami and Payal followed suit, hugging her.

                                               ***

Khushi looked at the elegantly-wrapped gift that Hari Prakashji had brought up to her room. Her heartbeat went right through the roof. He Devi Maiyya, what was it? she wondered.

‘What is the use of looking at the wrapping and wondering what is inside, Khushi?’ she asked herself. ‘Unwrap it. Tear open the cover and you can see it.’

With shaking but eager fingers, she tore open the packet to see a red-pink and gold net saree from a leading designer. She gently touched the cloth, her mind filled with awe. It was so soft, so spider web-like that she was scared it would disappear into thin air if she clasped it.

After long moments spent staring at the beautiful creation, she set the box aside on the bed. She needed to call him to thank him. She took the phone, but her hands shook too much. She left the phone on the bed and went to sit in the garden, breathing deeply to calm herself.

                                                            ***

Arnav came home to see his family in the living room, waiting for him.

“Chotey, Khushiji is dressing in Payalji’s room. Freshen up and come down fast,” Anjali ordered him.

He grimaced. So the family knew about the outing?

“Chotey, I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you are happy in your marriage,” nani said with a loving smile.

“Hamre Arnav bitwaa ijj becoming a good husbaandwaa,” mami added.

Arnav flushed slightly. “I...I will just...freshen up and ...” He quickly walked up the steps and disappeared from sight.

He returned a few minutes later to see Khushi waiting for him along with the others. His eyes, caught by the enchanting spectacle she made, did not see the others. The sari looked like a million dollars on her and his favourite colour brought out the creaminess of her skin. His eyes lingered on the curve of her waist and he clenched his fists to fight the desire to free her from the sari.

Ignoring the teasing from his family, he held the door open for Khushi. As soon as she had seated herself, he marched to the driver’s side, got in and after making sure her seat belt was on, drove away.

                                                                    ***