Choti Si Duniya - ArShi FF

85. The dry spell -2(aka uff garmi)

However, even that plan failed in just 2 days as although Arnav seemed to be sad at first when she didn't see him off for work, he didn't press it too much!

By the 3rd day, she herself couldn't deprive herself of whatever minimal closeness she was getting from her hubby! And hence, she ensured to sleep keeping her head on his chest that night and slept peacefully when he lightly wrapped an arm around her...

.

.

This was now the final trick in her book! If this one failed, she knew nothing else might work and she would have to leave it on destiny- which to her bad luck Arnavji still didn't fully believe in- so basically leave it on her husband's mercy.

But she was hoping this one would not fail.

This was the most powerful one per her experience- it was called shringar(attraction)! Thus, wearing the very same, very special designer red saree that Arnav had gifted her many years ago, and she wore during her first karwa chauth, as well as few other instances- most special being a night in Lucknow 4 years ago when aru-pari were conceived- she hoped this would do the trick! Wearing a delicate diamond necklace and matching earrings, plaiting her hair in a fishtail and completing her hairdo with a maang-tikka and finally a bindi on her forehead, Khushi stood admiring herself in the dressing mirror.

That was when Payal came to her room and was surprised to see Khushi dressed up like that.

"Tum kahi bahar jaa rahi ho(Are you going out)?" Payal asked.

Khushi got startled hearing her jiji's voice and turned around to meet her curious gaze.

"Na- nahi toh jiji. Woh toh humne bass(No jiji, I am just)-"

Payal observed her sister for a few seconds before her mind reminded her of khushi's fallen face the past few days and some hesitancy she had sensed between Arnav and khushi. So, she decided to ask straight away,

"Khushi sach sach batao(tell me honestly), tumhare aur arnavji ke beech sab thik hai na(is everything ok between you and arnavji)? I've been seeing since last few days that you two seem a bit distracted." Payal asked, keeping a hand on Khushi's shoulder.

Khushi felt overwhelmed at her jiji's comforting touch and couldn't stop herself after that and shared some part of her predicament with her jiji while ensuring privacy of her married life and especially arnav's was still intact! She told Payal that for a few days she and Arnavji couldn't spend much romantic time together due to both of their busy schedules and kids. So, she wanted to do something special for him tonight.

"Hmm. So, you want to give time to Arnavji. That is a very good thought, khushi. Every wife feels worried and insecure if distances appear between her husband and herself. Sometimes even fear that someone else might come between them-"

"No jiji, Arnavji and I might have been unable to spend more time together these days, but I know that his heart only belongs to me."

Payal tapped her cheeks lightly, "I know that. I was just saying it as example. Anyway, leave it. Tum ready ho jao(you finish getting ready). But khushi, please make sure that Arnavji is on the same page about this as you. Sometimes, men don't share their exact feelings. Especially men like Arnavji and Aakashji who speak very little as it is. So, it is up to us to understand them. Tum samajh rahi ho na(you understand right), what I am saying?"

Khushi could only nod hearing that but became thoughtful.

.

.

When Arnav returned from work that night, he was very tired. Being a busy man was not new to him, but this was after many years that he had found himself so stressed, so overworked. Amidst all that, he was somewhere aware of how he wasn't able to reciprocate Khushi's explicit and implicit demands. But he himself didn't want to address it. He had too many pressing matters to deal with, thus his 'performance' in their bedroom had to be kept on back-burner!