She scrambled away from him quickly, saying sorry to him, in that process she didn't notice that she was sleeping at the end of the bed so she would have fallen on the floor if he didn't pull her against him by his hand which was already on her waist.
She landed on his chest and lifted her face to look at him, only to find him staring at her with an unreadable expression.
This time she slowly pulled away feeling his breath on her neck and cheeks.
"I am sorry sir. "
It broke Arnav's daze of soft body pressing against him, plum lips just inches from his, hazel eyes shyly not looking at him and drifting lower.
Arnav was surprised, of all the things he expected her to say, it was not sorry.
"For what..?" He asked, not yet releasing her from his hold.
"Umm.. This was the reason I felt uncomfortable to sleep in the same bed. I.. I cuddle pillows in my sleep."
Seeing her so innocent and dare he say it, cute apologizing for cuddling and that too biting her lower lip, he didn't say anything harsh and let her go, removing his hand from her waist.
"We will arrange something for this.. this.. Cuddling problem.. Ok..?"
"Ji."
With that she got up and went to wash room, taking away the wonderful vanilla scent and warmth from Arnav.
Arnav didn't like where this is going at all.
He gulped down his desire and got up to get ready for work.
He was buttoning his shirt, when she came from the dressing room.
His first thought was,
God..!
Why is she wearing saree....?
And exposing her milky waist....
How it will feel to caress it...
He scolded himself for giving into these kind of thoughts.
"Go and change your dress."
"Ji...?"
"You're married that doesn't mean you have to wear saree daily. You wear it if Nani compels you which I can assure you, she won't. "
"Yes sir."
She said in obvious relief, making him realize she doesn't usually wear saree.
She came out wearing a simple chudi.
Oh man!
Why was she beautiful in everything.
Why was he admiring her like this?
They went down for breakfast.
She did the rituals which was cooking for the first time in husband's house and went to the dining table.
Anjali sat beside her, grinning like a child, she leaned in and whispered in her ear, not loud enough to be heard by Nani who was sitting at head of the table, but loud enough to be heard by Arnav who sat on the other side besides her.
"Why do you seem tired khushi..? Didn't sleep well..? Or Arnav didn't let you sleep at all..? "
She blushed noticing the teasing tone in Anjali's voice.
Arnav almost groaned.
His Di was such a tease.
Looking at the lowered head and reddened cheeks, he couldn't help but admire the blush.
"Tel me.. Tell me khushi. Looking at your blush sort of gives me the answer."
If possible her cheeks colored more and she didn't look up at all.
Seeing her like this Arnav warned Anjali by giving her a glare to drop it.
After few minutes of silence, Khushi looked up and started eating.
Just then Anjali asked loudly,
"By the way khushi how was 'IT'....?" emphasizing the 'it' in her statement.
Khushi dropped the spoon and blushed.
God...! Why was she torturing Khushi, asking about her wedding night.
Arnav choked on his water.
Khushi rubbed his back, trying to calm him.
"Arey, what happened chotte, Khushi..? I was asking how is your stay at house. How do you feel?" Anjali said winking.
Khushi mumbled a fine, too embarrassed to speak, still rubbing his back and offered him kerchief to wipe his lips and chin.
Now, Anjali whispered near her ear again loud enough for Arnav to hear.
"By the way his coughs stopped Khushi ji or wasn't the night enough for you both..?"
Khushi withdrew her hand as if burnt by fire and thought,
Ih my God!
She wanted the ground to open and swallow her.
Anjali's words were making her imagine things and Arnav was also imagining unwanted (*cough* desirable *cough*) thoughts.
Arnav hissed,
"Stop teasing her Di."
"Aww.. See Nani, chote is already possessive of his wife."
Nani smiled while Arnav glared at her,
"Stop it Di."
But Anjali ranted,
"Chote is possessive, Chote is possessive, Chote is possessive, Chote is possessive,... "
Arnav got up and went while Nani and Di giggled while Khushi thought,
Is the mere thought of being with her this disgusting that he got angry and went...?
Khushi went to her room only finding the room empty as he had gone to office. He hadn't even bid her bye.
She groaned and dropped on the bed thinking.
She knew that she was not very beautiful and she always felt insecure.
Because there was no one in her life ever told her that she was beautiful or pampered her with affection.
Only NK told her, maybe he was lying because she was his friend.
May be she didn't mean anything to him that's why he left..
May be, Arnav ji felt she was ugly in saree that's why he told her to change.
Feeling depressed, Khushi slept not knowing what to do for the rest of the day.
She couldn't even go and wander around this home. Because she didn't think he will like her going around his home.
She didn't even put her things in the room, letting it stay in the bags she had brought from Buaji's home because she was scared he would scold and accuse her for keeping her things in his room..
So, she slept for a while, had lunch and again sat in her room, not knowing what to do.
She so wanted to speak with Anjali Di and Nani.
She wanted to get to know them but she know he won't like it.
He seemed to be a very angry person, and she was slightly, very slightly scared of him..
Ok.. Ok.. She was scared of him completely.
She didn't eat dinner because she knew Di and Nani would expect her to wait for him.
Even though they asked her to eat dinner with them, she didn't agree to it.
It was the right choice because she saw the relief and satisfaction in their eyes when she told, she will wait for him.
She didn't want to raise any suspicions. She knew they expected this answer.
Arnav came home at 11, only to stop admiring the sleeping beauty on dining table.
Was she waiting for him..?
Why..?
Damnit, does she think he will fall for her charm by doing unnecessary things like this...?
He hated girls like her more, thinking they can do these small things and interfere in his life schedules.
He barked her name waking her suddenly.
"Come to the room, Khushi."
She followed him anxiously, not knowing what she did now.
The moment she stepped into the room, he locked it pulling her shoulder painfully.
"Who asked you to wait...? Did you think you can do this and win my heart like a typical house wife.. You're not even my real wife even with all the rituals. You're just someone who is pretending to be my wife. Got it..?"
She closed her eyes. His grip on her hands didn't hurt her as much as his words.
Why did her heart ached so much..?
Seeing her silent, he said,
"Answer me Khushi."
She gulped the sobs forcefully, because crying was useless and she knew it very well.
Instead, she answered him,
"I know.. I know that I am just here for some months. But Nani and Di were expecting that I wait for you, I can see that they were happy when I answered I will wait for you. Sorry sir, I won't do it again."
Hearing her explanation, he pulled his hands from her and couldn't help but feel guilty and ASR doesn't like feeling guilty which only made him more angry.
Khushi couldn't help but feeling insecure again, thinking what all happened in morning.
She squirmed in nervousness, thinking about how she looked while wearing the night dress.
Ugly...
She was ugly..
Seeing her squirming like he's going to take advantage of her, no matter how beautiful she was, Arnav Singh Raizada doesn't force himself on anyone.
Who does she think she is thinking like this and it boiled his anger.
"Stop squirming damn it. Stop feeling uncomfortable. I told you I won't touch someone like you."
She lowered her head, feeling hurt that her thoughts were confirmed that he found her ugly.
God..!
Stop it Khushi and go to sleep before making him even more angry.
Even if you feel hungry , you should just go sleep, no questions.
Khushi berated herself..
He went to refreshen and change into nightwear.
He looked around for her, only to find her sleeping as far at the end of the bed as possible.
He shook his head and went to the bed.
After few minutes of tossing around he heard stomach grumbling hungrily only to find it's from her stomach.
No.. No.. ASR didn't feel guilty at all..
No... Damn it..
He didn't feel anything burning and squeezing at all in his chest.