It was one fine Saturday morning. Arnav came out after morning shower wrapping a towel around his lower body. He gave one glance at Khushi who was still sleeping peeping her head out, puling the quilt till her neck, Khushi and her preferences while sleeping which he had discovered lately!! Shaking his head, Arnav proceed towards closet and took out his one of his trouser pants and started wearing. His mind took him to that day after his return from Singapore, the way Khushi had screamed at him for changing in room like this. He hoped, she would not have any problem now!! He smirked, then moved and took the drier to dry his wet hair!!
Opening her lazy eyes, the first view Khushi saw was her husband getting dress up. She smiled cutely, pulling the blanket more into her as it still had his minty fragrance. She loves the long lasting fragrance of his shower gel. Khushi found him, buttoning down his navy blue formal shirt which did not take longer for her to understand he was getting ready for office, but is not it too early today?? She quickly glanced at digital clock on side table.
Arnav was about to take his tie and wear that, Khushi screamed.
" Stop!!!"
Arnav turned around, looked at her confusingly.. Now what problem this girl has with him wearing his tie??, she never fails to entertain him for sure.
Pushing the blanket away from her body, Khushi quickly climbed down from bed, wearing her flip-flop she rushed towards her closet, sliding that transparent door of her section, Khushi took out something and gave that to Arnav with a cute smile playing on her lips. Arnav raised his brow.
" What is this??"
" See yourself."
Arnav unwrapped it and found a silk Tie packed there. With a smile he looked up at her, Khushi asked excitingly.
" Acha laga??" (Did you like it??)
" A gift's value increases even more if the one who gifts this makes the one who receive it, wear that !!"
Khushi did not say anything further, she came closer to him, took out his previous tie from his neck and buttoned the top most button near his neck, then wrap the tie around his neck. Arnav noticed her for few seconds, the interest she was showing to make her task the best. He asked after done with admiring his wife, though he knew he could never get enough of admiring her.
" Aaj ghar pe ho tum??" (Today you are at home then??)
" Han.. I'll finish sketching here.."
She liked it, when Arnav showed his interest towards her work. Arnav.
"Ohh.."
Done with her task, Khushi made Arnav turned around to face mirror and stood behind him.
" You look too good!!" (She kissed his shoulder blade over his shirt lovingly.)
Arnav smiled.
" Thank you.."
Keeping her hands on her waist, Khushi stood in front of Arnav who was wearing shocks.
" Why are you leaving for office so early today?? Some important meeting came up in morning??"
She asked with concern, like every wife, she too was concerned towards her husband, his health and his work life.
" Actually last night, my Ex called me telling me that she would land in Delhi today morning. You think, I look enough impressive for this important reunion??"
Her jaw dropped, this man and his timing of teasing her nerves while speaking so!! Is it only her husband who teases her even without any perfect reason or all husbands do so?? She needs to do a research on it!!
" I'm waiting.. You have not answered yet??" (Added Arnav after a pause, letting her do her self communication.)
"You look enough impressive Arnav for this reunion..(Arnav narrowed his eyes hearing her mockery reply.) But pass a message to her from my side then, (Ohh!! That's what he was waiting to hear, thought Arnav happily.) Tell her that, you are already taken and she should not waste her precious time on a second hand possession!!"
Saying so Khushi moved away giving him half smile, Arnav was unable to differentiate whether this was a compliment or criticism. But he did not give pressure on analyzing it more, as his mood was happy at least knowing she too was affected in same way like him seeing him with anyone than her!! Love can't be a spicy story, unless it has possessiveness added to it. It makes it double tempting and fiery. He got up, moved towards her, pecking her cheek from behind as she was facing closet.
" Why do I need a affair when I'm happy with my extra affair with my present?? Let me enjoy this period before hunting for another option."
Her mouth left wide opened, she turned her head!!
"You are so gone Arnav!!"
She raised her hands to press his neck, when Arnav kissed on tip of her nose before escaping!!
**************************
A knock came across on door, Arnav looked up from laptop screen and found Aarav. Aarav walked inside.
" I need to talk to you, Are you free??"
" You never need permission for it Papa!!"
Aarav smiled, taking his seat, Aarav started.
" It's about Khushi.." (Arnav became serious, what's relating to Khushi that his father wants to share with him??)
"You already know what issues are going on there in Lucknow relating to Sheeshmahal regarding it's claim on its royalty and throne. Khushi's presence and approval requires there for solving the issues."
" But Papa, I don't think she ever wishes to visit that place ever!!"
Aarav smiled, seeing care in his son's eyes for his wife.
"Sometime we need to think beyond emotional boundary. I know Khushi does not like it, but we can't forget those people who are already a part of that palace and taking care of that!! A question comes there also.."
Aarav stated his point, sometime for the interest of mass, individual's emotions comes on the edge of breaking. He understands that, though he too never wishes to see his daughter hurt.
Arnav kept quite, Aarav spoke.
" A man named Vikram Singh, is coming from Lucknow. He wants to meet me, but I want you to meet him and know everything that you have not known till now!! It's not only about Khushi's sentiment, it's about her rights and responsibility also!! Many more things are there, you need to learn before deciding anything."
" When is he coming??"
" At 4 pm, at Purple Orchid!!"
Arnav nodded his head, approving the meeting. Aarav soon left from there, Aarav certainly does not know whether Khushi would win or lose, but he was not ready to quit even before starting.
*************************
"Arnav Singh Raizada??"
Arnav turned his head, saw a man of his mid 40s standing.
"Mr.Vikram Singha??"
Vikram Singh smiled, they shook hands before taking seats. Vikram started.
" I guess your father had already informed you about problems arising in Lucknow. (Arnav nodded his head.) Arnav, you need to learn everything from starting.. About Garima Ma'am and her disappearance from Lucknow suddenly.."
"Actually the man with whom Garima Ma'am had fallen, was no other than the lawyer of the Royal family. He was smart, good looking, sharp minded, clean in his work career.. Being their lawyer he used to visit to Sheeshmahal very often and he had possessed every characteristics that a young girl always dreams in her partner's!! Though first, their status differences comes in between them, but after a certain period that resolves in between them. And the consequent you know already!!! When Garima Ma'am's parents came to know, they were not ready for this match owing their status in society while he was a commoner. But later Garima Ma'am convinced them some how, and being their only child they too could not deny her for longer.. But that day when they called that man to talk about marriage, he walked away saying he was already married!! Whatever he was feeling for Garima Ma'am was not more than a simple friendship.."
"Hearing this Garima Ma'am was broken, a few days later she came to know about her pregnancy. Her parents could not bear it, they again requested that man but he did not hear it even. Her father fell ill, then her mother!! Soon this pregnancy news spread all over in Lucknow making Ma'am's life miserable. In between her parents too passed away, and her mental condition started worsening. She was just 19 then. That time, your mother who was Garima Ma'am friend came to know about this and she and her husband reached there."
"Ma'am was in her mid trimester, her case was complex. So your parents took her here in Delhi to consult Doctors. Your father too tried to meet that lawyer once, but he again insulted him. After few years, one night due to accident Garima Ma'am passed away leaving her baby daughter behind."
"And since then the rival have started claiming the throne as there was no heir of that family, they are very cruel and if throne comes to their hand, it will be worsen more for those people who lives there. Your father though not physically presents there, but his support is there with everyone. If you lose the case, your father will not be able to help those people at the same time Garima Ma'am's daughter too will lose her right."
"I'll again say, think once before deciding anything."
" What was that Lawyer's name??", Asked Arnav after listening to Vikram Singh and his side explanation.
"I have heard his surname was Gupta.. Nothing more than that. I was young then, my father used to work then for them.", he replied.
" I need time.. I don't know how Khushi is going to react to it and I don't want to hurt her by any way."
Vikram nodded his head, understanding a husband's concern for his wife. He stood up.
" Take time, but don't take longer.. I need to leave from here soon.. Take care!!"
Soon Vikram Singh, left from there leaving a puzzled Arnav who was sailing in two boats where in one his wife's sentiment is related where in other one her right and claim at the same time meeting that person who was the reason of everything. Arnav certainly did not know how far he can even go, without telling Khushi anything relating to it.