Khushi Pov

Arnav excuses himself hearing dad's call. After getting ready I came out and saw him on call with fallen face.

What would've happened? Waited for him few minutes, I decided against the same when his call extended.

"Maa what are you doing?" I asked seeing her doing something which I failed to find it's name.

"Panner kabbab. Your dad's and Arnav's favourite. What do you want beta?" She asked fondly taking the ingredients.

"What is your favourite maa?"

She looked at me shocked for a minute and continue to share her likes. In this way I got to know more about Arnav and his likes, dislikes.

In the name of helping her, to say I tortured maa a lot asking about the name of ingredients and giving her wrong ingredients whenever she asked confusing a lot. She would've cursed me for wasting time.

"Beta will you take this to dining table? Everything is almost finished" She requested sweetly even after my blunders.

Nodding I arranged all the dishes neatly while maa took few things with the help of Maria. By now everyone arrived.

"Wow so many dishes. Even by seeing the dishes my stomach got full" Anika chirped taking a seat. Dad and Arnav smiled at her.

"Khushi sit. I will serve everyone"

"Mom/maa no need for that. We can serve ourselves. Sit" I averted my eyes instantly in surprise. What a coincidence Arnav and I said at same time.

"Wah... What a wavelength! What an understanding" Anika said aloud from her place and whistled with teasing smile.

"I really don't what this girl is going to do in her in laws" Maa heaved a sigh in motherly worry.

"I'll not go to their home. Daddy will look for ghar jamai..." Anika proudly announced making dad to choke on his food.

"Here I thought, once you are married we'll be freed from your clutches of craziness" Dad feigned.

Anika pouted and showed her tongue "You'll not get that privilege in this lifetime. Either you will look for ghar jamai or I'll stay as spinster for eternity"

"Either way we're doomed dad" Arnav whispered silently yet everyone heard that.

I chuckled seeing them, their chatter brings back the time of my college days. I did say those exact words to my papa once. He laughed and brushed it off saying you'll go back on your words once you find your soulmate.

At the instant I got the urge to see them all. In my aloofness, I hurted them a lot even more than Arnav. How bad they must have felt? How stupidly I made everyone to worry on me when they have many other issues to mourn on. The food refused to go down the throat by the thought. Tears brimmed on my eyes blurring the vision. How many days maa cried lamenting over my withdrawal? I should pay a visit to them.

A lone tear slipped out of my eyes when a hand pressed my plams warmly which was rested on my thigh. I glanced at my side to see Arnav's questioning eyes.

Nodding as no I forced a smile. Gesturing me to eat he resumed his eating only after ensuring me.

"Bhabhi I never thought you would be a romantic person" I scrunched my brows at annika's new topic. We're sitting in living room after relishing our wonderful breakfast.

"What?" I asked and she pointed the photos on the wall in reply.

I raised my brows with a smile "How are you sure about it's my idea?"

She twisted her lips and made a face "Don't you know your husband is such a lazy bone. He needs maa for his everything. He will not even fetch his towel. Now you fell on his prey"

Arnav throws a angry glare at her. It was a new information for me. He is a lazy person? I did not even find any of his actions as lazy. He maintains his room so clean and his clothes will be always found in it's place either in wardrobe or washroom to wash it. Never he showed his lazy side. Infact I couldn't digest this new piece of information.

"Don't get jealous ani.. It's also a form of love. We do and expect the things from whom we love, even if we can do that thing alone. It's a sought of getting their attention and care. Doesn't you do the same with daddy?" Maa explained raising her brows latter in question.

A vague memory hit my brain, triggered by her words. In our stay at my parents home, Arnav called me to fix the shower on bathroom. Infact he did not needed my help at all, yet he called me and I cursed him like anything back then. Now I can realise the whole thing of that fiasco. My lips streched, curving into a smile and heat rushed to my cheeks remembering the aftermath of what happened, his first kiss and his first hug.

"You always take his side mom. Leave it. Now I need gift from birthday boy" Anika voice taken me back to the current situation.

Arnav looked at Anika shocked "What? You should gift me anika not the way around" He said in disbelief.

"Oye... I came all the way here bunking my classes. And for that you should gift me and my presence itself a present"

Arnav shook his head in despair. While maa and dad smiled at her antics. Life would not be bored with them.

Arnav raised his eyes accepting his defeat "What do you want?"

"That's like my Arnieeee... I want to see real titanic" I frowned at her words. Looking around I found everyone wore the same expression.

"What, come again?"

In return Anika pointed at the maxi photo where our valentine's day Titanic pose resides. My eyes widen. She should not be serious. I had hard time to hide my flustered face. I should've not hang it on living room where anyone who walk in to our home can see it. That time, I don't had the idea of shifting him to my/our room. Actually I didn't had the thought of outsiders and family.

"Mom I thought you guys planned something?" Fortunately Arnav diverted the topic.

"No Arnav, we thought we can plan here, after consulting you both. Infact we called Shashi bhaiyaa and Garimaji too. As tomorrow we're returning back with Khushi they withdrawed back"

My eyes rounded in shock. Did I heard it right? Just now I had the urge to see them. And here, wait everything is planned before. What does she mean by returning with me? Arnav does come with us right? With this question I glanced him.

"I have to go for business trip. Spend your time with family there, don't stay here alone" He whispered slowly.

"You didn't tell me?" I accused him in shock. Again he's doing the same thing.

I don't like this at all. Can't I accompany him? Just now everything is normal and here he's ready to go on his business trip leaving me. And why didn't he say this before?

"I myself unaware of this until an hour before"

I turned my face away from him. Can't he say, Khushi come with me. I'll gladly follow him wherever he took me.

"Khush Jaan... I don't want to leave you but it was tight schedule. I'll be back within a week. Until then you spend your time with your family because after my trip I am not going to spare you at all" He cooed in low voice and winked at last statement.

"Hello Mr and Mrs.. Don't forget you have audience" We snapped towards her direction.

"What?"

"I think we can go for a movie. It's been long time and in this heat we can't go out and enjoy on the beach" Thankfully dad interrupted Anika.

"That would be better option, even more than better if we watch it here" Arnav proposed the idea and eyed me intendly. Something is going on his head.

Everyone agrees instantly. And the movie plan and room was set. Anika now and then took the topic of titanic but fortunately one or other distracted her. Thankfully that saved us from embarrassment.

Dad and mom sat right side of the sofa while Arnav and me took left side. Anika sat on single sofa.

As soon as the movie starts, I felt him entwining his fingers with mine. I detangled it in disappointment. Whatever happening is not what I wanted. First his acceptance to maa and now he hid his business trip.

A minute later, his arm circled over my shoulder pulling me to his side. I wriggled shrugging it away.

I fixated my eyes at the screen while his gaze deny to move away from me. I tried to avoid his gaze. His gaze was appealing that I couldn't ignore it just like that. I wiggled in conscious of surroundings. Besides me maa was sitting and here he's staring at me like he's planning to swallow me. What! I peeked at him through the corner of eyes. Damn, his eyes was still on me.

"I didn't know movie was screening  on my face" I try to said nonchalantly when in reality his gaze was untying my knots.

"Yes, my favourite movie was playing on your face. More than the hero and heroine of that film your face emotes well" He whispered not caring about the surroundings. I expelled a deep sigh. Blush and smile was in competition and threatening to come out. It's getting difficult to handle this romantic Raizada.

"I'll catch cold if you keep speaking like this"

"Don't worry Jaan. I am here to warm you up" I stood up, gasped in horror.

"What happened beta? Anika pause the movie" Dad asked in worry.

I bit my lips for my foolishness. How can I tell what his son was saying? Damn, I eyed at arnav expecting him to save me from this situation.

His eyes twinkled in mischief. He pushed forward his lower lip and shrugged his shoulders acting like a innocent. I thinned my lips and fingers automatically fiddled in attempt to hide my nervousness and embarassment.

Mustering up the scattered thoughts I decided to cover up the situation. Before I could open my mouth he answered relaxing me.

"I told her to fetch water for me"

Uff... A sharp deep breath escaped from my nostrils.

"Khushi... Get the water bottle"

Thanking him mentally I almost ran to kitchen. Calming myself I took it out without further delay, lest Anika find out what was happening beside her. She'll tease us to death until she gets another topic.

Handing him I sat beside maa, keeping distance away from him as far as possible.

Drinking a few he streched it infront of me. Thinking he's gesturing me to close it, I closed the lid.

He opened it again and eyed me to drink it. I doesn't need water. With scrunching brows I asked the same.

In reply he almost made me drink. In this way he was beside me closing the distance. As I gulped the content, I spit it out the next moment hearing his whisper.

"You're already hot Jaan... More than me you need cold water"

That's it I cannot take it. Everyone looked at me in question.

"I am having headache. I'll sleep for sometime" I don't even know they heard it or not. I sprinted away from there as fast as my feet carried me to our room.

Damn, that Raizada. I'll see how is he going to escape from me today.

Eventhough I was angry on him, in the deep of my heart I loved his naughty side. It was all new for me, for us. But what wondered me was his boldness. Maa was just beside me and he seems have no care at all. To the contrary of today, he behaved as a shy boy in our wedding day when Anika teased us. Uff... There are many layers inside that caring, loving, understanding man. My man!

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How was the update?

I am thinking to finish it off at 50th chapter. There's nothing to show other than their romance. Everything was sorted out except Khushi family and the twin matter which will be covered in upcoming chapters.

You guys bestowed this story with lots of love and support. If I reached this chapter then it was all because of you guys. So I leave the decision upon you regarding the end of this story. I don't want to give entry to villain and drag it to chapters. So yeah it's all on your hands. Do share your opinions on this.

Lots of love and hugs to you all❤️