Khushi Pov

"Maa I am full. You're serving as if I was straved for months" I said worriedly making a crying face.

"A mother knows how much food her child needs. So like a good girl you're going to finish this" If my plate was not full already maa served even more.

"My stomach will burst out if I eat more" I closed my mouth and shaked my head as no.

"Maa she already lost her appetite by missing jiju. Keep it on fridge she'll eat after romancing with jiju" Meera jumped grabbing the opportunity to tease me.

I raised my hand playfully to hit Meera.

"Atleast eat little Khushi" Maa chided taking a morsel.

When I nodded as no she forcefully fed me "It's been years I fed you" She smiled through her moist tears that I couldn't refuse her. So true, after I started to stay aloof I never let anyone to come close to me. Heights of stupidness!

"Who's stopping you now?" I winked at her opening my mouth. She chuckled wiping her tears and took forward a morsel.

"All this drama was to get fed by maa" Meera twisted her lips.

"This much of jealousy was not good baby..."  I pretend to be serious showing my tongue.

"Maa we're going to shopping. Now di is here we want to shop till her purse turns empty" Payal jumped put forth the idea. My eyes rounded in shock.

"Here take this. Empty this too" A purse landed on dining table. We turned back to see papa standing there with full blown smile.

Maa shrieked next instant "Do you even realise what you're saying shashiji?"

Why do I feel there's something fishy in maa behaviour? My thoughts got broken by papa's next set of words.

"Today I am so happy, I got my bitiya back. Isn't it calls for celebration?"

"Yayyy..." Meera and Payal shouted from their place while maa looks worried.

"Papa I have enough money. Keep it with you" I kept the purse back on his shirt pocket.

"Won't I was allowed to spend for my daughters?" Papa took the purse from his pocket. Before I could open my mouth to deny maa jumped in confirming my doubts.

"Khushi is right. Don't waste the money"

Meera and Payal pouted while I nodded at papa in apprehension. He looked at me and then averted his eyes to maa who nods in plead.

"I'll back soon" I excused from there to call Arnav. It's been 18 hours, 35 minutes, 2 seconds I last spoke to Arnav.

Dialling his number I sat on bed waiting for him to attend.

"With whom you're flirting?" I asked as soon as the call was attended.

"What the. Khushi, why would I flirt with anyone when I have You" I gulped at the turn of events. Here I thought, I can get hold on him teasing him for sometime.

"Don't flirt with me ok?" I warned him with smile on my face. He can't see, I took full advantage of it.

"Why baby, do you want me to do rehearsal?"

I swallowed hard on my parched throat. My heart picked up it's pace by his mere husky voice.

"Baby are you there?" I kept fidgeting with my fingers while he broke the silence.

"Hmm.."

"Missing you" He whispered sending chill down my spine.

"Whose fault is this?" I pouted. I want to be with him at the same time I want to spend my time with my family.

"Absolutely mine" He murmured with a sigh.

"One week will pass soon" I assured him though I was missing him.

"Hope so. Convey my regards to uncle and aunty. I'll call you later. I am running out of time" He said in hurry, maybe he has meetings.

"Take care" I said quickly before ending the call. I smiled seeing his photo on my mobile wallpaper. Only after parting away from him I realised I could not run a day without seeing his face. Do I need to wait more when I have his photo.

"Done with romancing jiju" I snapped up in shock. There stood Meera with raised brows.

"Shut up Meera. Don't you want to empty my purse" I diverted the topic, hiding my phone.

"Try as much as you can but I know you're romancing jiju" And then she have to wink mischievously.

"So what do you want me to do? He's my husband, I can do much more than this phone romancing" I winked blew air on my falling tendrils on my forehead while she opened her mouth in shock. That serves her right for teasing me from the time I arrived.

She face palmed herself before ran out blushing "Shameless"

I laughed taking my purse and reached living room. In sofa Meera and Payal sat all ready to go out.

"Shall we start girls?" I asked from behind for which they both beamed at me. How many years it had been we laughed, teased, anticipated for outings like this. Golden days! Wish I didn't meet him in my college.

We took a step forward to go out and at exact time maa called me "Stop bitiya. Khushi come here"

Frowning I eyed them to go and I took my steps back to reach maa. She took hold of my palms in hers "Where's your mangalsutra? Why didn't you apply vermillion on your partition? It was a symbol of married girl"

I gulped hardly, what can I tell her? That I didn't accepted this marriage earlier so vowed to not wear them in the name of Arnav.

"Maa woh..."

"Khushi it was not just a black thread. That thread was the proof of your relation with your husband. That thread was the binding source of you and your in-laws. Wouldn't they feel bad seeing you like this?" Her disturbed face screamed her worries.

Calming my nerves I coaxed her "Maa they won't mind at all. It's just... Leave it. Once he'll be back I'll wear it"

"Why you want to wait for one more week? It's not good for you nor for Arnav beta if you stay like this"

"Maa my mangalsutra was in our goa flat. I'll wear once I go back. Don't worry yourself" I replied her patiently and my mind was already circling around my earlier plans of getting married to him again in private.

She nodded for my sake. With determination I planned something and bought necessary items while shopping with my sisters. Like they promised they got tired only after emptying my purse. Their wardrobe was full with new salwars and accessories.

Inhaling a sharp breath I closed the door of my room. I have to do it before anyone of my crazy sister barge in.

'Don't know how it was going to come out' I muttered pushing my full sleeves up.

Tucking the paper in stand with adjustable height I took the brush and rubbed it in colours.

Closing my eyes, I got the perfect picture of him. As if habituated, my fingers danced on the white paper. I gritted my teeth when my full sleeves came down messing the drawing. Pulling it over my head, I resumed my work without interruption.

Giving visuals to my thoughts, I never realised about time. Two three times maa and Meera knocked the door which I ignored engrossed in my current task. Seemed like eternity I expelled a deep breath in satisfaction. My eyes twinkled in joy seeing the outcome of my task.

At the same time, I got snapped out from my dreamy state due to a shrill of ring. Seeing the caller id my joy knows no bounds. My Arnie dear..

"Missing me?" I asked with a smile wiping my hands in cloth shifting the mobile between my shoulder and ear.

"Don't you?" Instead of replying he questioned back.

Taking my place in bed, I spoke with my tongue on cheek "No"

I got desired result, I had to keep the phone far away to escape from his shout "What? Here I thought you'll be missing me like I do" His voice toned down at last.

"Don't you ask me why I am not missing you?"

"Why?" He asked cautiously.

"I am celebrating our Sangeeth" I stated waiting for his reaction.

"What?"

"Don't you know other than why and what?" I couldn't help but to tease him.

"Khushi..." He whined and I am sure his face would be like a kid.

"What Khushi?"

"Ok bye.." what the, did he got angry? I hurried to convince him.

"Arnav Arnav.. sorry..." I heard his laugh from other side only then I realised his foul play. I shook my head started to narrate him what I planned and what I executed.

"Remember we're engaged. So as next ritual I celebrated our Sangeeth" I said to him and he gasped.

"How?"

"Come on video call" I ordered him and ended the call. A minute later he came on video call.

On eager to show him what I made, I didn't noticed his face at all. Taking all the papers I showed him one by one.

"See na, how's this? I painted after long time, literally after long" I showed a painting with enthusiasm. The paper contains a painting of us in one of dancing steps. His arms around my waist and my arms on his shoulder. He on traditional kurta paijama and I was on elegant pink lehenga.

Taking next, I showed him "How's this?" This painting was in same dress with another step. His right palm rested on my waist balancing me while I arched back wrapping my arms around his nape. As series of ten paintings containing different poses framing a dance sequence.

"Khushi... I.. was speechless. It was beautiful. How? I mean how did you get this idea?" He stammered as his eyes still fixed on paintings admiring it.

"I felt bad missing you and with your business trip our.. our togetherness is postponed. So..." I stopped not knowing how to continue further.

"I didn't know there was a painter hiding behind your frame?"

"I used to paint in my school days Arnav. After staying in hostel, I lost the touch. And today when I was so eager to celebrate our ritual, I got reminded of my passion" I smiled at him sweetly. Infact I was over the moon. He's far away from me physically but by this painting I felt him so close to me.

"You did not know what you give me Jaan. I.. I don't have words to say how I feel. Send me the pics, I want to feel you near me... Love you wifey dear.. Muahhh...." I blushed closing my eyes.

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