Chapter 20: Celebration

Khushi

Khushi gently shook the pleats of her sari as she slid out of the car.

"I'll pick you both up from here when you're finished," their driver twisted in his seat to smile at them, "Just give me a call."

With Mohan-ji still in the hospital, a new driver had been hired.

"Thank you, Lalit-ji," Jiji nodded in his direction as she slid out, "Make sure you have something to eat while you wait."

Khushi's heart thundered as she looked up at the bright blue sign — THE LOTUS CAFE.

Arnav-ji.

Her husband sat somewhere in there, masking the pain inside him. Her hand trembled as she pushed the door open, allowing her sister to step inside first before following. The balding maitre-de greeted them with a smile.

"Table for two?"

Khushi felt her sister's stare in the short pause that followed but found that she couldn't speak around the constriction in her throat.

"No," Jiji gave a small cough, "We're meeting someone here. Aakash Singh Raizada? Or maybe, maybe Ar-Arnav Singh Raizada?"

"Ahh, this way ma'am."

As if alerted to her presence by some sixth sense, Arnav-ji looked up as they stepped around a pillar. Her breath caught in her lungs. Her body rebelled; feet stumbling as she clamped down on the urge to run to him. To wrap her arms around him and assure him that she understood. To offer what little comfort she could.

Di's voice echoed in her mind.

"Our Chacha threw us out a few weeks afterwards, saying we had no place there anymore. Nana brought us to Delhi. Dadi-ji chose to live in an ashram after losing her firstborn son and she doesn't talk to Chhote when he visits, even though he donates money every year."

He stood, greeting Jiji with a nod before turning to her. His eyes travelled up and down her body as he took in his gift. Khushi's heart skipped a beat as he smiled. She came to a standstill at his side and watched Jiji hug Aakash-ji quickly in greeting.

"Khushi."

Her husband indicated to the chair he'd pulled out for her. She sat after flashing him a smile that felt more like a grimace and noted that his eyes immediately narrowed.

"Your deal?" Jiji asked Aakash-ji once they were all settled.

Jija-ji passed around the menus, "It went well. The Nainital deal is finalised."

The rest of the conversation faded away as a memory surfaced.

"Do you know what it feels like to light your mother's funeral pyre? How it feels to return home after cremating your parents? How it feels to step foot inside the home they'll never return to? How it feels when everyone says that they understand but they don't understand a thing?"

When she peeked at Arnav-ji over the top of her menu, she found him already staring at her. He quirked an eyebrow. She looked away.

Focus Khushi. Act normal.

For the next few minutes, she made conversation and smiled as they waited for someone to take their orders. Her eyes slid to Arnav-ji as Jiji and Aakash-ji busied themselves with the menus again.

How do I help him, Devi Maiyya?

"What?" his voice was muted as he spoke without looking up from his phone.

"N-nothing."

"You keep staring."

"S-so? Is there a tax now, for staring at Arnav Singh Raizada?"

"What the—"

He looked up but his outburst was cut short with the approach of a waiter.

"Coffee - black with no sugar - and a toasted sandwich," Arnav-ji spoke after Jiji and Jija-ji had ordered, "and Khushi, do you want tea?"

"Tea," she confirmed, "and whatever Arnav-ji is having."

He blinked in surprise before nodding at the waiter, "Vegetarian, for both."

She watched her Jiji and Jija-ji after that, noting that they seemed perfectly at ease. Pink blossomed on Jiji's cheeks as Aakash-ji teased her but she gave a smart reply with a grin. Aakash-ji ducked his head as he chuckled. Khushi twisted the fabric of her sari between her hands, fighting the urge to look at Arnav-ji again.

She gave a soft gasp when his hand clamped over hers.

"What's wrong?" he asked in undertone.

"No-nothing."

"Did someone say something? Nani? Mami?"

"No," she spoke before he could guess his sister's involvement, "It's nothing. I'm just feeling light-headed."

"What have you eaten today?"

"I had some tea," Khushi remembered waiting for him at the table at breakfast, "and ... and other th-things."

Arnav-ji looked up as the waitstaff arrived with their food.

"Eat," he urged when her sandwich was placed in front of her, "Make sure you finish it all."

The meal passed slowly. She nibbled at her food, trying to ignore her husband's concerned glances even though a part of her rejoiced in his attention. It felt good.

It felt real.

"Arnav-ji, the sari you gifted Khushi is gorgeous."

Jiji's voice startled Khushi as she picked her sandwich apart. She looked up in time to see Arnav-ji smile.

"No," he shook his head, "It's a nice sari. It's Khushi who makes it look ... not bad."

"Not bad?" Jija-ji laughed, looking between the two of them, "Khushi-ji, don't mind him, he's just being —"

"—Rude," Khushi finished, "Typical Laad Governor. Jiji, how is your food?"

Her sister stifled her laughter before speaking, "Delicious. Aakash said that we should get cakes for dessert."

"And jalebi," Arnav-ji quipped.

Khushi felt her pulse stutter in response to the smile he threw in her direction. She curled her fingers in her lap to prevent her hand from reaching for his under the table.

Oh, Devi Maiyya.

The arrival of dessert — two slices of cake and a small plate of jalebi — a short while later provided a welcome distraction.

Arnav-ji pushed the jalebi towards her, "Eat."

He sighed when she only managed a small bite and scraped his chair back, leaving to settle their bill. They all stood as he returned. He slid an arm around her as he came to stand at her side, causing her to jump, but he only winked before speaking to the others.

"I've called Lalit, he's waiting behind the café."

"Where is your car?" Jiji asked.

"I parked behind the building," Arnav-ji answered, gesturing towards a small door behind them, "We can go that way."

Aakash-ji held Jiji's hand to lead her away, but Arnav-ji's fingers tightened at Khushi's waist when she made to follow.

"Let's give them some privacy," he stared contemplatively after them, "Aakash wants to discuss a honeymoon with her."

"Hon-honeymoon?"

"Hmm."

He guided her gently, his hand still at her waist, and she felt a thrill go through her with every step they took.

"I have to tell you something," she spoke to break their silence.

"What?"

In the hours between speaking to Anjali-ji in the storeroom and sitting in the car with Lalit-ji, she'd realised that Arnav-ji needed to know about all her dealings with Shyam-ji, no matter how innocent or small.

"Yesterday ... after I made the kheer ..."

If he knew, it couldn't be used against him. If he knew, it may allay the fears in his heart.

If he knew, it might make it easier to trust me.

"When I was at the office?" he prompted after a short silence.

Words kept getting lost on the way to her tongue. Khushi was distracted by the warmth of his hand, so much so that she slipped as they walked. His hand slid under her pallu, the sensation at once foreign and familiar. Electricity flooded her, zipping along her veins and warming her in a rush. And when she took a deep breath, intending to step away from his touch, her traitorous body leaned towards him instead.

Arnav-ji made a sound of approval deep within his chest.

Lalit-ji had parked his car next to Arnav-ji's, and they joined Jiji and Jija-ji in the space between them.

"Bye," Jiji hugged Aakash-ji again.

He stroked her hair, "I'll see you tonight."

Jiji waved to Arnav-ji as she stepped towards the car, leaving them in relative privacy. Khushi reluctantly broke away from her husband.

"We'll talk tonight?" he asked softly.

They stared at one another, barely aware of Jiji and Aakash-ji as they waited in their separate vehicles. Khushi blinked away, nodding slightly, and watched out of the corner of her eye as he stepped towards his car.

"Last night, Chhote proved that he is his father's son."

She stood with her hand on the door handle, heart hammering as she recalled how much the words had hurt him on the morning after their elopement.

No.

She ignored her sister's bewildered cry as she ran around the cars to where Arnav-ji had frozen, seconds from sliding into his seat. He looked up and then took half a step backwards as she slammed into him with a sob.

"Khushi ..."

Her fingers twisted into Arnav-ji's jacket as she huddled against him. He held her loosely, his hands splayed on her back.

"Tell me," he commanded quietly.

Her body shook with another sob.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry.

"I thought," she spoke in a hush, "it might look strange. Jiji and Jija-ji hugged. I thought ... I thought we should ... for them ..."

"Hmm," he hummed, fingers stilling on her back.

I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't mean to ... I would never hurt you.

"I'll ... I'll wait for you tonight," Khushi pressed her eyes closed, inhaling the familiar scent of him.

Another hum as his arms tightened around her, "I'll try to come home early."

And for a moment, she forgot it wasn't real.

I love you. I love you.

I love you.