Chapter 30: Closer

Khushi

The next evening, Khushi sighed as she leaned back into the pillows scattered on the sitting room sofa. Di looked up from her knitting.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh yes, just uhh ... tired."

Having spent the day cooking, delivering, cleaning and shopping for her dabba service, Khushi had returned home to find the ladies of the household engaged in solitary pursuits. Di was knitting. Jiji and Nani-ji were choosing a blanket for Di's Rajkumari. Mami-ji was eating a salad while flipping through a magazine.

"Didn't Chhote let you sleep last night?" Di leaned over to whisper.

"Di!" Khushi gasped as he cheeks instantly heated, "What are you ... I'm tired because I worked all morning."

And because Arnav-ji woke me up early to kiss me again.

But Di didn't need to know that.

Nor did she need to know about the kiss he'd bestowed at the front door, his fingers roaming across her body and a groan on his lips as he reluctantly pulled away.

"My mistake," Di's smirk was uncannily like her brother's, but she was diverted by Jiji before she could continue her teasing.

"We've chosen this one for your Rajkumari," Jiji handed over a sky blue blanket, "and I'll embroider it for her."

"Oh, Payal-ji, this is wonderful. She'll love it! I'll wrap her in it when we bring her home."

Khushi leaned forward eagerly, "Jiji is the best at embroidery! People used to especially ask for her saris when she was helping with Bua-ji's business."

"We are lucky to have such talented bahus," Nani-ji nodded.

"But I wish I could do that," Khushi indicated to Di's knitting.

"Would you like to learn?" Di laughed.

"Yes, please!"

Mami-ji sniffed her disapproval, "When will she have time to learn? Busy as she is with her bijjiness."

"I'm only gone from the house in the morning," Khushi smiled in reply, "I'll learn in the afternoons and evenings. Thank you for offering to teach me, Di."

"It will come in handy when you and Chhote have your own children."

Blushing, Khushi stretched for a magazine and hid behind it while the others giggled and tittered. She only emerged when her sister addressed her.

"Oh, Khushi, I just remembered. Amma called this morning while you were out and she sends her love."

"Is Babu-ji alright?!" her pulse quickened in fear.

"Yes, yes, he's fine. She said they're taking him to the specialist tomorrow for a regular checkup."

"Oh."

Further conversation was prevented by the ring of the doorbell. Khushi's pulse skittered as an awareness crept over her.

"Must be Chhote and Aakash," Di craned her neck as Hari Prakash-ji opened the door.

Sure enough, the men entered the sitting area shortly, both looking as tired as Khushi felt.

"Aakash-bitwa," Mami-ji slid her plate and magazine away, "you look unwell!"

Aakash-ji flopped onto a vacant seat, "No, Maa, just exhausted."

"Khoon-Bh ... I mean, Payal-bitiya, make him some chai, will you?"

"Yes, Maa-ji. Arnav-ji, do you want anything?"

"HP is already making my coffee," he responded with a tired smile, "and he'll prepare the tea as well."

"Lucky bahus indeed," Mami-ji muttered, "Never have to lift a finger!"

"You're a bahu of this household too," Nani-ji retorted coldly, "and I am yet to see you lifting a finger."

There was a beat of uncomfortable silence, into which Arnav-ji spoke softly.

"Khushi?"

He indicated for her to approach with a tilt of his head, and whispered to her when she was close enough.

"HP is bringing me some fruit and my headache pills. My sugar is a little low but I don't want to worry Di."

"Oh," she peered at her husband in concern.

"I'm fine. Just sit with me."

"What's all this whispering?" Di had noticed, "What are you saying that can't be heard by us?"

"That he needs a head-massage!" Khushi said brightly.

"What the—?!"

"Just sit here," she guided him to the sofa, "and let me handle the rest!"

"No!"

"Yes!" she said firmly.

In a few short minutes, Om Prakash-ji had delivered some oil and she was positioned behind the sofa.

"Khushi, stop it!" he swatted her hand away.

"Just eat your fruit," she popped a piece into his mouth, silencing his protest.

He quieted as she worked. The general murmur of conversation swept over them but Khushi paid it no mind, her thoughts focused on the man slowly falling asleep in front of her.

That is, until Nani-ji directed a question to Jiji.

"Payal-bitiya, those specialists you mentioned. Do they think your Babu-ji will recover soon?"

"Yes," Jiji answered, "They're happy with his progress."

"How can your Amma and Bua-ji afford to see them?" Mami-ji asked snidely, "Surely her sari bijjiness is not doing that well?"

Khushi cleared her throat, "The hospital said it's covered as part of their treatment, Mami-ji. There's nothing more to pay."

"That sounds ..." Di frowned, "I don't understand."

Arnav-ji stood without warning, disappearing upstairs without even glancing towards her. Khushi's heart sank.

Oh Devi Maiyya, I was only trying to make his headache better.

"Oh," Di muttered, "Now I understand."

And slowly, Khushi understood as well.

She found him standing at the poolside, hands in his pockets as he contemplated the water.

"Arnav-ji?"

She took a deep breath and stepped forward when he didn't respond.

"Will you answer a question?"

"Don't do this, Khushi," he turned away. "Not right now."

She took a few small steps forward. "Are you ... are you paying Babu-ji's bills?"

"I don't want to talk about this."

"But I want to talk about it."

They stood at an impasse for several moments.

"Babu-ji took me in when I was eight years old," her voice wavered, "I was scared, I didn't know what was happening. He would take me to his shop and let me sit by him as he made all sorts of sweets. When I was ten, he let me make jalebi for the shop for the first time. They sold before half the day was done."

She reached for Arnav-ji's hand as he turned.

"I left him. How could I leave him? He would never leave me."

"Khushi ... that's ..." he tugged her closer. "You know that's not what happened."

"He used to say that he wouldn't look for a groom when the time came, that he always wanted me by his side. I said ..." she gave a watery giggle, "I said I didn't want to get married anyway."

He folded her gently against his chest, "Ssshhh."

"I wish," her words were muffled against his clothes, "I wish he could've given me away. What we did ... he didn't get to give me away."

Arnav-ji inhaled deeply, "I'm paying for his treatment and medicine, yes. I asked them not to tell you. I just wanted you to have one less thing to worry about."

"Why?"

He stood in silence, though his arms tightened around her.

"Why?" she asked more forcefully.

"Let me do this. It's my duty as his damaad."

Be careful, don't push him away.

And yet, she ignored the warning of her heart.

"But you weren't. Not then."

Abruptly, Arnav-ji released her to walk to the other side of the poolside. They stood in the darkness with only the light of the stars to illuminate them. Khushi waited ... and waited ... and started to retreat inside with a sigh.

"What do you want me to say?" he asked when her hand was on the glass door.

She froze as he continued, moving towards her.

"What do you want to hear, Khushi? That I wanted ... That there was a moment when I saw your family accept Aakash, that I thought ... I wished ..."

He was standing behind her when he finished, his hands a cage as they came to rest on the glass.

Arnav-ji met her eyes in the reflection, "What do you need to hear?"

That you want me. That you want a future with me.

That you love me.

But she found that the memory of his words the night before — "You're in my every breath, Khushi." — were enough.

"Nothing," she said softly, "There are just so many things I still don't know about you."

She turned and burrowed into his chest to breathe him in, "Thank you, for Babu-ji."

He held her, humming contentedly for a moment before speaking, "No. Thank me properly."

Khushi peered up, "What?"

"I don't need your thanks," he murmured, "but if you want to thank me then you should do so as a wife."

Frowning, she began to ask exactly what he meant when he pressed the pad of his thumb to her bottom lip.

"As a wife," his voice was low as he stroked his thumb across her flesh.

She nodded slowly, her heart pounding, and waited until he'd removed his thumb to lean up and press her lips to his. He seemed to shudder before returning her kiss, his fingers tightening where they gripped her as he groaned. He leaned into her, so close that she felt his body swell brazenly against her stomach. His kisses trailed from her mouth to her jaw and neck as his hands moved to her chest. Feeling brave, she unbuttoned his waistcoat and smoothed her hands over his shirt. Arnav-ji helped by loosening his tie and unbuttoning the shirt. His gaze was hungry. Warmth pooled between her legs.

He guided her mouth back to his, his kiss both demanding and reassuring in a way she hadn't thought possible. The heat of his body contrasted with the cool glass at her back as he pressed her further into the door. She explored the hard planes and muscle of his body, nails scratching his skin and making him groan. He returned to her neck, sucking gently at her skin, and she arched as his hand found her breast. She muffled a moan against his shoulder.

"Ah," he said softly, "I see."

She became heavy and achy as he focussed on her breasts, seeming to know exactly what she needed. His mouth worked lower, tracing her mangalsutra before teasing the neckline of her dress. He noticed when her legs trembled, threatening to give out, and slid his knee between hers to prop her up. Her nails dug into his skin as her hands curled inwards. The exquisite heat built, and her thoughts froze on a shocking, outrageous thought.

That he should touch her there, where she ached and throbbed the most.

As if he'd heard, Arnav slid a hand to the small of her back and pushed her closer, the angle such that his body pressed against hers with agonising deliciousness. It was only when his fingers traced the zipper on her kameez that Khushi regained the ability to think. She gently pulled away.

"Babe?" he buried his face against her neck, breathing hard.

"We're outside," Khushi whispered, "and someone will come looking for us for dinner."

Chuckling, Arnav-ji grazed his teeth on her earlobe before speaking against her cheek.

"Let's go inside then," he lowered his tone suggestively. "It will be more comfortable."

She tried to hide as heat rose to her cheeks. He relented.

"Okay," he pressed a kiss to her temple. "But you go downstairs first. I have a situation I need to deal with."

She gave a small nod and turned in his embrace, pushing open the sliding door before stepping inside. Her body protested the loss of his warmth.

"Khushi."

Turning, she saw that he'd followed her inside.

"You said there are still many things you don't know about me. You only need to ask. I'll tell you everything."

He traced a finger across her cheek before lifting her mouth to his. The kiss was gentle and sweet.

"Go," he said against her lips. "Or I won't let you leave all night."

Her body sang as she left their bedroom.