The morning of the escape..
“You are still thinking about everyone at Shantivan, aren’t you?”
“I..I can’t help it. Everyone will be so worried..”
“I told you, I’ll call them in a while and tell them where we are.”
“But what will they think! We left without completing the rasams! I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”
“I wondered that, too. I know I’m persuasive, but you agreed to come with me sooner than I thought.Why, Khushi”
“I don’t know.”
“There must have been a reason. All these rasams mean so much to you, and yet you came with me, why?”
“Because you are my husband! And making you happy is part of the vows too! Did you think you are the only one who knows the meaning of those wedding vows?”
“But what about the remaining rasams?”
“The rituals that were really important are over now.. I would have liked to be there for the other rasams today, but you really wanted to get away, and so I..”
“We’ll still have the reception tomorrow.”
“Is the reception still on? I thought you didn’t want that, either.”
“I just wanted a break from the endless rituals, Khushi. I wanted to be alone with my wife, is that a crime? And yes, we’ll go back tomorrow in time for the reception.”
“We will? That’s good, but I didn’t even find the time to look for a dress!”
“Your dress is waiting in your closet, don’t worry. I chose this one , too.”
“You did?What does it look like?”
“Just wait till tomorrow.”
“Speaking of clothes, can I get dressed now?”
“Not yet.”
“But I’m feeling cold!”
“Then come closer.”
“How much closer can I get? I’m already lying on top of you!”
“Let’s get a blanket, then.”
“I’ll get it, if only you’ll let me go!”
“I don’t want to.”
“What if I fall sick?”
“You won’t. Trust me. And you’re not going anywhere. I like having you in my arms like this.”
“So you just want me in your arms?”
“Yes, I..”
“We can do that in bed, too.”
“I suppose we can..”
“Does that mean we can get up from the floor now?”
That afternoon..
“That was a delicious lunch!”
“I’m glad you enjoyed that.I need you to keep your energy levels high.”
Khushi blushed, and turned away from him to look around the room.
It was a beautiful, high-ceilinged room with antique furniture, including a carved four-poster bed. Silk drapes on the windows and ancient portraits on the wall gave it an old-world charm, and Khushi had loved it on sight.
“This place is beautiful.What made you think of this?”
“I chose it because no one except the two of us know of it’s existence. Apart from that lawyer, that is.”
“I was shocked when Godwaniji told me about this place. I never knew my mother’s inheritance included a mansion-turned-hotel.”
“It’s in a great location, far from the city. And yet the helicopter ride wasn’t too long, either.”
“Did you see the lake and the gardens outside? They are beautiful! Let’s go there now!”
“We’ll go there later. Now, come here.”
Khushi was startled to find him right behind her, and gasped as he pulled her back against his body.
He pushed her hair away from her neck and placed a soft kiss there.
His hands moved from her waist to cup her breasts, and Khushi realized that he was already aroused.
“Arnav, we can’t stay in here doing this all day!”
“Why not?”
His hands were on her breasts now, and heat rushed through her as her body trembled in anticipation.
“Because..I…”
She lost her train of thought as he turned her around in his arms, the blaze of desire in his eyes burning her where she stood.
“We’ll go there later, I promise. For now, just let me love you.”
She didn’t resist when he kissed her, nor did she pull away when he untied the belt of her bathrobe, which was the only thing she had on.
He lifted her in his arms, carrying her towards the bed, but he didn’t lay her down on it.
She raised a surprised face to his when he leaned her back against the wall next to the bed.
“Arnav?”
He pressed his body into hers as his lips sought hers in a deep, drugging kiss.
He continued kissing her while he discarded his own robe, then pulled her close again.
When they came up for air, he stared for a moment into warm hazel eyes, drowsy with desire.
“Do you know how much I love you?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but never got the chance.
His mouth was on her breasts again, working it’s magic on her sensitized flesh.
Her legs felt like they wouldn’t support her any longer, and she clutched his back for support.
“A..Arnav…I can’t stand any longer..”
“You won’t have to.”
“Wh..what? But then how can we…”
“Let me show you..”
The evening..
“See, I told you it was beautiful out here!”
“That lake was beautiful, and so were the gardens.But why are we on this street now?”
“Because that waiter told me about this Dhaba here that apparently has the best food for miles!”
“Where is it, then? We’ve almost walked for a mile now.”
“We’ll get there. Just enjoy the beautiful weather, Laad Governor!”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Why?”
“Because I..never mind. I actually like that name now. Just a little.”
“Do you like it when everyone calls you Chotey, too?”
“No!”
She laughed.
“Which reminds me, did you call Di and tell her where we are?”
“Yes, I did. She was packing when we spoke.”
“I still can’t believe she’s leaving. And Mami and Nani are going away too!”
“They will leave the day after the reception.”
“It’s unbelievable to think that Nani planned the whole thing!”
“She did. But did I tell you what I just discovered?”
Arnav watched her eyes widen as he told her of the third person involved in the scheme.
“Are you sure? I can’t believe it!”
“I heard it myself. I’ll confront her with the truth tomorrow.”
“I wonder what she’ll do..”
“I don’t know. But it has to be said. Now where is this dhaba?”
“It must be here somewh…Ah, there it is!”
Arnav stared at the dhaba, the group of men at it’s entrance bringing back a memory..
Rage, the likes of which he had never felt before.
A red haze in front of his eyes as he pounded into the man who had dared to touch her.
Only her voice had brought him back from the edge of madness that day.
He looked at her, to find her gaze fixed on him.
He knew that she was thinking of the same thing.
He put his arms around her, drawing her close.
“I’ll never let anything hurt you.”
“I’m not fragile, Arnav.”
“I know. But I want to keep you safe, from everything.”
“I love you.”
“I know that too.”
She pulled out of his arms suddenly.
“But I think I love Butter naans more!”
He laughed as he watched her run towards the dhaba, turning back every so often to see if he was following.
A while later, he was still laughing at the speed with which she was eating.
“Khushi, slow down! There’s no hurry!”
She looked up at him, her cheeks turning pink, and then she lowered her gaze.
“I’m sorry.. I did learn how to eat properly, with a fork and spoon and all that..I don’t know why I forgot..”
Arnav stared at her, appalled at what he had done.
He leaned forward, and raised her chin with one finger.
“Khushi, that’s not what I meant! I just didn’t want you to choke on your food, that’s all!”
“But I did learn how to..”
“I’m sure you did, but you need to do that only when we are with others. With me, you can be whatever you like, and do anything you want, samjhi tum?”
She raised her eyes to his.
“Do you mean that?”
“Yes, I do.”
She smiled slowly, and looked back at her food.
“Khushi, I want you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“I fell in love with a spirited, lively, crazy girl. And I don’t want you to change, not when you are with me. Can you promise me that?”
Her hazel eyes sparkled with tears , and she nodded.
“Now eat up, so we can get back to the hotel.”
“You just want to get back in bed again.”
“In bed? We haven’t been there all day, remember”
“Arnavji!”
She looked around, afraid someone had heard him.
“What? I can say whatever I want to my wife.”
“But not in public!”
“I don’t care where we are. And if you don’t finish your food soon, I will do much more than just talking.”
“Stop it!”
That night..
“Arnav,I think there’s been a mistake.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I remember packing my nightclothes in a small bag, but I can’t find it anywhere.”
“That’s because I left it at home.”
“What?! Why did you do that?”
“Because you don’t need them. Have you forgotten your part of the bargain?”
“But I thought…that was..”
“I told you, didn’t I? I agreed to wear that pagri only if you agreed to never wear anything in bed ever again.”
“Ever? But what if it’s too cold?”
“Then you get as close to me as possible.”
“But I..”
He swung her up in his arms and walked towards the bed.
“And now,I think it’s time we finally tested this bed. What do you think?”
The next morning..
“Arnav, do we have to go back today?”
“I can’t believe you are asking me this. Is this the same woman who wanted to stay back for the rasams?”
“It’s just that…it’s been wonderful here, with just you, and me..and I never want our honeymoon to be over!”
“Who told you this was our honeymoon?”
Khushi sat up, pulling the quilt around herself.
“Its not?”
“Of course not! I only brought you here to get away for a while. We will go on a real honeymoon, just as soon as I wrap up things at the office. Just give me a few days, I’ll have it all planned out.”
She threw her arms around him, her eyes shining with excitement.
“Where will we go?”
“We can go wherever you want.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She kissed him lightly, then turned to step out of bed.
“Where do you think you are going?”
“To start packing, of course.”
“There’s still some time before we have to leave. Come back here.”
“No.”
“What?”
She stepped away, still wrapped in the quilt.
“I”l come back only if you catch me!”
He stepped out of bed, uncaring of his nakedness.
She tried to evade him, but failed, and fell back against him, breathless with laughter.
“You caught me!”
Just before he covered her lips in a kiss, he whispered.
“And I’m never letting you go..”
The Raizada family welcome you to the wedding reception of Mrs and Mr.Raizada.
Shyam stared up at the sign in front of the event hall they had hired for the evening.
He turned to Nani as she came up to him.
“Do you think they will turn up?”
“Saale Saab did call Anjali and tell her he’ll be here..And I don’t think he will miss this. After all, the invitations were sent out days ago, and we are expecting a few politicians and filmstars, so there will be media as well.”
“That’s true.. I hope they come here in time..”
“I’m sure they will.”
Nani and Shyam turned to look at the woman who had joined them as she continued..
“I didn’t get the chance to tell you this, but he knows about me , as well.”
“What? But how..”
“Apparently he overheard me talking to you in the hallway in Shantivan.”
“And what did he say?”
“Just that he would talk to me later. But I’ve decided to talk to him first.I’ll tell him everything. It doesn’t matter now, anyway.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
They were joined by Buaji, who had just arrived.
“Hai re Nandkishore! Khushi is not here yet?”
“Relax, Buaji. I’m sure they will be here any minute..”
A half hour later, a car drew up in front of the venue, and photographers rushed to take pictures.
They didn’t know who it was, but anyone coming to this party in an expensive car like this one was bound to be news-worthy, and they didn’t want to miss the opportunity.
They knew they had hit the jackpot when Arnav Singh Raizada stepped out, his black suit a perfect foil for the woman who stepped out after him.
They scrambled to take pictures of the elusive Mrs.Raizada, who had been kept away from the media glare so far.
They were puzzled for a moment. They had heard the stories of how she was a small town girl who had worked for AR before catching the eye of the tycoon, but this woman looked nothing like that.
She stood beside her husband, elegant in a silver-grey saree, the shine of the diamonds at her throat competing with the sparkle of the crystals on her saree.
She looked poised, sophisticated and beautiful, and they knew her photos would be on page three of all newspapers tomorrow.
She looked overwhelmed for an instant, but as her husband bent his head to speak to her, her face transformed.
She looked up at him, her smile bedazzling them.
Everyone who saw them at that moment knew one thing for certain.
The rumors about her being a gold-digger and trapping him into marriage were false.
This woman looking up at her man was in love.
And her love was returned in full measure.
_________________________
Hours later, Arnav helped Khushi off the stage.
She looked exhausted, and he knew he was partly to blame.
She had hardly gotten any sleep the last few nights, and this evening had tired her too.
The line of guests had seemed never-ending, as the who’s-who of Delhi society came in to wish them.
But it was finally done now, and they were on their way to the dining hall.
He saw her eyes light up as she saw her family there, and he took her to them.
“Khushi! How are you, bitiya? “
“Amma!”
The two women hugged each other, and started speaking all at once.
He stepped back, knowing that it was time.
Khushi would be occupied for a few minutes, and he could do what he needed to.
He walked out of the dining hall, and caught her eye immediately.
He continued walking, not stopping until he reached the now empty event hall.
She followed him, coming to a stop when he did.
“I need to tell you something.”
“I don’t want to hear it, unless it’s the truth.”
“You have every right to be angry with me, but can you give me the chance to explain?”
“You can explain all you want. But the fact remains that I trusted you, and you went behind my back to make this plan with Nani and Shyam!”
“We had a good reason to do what we did.”
“I’ve heard that from Nani. And at this point, it really doesn’t matter, either. All I want from you now, is a promise.”
“A promise?”
“Yes, I want you to promise that you will never interfere in my personal life again.”
“What?”
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Love,Lies And Two Weddings? 