Walk the Line - Chapter 56

Another wedding day, in another country. Miles away from where they had first become husband and wife. Right where they had first become man and woman. 

Arnav Singh Raizada woke up to a sense of loneliness in bed. For the past few days, he’d gotten used to waking up next to his wife. But last night, Khushi had stayed back at the farmhouse, while he and his immediate family had come back to Raizada mansion. Nani had insisted they not see each other the day of the wedding, although he’d found a way to get around that. It had been a week since they had come back from the US, a week in which his sister had gone literally ballistic trying to put together an intimate wedding at the farmhouse, with Dilip trying to slow her down what with the baby bump getting bigger by the day. Today was the second marriage for them, with all the honor and traditions that a wedding ceremony holds in India.

The week had gone by very fast. Everyone seemed to understand that they were newlyweds and the jokes were endless. But no one seemed to understand that as newlyweds they also wanted to have some time to themselves. Khushi was always surrounded by his female relatives, for some reason, and frustration would gnaw at him, sometimes to the point where he just wanted to grab her and drag her to their room, and make love to her till they were both senseless. It was only in the privacy of their bedroom at the end of the day, that they could breathe a sigh of relief, and just be with each other, making love and talking usually till the rosy hues of dawn started tinting the skies.

Last night though, had been bad. He hadn’t been able to fall asleep, finally calling her up and hitting the little Facetime button on his iPhone. Thank goodness, he’d gotten her one, too.

‘Are you going to come on a horse?’ she’d asked him.

He smirked at her and retorted, ‘I’ll ride Shelby and carry you off her on her back.’

She blushed at that, remembering how that day had ended. He loved that she could still blush, even with their new found intimacy.

‘Your nose is red,’ he whispered.

‘Idiot,’ she retorted.

He smiled at the memory, they’d finally fallen asleep when his phone had started dying on him.

***

It was time for him to get ready to leave for the ceremony. He struggled with the buttons on the sherwani his sister had insisted on his wearing, and which he knew Khushi had picked out.

Opening his wardrobe to get out his cologne, he saw how filled it was with her clothes as well as his, the colorful dresses and suits in sharp contrast to the monochromatic hues of his wardrobe, and he smiled. Well, she had to have her clothes somewhere! But he was going to need more wardrobe space soon!

He opened the safe and took out the little blue velvet box lying in it. Opening it, he picked up the bracelet inside. It was a bracelet, laced with diamonds, in looping knots, with a ruby in the center of each knot. It was one of a kind jewelry designed by him and part of a set - her wedding set. He tucked the box into his pocket.

He’d given his sister a surprise when he’d told her that he didn’t want Khushi to go buying a wedding outfit. Anjali had been outraged at first, until he told her he’d organized it already.

This morning, a courier had arrived for him. A large case was handed over and he signed for it, taking it up to his room, after asking her to come with him.

‘What is it, Chotey?’ she had followed him in.

‘Di. I didn’t want Khushi to wear something bought from a store. This is for her,’ and handed over the light case to her.

She opened the box curiously, laying it on the bed, noticing the AR Fashion house logo on top. Inside was the most beautiful lehenga set that she had ever seen. And jewelry boxes. He picked one up, opened it and pocketed it. A smaller box sat inside as well, and as she went to open it, he put his hand on his sister’s and said, ‘it’s .. um... ‘ feeling the heat rise in his throat.

‘It’s what?’ his sister was really curious.

‘It’s everything she needs to get dressed in,’ he rushed out awkwardly.

Her eyes opened in dawning realization and a bit of embarrassment as well. ‘Oh!’ All the boxes were inscribed with the AR logo, including a shoe box. ‘You designed all this?’ she was amazed.

He nodded his head. She tilted her head and looked at him. ‘How long have you known?’ she asked softly, cupping his face in her hand.

‘Since San Francisco,’ he answered honestly.

She raised her eyebrows at that. Her brother moved fast, for sure. He liked something and he really went for it! But she was whole-heartedly behind this decision of his. It was the best decision of his life.

*****

The farmhouse had been decorated with lights. The inner courtyard was completely covered by a marquee, except the center, which had been raised and done like a gazebo, decorated with white and red flowers. This was to be the mandap, where the bride and groom would walk around the sacred fire as they took their marriage vows. Only friends and relatives had been invited and the crowd of fifty or so people would be witnessing the marriage of Arnav Singh Raizada with Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada. The ever-faithful Aman had coaxed him into letting one photographer in, Joel - a professional fashion photographer and also one they could trust to not leak anything to the press. Only the pictures selected by them would be published.

Arnav stood at the steps leading to the mandap, somehow feeling a bit nervous as he waited for Khushi to come out for the varmala.

Lavanya, Akash and NK stood behind him, looking on, as finally a hush went over the crowd. Khushi walked out of her room, with her mother and her sister on either side. Most of the women had tears in their eyes at the picture she made. Lavanya caught her breath when she saw what Khushi was wearing.

It was the wedding dress. The skirt was a midnight blue. The bottom edges were the raw glory of the morning sun. Sun rays shot upwards from this horizon. Moons, tiny crescent ones, were patterned in the middle of the skirt. From the waist downwards, a hundred stars showered downwards becoming fewer and fewer as they got to the moons. The blouse – or choli – had stars moving up from the midnight skies of the lower part of both the body and the short sleeves. The colors melded into the morning glory of the deep neckline. Tiny sunrays fingered their way to the bust. The veil was the deep red of sunset, and all it contained were stars. She wore a single chain – sunbursts with a ruby in the center. On hair hair parting was a maang tikka – tiny crescent moons, linked on a chain. And from her ears hung the stars of different sizes unevenly clustered near the collar bone – fewer on top and full at the bottom. A glittering necklace of subursts and stars sat snugly around her neck.

‘Oh my God, NK,’ she whispered, clinging to his arm. ‘ASR designed this himself!’

‘Really?’ he was surprised. ‘When?’ Her put his arm around her hugging her to himself.

‘When they came back from San Francisco, the first time,’ she was almost giddy with excitement. ‘I knew it! I knew it!’

Someone shushed her. The wedding began.

*****

The wedding was over, the photographs were taken, endlessly, according to Arnav. The feasting was done, and while most guests had driven away, the family was still there. Arnav was finally allowed to go to his room. His sister had insisted upon his waiting while they got Khushi ready. He wasn’t prepared for the sight that met his eyes as he entered the room. Candles lit the room, and it was decorated with flowers. The perfume of the candles and the flowers made a heady mix.

What he hadn’t expected was to see her sitting in the center of his bed, which had been covered into a flower bedecked cradle for them, with a center circle of rose petals. The skirt of her dress flared out around her, she sat lightly hugging her knees, her hands resting on them. Bangles covered half her forearms that were decorated in deep mehendi. The veil was draped over her face so that all he could see was her nose and chin and the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the diamonds on her throat and hands and ears catching the candlelight with each breath, reflecting and flashing in the dimness.

She could feel her heart beat accelerate as soon as he closed the door and locked it. Throughout the ceremony she had been so aware of him. Every thing that they had done, his eyes had been glued to her, smiling at her. ‘You look beautiful,’ he’d whispered in her ear as he put on the mangalsutra round her neck. Somehow, this wedding had taken on a meaning of its own. The last time it had been for each other only - but this time, with their families and friends around them, it had been deeper and somehow more emotional for her.

From the corner of her eye, she watched him close and sit on the bed, next to her. He’d blown out the candles leaving only a lamp on the bedside burning, while the moonlight shone in through the windows. She noticed him looking at his hands, before she heard him say with something of a smile in his voice, ‘I didn’t know you were going to be that traditional a bride!’

She went to lift the veil, but he caught her hand. ‘I thought that was my privilege,’ he said softly, carefully taking the veil in both hands, and slowly raising it off her face. Her eyes were dark pools of mystery. He let the veil fall, and then got off the bed, holding his hands out for her. She put her hands in his, allowing him to draw her up off the bed. She stood in front of him, unsure of his mood. His eyes had narrowed as he looked into her eyes. Slowly he took off the maang tika. She stood still as he went around to her back, unhooking the necklace, the backs of his fingers brushing against her nape. He turned her around, and carefully undid her earrings. Her breathing was now getting erratic, his leisurely removal of her jewelry heightening her senses, aware of every breath that fanned across her skin. He lifted her arm and took off her bangles, his eyes intent on his task. He stood in front of her, loosening every pin in her hair, allowing her to feel the warmth of his closeness without touching her. She closed her eyes unable to bear this sensual assault without him touching her.

‘Open your eyes, Khushi,’ he husked. She opened them to see him opening a blue velvet box. He took out a bracelet and raised her right arm to fix the bracelet on it. She looked at him questioningly, as he put it on her. ‘What?’

‘Arnav, we’ve been married for over a week now,’ she said. ‘You already gave me a wedding gift!’

‘I know,’ He hesitated before continuing. ‘Khushi, business is what I do. But this is my craft, what I love to do. And I wanted to do this for you. Something that I had had made only for you. And to see you in that, was very special’

‘You mean you designed this ...?’ she asked him, her arms waving up and down her dress..

He nodded, lips pressed wryly, ‘Yes, I did.’

‘Everything?’

A glint appeared in his eyes. ‘Everything,’ putting special emphasis on the word ‘Every.’

She flung her arms around her neck. ‘Thank you,’ she was smiling, and then a thought struck her. ‘Wait a minute,’ pulling herself out of his arms, ‘EVERY thing?’ He nodded a grin on his face, watching delightedly as a crimson tide swept up her neck and cheeks. She hid her face against his neck, his arms going around her.

‘Khushi?’

‘Mmmm?’

‘You know, I never believed in getting married. I didn’t even believe in love. Now look at me. I’ve gotten married twice - that too, to the same person. And I’m helplessly in love with you,’ he finished in a whisper against her neck, his soft hair brushing against her cheek.

She laughed softly, her skin pale in the moonlight, drawing his eyes to her face. She drew back and looked at him, her eyes glowing with love for him. She couldn’t believe she was here with him, surrounded by him and his love for her. That he loved her like the way he did!

‘I believe in marriage, and love, and I love you, too,’ she whispered.

The smile that had been on his face, broadened. He loved this woman. He would never know why or how. From the moment she’d careened into his chest, she’d made her way into his heart and now he’d have it no other way.

‘Besides,’ she replied, lightly kissing him. ‘How many women get to marry the man they love not once but twice?’

‘Hmmm... let me see,’ he said, punctuating his words with little kisses on her face. Kiss...’Didn’t Elizabeth Taylor,’ ...kiss.. ‘marry Richard Burton,’ .. kiss .. ‘three times?’ ... kiss.

She burst out laughing at that, throwing her head back and allowing it to rip out of her throat. He stared at her mesmerized by her laugh. He’d never heard her laugh like that, her face lighting up, her pearly teeth glistening in the moonlight. His eyes dropped to her throat, inviting him and he couldn’t help himself.

He leant forward and lightly trailed his tongue along her throat. Her laugh stopped in her throat, eyes drifting shut. He kissed her cheek, a long, slow, kiss, taking his time with it. Nuzzling along her jawline till he found the hollow behind her ear. His thumb stroked the hollow behind her other ear at the same time as he kissed her right there. He felt her shudder in his arms, her nails digging into his shoulders.

‘Arnav,’ it was a plea.

Her hands were clutching the collar of his sherwani. Gently he removed them before going to the curtains and drawing them closed. The only light came from a little lamp on the nightstand.

In the dim glow, she looked into his face. The planes were hard, his eyes narrowed with flames of desire in them. He placed his hands on the small of her waist, drawing her closer to him. He wanted to feel her, all of her today, with all of him.

Her fingers were making short work of his sherwani buttons, he shrugged out of it, his lips closing in on her mouth. Unerringly his fingers worked on the ties of her blouse, the doris, swiftly untying them, never letting her mouth go. Bare chested now, he unhooked the clasp at the back of her blouse, drawing it down over her shoulders. revealing the half-cup lacy red bra underneath. Her hands were moving over his chest as he drew back to look at her with heavy-lidded eyes. He bent his head, to laying kisses on the creamy shoulder exposed to his hot gaze. She sighed in pleasure as his hands found the knot to her lehenga’s skirt, untying letting it pool at her feet. He lifted her up in his arms, before gently laying her down on the bed, discarding his uncomfortably tight pants and joining her there. He held her in his arms for a moment, just cuddling her, heart beating against hers.

Drawing back he took a leisurely look down her body, clad only in the red lingerie that he’d designed for her. He stroked her from her waist up, running his palms against the underside of her breasts still encased in the bra, as his mouth came down on the soft swells above it, the soft aureoles peeping through the top, beckoning him. Her legs were tangling restlessly with his, rubbing up them, until he pushed his leg in between hers, feeling the heat from her core against his thigh. His throbbing, aching manhood wasn’t going to be able to take much more of this, he thought. He hooked his hand in her panties, and briefly raised her up to pull them down, tossing it away thoughtlessly.

His mind, his senses, his heart, everything was filled with her. The front clasp of her bra came undone, and her breasts sprang free. She moaned as she felt the cool wind hit her over-heated nipples. He quickly covered one with his mouth, while his palm rubbed little circles on the other, the nipples hard and wanting more. She flipped him over, and kissed him, her tongue clashing with his, the hair curtaining them off from the rest of the world. Hands found his nipples, tweaked them till he groaned with exquisite agony. She was riding his thigh, hips writhing on him, her wetness leaving trails on his burning skin. He slid out from under her, leaving her lying panting on her stomach, the whole of her back exposed like a gorgeous feast in front of his eyes. Quickly shedding his boxers, he got back into bed.

Tonight he wanted to go slow, he wanted to make it last forever, he wanted to give her the best wedding night ever. Brushing his hands along her spine, he kissed the nape of her neck and she shuddered again. Straddling her, he trailed little kisses along her spine. She was clinging to the sheets, as she tried to move beneath him. He moved lower, tasting her skin along the base of her spine, kissing the tattoo, filling his hands with her sweetly rounded derriere. Crouching on his haunches, he tucked his hands under her hips, lifting her, finding her breasts and sliding his hands over them, rolling her nipples until she made one of those throaty sounds. He got harder at that, but breathed deeply to control himself. He lay down gently on top of her, feeling her body, all the way from her neck to his heels, rough velvet to silk.

‘Khushi,’ he could never have enough of her, even saying her name, burning it into her shoulder gave him a satisfaction he hadn’t thought possible!

He rolled over on his side, taking her with him, one hand seeking and find her wet nub, the other wrapped around her breasts as he kissed her nape. He pulled her leg back over his, opening her to him, his hardness sliding between them, rocking against her, but not entering her yet. Not yet.

‘Please,’ she gasped.

‘No, not yet,’ he growled, his fingers finding her nub and stroking it gently, Her hand guided him, giving him the rhythm she wanted, her head flinging back seeking his mouth with hers.

The friction he was generating between her legs made her shiver, the coiling tensions growing inside her belly. She moved faster against his hand, her hips the only part of her moving as he held her immobile with his upper hand, biting on her lips to prevent the cries building up inside her throat.

‘Please ... I need you ... ‘

‘Soon ... soon..’

He flipped her completely on her back, thirsting for the drink that only she could give. His tongue dove inside her, while he removed his hand from her nub, allowing her to rub herself, his hands gripping her hips as he drank from her. She moved faster, deep moans coming with every stroke of his tongue. She was so close. He quickly moved up, sinking himself into her, filling her, feeling her start to come around him.

She closed her eyes, wanting to reach that spot, so close, there were stars bursting inside her eyelids, she screamed his name out once, her back arching off the bed. Both of them helping her come. She fell back panting and felt him again.

He was still inside her, still hard, as he slowly started moving inside her, stroking her sensitive channels, fast and hard now. She removed her hand from herself, but he brought it back between them. ‘Touch yourself,’ he was breathing harshly. Her eyes flew open. ‘Yes, Khushi, touch yourself.’ His right hand kept her left captive, spread out. His left hooked under her back, pulling her hips up higher. She touched herself again, rubbing harder with each of his strokes.

‘Now ... Khushi .. Come .. with ... me,’ he groaned into her neck.

She spiraled out of control, her body flying with his, as the earth shifted under them. Calling him, hearing him call her, holding her as they both flew together. Feeling him pulsing inside her, holding her tight, giving all of himself to her. Slowly they drifted back to earth.

‘What was that?’ she asked drowsily.

‘That was a promise. To you. Forever,’ he said, tucking her close to him, before closing his eyes in exhaustion.

*** 

Hari opened the door to Raizada Mansion, both doors all the way. Anjali, Mami, Nani and Payal stood in front of them, Mama and Dilip bringing up the rear. Anjali had a thaal in her hand, a plate for doing the aarti. Payal had a small brass vessel in her hand, filled with rice and mango leaves.

The hall had been decorated with flowers, and drapes, and lights.

Nani stood smiling in front. ‘Anjali, do the aarti,’ she instructed her granddaughter. Payal placed the small vessel on the floor in front of them, while Mami brought a plate filled with vermillion and water, and placed that on the floor as well.

Anjali marked their foreheads with vermillion - a tika - and did the aarti, sprinkling rice on them, welcoming both to the house.

‘Now tip that vessel over, Khushi’ she said. Khushi put forward her right foot and gently pushed the vessel till it tipped over and the rice spilled on the floor. Then she placed her feet in the plate of vermillion water and lifted her right foot out, placing it on the floor, leaving her mark there, as a symbol of the Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of Prosperity, walking into the house.

And so, Khushi Singh Raizada entered the Raizada mansion for the first time as a daughter-in-law.

Walk the Line - Chapter 55

It was late afternoon when the car drew up at the gates of Raizada Mansion. They opened up and Mohan drove to the portico and parked. 

Arnav looked over at Khushi. ‘You ready?’ She nodded her head, feeling rather nervous. But he seemed calm and composed, and she took her cues from him. They walked hand in hand to the door, and he rang the doorbell.

Hari opened the door, they stepped in and stared in astonishment at the sight that greeted their eyes. The hallway was a buzz of activity. Nani and Mami were standing there chattering about something. A pile of bags stood near the lounge. Akash came in from the kitchen with a big bottle of water, which he set down on a table. Anjali appeared out of nowhere and spotted Hari standing with Arnav and Khushi.

‘Chotey! You’ve arrived!’ she exclaimed. ‘And you brought Khushi with you? Why didn’t you tell us she was coming?’ She came over and gave him a hug. Nani, Mami and Payal came over to them.

‘Di, what’s going on?’ he asked, having dropped Khushi’s hand to hug his sister back. Payal was hugging Khushi as well. ‘Where are you going?’

‘Chotey, we decided to spend the weekend at the farm house. So we’re all going there. We were going to let you know to come over there as well! Hari, take Khushi’s bags to the guest room,’ she instructed, ignoring his attempts to talk. Hari ran off to do her bidding.

Arnav tried to get in a word sideways, but Nani cut him off, as she hugged him as well. ‘Chotey, we were expecting you a little later. We had told Hari to tell you to come to the farm house, too. But now that you’re here, why don’t you join us later? Freshen up and come over.’ She turned to Khushi, said as an afterthought, ‘Khushi, welcome back. You’re coming to the farm house as well.’

‘But, Nani-’ he tried again.

‘Chotey, we’re already delayed. We’ll leave now, and you both follow us,’ Nani said.

Hari ran in with Khushi’s bags which he took to the guest room. He came back and picked up the family’s bags and took them out to the car.

‘Nani, we have something to tell you,’ he tried again.

Mami waved a hand in front of his face. ‘Arnav, you can tell us at leisure once you both come to the farm house. We’re getting late. Come Akash, Payal,’ she called her son and daughter-in-law, who dutifully followed her out.

Within minutes the hallway was empty, with Arnav and Khushi standing there staring at the door closing behind their backs.

‘What the hell just happened?’ he ran his fingers through his hair, looking completely baffled. ‘Did you tell Payal?’

Khushi shook her head as surprised as he was, ‘no. She was going on about how fun the weekend was going to be!’

They both stared at each other and reluctant smiles came on their faces.

‘I guess we’ve got to go to the farm house,’ he said, chuckling softly. He put his arms around her. ‘Although the idea of you and me in an empty house is much more appealing right now,’ he murmured in her ears, before kissing her thoroughly.

‘Go and pack something for the weekend, and freshen up. The sooner we tell them, the better,’ he sighed coming up for air. She nodded, her knees feeling distinctly wobbly after that soul-searing kiss, leaning against his chest, taking huge gulps of air. They stayed that way for a bit, before moving apart. ‘Come up to my room when you’re ready,’ he said.

She showered and changed into a pair of jeans, and a powder blue shirt, moccasins and a spritz of D&G. Packing her bag didn’t take her much time either. She picked it up and headed to his room. She knocked and waited before pushing open the door to let herself in. It was after all, her husband’s room although he hadn’t answered, and the sound of the shower running in the bathroom told her why. A packed weekend bag stood beside the bed, and she put hers down next to it. She looked around the room and saw the music system that she hadn’t seen there before. It was state-of-the-art and included a dock for an iPod. Had he got that music system installed because he knew how much she loved listening to music? She looked around and noticed the speakers hidden in the nooks of the room. She wasn’t aware of him coming out of the bathroom and watching her examining the system.

‘Like it?’ she spun around at the husky tone, her eyes widening at the picture in front of her.

He stood there bare-chested, a pair of warm ups slung low on the hips, the vee of his pelvises pointing her eyes downward. Her gaze traveled up the rock-hard abs, the immaculately sculpted pectorals, the corded neckline to his jaws and eyes that had turned into dark, molten caramel. He came across to her, hooking his hand behind her head and pulling her close. Her hands went up to his chest stroking it, feeling the velvety smoothness of his skin, her nostrils filling with the smell of his freshly-showered skin.

He waited watching her, allowing her to explore his body how she wanted to. He gave her the freedom to run her hands all over him, only his narrowing eyes and his slightly erratic breathing giving away the effect she was having on him.

‘I like it,’ she said softly.

He leant forward and lightly trailed his tongue along her throat. Her eyes drifted shut. He kissed her cheek, a long, slow, kiss, taking his time with it. Nuzzling along her jawline till he found the hollow behind her ear. His thumb stroked the hollow behind her other ear at the same time as he kissed her behind one, his tongue mimicking his thumb. He felt her shudder in his arms, her nails digging into his shoulders.

‘Arnav,’ her hoarse whisper was a plea.

He drew back and looked at her. It never failed to arouse him to see her like that, head thrown back, eyes dark with passion, lips begging to be kissed, the high flush of desire on her cheekbones. He leaned in again and kissed her, a slow, sensual, mind-boggling, knee-weakening kiss, that began with soft butterfly touches to her lips, deepened with his mouth, and seared them both as their tongues met, mouths open wanting to take each other into themselves. Right now though, they needed to make a move if they wanted to reach the farm house before dark. He drew back and softly kissed her again before letting her go. ‘Tonight,’ he promised them both. ‘We’ll finish this tonight.’

****

It was just turning dusk when they finally turned off the dirt road leading to the farm house. The two dogs came running around the corner, before he’d even stopped the car. They spent a little time with the dogs, petting them and playing with them, before heading inside.

‘Hari,’ he called, the servant having come earlier with the rest of the clan to help Uttam with the household chores. ‘Hari,’ when he appeared, ‘where’s everybody?’ he asked.

‘By the pool,’ the servant replied.

‘Get our bags out and put them in my room,’ he instructed handing over his keys. Hari nodded and went to do his bidding. He took Khushi’s hand in his and they both headed out to the swimming pool.

‘There they are!’ said Mami, spotting the two of them. ‘Here come the lovebirds.’ she snickered softly. Her mother-in-law gave her a reproving look, but smiled as she watched her grandson walking over to them, holding firmly onto the girl next to him, who was discreetly trying to wriggle out of his grasp. She noticed Khushi whisper something to Arnav, who bent his head in to listen to her and then said something to her very softly. Everyone pretended they hadn’t seen the exchange.

‘Bro, Khushi, you guys want drinks?’ Akash stood up heading to the bar area.

‘Yes. A mango juice would be nice, and Khushi?’ he asked her finally letting her hand go.

‘Mango juice for me, too,’ Khushi said, heading over to Payal and sitting down next to her, pretending she didn’t see the glare that he sent her way.

Akash brought over their drinks and handed them over. Conversation hadn’t stopped while this little exchange was going on, Anjali prattling along about something or the other, Dilip interjecting every once in a while. Evidently, Arnav’s brother-in-law had also decided to join them for this outing. There was an air about the family, he wasn’t sure what it was, but they seemed to be suppressing something. He looked across at Khushi and noticed that she was following the conversations around them, joining in and chatting with everybody at ease, munching away from the plate in her hand. He suddenly felt hungry just watching her eat. But they still had to tell the family about the wedding. He was contemplating how to bring this topic up, when hunger pangs got him again.

Leaning forward, he put his glass down on the table, picked up a plate and put some food on it. He placed the plate on a table next to him, and picked up his glass with his left hand. The light from around the pool caught the ring on his finger.

‘Chotey, what is that?’ asked Anjali. ‘You’re wearing a ring? When did you get one?’

He stopped, the little mushroom filled puff-pastry half way to this mouth.

Payal piped up, ‘Khushi, this is such a beautiful ring! Is this your engagement ring? But what’s this other ring?’ She was holding Khushi’s left hand in hers, refusing to let it go despite the surreptitious tugging on Khushi’s part.

Khushi looked at Arnav helplessly. He put down the puff pastry and walked over to her. Except a hand on his arm stopped him.

It was his sister. ‘Won’t you ask us why we decided to come to the farm house this weekend?’ she asked.

He stopped, puzzled by the question, shaking his head, no. He didn’t have a clue. There was a reason?

‘Chotey, we know that you and Khushi are engaged, but you can’t live with her without getting married, you know. So we’ve decided that you are going to get married next month. What will society say if we have a young, unmarried girl staying under our roof?’ completely ignoring the open-mouthed expression on her brother’s face as she continued. ‘So we’ve decided that she will stay here with Payal and Akash while you go back to Delhi.’ He turned around to look at his wife, staring at him with something like panic in her eyes. ‘You’ll get time to meet with her, get to know her a little better, of course’ she smiled at him chirpily.

‘Di, I won’t ..’ the words were strangled in his throat. He tried again, ‘I CAN’T get married.’

At his words, his grandmother and his aunt wailed loudly and covered their faces with the free ends of their sarees, their shoulders shaking with loud sobs. Payal got up and turned around, her back to her sister shaking with sobs, too? Khushi looked bewildered at this sudden turn of events. He looked around at everybody. His brother was studiously studying his drink, while his uncle too had turned away.

‘Can’t or won’t, Chotey? As it is, you’re engaged to Khushi. You have to marry her, but you have to follow the rasams.You won’t do this much for your sister, Chotey?’ his sister was asking him, tears leaking through her eyes, her slender frame shaking. His brother-in-law also had his head bent, but that was only a tribute to his wife’s Oscar worthy performance.

‘Di, I can’t,’ he finally said. ‘We’re already married!’ he was expecting a different reaction, all he got were louder wails from his aunt and his grandmother, while everybody kept their same stance with no change. He pulled Khushi up from her seat, and tucked her into his arm, ‘I’m already married, Di,’ a little softer. ‘To Khushi.’

At which point, the whole group erupted! Mami and Nani put down their saris, and he realized they’d been howling with laughter. Payal staggered back to the couch, holding onto Akash as they collapsed with mirth; and his sister doubled up with laughter holding on to her baby bump, her husband holding her up, while his uncle guffawed and slapped his thighs!

‘What the?! It’s not funny, you guys,’ he was trying to shout above the cacophony. It was a good five minutes before everybody calmed down and finally everybody was sitting down again. Arnav sat with Khushi facing Nani, his hold firm on her hand.

‘Chotey, did you think that we wouldn’t come to know that you and Khushi had gotten married already? NK told us everything. He even sent us the video link so we could watch it!’

He made a mental note to quench his thirst for NK’s blood the next time he saw him, and perhaps a few broken bones would be added bonus, he thought!

His attention was drawn back to his grandmother who was speaking to him, ‘Chotey, this was a very quick decision you made. You never showed any interest in getting married before, and now this? Are you happy about it?’

He held his grandmother’s hands and looked into her wise eyes. ‘It’s true, Nani. I never wanted to get married. But Khushi .. believes in this, traditions, marriage, all of it. I wanted to do it for her.’ He turned to his wife, the look exchanged between them speaking volumes. ‘Yes, I am happy, Nani,’ he said.

She understood what her inarticulate grandson was trying to tell her. She put her hand on his cheek. ‘You did the right thing, Arnav. We always wanted Khushi to be a part of this family, and now she is.’ She saw the love for his wife in his eyes and wiped a tear from her own.

‘Chotey, Khushi, my dears, these old eyes have waited such a long time to see the day when my grandson brought his wife home. Now today, you both are sitting in front of me, and I have so much happiness in my heart. I couldn’t have chosen better for Chotey myself,’ she stroked Khushi’s head and said. ‘But I have a request for you.’

‘Anything, Nani,’ he said.

‘Would you two get married again the way our traditions dictate? NK told us that it was only a civil ceremony. I am not asking for all the pre-wedding rituals, but I would like to see the daughter-in-law of this family with vermilion in her parting and a mangalsutra - the wedding chain - around her neck, that is put on during the ceremony. I would like you both to take the wedding vows as your ancestors have taken, Chotey,’ she finished with tear-filled eyes.

He was startled at his grandmother’s words. He looked across as Khushi, a question in his eyes. She looked at him and nodded, just the tiniest bit. His grandmother didn’t miss this little exchange and happiness filled her heart. Her lonely little grandchild had chosen wisely. This girl was indeed the one meant for him.

He smiled at his grandmother, ‘as you wish, Nani,’ he said.

‘Khushi, tomorrow your parents are arriving,’ Anjali put her hand on her sister-in-law’s face. ‘We told them how bad we felt that we couldn’t be there for the wedding.’

‘So they are coming here so that we can have the religious ceremony at least. The varmala and the pheras.’ - the exchange of garlands and the wedding vows. ‘This is why we came to the farmhouse,’ smiled Anjali.

‘Can we just have the marriage next week?’ Arnav asked, his voice was strained.

Nani smiled and said, ‘yes, of course, we can. It will be a bit rushed, but it can be done.’

‘And now, I have tons of arrangements to make. Must get hold of the caterers, the decorators-’ his Di was going on until he interrupted.

‘Stop! Di. Do we have to have the big wedding thing?’ The madness he’d been trying to avoid all along. ‘Can’t we just have a small, intimate affair?’

‘What?!’ exclaimed his aunt. ‘And give up a perfectly good chance for celebration? We want to party, Arnav. It’s your wedding. Besides have you asked Khushi what she wants?’

He bent his head, trying hard to keep his temper under control. It was for this reason alone that he had gotten married quietly in San Francisco. None of this zoo-cum-circus! He felt like a side-show freak! Her hand was soft and cool through the thin cotton of the sleeve covering his arm. In truth, he felt a little bad because he hadn’t ever asked her what she wanted. He looked into her eyes. They were sparkling with laughter at his predicament. Now she understood just what it was he’d been trying to avoid. The heat of his anger died away.

Anjali looked over at her and tried to convince her to have the BIG wedding, ‘Khushi, don’t let Chotey tell you what you want. If you want a big wedding, just say so!’

‘Actually, Di,’ she hesitantly used Arnav’s way of addressing his sister. ‘I think his idea is good. It’s about taking our vows together,’ she looked into his eyes, ‘with just people that we love and who, in turn, love us, around us.’

His hand came up, tightly gripping the hand she’d placed on his arm. He was thrilled to hear her stand up for him, but more thrilled to hear her articulate so easily what he’d been wanting to say.

‘Well then,’ Di was pouting. ‘You tell us, where do you want to have the wedding? Back home or in a temple?’

Once more they looked at each other, a secret smile for their little secret, before he turned to his sister and said, ‘right here.’

‘The farmhouse?’ Anjali thought for a moment and then clicked her fingers. ‘You know, not a bad idea at all, Chotey!’ she smiled her approval. ‘Sometimes, you really have some good ideas!’

His mouth fell open much to everyone’s amusement.

***

Walk the Line - Chapter 54

Khushi awoke to a gorgeous California day. It was still early and the sunlight was still tinged with pink and gold tints of early morning. She could see the clouds in the sky - white clouds with pink-gold edges floating by. It was a beautiful day. It was her wedding day.

Her wedding day! She sat up in bed. Holy guacamole! She had to hurry, she thought, turning to look at the clock. Five-thirty? That’s it?! She lay back down, her heart slowing down from the sudden rush. A smile lifted the corners of her lips as she thought of the past week.

It had been a whirlwind of activity, getting ready for a wedding in five short days.

Arnav had been adamant about it. They were getting married here and she was going home with him. He wasn’t leaving the US without her. Her parents had initially proposed setting a date a few months from now. He’d told them no. Politely but firmly. No. The purpose of a long engagement was to get to know each other. As far as he and Khushi were concerned they knew each other pretty well. And living on two different continents for months on end wasn’t going to get them any closer. So it was better that they married and went back, and got to know each other better by living together as husband and wife.

Her parents had given in, not because of his infallible logic, but mostly because they could sense how impatient he was to begin his life with their daughter.

She looked at her engagement ring and smiled. They’d spent as much time as they could together, apart from going to the county office to get the license, getting an appointment with a JP to officiate at their wedding. It would have to be a civil wedding, mainly because of the legal issues. But she was determined to get as much as she could out of it.

When she’d told him she’d wanted to wear a lehenga for the wedding, he’d picked one out from the new Madrid-Raizada collection. It was hanging in her closet now, one of the few things left hanging there. Most of her clothes had been packed, ready to go with her, although he’d made husbandly grumbling noises at the amount of luggage she had. Typical male! She snorted with laughter.

She got out of bed and took out her faded swimsuit, and a toweling robe, making her way quietly to the swimming pool. Ten laps would ease out the butterflies in her tummy that refused to settle down. She finished her laps and showered, before coming down to find her parents sitting with their morning cups of coffee in the kitchen.

‘Good morning, my darling,’ said her mother, pouring her a cup of coffee. ‘Excited?’

‘Just a little bit. It still doesn’t feel real,’ she said honestly.

‘I know,’ her mother put a hand over hers. She looked at her daughter for a minute and said, ‘I am so happy for you, Khushi. Arnav is a good man. There is something very honest about him. Something extremely lovable. Be a good wife to him, okay?’

She nodded her head, swallowing down a lump in her throat. Her father put his arm around her and hugged her. ‘He loves you a lot, Khushi. And I know you have a lot of love to give him,’ he kissed her forehead. ‘Be happy both of you,’ for a minute he lay his hand on her head.

The tears threatened to spill over as she hugged her father back. ‘I’m going to miss you all, so much,’ she said.

‘And we’ll miss you, too,’ her mother whispered, joining the family hug, wiping her eyes. ‘But at least we know our daughters will be there together. You’ll have each other for support.’

For a long moment they all stood there, then her father drew back, ‘and I think if you feel homesick, Arnav will personally see to it that you come back here.’ She nodded sniffing.

‘Come on, Khushi,’ her mother said. ‘Time to start getting ready. The hair dresser will be here any minute.’ She nodded, picked up the cup of coffee and went upstairs.

****

It was two o’clock in the afternoon. Time for the ceremony to start. The wedding was taking place at the Dutts, the backyard having been transformed into a small private area, shielded from outside view by fences created by tons of plants and flowers. The gazebo was decorated with flowers - red roses and golden tulips and sunflowers - and ribbons.

Three rows of chairs faced the gazebo, occupied by close friends and relatives of the Guptas and the Dutts, as well as Rahul’s family who had been invited to the wedding. While Arnav had wanted a quick wedding in the court, the Guptas had insisted on it, their family having missed Payal’s wedding altogether. To Khushi’s surprise, Arnav had agreed to it.

He had however, insisted that he wanted to surprise his own family by taking Khushi home. So nothing had been told to them. Besides, if word got out in the local media, he knew how bad it would be once they go there. So, a tight lid was kept on any news leaking out to India, the ever faithful Aman having been given strict instructions to keep anything and everything out of the press.

Arnav stood at the gazebo, dressed in a grey Dolce & Gabbana suit, a white shirt and a deep blue Hermes cravat, with a pair of black Battistoni leather wingtip Balmorals. NK stood behind him as his best man. The JP in front of them, a kindly white-haired gentleman in his sixties with twinkling blue eyes, in his black robes.

Arnav was thinking of the conversation that he’d had with his sister on Monday.

***

‘Chotey, are you serious?’ she was thrilled.

‘Yes, Di,’ he said patiently, but with a smile. ‘I did ask her, and we’re engaged.’

‘I can’t believe this. You finally did it!’ she was squealing with excitement, calling Nani on the phone to listen in. She put him on speaker and said, ‘Chotey, Payal, Nani and Mami are also here. I just told them the news.’

‘Chotey,’ it was his Nani. ‘I am so happy for you. You are bringing her home with you, I hope?’

‘Nani, once I get back I’ll explain everything,’ he avoided the question.

‘What is there to explain, Chotey? When are you both planning to get married?’

‘As soon as possible, Nani,’ he said. ‘I don’t see any reason to wait, is there?’ grinning, knowing they would agree with him.

‘Yes, yes, Chotey. It must be soon,’ said Nani.

‘I have so much planned for your wedding, Chotey,’ said his sister. ‘I need to start making arrangements today itself!’

He could hear Payal and Mami exclaiming in the background. ‘We’ll make all the arrangements when I get back, Di.’ He was finally able to hang up on their excited chatter. It was exactly this circus that he had wanted to avoid. If the marriage was a fait accompli, there was no question of all the major arrangements that he knew his sister would be making. He hated a fuss, and his sister reveled in it.

***

He felt rather than saw her, and turned around.

NK turned around too, and soon everybody was craning their necks to look at the bride.

The afternoon sun reflected off the white carpet strewn with rose petals, down which she walked. She wore a pale sea-green dress with a layered skirt and a long train. It was designed to look almost like a lehenga, with silver zardozi work on it. The shallow neckline ended on the tips of her shoulders, flowing out into long sleeves made of see-through chiffon, with tiny crystals embroidered into it, that caught the sun’s rays and sparkled like diamonds. Her engagement ring was the only ring she wore. The sun burst pendant lay gleaming against her throat. Bangles covered her arms, and a veil, a deeper shade of sea-green, covered her head. She carried a bouquet of white flowers in her hand.

Arnav felt his heart skip a beat when he saw her walking towards him. She raised her eyes to his and smiled, a brilliant smile that dazzled his mind. As she came close, he put out his hand, she put her hand in it, handing over the bouquet to Nia who stood by as matron of honor. They turned to the JP.

The ceremony was quick and official. She slipped a gold band on his finger. He slipped a plain gold band on hers, over the engagement ring. Inscribed on the inside were the words, ‘Arnav Khushi Hamesha’. Forever. He’d show it to her later.

‘By the power invested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you man and wife,’ the JP declared, to the cheers of everyone present, bringing the ceremony to a close. ‘You may now kiss the bride,’ his eyes twinkled at the serious but good-looking young groom. Personally, he’d never seen such a beautiful couple in his life.

Arnav snaked an arm around Khushi’s waist and dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek. ‘This is cheating, you know,’ he whispered in her ear.

Her mouth fell open in her famous ‘O’. Claps and catcalls echoed around the place. The JP congratulated them and handed him their marriage certificate. NK stepped up in front of them and said dramatically, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada.’

There were whoops and shouts again, as Arnav tucked her hand into his arm, leading her off the gazebo. He hadn’t felt so proud of himself in his whole life as he did at that moment. His would have described it as his heart was bursting in his chest, but he didn’t think that was biologically possible! A sense of peace and calm settled in his soul. He felt Khushi looking up at him, and he looked down at her. They smiled at each other. Finally, it was over. They could be together, happily ever after. He lifted her left hand to his mouth and kissed it.

NK clicked a picture of them, just like that, and sent it to Anjali.

***

The Boeing 747 was winging its way across the Pacific Ocean. It had been a long day yesterday for the two of them and now finally here they were on their way back to India. They were in the upper deck of the aircraft, the plush confines of the first class cabin lulling them to sleep. She was near the window, while he was at the aisle. The new lie-flat seats on the aircraft were extremely comfortable, but they had these stupid dividers between the seats for privacy. He didn’t need a divider for privacy, he wanted to watch his wife sleeping! His Wife. He tasted that word on his tongue, swirled it on his taste buds and savored the aroma of it. They were the most beautiful words in the English language, he thought. His Wife. Khushi was his, from now till the end of time. She was His Khushi. She was His Life. His Everything.

Last night, the first night of their life together, had been magical. It had been their first night together - technically. They’d spent it at his hotel.

****

She stopped inside the room, looking around it, when he’d followed her in. He took her hand and led her to the couch near the open windows, through which the twinkling lights of San Francisco reflected off the Bay. She sat down and waited while he poured them champagne from the bucket on the sideboard.

He handed her a glass and held out his hand to her. She stood up face to face with him, inches separating them.

‘To us, forever,’ he said.

‘To us,’ she echoed before taking a sip. He took the glass from her hand and put it down on the table. He held her hands in his looking down at them, the ivory of her skin, contrasting with his darker tones. He looked into her eyes, serious and intent on what he wanted to say.

‘Khushi, I know that we got married in a real hurry. I want to promise you this, I’ll do my best to keep you happy, every single day of our lives. I will be there for you, every day, every night. I don’t want you to be a typical daughter-in-law, but my partner and my equal in life. Everything is for you and with you. I promise you this.’ He lifted her hands and kissed them, one at a time. ‘I can’t promise that I am always easy to live with, but I am hoping you’ll bear with me and be with me ... always.’

He lifted his eyes to her face to see tears trembling on her lashes, making their way down her cheeks. His hands came up to cup her face, wiping the tears with his thumb. ‘No more tears, okay?’ he whispered.

She nodded her head, holding his face in her palms, she kissed him gently. He kissed her back. A kiss of deep tenderness, and promise and love. He moved back and said, ‘wait. I’ve got something for you.’

He went to the closet and took out a flat gift-wrapped box which he put in her hands.

‘What’s this?’

‘Your wedding gift,’ he said, hoping she would understand.

She smiled at him and quickly started to tear off the gift-wrap. A thin, flat box appeared. She opened it. Inside was a file with her name on it. She frowned and opened it. She picked up the papers inside the file and began to read them.

‘The Feminine Divine. Mrs. Khushi Singh Raizada. Owner? and President?’ She looked at him. ‘Arnav, what IS this?’

‘Feminine Divine is now your company, Khushi. I bought it, and it’s registered in your name. You get to choose how you want to operate it. I know living in India and operating a company in the US will be a little challenging. But I have some suggestions, and if you’re open we can discuss them.’

‘But Arnav ... I thought you only bought the company to have a hold on me,’ she was still perplexed.

‘I know. Initially, that was my thought. But later, once you said yes, this just made perfect sense,’ he said. ‘So.’

She shook her head. ‘I’ll never understand you.’ She dropped the papers on the table, and came to him, putting her arms around his neck. ‘But thank you,’ she whispered, before kissing him again.

They broke apart, feeling the familiar desire rise in them. ‘That’s all the thanks I get?’ he had that devilish lop-sided smile on his face.

‘No, you’ve got all night. So ask and its yours,’ she said saucily.

‘Ask, hmm? You know I never have to ask for someone to thank me,’ he murmured, brushing his lips over the pulse in her throat.

‘Really?’ her breathing was accelerating now, as her hands moved down, unbuttoning his shirt.

‘Mmm-hmmm,’ he was busy nipping his way down her neckline, unhooking the buttons on her blouse, and pushing it away from her shoulders.

‘There’s always a first time,’ she moaned as he found a spot between her breasts, raking her fingers through his hair.

‘Let’s go to bed,’ he said scooping her up in his arms.

‘I thought you’d never ask,’ she replied.

****

Fourteen hours on a flight can get to be a bit much. Arnav had walked around, stretched, and worked. He’d even tried watching a movie. But it was of no use. Unlike his wife, he couldn’t sleep on a flight. She finally woke up, yawning and stretching like a cat. He couldn’t stop looking at her. She opened her eyes to see him smiling at her.

‘Hi,’ he said huskily.

‘Hi,’ she sat up, bringing up her seat to an upright position. ‘Did you get any sleep?’

He shook his head. ‘Can’t sleep on planes.’

She touched the dark circles under his eyes. ‘I wish you’d slept.’

He pulled down the partition between their seats. There was only a few other passengers on the upper deck. He held her hand and said, ‘come sit with me.’

‘I need to freshen up,’ she got up and moved into the aisle, to go the bathroom. Five minutes later she came out, looking scrubbed and clean. He held out a hand and she sat down in the seat with him, half on his lap and half on the seat, almost lying across his chest.

‘Someone will see,’ she whispered.

‘Let them,’ he said, his hand behind her head pulling her in for a kiss.

‘Arnav, what’re you doing?’

‘Kissing my wife,’ he murmured, his eyes almost like slits but the flaming passion unmistakable in them. He had one arm wrapped around her, the other framing her face. She looked at his lips, unconsciously licking hers. He moaned in his throat, and pulled her face down to his, making short work of entering her mouth.

Their tongues tangled and danced with each other. His hands roaming restlessly across her back. She looped her arms around his neck, sliding her fingers into the collar of his shirt, rubbing the corded muscles at the back of his neck. He kissed her along her jawline, little nips and licks, she tilted her head to give him full access. He found the hollows behind her ear, and ran his tongue down it, felt her shudder in his arms. Found a spot, he thought, smiling. His hand moved up to the other side, his thumb stroking the hollow behind her ear, mirroring his tongue, leaving sparks on her skin, she moaned into his throat. He could feel her start to tremble. His arousal was starting to get uncomfortable with her leg between his. He pulled back, and she opened her eyes, Heavy-lidded, sensual eyes, that mirrored the arousal in his. He swallowed.

She was his wife, not a girl friend, not a lover, but above and beyond that. The most treasured thing in his life. The MHC was not the place for her. He shifted her back into her seat. She looked at him questioningly. He shook his head. She understood and smiled at him. He lifted her fingers to his lips, kissed them and put her hand on his chest, holding them there. She felt his heartbeat through the tips of her fingers. Slowly his eyes closed, and he slept.

*****

Walk the Line - Chapter 53

She stood there staring at the door, shocked. Did he just say what she thought he said? That he loved her and wanted to marry her? She walked around the room in a daze, blowing out the candles. Then she picked up her clutch and went to her room.

Had he really said that? Did she just goof up again? She groaned in frustration at herself. Taking out her nightwear, she changed into it, still in a state of shock. She climbed into her bed, and turned off the light. Cool moonlight streamed in through the windows. She lay there eyes wide open, his words ringing in her ears.

Tears of happiness leaked down her eyes. She loved him. He loved her. He loved HER. Arnav Singh Raizada had just said he LOVED her. She sat up hugging her knees, her heart beating heavily in her chest.

True happiness is a strange thing. It seeps inside you, and brings you peace and a deep inner contentment that is hard to explain. It doesn’t make you throw your arms out and scream and dance with joy. It just brings a glow to your face and a smile that starts in the heart and graces your face. Khushi was smiling through her tears. Her heart was smiling. She couldn’t wait to tell him.

She moved to get off her bed, when she heard the front door shut quietly. She got out of bed and walked into the living room. Moonlight came in through the French windows giving her enough light to see by. The living room was empty. The door to his room stood open. She went in and saw the bed, sheets rumpled, pillows bunched. There was no light under the bathroom door either. Arnav had just gone out. She walked back into the living room and noticed the envelope on the table. She picked it up, and the rose, and curled into an armchair, turning on the lamp next to it, to look at the card inside. Her name was written on the first page. ‘Khushi.’ It was written in his scratchy writing. ‘You complete me.’ She turned the page. ‘I want to spend the rest of my life with you.’ The next page. ‘Would you do that?’. The next page. ‘.. With me?’ At the bottom. ‘Arnav.’

A smile came on her lips as she kissed the rose. Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada could actually be mushy! she thought. This was so not him. And yet, he’d thought of it, because he thought she would like it. She sat there, in her white see-through negligee, smiling happily to herself. At peace, finally. She reached out and turned off the lamp, waiting for him to come back. At some point, she dozed off.

****

Arnav drove to the beach and parked his car. Getting out, he walked down to the water. He stood there, looking at the ocean. The phosphorescence from the water illuminating each cresting wave. The full moon high in the sky lit a silvery path on the water to the horizon. The thundering of the waves calmed him down.

What had he gone and done? He had wanted it to be perfect. The date. Dinner. A walk on the beach. The candles. The roses. The Card. And he’d ruined it all with his temper. He wished he’d been able to keep it in check, but she had pushed him. A vision of her in the dress she wore tonight came unbidden to his mind. She’d looked so beautiful, so sexy that he’d already had a hard time keeping his hands to himself. Then the whole fiasco with the lead singer - Jerry, Jermaine.. whatever! He sighed, tucking his hands in his pockets.

She hadn’t said anything. But then, he’d not even looked at her, much less given her time to think about what to say. From the moment he’d met her, he’d known she was something different. He hadn’t known when she’d made such a home in his heart. In fact, she’d shown him that he had a heart. Love had walked in, and he had been lost from that point on.

They’d go back tomorrow, first thing. He decided. He wouldn’t push it. He couldn’t. It had to be her decision now, where she wanted them to go from here. He turned around and got back to his car.

He opened the door to the suite very quietly, not wanting to disturb her. A flash of white caught the corner of his vision. She was asleep curled into a chair, the moonlight falling on her, her hands clutching the rose and the card, a smile on her face. She would be uncomfortable all night in it, he thought.

He walked over to her, crouching down in front of the chair, his palm cupping her face. ‘Khushi?’

She opened her eyes sleepily and looked at him. The moonlight darkened the faint shadow on his jaws. ‘Arnav,’ she whispered. Her eyes searched his face as she straightened up.

‘Let’s get you to bed,’ was all he said in a low voice.

She reached out a hand and touched his cheek. Her fingers moving over the planes and angles of his face. His eyes narrowed and burnt with an intensity she’d never seen in them. She leaned forward and kissed those eyes that could look into her soul. He closed them, swallowed and looked at her as she moved away, both her hands on his face now, the card on her lap.

‘I love you, too,’ she said. His heart stopped for a second, waiting for her to finish. She looked down, picked up the card and said, ‘yes,’ before leaning into the kiss she’d been craving for weeks now.

He couldn’t believe it. She was taking the initiative, kissing him, her lips sucking his lower lip into her mouth. He closed his eyes in bliss. Giving her all of him in that kiss, his arms going around her. He drew back and stood up, scooping her up in his arms, hers going around his neck, one hand curling around his neckline. He didn’t take his eyes off her as he walked to the couch and sat down with her in his lap. His fingers trailed across her face, pushing her hair back so he could see the soft smile on it. He trailed the back of his hand along her bare arm, noticing the goosebumps he left in his wake, traveling to her bare shoulders and the low dip of her lacy neckline.

He kissed her then, pouring his heart into it, his love into it, his tongue dancing over her tongue, feeling her kissing him back, her fingers digging into her hair. His hands traveled down her waist finding the edge of her nightie, moving further down her bare legs and walking back up up again. He couldn’t stop himself from getting aroused as she squirmed in his lap, her breasts covered only by the thin silk, pressing into his cotton clad chest. He brought his hand up to her back and finally broke the kiss, breathing deeply to steady his heart.

‘Did you just say yes?’ he asked.

She nodded, her arms still around his neck, caressing the back of it. He finally smiled and said, ‘wait here,’ before moving her off his lap onto the couch. He went to his room and came back in a few minutes. Kneeling beside the couch, he took her hand in his and said, ‘Khushi Kumari Gupta, will you marry me and complete my life?’

Teas sprung into her eyes. She put her other hand on his face and nodded. ‘Yes, I will.’

He put his hand in his pocket and took it out. In it lay a beautiful diamond ring set in platinum. The band split into four bands forming a double ringed oval, each covered in tiny diamonds. In the center of the oval was a little star, holding a small blood red ruby at the very center. She gasped in delight as the moonlight shone on it, throwing a thousand sparkles around them. He took her hand and placed the ring on her finger.

She watched him, his head bent, intent on his task. She’d never, ever thought she’d get engaged in a nightie in the middle of the night, but here she was! He looked up then at her face, and kissed the hand that wore his ring, his mark on her. Sliding onto the couch he looked at her as she examined the ring. He was a little anxious but hoping she’d like it. ‘Do you like it?’ he asked.

‘It’s perfect!’ she said, launching herself at him, arms around his neck, hugging him, laughing with joy. He laughed then, too, relieved to finally have done it, hugging her tightly.

The imp opened a bottle of champagne, poured himself a glass, thought the better of it, and swigged straight from the bottle.

‘Wait,’ he said, getting up and turning on a lamp. She watched him walk over to a corner table and only now saw it. The bottle of champagne sitting in an ice-bucket, and the two flute glasses next to it. He opened he bottle, and poured them each a glass, bringing it back to her. She took a glass as he sat down. ‘To forever,’ he said, ‘with you.’

‘With you,’ she echoed before sipping her drink, neither of them taking their eyes off each other. He leaned back against the side of the couch, beckoning her to come next to him. She scooted over, into the crook of his arm, sipping champagne and just looking at each other.

‘Tell me something,’ he said. ‘Are all your clothes like this? I’ve never seen you dress like this before.’

She bit her bottom lip and grinned. ‘Punishment,’ she whispered.

He raised his eyebrows and nodded his head. ‘I see.’

‘Why are we in different rooms?’ she asked.

‘Punishment,’ he replied with a smirk.

‘What?’ She sat up, but he pulled her back down.

‘I promised your parents. Nothing is going to happen this weekend.’ His eyes wandered suggestively down to her chest, where her erect nipples were clearly visible against the silk. ‘Your dressing this way isn’t helping at all.’

She blushed and hid her face in the crook of his neck, hearing his laugh rumble through his chest. ‘You’re a monster,’ she mumbled.

‘I know.’ They sat there just basking in the moment, before he said. ‘Let’s get you some clothes tomorrow,’ he suggested, ‘before I break my promise.’

They sat there for a long time, talking all the nonsense that lovers do after their first admission of love. Murmurs and kisses exchanged, caresses lighting fires, but kept in control. They fell asleep in each other’s arms, right there on the couch.

****

The next morning, Khushi dressed in the single pair of jeans that she had brought and used the jacket to cover up the spaghetti straps of her top. They wandered through the streets of Carmel, picking up a new pair of capris for her, and a beautiful top to go with it, along with a bunch of other clothes. Arnav was actually enjoying himself just watching her trying on the clothes. He’d never have thought shopping for clothes would give him such pleasure. He felt something new - a masculine pride every time he spotted that ring on her finger, in the knowledge that this woman was now his - to have and to hold, forever.

They drove down to the Big Sur, walking through the trails hand in hand, discovering things about each other, talking to each other like they’d never talked before. Long conversations about their hopes and dreams and a future that suddenly sparkled like the diamonds in her ring. They’d decided to keep the day to themselves. Time enough to tell everybody when they returned to San Francisco.

After lunch they decided to go down to the beach for a walk. They’d both worn shorts and had waded into the water. Arms around each other, they stopped to kiss, as the waves curled around their legs.

She looked out at the ocean and said, ‘every time I used to look at the ocean, I would think of you.’

‘Why?’

‘You’re deep and mysterious. Yet sometimes, you crashed against me like these waves and then went away again.’

He smiled. ‘You do know Arnav means Ocean, don’t you?’

She nodded, ‘I looked it up. The very first day I met you.’ She blushed. He hugged her.

That evening, she put on the sari she had brought, but used a silk crocheted triangular shawl over it, to hide her back. They’d picked it up during her shopping spree, the delicate filigree pattern had caught her eye. He’d insisted on getting it for her. Tonight, they had eyes only for each other, and no matter who was looking at them, they had shut out the world as only lovers know how to do.

***

NK called them as they were on the road back to San Francisco, to let them know that they were having a barbecue that day, and the two of them could join them, IF they wanted to that is. His suggestive tone had left them both grinning.

‘NK,’ Arnav said. ‘We have to talk. I have some news for you. Khushi wants to marry the NRI.’

‘What?!’ yelped NK. ‘But how can that be?’

‘I’ll come and tell you all about it,’ said Arnav, hitting the end button.

‘Poor NK,’ Khushi collapsed with laughter on his arm.

‘That story he told me,’ Arnav smiled.

‘You were jealous?’

‘No,’ he glanced at her. ‘Yeah,’ reluctantly.

‘I like it when you’re jealous,’ she said.

‘Not me. I don’t like being jealous at all,’ he replied.

‘You have nothing to be jealous about,’ she wrapped her fingers around his arm and laid her head against it.

‘I know,’ softly. He knew. No mistrusts. No doubts. Just certainty. This was love.

They drew up to her house and he helped carry her stuff inside, but didn’t take it up to her room. He didn’t want to be anywhere near a bed when she was around. Two days of being with her and not being able to do anything about it, was eating at him.

They drove over to NK’s house and went inside. The barbecue was out in the back and everyone greeted the two of them as they walked out to the deck. Khushi had taken off the ring and tucked it into her pocket. They’d wanted to tell her parents first before anybody else.

Arnav accepted a beer from NK and threw an arm around his shoulder. ‘So, NK,’ he began. ‘NRI, hmm?’

‘Sorry, Nannav. Lavanya said that you were getting to be impossible to work with. I had to do something.’

‘Lavanya?’ Arnav raised an eyebrow.

‘Yeah. She and I, well, we’ve kept in touch.’ Was NK blushing?

‘I see.’ He nodded sagely. ‘You’re talking to my employees. About me. Behind my back?’ His fingers gripped NK’s shoulder tightly, making him squirm.

‘Nannav, the thing is, I really like Lavanya. But then she said you’re always angry and shouting. I knew it had to do with Khushi, so ... I got you here.’ He smiled brightly. ‘You’re the NRI I was talking about! And see you’re here in the US and you came to see her!’ Arnav’s fingers were clawing into NK’s shoulder now as he smiled at his cousin. Then he let him go.

‘Yeah. I’m here. And she wants to marry the NRI.’ He turned and walked away, a wicked grin on his face.

NK stared open-mouthed at his retreating back, scratching his head, wondering what had gone wrong. What NRI was Nannav talking about?

Arnav found Shashi Gupta sitting and talking to Mr. Dutt in the living room.

‘Arnav,’ Shashi smiled at him. ‘Come, join us.’

‘Actually, I would like to talk to you, alone, if I may,’ he said quietly, feeling incredibly nervous now.

Shashi nodded.

‘Use my study,’ offered NK’s father. He had an inkling of what the conversation was about to be, but he respected the young man in front of him for doing things the right way. Although a weekend away was a bit unconventional, in his book.

Shashi turned to him and said, ‘can you please send Anna and Khushi in as well?’ He nodded.

Arnav and Shashi waited in the study for the women to show up. Arnav was tensed up, nothing in life prepares you for this moment, he thought. Absolutely nothing! No amount of presentations, big conferences, key note addresses, nothing!

Anna and Khushi walked in, and he walked over to them, reaching out and taking Khushi’s left hand tightly in his.

Suddenly he was calm, her touch soothing away his tension. ‘Mr. Gupta, Mrs. Gupta, Khushi has promised to marry me.’ They both smiled at him, encouraging him to go on. ‘I’d like to formally ask for your permission to marry her, sir, ma’am,’ he concluded.

‘Of course, my boy. You know you have it,’ Shashi smiled. Khushi looked at her parents astonished! When had they? She looked back at him.

‘I want to take her back home with me, if that’s okay with you,’ he said, looking at Khushi with a smile in his eyes. He could feel the ring on her finger and his thumb caressed it. She'd slipped it back on before entering the room. ‘As my wife,’ he finished.

Anna jumped up from the sofa she’d been sitting on to hug her daughter, tears of joy shining in her eyes. ‘My darling, I’m am so happy for you.’ She leaned back and looked at the radiance on her daughter’s face and said, ‘and I know you’re going to be very happy with him,’ kissing her on her cheek.

Khushi and Arnav touched first Shashi’s feet and then Anna’s to take their blessing, being hugged by both of them in turn. Khushi showed them the engagement ring that he’d put on her finger and the sheer joy on her parents face made her doubly happy. She felt like the luckiest person alive!

Shashi and Anna left the study expecting the two to follow them, but Arnav held her back and closed the door.

‘What?’ she said. He kissed her hard.

‘When did you tell my parents?’ she asked when she could breathe.

‘Thursday night,’ he was kissing her neck.

‘What?’ she moaned.

‘Shhh...’ he placed a finger on her lips. ‘You and I are getting married this week, okay? And you’re coming back with me to India.’

She nodded, her soft lips rubbing against his calloused finger, and he promptly replaced his finger with his lips, devouring her mouth with all the hunger in his soul. She fed him back with her mouth, matching him stroke for stroke, passion for passion.

They finally came up for air, and she said, ‘we should go outside.’ He nodded taking a few seconds to compose himself, before holding her hand and leading her out.

Shashi and Anna had reached the deck and realized that neither Arnav nor Khushi were with them. She shook her head at him. Let them be for a few minutes. You know how it is. He smiled back at her. Yes, I do. She blushed.

When they came out, Shashi stood up and said, ‘All. I’ve an announcement to make.’

NK was on the phone to Lavanya, telling her about the dismal failure of his plan, when he heard Shashi’s voice. ‘Lavanya, darling, I’ll call you back in a bit. Shashi uncle seems to have some sort of announcement to make.’ He turned around and watched as Shashi continued.

‘I’d like to welcome Arnav here to the family. Arnav and Khushi have just gotten engaged,’ he said, as cheering and whistling broke out from all sides. Arnav looked down feeling a little awkward being the center of attention, but he figured, for her, his wife, he’d do anything. Even take this. He listened as his future father-in-law completed his little spiel. ‘So Arnav, welcome, my boy,’ (there were calls of ‘hear! hear!’). ‘I want to tell you, that both Anna and I are extremely happy for Khushi to have found her happiness with you. We couldn’t have found a better man for her.’ His voice choked. ‘My baby girl, we will miss you badly, but...’ he held out his arms, and Khushi ran into them, hugging her father. ‘We love you,’ he whispered.

Everybody crowded around the newly engaged couple, and the women ooh-ed and aah-ed over the ring. NK stood on the edge of the crowd still scratching his head at this turn of events.

Jaime came up to Arnav and clapped him on the shoulders. ‘Arnav. Thanks for taking my advice, bro. Congratulations.’ The two men clasped hands in mutual understanding. ‘I know you’ll take care of my sis.’

‘I will,’ he promised.

****

Walk the Line - Chapter 52

The ringing of the phone woke her up. It was still dark outside. She looked at the phone - twele thirty - and picked it up. Arnav! What?! Why was he calling her so late? She hit the answer button.

‘Did I wake you up?’ as always he never said a hello like normal people did. But then, Arnav Singh Raizada was not normal people at all!

‘Yes,’ she snapped.

‘Just wanted to tell you. I’ll pick you up around twelve, so we can beat the Friday traffic,’ he said.

‘Arnav, I’m not going anywhere with you,’ she said.

‘See you tomorrow,’ and he hung up.

She looked at the phone in frustration and then smiled a naughty smile. A weekend, huh? Well, he’d get a memorable weekend, too, she thought.

Khushi Kumari Gupta just did not know when to back down, especially not in front of Arnav Singh Raizada.

The next morning she packed her bag.

Flimsy lingerie. Check.

Lacy nightwear. Check.

Come-f**-me heels. Check.

Spaghetti strap evening dress. Check.

Shoestring strapped tops. Check.

Daisy Dukes. Check.

One-piece-that-looks-like-a-Two-piece-Sports-Illustrated-cover swimsuit. Check.

Her arsenal was prepared. She was so ready for this weekend, she thought. On second thoughts, she packed in a sari and another pair of jeans, and a jacket. He hadn’t said where they were going, so she might as well be prepared.

****

He stood by the window having his morning cup of coffee with a croissant, staring out of his window overlooking the bay. To his right he could see the TransAmerica tower, that highlighted the skyline of San Francisco. To his left, the Golden Gate. A smile crossed his features as he remembered the first time he’d crossed that bridge with her. The cloud that had settled across the bridge. The feeling of wanting to be alone with her, for good. So much had happened since then. Their lives has crisscrossed incessantly. Okay, he’d had a hand in that too, he admitted to himself. But from where he stood today, their lives were not going to crisscross anymore. Not if he could help it. Although he was a bit nervous about the weekend ahead. ASR nervous?

Yeah. You’re nervous, dude, said the imp. Just like any other dude in this situation, but you’ll get through it. The imp patted him on the shoulder reassuringly. For once, he took comfort from the imp.

****

He pulled up to her house at exactly twelve noon in the black Corvette convertible, got out and walked to the front door. Anna opened the door to him.

‘Good morning, dear,’ she said. ‘Come on in.’ She gave him a hug, which he returned, before closing the door behind him.

Khushi was coming down the stairs with her bag, when she saw this scene. Her eyes opened wide. Okay, this was really weirding her out. Shashi joined them, shaking hands with the younger man and asking him to have a seat. Arnav hugging her Mom?! Dad being so glad to see him? What was going on?

Ten minutes and a cup of coffee later, he was ushering her out the door, with her bag in his hand. He stowed the bag in the trunk where his bag and glory be! his laptop bag were, before helping her into the low-slung seat. He started the car, put on his aviators and asked, ‘ready?’

She nodded her head. As I’ll ever be, she thought.

He put the car in gear and they took off, heading south on the I-680. She was beginning to enjoy this ride, she thought. Her glance shifted down to his large hand on the gear stick, trailing over to his legs encased in dust-colored dockers, moving up to his chest covered in a white long-sleeved tee that clung lovingly to his impeccably sculpted torso. The sleeves as usual pushed up to reveal his strong forearms. His face. She let herself look at him, taking in her fill of the strong freshly-shaven jawline, the long, proud nose, and those lips - there was a hint of a smile on them, although he was focused on the fast-moving California traffic. She looked away and sighed. She’d missed him. So much. So very much.

He’d been aware of her gaze on him as she had checked him out. He heard her sigh and turned his head. She was leaning back, looking out. There really wasn’t much to see right now, as they were still passing through East Bay.

After about fifteen minutes, she sat up and said, ‘where are we going?’

‘Carmel,’ he replied. ‘I thought we could take the 680-880, cut across on the 17 at Santa Cruz and then along the 1 to Carmel.’

She smiled. She loved Carmel. She loved the quaint little town that it was - even with the constant influx of tourists, it still retained its innate charm. After all, this had been Clint Eastwood’s town!

‘Wouldn’t that be longer?’ she asked.

‘Just a little bit, but the drive is worth it,’ he said. She agreed. Who did not love the Pacific Coast Highway? ‘Are you okay with that?’

‘You’re the driver and you planned the weekend. So you decide how we go,’ she settled back into her seat, remembering she was supposed to be mad at him.

He chuckled. ‘Are you still sulking?’

‘Yes,’ she pouted.

He glanced over at her and said, ‘look, we’ll talk when we get there. Just stop pouting.’

‘Am not.’

He sighed. ‘I can’t pull over here, Khushi.’

She looked at him, her surprise clearly visible through her sunglasses.

‘Pull over? Why?’

He didn’t answer, just smiled that lop-sided smile of his and kept driving. They were almost at San Jose when he said, ‘do you mind waiting to get to Carmel before we have lunch? or do you want to eat earlier?’

‘I’m okay either way,’ she said. Suddenly a thought struck her. ‘Did you have breakfast?’

‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Why?’

‘No ... nothing.. ‘ wondering why she should feel concerned about his food intake. He was an adult. He should know enough to eat on time and take his medication too.

Highway 17 is one of those drives that most people don’t realize how beautiful it is. It winds through hills, the smell of eucalyptus permeating the atmosphere, towering over the road, throwing shadows and light. It is also the fastest way to get across from Highway 101 to the famous 1 or the Pacific Coast Highway and ends near Monterey merging into the 1.

Arnav swung the car towards Monterey. She looked at him. ‘I thought we could stop for lunch here,’ he said, finding a parking spot near the Marina. He came around to open her door and held a hand out.

She put her hand in his, and swung one leg out of the car, twisting in her seat to get the other one out. He’d noticed the skirt she’d been wearing, but now as he looked down, her skirt hiked up, and he was able to see the full length of her legs snaking their way out of the car, the smooth thighs and velvety calves bunching as she stood up. He was staring at her legs, when the imp knocked him on the head. He raised his eyes and found her looking at him.

She kept her face straight as she realized the effect of her legs on him. Just you wait, she thought with an inner smile. I’ve only just begun.

They found a little pub to have lunch at. Fish and chips. Fresh fish caught from the ocean, fresh hand-cut fries, with malt vinegar, salt and pepper liberally sprinkled on them. Even the tartar sauce was freshly made. Conversation was light, as light as the beer-battered coating on the fish.

Replete, they headed back down the road again. An hour later, they were finally in Carmel. He’d plugged in the address of the hotel he’d booked into the navigation system. They drove through quaint little streets lined with Victorian style gas lamps before pulling up at the hotel.

She gasped with pleasure when she saw it. The exterior was like an old European home. The plastered walls were a light beige color, with olive green painted French windows and doors, adorned with black antique door knobs, wooden framed and glass paned. Red weathered tiles on the roof sloped down to a small patio in front of the main entrance. The hotel had only two floors. They entered through the main doors to a lobby decorated in European style. Antique furniture was arranged tastefully all around.

Registration was quick, and Arnav handed over the car keys for the bell hop to bring their bags and park their car. The receptionist gave them directions to their rooms. Or at least that’s what Khushi thought. He led her out the back doors into a delightful courtyard. Flagged in red brick, it stood at the center of a square. Wrought iron railings and stairs led to the different wings. Colorful flowers bloomed in green window boxes and cheery umbrellas provided shade around the dotted tables and chairs.

‘This is beautiful, Arnav,’ she was looking around her in pleasure.

‘Come,’ he said, leading her up the set of stairs directly across from the lobby. She followed him up the stairs and down the corridor to the last door on the floor. He swiped the key and held open the door for her to enter. Two doors led off from the comfortable yet luxuriously appointed living room on either side. He followed her in and shut the door.

‘You can choose the room you want,’ he said. She looked at him puzzled. ‘It’s a suite. There are two bedrooms. Choose one and I’ll take the other.’

Her breath caught at that. Living in this proximity to him for the next forty-eight hours would be hard! She walked across to the door on the right and opened it. A sprawling king-size bed with a dark imposing head board stood at one wall, covered with a deep scarlet bed spread. Sconces threw light on the white walls, while a big bowl of sunflowers smiled at the window. A large heavy-framed painting adorned one of the walls, facing windows that looked out over the deep azure of the ocean.

‘I’ll take this one,’ she said.

He nodded and strode off towards the other bedroom. She walked into the bathroom and freshened up. Coming into the living room, she saw Arnav tipping the bell boy who’d dropped their bags off. The bell boy left and he picked up her bag.

‘I can take it,’ she offered.

‘Not today,’ he refused, taking her bag into her bedroom and putting it on a luggage stand.

‘Thanks,’ she said.

He picked up his bags from the living room and walked towards his room. ‘Khushi, I’ve got to do some work for a bit. Why don’t you relax and then we’ll go out for dinner?’

She nodded and wandered off to unpack her clothes. Taking out a fresh set of lingerie she went into the bathroom. The claw footed tub looked very inviting. Opening one of the drawers under the sink, she saw sachets of bath salts. Pouring a liberal amount into the tub, she turned on the taps, before she stripped down and pinned her hair up. She left the bathroom door unlocked and settled into the scented foam of the bathtub.

Closing her eyes, she leaned back, resting her head against the tub, allowing herself for the first time to think about what this weekend was all about. He’d been quiet - a lot. More than usual. Not that he was a talkative person. Why had he brought her here? What had he said to her parents that would have allowed them to willingly let her go off on a weekend with him? Her parents weren’t conservative, but they weren’t that liberal either. And why had he bought out Feminine Divine? He knew she worked there - at least, she had worked there until he’d fired her. So what was he playing at? He knew she had to have a job. She wasn’t going back to India just to be close to him for as long as it took him to satisfy his fancy. So what were they doing in Carmel?

Arnav finished his work and shut down his laptop. Everything seemed to be falling in place lately, he thought. Now, if only Ms Khushi Kumari Gupta would fall into place, too, he thought. Showered and fresh, he came into the living room to find it empty. He knocked on her door, but there was no answer. He knocked again and then pushed the door open and stepped into her bedroom. He could smell lilacs. He sniffed again. Yes, definitely lilacs. From where? He went towards the bathroom and knocked.

Khushi sat up at the knock. ‘Who is it?’

‘It’s me, Arnav. Are you okay in there?’

‘Yes. Yes I’m fine,’ she was struggling to get out of the tepid water. ‘Give me five minutes.’

‘Alright,’ he said.

Thirty minutes later, she finally came out of her bedroom to find him standing gazing out at the sea.

‘Arnav?’ she called.

He turned around and stopped. His breath hissed out of his mouth as he saw the vision before his eyes. She was in a dark cyan dress. The only thing holding it up were two thin, almost not-there straps tied at the back of her neck. The loose neckline of the dress hinted at the curves hidden below. A pair of diamond studs glittered in her ears. Her hair fell forwards over one shoulder, with the hint of a wave in it. Deep pink gloss shimmered on her lips. The dress flowed in a sheath and stopped just above her knees. Silver peep-toe high heels complemented the hue of her dress and the small silver rose embroidered on one hip. A sparkling thin silver anklet circled her right foot. A silver clutch bag completed the ensemble. D&G floated in the air, mixed in with the hint of lilacs.

‘Do I look okay?’ She asked with a small smile.

The imp fell backward with a thud!

He smiled and came forward, outwardly calm, but his heart was racing faster than Schumacher’s car and his hands were clammy. His eyes roamed over her dress and he gulped, was she wearing nothing underneath? Khushi like this was ... was .. alien to him! He almost canceled the dinner reservation right then and there. ‘You look perfect,’ he barely got out in a husky tone.

She turned around and headed to the door, and his eyes almost popped out of his head. If the front was gorgeous, the back was stunning. Except she’d let her hair partly flow down her back. Only a few inches just above the waistline hinted at the ivory skin hidden under the hair. He closed his eyes thankful for small mercies!

Dinner was at an elegant French Bistro where the chef created magic out of local ingredients and wines. Live music played on the patio to the patrons dining outside in the garden area. They sat at a table at the edge of the garden. He was happy to see her enjoying both her food and the music. He knew how much she loved music. She whistled at the end of the set while the band took a break. The lead singer had kept looking towards them every now and then, and he’d been aware of that. But tonight was about being on a date, the first time, properly with her, and he wasn’t going to allow anything to spoil it.

But one can only have so many good intentions.

He’d noticed the other men in the place looking at Khushi. She looked stunning today, in a state where stunning women were a dime a dozen. There was a freshness and uniqueness to her beauty that made any red-blooded male turn and look at her twice. He wasn’t aware that he was getting similar looks from the women in the room, though. His focus was Khushi and he was determined to get her smiling and laughing today, and so far things had been going well. Excusing himself just before dessert arrived, he headed to the restrooms.

Ten minutes later when he came out, he was surprised to see Khushi chatting animatedly with the lead singer who was sitting in his chair, leaning forward, holding her hand and she was letting him! Clenching his jaws in fury, he walked over and stood there, towering over the two.

‘Hey, Arnav,’ she smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling like the diamonds in her ears. ‘Meet Jeremy. He’s the lead singer of the band. Jeremy, this is Arnav, my friend.’

‘Hey, man,’ Jeremy stood up, not cowed by the fact that at five-eight he was a good few inches shorter than the older man. He was after all, the lead singer of a band, and egos are naturally big in lead singers. He held out his hand, and Arnav reluctantly shook it. ‘Nice to meet you. Khushi tells me you’re visiting from India. How’re you liking it here?’

‘Good,’ said Arnav, not bothering to correct him - that he’d lived in the States for a while.

‘Great!,’ said the oblivious Jeremy. He took out a card from his back pocket and gave it to Khushi. ‘Khushi, give me a call sometime, hon. I’d definitely like to continue this conversation,’ he winked at her. ‘Gotta go. Work calls.’ He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it, before heading off to the raised dais.

Arnav drew in a deep breath and sat down. He was glowering. Khushi smiled at the look on his face. Dessert arrived - for her a chocolate mousse with fresh cream and raspberries, for him a demitasse cup of thick coffee. He frowned at it, noticing she’d tucked the card into her clutch. The rest of the evening went downhill from there.

Khushi was aware of just how angry he was, but she wasn’t worried, at least not yet. They returned to the hotel with her chattering away about the evening, the food, the music. It wasn’t that late, and Arnav had planned to go for a walk along the beach after dinner, but that wasn’t going to happen now. All he wanted was to get back although it was still early. Jealousy and anger are never a good mix and right now, they were warring inside him.

He ushered her into their suite and she stopped short. Big bowls of roses stood on every surface. The lights were turned off, and illumination came from the perfumed candles lit in every nook and cranny. On the coffee table lay an envelope with a single rose lying on it.

‘Arnav,’ she looked around. ‘What’s this?’

‘This,’ he gritted, ‘was for you,’ waving his hand around the room.

‘For me?’

‘Yes. For you. If you hadn’t been making goo-goo eyes at the lead singer, you’d have realized that I’d had a purpose to this evening.’

She stared at him. Finally, she was becoming aware that she’d crossed some sort of mental line.

‘First you wear this .. ,’ he pointed at the dress, ‘this ... dress that has every man looking at you like he would like to jump you. Do you have any idea how stunning you look in that?’ He was not yelling at her, just growling it out, his brows furrowed, eyes narrowed in anger. ‘Then, you flirt with the lead singer of the band. Hon. He calls you HON! Gives you his card. Kisses your hand. And you LET HIM’ his voice was rising now with all the anger and frustration he was feeling. ‘What the hell, Khushi? Do you even understand how that makes me feel?’

She was mad now. She tossed her clutch on the sofa. Hands on hips, leaning forward, finger pointing to his chest. ‘How does it make you feel? I was having fun, for a change. I felt good. That’s how it made ME feel.’ Pointing to herself. ‘It felt good to be appreciated, something you never, ever do.’ She was letting out the frustration of the past weeks and she wasn’t backing down either.

‘Me? Not appreciate you?’ he leaned forward, bringing his face close to hers. ‘Then tell me why I did all this.’ He waved his hand around the room again.

‘You bought out the company I work for and fired me. And I’m supposed to think that’s appreciation?’

‘I don’t know. I don’t know what you think, Khushi.’

‘I worked hard to get where I am and you made it all seem so worthless.’

He drew a deep breath to control himself. ‘Because I had a purpose.’

‘Oh really? You think taking away my job helps?’

‘NO!’ he roared, running a hand through his hair, in frustration. ‘That wasn’t it.’

‘Then tell me what it was, Arnav. Make me understand.’

He grabbed her upper arms and pulled her close. Her eyes rounded as she looked at the flames of anger in his narrowed eyes. ‘Why do you think I came back to the States, Khushi?’ She shook her head. He shook her with each sentence. ‘Because I wanted to take you out on the perfect date. Tell you I loved you. Ask you to marry me. That’s why.’ He shoved her back and turned away, before walking into his room and slamming the door shut.

****

Walk the Line - Chapter 51

Khushi stomped over to her desk and started putting her stuff away. Angry tears were filling her eyes and she wiped the back of her hand surreptitiously over them. She wasn’t going to give in and cry. Not for him. Not anymore. She was done! Pamela stood by silently watching her pack.

‘I’m so sorry, Khushi,’ she sniffed. She was genuinely sad to see her go. She reached out and hugged Khushi, who was glad to have one friendly shoulder. The other girls stood around them in a circle, someone rubbed her back.

‘Ms. Gupta!’ the imperious voice called her. She looked at him across the room. ‘My offer still stands, Ms. Gupta,’ there was real anger lacing his voice.

‘Thanks, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, but no thanks.’ She picked up her boxes and walked over to him, waiting for him to move aside so she could leave. He was glaring at her, looking into her eyes, and she couldn’t look away. Each of them aware of their own heartbeats, and the rising color in Khushi’s cheeks. She broke the eye-contact first, lowering her lashes and side-stepped him, as she walked out the door.

His eyes followed her, unable to look away. As she entered the elevators, she looked over her shoulder straight at him. The look jolted him to the core! He noticed the bruised look under her eyes. So she wasn’t as unaffected as he’d thought. He watched as the elevators closed on her, and then turned to face the girls around him.

***

Khushi drove home, feeling torn. Seeing him today, all of a sudden, had been ... exhilarating! But then, he’d started all that nonsense with the job. Well, she’d show him. She’d get another job. Having Sergio Madrid as a mentor had its uses and she was going to use it.

Parking her car, she walked into the house, but it had the empty feel of a house with nobody in it. ‘Mom?’ she called anyway. ‘Mom? Are you there?’ No answer. She sighed. Hefting her things in her hands, she made her way to her room. She put the box carefully down, and then her bag and laptop bag. She changed out of her dress into a simple cotton shift and flats. Then she sat down on the bed, and cried her heart out, sobbing into her hands, deep, heart broken sobs. How could he? Just turn up out of nowhere and suggest she go with him, just to get back her job? What did he think she was?

She’d missed him so badly these past weeks. She’d wanted to call him. God knows she’d wanted to. But he hadn’t called her either. The least he could do. Now he turns up out of nowhere and ... Aaarggghh!!! She was frustrated and angry, no, Furious with him! She’d show him. She picked up her phone and dialed.

‘KKG, querida,’ boomed Sergio. ‘Como estas?’

‘No es bueno, Sergio,’ her voice was subdued. ‘Not good.’

‘What happened?’

‘Feminine Divine got taken over. And I lost my job,’ she was sniffling. ‘I’m looking for a job again.’

‘Khushi,’ he was apologetic, ‘lo siento! I’m sorry. I heard about the take over. But why would they fire you?’

Her cheeks burned, she couldn’t tell him - because of one pompous ass of a man named Arnav Singh Raizada! ‘I guess because I was the newest. I’m .. I really need another job, Sergio.’

‘KKG, I would take you right away, but the position has been filled and right now, I have all the designers I need. Sorry, mi querida. Really sorry.’

‘Thanks, Sergio,’ she said. Dammit!

‘If there’s anything I can do, I would do it. If you need references, let me know, okay?’ he asked.

‘Sure. Thanks, Sergio,’ she said before hanging up.

She sat cross-legged on the bed, turning on her laptop to start her hunt right away. Most of the fashion houses were in New York. The ones she wanted to work in, at least. She was biting her nails going through the list when she heard her mother calling her.

‘Khushi?’

‘Coming, Mom,’ she shut the laptop and went downstairs.

Her mother was standing in the hall, watching her walk down, noticing the slight puffiness around her eyes. She must be missing Arnav, she thought, blissfully unaware that though Arnav was the cause of her tears, it had nothing to do with missing him.

‘What are you doing home so early?’ she asked.

‘I got fired, Mom,’ she said woefully.

‘What?! but why? What happened?’

Just fell in love with a jerk, she thought. ‘The company got taken over. They fired five people, including me. Streamlining Operations, they said,’ biting through the quote.

‘Oh, my love,’ her mother hugged her. ‘I’m sorry to hear that. But look on the bright side. You can take a few days off, and just relax for a change.’

Sigh. ‘Yes, Mom, I guess I could.’ She turned away. And what exactly was she supposed to be doing with her days off? she thought savagely. ‘Come away with me,’ his voice whispered in her head. She shook her head to clear it out, and went back upstairs to start her job search again.

****

On Thursday evening, Arnav sat with NK by the pool, cold beers in hand, relaxing on loungers. The week had been busy, but he had finally found the time for himself.

‘Nannav, it’s really great to see you again, you know,’ NK was actually thrilled when Arnav had shown up at their house today. Not that he was surprised. He knew the email would make his slightly dumb older cousin take some action.

‘So, how’s things?’ Arnav was regarding his beer with great interest.

‘Oh! Things are great. Mostly thrilled about Khushi, you know. It was great news to hear about Shyam and Rani Sahiba getting caught. And now, this.’ He took a sip of beer, swallowed, burped. Arnav wanted to shake the news out of him. ‘You know the email I sent you about her marriage? Well, it seems this guy has come back to the US this week. So any day now, he should be coming to meet her.’

‘Really?’ Arnav crushed his beer can.

NK took another sip, and said, ‘Ah! Nothing like a beer by the poolside, what d’you say Nannav?’ NK asked with an innocent cheery smile.

‘Yeah,’ said his Nannav, sarcastically. ‘It sure is!’

He’d had enough. He got up and said, ‘I’ll go say hello to the Guptas and congratulate them.’

‘Hold up, Nannav, I’ll come with you,’ NK jumped up.

The two of them were just heading towards the Guptas when Mrs. Dutt came out. ‘Where are you going?’

‘To Khushi’s house, ma,’ NK said. ‘Nannav wanted to meet them.’

‘No need to go there, now. They’re coming over for dinner, so you can talk to them here itself, Arnav. Come on in, both of you,’ she said.

Anna and Shashi arrived around seven that evening. Both of them were surprised to see Arnav there. Khushi hadn’t mentioned anything about him being in town!

‘Arnav, this is a pleasant surprise! When did you get here?’ asked Anna, giving him a hug.

‘Last week,’ he replied, returning the hug awkwardly.

‘Where’s Khushi?’ asked NK.

‘Oh, she’s out with a friend,’ said Anna. ‘Poor thing. She was very depressed.’

‘What happened?’ NK wanted to know.

‘Didn’t she tell you?’ NK shook his head. ‘Evidently, her company got bought out and they let her go.’ Arnav could feel his ears burning. She obviously hadn’t told them who the new owner was!

‘So, Arnav, what brings you to the US this time?’ Shashi changed the topic thankfully.

‘I had some business here,’ he said.

‘Yes,’ Mrs. Dutt piped in. ‘He’s come for some business. He’s not even staying with us but in downtown, at one of the hotels there. And only now he found time to meet his aunt!’

Arnav smiled although it looked more like a grimace. He looked into his glass wondering how to broach the topic.

Dinner passed with pleasantries, and finally the Guptas were ready to go home. Mrs. Dutt was trying to persuade Arnav to stay back for the night. He begged off with the excuse that he had an early morning meeting. Although, he did offer to walk the Guptas home before he left. He really wanted a quiet word with them.

The Guptas let themselves in and invited Arnav in, as well.

‘Make yourself comfortable, Arnav. Coffee?’

‘Thanks, sir,’ he said feeling distinctly uncomfortable.

‘I’ll put some coffee on,’ Anna headed off to the kitchen.

‘Sir, I really wanted to talk to you. Did Khushi mention that Shyam had also been arrested before you returned?’ he asked, getting straight to the point.

‘She did tell us what happened,’ Shashi said.

‘I’m sorry I exposed her to the danger. I promised you I would look after her,’ he said. ‘I never thought they would find my farm house.’

Anna came in with a tray of coffee, cream and sugar. She handed him a cup and said, ‘Arnav, you did the best you could. You kept your promise. She’s out of danger for good. So, it all turned out well in the end.’

‘Yes, they finally got life sentences, both of them,’ he informed them. He looked from one to the other.

‘I know I promised to look after her while she was in India. I’d like to do that ... ,’ he stopped, wondering quite how to phrase it. ‘NK said something about her marriage being fixed.’

They looked at him, puzzled. ‘Marriage?’ Anna asked. ‘Arnav, what are you talking about?’

‘NK said that she was getting married. To some NRI?’

They both burst out laughing. Shashi shook his head. ‘What NRI?’ he was chuckling. ‘I don’t know what NK told you, but that certainly is not true.’

Arnav could feel the blood course through his veins again. He was going to have NK’s blood! But first, he had more important matters to settle.

‘Sir, I’d like to ask you something,’ he began.

****

He left the Guptas and was walking to his car when he heard the familiar growl of the Mustang. He could see the headlights coming down the road. He stepped into a patch of darkness next to a bush.

Khushi drove up to her house, and parked in the driveway. She got out and locked the car, hitching her bag on her shoulder.

‘Enjoy your date?’ came the soft voice startling her. She squeaked in surprise and spun around.

He came out of the darkness and walked up to her.

‘You!’ her eyes popped open as her mouth rounded in that perfectly kissable ‘O’.

He shook his head at her. ‘You’ve got to find another way to say hello, Khushi,’ he tut-tutted. ‘You’re repeating yourself.’

‘Well then, stop startling me,’ she said, holding a hand to her heart which was still thumping hard from her surprise at seeing him. But it wasn’t slowing down anytime soon.

‘So. Enjoy your date?’ he asked again.

‘Very much,’ she said, nose in air.

‘Bet he didn’t do this,’ he husked, swooping down to place a soft kiss on her cheek. He wanted to hold her, but kept his hands in his pockets. If he held her, he wouldn’t let her go.

She put a hand against the burning cheek.

‘Good night,’ he said, turning and walking away. Then he stopped, turned and looked at her still staring at him. ‘Pack a weekend bag tomorrow. We’re going away in the afternoon.’ He turned and walked away.

She stood staring at him. What?! What did he mean? Going away? She watched him get into the Corvette that she hadn’t noticed parked in the Dutt’s driveway, start it, expertly reverse it and drive away with a deep-throated roar. Her mouth was still open as she watched the tail-lights disappear.

She pushed open the door and walked in still in a daze. Anna walked in from the kitchen and said, ‘Oh Khushi. You just missed Arnav. He had come by for coffee.’

‘Uh-huh,’ she answered.

‘By the way, he asked you to keep a bag ready. He wants to make an early start tomorrow afternoon. Make sure you pack for the weekend, dear.’ Anna planted a quick kiss on her cheek and walked away.

‘Huh?’ Khushi had this feeling that her whole world was going mad. First Arnav. Then her mom. What the heck was going on?

She lay on her bed, totally confused. Had her parents really said that they were okay about her going away with Arnav for the weekend? And why should she go? He hadn’t even asked her if she wanted to go. She turned on her side. Unbidden memories of the last time at the farm house flashed into her mind. A weekend away? Her stomach twisted at the thought. Her eyelids fluttered closed and she slept, but even in her dreams all she saw were a pair of caramel eyes, and a voice calling her name in the throes of love.