44. Rakhi Night: Kuch To Hua He



Inspired by the title & contents of Risha_IPKKND's post on 3^rd Aug.


(Thank u, Sarun_deewani!)

Khushi lifted her arms and ran them over Arnavji's broad back covered by the white kurta, her eyes filled with tears of joy at having her dream come true, at being accepted by Arnavji fully, her quirks and all... She closed her eyes in thankfulness, grateful to Devi Maiyya for giving her a flawed man who wanted to see a smile on her face, a man who was willing to put up with and enjoy her sanka behaviour... Arnavji, a man of many complex layers, worse than an onion, who made her crazy when she tried to peel layer after layer to reach him. A man who seemed to understand her too well at times, and too little at other times... She clutched his muscled back with eager fingers, burrowing her face into the side of his neck. She could sense him smiling. Not smirking. But smiling in relief that she was finally under his roof, in his room, with him. 

"Khushi!", his breath tickled her ear and his warm honey voice sent a shiver down her spine. She tightened her hold on him lest he let go of her.
He smiled as he lifted her in his arms, one hand on her bare waist, the other beneath her legs. Her arm went around his neck, so used to clinging to him whenever he picked her up. The fingers of her other hand clung to the collar of his kurta. Wind blew the pallu of her sari against his lean legs covered by the white pyjama. His eyes burned into hers, trying to read all the secrets in them, wishing to lay them bare...

She felt him lay her down on his side of the bed, his fingers lingering on her warm skin as though they did not want to leave her. His fingers caressed her scalp and ruffled her silky hair as he supported her head and placed it gently on the soft pillow. His fingers trailed along her ear, making their way down a soft, flushed cheek down to her jaw, and then down the tender skin of her neck...They stopped at the line of black beads, gold, and diamonds that made up her mangalsutra. His eyes devoured the signs of her desire for him, the frantic breathing, the fluttering eyelashes, her eyes that found it difficult to look away from his, the rapid pulse beating at her throat... He swallowed. He bent to place his lips against her throat, but felt her unease at his action. He raised his eyes to look his question at her. She looked at him and then at the open door. He followed her gaze, smiled in understanding, and looked at her. She blushed.

He returned to her side after securing the door. He hoped fervently that Di would spare him that night, that NK would not find any new reason to drop in, that Nani would not send HP to summon him... Kya mein kuch zyada maang raha hoon?, he wondered. Couldn't he spend the night with his legally-wedded wife in peace without having the whole world disturb them?

Khushi was sitting up in bed, her hair falling over her shoulders, a bashful look on her face.

"I... I need to change for the night...", she stammered.
Arnav hid a smile with great difficulty. He had waited an entire year. He could wait a few more days. "Shall I help you?", he asked.
Her scared eyes met his laughing ones, and her cheeks became rosier than before, if that was possible.

She shook her head to mean 'no', and ran to get her night suit from the wardrobe and then to the washroom to change. Arnav stood up. He might as well change too. He undid the button that she had fastened, lifted the kurta up, and pulled it over his head in one smooth move. He fingered the ties of the pyjama that had been threatening to fall off the whole evening, and in a few economical moves, got rid of it and into his purple T-shirt and dark trousers. He picked up the string of pure white pearls, and sat on the bed, running his fingers over their smoothness. Their warm lustre reminded him of Khushi's cheeks. His lips twisted in a smile as he looked at the pearls lying against the rough expanse of his palm.



(Sarun_deewani, thank u!)

He looked up to see her come out of the washroom on unsteady legs, hesitant, wondering what she was supposed to do. Dressed in her simple white suit, she looked pure, untouched, innocent... His eyelashes fell to hide the hot desire that coursed through his veins, and his hand clenched around the pearls. He looked up to see the scared-doe-in-the-headlights look on her face, and chanted a mantra to himself, Control, Control, Control. Think of Aman. Singhania file. Amezing Developers. Di...

He smiled at her. What if that smile was a bit shaky around the edges? She was in no position to notice, what with her shaking legs and saansein threatening to stop altogether. He patted the space on the bed by him, inviting her to rest there. She complied, clutching the ends of her dupatta for strength to withstand the hot look from his eyes.

The dupatta had to go. It marred the view. He pulled it off her, and threw it away. It fell at the foot of the bed. He then placed the string of pearls around her neck, gently sweeping away strands of her rich hair with his fingers to fasten it. He released her hair and turned her slightly towards him to feast on the sight of her wearing his gift. Pride of place, of course, belonged to his mangalsutra. The pearls lay lower, along the neckline of her white suit. A finger made its naughty way along the pearls, as his eyes rested on her flustered face and trembling lips. The next thing he knew, his firm, warm lips were on hers, tasting her sweetness finally after so many failed attempts. It was more than worth the wait. Her innocent gasp prompted him to deepen his kiss till he branded every inch of her mouth as his. Her fingers clutched his hair, trying to hold on to him, trying to keep his lips on hers.

Their lips parted reluctantly. They had to come up for air. He went back to her forehead, and started dropping kisses on her face, her eyebrows, her nose, her nosepin, her cheeks, her chin, her neck, the mangalsutra, and the pearls... She twisted and turned her head at the touch of his manly lips on her soft skin, wanting him to kiss her on her lips again, lost in the rapture that Arnavji had introduced her to...

Arnav swallowed hard at the sight of her, her eyes closed as she relished his touch, her chest heaving, her breath coming in pants... It was time to cool off. Pushing her into a physical relationship before the nonsense of the contract was dealt with would do them more harm than good. Control, Control, Control. Think of Aman. Singhania file. Amezing Developers. Di..., he chanted silently. 

He patted her head, letting her rest her cheek on his palm, hoping & praying that she would fall asleep. She obliged. He slowly crawled in to bed with her, resting his eyes on her beautiful face, taking hold of her fingers till his eyes drooped with fatigue. If only she would resort to martial arts poses in their bed in RM... If only they could spend every night in the narrow bed in GH...

He sighed. He slept.