Desert Rose Chapters 19 - 20

Desert Rose – Chapter 19

ARNAV sat in his study looking at the letter that Ria had sent. It was the two week notice that Akash had failed to see, consequentially putting them in a precarious position with regards to the fashion event, leaving them without a co-ordinator or a designer for the ethnic collection.

‘I am really sorry Bhai,’ Akash apologized for the millionth time, ‘but I can’t understand why Ria would suddenly do this to us.’

Arnav remembered the portfolio she had brought over to the house that night in Delhi, before they had quarrelled. Afterward he had hired one of the designers and left her in charge of the event.

‘She even came to my wedding.’ Akash commented as Arnav continued to brood.

On the Sangeet night, after dropping her off to her room, he had made it very clear to her that the incident in the study earlier, could never ever repeat. He had then assigned the responsibility of the event to Akash, under her supervision.

But it was clear from her behaviour that she hadn’t taken that rebuff lightly. She had fired the designer for the ethnic collection on the basis of incompetence just before sending in her two week notice to the Delhi office, knowing very well that it would be couriered to Raisar when he would be away on his business trip. She had deliberately set out to sabotage the fashion event. He had never imagined that she had the brains to pull this off so smoothly. To make matters worse, he couldn’t even take action against her because she was legally on the right.

‘It doesn’t matter why she did this,’ he said harshly, angry more at himself than at Akash, ‘the point is you should have seen that damn notice and let me know right away!

‘How the f@#$ are we going to be ready for the fashion event which is in ten days? None of the good designers will be available for us now.’

‘But bhai,’ said Akash in a low voice, ‘you said Khushi’s name was on the list of potential designers that Aman scouted for us. We have a chance, however slight, don’t we?’ Akash asked as Arnav continued to stare out toward the window, his face hard and unreadable.

Just then they heard a knock and Khushi walked in unaware of the tension in the room. After asking her about her role in her previous job, Arnav had asked her meet him in the study after freshening up. He had been so cryptic that her trepidation had increased.

‘Akash, would you please leave us?’ Arnav said, ‘I want to talk to Khushi alone.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ he asked her as soon as Akash left the room. When Khushi remained silenthe continued, ‘the day I showed you the picture on my phone.’

Khushi’s thoughts went back to the day in the green house when he had said ---

You have a bloody nerve, standing on my property preaching to me about my morals, when you yourself expose yourself in front of thousands

‘You didn’t really give me a chance to, remember?’ she shot back. Arnav face went taut, the muscle in his jaw ticking when he remembered how he had kissed her to prove a point.

Standing up swiftly, he came up to herand grabbed her hands, his fingers biting into the soft flesh of her upper arms. ‘But you could have told me later --- the day you barged into the bedroom and gave me a lashing for having those picture removed!’

‘You had formed preconceived notions about me after seeing those pictures,’ she countered, ‘would it have made any difference if I had told you?’She tried shrugging off his arms but failed.

‘God Khushi if you had only told me ----’ he stopped as they both realized at the same instant that he was talking about the night in the desert.

You work in the fashion industry for heaven’s sake! What was I supposed to think?

‘Right!’ she exclaimed, tears filling her eyes, ‘I should have told you. I am sorry it’s all my fault.

‘It’s my fault that the model didn’t turn up that day and Mrs Malhotra forced me to do the photo shoot, threatening me I would lose my job if I didn’t. It’s my fault that you happened to see those pictures!

‘Khushi…’ Arnav said.

‘It’s my fault I had to dress that way so that my clientswould take me more seriously.It’s my fault you thought I was a model, and that I was older and sophisticated enough to understand what it meant to “go out” with a man!

‘Khushi…. stop.’ He let go of her hands.

‘Basically it’s my fault you were forced to marry me!’

But my biggest fault is that I fell in love with you!Khushi dammed the words beating in her heart and ran out of the room banging the door shut behind her.

The next day, as Khushi stood in the kitchen making breakfast, Hariprakash came in and informed her that Arnav wanted to see her in the office. As she stepped inside she saw Arnav standing with his back toward her, his hands in his pockets looking out of the window. He had not come back to the bedroom last night. But he seemed to have showered and changed.

‘I am sorry.’ He said in a low voice without turning around.

‘Excuse me?’ said Khushi who wasn’t sure if she had heard right.

Arnav turned around to look at her. ‘I am sorry.’ He said again. ‘I am sorry for making those assumptions about you.

As Khushi looked up in surprise he continued, ‘I should have guessed that day at the factory, that you had more than a passing interest in clothes.’ He said as remembering how she had suggested a change in the colour combination of the fabric.

‘I truth is, I have never really considered myself as a designer,’ she said, ‘I began to work at Mrs Malhotra’s boutique, five years ago, to put myself through college. I learnt everything I know under herguidance. After I joined her full time, she gave me more responsibility. I didthe design, the basic cutting, made sure the necessary embellishments were done on it before it was delivered to the customer. I was more of a glorified tailor.

‘Whenever I presented new ideas to her, she always asked me to come back with something different. She never liked any of them.’

‘Of course,’ Arnav said sardonically,‘she probably sold your design to an affluent customer, putting her own name on it.’

‘Well,’ she paused.‘I couldn’t afford to be ambitious. I had Payal to take care of and it was about survival.’

‘Khushi,’ he said after a few moments of silence, ‘do you think you can ----’ he hesitated.

‘Yes, I will do the designs.’ she said.

When he looked up at her in surprise, she said, ‘Jeejaji told me yesterday.’

As Arnav swore under his breath she added quickly, ‘he didn’t know. He thought you had already asked me.’

‘I don’t know who the hell asked him to interfere,’ Arnav raged, ‘as if he hasn’t done enough already.’

‘Arnavji, please,’ Khushi said emphatically, ‘Don’t be so angry with him. Not everyone can be like you.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You had the capacity to start a company from scratch after you lost everything. You revived the factory and took care of your entire family from a very young age. This is because of your hard work and keen sense of responsibility.’

She continued, ‘As you yourself mentioned some time back, your brother has led a very sheltered life and he needs a little more time to settle down. You have to give him another chance.’

As Arnav looked at Khushi intently,Khushi realized she had spoken more than necessary. She quickly said, ‘I will do the designs for you because that’s the least I can do to thank you for helping out in Payal and Akash’s marriage.’

‘That is so gracious of you,’ Arnav paused, his face hardening, ‘Alright we will start in an hour.’

‘Wait, don’t you want to see some of my designs first?’ she said alarmed at his abruptness.

‘I have already seen them.’

Khushi’s colour rose as she realized he was talking about the same modelling pictures.

Later thatmorning, Khushi sat on a chair under the gazebo of the terrace outside their bedroom. She was working on a design, but she had some difficulty thinking about a good one as it had been a long break for her.

Looking out into the beautiful garden,she realized that it had been a while since she had observed the colourful bougainvillea, the desert rose plants and fragrant plumaria. She remembered how she had enjoyed all the little things back home in Delhi.

Her thoughts went back to the night in Delhi when she had found Payal in the kitchen, with the gas stove carelessly left on. She remembered how unwaveringly confident Payal had been about Akash and his love for her. She had set out on mission to get her sister married, without the slightest inkling that, within the next one month she would be the one to be married first, and that too, to a man --- she had fallen in love, with a desperation she couldn’t explain.

And now she was, making designs for a dream company she hadn’t even dared to dream about.

Payal had said, It’s fate……

She hadn’t believed in fate then. How wrong she had been!

The following night, Arnav sat in the study, looking at the sketches Khushi had made so far. He realized that he had a winner in his hands. Her designs had a fresh look, and were far better than the original designer’s samples. There was no doubt that she was extremely talented. And in the pace they were working, it looked like they might just make it to the fashion event. 

He stepped out of his study so that he could take a break. He and Khushi had been working all day and late into the night since yesterday and he was dead beat.

As he walked past the media room, he heard laughter wafting out. Curious, he peeped in to see the entire family engrossed in a movie in which the hero seemed to be involved in some antics that looked very much like Charlie Chaplin invoking guffaws from the entire family seated on the sofas closest to the screen. Anjali, and Shyam sat on the love seat, Akash and Payal sat on the three-seater sofa with mamiji between them. Khushi sat on a chair.

‘Chotte, why don’t you join us?’ exclaimed Anjali,clicking on the pause button on the remote, ‘we are watching the new movie Barfi.’

‘No thanks, I just wanted some coffee,’ he said, ‘I was going down to ask Hariprakash.’

Khushi got up from her seat, ‘I will make it, Hariprakashji has retired for the night.’ She said.

‘We will wait until you come back Khushi,’ said Anjali.

Ten minutes later, when Khushi came back, she found that movie had been rewound so that Arnav could catch up. He seemed to have changed his mind about the movie and had taken a seat on the couchat the back of the room. She handed him his cup and was about to step back when he caught her hand and pulled her toward himself, to seat her next to him.

Khushi could no longer enjoy the movie because she had become aware of how closely they were seated in the close confines of the love seat and Khushi felt her dhak-dhak begin.

Last night they had slept together in an enormous bed, but he had nowhere near as close as he was now, and his nearness, the scent of his skin, was acting on her like a drug, making her feel lightheaded, delirious, totally disturbing her concentration. It would be easy, so fatally easy to turn her head and put her mouth against the long column of his throat, discover whether his pulses were thudding as erratically as her own.

She was shaken at the strength of the impulse, and a little frightened too. She had never felt like this before. There had never been this terrifying urge to touch him, to learn the shape of his body with her hands, to let her mouth, her tongue discover the taste of him.

Her hands fisted, gripping until the knuckles turned white, and she sensed Arnav’s swift downward glance, and heard the husky voice say, ‘Relax.’

A little later, his hand casually draped across her shoulder, he bent down close to her ear and said, ‘Is this guy your favourite actor?’

‘What?’ breathed Khushi, flustered by his thumb stroking along her collar bone and the hollow at the base of her throat.

‘RanbirKapoor….. is he your favourite actor?’ he repeated.

‘I ….I like him but he is not my favourite.’ Khushi replied, looking back at the screen, her face hot and flushed.

‘Well?’ he whispered.

‘Oh….’ Khushi realized he wanted to know who it was. ‘I like baazigar ---- I mean ----’

‘I know who you mean….but why?’

‘He has the most beautiful brown eyes.’ She blurted out before she could stop herself.

The next morning, Arnav and Khushi lay on the couch in the media room,entwined with each other, one leg ensconced between his, her head nestled in the crook of his neck as her hand lay on his chest. Arnav’s hand was wrapped around her waist, holding her from falling off the couch.

Khushi opened her eyes to find her lips inches away from Arnav’s throat and before she could stop herself,she pressed her lips to the pulse beating at the base of his throat. As she felt his heart beating erratically under her plam, she made her way up to his chin,until she reached his soft lips. Khushi opened her eyes wide with shock to find Arnav staring at her, his caramel eyes heavy with desire. As she began to move away, she felt him tighten his hold on her waist, and she gasped as she felt his arousal against her thigh. With a groan, his dark head bent to capture her lips with his own.

As his lips burned on hers, caressing its parted contours with sensuous delight, his hands gentled her body, moulding every lines and curve, sliding up to her breast. He kneaded the delicate flesh and Khushi convulsed in a shiver of pure sensual yearning.

 Her hands clung to his shoulders, because she was drowning and he was her rock. Her mouth tasted him with equal frenzy and desire. She could deny him nothing and her slim body pressed into him in silent offering.

He drew a long, deep breath, and she felt the sudden tautness in his shoulder muscles as, unbelievably he lifted himself away. Her eyes flew open, searching his face, unable to fathom the expression he carried.

Just as she was about to ask him what it was he put his finger to his lips.

‘I think there is someone at the door.’ He whispered.

Just then the door opened and Hariprakash walked in.

‘Sorry Arnav bhaiyya ….I didn’t …’ he stutteredwhen he saw Arnav standing there with his hands on his hips, anger clearly written in his dark chocolate eyes.

Before Arnav could say anything, Khushi quickly stood up, ‘That’s okay Hariprakashji, we were just looking for something we had left behind yesterday night while watching the movie.’ She blurted out brightly and quickly hurried out of the room, followed by an amused Arnav.

That night the Raizada family assembled at the dining table for dinner. ‘Where’s Khushi?’ Arnav asked. She had left couple of hours ago from the study and didn’t seem to be here either.

Nobody seemed to know at first. Then Payal said in a low voice. ‘She….. she went up to the attic to get something. But I assumed she was back and was working with you Arnavji.’

‘F@#$!’ swore Arnav as he ran up the staircase.

‘Oh Payal!’ exclaimed Anjali, ‘the attic doesn’t have a proper light and the door get jammed when it closes. I supposed you didn’t know that. Why did Khushi go up there?’

By the time Anajli went up to the attic, Arnav had managed to break the door open. He found Khushi huddled in a corner close to the door, her entire body quaking. He lifted her in his arms and brought her out.

‘Do you want me to call Manav?’ asked Anjali anxiously.

‘No Di, I think she will be okay with some rest,’ he told Anjali when they had reached the bedroom.

Arnav laid Khushi on the bed gently. When he was about to get up he realized she had clutched his shirt in a death’s grip. He gently removed her hand from his shirt, as Anjali covered her with the comforter.

Anjali led Arnav toward the balcony and informed him that it was mamij who had wanted Payal to go up to the attic to bring down some pooja utensils. When Khushi found out she had refused to allow Payal to go up so many flight of stairs, opting to go instead.

‘Why the f@#$ would she want to send a pregnant girl up there?’ he asked his anger rising, ‘was Hariprakash dead?’

‘You know mamiji, she doesn’t let Hariprakash touch God’s stuff.’

‘You have got to be kidding me!’ he said banging his hand on the parapet wall, making Anjali jump in surprise, ‘where the bloody hell is Akash? He should have been the one doing his crazy mom’s bidding!’

‘He ….he is out with his friends…..I think,’ said Anjali in a low voice.

That boy was never going to learn, thought Arnav raking his hands through his hair. He would have to have a talk with him.

‘What happened to Khushi,Chotte?’ asked Anjali, unable to comprehend Arnav’s rage.

‘Khushi has a fear of darkness Di,’ he told her, ‘being locked up in a pitch dark room for an hour will shake up even normal people.’

‘Oh my God!I am so sorry Chotte,’ Anjali said placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, ‘I will go downstairs and have a dinner plate sent up for Khushi and you. Eat something and give her as wellif she wakes up in the middle of the night. Let’s discuss this in the morning. Ok?’

A little later, Arnav changed for the night and lay down on the bed next to Khushi. He took her hand and placed it on his chest hoping his racing heart would calm down. Hecontinued looking at her tear streaked face until his eyelids couldn’t hold up anymore.

Shyam paced about in the terrace like a caged tiger. All his carefully laid plans were backfiring since Khushi had entered this house.

It had been so easy to manipulate Ria. She had been so ripe for the picking because of Arnav’s rejection. During his trip to Delhi, he had set up an accidental meeting at the night club she frequented and after a couple of drinks she had spewed out enough venom to convince him that he could use her to sabotage Arnav’s fashion show. She had wanted the same anyway.

He was the one who advised her about how she could mess it up and not be held responsible for it. Being a lawyer had always helped him in finding the loop holes. But Khushi had ruined everything by bailing out Arnav.

Just like she had ruined his plan about Payal. When he had found out that the old hag had asked Payal to go up to the attic, his brain had gone into overdrive. He realized that if he Payal had a little accident coming down the stairs and lost the baby somehow, it would be easy to separate Akash and Payal which in turn would have undoubtedly separated Arnav and Khushi.

But he had been surprised to see Payal downstairs and hadn’t realized until Arnav had asked about Khushi that it she who had gone up there instead.

Khushi! He was having a tough time figuring her out. After Arnav had forced her into the marriage he had tried his best to turn her against him. But she didn’t seem to be falling for his manipulation. She had started avoiding him to the extent that she preferred Manav’s company to his. This had never happened to him before.

This morning he had been disgusted to find them wrapped up in each other’s arms when he peeped into the media room. Luckily for him, that idiot Hariprakash has walked in on them. Last night they had slept off on the couch and Anjali had told everyone to leave them there and had covered them up with the throw blanket. They are so in love! She had exclaimed happily.

Arnav?In Love? Impossible! He knew his bother-in-law for a long time. He wasn’t capable of that emotion. All he cared about was his business. He never cared for any woman. He only used them to assuage his needs.

He didn’t know what Khushi saw in that unemotional b@#$^&$. He would have to do something about it.

Next morning Khushi woke up late. When she went downstairs for breakfast, she found that the family was having a serious conversation.

‘But Arnav bitwa, I was in Jaipur just two months back.’ Khushi heard mamiji telling Arnav.

‘I already spoke to nani and they are expecting you by tonight,’ said Arnav, his tone brooking no arguments, ‘you will be closer to your favourite Gods over there and don’t worry --- you are booked in star hotels everywhere.’

Mamiji face looked like she had just swallowed a bitter pill and she left the break fast table in a huff.

‘Akash,’ he said turning toward his brother who sat silently at the table, ‘Now that the designs are almost ready, I would like to you to go to Delhi to supervise the final preparations for the fashion event.’

‘Absolutely bhai.’ Akash said with alacrity. He knew he had messed up big time and that Arnav was giving him another chance to redeem himself.

Arnav continued, ‘And since Payal will be going along, you can work from the house unless there is an absolute need to go to the office. Om prakash will be there to cook and take of the house.’ He added.

‘Thanks bhai.’

When Khushi saw the look of joy in Payal and Akash’s face, she realized that everything had been worth it. The love in her heart doubled for the man she had married.

Just then the door bell rang. Hariprakash went up to the door and opened to find a woman standing there.

‘Who’s there Hariprakash?’ asked Anjali.

‘Hey Arnav, long time no see!’ said the woman walking in with her suitcase.

Arnav stood up slowly, his eyebrows creased and then his face broke into a smile.

‘Jenny?’

Desert Rose – Chapter 20

JENNY was a tall, slim woman, with straight shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in simple denims,white t-shirt and matching sneakers but her sinewy arms and broad shoulders emphasized that she was physically very fit.

Khushi realized that she looked smart rather than pretty.

She leaned in and kissed Arnav on the cheek. ‘How are you Arnav?’ she said smiling showing off perfect white teeth.

‘I am good Jenny,’ Arnav said smiling back at her in a way Khushi hadn’t seen before, ‘how are you?’

‘I am doing great, as you can see,’ she said pointing her hands toward her figure, and then she turned toward Anjali, ‘hey Anjali how are you doing?’

‘Fine, thank you Jenny,’ Anjali said walking up to her, ‘welcome. It’s nice to see you after such a long time. It’s been like seven years isn’t it?’

‘Well, Arnav and I met couple of years ago at Harvard,’ she said looking at Arnav, ‘we were invited as guest speakers.’

‘Oh right,’ said Anjali, ‘I remember that.’

Arnav then introduced her to the rest of the family. ‘This is Jennifer Logan, my friend from Harvard. We were in the same class. She lives in Boston now.’ After introducing everyone, he finally reached Khushi and said, ‘this Khushi – my wife.’

‘God Arnav, I can’t believe this!’ exclaimed Jenny as she shook hands with Khushi, ‘You got hitched? Congratulations!

‘You must be a really special girl to have converted this ‘I am never going to marry’ kinda guy into a married man! It’s nice to meet you Khushi.’

Khushi was amused by the other woman’s exuberance. If only she knew, thought Khushi mentally. ‘Thank you Jennifer, it’s nice to meet you too.’ She replied back and found herself subjected to stares from the entire Raizada family. It was obvious that they were all a little surprised to hear her reply back to Jenny in English. How would they know that she had learnt to speak the language fluently working at the boutique that was patronized largely by NRI clientele?

‘Please call me Jenny,’ Jenny told Khushi affably, ‘I might not even respond to Jennifer.’

‘Jenny, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?’ asked Arnav,‘I would have picked you up from the airport.’

Jenny explained that she was visiting India with a group of friends, on a month-long tour of Northern India which included a 10 day visit of Rajasthan. While her friends were visiting Chittorgarh, she had decided to take a detour to visit Bikaner which was excluded from the itinerary.

 ‘I am on a really tight schedule and will have to head back to Jaisalmer by tomorrow night. So, I am hoping to look around Bikaner while I catch up with you.’

Jenny wanted to see Deshnoke temple and Junagarh fort mainly. But she wanted to squeeze in some shopping if time permitted. So it was decided that they would go shopping first and then go to the temple in the evening. Anjali had begged off as was scheduled to go to Ranakpur, but promised to accompany them to Junagarh Fort the following day.

As the discussion was underway, Shyam watched Khushi’s face, her eyes reflecting something akin to uncertainty. This was going to be interesting, he thought.

An hour later, Khushi stood in the kitchen preparing lunch for Akash, Payal and mamiji who would be leaving for their respective destinations post lunch.

Arnav came into the kitchen, ‘Why aren’t you ready yet?’ he said.

‘What for?’ said Khushi stirring dal.

‘To go to Bikaner of course,’ he said, irritation lacing his tone, ‘Didn’t you hear me earlier? Jenny wants to go shopping.’

‘Yeah so you are taking her right?’ she said adding a little salt to the dal.

‘And you are going too.’ He said simply.

‘No,’ she retorted,‘I have to finish cooking and then I have to work on the designs.’

‘Hariprakash will take care of the cooking and you can take a break from the designing for a little bit.’

Khushi began to stir the aloo-methi in the pan. ‘I’d rather not I -----’

Arnav walked up to the stove and switched off the gas. He swept her off in one swift motion and carried her toward the living room.

‘Arnavji! Put me down.’ She said when she saw Jenny coming down the stairs, an amused expression on her face.

‘Jenny,’ said Arnav, continuing on up the stairs, ‘why don’t you wait in the living room and we will be down in just five minutes?’

When they reached the bedroom, Arnav put her down unceremoniously and turned toward her.

‘You have to go with us because I hate shopping and if Jenny goes all by herself, the locals will just rip her off. So stop arguing and change.’

How dare he order her about like this?  As if she had no other work in the world. ‘No.’ She moved back few paces, folding her arms about her middle.

‘What the ___!’ he walked toward her, backing her up until she the back of her knees hit the bed.

‘If you think I ---’

Arnav bent down, grabbed her waist and kissed her, shutting her up effectively.

‘I want you down in five minutes.’He turned around and walked away leaving Khushi totally breathless. Laad Governor! How was she going to converse with an American woman who was a total stranger to her?

Couple of hours later, Khushi forgot that Jenny was a stranger, bonding over a common love for shopping. Jenny wasattracted to Bikaner’s famous leather products, delicately embroidered ‘mojris’, lacquer work, camel and sheep wool carpets and other handicrafts. They found a store where she picked up short kurtis and blouses with typical Rajasthani motifs, like mango, lotus, peacock, elephant and camel,embellished with mirrors, beads which she could wear with denims and skirts.

They lunched together at one of the local hotels where the proprietor recommended them to visit the famous Ganga Singh museum. Both women were fascinated by the museum’s rich array of archaeological discoveries from prehistoric Harrapan and early Gupta period. Khushi was especially impressed by the sections that displayed paintings, arts and craft, terracotta, pottery, carpets, coins and ancient Rajput weaponry.

Right after that, Arnav picked them up and drove them to Deshnoke, a small village thirty kms away, along the Jodhpur road. Arnav explained to them that the Deshnoke temple was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh, in dedication to Karni Mata, who was a 14^th century ascetic.She was believed to be a reincarnation of Goddess Durga,whohad helped the poor and down trodden people through her divine powers.

When both Khushi and Jenny stared at him, he said, ‘Of course I known our history. I was born here dammit!’

Sitting in the back seat of the car, Jenny began to rifle through her packages. ‘You know Arnav, Khushi was an absolute darling, helping me out with the shopping today,’ she gushed to Arnav. ‘She is so good at bargaining. I have a feeling I have been ripped at all my previous shopping I did till now.

‘But she just wouldn’t shop for herself, how much ever I pressed her.’ She looked at Khushi, ‘So, I bought these slip-on shoes you tried and put back in that store, Khushi.’

‘No, Jenny I couldn’t take them!’ protested Khushi, but Jenny had pushed the packet onto her lap. A side-long glance told her that Arnav had suddenly tightened his fingers on the steering, his knuckles showing white. Khushi was relieved when they reached the temple.

While Jenny began to click pictures, Khushi was enthralled by the beauty of the temple. The temple was situated in the centre of a beautiful courtyard, fronted by a majestic marble façade with solid silver doors. The outer boundary wall was constructed like a fort with a platform for guards to protect the miraculous temple.Beyond the doorway were more silver doors with panels depicting the various legends of the Goddess. The entire temple was built with marble, while its domes and mandap were made of gold and silver.

When they reached the inner sanctum, Khushi prayed to the Goddess, thanking her for good fortune she had bestowed on Payal and Akash and mental strength for herself.

After returning from the temple, Jenny had quickly finished her dinner and retired early as she had a really early start that morning.

That night, as Khushi sat in one of the upstairs bedroom, working on her drawings, her thoughts went back to Jenny.

Khushi realized that Jenny was a genuinely nice person. She was easy going, thoughtful and good natured. Though aninvestment banker by profession, Jenny’sreal passion was adventure. She worked really hard at the bank so thatshe could be off on long weekends and holidays so she could pursue her passion for hiking, biking, mountain climbing and other similar activities. She was a member of the Boston International Adventure Travel Club, where she and other like-minded people like her travelled to amazing and adventurous places around the world, which was what had brought her to India this year. Khushi had been sad to learn that Jenny’s parents were divorced and that she visited them only once in every few years as they were settled with their own families.

But amidst all this conversation Khushi had discovered a very important thing --- about her husband. Arnav Singh Raizada had been an adventurer in his college days. During their course, he and had Jenny, along with a group of friends had gone on adventure trips together. After graduating from Harvard and securing plum jobs at Bank of America,they had come to India, en route to Europe which they had decided to visit as a backpacking trip. But Arnav’s parents’ had met with the accident changing Arnav’s course of life. After the funeral, Jenny had returned to America alone.

What might have happened to Arnav’s life if his parents had been alive today, wondered Khushi her eyelids closing shut, drawing her into a dreamless slumber, and that is how Arnav found her when he came looking for her a little later. He carried her into their bedroom, laid her on the bed and covered her gently with the comforter.

Khushi woke up the next morning to feel something bristly under her fingers. She opened her eyes to find herself staring at Arnav face, his eyes closed in sleep, his thick crescent shaped lashes fanning his cheeks. As her eyes dropped to his sharp aristocratic nose and down to his lips her dhak-dhak began in earnest. She snatched her hand back, got off the bed and rushed into the bathroom.

Later as she dressed in the closet, she opened one of the drawers and was startled to see wads of money sitting in her bangle box. Just as she wondered how the money had appeared, she remembered. Arnav had deduced from Jenny’s conversationyesterday, that she did not have any spending money with her. She smiled to herself, her heart overwhelmed with joy.

A little later, at the breakfast table, as Khushi served some poori to Arnav, Jenny said, ‘Arnav you really have changed haven’t you?’ When everyone looked up at her in surprise she explained, ‘you never liked anyone hovering when you ate. I remember you asking the waiters in the restaurants to leave as soon as they had brought in our orders.’

Khushi remembered the day in the guest house when he had said the same thing to her. But before Arnav could say anything, Manav walked in the door. He was there to check in on Payal.

‘Sorry Manav, I completely forgot to call you,’ Anjali apologized. ‘Payal and Akash left for Delhi yesterday. They will be there for a few days. Anyway come join us for breakfast.’

As Manav took his seat at the table, Khushi got up from her seat and went round to serve him some poori aloo as Anjali introduced him to Jenny.

‘Manav, we are planning to go to Junagarh after breakfast,’ said Anjali munching on a piece of poori aloo, ‘why don’t you join us. Today is Sunday and you don’t have to go the clinic today.’

‘Sure.’ Manav agreed right away.

‘Don’t people don’t fall sick on Sundays?’ Arnav asked him sardonically, ‘How can you close the clinic?’

‘Don’t be silly Arnav,’ retorted Manav. ‘I don’t close the clinic. I have assistant doctors working. They will call me in case of emergencies they can’t handle.’

Looking at the way Arnav face had hardened Khushi wondered if he still irked about the incident that had occurred on the night of Anjali’s birthday party.

Soon they were on their way to Junagarh fort in the car with Arnav at the wheel, Khushi next to him in the passenger seat, Anjali and Jenny in the back seat. Shyam was going to join them later andManav had opted to drive in his own car,so that he would have the flexibility to leave any time he needed.

 As soon as they reached the fort, Khushi was riveted by its grandeur. The fort was a formidable structure surrounded by a moat. Arnav, Anjali and Manav took turns to explain the history of the fort.

The Junagarh fort was a 16^th century fortress which had never been conquered. The fort was also a unique illustration of composite culture. It was highly influenced by Gujarati and Mughal architecture.

As they began to take a tour they explained that the fort contained antique monuments and excellent objects of art, such as the symbolic hands of Sati, seven historic Parole (gates), nine attractive temples, little shrines of various deities, four deep wells, three beautiful gardens, post medieval stables and barrack, an old jail, and armoury stones in the ground floor. The fort also housed old palaces complete with their porches and pillars, gates and doors, galleries and corridors.

There were hardly any visitors around Khushi observed as she walked in silence next to Arnav. Hewas engrossed in a very interesting conversation about India’s economy with Jenny. After 10 minutes into the discussion, when Khushi realized that she wouldn’t be able to contribute, being completely ignorant about the subject, she slowly hung back to join Anjali and Manav.

Soon, Manav’s anecdotes had both Khushi and Anjali in splits. Suddenly, she felt Anjali catch her shoulder and sway holding her tummy. Manav rushed to her side and together they helped her to a seat.

‘I am not feeling too good, Manav,’ rasped Anjali, ‘I have severe cramps in my tummy and am extremely nauseous. I wonder where Shyam is.’

‘Is this like the same thing you had the other day?’ he asked her and when she nodded he turned to Khushi, ‘Khushi, I will need to give Anjali an injection that I have in my case in the car. I will take her there. Will you be alright by yourself?’

‘I will go with you.’ Khushi said anxiously.

‘No Khushi, you continue to see the fort,’ insisted Anjali, ‘we will be back here in no time. I will be fine in a jiffy with that shot.’

As the duo left, Khushi decided to look for Arnav and Jenny. As she picked up her phone to call Arnav she realized her phone was dead. She cursed herself for her bad habit of not charging her cell phone regularly. She decided to take the same path she had seen them take earlier and as she walked along one of the corridors, she caught a glimpse of Arnav and Jenny talking animatedly with each other leaning on the railing of the first floor corridor. As she reached the corridor what Jenny said stopped her in her tracks.

‘Arnav, you have always wanted to settle down in the States,’ Jenny said, ‘what happened to that plan? Have you completely abandoned it?’

‘Well,’ began Arnav, ‘you know what happened all those years ago, Jenny. I had an entire family depending on me when my parents died.’

‘And you did well Arnav,’ shepaused, ‘Remember how we thought we would live like nomads travelling the world? Do you ever think about that?’

‘Sometimes.’ Khushi couldn’t help noticing the wistful note in his voice.

‘Now that your family is well settled, would you consider moving back to the States?’Khushi didn’t really want to hear the answer to this question. Her heart began to beat fast and her palms began to sweat.

‘I am married now, Jenny.’What was that supposed to mean? thought Khushi dismally.

‘That’s not really an answer to my question Arnav,’ Jenny said but when Arnav continued to be silent she asked him, ‘Never mind. How did that come about? --- Your marriage.’ She added.

‘That’s ….a long story.’ Khushi sensed the hesitation in his tone.

‘Come on Arnav,’ Jenny cajoled, ‘give me a quick version.’

‘Well,’ he paused, ‘I had no choice.’

Khushi stumbled back, tears filling her eyes as a sharp squeezing pain struck her heart. She began to run into the interiors of one of the palaces.

A pair of sinister eyes watched with a twisted smirk, from behind the door. His plan to spy had proved fruitful, he thought. He followed Khushi.

After a few minutes Khushistopped and looked around to find herself in the armoury room. She took a deep breath, clutching a hand to her heart to calm the incessant clamouring. Stop this nonsense Khushi, she told herself as she dabbed at her eyes.She knew he didn’t love her and had only married her out of sense of responsibility. She had no right to feel possessive about him. Her jealousy was unreasonable and uncalled for.But why was this pain not going away?

‘I told you he would only give you tears Khushiji.’ Khushi whirled around to find Shyam blocking the entrance to the armoury room. A trepidation akin to fear began within her as she realized there was no one else in the vicinity. Hey Devi Maiyya, please protect me she prayed silently.

‘Shyamji,’ she tried casually, ‘Di was feeling a little sick, so Dr Manav has taken her to give her some medication. She was asking for you.’

‘Khushiji,’ said Shyam in a patronizing tone, ‘don’t try to change the topic. You have better things to worry about than Anjali’s illness. Aren’t you least bit worried that you husband might leave you very soon?’

Khushi induced nonchalance in her tone. ‘I am least bit interested in anything you have to say.’

‘You heard them didn’t you?’ continued Shyam not cowed down by Khushi, ‘He really misses his freedom Khushiji.Now that he had fulfilled all his responsibilities, why would he stay?’

Khushi realized that Shyam had been spying on the conversation! He was more dangerous than she thought.

Shyam continued on. ‘Why would he choose to be with you when he can have a ‘no strings attached’ relationship with a like-minded partner like Jenny?‘Don’t you see how made for each other they are?’

‘This is none of your business!’ Khushi spat out vehemently.

‘No, no Khushiji,’ said Shyam a little forcefully, ‘this is very much my business because it is very important you understand who your true well-wishers are. Who truly care for you. And who truly love you.’

‘What?’ said Khushi completely astounded by his admission, ‘how can you say things like this Shyamji? You are a married man!’

‘So what Khushiji?’ he countered, ‘love can happen anytime, can’t it? You are married too. But I don’t mind. We could still be together.’

‘Are you out of your mind?’ she whispered, as a drop of sweat trickled down her spine.

‘Yes Khushiji,’ he said with an ugly sneer, ‘from the moment I saw you. But Arnav ruined everything by marrying you.He always does.

‘The only reason he married you was because he wanted to keep his image intact at that time. Like he said, he had no choice. But if you don’t leave him, he will find a way to get rid of you. Just like he got rid of his pregnant fiancée.’

‘Enough Shyamji!’ raged Khushi, ‘Arnavji had nothing to do with Lavanyaji’s death. The police exonerated him!’

‘Is that what he told you?’ Shyam mocked with derision. ‘Money works wonders Khushiji. The police obviously fell for that fake witness who saw him with some fake alibi.’

Except that the alibi hadn’t been fake. Khushi had heard enough. ‘Let me go, or else I will scream.’ She said desperately.

‘Oh don’t worry Khushiji,’ Shyam said, his tone laced with indolence, ‘I am not going to hurt you. My work is done. You are free to leave.’

‘Aren’t you afraid I will tell Arnavji and Di?’ she asked completely baffled by his behaviour.

‘Oh I am not worried at all, Khushiji. You won’t tell them because they would never believe you in a hundred years. You see I was never even here.’

Khushi whizzed past him and began to run fast, her heart thudding erratically. The corridors began to feel like a maze but she kept on running blindly until she reached the courtyard and spotted Manav at a distance. She had never been more relieved to see someone in her life. She called out to him and took a step in his direction and failed to see the three four steps ahead of her. She toppled and fell hurting her ankle in the process.

 Manav was at her side in a minute, helping her onto the step so that he could examine her ankle. He immediately dialled Anjali’s number letting her know that he had found Khushi. Seeing Khushi’s pale face, he was about to ask Khushi what had happened, when he saw the silhouette of a man standing in the far end of the corridor. Was that Shyam, he wondered.

Suddenly, Arnav was upon them, his face hard when he looked at Manav holding Khushi’s ankle He pushed Manav aside and kneeled down beside her.

‘What are you doing Arnav?’ Manav asked him irked by his rudeness. ‘Khushi has hurt her ankle. I need to take a look at it.’

‘There is no need for you to do anything,’ Arnav bit out, sweeping her up in his arms. ‘I will take her home and take care of her myself. If there is a need to, I will take her to see a doctor later.’ He began to walk across the courtyard.

‘You are still angry with me because I went behind your back and helped Anjali aren’t you?’ Manav challenged Arnav stopping him in his tracks.

‘What you did or did not do is the least of my concerns,’ Arnav shot back, ‘trivial things like that don’t bother me.’

Manav continued on, ‘It’s obvious from your behaviour that you don’t think of it as trivial. In any case, it is time someone told you that it was your imperiousness that left us no choice. And I am not going to apologize for what I did. In fact, you are the one who should apologize – especially to the woman you married as a consequence of the mess you created in the first place!’Manav walked away from the courtyard his entire body seething with rage.

Khushi watched with dread as Arnav carried her across the courtyard, his simmering eyes and clenched jaw clearly indicating that he was furious as hell.