OS: Gift Exchange

“Hey Devi Maiyya!  Couldn’t you make the Lad governor less of a workaholic?  It’s new year’s eve today and he’s all the way at the other end of the world!  How am I supposed to see his face at midnight?  Last year when I didn’t want to see his face, he made sure to bring himself in front of my eyes right at midnight!  And this year when his wife actually wants to see him, he’s not even in the same country as me!”

Khushi muttered as she paced around, annoyed and angered to the core that she was all alone in Raizada Mansion on New Year’s Eve.  Her husband, Arnav Singh Raizada, had gone for a business trip a week ago and he wasn’t going to return for another four days, much to Khushi’s annoyance.  What did a girl have to do to spend New Year’s evening with her husband?

“Now what do I do?  Stare at myself in the mirror at midnight so that I can spend the rest of my life with myself?  Ha!  Might as well...it’s not like he’s home much.  Most wives have to feel jealous of other women but no...I, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, get to be jealous of his office, his files, his laptop, and that goddamn phone that’s always glued to his ear...and of course...how could I forget Aman ji!”

Khushi muttered as she sat down on the couch and angrily flipped through a magazine.

“And of course the phone is only glued to his ear for office related conversations.  It’s been nearly eight hours since we last talked and he hasn’t called!  Does he even realize that in an hour it will be midnight here?  Did he even wonder whose face I’ll see at twelve?  Of course not.”

Khushi paused flipping through the magazine as a thought occurred to her.

“Wait a minute...whose face will I see at midnight, if not that Lad Governor’s?  Jiji and Jijaji are out on their date...Di and Aman ji are also spending time together...heck, even Mamiji and Mamaji have romantic plans for tonight!”

“Khushi ji...do you want some coffee?”

Khushi looked up to see the eldest of the Prakash Brothers, Hari Prakash.  He was looking at her as if she was crazy.  Had she been talking out loud?

“Uh...N-no...thank you HP ji.”  Khushi turned red and focused back on the magazine.  Then another thought crossed her mind.  What if she saw HP ji’s face at midnight??

“NAHII!!!!!” Khushi screeched, standing up from the couch with a jerk.

“What happened, Khushi Ji?”  Hari Prakash looked at her worriedly.

“Uh...I...ahh...N-Nothing.  What are you doing here HP ji?  You should go to your quarters and relax.  It’s almost new year.”  Khushi spoke in one breath.

HP frowned at her.  His Arnav Baba’s wife was going crazy.

“It's okay Khushi ji...what if you need something?”

“That’s what I need...I need you to go so that I don’t end up seeing you at midnight...knowing my luck...that’s exactly what will happen.  Hey Devi Maiyya!”  Khushi muttered to herself.  “HP ji...I want you to go and rest...you’ve worked hard all day...good night HP ji!”  Khushi ushered him towards the door while HP wondered what he had done all day.  He hadn’t done much...what was Khushi Ji talking about?  Deciding that she needed some time to herself, HP left bidding her a goodnight.

Khushi closed the door and leaned against it, sighing in relief.

“That’s one down...now I won’t accidentally end up seeing HP ji...but what if he comes back for something...no!   I know!  I’ll just stay in our room...yeah.  That’s perfect!”  Khushi ran into her bedroom and sighed once again in relief.  Her phone beeped while she made her way to the poolside.  It was a text message from her husband.

Sorry I haven’t called, sweetheart.  My phone’s battery is low and I’m going to a new year’s party.  I will call as soon as I get back to the hotel.

Khushi’s jaw dropped.  New Year’s party?  In London?  That meant pretty gori women probably wearing barely-there clothes and he was going to end up seeing someone at that party at midnight!  No!  Absolutely not!

Mr. Raizada...you better keep your eyes closed at midnight.  Don’t you dare look at another woman!

 She typed back furiously and sent the message.  She paced across the side of the pool furiously as she waited for his reply.

Mrs. Raizada, I already saw you last year at midnight on New Year’s Eve...I think you’re already the woman I’ll spend the rest of my life with.

Khushi smiled and tried to think of a reply when her phone beeped again.

By the way, who are you planning on seeing at midnight?

Khushi frowned grumpily.

Myself!  Since my husband has more important business to deal with.

Yeah?  Well, you planned on not seeing my face last year but it happened anyway...are you sure you won’t end up seeing anyone else today?

Khushi gasped.  He was teasing her?  The nerve of him!

I’m sure.  I even sent HP ji home.  No one else is home and I’m in our room.  Maybe I’ll sleep...that way I don’t have to see anyone.

Yeah, do that. 

 That’s it?  That was his reply? 

“Devi Maiyya!!  Give him at least some romantic thoughts, please!!”  Khushi looked up at the starry sky.

She took a seat on the ledge of the pool and thought back to last year’s New Year’s Eve.  So much had changed within this year.  A year ago she was Khushi Kumari Gupta...Now; she’s Mrs. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada.  A year ago her and Arnav were busy masking their feelings for each other and now every moment they found, they let each other know how they felt.

Khushi recalled with a smile on her face how Akash jijaji had come to meet Payal and had managed to get himself glued to one of Buaji’s chairs.  Arnav had been called in those desperate times for help.  Khushi was out distributing jalebis and wishing a happy new year to her neighbours.  When she’d gotten home, she’d excitedly counted down to midnight, thinking that her jiji was in the room with her.  When she opened her eyes, the first person she had seen was Arnav Singh Raizada.

The night had taken a comical turn when Buaji had woken up and NK had showed up.  Khushi chuckled to herself as she remembered how she had hidden Arnav on her bed, making it look like Payal was sleeping there.  A small blush crept up on her cheeks when she remembered that Buaji had forced Khushi to get into bed too.

Her heartbeat had raced that night as she lay next to him under the blanket on that small bed.  That was one of the few things that hadn’t changed in this year.  Even after being married to him for all these months, her heart still raced impressively when he got into bed next to her every night.

She heard fireworks in the distant and glanced at her cell phone to check the time.  Five minutes to midnight.  She stood up from the ledge and made her way into the room.  She stood in front of an enlarged picture of her and Arnav.  If not Arnav Singh Raizada himself, then his picture will have to do for tonight.

Her fingers reached up and ran over his image as a smile crept up on her face.  She closed her eyes and remembered the various expressions he displayed.  Her heart started beating loud and clear in her ears.  Just the thought of him still drove her heart crazy.  She let her hand fall from his picture and rest over her heart.

“I wish you were here Arnavji.  I miss you.  I love you.”  She spoke her mind out loud to the picture.

“I love you too.”

Khushi laughed at herself as she heard his voice in her head.  She opened her eyes and they immediately widened when they saw him standing in front of her.  He stood there with a gentle smile on his face, his eyes full of love, his arms crossed across his chest in his signature ASR way.  Khushi shook her head at herself.

“Arnav ji is right...I am Pagal...now I’m even imagining him!  If buaji was here, she’d call me Sanka devi.”

The imaginary Arnav’s smile widened and an eyebrow rose up on his forehead.  “Sach mein... Sanki Ho tum...”

Khushi frowned and squinted.  Was she imagining him or was he actually here?

“No...No no.  He just said he’s going to some party...”  She sighed sadly. “How can he be here?”

She turned to walk to her bed when she was suddenly pulled back with force.  Her back was pressed against his muscular chest.  She felt his warm lips against her neck next.

“I am here, Khushi...” he murmured against her skin.

With a gasp, she whipped around to face him, her hands landing on his chest while his arms stayed around her waist.

“A...aa...aap?”  She gasped.

“Haan...M...ma...main.”  He imitated her stutter.  He smirked when her mouth formed a perfect ‘O’.  “Did you really think I would miss seeing my wife today?”

Khushi gasped and slapped his chest looking scandalized.  “Aapne ramanchi ki!”

Arnav raised his eyebrows and smirked.  “Sweetheart....it’s not ramanchi...its called surprise.”

Khushi smiled at him and he rested his forehead against hers. 

“So what were you saying...something about missing me?”

He smiled victoriously as he saw the red hue appear on her cheeks.  “If you can say it to my photograph, you can say it to me...” he whispered huskily.

“I missed you...a lot.”  She choked on her last word when she felt the tip of his nose against hers.  She knew what would follow.

“And?”  He whispered.

“I...I love you.”  She whispered inaudibly.

Arnav, as last, swooped down and pressed his lips against hers.  Khushi felt overwhelmed at the sudden burst of butterflies in her stomach.  The electric feel that danced along her spine made her knees feel wobbly.  Her mind and senses were flooded with the feel of his lips against hers coupled with his heady musky scent.

His presence alone was enough to overwhelm her at this moment.  He had returned from his trip four days early...just to spend New Year’s eve with her.  An affectionate warmth engulfed her heart at the realization.

Khushi’s arms snaked around his neck as she pulled him closer.  Arnav smiled into the kiss.  He always appreciated it when his wife responded to his touch openly, not bothering to be her usual shy self.

Within seconds, the gentle kiss turned into a demanding one.  Khushi made sure she expressed how much she had missed him in that one kiss.  Her hand fisted his hair at the base of his neck while his hand rubbed along the few inches of skin exposed waist between her blouse and the waistline of the saree.  Khushi gasped when his nails lightly dug into the soft skin, granting him more access to her mouth.

Their tongues danced together in a familiar and well practiced harmony while the world outside counted down the end of a year and the beginning of another 2014.  Just in time, Arnav broke away from the kiss with a gigantic effort, chuckling at Khushi’s protesting moan.  He rested his forehead against her and kissed her nose lightly.

“Happy New year Mrs. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada.”  He said breathlessly.

She looked up at him and gave him a dazzling smile before pacing a feather light kiss on his lips.  “Happy New year...Lad Governor.”

He laughed out at that.  He would never admit it to her but he loved this silly nickname she had come up with for him.  She said it with so much love, it was hard to not like the way it sounded.

“Where’s my gift?”  She demanded.

Smirking, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.  With the excitement of a child opening a birthday gift, she opened the box and gasped.  She looked at up at him surprised.

“You lost the one you wore when you crashed my bachelor’s party.”  Arnav winked.  “It was the first time I saw you wearing one and I wanted to see you wearing one again...”

She blushed as she remembered that night.  She had danced for him when she had decided to crash his party, refusing to let him see any other woman dancing.  That night was special to her for various reasons.  It was the night she had given her everything to him.

He took the box out of her hands and lifted the piece of jewellery before tossing the box aside.  He knelt in front of her, making her eyes go wide with surprise.  With a wink in her direction, he brought his arms around her as he wrapped the elegant chain around her waist.  He could feel her skin trembling under his touch.  He decided to tease her further.  He clasped the chain shut but leaned in to tighten the hook with his teeth.

Khushi gasped and held his shoulder for support when his teeth and lips grazed against the skin of her waist, creating havoc within her.  He placed a kiss on her skin just above the chain making her tighten her grip on his shoulder.

He stood up, still smirking at the effect he had one her and placed his hands back on her waist.  His fingers caressed the waist chain, making her breaths tremble.

“Where’s my gift?”  He said suggestively, knowing well that she must’ve “forgotten” to get him a gift.  He never anticipated gifts...it wasn’t his thing.  His family knew better than to try and buy him anything.  But with Khushi...he always claimed his gifts in the form passionate love making.

“I have one for you.”  She said smugly, making him frown.

“What the?!”

“Thank you for the kamarbandh...it’s beautiful...unfortunately...the gift I have for you won’t allow me to wear it.”  Khushi tried dropping a hint.

He raised his eyebrows.  “Are you going to start dressing in western clothes?"

Khushi frowned in confusion.  “No...Do you want me to?  I thought you liked me wearing sarees.”

“I do...even more so now.” He said hooking a finger around the chain and tugging on it suggestively.

Khushi blushed and Arnav chuckled at her shyness.  It was always amusing to him.  How she went from a shy wife to a passionate tigress within minutes and then back to the shy wife again was amusing to him.

“So what’s my gift, then?”  Arnav asked, pulling her closer.

“It has been ordered...but it hasn’t been delivered it yet.  They said it will be ready after a few months.”  Khushi grinned.

“What?  How dare they delay Arnav Singh Raizada’s wife’s order...tell me where you ordered this gift...I am going to shut their business down!”  Arnav said angrily.

Khushi just rolled her eyes at him.  “And you say I’m unbelievable.  Can you put aside your business for a bit?  The gift is in this room but it’s not completely ready.”

“Where is it?”  Arnav frowned in confusion.  He had no idea what Khushi was blabbering about.

“You’re holding it right now.”  Khushi whispered.

Arnav cocked his head to the side.  “You?”

“Offo Arnavji!”  Khushi slapped her own forehead exasperatedly.  “I meant this...”  Khushi moved his hand from her waist to her stomach.  “You will have your gift delivered to you in about 6 months.”

Arnav stared at her with a blank expression, unsure whether or not he had heard her right.  Khushi looked at him while his eyes moved between her stomach and her face.

“Khushi...?”  He let the question linger.

Khushi nodded.  “I’m...I mean...we are three months pregnant.  You’re the first person I wanted to tell.”

A toothy grin broke out on his face before he swept her into another breathtaking kiss.  A few minutes later, he pulled apart in desperate need of oxygen, and knelt in front of her immediately, gently caressing her stomach.  Khushi was surprised to see his eyes misted as he looked up at her with a smile.

“Our baby...” he whispered.

Khushi bit her lower lip to keep tears of joy at bay as she nodded at him.  She chuckled when he placed multiple feather light kisses against the soft skin of her belly.  He stood up again, lifted her off her feet, and spun her around once making her laugh out loud.

“This is the best gift ever!”  He placed her on the floor and kissed her gently.  “Thank you.  I love you so so much.”

“I love you too...”

“So why can’t you wear the kamarbandh?”  Arnav frowned.

“For now I can...in a few months...it won’t fit around my baby bump and the—”

He didn’t give her a chance to finish as he crashed his lips to hers.  He kissed her hungrily, letting a week’s missed passion take over.  And the way Khushi responded in agreement, nibbling and biting his lower lip, Arnav lost his control sooner than he had expected.

Before either of them could register anything, they had ended up under the covers on the plush bed, their clothes strewn carelessly all over the room.  Their groans and moans substituted as their own version of the fireworks as the couple united and welcomed the new year with pure love and happiness.

OS: The Runaway Couple

Arnav Singh Raizada paced back and forth in the poolside area of the Raizada Mansion, frequently glancing at the Patek Philippe on his wrist.

Was it a good idea...giving into her wishes?  It seemed kind of stupid now, the more he thought about it.  But he had promised her.  Arnav Singh Raizada didn’t break promises.  Besides, knowing her, she was probably ready and waiting for him already.

Serves you right for agreeing to such a ridiculous demand of hers, ASR.  Now get your ass moving before she kills you.

And with that determination, Arnav walked into his room, picked up his Armaani suit’s coat and slid his arms through in a smooth motion.  He glanced at the tall mirror behind his dresser and checked himself.  A black three piece suit with a red shirt and a black tie.  Her favourite combination, as she had once told him.  He pulled out his phone and hastily sent a message to her.

Khushi, Be Ready.  I'm leaving home right now.  Let me know if anything unusual comes up.

He tucked his phone back into the suit’s pocket and quietly opened the door of his room.  Significantly dimmed lighting and the unusual quietness of the house was enough indication that everyone in his family had gone to sleep.  Of course they had.  It was three in the morning.

Arnav walked into the passage stealthily and closed the door of his bedroom behind him without making a sound.  He tip-toed, yes Arnav Singh Raizada tip-toed, down the stairs and to the main door of the house.  Pausing for a second, he turned and quickly scanned around to make sure that no one had seen him.  The coast was clear, he was safe.

He felt utterly ridiculous as he made his way out of the mansion.  Arnav never took so much caution just to go out of his own house.  He felt like he was a burglar who was now escaping the scene of crime.  Except, unlike a thief, he was wearing an expensive suit, watch, shoes, and what-have-you. 

The situation was beyond ridiculous.  It was absolutely ridiculous.

As he made his way to the car, he turned several times to see that no one was looking out from the windows of the mansion.  Now that he couldn’t squirm his way out of this...he just didn’t want to lie to them.

As he got into the car and started driving towards her house in Laxminagar, his eyes scanned for any paparazzi, a habit of his.  What would happen if the media got a whiff of this...rendezvous?  What would the headlines of tomorrow’s newspapers say??

Arnav Singh Raizada, the business tycoon, elopes and marries his girlfriend??

That would be fun to deal with.  Arnav groaned in frustration.  Why did I agree to this, again?  Oh right, because I fell in love with the one and only Khushi Kumari Gupta and now I’ve been reduced to some 23 year old man who is so head-over-heels for his woman that he’ll do the most ridiculous thing if it made her happy.  But why this?  Why couldn’t she ask me to make Jalebis for her?  Hell, I’d do those Salmaan Khan dance steps that she loves so much...I’ll even toss in the shirtless clause but why this??  Wait.  What?  Arnav. Singh. Raizada.  What the hell is the matter with you?  Don’t you dare put this idea in her head or else, next Valentine’s day, she’ll definitely make you dance...on her tunes as usual.

He found a secluded spot off the main road to park his car, or rather conceal it, from the prying eyes of her neighbours.  His eyes constantly glanced around for any observers as he stuck to the shadows and made his way to her house.  He ended up in the dead-end of the street from where he could see her window, which as per plan had been left open.  He could see dim flickers of light.

He couldn’t help but smile.  No, she hadn’t done it as a romantic gesture, he knew.  She was terrified of the dark and the candles were perfect to give her dim lighting and not attract unwanted attention of the aunties of the colony who may wonder what she was doing, being awake at this hour.

Arnav looked around on the floor and found two small pebbles.  Taking his aim, he hoped for the best and tossed it in the direction of her window.  He swore under his breath and ducked against a wall when the tiny pebble hit an empty metal canister lying off to the side, issuing a loud sound that echoed a bit too loudly in the eerie quiet of the night.  Arnav briefly imagined Khushi’s reaction to the sound.  She was probably standing in her room with one hand on her hip, one against her forehead, cursing her Lad Governor and complaining to her Devi Maiyya.

I can’t believe I’m doing this!!  Arnav was exasperated.  Never, in his life, had he thought that he would come in the middle of the night to her house, like thieves, and make her elope with him.  Romeo, Ranjha, and Majnu...be damned!  It’s because of you eternal lovers that us, normal men, have to suffer!

The second time Arnav’s aim had better purchase and the pebble soared through her window, landing on the floor of her room with a dull thud.  A couple seconds later, her glowing face appeared in the window.  She grinned at him and waved him forward enthusiastically.  Here he was, expecting her to look at least worried about running away from home but no...Her face was heaps of beauty and unmasked joy.

Arnav’s heartbeat raced.  She did that to him.  Every damn time.  He had been with her for a year now but the feeling was anew each time she smiled at him.  Every time she touched him, hugged him, kissed him, Arnav felt like he was over the moon.

She frowned at him and placed her hands on her hips, looking annoyed when he didn’t move.  Arnav smiled and walked towards her window in confident strides, no longer giving a damn about who saw him.

She moved aside to let him climb through her window.  The second his feet landed on the floor of her room, he grabbed her hands and had her pinned against the wall next to the window.  Her doe like eyes went wide with surprise at the suddenness of his actions.

“Khushi...”  Her name rolled off of his tongue in a husky whisper.

Khushi shivered under its effects.  She loved it when he said her name like that.  It made her stomach feel funny, her spine tingle, and her lips ticklish.  She knew what usually followed that expression on his face, the drugged eyes, and the whispering of her name.  He was going to kiss her. 

A part of her just wanted to throw her arms around his neck and welcome the kiss wholeheartedly but another part of her knew that they needed to get out before someone caught them.

As he leaned in closer, she wriggled her hand out of his grip and slapped it over his mouth, using her hand as a barrier between their lips.

“Not now...we need to leave...”  Her voice came out in a whisper too, albeit unintended.

Only she knew what it took from her to turn down a kiss from him.  The man drove her to the edge if insanity with his not-so-innocent kisses and usually, she would welcome that insanity.  He was a man in power, confident and masculine, and his dominance in their physical relationship always made Khushi want to surrender herself to him.  But tonight, she had to put a barricade on those thoughts because tonight, she was getting married to the very man.

She saw his eyebrows rise up higher on his forehead in amusement and then suddenly, he winked at her.  The confusion lasted about a second in her mind but then his gesture made sense as she felt him place an open mouthed kiss on her palm that she had pressed against his mouth.  She held onto her control and tried frowning at him in disapproval.  Like that would help.

She didn’t move her hand and he continued pressing kisses against her palm, breaking away her resolve bit by bit, torturously.  Smirking inwardly to himself, knowing exactly what he was doing to her, he gently touched the skin of her palm with the tip of his tongue and watched in triumph when her eyes fluttered closed and she drew her hand away from his mouth slightly.

Seizing the opportunity when it presented itself was one of Arnav’s greatest skills.  He put that acquired and polished skill to use as he pried her hand off of his mouth and pressed her further into the wall with his body, pinning her hands to her sides. 

She didn’t protest this time.  She knew a lost battle when she saw one and this battle was long lost.  Very much willingly so.

Arnav pressed his lips to hers eagerly.  The touch reiterated how much he had missed her in the six hours that he hadn’t seen her in.  He felt her body shiver against his and he smiled into the kiss.  Leave it up to Khushi Kumari Gupta to give his ego a healthy boost every single day.  She twisted her hands, trying to free them from his grip and this time, he let go, well aware of why she wanted them free.

The second he let go, she snaked her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, all the while maintaining contact with his lips.  He let out a throaty growl at her matched eagerness and held her firmly around the waist as he lifted her off her feet, quite literally.  If it weren’t for the Saree, she would have wound her legs around his pelvis.

His kiss turned hungry right away and his teeth started nipping at her soft plump lips, his tongue darting out to run over and soothe the area he bit down on, coaxing her to part her lips.  He grew impatient when Khushi didn’t grant his wishes and he bit down on her bottom lip a little harder, making her gasp.

Triumphant at his success, his tongue dived into the recesses of her mouth, trying to convince hers to join in on the dance.   Multiple moans escaped Khushi in the following few seconds as his ministrations continued.  The heat from their bodies radiated off and mingled in the non-existent gap between them.

He finally broke the lip lock, in desperate need of oxygen, but he wasn’t done yet.  His lips left a trail of kisses along her jaw and down the column of her neck.  Finding the sweet spot at the junction of her neck and shoulder, his teeth sunk into her milky skin, making her whimper in pleasure.

“Hmm...I love you.”  He spoke in between placing kisses around the freshly formed love-bite.

Her hand at his nape fisted his hair and next, he felt her trembling lips against his skin.  “I love you.”  She echoed his words.

With an enormous effort, he willed himself to stop.  He knew very well that if he didn’t, they would end up on that rickety old bed on hers and that was surely to wake up the entire colony, let alone the family.  Khushi wasn’t exactly a quiet lover when it came to that.  Once she got past her shyness, she matched his passion and sometimes even surpassed him and that was saying something.  It was one of the things that made him admire her:  she was the perfect amount of shy and the perfect bit of a seductress.  And She was all his.

She placed three open mouthed kisses along his neck and following his earlier actions, bit down at the junction at his neck and shoulder, giving him a love bite to match the one he’d given her, making him hiss.

“Stop that.”  He warned huskily.  “You’re already driving me crazy...”

He set her down on the floor gently but they remained entwined in each other’s embrace feeling the need to touch the other in any way possible.  His hand rubbed the smooth expanse of her skin at the waist while she ran her fingertips through his hair above his nape. 

“What did I do?”  She batted her eyelashes innocently.

Arnav frowned at her.  “Stop being a tease, Khushi...you know I lose control every time you wear red...or every time you wear a saree and today, you’re out to kill me by combining the two!”  He looked at her from head to toe, appreciating the beautiful minx that stood before him clad in a simple red saree that he had designed specifically for her.

She shrugged, tongue in cheek.  “Brides wear red sarees, Arnav...it’s not unusual...”

“That reminds me...we should really get going.”  Arnav glanced at his wrist watch.  Khushi nodded thoughtfully and then went on her tip toes to give him one last quick kiss.

Leaving him, she went to her bed and pulled out a small bag from under it.  Arnav raised his eyebrows.

“Khushi...we’re only running away for one night...”

“Oh I know...these are just some necessary things...I couldn’t wear the jewellery, you see...wouldn’t help sneak out.”  She grinned.

“Unbelievable.”  Arnav shook his head.  “I can’t believe I’m doing this!”

“Well you are.  You promised.  Now come on...climb out...”  Khushi jerked her chin in the direction of the window.

Arnav scanned the dark windows of the neighbourhood again and hopped out of her window, landing on his feet as lightly as a tiger on a hunt.  He turned around and lifted her out of the window.  Grinning foolishly, the two took each other’s hand and jogged along the shadows of the buildings until they reached his car.

Khushi laughed out in exhilaration as he started the ignition and drove smoothly onto the road.  She had done it.  She was running away with the man she loved on Valentine’s Day!

“Ahhh!!”  She squealed in excitement and leaned across to plant a loud kiss on his cheek.  “We did it!!  We’re running away!!”  She giggled uncontrollably, missing the dirty look he threw at her.

Any normal person would be terrified at the idea of running away, be afraid of getting caught by families but not Khushi.  Khushi was anything but normal.  Arnav and Khushi were as different as chalk and cheese.  How on earth the two had fallen in love, and to such an insane extent, was beyond Arnav’s understanding.  Clearly, he had forgotten the simple rule:  Opposites Attract.

She looked out of the window with a dreamy look on her face as he continued to drive towards the temple where they were to get married.  He smiled to himself, knowing well enough that she was probably day-dreaming about their future together.  He reached over and took her hand in his before resting their hands on his thigh. 

This was, perhaps, the biggest pro of driving an automatic car.  He had a free hand to hold Khushi’s with, which would otherwise be needed to change gears.

He parked his car, half an hour later, in front of a Devi Maa temple, as per Khushi’s insisting.  She had made it very clear to him that she wanted to get married in her Devi Maiyya’s presence.  Arnav turned to look at her and found her grinning childishly.

“I’ll go and make sure everything is ready.”  Arnav kissed her hand and she nodded in response.  He stepped out of the car and looked around the area, yet again checking to make sure that they weren’t followed by anyone.

He took off his shoes at the bottom of the staircase and made his way up the same a second later.  He found a groggy looking priest and his confidante, Aman, who was currently speaking to the priest animatedly.

“Everything ready, Aman?”  Arnav asked.

Aman smiled genuinely at him.  “Yes, ASR.  Everything is ready.  Including the photographer.”

“Aman...I told you specifically, I don’t want any media here.” Arnav snapped.

“Relax...”  Aman said as he pulled out a camera from his pocket.  “I’m the photographer.  I figured Khushi M’am would want pictures.”

She most definitely will want pictures.  Arnav agreed mentally.  He gave Aman a curt nod and made his way back to the car to bring his soon-to-be wife.  He knocked on the tinted glass of the passenger’s side window.  Khushi opened the door and stepped out, smiling broadly.

Arnav felt his breath hitch.  She now looked every bit of a bride-to-be, clad in a red saree and matching jewellery.  The necklace and earrings were plain and simple, just the way she liked it, but the colours of the beads and metal accentuated her milky skin, oddly enough giving it a velvety look.  Her slender wrists were adorned with a dozen of bangles each.  As she fixed the frills of her saree, Arnav caught a glimpse of the silver anklets that once belonged to her mother that Khushi always wore.  She had pulled her hair out of the loose ponytail and now it cascaded gracefully down her back.

She looked at him questioningly when he continued staring without saying anything.  “Too much?”  She bit her lip worriedly.

Arnav shook his head and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.  “No.  You’re perfect.”

And he meant it.  Despite her childish acts and demands, her crazy antiques, her ability to drive him crazy...she was perfect.  This runaway wedding didn’t seem like such a ridiculous idea anymore.

Together, they walked back into the temple, hand in hand.  And they remained that way throughout most of the ceremony.  Only when it was required from them to let go, did they let go of their hands.  Throughout their seven rotations representing the seven vows of marriage, Arnav held her hand firmly, letting her know that he would keep every promise until his last breath.  Aman was hovering as he took pictures of the couple but he was invisible to them.  They were too busy in this special moment of theirs to notice anything or anyone else.

Arnav tied the black beaded chain which supported a small diamond pendant around her neck.  The first rays of sunshine gave way to dawn at the same moment Arnav filled her parting with red vermilion.  A couple of tears of joy escaped the confines of her eyes and landed on her cheeks. Arnav shook his head at his dramatic...wait for it...wife.  Wife.  Mrs. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada.  It was a mouthful but he loved it. 

She had absolutely refused to drop the ‘Kumari Gupta’ from her name, not that he asked her to.  He didn’t believe in these traditions where the woman had to lose her individuality and take up her husband’s name.  In fact, he had respected her decision about keeping her maiden name and simply adding her married name to it and if possible, it made him fall in love with her a tad bit more.

Arnav and Khushi thanked Aman and walked off to the side for a private moment while Aman helped the priest pack up and give him his fees.

“So...Mrs. Raizada...happy now?”  Arnav asked, cupping her face.

She nodded with childish enthusiasm.  “Very!  I didn’t think you would actually follow through on your words.”

“To be honest, it did seem ridiculous earlier...I mean...we’re officially getting married in four days anyway...I didn’t see the appeal in running away and getting married”  Arnav kissed the tip of her nose.

She pouted in response.  “But four days later won’t be Valentine’s Day!  You know how much I tried to convince Di , Nani, Buaji, and Amma to keep our wedding date today??  But they wanted to wait for the auspicious time.”  Khushi rolled her eyes.

“So you made your fiance elope with you and get married because that was always exciting to you.  I know.”  Arnav circled her waist.

“Its Kareena Kapoor’s fault...ever since she said that line in ‘Jab We Met’...I’ve wanted to runaway and get married.”  Khushi grinned.

“I can’t really complain...you’ve become my wife four days before the original plan...and this can be our little secret...it is kind of exciting.”  Arnav admitted.

(Flashback)

“This is freaking ridiculous...you know we’ll be in deep shit if our families find out!”  Arnav argued.

“But they don’t have to find out!”  Khushi argued back.  “And just to remind you...you are the one who asked me what I wanted on Valentine’s Day...”  Khushi crossed her arms and turned away in a huff.

“I meant what gift...I thought you would say something normal... like jewellery or a movie date or a box of jalebis...I didn’t know you would propose running away and getting married four days before our planned wedding day!  We’re getting married on the 18^th as it is...why run away?”  He asked her exasperatedly.  This woman never failed to surprise him.  Shouldn’t he be the one in a hurry to get married??

“Offo!!  Because running away and getting married is so exciting and thrilling and...”  She sighed dreamily, “romantic...”

Arnav raised his eyebrows.  “You are unbelievable, Khushi.”

“No!  YOU are!  Can you stop being a Lad Governor and act a little romantic once in a while?  Would it kill you?  What happened to ‘I love you so much and I can do anything for you Khushi.’?”  Khushi did an excellent ASR imitation.

Arnav frowned.  “I have got to stop you from spending too much time with Di...you’ve become like her...emotional blackmailing and fake hurt and angry expressions and all.”

“Haww!  You think I’m faking it??”

“Don’t.”  Arnav warned.  “Don’t start that with me.” 

He was already deep in the emotional blackmail.  He wasn’t going to go down that road.  He looked at her pout and sad expression.  She blinked slowly, deliberately.  He hated it when she did that.  It made it practically impossible for him to refuse her anything even though he knew that it was a facade.  How could he say ‘no’ to anything when she was looking at him like that?

“Oh whatever!”  He exclaimed.  “Fine...if it makes you happy...we’ll run away and get married on the 14^th.”

Pure joy lit up her face.  “Really??”

“Really.”  Arnav nodded, smiling gently.

She yelped in excitement and threw her hands around his neck before smashing her lips to his, captivating him in a passionate lip lock.  If her expression hadn’t done the trick, this kiss would have definitely sealed the deal.  The vixen knew which buttons to push.

(End of flashback)

“How do you plan on explaining your newly married look to your family?”  Arnav teased.

Khushi shrugged.  “I’ll have to remove this...”  She ran the tips of her fingers along the black beads of the Mangalsutra.  “But the sindoor...I can smudge it until its barely visible and then I’ll just change the side of the parting to cover it up...”

Arnav raised his eyebrows, impressed.  “You’ve planned this well...”

The couple got engaged in an exchange of sweet nothings, and quick kisses, without realizing that a couple of hours had passed and that a light crowd of regular Devi Maiyya’s devotees was gathering and dispersing steadily. 

This was the issue with Arnav and Khushi.  They never realized how the time flew by or what their surroundings were when they were together.  Time and place became an unimportant, non-existent concept when they two found each other’s company.

On any given day, it would have been okay but to be so reckless in the morning of their runaway wedding, especially at a temple where Arnav’s Di, Anjali, worshipped the goddess daily, was just plain foolish.

And who better to call out Arnav on his foolish slips than Aman?  He came huffing and puffing towards the couple, annoying Arnav by interrupting something that Khushi was saying about their impending honeymoon.

“ASR...you two....run!....get out of here....A...Anjali M’am.”  He panted.

“What happened to Di?”  Arnav stood up immediately.

“No...Nothing happened to her but something will definitely happen to you two.  She’s here!  You two need to leave!”  Aman spoke animatedly, panicking.

“Oh no!”  “Fuck!”  Khushi and Arnav said simultaneously, respectively.

“Haww!  Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada.  Mind your language in the temple.”  Khushi reprimanded him.

“There will be more pearly swear words tossed around here if Di sees us like this!  Come on...Lets go!”  Arnav took her hand and pulled her behind a pillar as soon as he saw his Di.  Aman also ducked and hid behind the pillar next to them.

It wasn’t that he was scared of his Di.  He just didn’t want to deal with her drama.  More than that, he knew that as a man, he may even get away with this but Khushi would get an earful, especially from her Bua and Amma.  And Arnav wouldn’t have any of that.  So he guarded Khushi’s body by putting himself in front of her, lest Anjali saw them.

Arnav craned his neck to make sure that his Di wasn’t looking in their direction and when he was assured of the same, he pulled Khushi along and headed towards the staircase.

“Chotte??  Khushi Ji???”  Her sweet voice, with a hint of surprise, carried over to them, making them freeze on the spot, wide eyed.

Neither turned around to face her and Arnav hoped against hope that they could get away.

“If she kills us, I’m blaming you.”  Arnav muttered to Khushi.  “And if anyone says anything to you...”  Arnav trailed off, implying the unsaid threat.  Khushi swallowed in response.

“Anjali M’am?”  Aman’s voice was loud and clear. 

Arnav released a breath he didn’t know he was holding.  He thanked Aman in his mind and risked a glance in his Di’s direction.  And Boom!

That’s how Arnav Singh Raizada was caught with his runaway bride.

Anjali had been leaning around Aman to keep her eyes on the couple that looked a lot like her brother and his fiance.  Her doubts had been confirmed when Arnav had turned to look at her.  She gasped dramatically, the pooja thaal threatening to slip from her hands.

She walked over to them and stood in front of them, shocked as she took in Khushi’s appearance.  The two had run away and gotten married?!?  But why???

Anjali looked at a sheepish Arnav and then at Khushi, who had her eyes tightly shut as if awaiting a slap.  She clung to Arnav’s hand with a steel grip.  Anjali’s eyes travelled back to her beloved brother and narrowed.

“Explain.”  She ordered.

Khushi’s eyes flew open and her head snapped around to look at Arnav.  Arnav turned and looked at her at the same time.

Despite the situation, laughter bubbled up within them and they chuckled together before turning to face Anjali Singh Raizada.  And so began the retelling of the tale of The Runaway Couple.