You May Be Chapter 3

Chapter 3



Khushi came running to her room and came to a stop in front of the mirror, breathing heavily and blushing like a red rose in a garden. She smiled as she sat down and remembered their encounter, how dangerously close Arnav had been to her. His fingers trailing a path along her bare back made her shiver yet again. She realized being married to him was not going to be easy after all! He would kill her with his intensity and she would gladly die.
Khushi had not experienced this woman inside her, because until now she was a girl for herself who loved singing, dancing, sleeping and doing random things but today she felt like a woman who wanted love and affection, a woman who reciprocated to his touch. Khushi didn't know that these feelings could exist.  She buried her face in her palm as she remembered him say, "Come to my room when you are ready and we will go down together." That sentence itself was giving her butterflies.



She quickly completed her make-up and made sure she left her hair open, just as he said was Better'. After wearing her dupatta so that she was decently covered, Khushi walked over to his room, her heart-beat running a marathon as she knocked again before looking up at the man who stole her breath again.
Arnav looked up from the laptop and stood up from the sofa and smiled a bit as he saw her open just the way he had asked her and he had to admit again that she was looking like a Barbie doll!




Shashi was busy welcoming the guests while Garima was busy checking all the arrangements. Payal and Anjali had not yet returned and Akaash was sitting with NK and Lavanya in the hall. On one hand he was nervous as hell for his marriage and on the other hand, happy for his brother's marriage. Nani was sitting and chatting with Manorma.



Arnav's eyes never left Khushi's even for a split of second as he moved forward until he reached the door and came to stand nearly 10 inches away from her. Khushi stole her eyes away from his and started looking down at the floor when Arnav smiled which her eyes missed. He held her hand which made her look up but instead of saying anything he led her inside his room.
Khushi meekly followed behind him and he made her sit on the sofa. He left her hand and went to his cupboard. A few moments later he returned with a small box in his hand and sat in front of her on one knee. He opened the box and Khushi looked at the content of the box surprised and she looked at him as he lifted his sincere gaze softly giving her an innocently breath-taking look.

He silently took out one anklet and his other hand reached her foot as he pulled her lehnga a bit up making her gasp audibly. He placed her foot on his thigh as he made her wear the anklet and placed her left foot back and picked up her right foot and placed it on his thigh and took out the second anklet. He closed the hook and his thumb caressed her foot a moment longer making Khushi close her eyes because of the havoc his simple gesture was creating on her.

He placed her foot back and stood up. Arnav held out his hand to Khushi who shyly placed her hand in his. Again they did not need words between them because the feelings were just enough. Arnav couldn't help but notice how perfectly her hand had fit in his as they walked down slowly.

Arnav and Khushi walked down the grand stairs holding hands like an official couple and luckily Anjali had returned because it was her dream to see her brother happy and content with a hand holding his to support him forever, today seeing Khushi and him made her dream come true.
Every pair of eyes turned to the ravishing couple walking down the stairs. It was as if even the grand decorations of the hall were lacking beauty in front of the couple. No one could tear their eyes off them.
Shashi smiled as he looked at their entwined hands and his heart was finally at peace that he was about fulfill the promise he had made to his best friend. Anjali came around nani and whispered, "Nani, look is that really our Chotey? Smiling and happy? I can't believe it!" she exclaimed and nani agreed.

"Today is just the welcoming ceremony and they have not even been engaged yet, and they are holding hands..."Laughed nani.
"You are right nani. Look at Khushi ji, the way she is blushing, as if she has eaten 100 tomatoes!" Anjali laughed.
"I am so happy for them..." Shashi came up to Garima.
"My daughter has never looked happier..." Garima agreed.



Just then Shashi's event manager came up and told him that everything was ready for him to take the stage and welcome the guests so he went up with him. As shashi reached the stage he took the mike and began speaking, "Hello everyone. I will take this opportunity to welcome you all to our Udaipur farmhouse for the grand wedding of my two loveable daughters Payal and Khushi to Akaash and Arnav. I would love to thank you all for joining us on this auspicious occasion and gracing us with your presence. Thank you for coming here to bless the couples. I hope you all will enjoy your stay with us and enjoy the ceremonies which will start from tomorrow. Please feel comfortable throughout and do inform me if you need something or if something lacks in our preparation. Have a good evening."

Shashi handed the mike over to the manager as everyone applauded his speech. Khushi couldn't help but admire his father. He was so perfect yet down to earth, so professional yet sweet. Then it suddenly hit her! She wouldn't be returning home from Udaipur! She will be going to Arnav's house. She was going to get married and leave her house forever very soon.

She looked up at Arnav who was talking to a guest but his hand was around hers securely and she smiled, she was glad she was marrying Arnav. After shashi he was the only person she could trust to protect her and love her.

Anjali came up and took Khushi to meet some other guests while Arnav looked at her retreating back. He realized he was going to married to the absolutely stunning beauty in three days. She looked so beautiful as she was busy talking away to the guests and her silky, straight hair teased her eyes and as she shyly put it back behind her ear, she would sneak a glance at him and she would gasp.
He was doing just as he said. He was looking at her only! With a shameless want in his eyes. His intense gaze made her weak in her knees. He was right; he had eyes only for her and no one else. Khushi tried to look away but she looked up after every minute because she could see the purity in eyes when he looked at her.

After a while the main course was being served and Arnav was seated with everyone of the family on the main table while Khushi was standing with Payal a few meters away from the table as they were busy discussing about their engagement attire for the next day.
Arnav looked at Khushi who was busy with Payal and sighed. The seat beside him was empty and he was expecting Khushi to come and sit with him and have dinner. As if listening to him Khushi looked at him. Through his eyes Khushi could read his emotions, he didn't even gesture her to come but she knew it.

"Jiji bohot bhook lagi hai, pehle khana khalein?" Khushi asked Payal and she agreed.

Khushi walked slowly towards the table and sat beside him quietly which made Arnav smile. She understood him so well!

He took out his cell and texted her for the first time which he found amusing while doing so because he had always had her number but they never communicated before. So he texted,


Khushi's phone buzzed after a nano-second and she checked it. Her heart did a flip as she read the name of the person who sent the message. For the first time, her hands trembled to open a message. She opened it and read it.


A walk with me after dinner...
Outside near the sea-wall..
Will you come?


She couldn't believe it! Arnav was asking her out? A day before their engagement? Okay! Okay! He was not literally asking her out but it was still something big for her. She was touched at his first gesture of coming close to her and to be very honest Khushi really appreciated his effort because she knew, such things didn't come to Arnav easily.

She quickly typed in and replied,

Sure.


Arnav opened the message and smiled. The way she had written sure' instead of yes' or okay' clearly indicated how much she trusted him and she didn't doubt him even a percent. The way Khushi had placed immense trust in him was really overwhelming for him.


The food had been served and he saw from the corner of his eyes that Khushi had started eating already and he was quite amused that she was actually eating and not shying away like other girls would. He had seen girls shy away from eating because they wanted to keep a sophisticated image but Arnav hated that because for him it meant being fake.

With Khushi he felt different. He could feel she was a really genuine person and that is what he liked about her the most. He was glad he was marrying her.



The dinner was really enjoyable for everyone as they had a get-together after a very long time. So literally everyone was busy chatting even after the dinner was over and desert was being served. The other guests were seated on their respective tables and were busy in their own accord.
Arnav liked Shashi's style very much. He liked how shashi had arranged tables for every family invited separately and the two families which were about to become relatives soon had a large table so that they could sit and eat together. Just as Arnav was noticing the arrangement, he realized that this was the right time to go to the sea-wall with Khushi as they were not needed here for any specific task.

Khushi ate a spoon of her ice cream and sneaked a glance at Arnav who was busy looking at the hall as if scanning every decoration. She smiled thinking about his polite gesture of asking her out in her own farmhouse. The sea-wall was part of their farmhouse. Because the house was located right in front of the sea so shashi had made a beautiful sea-wall so that they could walk around the edges of the compound without being scared of falling in the water.

As a matter of fact Khushi loved the sea-wall because it was the most peaceful part of their house and she loved spending time there whenever they paid a visit to the farmhouse, Khushi was glad that her dad had bought a beach front property. She was waiting for him to indicate when to go outside very eagerly. She was more happy because she wanted to show him the sea-wall, as she had decorated it herself today. She didn't know why she wanted to but she just did. Khushi mindlessly gulped down her ice-cream while thinking about him, but today she was feeling very different. Even though she was eating something cold, Khushi was feeling very hot and she realized it was happening because he was sitting barely four inches apart from her. She never realized that he could affect her in so many ways.

After a few minutes Arnav stood up and walked by to the side of shashi. He bent down so that only shashi could hear him. Khushi saw him whisper something in his ear and shashi looked up and smiled at her, then he nodded positively at Arnav. Khushi blushed because she knew he went there to ask for her dad's permission which Khushi found really sweet.

He could have just taken her outside and she wouldn't have objected but her mind would have been restless about informing shashi, Khushi realized that Arnav knew her too well so he did things the way she would have liked, the appropriate way.



Khushi stood up and followed Arnav outside.

Once outside Arnav stopped so that Khushi could catch up with him and they could walk side by side. As Khushi came and stood beside him, he realized she was huffing which made him realize that he walks too fast and the poor girl might have had a hard time to catch up.

He gave her a few seconds to calm down and started walking slowly and Khushi tagged along. They were walking down the path which was decorated by Khushi herself, infact the entire area was looking ravishing indeed.

"It's beautiful..." Arnav said slowly admiring the decorations.

Khushi looked at him and smiled, "Thank you." She said genuinely.

"You like decorating and designing don't you?" he asked still looking around.

Khushi mumbled a "Hmmm..." and they remained silent for a while and Arnav talked again.


"So why didn't you join Harvard for designing and entrepreneurship courses, instead you went to Oxford for accounting and economics?" he asked curiously. Khushi was amazed at his question; she had not expected him to ask her this. He was so interested to know why she had chosen her career path and most importantly he knew what courses she did.
Khushi didn't know what quite exactly to say but she didn't want to remain quiet and make him think she didn't want to talk so she started, "I...umm... actually I love accounting and economics and I wanted to have my own advertising company in future..." She paused for thinking and spoke again, "..You know in this time of recession, all jobs and businesses can be at stake but people will never stop advertising. They will need reliable people. ...so I think I just wanted to make a smart career choice..." she completed with a smile on her face.

Arnav chuckled for the first time at her answer, she was right, he really liked her wit.

Khushi on the other hand looked at Arnav amused, he chuckle sound she heard did magic to her ears. She couldn't help but smile herself looking at him. He was indeed enjoying with her.

Finally they reached the sea-wall and they started walking around the path, slowly. They remained silent and enjoyed the warmth of being together. As they were walking, accidently their hands brushed against each other sending a chill down their spine.
Khushi didn't remove her hand away and he really liked that so he slowly slipped his hand in hers and held it securely while Khushi too tightened her fingers around his hand. After a while they came to a bench and they sat down facing the sea. The shore was illuminated with the lights and it was looking magnificent just like Khushi, thought Arnav.

It was really breezy out there and Arnav could see Khushi wear her dupatta around her body in order to avoid the cool air. He instantly took of his jacket and put it around her. Khushi was surprised at his gesture, Arnav was showing her new shades everyday and she loved them all. Moments passed as they sat there and finally Arnav spoke in a low voice, "Thank you Khushi." That made Khushi tilt her head and look at him with confusion. Why was he thanking her? She saw his expression was clam and even a small hint of smile was appearing on his face. Khushi waited for a few seconds hoping he would tell her the reason but when he remained quiet she urged him to continue, "Thank you for?"



Now Arnav smiled openly and breathed deeply inhaling the cool wind caressing his face and spoke, "Ma left me when I was 8 years old and you were just 6 years old at that time. You didn't even know what death was. I was so lonely Khushi but you understood me." He sighed and continued, "I still remember that I didn't eat lunch because  I wanted it to be cooked by ma... You came like a fairy in my life... I still remember how you had pulled me up from the corridor and took me to the mango tree... You made me sit there and fed me with your own hands... you understood me without saying a single word..." Arnav took her right hand is his left and spoke again, " Every single day you made me eat from your lunch which was cooked by your mom so that I don't miss my mom... I can never thank you enough for understanding my pain and assuming my pain as yours..."

"You remembered?" Khushi barely whispered through the tears which had now slipped down her cheeks.

"I can never forget that Khushi. You never left me alone till we went to different universities, in different parts of the country. Khushi you are the best life partner anyone can ever have.." he admitted as he let the tears spill out of his eyes.

Arnav got up from the bench and sat down on one knee in front of Khushi, holding both her hands. He looked in her eyes and smiled. And he what he said next made Khushi's heart stop.

"Khushi I love you."

Khushi couldn't believe it. Was she dreaming or what? Did he just say he loves her? Was this real? Khushi was brought back to reality from her thoughts as Arnav continued...

"I love you so so much. I love you more than life Khushi." He said kissing her hands which made Khushi shiver as his lips made its first contact with her skin.

"I love you too, "whispered Khushi.

He smiled again and sat up beside her again still holding her hands and turning her side instead of looking at the sea. "Khushi when I talked to you this morning. I told you what I expect from this marriage so that you say yes. Now that you have agreed, I want to know what you want from this marriage because you are equally important in this marriage. I don't want you to think that I am being selfish; I want to know what your expectations are." He told her.

In a daze of what he had confessed moments ago Khushi blurted without thinking, "A kiss..." and as she realized what she had said, Khushi covered her mouth with her hands and her eyes widened in horror. Arnav just chuckled in return and then said slowly, "I can make that wish come true..."

Khushi opened her mouth to say something but he hushed her, "Shh... no need to explain. It's okay. I won't misunderstand your character and this is perfectly normal. We are getting married in four days." He assured her and then added to tease her, "But that should have been my line.." he laughed lightly making Khushi blush a shade of red he had never seen.

Khushi blushed thinking how he understood her and assured her about him trusting her good character. They knew each other so well.

"Khushi please tell me what are your expectations so I can fulfill them.." Arnav urged her to which Khushi smiled and replied, "Your expectations are exactly my expectations. Whatever you said this morning was all I ever wished for and you have fulfilled my expectations." She told him honestly.

"Really?" he whispered as he inched closer and his left hand went around her waist pulling her closer and his right hand cupped her cheek. "Hmm..." she whispered back as his lips captured hers for the first time, sealing their love forever.

Afterall this was the beginning of their new journey.