"We two make banquets of the plainest fare
In every cup we find the thrill of pleasure...
For us life always moves with lilting measure
We two, we two, we make our world, our pleasure"
? Ella Wheeler Wilcox
She was bubbling with happiness. Surely one person wasn't expected to take in this much happiness? She can't remember the last time she felt such ecstasy.
She was seated on the windowsill, looking up at the night sky. Her knees were tucked in, trying to keep in the warmth as the cold autumn wind blew past. The night was too beautiful to keep the windows closed ' the stars were shining extra brightly, the moon's glow was ethereal and the trees were dancing in the ceaseless tune of the winds.
The perfect night for a perfectly happy bride-to-be.
But, alas, where there is happiness, there is reflection and where there is reflection, there is regret.
Whose grand idea was all this 'nafrat' and 'fighting'? Such a waste of time when there'sbadtameez and 'I love, you damn it' proclamations.
No more, for khushi's sake, no more.
Now was the time for silly pranks and endless phone calls, for blushing and down cast eyes, for wall cornering and intense eye locks, for all the mohabath in the world.
Speaking of mohabath.
Her cell beeped almost on cue.
What are you doing?
What do people normally do at 12 in the night, Arnav-ji?
A variety of things Khushi, none of which is appropriate for an innocent text conversation.
Besharam. I meant sleeping.
No you're not.
And how would you know that?
I always know what you're doing.
She took a second longer to reply as the wind caused her hair to flutter onto her face, and the phone rang. Patience, as everyone knows, was never Arnav Singh Raizada's forte.
"Hi."
One person 'simply- wasn't allowed to seduce with a single word, that too of very little importance. That was unfair.
"Arnav-ji."
Why did her voice always sound breathless when she spoke to him?
"Yes?"
The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop.
"Something's not right."
"What?"
"I mean everything is right, right. Too right, right. But that's why it feels like something is notright. Because things are never right, right with us."
"You're saying something is wrong since everything is right.. .. .. right?"
"Right."
"You're barking mad Khushi."
Aren't husbands-to-be supposed to be loving and caring and sucking up to their fiancee's? Apparently Arnav Singh Raizada was, as always, an exception.
"Laad Governor."
She was serious and he was making fun of her. She heard him sigh.
"We deserve this Khushi.. After..After everything. You deserve to be happy. Why can't you grasp that?"
There was silence. He sighed again, in a fashion that only a true husband-to-be can.
"Keep the back door open."
"What?"
But he had already cut the call.
Now she dad done it ' worried him for no reason, over something as silly as the right, right.
Why couldn't she just hold her tongue for longer than five minutes without incessantly blabbering? Poor Arnav-ji, he's the one who's going to have to put up with that annoying habit for the rest of his life.
There was that bubbly giddy happiness again.
Forever.
He was going to be hers forever. What could possibly be better than that? She would spend every day waking up in his arms and tangled up around him and he would say 'what the' but still indulge her. He would, of course, use up all the hot while she would let him keep that galling trait because he would hug her after his shower ' all warm and cosy.
Simply put; she couldn't wait to be married to Arnav Singh Raizada.
Mr Raizada, as it would seem, couldn't wait either.
She heard the low rumble of an SUV outside. To be exact ' a white SUV.
He was here!
Keep the back door open.
She closed her eyes. He would come to her. He always did. The one person who alwayscame to her and not the other way round. He came to her when he hated her; he came to her when he loved her.
It was only a matter of time.
One.
A smile overtook her face.
Two.
Her heart swelled with anticipation.
Three.
Warm hands snaked around her waist pulling her into warmth ' her favourite kind of warmth. His cheeks rested against hers and their breaths mingled.
"Hi."
She couldn't possibly be expected to reply, not when he was completely engulfing her without even a semblance of space. Surely not then.
She closed her eyes instead, letting herself be swept away by the feel of him all around her. It was the best feeling in the world- being in his arms. Nothing could harm her here not even the darkest of nights or fastest of cars.
"Khushi."
"Hmm." She hummed in response.
"We're getting married tomorrow."
She opened her eyes and twisted in his arms so that she was looking at him. Her face was dazzling with her perfectly content smile.
"Yes we are."
She looked into his chocolaty-smouldering-eyes. They were intently fixed on hers. It was like as if she was the only thing that mattered in his world. Arnav wanted her. How could she not melt from the sheer knowledge of that?
"You shouldn't be here; it's unlucky to see the bride before the wedding." Even as she said this her arms went about him, resting over his shoulders.
"How can it ever be unlucky to look at you?"
There was that dazzling smile again.
"Have you become a mushy romantic Mr Raizada?"
"Only to my wife."
"And where is this wife of yours?"
"Somewhere.. probably with a really dashing man."
"Well you really shouldn't be cheating on your wife Mr Raizada."
It was getting real hard to keep a straight face.
He let his arms slide away from her waist and slowly trail up her arms, leaving goosebumps in its path.
"I shouldn't be doing a lot of things, Miss Gupta"
She closed the non-existent space between them, stood on her tip toes and hugged him tight.
"What are you doing here Arnav-ji?"
"I just wanted to see if you were fine.."
"I am fine. We're getting married. How can I be anything but fine?"
He pulled away and his eyes roamed over her face, as if trying to read her thoughts.
"Then why are you over thinking things?"
How did he always know?
"Ever since I was kid I always wanted the fairytale wedding with the prince charming."
A peculiar expression overtook his face.
"I am not Prince Charming Khushi."
"No you're not."
"And this isn't the perfect wedding by a long shot."
"No it isn't."
"Khu.."
Her eyes were wide with determination.
"But in spite of it, I perfectly happy and content. Don't you see it? This.. you.. that's all I want."
"Then what was all that about the right right?"
"That was nothing.. just something silly."
"Tell me." His eyes looked deep into her, coaxing her to speak.
She let out a long breathe as her cheeks turned red.
"The balance of the universe."
"What the?" The disbelief was clear in his voice.
She pushed him away, huffing and turned the other way.
"You're laughing at me."
"No Khushi.. Really? The 'balance of the universe?' How did you even come with that?"
She turned around with her eyebrows' scrunched up.
"Because that's how it's always been, okay?"
His expression immediately sobered up as understanding dawned over him.
He closed the distance between them once again and clasped her hands, letting it rest in between them.
"I have some shocking news for you Miss Gupta."
Her eyes widened and eyebrows went swoosh upwards.
"You're just going to have to get used to it. There's really no other option."
"What?"
He rolled his eyes.
"You're going to be happy for the rest of our life together. No 'universe' can take away your happiness, not if I can help it."
Her eyes moistened, how could this man possibly belong to her? How could this perfectly imperfect man be all hers?
"Shh.. Khushi. You don't have to say anything."
He wrapped his arms about her and tucked her under his chin.
"I love you."
She turned her chin upwards, their eyes met.
"Hamesha."
