Khushi got to the garage first. Panting, and still laughing she reached for the hose pipe, whilst yelling to Happy Singh inside, 'Happy ji, we are borrowing your pipe for a bit!!' That said she turned the water on, and splashed Arnav with it. Laughing wildly, whilst dancing around him, not letting him get hold of the pipe.
After the initial shock of the water hitting him, and wiping the Haldi clean from his face he watched Khushi, with sheer enjoyment, as he saw Khushi transform to a child with a new toy. Jumping around and laughing in excitement at managing to spray Arnav with water first. He too was laughing with her, how could one not, her laughter was contagious, just like a baby cackling away at a rattle that brought them so much joy.
He fell in love with her all over again in that moment, seeing her drenched in joy and happiness. He loved how she found such amusement in the smallest of things. It was incomprehensible for him how the grandest gestures of love often went unnoticed or unheeded by her, but the smallest actions bought such reactions out of her, it made his heart jolt every time. Khushi would always be a mystery for him, but she was his mystery to solve, and solve he would layer by layer, in the years that were to come.
Completely soaked now, he advanced on her, making her know that it was her turn to get drenched by the water. She began moving in circles, as he tried to get hold of the pipe. Thinking that she was winning, she smiled, and said challengingly, 'you can't catch me Arnav ji...'
Arnav, who had not been trying, now stepped up and began circling with her, keeping his eyes on her feet, knowing that she would trip any minute, having gone round in circles causing the pipe to encircle her. He smirked, she never learned, always entangling herself, be it fairy lights, or this pipe. Seeing the pipe neatly wrapped around her feet, he broke away from the circular motion they both were moving in and took one step towards her, that did it. His advance made her panic, and as she tried to move back, she tripped and let go of the pipe, allowing him to catch her and the pipe.
Holding the pipe in one hand, and cradling her in the other, he eyed her and then said with his victorious smile, 'how many times do I have to tell you Khushi, I'm Arnav Singh Raizada, and I never loose.' With that he looked at the pipe in his hand, water pouring out of it and then at her, his eyes lighting up in mischief, as hers' brightened up in anxiety. He bought the pipe over her head and let the water pour all over her, not listening to her 'No Arnav ji, please...aahh...nooo...' She struggled in his hold, trying to get out of it and away from the water, but he kept his grasp firm on her, only to let her go once she was completely drenched. She moved away from him but he kept the pipe aimed at her, as she put up her hands and danced around, trying to move out of his range, only to find him everywhere.
After a while he lowered the pipe, as he took her soaked form in. Her wet sari clung about her, hugging each curve of her body, and showing the skin underneath the fabric. Her hair now open due to the water hung about her, with a few flower blooms still embedded in it, as stray strands stroked her cheeks. Water droplets slid down her skin, caressing her cheeks, arms, back, chest and waist. He envied every little droplet that kissed her soft, wet skin. His eyes devoured her, wishing to be able to touch, to feel the beautiful form that stood before him, who was completely aloof of the effect she had on him. She stood a few feet away from him, twisting the aanchal of her sari, trying to get the water of out it. Getting most of the water out she let go of the aanchal and moved her hands to her face, in order to brush off the stray strands that were clinging on to her face. Her hands then encircled her hair, as she began drying it, initially twisting it around to get the water out, and then jerking it from one side to the other. As she jerked it, her bangles jingled and a few droplets of water from her hair sprayed onto Arnav's face, causing him to come out of his reverie.
Khushi allowed her hair to come to a rest on her side, where she untangled it and moved it to finally look up at her love. But she was taken aback, when she saw he was no longer there, in her attempt at drying herself, she had not noticed when he had left. She turned towards the house when she felt his hand on her shoulder. Not expecting his touch she jumped only to find herself slam into his lean chest. She turned her head to look at him, but before she could say anything, she felt something drape her shoulder, she looked down on her shoulder to find Arnav holding her red dupatta which he was attempting to wrap around her frame. She gave him a quizzical look, but he just smiled, keeping his eyes on her face, as he wrapped the dupatta around her, covering her chest and back. Seeing the dupatta wrapped around her like a shaal, she realised he had wrapped her to make her warm. She smiled at his chivalry, and turned around to add, 'Arnav ji, thank you, but this is a dupatta not a shaal, it won't make me warm, besides even a shaal wouldn't bring me warmth right now as I am soaked to the skin.'
It was Arnav's turn to smile, she could be so naive at times, 'Khushi, this isn't to keep you warm, it is to cover your transparency.' As the realisation of what he said dawned upon her, her jaw dropped in horror as she hugged her body in attempt to cover it, only to realise her Arnav ji, had already made sure of that. Horror of her exposure was replaced by embarrassment, as she lowered her eyes and clutched the sides of the dupatta making sure it was covering her. Arnav seeing her discomfort, placed his hand on her back, holding the dupatta in place, she as on instinct moved closer to him as he led her back to the house.
As they entered the house Khushi nervously looked up at him. He gave her an encouraging smile and suggested, 'Why don't you go in and change.' She nodded, and made her way across the lounge to her room. She stopped at the door to turn around and look at him. He was still standing near the door, staring after her. She gave him a shy smile, thanking him for protecting her from onlooker's in the neighbourhood, and went inside. Her sweet thank you tugged at his heart, making him want to cross the lounge and hold her in his arms. Making her his. But he controlled the urge, knowing too well she would be uncomfortable by it and that Bua ji and the others would disapprove of him embracing her in the middle of the lounge with guests around. Keeping that in mind, he went off to find a towel to dry himself, whilst thinking that he would act upon his urge when he managed to pry Khushi away from everyone for a private moment.
Writer: Actywm
