Chapter Eight

As soon as her dressing was complete, the nurse helped Khushi put on a simple yellow sari. Once that was complete, the nurse left and Arnav came back into the room. Khushi stood there awkwardly. She didn't know what to do nor what to expect. When Arnav came into the room she felt his eyes on her, but not for long. From the corner of her eyes, she watched as Arnav took out his clothes from the wardrobe and go into the bathroom to change. Once he went in, Khushi exhaled. She hadn't even realized that she was holding it in.

Khushi sat down on the bed and sighed. Why didn't he say anything? But then again what would he say? 'I'm going to change'? Well that's quite obvious considering he took his clothes with him.

Khushi sighed once more and plopped back as she shut her eyes. She didn't hear the faint click of the bathroom door opening, so she didn't realize that Arnav had stepped out. But Arnav saw her, and when his eyes landed on her, he was stuck in gaze. She looked stunning in her sari, and he recalled Mona telling him that Khushi's favorite color was yellow.

I should buy her something yellow, or better yet-

Khushi opened her eyes and saw Arnav. Immediately, she sat up and looked around, flustered. She was about to stand up, when Arnav stopped her.

"It's okay, you should get some rest."

Khushi looked down, unsure of what to say, or even if she should say something, for that matter. Arnav could see the flustered expression on her face, and he found it very cute. In fact he found it so cute, that he started walking towards her. Khushi noticed him approaching from the corner of her eyes and she looked up at him.

Is he going to say something? Do something?

Khushi gulped and Arnav noticed the tinge of fear that appeared on her face. That's when he realized his approach, so he took off his watch and set it on the nightstand.

"Go to sleep," he simply said, and stepped back.

He went around the bed and laid down, then turned off the lamp on his side. Khushi just looked at him, then recovered and did as he said. She turned off the lights and glanced back at Arnav. His back was facing her and there was a lot of distance between them. Khushi turned back around and snuggled into her pillow, then slowly drifted to sleep. Arnav glanced back at her and looked at the distance between.

Maybe someday, this distance will go away. Slowly, but someday.

*~*

Although the two newly weds had fallen asleep on the opposite sides of the bed, both had moved closer and closer to each other throughout the night. One moment they had their backs against each others, then Arnav faced Khushi, and then Khushi went into his arms.

Arnav awoke first, and when he found himself holding Khushi, he was shocked. For a moment he gazed at her, and then his attention turned to her scar. His hand moved up on its own and he ran the back of his hand beneath the scar.

At the contact of his hand, Khushi's eyes fluttered open and she woke up. Instantly the two froze, their eyes locked on the others. Neither spoke a word, unsure of what to say, though the two wondered how they ended up so close in the first place.

Did I move closer to him overnight, Khushi wondered. But why is he caressing my cheek?

How do I get out of this without embarrassing myself?

The alarm clock went off, snapping both out of their thoughts and causing the two to pull away from the other. Arnav reached back and silenced the little menace, then got up. Neither spoke a word to each other, too embarrassed by their earlier position. Instead they focused on getting ready for the day and headed down to breakfast to join everyone.

"How lucky am I to have this wonderful family," Sameer grinned.

Everyone was seated at the table and the servants had served the food.

"I never thought I'd see this day."

"Dad," Aditya frowned.

"You know how we feel when you such things," Arnav frowned.

Everyone frowned at the old man.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Sameer apologized .

The family dived right into breakfast, all happy and joyous.

"So my sweet devarji," Mona began, "any plans for the honeymoon," she teased.

"Bhabi," Arnav frowned.

Mona began to chuckle while Aditya smirked at him.

"She has a good point, you know," Sameer said. He looked at Khushi. "Tell me Khushi - where would you like to go?"

Khushi paused, pursing her lips. What was she to say? She glanced at Arnav and looked down at her breakfast. She didn't want to offend Sameer and say that she didn't want to go anywhere - how could she be okay with a honeymoon when she didn't even love her husband, let alone didn't even know him so well?

Memories of earlier this morning came flooding to Khushi's mind. She glanced at Arnav once more, remembering how Arnav had caressed her cheek.

Why did he do that?

"Do you have any place in mind Arnav," Mona asked.

"Actually-"

Just then, Arnav's phone went off. Seeing that it was from the office, Arnav took the call.

"Hello... hmm... hmm... we'll discuss this with everyone during the meeting," and he hung up.

"Who was that," Sameer asked.

"Aman - we got the deal for Thailand."

Aditya picked up his head, "You mean..."

"We got it bhai," Arnav grinned.

Sameer clapped. "Oh, what a joy! We've been waiting for this for so long." He looked at Khushi. "Looks like your our good luck charm as well."

Khushi looked at him in confusion and Mona chuckled.

"Don't mind them Khushi," Mona said. "They've been working on some business proposal with this company in Thailand for I don't even know how long now."

"But do you have any idea what this means," Aditya said excitedly. "This is gonna be so good for the company."

"That it will be," Sameer said. "But the timing of it...."

Arnav reached out to his father. "Don't worry about the honeymoon dad. We can go away later and I can work on this with you guys for now."

"But-"

"No buts dad. I wanna help you and I'm going to - all of you."

Khushi glanced at Arnav and how he held his father's hand. Seeing the devotion Arnav had for his father brought a small smile to her face. It wasn't often in this day of time that many sons respected their elders the way Arnav did. Oddly enough, it gave her a sense of pride that she was married to such a man.

And it didn't go unnoticed by Mona.

Dear heavenly above, let these two souls unite.