Chapter Fifteen

As Arnav said, the following day, he told Sameer of his plan and his father absolutely agreed.

"You two should definitely go," Sameer said. "You two still haven't gone anywhere after your wedding."

"But don't think of this as your honeymoon," Mona said. "This is just a visit to your in-laws, you still have to decide where and when you will go on your honeymoon."

"Right," Sameer agreed. "This is just a trip."

"Okay dad," Arnav grinned.

Later that day, Arnav made a call to Nayan and Nayan was very happy that he and Khushi would be coming to visit for the week. It was decided that they would arrive sometime Monday afternoon and the plan was settled.

Khushi couldn't believe that she was actually going home, after all these days. She was really excited to get home - to be in her room once again, to eat her mother's cooking, to help her father with his business, to go through the roads of her town. She truly couldn't wait to go home, but at the same time, she didn't want leave her home. Although they had only been married for about 3 months, it was strange how quickly this place became her home. But that was probably just one of the wonders of marriage, and she didn't want to leave her in-laws at all.

"I have to admit Khushi, I don't want you to go to your mother's," Sameer said. "Who's going to make me those wonderful jalebis," he pouted.

Everyone else chuckled. Just like that, it was Monday morning and Arnav and Khushi were packed and ready to go. With the family there - except Abhay - to bid them off, they all exchanged their farewells and led the couple to the car. With all their bags put in the trunk, Arnav pulled away from the house and set out to Khushi's home.

The drive took a few hours, and before long, they arrived to Khushi's town. Khushi truly couldn't believe she was back, memories of the old days playing before her eyes as they drove through town.

"I bet you're really happy to be back," Arnav smiled softly.

Khushi nodded. "I'm so excited," she grinned.

Seeing her be so happy made Arnav smile. He turned his attention back to the road and after a few moments, they arrived to Khushi's home. At the door stood Nayan and Sumitra and the second Khushi got out of the car, she ran to her father and hugged him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Pagal, why are you crying," Nayan said, though he was choked up as well.

"I missed you both so much," Khushi sniffled.

She reached for her mother and hugged her as well.

Sumitra wiped her tears away. "Now's not the time to cry, laado. Now let me greet you and my son in-law into our home."

Arnav came besides Khushi and Sumitra greeted them into their home, Arnav taking blessings from both of them. Nayan leaded them into the living room, the workers bringing in their luggage.

"I hope the trip went well," Nayam said.

"It went perfectly well," Arnav smiled softly.

Sumitra came into the room and placed a tray of sweets and sherbet.

"Amma, you can't feed him that, he can't have sugar," Khushi exclaimed.

"Pagli, I already know that he can't," Sumitra said, shaking her head. "You only told me that maybe 50 times on the phone last night."

Arnav glanced at Khushi and Khushi leaned into the couch, feeling slightly embarrassed. Sumitra noticed this and she couldn't help herself but to wonder.

*~*

Taking them upstairs, Khushi's parents left them to get settled. Arnav looked around the room, taking it in. He stepped out to the balcony and looked down below, watching the busy streets.

"So this is where you grew up."

Khushi looked up at him and nodded. "Mm hmm."

She went over to him and stood by his side, looking down at the familiar surroundings. It was strange how it all felt so foreign and yet so known. The place she called home for so long felt slightly strange, yet so normal, but all in all, it felt good to be back.

"I can't wait to see the place," Arnav said.

"Well to be honest, there isn't too much to see. The town isn't so big, so there's not too much."

"Maybe for you - after all you grew up here. As for me, this place is foreign, simply the place my wife grew up."

Khushi's eyes shot up to his. He called me his wife.

"I'd like to get to know this place, if not as well as you do, just enough. Hmm?"

Khushi couldn't find her voice, so she simply nodded. Arnav smiled at her softly and went back into the room. Khushi watched as Arnav began to unpack and she quickly snapped out of her trance and helped him. As she put their belongings away, Khushi only realized the reality then.

For the first time ever, the room she had to herself her whole life, was now to be shared with the man who was her husband. For the first time ever, a man was going to sleep in her bed beside her.

Realizing this, stunned Khushi.

Hai DM!

*~*

Later that night, after they had all had dinner, Arnav, Khushi, and her parents were out on the terrace, the electricity having gone out.

"You must not be used to this," Nayan said.

"No, its alright," Arnav replied. "You can actually see the stars up in the sky like this."

Khushi looked up at the sky, admiring all of the shiny stars.

"You know, when Khushi was young, she used to  try her best to count all of the stars," Sumitra said.

"Amma," Khushi whined. She really didn't want to hear any of her embarrassing childhood stories.

"Really," Arnav said.

Khushi looked at Arnav and then at her mother in horror. No!

"Mm hmm. There was a time when she didn't know any number past twenty, so no matter how many she counted, she always said that there were twenty stars in the sky."

Khushi inwardly groaned - she really didn't want to hear any of these stories.

"Is that so," Arnav chuckled lightly.

Khushi blushed slightly. "I was only five."

Arnav chuckled and so did her parents, causing her to frown at them.

"Oh don't make that face laado," Nayan chuckled. "There's a lot more to share of your childhood."

"Bapu," Khushi whined.

"Come Khushi," Sumitra chuckled, "let's go get some drinks from the kitchen."

"Anything to avoid anymore embarrassing stories," Khushi said, twitching her lips, causing her father to chuckle.

Khushi followed her mother down to the kitchen and prepared some sherbet.

"Laado?"

"Hmm?"

Sumitra stopped her for a moment and turned Khushi to her. For a moment, she simply looked at her daughter. It still pained her to see the scars on Khushi's face, reminding her of the tragedy. She pulled Khushi in for a hug, giving her a tight squeeze. Khushi was confused by her mother's doings but she hugged her back.

"Are you okay Amma?"

Sumitra nodded and pulled back, wiping away her tears. "I just missed you, that's all."

Khushi smiled softly, wiping away her mother's tears. "I'm here now."

Sumitra nodded. "That you are," she smiled. "Tell me, how's everyone back there?"

"Papa is fine. Bhabi has become like my best friend and Maya is just a sweetheart. Adi bhai is like the brother I never had and Abhay-"

Khushi stopped herself and Sumitra looked at her curiously.

"Have you ever spoken to him," Sumitra asked.

"Not really," Khushi replied, her voice low. "He barely stays at the house, he has his own apartment that he stays at."

"Does he bother you?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "He rarely acknowledges me, which makes sense given that he's barely home."

"Hmm.... And what about you and Arnav?"

Khushi looked at her mother.

"By the looks of things... I'm assuming you two have yet to consummate this marriage."

"Amma!" Blush came flooding into Khushi's cheeks.

"What? I am your mother after all."

Khushi shook her head. "I don't want to hear you say that ever again."

"Okay fine, as you wish. But as your mother, I have to ask - are you happy with him Khushi?"

Khushi looked down. She thought of all the time she had spent with Arnav, of all the moments she had shared with him. "I am."

Sumitra sighed. "Then that's all that matters." She placed a kiss on Khushi's forehead. "So long as you're happy, that's all that matters to me. And hopefully some day, I pray, you will fall in love with him."

Khushi looked up at her mother, and then down at her hands.

"Unless... you already have?"

Khushi glanced at her and then looked away.

"Oh, laado...." Sumitra caressed her daughter's cheek in her hand. "Have you told him?"

Khushi shook her head.

"Why not?"

At first, Khushi said nothing and then looked up at her mother. "Amma, I... how can I Amma? With this face- I just-" Khushi turned away and sighed. "Who could ever love me?"

"Khushi, don't say that, you're a beautiful girl-"

"Was Amma. Was a beautiful girl. Now I'm a monster."

"Hush, don't say that! You're still as beautiful as you once were."

"How," Khushi asked, flipping around to her. "How, Amma, how? Not with these scars! Not with this face, not with this body! It's a wonder how he can even be looking at me!"

"Don't say that Khushi. Arnav is a very sweet man, and it's obvious how much he cares about you. In fact, I would even say that he loves you."

Khushi scoffed. "Right, sure he does."

"I think he does Khushi, I really do. You mustn't doubt yourself."

Khushi rolled her eyes, a tear escaping and rolling down her cheek. Sumitra hated to see her baby girl like this, so she pulled her into her arms.

"I wish you would realize how beautiful you are, laado. Truly, I wish you would."