Chapter Sixteen

With the electricity back up and running, everyone decided to call it a night. Khushi had changed up into her nightwear and was reentering her room, her eyes landed on Arnav. He was sitting up and leaning back in bed, laptop in hand as he checked through some emails. Khushi simply stood there in pause, taking in the fact that this was the first time a man would be sleeping beside her in her bed. Yes she had realized it before, but now, seeing him in her bed, was only making the matter seem more real.

"Is something wrong?"

"Huh?"

Khushi snapped out of her thoughts and saw Arnav looking at her curiously.

"Um, nothing, nothing really," and she went over to her vanity to comb her hair.

As she combed her hair, Khushi noticed in the mirror that Arnav was watching her. She felt a bit odd, but then again, this wasn't really much compared to that one night before.

"Your hair is really long," Arnav eventually said.

"Mm hmm," Khushi nodded.

"Have you always kept it long?"

Khushi timidly shook her head. "No, only after the...."

Arnav looked down and nodded in understanding. "Why," he asked softly.

"Um... well I try my best to cover up as much as I can. I make sure that from the back, my sari is high enough so my scars can't be visible. But as an extra measure, my long hair can cover up better."

Arnav looked at her for a moment and watched her as she opened up the wardrobe and went through it.

"Have you ever wanted to keep it this long? Before I mean, like when you were younger."

"I hated my hair with a passion when I was younger," she said, pulling out what she would be wearing tomorrow and setting it aside.

"Why is that?"

"It always annoyed me and I would always keep it up."

"Why?"

Khushi turned to him. She could see that he was really curious and really wanted to know. The way he was asking all of these questions reminded her of Maya and how their little niece loved to ask why about everything, bringing a small smile to Khushi's face. She went over to the bed and sat down on her side.

"I was a bit more active in high school. Whether it was dealing with drama or fooling around. And just... I don't know.... I used to always have my hair up in a messy bun. Of course, if I tried to do that now, it would only be hair-suicide," she chuckled.

Arnav chuckled lightly as well and he set his laptop aside on the bedside table. "Tell me more - about you before we got married."

"Um... like what," Khushi asked anxiously.

"Anything. What you did for fun, where you would go out to eat with your best friend, stuff like that. You know, like past relationships or anything."

Arnav found himself surprised by his own words as soon as it left his mouth. Khushi's eyes widened as he looked at him in surprise too.

"Sorry, I overstepped things, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Khushi said softly. "You have a right to ask."

"How?"

"You're my husband."

It occurred to Khushi then that she had never really said those words out loud, not to Arnav, that was for sure. So like Arnav, when the words left her mouth, she was surprised by it. As for Arnav, he was a bit surprised too. This was the first time, after all, that Khushi had addressed him as her husband.

"I don't think that really gives me a right, does it?"

"Why not," Khushi countered. "We are married; you have aright to know me, my past and all."

"I guess.... We really didn't get a chance to really speak to each other properly before we got married, given our circumstances."

Khushi's mind instantly transported her back to that night in the hospital after her accident, how she had met him, how he had proposed to her, how he had kissed her hand.

"But I guess we can get to know each other as the days go on," Arnav said.

Khushi looked up at him and then down at her lap. She nodded slightly, entangling her fingers.

"I've never been in a relationship with anyone before," she admitted.

Arnav's eyes widened. "Not even once?"

She shook her head, glancing up at him. She noticed his eyebrows were raised and that he was in shock, puzzling her.

"Oh, I don't mean any offense," Arnav said, straightening his expression. "I'm just surprised a beautiful woman like you was never involved with a guy in a relatiosnhip before."

Khushi's eyes widened as she went into shock. Beautiful?!

"Wow... I guess... I don't know, I'm just a little surprised. I'm afraid I can't say the same for me."

"Oh?" Khushi hoped that this would help get his comment out of her head.

"Yeah," he admitted, messing with hair. "I never dated anyone until college though. I was just always very determined in being the best for dad, so I didn't care to be in a relationship, though I had my fair share of girls that I did like; just didn't want to date them. It was when I got to college that I finally did it."

"She must've been really pretty," Khushi said, feeling jealousy bubbling within her.

"Well I guess, given that I dated her, I had to have been attracted to her. But I didn't date her cause of her looks. I dunno, college is stressful as it is and I was overseas. I was influenced by some of my friends and I just ended up doing it. I've only dated 2 women in my life - the first one was for only, I think, 4 months. And the other was... about 7 months."

"Wow that's pretty short - none of them lasted a year."

Arnav shook his head. "No, they didn't. It just wasn't working out with either of them."

"Why not?"

"Well, don't get me wrong, they were great girls..."

Again, Khushi felt jealousy bubbling within her.

"...but none of them had the thing that mattered the most."

"Which is?"

"My father's acceptance."

Khushi looked at him in confusion. "Meaning?"

"Meaning once I knew they weren't the type of girl my father would accept, I ended it with them. If they weren't someone my father could accept, then it just wasn't worth it to me."

"That's why you married me - because Papa loved me so much."

Arnav nodded. "The only time I ever saw Papa accept a girl was when Adi Bhai told Dad about his relationship with bhabi. He loved her, so he accepted her. With those girls... it just wasn't going to work, and I could never upset my father. So when I saw how much Papa loved you and wanted for you to be a part of our family, I did it for him."

Khushi couldn't help but to look at Arnav in awe. It was very sweet to see how much Arnav loved and respected his father. It wasn't everyday that you would see a man like - many like Arnav don't exist in such a day of time, her father would say it himself too.

Arnav noticed the way Khushi was looking at him. "What?"

"Nothing... I'm just in awe. Men like you are a rarity in this generation."

Arnav scoffed lightly. "So I've heard - from your father actually."

Khushi nodded. "Bapu used to always worry - wondering how he would ever find a nice guy for me to marry to. But after seeing him with you today, I can tell that he's really happy that I married you," she smiled softly.

"And you?"

Khushi looked at him with confusion.

"Are you happy? ...being married to me?"

Khushi's lips parted in surprise. She didn't know what to say, looking down at her hands in her lap.

"Well?"

Khushi met his eyes for a brief moment before looking away. "Um... well, I'm not... not happy."

Arnav said nothing and waited for her to continue.

"I just... um... I... um...."

"There's no need to hesitate Khushi," Arnav said softly. "Everything you say now, I won't take it personally. I just want for you to be honest, that's all."

Khushi looked at him and gulped.

"From the moment we met and got married, up until now - tell me how feel and tell me the truth."

"Um... okay.... Well... it's been slightly uncomfortable- not because of you or anything you did," she quickly added when she saw Arnav arch his eyebrow. "It's just that... I was always very confused why you quickly decided to just marry me, even though you said why, I was still unsure. But now I truly realize that it was because of Papa that you decided to marry me."

Arnav nodded. "Go on."

"Um... well... it's just that... i feel like... things have been awkward... between us," Khushi nearly whispered.

Arnav arched his eyebrow.

"Bhabi and I have made a connection, even Adi Bhai has become the big brother I've never had. Papa and I get along quite well, and never does he make me feel like an outsider but like his daughter, a member of the family. But the reason why I'm a member of this family to begin with is you but...."

Khushi looked down at her lap and Arnav looked away.

"We've been married for a few months now, and yet it still seems like I'm married to a stranger."

"I understand your feelings," Arnav nodded. "I guess, when it comes to getting to know each other better, I haven't done such a good job."

"I haven't either," Khushi nearly whispered.

Arnav looked at her.

"I've mostly been acting like a shy bride," she blushed, looking away.

Arnav looked at her for a moment before leaning closer to her. Khushi looked at him in surprise as his hand reached up and caressed her cheek, his thumb tracing over the scar on her cheek. He didn't say anything, watching his thumb trace over the scar. All the while, Khushi watched him as he did, remaining silent.

"How about this," he began. "During this week that we're here, we'll get to know each other better. We've already started to learn a few things about each other, we can just go on from there. My goal for this trip was to learn more about you, but I guess you also need to learn more about me as well. So how about we make that the goal of this trip, hmm?"

Khushi nodded. To be honest, she would like that very much, indeed.