Chapter Twenty Six

Things were nice and steady, and Khushi felt her stomach return to her. It was then that she realized her tight grip on Arnav's hand still, so she quickly let go.

"Sorry!"

"It's okay," Arnav chuckled.

They were free to move around as they wanted, but they sat there with their chairs leaned back, both very comfortable. Food was soon served and it was absolutely amazing! The couple happily ate as they chatted away, and when they were done, their butler took their trays away.

Arnav felt tired so he decided to take a nap on the bed. He had asked Khushi if she was tired as well, but with the mix of anxiety and somewhat excitement, there wasn't a hint of tiredness within her. So Arnav went off to the bedroom and slept, while Khushi enjoyed watching movies and playing games. Hours passed by and Arnav awoke right before their next meal was served.

Several hours passed on by when the plane finally made its first stop and the couple had a 5 hour layover in Abu Dhabi. The couple browsed around the airport and Khushi could not believe the numerous amounts of designer stores there were in the airport.

This is crazy, you'd think we were in a mall!

In her daze of wonder, Khushi didn't even realize that Arnav had paused. When she did, she looked back to see Arnav looking at a watch on display... in Hermés.

"Hey Khushi, what do you think of this watch?"

Khushi went over to him and looked at the watch in question. It was a large men's watch with a nice light-brown belt, Hermés written proudly beneath the 12.

"It's... really nice."

Arnav arched his eyebrow at her.

"Oh no, I didn't mean it like that, it's really nice, it's just that... I mean Hermés?"

"Yeah... I mean I already have like 3 from them..."

Khushi looked down, to the side.

"...but I mean hey, this one's nice."

Khushi nodded with her lips pursed. It wasn't like she didn't know about the luxury brands that her husband and in-laws owned, she knew all too well of the designer items they owned. However, even though they owned such things, they never flashed them, never made too big of a deal about them - they were still very much humble. As for the case of her husband, Khushi knew of his luxury brand items, having seen the many clothes and accessories he's owned in their 6+ months of marriage, but Khushi always chose to turn her gaze away from it. Not only did she choose to keep her gaze away from those, but from even the idea of going shopping for such things no matter how much Mona insisted and pleaded.

"Let's go in."

Khushi snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Arnav. "What-"

Arnav headed towards the entrance of the store and Khushi's eyes widened. He entered the shop and Khushi watched from outside as a female sales associate went to Arnav and greeted him. She instantly looked away, feeling a small churn within her. She looked back up and saw the associate nod and walk away, and Arnav looked back and noticed that Khushi was still outside. He waved at her to come in, and with a gulp, Khushi entered the store and joined her husband.

The two walked over to where the associate had gone, Khushi glancing around the elegant and serene store. The sales associate took out the watch Arnav had mentioned and handed it over to Arnav.

"Titanium, right," Arnav asked, looking at the watch.

"Yes, and there's anti-glare sapphire crystals, as well as the belt being made of calfskin."

Khushi forced herself not to react, though inwardly she gasped. She watched as Arnav observed the watch and put it on to try it out... of course, removing the Hermès watch that he was already wearing.

He handed his watch over to Khushi and as she held it, she felt it burn in her hand. It wasn't physically burning her, but mentally it was. She was just a small town girl, living the average life - luxury brands were in no way possible to even exist in her life, heck, not even the thought of it. So now, holding it, the feeling was just too alien-like.

"What do you think," Arnav asked.

Khushi once again snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the watch on his hand. "Um, it's really, really nice."

"Yeah," he smiled, toying with the watch a bit.

Khushi couldn't help but to smile. She remembered the old days when she was in high school, and how guys would always get a little extra caring when it came to their acessories and beards. Arnav was definitely the same, making sure his beard was always lined up perfectly, and when it came to accessories, well, that much was obvious.

"How much is the watch," Arnav asked the associate.

"5,100 dollars."

Khushi really had to force herself to not react, but it was just too hard, so Khushi pretended to look at some scarves that were on display.

Holy-! More than five thousand dollars?! For a damn watch?!

"I'll take it," she heard Arnav say.

Khushi could not believe Arnav had very easily agreed to buy the watch. She looked back at him and he was absolutely casual, the associate obviously happy she had made the sale.

Oh my- I can't be in this store anymore!

"Um. I'm just gonna quickly go out and look at something that I liked across the hall."

"Sure, I'll meet you once I'm done."

Khushi nodded and didn't waste a second to calmy walk out of the store and then speed over to a bench to sit down.

Oh my gosh! I can't believe he just easily bought that watch? It's as if she said it was 50 dollars instead of 5000! And what about tax?!

Khushi let out a sigh.

I know that Arnav and his family are very well off, but.... Personally, I've avoided this. Bhabi has tried many times to get me to go shopping with her, or even try to figure out what I like so she could buy something for me, but I always understood, I never let her. I know that I wear very good clothes thanks to them, but at least there aren't labels screaming off of a sari, I can easily forget it. But these things....

As if there's enough things I don't stress over already, this had to join in too?

Khushi looked up at the store in front of her and saw her reflection in the window display. She stared at the scars on her face, forcing herself to not reach for them in case Arnav came out and caught her doing so.

What must have that sales associate thought of me? I'm sure she was repulsed by the sight of my scars. She just had to be professional and didn't end up reacting to my face.... She was beautiful though, with her nice bronzed skin and brown curls... a girl like her deserves to be with Arnav... or Sheetal. Sheetal at least is comfortable with luxury brands, I've seen the Louis Vuitton and Fendi purses she carries.

Khushi looked into the eyes of her reflection.

Arnav deserves to be with someone better than me.

Tears threatened to fall free, but Khushi forced herself not to. Instead she got up, took a deep breath to calm herself, and went back towards Hermes.

"...this foundation is amazing," Khushi heard a woman say to her friend as they walked past her. "It's full coverage and will cover up all of my acne scars and...."

Khushi paused for a moment before she continued walking.

Cover up scars, huh....

Arnav came out of Hermés, holding a very big, orange Hermés shopping bag. As Khushi came towards him, she looked at him in complete confusion - after all, how big of a bag do you need for just a watch?