Her Unexpected Husband- 25

“Arnavji…”

“Hmmm…”

“I'm hungry.”

Arnav immediately pulled his head back from her neck.

“I thought you already ate.” He said the fact wiping away the sweat from his face.

“I thought to have it with you. Now come, get up and freshen up. I'll heat the food.” She persuaded him knowing he's travelling back to the memory lane worrying himself.

“But…”

He opened his mouth to say something when Khushi gave a stern glare stopping him from disobeying her order.

“I'll join you shortly.” Confessed he jumping down from the bed.

Khushi served his plate as soon as he came to the dining table. Arnav looked at the stretched plate in front of him and then her, before opening his mouth.

“What?” She asked nonchalantly, inwardly going aww by his sweet actions.

“I don’t know what am I going to do with an unromantic person like you.” He murmured twisting his lips.

“Excuse me?”

“Haven’t you watched movies? You’re supposed to feed me with your hands Khushi.”

“So?” She sang biting her inner cheeks.

Arnav lips stretched into a wide grin feeling his naughty Khushi back. He pulled her in his lap in a jiffy. She gasped at his sudden act and gripped his neck in fear.

“Arnavji… What kind of childishness is this?” She chided calming her nerves.

Arnav ignored her question and took a morsel from his plate and stretched it to her mouth “It’s you who said hungry remember.”

She smiled at him “It’s you who are starving in real. No more arguments. Moreover, it’s just a break not the end of the show.”

“Break?” He raised his brows in question.

She stuffed his mouth with food stopping from plunging deep into the unimportant conversation. As he chewed, she escaped from his lap and took a seat opposite to him. He glared at her, but has he have an option? Both finished their dinner in silence, sharing few glances in between. All the while, Khushi ate analysing the things and decided to clear off a few things before they hold each other hands to face this.

Arnav helped Khushi on keeping the plates at place much to her displeasure. Seeing him hell-bent on helping her, she quickly finished her work and followed him to their room.

“When did exactly you came to know about Lavanyaji?” She started another round of question and explanation session, settling comfortably by his side.

“Remember two days back when I went to meet a friend at evening. It’s Aakash. He was also shocked with new information as we three are pretty close and works in the same office. Maybe his perspective was also on the same line as me.” He answered staring nothing in particular.

“Oh, You said everyone is supporting her decision? Amma… I mean your mother also wishes to see you with her even now?” She asked the question which is nagging her from the moment he uttered, he considers Lavanya as his sister.

Arnav frowned shifting his gaze to her “Huh… Yeah so?”

“Are you sure she forced you to marry her even after you confessed that you’re seeing Lavanyaji as a sister?” She rephrased her question clearly as she feels the answer to this question is going to have a great impact on their family.

His facial expression carried a myriad of emotions which is mostly related to uncertainty. His brain quickly recalled the moments after he came to know about Lavanya heart. As soon as Aakash confided the reality with him he decided to confront Lavanya but before that, he got a call saying she tried for suicide and he directly ran to the hospital. There are no pleasant memories after that. His family joined him soon after and cried seeing her state. Ratna aunty and her husband pleaded him to accept her. He gasped at new memory. Now, when he thinks with the calm mind he can realise, they actually never gave him a chance to speak about his feelings. Like daughter, they were more on forcing their decision on him than letting him speak about his stance. And his mother… He quickly searched for an answer. He did convey the feelings he has for Lavanya to his mother right on the second day of Lavanya stay at the hospital. But, Has she forced him to marry her after that?

“Arnavji…” She broke the prevailed silence seeing him lost. She’s anxiously waiting for his answer but he is delaying it.

He met her eyes with a dishevelled look “I am confused Khushi. I didn’t ponder much on this line. When thinking of now, actually only once I persuaded Lavanya to call me bhai in the presence of Ratna aunty and mom. Since mamma is strict, I never disobeyed her words, especially in my earlier ages. So when she warned me to not teach her bhai, I stopped. As we grow up, I didn’t really give a thought on why they didn’t want our relationship as siblings and stopped expecting things on Lavanya case. I just went with the flow and they never gave me a chance to doubt them either. It’s just Lavanya suicide attempt came as a blow and none was ready to hear the side of my story. Even now I was not given a chance to clear off my stance. But Lavanya, Dad & Mom knows my feelings now.”

“Maybe they didn’t take your wish seriously since you were a child.” Khushi interrupted.

Arnav nodded “Maybe.”

“Now tell me, Has amma forced you to marry her after you confessed?” She urged him and mentally cursing him for delaying it.

“I… The pressure was high Khushi. I was always on edge seeing the chaos. I really don’t remember her forcing me after I told her about my feelings. She did ask me to come there often and stay with her till she becomes stable. But… I’ve no idea what she thinks now.”

“So there’s a chance Arnavji.” Suddenly Khushi screamed in delight making him look at her weirdly “See, If amma also supports Lavanyaji decision, we have a tough battle ahead. But if not, this problem can be solved much easier Arnavji. We should know what exact Lavanyaji current state is? She may be tore both physically and mentally. Until we have a clear talk with amma we can’t put a conclusion to it.”

“Hmm… You’re right. I don’t know how many years they keep feeding Lavanya mind. She’s mentally affected for sure. Partially I’m also a reason for her state. It really didn’t occur to me that she can take our relationship in another context.” He sighed feeling ache in his heart. The girl who grew up with him is really in a bad position.

Khushi rubbed his arm in a comforting way feeling his ache at her heart “Maybe they never realised the impact of their immature act. Sometimes a simple thing turns big in future. Leave that… Is it papa who called you now?”

“Hmm. Don’t worry about that. He can handle the situation.” He said in a low voice staring nothing at particular. It’s really hard for him to digest the whole situation. At least he feels relieved after confiding with Khushi else god knows what would be his state if it continued for more days.

“I trust him completely.” She declared instantly.

Arnav narrowed his eyes at her, feeling some mischievous laced on her voice. And then she spoke proving him correct.

“What? You’re ZERO at handling family and relationships.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m saying truth only Arnavji.” She fluttered her eyelids looking at him innocently “If you had confided this much earlier, we could’ve handled it in a better way.”

“I didn’t want to trouble you little girl and moreover I’m 8 years elder to you. I’ve much experience than you to decide when to reveal and when not.” He flickered her nose feeling light-hearted by the distraction.

“Oh, really? I’m seeing how much EXPERIENCED you’re when comes to chaos. Yelling, Crying, Apologizing…” She mocked with a cocky smile.

“One day you’ll come to know how experienced I’m in handling situations.” He said in a challenging tone, twisting his brows.

“Let’s see…” Khushi yawned feeling exhausted calling it a night. Arnav adorned her sleeping form, not getting enough of her matureness and innocence. She’s a perfect package of everything. As each day passes, he’s getting to see a new shade of hers. Today he got to know how mature she is when it comes to the problem. A new shade is revealed and he’s excited to explore more in coming years. At hindsight, he mentally accepted her remark on handling chaos but what he doesn’t realise is that However, a person acts mature on most of the havoc, one can easily slip away if it’s about their closed ones like he lost his cool on Lavanya issue. Khushi is also no exception. She may or may not be able to take it if her bubble brokes by the person whom she held dear to her.

The unexpected chaos created by Lavanya not only affected the whole family but also affected Arnav and Khushi relationship in a better way. Unknown to them, they inched closer to each other in a short span breaking all the hesitations, strengthening the base of their relationship.

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