The Raizada Chronicles [IPKKND TRF AU; OS Series]

Two: Home is Where the Heart is

"Are you sure you are going to be okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern while letting her wrap the scarf around his neck.

She nodded as she moved back and handed his laptop case to him. He almost leaned forward when the light on his smartphone flashed and she smiled. He saw the flickering fear in her eyes and placed a quick peck on her lips before exiting the door. She slumped onto the bed throwing her pallu over her shoulder.

"Khushi bitya!! Aren't you going to come down to make sure your Arnav ji goes straight to the airport?" A chirpy teasing voice echoed in the halls of Shantivan; at whose doors, the whole family was busy fretting over the older grandson who was going away for about thirty days to the United States to overlook the expansion of AR Designs.

Khushi held up the pleats of her sari before walking downstairs with a half gloomy smile. It was the third time Arnav was leaving after the whole kidnapping fiasco but this time it was no longer for just fifteen days or a week. She reached the bottom of the staircase to see him look up at her while being coddled by his sister about his schedule.

"Di you called me?" she questioned reaching up towards the family who was surrounding her husband as he was preparing to step out.

"Oh yes yes! Aren't you going to be the one saying the final goodbye like always?" she questioned cheerfully without realizing the fears that had settled into the couple's hearts after an earlier fiasco.

"Di, I asked Khushi to rest upstairs. She's going to get stressed." Arnav spoke pulling her out of the spotlight.

"Di, I think we should at least leave the love birds alone now." Akash teased not daring to look up at his brother's face who seemed more frustrated than before.

Giggling and nodding, almost everyone left them to themselves in mere seconds that followed next, hiding behind the pillars to see what would be a follow-up.

"Khushi?" his husky voice caused jitters inside her. "Take care of my princess," he whispered before leaving down to place a long feather kiss.

"Prince." she muffled as his lips brushed against hers.

He broke apart before pushing the strand of hair covering her eyes back behind her ears. "I'll call you as soon as I get there and as soon as my work is done," he responded to the silent prolonging fear in her eyes.

"Just came back soon. Promise me," she uttered throwing her arms around her.