Best foot forward (completed)

10. Pyar mein sauda nahi

Title translation: (there are) no deals in love

--*--

That evening, when Khushi came from her best friend Preeto's house, the scene in front of her shocked her. Her babuji and her la-er-no-just laad governor were hanging out together, like two friends. Watching TV. What the-?

With that shock still in her mind, she removed her shoes and then stumbled upon a chair kept nearby and winced in pain.

"Careful dammit" "sambhal ke" both her husband and her father shouted together and ran to her side

"I have told you so many times bitiya, sambhal kar chala karo (be careful while walking)." shashi said, looking upset at her clumsiness

"But she never listens babuji, she is so careless about her safety." Arnav said, checking for any injury on her foot

Khushi was shocked, her face and particularly those widened eyes and wide-open mouth showed it! Her babuji and that laad governor, teaming up! Against her!!!

"Aur kya. aap badi ho gayi ho (you are grown up now), stop being clumsy Khushi."

"Hum thik hain (I am fine). don't worry babuji" and then turned to Arnav with anger evident on her face, especially that red nose! "Aur aap, aap humse churana band kijiye (and you, you stop stealing from me)."

"Excuse me? Maine tumse kya churaya (what did I steal from you)?"

"hamare babuji!"

"Bitiya, I am always on your side-"

"You have to be, because you are MY babuji, not this laad governor's! Par aapne humein uss laad governor ke samne danta (but you scolded me in front of that laad governor)!" she stomped her foot making Shashi and Arnav chuckle but one sharp look from her and they suppressed their laughter

"Urgh. Hum ja rahe hain apne kamre mein (I am going to my room)" she said turning to go away and as soon as she left, they both burst out in laughter.

--*--

They say old habits die hard. It was cent percent true for Arnav Singh Raizada. Sure, he had realized he was deeply in love with his wife, that what he felt for her was far beyond mere attraction or physical pull, but something akin to devotion, something he had never felt for anyone before. And that scared him

He knew how to win but not how to celebrate being in love. He knew how express hatred, but not how to profess love. He knew how to strike deals with profit and loss balance but when it comes to matters of heart, well, he had a final lesson to learn...

"Khushi, I wanted to talk to you about something." he said that evening, after they had returned to her room for the night

"Hmm, tell me." Khushi replied while arranging the pillows

"It will be 2 weeks of our stay here tomorrow. and as per our deal, I have completed my stay here like your babuji said. So." Arnav was already feeling ecstatic that, yes, he conquered yet another deal, and the end prize was his now, which was Khushi.

But she just halted in her work after hearing that, probably waiting for him to continue the sentence. But when he left it at that, she probed further

"So?" Khushi asked, turning around

"So, pack your bags. We'll be leaving for shantivan tomorrow." he said, folding the sleeves of his full-length T-shirt

"I won't come." Khushi replied crossing her arms in her front and he was shocked by her stance and her reply, both.

"Kya? But kyun?"

She looked at him narrowing her eyes and he could see she was thinking something.

"You know how to make deals, how to fulfil the bargains but matters of heart are not deals Arnavji. Aapne humse shadi ke liye pucha humne haan kar di (you asked me to marry you, I said yes), aapne humse maafi maangi humne sun liya aur (you apologized, I listened), ab aap wapas chalne ko keh rahe hain kyunki sauda pura ho gaya (now you are asking me to return because the deal got fulfilled)?"