Making Her Mine- An IPKKND story.

Chapter 47 - Unmasked

Arnav didn't have it in him to go out and face Khushi's family the rest of the day. He gathered there had been some sort of reconciliation, a tearful one by the sounds of it. It killed him to realize that some of the crying was from Khushi, but he restrained himself – it wasn't his place to intervene this time.

She plunked lunch on the desk he was sitting at in her room with unwarranted aggression, still angry at him, apparently, for god knows what.

"Khushi! Don't behave like that with me," he snapped, despite himself.

For a second, he thought he saw her hair erupt in a blaze of fire as she turned to him.

"I spoke back to my Amma and Buaji for the first time in my life," she said, still crackling. "For you. So you don't tell me how to behave."

He would have liked to point out that he hadn't asked her to, and that they deserved it, sort of, at least for the Shyam thing, but he held his tongue. If she needed to rage at him until she simmered down, he would allow it. He owed her that.

So he stayed in Khushi's room all day, catching up with work, and getting updates on Shyam.

There wasn't much – Shyam had spent his day seemingly preparing for his trip and been to a court hearing. But he had called up the hotel Aman had booked in Mussoorie, pretending to be an assistant checking if they had arrived. The hotel had been told to confirm the booking, but share no more details, and inform the police about any inquiries.

Khushi looked less angry when she brought him dinner. So he filled her in on the Shyam updates, watching her face twist in disgust.

She was almost friendly by the time they got into bed. He watched from the non-creaky side of her bed as she removed her earrings and bangles.

"How can you be so sure of me, when I – after everything I've done?" he asked, when she turned off the lights and got into bed, expertly maneuvering to avoid the creak.

"It just means you have run out of chances, doesn't it?" But her tone was gentle. "So watch out, you don't have any more left."

"I like it when you shout at people and tell them you love me," he said with a grin.

"It's only because of your good looks," she retorted, lying down on her side, facing him.

He snorted, and turned to his side to face her too. "I know. You go for handsome, terrible men. Look at Salman Khan."

"Don't you dare say anything about Salman Ji!" He chuckled, and saw her smiling in answer.

"For a moment there, I was terrified Buaji was going to break my bones," he said.

"I'd like to see that," she replied, with a giggle.

"How's everything out there? Are they okay?"

"Yes. They — I made them feel guilty, Arnav ji," she said.

"It's okay, Khushi. They know they were wrong to push Shyam on you. Besides, it's good to stand up for yourself, once in a while. Even – especially – to people you love."

"I have always stood up to you."

"Good... Maybe one day, I'll be able to stand up for you too. When I have the right."

"You have the right," she murmured, eyes shining in the dark.

"Not yet," he said. "But one day. Maybe when we have children. When they grow up to become angry teenagers, and begin to slam doors on our faces. If they even look at you wrong, I'll string them up and –"

She smacked his arm. "Don't you dare do anything to our children!"

He grinned, and slipped his hand in hers. "I love you, Khushi."