Making Her Mine- An IPKKND story.

Chapter 65 - Stolen Hearts

The downside of the situation was that Dadi put Arnav in a black mood. Khushi, who sensed it, did not try to ask him questions again. But she was subdued too, and he couldn't figure out how to lighten up. She was the one with the song and dance routine to cheer people up.

He could use one of those now to be honest. He wondered how to get her to do it. He felt a little guilty, scheming to get her to entertain him. But he wanted to be happy with Khushi, at least in the sanctuary of their room. She'd never done her dance for him before, the way she did to cheer others up – as if she didn't dare respond to his anger and unhappiness with silliness. Instead, she watched him from the corner of her eyes, pretending to be working on her computer, which he knew she was having trouble with but wouldn't admit.

"Stop looking at me, Khushi."

"I'm not looking at you," she retorted unconvincingly.

"I can see you looking at me!"

"Why would I be looking at you? I'm very busy."

He rolled his eyes, and made up his mind. He couldn't stand her jumpiness around him, just because he was angry.

"Khushi, what's your favourite thing to do in the world?" he asked.

Khushi looked at him suspiciously, obviously trying to figure out the connection between his still volatile mood and this apparently bizarre question.

"Eating Jalebi?" she said, as if this was a quiz.

"Really? I have to remember that."

"No, wait! So many things, Arnav ji. How can there be just one favourite thing to do? Drinking tea when it's cold outside, or when it's raining, or when there's freshly fried pakoras, eating gol gappe..."

He nodded, amused. "Eating and drinking, got it."

"No! Cooking, making sweets, playing with children, talking to Jiji and Di and people I like, watching Salman ji's movies, dancing..."

Arnav quirked his lips.

"Why?"

"Huh? Nothing, just like that," he said, feigning nonchalance.

Khushi chewed her lips thoughtfully. "Well, then. What's your favourite thing to do?"

"Huh, mine?" He pretended to think. "Watching you dance."

She looked suspicious again. "How can that be? You mean you prefer that to —to — working? And gardening? And, and..."

"You think my favourite thing to do is work?"

"Shouting at people?" She had a mischievous twinkle in her eyes now. "Speaking angrily on the phone? Saying 'what the—'?"

He pouted. "Is that what you think of me?"

Khushi flitted over to him instantly. "It's okay, I know you were kidding, I was too," he said quickly — she didn't deserve to feel guilty about anything she said to him, for crying out loud! She sat beside him on the recliner, looking at him searchingly.

"What? Are you going to kiss me again? I've  changed my mind actually, that's my favourite thing to do."

She smacked his chest, and went back to her desk. Then, she looked at him from the corner of her eyes again.

"Khushi!"

She gave him an impish smile, looked up something on her phone, and stood up. A vaguely familiar song began to play. He winced slightly when she picked up one of the long stemmed vases by his bedside, and held it like a guitar.

🎵 "Now that you've stolen my heart..."

She walked to him, hips swaying, pretend playing guitar with the vase.

🎵 "Don't you spurn me, my darling..."

Well, you win some, you lose some, he thought, deciding to accept the impending fate of that vase.

🎵"Having transformed my whole life..."

She came closer, as graceful in dance as she was clumsy otherwise.

🎵 "Don't you become inconstant, my love"

She put the vase down, thank goodness, and came over to him.

🎵 "You've taken my heart, my poor heart..."

And shoved him, quite forcefully, down on the recliner.

🎵 "you've taken my heart, don't you toy with it"

It was a close one between Khushi dancing and Khushi kissing him, Arnav decided, grinning at his crazy wife as she danced around him, her glances coy and mischievous at the same time.

Then, there was a crash, and the sound of shattering glass.

Of course.

"Sorry!" She said, biting her nails, hovering near the smashed vase, which she had kicked.

"Stop, stop, Khushi. It's okay, don't touch it, you'll cut yourself."

—-

Note * The song 🎵 is Chura Liya
Translation is mine 😬