Head over Heels ☑️

Chapter 26 - Khushi

🎶 Bijli - Rishab Rikhiram Sharma

The evening sun painted the Maldivian horizon in shades of gold and crimson as Khushi adjusted the hem of her cocktail dress for what felt like the hundredth time. She glanced at Arnav-ji, who looked effortlessly elegant in a crisp black blazer and open-collared shirt, exuding the kind of confidence that always took her breath away.

They were on their way to the exclusive Cigar and Cognac Experience hosted by the Four Seasons, a high-profile event designed to bring together business elites for networking over cigars, aged cognacs, and carefully curated indulgence.

...

"Khushi... I know this is abrupt and, frankly, rude of me to ask, especially in the middle of our honeymoon."

Khushi looked up, surprised, her spoonful of 'pusta' hovering halfway to her mouth.

"Another family arrived on the island today—the Singhanias," Arnav-ji sighed, running a hand through his hair. "They're also an important client of AR. Aman filled me in and mentioned that I—well, we—were invited to a get-together this evening. The Rathods will be joining too."

He paused, his expression apprehensive as his gaze met hers. "I realize how hypocritical it is of me to ask this, considering my usual stance against 'mixing business with pleasure,' but... will you accompany me to the event tonight? I promise we can leave in an hour or so—"

Khushi raised her fork and waved it dismissively. "S'al goo," she mumbled through a mouthful. Swallowing, she smiled. "It's all good, Arnav-ji! I don't mind at all. If anything, it'll help me understand your business relations better."

...

Arnav-ji's answering smile had been so dazzling that Khushi had found herself momentarily stunned, staring at his face in wonder. If he kept flashing that smile every time he asked for a favor, she might just hand over her secret jalebi recipe without a second thought, and that was saying something.

And yet, she couldn't shake off the subtle sense of foreboding about the night ahead. At the time he'd made the request, she hadn't given it much thought, but as the event drew closer, a nagging unease began to settle in.

It felt like this was the real test—her initiation into the Raizada empire, a glimpse into the high life that came with her marriage, no matter how small the event seemed.

"You are unusually quiet, is something wrong?" Arnav-ji asked, his voice soft as his eyes flickered toward her while their buggy approached the venue. His hand found hers, squeezing lightly.

"No," she said, mustering a bright smile. "All is well, I'm looking forward to the night!"

He tilted his head slightly, as if assessing her answer, but he didn't press further. Instead, he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a light kiss on her knuckles. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Her heart flipped, as it always did when he looked at her like that. She squeezed his hand back. "You make it easy."

When they arrived, the venue was breathtaking. The lounge was set amidst a lush, tropical garden overlooking the ocean. Dark wooden furniture with cream cushions was arranged beneath twinkling fairy lights. The scent of rich tobacco mingled with the salty sea breeze, and soft jazz music played in the background, setting the tone for an evening of opulence.

Khushi followed Arnav-ji inside, holding onto his arm as though it were her lifeline. The crowd was sophisticated—men in tailored suits, women in cocktail dresses adorned with glittering jewelry. She caught sight of the host presenting an array of handcrafted cigars alongside a display of rare cognacs, their amber hues shimmering under the lights.