Everything but her

Palace of love

Virat picked up Aarushi from the office and they went to have some ice cream together. After that they headed back to the hotel to dress up for the party.

'Virat, I am confused between these two dresses. What do you think?' she asked him.

'You are the fashion designer. You would know best, right?', he said giving up.

'I might be the fashion designer but you are my ultimate designer. C'mon tell me na', she asked him once again.

'The right one', he said finally.

'Hmm, I thought so too. The fabric is so much better and apart from looking fancy, it also gives a little professional look...'

'Aarushi...you can explain it to your onlookers at the party. Now, come here and help me choose my attire', he said to her.

Aarushi handpicked everything from his shirt to his handkerchief and then both of them started getting ready.

As Aarushi entered the room, Virat could not shift his gaze from her. She looked every bit the Angel he knew she was. That red dress complimented her petite body really well. Her milky skin shone through the resplendent light of the room and her beautiful hair that she had let down, added to her beauty. She was a perfect picture of beauty and Virat found himself gazing at her like a maniac.

'Wow...', was the only word he could somehow manage.

'Thank you', Aarushi very graciously accepted his compliment not even realising what she had done to him. 'Shall we go, my handsome hunk', Aarushi looked towards him and instantly knew that he was going to be the most desirable man anywhere he went today. Thankfully, they were married, she thought.

'Yes, come', Virat took out his hand and Aarushi happily put her hand within his.

Virat called for their driver and they slowly set off for the party. Both were exceptionally quiet in the car. Aarushi attended a few phone calls but that was all the conversation that prevailed in that car. On reaching the venue, Virat realised the scale of the party. It was a typical Bollywood party. He had been to quite a few but the mere ignorance of this party being the same made him a little awestruck.

The two of them walked in hand in hand and were the envy of each eye. There were a few journalists too but Virat requested them to stay a little away. He knew Aarushi did not like too much of interference in her personal life and Virat vowed on ensuring that she was happy today.

'Hello', Virat was greeted by Karan Johar who it seemed was the host of the party.

'Hello sir, how are you?', Virat said.

'Good, and she is your wife? I didn't know that or I had given this contract to her in the first place', he said in surprise.

'No, sir that wouldn't have been fair. She is here now because she deserves it', Virat said looking proudly at Aarushi.

'Sir, this is something for you', Aarushi handed him a gift. 

'Oh, you didn't have to bring this', he said but took it to value her gift. 'Come inside, meet the other guests and have a great time'

Virat saw Ranbir and excused himself to meet him. They had a pretty long conversation for a while and after that Virat looked around for Aarushi. He couldn't see her with the friend he had left her with. He became a little worried when he saw her chatting with Anushka as though they were some long lost friends. Virat thought best not to join them. He went and grabbed a drink.

'Virat', he was disturbed, however, after a few minutes.
Virat turned around and saw Anushka standing there.

'Hi, how are you?', he asked her.

'Good, you never told me that you had such a wonderful wife', she complained.

'Well, we haven't had the time to talk to each other', he exclaimed.

'Yeah, let's meet sometime, you with Aarushi. We can go to a party or something?', she asked.

'Yes, absolutely', Virat said.

Aarushi, who had been caught up in a conversation with someone, came up to Virat.

'So, what you guys up to?', she asked curiously.

'Nothing, I was just saying to Virat that all three of us must meet sometime. What say?', Anushka said.

'Oh, ok. I mean, sure', Aarushi said looking at Virat.

Virat shrugged his shoulders.

'Ok, enjoy the party. I have to catch up with a few people', Anushka said leaving the two of them and moving towards the crowd.

'What?', Virat turned towards Aarushi and said.

'What? What did I say?', she said.

'You were eying me as though I had committed some crime', Virat said.

'I was doing no such thing', she said escaping her eyes from his.

'Ok, fine then let's grab a drink', Virat said trying not to stretch the matter.

'Yeah, sure', Aarushi finally seemed in her element.

Virat brought in two glasses of champagne. Aarushi enjoyed herself letting her hair down after a long time. She finally felt her young self. Caught up in work, she had forgotten what it was like to let loose. She danced along with Virat and they were suddenly the cynosure of every eye. Two charming personalities and a dance floor. That was what happened throughout the night.

At around 2 when Virat decided it was time to leave, he found Aarushi almost asleep on his shoulder. He twitched her up and guided the sleepyhead to the car. Upon reaching the hotel, he had to once again nudge her to wake up. They, finally, got to the room and Virat put her to bed relaxing himself too. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed himself so much at the party but his body hurt. He needed sleep, it was the only remedy. The lady beside him, though, attracted all his attention towards her innocence. Far from all the world, she slept without a care. It was a message for the both of them that they needn't worry until the two of them were together. The world could go on with its business and they would surely go on with theirs, a part of which was constructing a palace of love, anywhere and everywhere they were.