Arnav entered the Raizada Mansion to, as usual, witness the Mansion basking in the amber light. It was late and he was late, as usual. Keeping his laptop bag on the sofa, he moved towards the dining area. Loosening his tie and rolling the sleeve till his elbow, he made his way to the dining table and as expected, there she was.
Her sweet moon-like face resting on her crossed hand and her beautiful almond shape eyes close. The lucky loose fringes caressing her soft cheek. All the tiredness of the day left his body in a whoosh as he took in the beautiful face of his wife. He walked towards her and pulling the chair beside her, he sat on the chair.
Resting one elbow on the dining table, he just stared at her face. It was not like he had never seen any beautiful women. He had, many at that. But he has never seen magic.
She was magic.
Leaning closer, he tucked the strands behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her soft skin for a long time. His eyes wandered towards the bowls kept on the table. Getting up, he took the bowl and entered the kitchen to warm the food. He uncovered the bowl and kept in the microwave.
He smiled. She had had her dinner. After berating her and scolding her for so many days, she had agreed to have dinner without him but had straight away declined to sleep without him. His eyes again wandered towards the dining area. She was still sleeping. His wife. Khushi Kumari Gupta... Singh Raizada, Arnav added. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, his wife. He had cringed at the very name just 8 months back when his Nani had came after her visit to Lucknow. She had met Khushi there and wanted to make Khushi her daughter-in-law. With Akash already in love with his childhood friend, Payal, her only option was he. His Nani wanted him to marry Khushi and he had refused. He had even refused to see Khushi Kumari Gupta. But the stubborn lady his Nani was, she had forced him to bend to her wishes. And he had given in her demands and married her, Khushi Kumari Gupta.
Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada!
A chatter box---this is what he had concluded of her. Someone who doesn't need a reason to talk, she just talks. A child-woman, who doesn't care about her surroundings. What more can he expect from an 18 year old girl?
He removed the bowls from the microwave and again walked to his wife. Keeping the food on the table, he again took the seat beside her. His eyes kept on stealing glances at her as he made his plate.
Jo pehle huaa naa
Ab hone laga hai
Dil humko jaga kar
Kyun sone laga hai?
Ye ishq hai yaa kuch aur hai
Ya bas khaali-khaali shor hHai
Ye ishq hai yaa kuch aur hai
Ya bas khaali-khaali shor Hai
Ho isko main kya kahun?
Kya kahun? tu hi bata...
Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon?
He looked at the plate full of jalebis kept in front of her. Pushing his empty plate aside, he pulled the plate of jalebis in front of him. Breaking a piece of jalebi, he pushed the piece between her pursed lips. And he saw her chewing the piece, still asleep.
