Contract Commitment ▪︎ARSHI▪︎

•Ten•

Arnav had spent a lot of his life making difficult decisions, it kind of came with the job. At some point, he'd hoped that by marrying Khushi she'd help ease the burden, but all it had done was create more difficulties since he tended to walk with his foot firmly in his mouth. He couldn't blame her, at least not for this, he wasn't exactly a poster boy for being honest about his feelings, instead, he preferred to use jibes and humour to get his point across and well... you can see how that usually turned out.

He'd always been a bit of an advocate for trying even when it scared you, yet he'd never really been able to fight his own fears. He'd read a Japanese proverb once that said: fear was only as deep as the mind allowed, but still his fear felt oceans deep, especially on a day like today where he had to fight one of his biggest fears in order to fight another; climb across the top floor balcony to get his wife's attention or risk losing her due to his own stupidity.

Scrunching his eyes shut, he exhaled sharply "Okay, Arnav, one step at a time" he spoke between clenched teeth. Raising his hands, he sucked in and slid slowly across the ledge that left him with shooting pain in his spine and bruises on the tip of his toes, if this didn't show him he wasn't made for the life of a ballerina then what would? Flinching when a thorn on the rose between his lips sliced his tongue, he shuddered, "Ouch".

Jumping from her chair, Khushi looked around slowly "Who, who's there?" She hated to be the kind of person who scared easily, but that was exactly what she was. Bringing her feet closer to the wall, she gulped harshly, eyes shut tight in hopes she wouldn't give in and call her husband for help. Whenever she found herself like this she'd always called the one person who could take it away, but Arnav couldn't be that man right now, maybe not ever again, so the fact her chest ached for his soothing voice only made all of it so much worse.

A loud slam made her shove her body more into the wall. Pushing her hand into her chest, her lips downturned in a frown "Arnav, Arnav, Arnav" she screeched loudly, grabbing the lampshade from beside her as she did. With one last exhale, she swung it around sharply, screaming as loudly as possible when it finally came into contact with something that eventually dropped to the floor. Opening one eye slowly, she gasped causing the offending item to clatter near her feet "Arnav?"

Holding his forehead, he sat up slowly "Khushi yaar" his head shook, "Is this how you repay me for bringing you this?" Throwing the rose to the ground, Arnav pulled himself up.

"How was I meant to know it was you?" She almost sobbed, "I thought it was a burglary".

"What's to steal?" He threw his hands up. "The most expensive item in this room is that damn ring on your finger!" God, he hadn't meant to shout, but was she crazy?

"Hawww" Khushi's jaw fell. "Are you calling me cheap? Am I not expensive enough to steal?" Hoisting the pillow from behind her, she flung it in his direction.

Catching the pillow, his eyes narrowed "Cheap? Cheap?" He yelled. "Who is it that refuses to go to a party without a new dress? Who is it that refuses to meet my family without buying them the most expensive gifts? Huh?"

"That's only because you force me to go and if I wear what I wore before then people judge me". Khushi stamped her foot atop his the second he got too close, waggling her finger in his face, she scowled "And it's proper to bring gifts, you asked me to act as your wife, that's exactly what I do".

Stepping forward so she stepped back, Arnav raised his hands so they were on the wall just above her shoulders and his face was a mere few inches from hers. "That's exactly what you do, is it?" His voice took on a huskier note as his nose skimmed her jaw.

Noticing something had changed in the room, her lips pursed "Arnav, somebody could-" she fell silent the second his finger danced across her bottom lip. Trying hard not to allow him to make her weak again, she turned her head away. "Arnav, this is my workplace, if someone came in then" she trailed off.

"Then they'd see exactly what a husband does to his wife" he responded coyly.

"What's, what's that supposed to mean?" Her cheeks darkened beneath his gaze. Scrunching her nose up, her toes curled "Arnav" she whined when his only response was a smirk.

"It means" Arnav began, "That" his fingers crawled slowly up her arm, "I want everyone to know I'm your man, even your good for nothing ex" linking his fingers with hers, he brought her palm to his lips. "Even if that means you get angry with me because you. are. mine. and I won't apologise for being jealous that he had you first".

A glare began to form on her face at his words. "You think this is the way to earn my forgiveness? By repeating that you wanted my body first?" Was he really that stupid or had the vase done some damage?

"It isn't your body".

"I swear if you say it's yours then-".

"It's your heart" Arnav interrupted firmly. "The one thing you've never been willing to give me but you once gave him". Placing her hand on his chest, he covered her eyes, "Can you feel what you do to me? I just want one chance to make you feel how I do".

"Arnav" Khushi's voice cracked. "I didn't know" and she really didn't. Cupping his face, she kissed beside the cut on his head "I'm sorry, if I knew then, then I wouldn't have walked out this morning, I'm just, I'm so used to meaning one thing, never something more". Honestly, in that moment she hated herself, how could she ever think so badly of a man who'd only ever shown her good? Wrapping her arms around him, she snuggled her face into his chest "I'm sorry I was an idiot, I'm sorry I hurt you, I'm sorry I ignored you, I just jumped too quickly, didn't think".

"Wanna make it up to me?" His brows waggled.

"Yes" she pulled back. "What can I do?"

"Smile" Arnav said seriously. "You know how it breaks my heart to see you cry".

Blinking past tears, Khushi let out a low giggle "Why do you have to be so filmy?"

"Would you rather I wasn't?" His brow raised.

Clicking her tongue, her eyes rolled back "Did I say that?" She preferred him this way, so real, so undeniably adorable, she wouldn't change it for the world.

"You did insinuate" Arnav tapped her nose playfully.

As much as she wanted to continue pointlessly arguing with him, his earlier comment had left her inquisitive. "What did you mean when you said you wanted my heart?"

"I think" he sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets, "That you already know".

"I don't" she retorted, a pout on her lips.

Before he could respond, her hands were on his shoulders and her gaze fixated on the shadow behind the door. Looking down at her, he frowned "Khushi, what are you-".

"SHH!" She admonished, shoving him down in the process before turning to the door. "Uh, come in" she flattened her hair with her hands.

Danny offered her a kind smile "You have a guest" stepping back, he held the door open. "I can send him away" he nodded in reassurance.

Khushi stumbled back at the man beside him, her hand on her chest as she did. "Nav? What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you" his eyes glistened as he walked forward.

"Well you've seen me" she gestured to the door, "You can leave now".

At that he laughed "I deserve that, but answer me one question" crossing his arms, Nav eyed her seriously. "Why do you never look at that husband of yours the way you still look at me?"