FF: Temporary Insanity - Part 15

Read all previous parts of this series over here.

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Part 15

‘Bhai you have to do something!’

Arnav looked down at the arm that Akash was holding in a death grip while they both stood on top of the stairs, ‘do what?’ He wasn’t feeling very charitable towards Akash after learning about Khushi’s holiday plans and so his answer came out rather clipped.

‘Erm Bhai... actually... never mind you’re probably busy.’

Arnav held Akash’s arm to stop him moving, ‘sorry Akash, tell me what is it?’

‘Bhai... I don’t... I don’t want to go on honeymoon.’

‘What? What are you talking about? Didn’t you and Payal...? But I thought Khushi explained everything to you last night?’

‘Oh no, no Bhai, you’ve misunderstood. Everything was good. It was better than good! Payalji was...’

‘Eugh Akash Bhai, I do not need those kind of details about Payal Bhabi so early in the morning.’ Dhruv pushed himself in between his two brothers holding an arm in each of his and leading them down the stairs. He winked at Arnav and then turned towards a mortified Akash, ‘maybe after breakfast?’

Arnav ate his breakfast in silence ignoring Khushi’s numerous attempts to catch his eye as well as Akash trying to play footsie with him under the table.  He gave Akash another glare and stood up, ‘I’m going to work. Have fun on your honeymoon everyone.’

‘But Bhai!

‘Arnav!’ Khushi caught up with Arnav just as he reached the door, sliding on the marble floor and colliding into him with a thump.

‘What?’

‘Are you... you’re really going to work?’

‘Yes Khushi. I’ll see you when you get back from your holiday. Goodbye.’ He turned and left through the door leaving a completely shocked Khushi in his wake.

---

Arnav sent off his last email and closed his laptop with a sigh of relief. It had taken him all day but he’d finally cleared his schedule for the next two weeks. He took out his phone noting the significant absence of any phone calls from Khushi with a smirk and quickly dialled Akash.

‘Bhai?’

‘Akash, where are you guys? Have you reached Lucknow yet?’

Dhruv grinned hearing Arnav’s anxious tone and took the phone out of Akash’s hand, ‘hi Bhai! How are you? Missing me already?’

‘Dhruv give the phone back to Akash.’

‘It’s on speaker Bhai, we’re sitting in the limo waiting for our lady-friends.’

Akash snatched the phone back from Dhruv’s hand, ‘They keep stopping every hour to take pictures at random places or eat or go to the bathroom. I never knew how often they go to the toilet in one day! And I haven’t got to spend a single moment alone with Payalji yet.’

‘Well which idiot told you to go on a group honeymoon huh?’

‘Erm... I believe that idiot would be your wife bro.’

‘Dhruv!’

‘Sorry, sorry. I’m giving the phone back to Akash Bhai now.’

‘Bhai, I tried to ask you this morning! I wanted you to help me cancel it.’

‘What? You wanted to cancel it? Well then why didn’t you tell me you idiot? I would have sorted the whole thing out in moments!’

‘I tried Bhai! But you were preoccupied with something and didn’t listen to me.’

Arnav groaned in frustration more at himself than Akash. If only he’d listened this morning, then the problem he’d been preoccupied with would have been solved instantly. ‘Okay never mind, just let me know when you guys get there. I suppose at this rate you’re going to just go straight to sleep when you get to Sheesh Mahal yes?’

‘Oh no Bhai! Are you saying Payalji will be too tired tonight after all the travelling and go straight to sleep? She was very tired last night and went to sleep straight after we...’

‘Akash.’

‘Yes Bhai?’

‘This is probably the first and last time I’ll ever say this but Dhruv was right. I do not need those kind of details about you and Payal.’

‘Haha! I heard that Bhai! I’m going to remember this forever,’ Dhruv crowed into the phone.

‘Shut up Dhruv!’

---

Khushi tossed and turned unable to sleep. She’d expected Arnav to come up with some stupid excuse about having a conference or a meeting in Lucknow and accompany them but he didn’t seem to care. He hadn’t even called her once today! Oh well. She didn’t need him to have fun! She would show him!

---

Arnav made his way silently into the dark bedroom, where he saw Khushi lying spread-eagled on the bed with the covers thrown off to the side due to the heat. He grinned at the sight as put down his suitcase and took of his jacket, waistcoat and shirt and made his way to the bed.

Khushi froze. She’d been having a dream about Arnav when she’d been woken up by the strange sensation of being watched. There was somebody in the room. Her breathing became shallow as she tried to picture the room in her mind and think of a possible weapon to hit the intruder with. The bed dipped and her breath caught in her throat. She moved slowly, pretending to be asleep as she positioned herself in prime position.

Arnav had sat on the side of the bed taking his shoes and socks off before turning around. He considered his options for a while. He could call her name and wake her up, but where was the fun in that? Instead he moved his hand to slowly lift the mid-length nightdress she was wearing with the intention of tickling her behind the knees. However he had barely lifted his hand to touch her when he felt solid bone connect with his chin and an almighty shriek pierce the air.

‘OW!!’

Khushi had leapt up on the bed grabbing the lamp from the nightstand as she did pulling it away from the plug and brandishing it above her head. ‘Stay right where you are! Don’t even think about moving or I’ll hit this over your head, I swear on Devi Maiyya!

‘Khushi! It’s me!’

Khushi dropped the lamp in shock, resulting in another ‘OW!’ coming from the man perched at her feet.

'Arnav! Arnav, are you okay? I'm so sorry!' She bent down taking his head in her hands and trying to assess any signs of injury in the dark when the room was suddenly flooded with light as Dhruv entered the room, a cricket bat in his hand and Akash and NK followed considerably further behind with a shoe and hairbrush respectively.

'Khushi, I'm here to save you!

'Bhabi, are you okay?'

'D... don't hurt me!'

'Bro?'

'Bhai?'

'Nanav?'

---

It took nearly an hour for everyone to calm down and Arnav's swollen jaw and bruised arm were feeling slight relief after the ice packs he'd applied to them.

They were sitting in the large drawing room of Sheesh Mahal and Anjali had announced that everyone should now try and sleep since they had lots of plans in the morning.

Dhruv stood up first, picking up his cricket bat and hoisting it over his shoulder, 'there's just one thing I don't understand Bro.'

'What?'

'Well I get that you wanted to surprise Khushi and that the helicopter arrived late, but what exactly was your face doing by her knee? ...no wait actually, we don't need those kind of details.'

Khushi turned deep red as Anjali, Payal and Suhana giggled and NK and Akash helped Dhruv who was now running away from Arnav. Arnav threw one ice pack at Dhruv's head, but Dhruv ducked in time and the ice pack hit NK square in the face. The second ice pack Dhruv batted away with his cricket bat towards the far wall and Akash screamed behind him 'and Raizada hits a sixer!'