FF: It's Not Right - Chapter 37

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Chapter 37

Arnav had barely sent the text a minute ago when Khushi came rushing around the corner of the alleyway he’d parked in with a stack of boxes in her arms. She was wearing the red dress he’d designed for her and he instantly began to wonder if she was also wearing the lingerie.

Khushi gasped as she lowered the boxes in front of her face and saw what Arnav was leaning against. She quickly pushed the boxes into Arnav’s arms and walked around the black and green motorcycle propped up on its stand. ‘Wow! Did you drive this?!’

Arnav gave her a look in place of an answer, ‘what’s all this?’ He asked holding up the boxes.

‘Oh no!  I made you a cake, but now where are we going to put it? Happy birthday, by the way.’ She examined the small bike box at the back but it would hardly fit any of the three pastry boxes she’d bought with her.

‘Thank you,’ Arnav said placing the boxes on top of the bike box to gauge just how big it was.

‘Arnav, you try and put those in, I’ll just be back.’

‘What? Don’t tell me you have more stuff!’ He called behind her as Khushi ran back towards her house.

---

‘Wow,’ Arnav repeated as Khushi came back, thankfully empty handed this time. She’d changed her outfit though now wearing one of her shorter dresses and a pale pink cardigan over a pair of skinny jeans but still with the red scarf from her earlier outfit wrapped around her neck rather than draped over the shoulders.

As she approached she gave a little twirl as if she was in a fashion show. ‘What do you think? Lavanyaji bought me these jeans. She said something about me having really skinny legs and that they would suit me.’

‘They’re alright, I’ve seen better though... I meant the jeans, not your legs!’ he said concealing a grin and ducking as Khushi tried to hit him on the arm.

‘Where are the boxes? Did you get them in?’ Khushi opened the bike box and found it empty apart from a few water bottles.

‘Oh they didn't fit and there were some little kids that looked hungry so I gave the food to them. Is that okay?’

‘I..’ Khushi’s face fell as she thought about the three hours she’d spent that morning getting everything ready but then she thought about how much the children would enjoy it and perked up again. ‘Of course that’s okay! So where are we going and why do we need a bike to get there?’

‘We don’t need the bike’ Arnav said as he sat astride it and held out a hand to help Khushi on behind him. ‘You said drives were only worth it on motorbikes.’

Arnav started the bike and Khushi felt a shudder of vibrations run up her spine pushing her closer to Arnav so her chest rested against his back and she could feel the rough denim of his jeans rubbing against her own. She leaned back slightly, her hands held lightly against his shoulders.

‘Put your arms around my waist.’

Before she could reply Arnav had already taken hold of her left hand in his and brought it around to his stomach. Khushi moved her right hand around and linked her fingers together feeling the steady rise and fall of his abdomen as the bike jerked forwards.

‘So what type of cake was it?’

Khushi moved forward putting her chin on Arnav’s shoulder as she replied, ‘it really doesn’t matter. Although I think Jiji might know about us now. She was giving me all these weird looks while I was cooking.’

‘Would she mind? What would she say? When Di was doing her pooja or whatever for me this morning she kept saying things about my ‘happiness’ and how she wished I’d find it this year. Was that a hint do you think?’

Despite the laughter she could hear in his voice Khushi felt a knot of tension beginning to form in her stomach. They’d never discussed telling their families although she wasn’t exactly sure how she’d describe their relationship to her family even if they had.

Even through his worn t-shirt and leather jacket Arnav could feel Khushi’s breast pressed up against his back as he drove and his heartbeat kicked into overdrive. He had wondered if riding within a set speed limit to ensure Khushi felt comfortable would be boring but as they finally joined the highway and he had to pick up some speed he realised he didn’t want to go faster, worried enough as it was about the possibility of accidents or speeding cars getting in their way. ‘Are you okay?’

Khushi nodded and smiled, the wind brushing her hair away from her face, ‘it’s only cars that make me... yes I’m fine.’

---

They had driven for just over an hour finally coming to a stop near a large lake where there had already been a picnic basket laid out and Khushi had almost jumped in joy when she realised her pastry boxes hadn't in fact been given away but were safe and sound waiting for them along with the mountains of other food Arnav must have arranged. She had also made sugar-free jalebis and pakoras for Arnav because she had had limited time since she found out about his birthday and the gifts she had arranged for him seemed so insignificant.

The lake was nearly empty, being a week day there weren’t any families around and only one or two couple dotted around. After they had finished eating they both sat back against a tree with Arnav’s arms wrapped around her waist this time.

‘Enjoying your birthday so far? I still can’t believe you weren’t going to tell me about it!’

‘I told you, it’s not a big deal! I don’t know when your birthday is either.’ He had expected her to promptly supply him with extensive details about her own birth and instead there was an uncomfortable silence. ‘Khushi?’

‘Arnav my birthday was, it was actually my birthday last month. On the 12^th.’

Arnav moved his hands from her waist to her shoulders spinning her slightly so he could see her face properly, ‘what? And you didn’t tell me? Why not?’

‘I don’t... I don’t celebrate my birthday.’

‘Oh, you don’t celebrate your birthday. Well that makes perfect sense considering how little effort you went to for mine,’ he pointed at the intricate cake she’d baked and decorated for him, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Khushi looked down and fiddled with the end of her kurta, ‘That’s different,’ she mumbled. ‘I don’t celebrate my own because... it was... it’s the day my parents...’

‘Oh sweetheart,’ he pulled her into a hug, his heart felt as if it would burst at just how young and scared she sounded. ‘I’m sorry.’

He’d never called her anything except her name and the use of the endearment now made her tears come even faster.

‘It was my 8^th birthday. We were going to Babuji and... Payal’s house to celebrate and...’

‘Khushi you don’t have to, it’s okay.’

‘No, no I want to,’ she said as she settled her head against his chest. ‘We were going to Payal’s house and I was angry with my parents. I wanted to... it was my birthday and I said I should be allowed to sit at the front but Amma wouldn’t let me. Not until I was 10 they said. There was a truck, I don’t remember much but there was a truck and a car from the other side, I think he was trying to overtake the truck at the same time we were passing it and our cars just...’

Arnav rubbed her back soothingly as she spoke, his mind filled with images of what it must have been like on that day.

‘The front and back seats sort of collapsed over me and I was sheltered from the impact but my Amma and Babuji they... I fainted or something and then the next thing I knew I was in Payal’s house and I didn’t know where my parents were.’

‘I’m so sorry sweetheart,’ he hugged her tighter burying his head in the crook of her neck. ‘This is going to sound horrible and probably the worst thing I’ve ever said to you Khushi but... I’m glad your parents didn’t let you sit at the front.’

Khushi stilled and pulled herself away to meet his eyes which were full of anguish. She took his face in her hands and leaned forward kissing him lightly, ‘is it horrible if I say that... that sometimes I feel the same?’

Arnav shook his head with a rueful grin before kissing her again, expressing without words just how relieved and grateful he was that her 8^th birthday hadn’t been her last.

‘I never properly apologised for that time in the guest house. You have to know.’

‘No, Arnav you don’t...’ She tried to stop him but he caught her hands in his.

‘No Khushi, you didn’t let me then but please let me say it now. I really am so sorry. I never would have sent you there or anyone if I’d known it was so bad.’

‘It’s okay Arnav. Really it is. You saved me after all. Tu mera hero...oh... oh... oh.’

She sang a few verses as she leaned back against him into the position they were in before and Arnav raised his eyebrows at the explicit lyrics wondering if Khushi even realised what she was singing about. He moved his hand from where it was on her waist to the side, sliding it under her dress so he could touch bare skin.

Khushi stopped singing but made no move to stop him or remove his hand and so he continued.  He reached the band of her jeans and slipped his fingers down until he felt lace. ‘Is this mine?’ He asked, his lips hovering dangerously above her ears.

Khushi felt as if her heart had jumped into her throat and taken away all ability to speak. Just as she had worked up the courage to answer, she felt his fingers move even below the lace so he was touching her hipbone unobstructed.

‘Is this mine?’ He asked again more seductively, both of them aware of the difference in the two questions.

Khushi swallowed heavily, once again struggling to answer. Arnav sensed her hesitation and slowly brought his hand back up to rest against her stomach, his middle finger almost dipping into her navel. Khushi’s stomach then saved them from a potentially awkward few minutes by choosing just that minute to growl.

Arnav grinned and pulled his hand out from under her dress, ‘more cake?’