FF: It's Not Right - Chapter 53

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Chapter 53

Arnav moved away from Khushi and bent down onto his knees and took her hands in his. His eyes were downcast, he could feel his heart beating at what seemed like an impossible speed and every word that he had planned suddenly seemed so unworthy of this moment. Khushi deserved emotions, not pre-planned speeches only half written by him and the other half by Aman and amateur internet poets. He took a deep breath and looked up into her eyes lit up by all the candles as if all the stars of the sky were in her eyes.

'Khushi I love you, I – I love you. I never thought – I never realised just how lonely I was until I met you. I didn't believe in love, I thought I didn't need it, that I could walk away from it but I can't. I could never walk away from you, ever since we met Khushi I just kept coming back to you. And now... now I definitely don't want to be apart from you. Ever. I want to wake up every day and see you; I want to spend every day with you and go to sleep every night with you right next to me. I want the world to know that I love you Khushi, that I can't live without you. So, Khushi Kumari Gupta, will you marry me?'

Khushi fell down on her knees in front of Arnav and cupped his face in her hands. She tried to think of something beautiful and meaningful to say but knew there would be nothing that could compare to the words Arnav had just said to her. She leaned forward and pressed her lips lightly to his, worried that he would disappear and the perfection around them would shatter.

When she moved away Arnav held her arms to stop her going too far, 'was that - that a yes?'

Khushi couldn't help but grin as she recognised his uncertainty. 'Well I'm not changing my name but for all intents and purposes, that was a yes.'

She had barely finished her sentence before her lips were covered. Their kiss initiated by Arnav this time was passionate and fiery. He moved his mouth over hers and was granted entrance immediately.

Loathe though he was to stop kissing Khushi, Arnav couldn't ignore the increasing pressure on his knees but it was only the thought of Khushi feeling similar discomfort that made him separate from her and bring them both to their feet.

They blew out the candles lining the hall and living room before Arnav lead Khushi towards the bedroom. 'What do you mean you're not changing your name? You have to. I won the bet.'

'What? No you didn't! You proposed properly, so I won, not you. You'll have to become Arnav Kumari Gupta.'

'Kumari? No way. And you admitted you love me so I win.'

Khushi ignored his scoffing tone as her eyes fell on the bed which was also decorated with rose petals and she fell upon them inhaling their strong scent. 'Okay, Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada it is then.'

'What? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.' Arnav lay down on the bed next to her, picking up a handful of petals and releasing them over her head. 'Are you sure you don't want to include your grandparents and your great grandparents names in there as well?'

Khushi lifted her nose out of the petals to give Arnav a well-deserved thump but he caught her arm and rolled on top of her. Khushi could feel his chest rising and falling against her own, his right thigh aligned with her own right thigh emanating heat.

She freed one of her hands between them and lightly ran the backs of her fingers against his stubble. Her voice was husky and low, 'are we really getting married Arnav?'

Arnav nodded, 'I have something that might make it all a bit more real for you.'

He sat up, offering a hand so she could do the same before reaching into the drawer of the bedside table and pulling out a blue velvet pouch. Khushi eagerly extended her hand to receive her gift but Arnav seemed reluctant to part with it.

'It's not – it's not a ring... I mean we can get a ring later, I do already have one in mind it suits you exactly but I thought for now... or maybe I should have got the ring as well. I...'

Khushi covered his mouth with her fingers and shuffled closer to him, resting a supportive hand on his arm, 'Arnav. You're rambling. You never ramble. What's wrong?'

'This just – it means so much to me Khushi and I – I'm not doing it justice at all.' He held the pouch out to her limply as if resigned to disappointing her.

'Arnav this is perfect. Everything has been perfect and this will be as...' Khushi fell silent as her fingers touched cold, hard metal. She took out the two objects which she now recognised as bangles of some sort and gasped as she saw how beautiful they were. Khushi didn't have much time to linger on the intricate designs of the kangans as her eyes were caught by a square of folded up paper which had attached itself to one of them.

Arnav watched her anxiously, his forehead creased and jaw tensed. He read the letter that he had memorised at age 18 in his head nearly 4 times over before Khushi looked up again.

'Shit, I've made you cry again! Khushi I'm so...'

'Arnav don't. Please... this is so... I just wish your Mamma could have given this letter to me herself.' She put her arms around him and Arnav rested his forehead on her shoulder, suddenly feeling both weightless and encumbered at the same time.

Khushi rested her head against Arnav's chest as he took the kangans from her and gently slipped them onto her wrists before lifting her hands and placing a light kiss on both.

'I love you so much Khushi. I never thought I would get married. My Mom and... and now Di... I thought marriage was the worst thing that could happen to a couple. Ruin what feelings and attachments they had for each other, make them bored of each other but with you – I could never tire of you, I could never want anyone else. For me there is only you – with you it's perfect. When I think about marrying you it just seems... its just right.'

 

 

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And that my friends is finally the end. I cannot thank you enough for all the wonderful comments and suggestions and criticisms you have all left on this story.


It will always be a favourite of mine because although it is by no means my best work it was the first one I ever started on IPKKND. There were a lot of things I didn't cover that I'd planned to and some things you might think I left incomplete but I definitely felt this was the right time to end the story.