Chapter Twenty Four

Taking Khushi out to dinner, Arnav and Khushi finally got some time alone. They spent the evening happily, love in the air, consuming them. After dinner, they decided to take a walk at the park and go to their favorite tree. While walking, they held hands and walked under the streetlamps light, chatting away, until an unwanted presence came walking by.

"Hi Arnav!"

Both looked up to see none other than Sheetal herself. She came walking towards them with a big grin across her face.

"Hey Arnav, how are you," she asked.

"I'm good. How are you?"

Arnav being the sweet guy he was, he didn't hold a grudge towards Sheetal. He forgave and forgot the whole incident she had caused with Khushi, not caring about such silly actions. As for Khushi, she didn't like it one bit. Sheetal had said hi to her, but for the rest of the conversation, she spoke to Arnav. Arnav did engage Khushi in the conversation, but Sheetal was more interested in Arnav. Eventually, Khushi became distant from the conversation. She had even started to back away from the two and stood by their tree. Arnav had noticed and watched Khushi as she wrapped her arms around herself and stared at the lake.

Ending their conversation, Sheetal left and Arnav went to Khushi. He wrapped his arms around Khushi and was about to say something, when Khushi removed herself from his hold.

"I want to go home, Arnav," Khushi said lowly, looking down.

"But Khushi, we just-"

"Please? I want to go home."

Arnav could see that she wasn't in the mood and wondered why. He simply agreed and took Khushi home. When they got there, Khushi headed straight to her room once she had greeted Aryan. Aryan looked at Arnav confusedly and Arnav could only shrug. Following behind Khushi, he walked upstairs and into their room.

"Khushi, are you okay," Arnav asked, shutting the door behind him.

Khushi went to the wardrobe and took out her nightwear. "I'm fine."

But Arnav knew she wasn't. He walked towards her and turned her around. "You don't think I know when you're lying to me?"

Khushi looked up at him.

Arnav cupped her cheek. "What's wrong?"

Khushi looked away. "I don't like her."

Arnav let go and scrunched his eyebrows. "Who?"

"... Sheetal."

He sighed. "Is that what's bothering you? Khushi, it doesn't matter-"

"Yes it does! Arnav, I don't like her, but yet you were busy chatting her up."

"Chatting her up? She came up to us-"

"Wrong! She came up to you. You Arnav, not us."

"So-"

"So? Arnav I don't like her! She tried to break us Arnav, or do you not remember that?"

"Of course I remember that!"

"Well it doesn't seem like it."

"Oh? Then what does it seem like?"

"It seems like you get along perfectly with my worst my enemy!"

"Are you kidding me?!"

"You know what forget it! You only see the good in her, so why bother trying to explain anything to you? You're just gonna defend her anyways!"

"Khushi stop being immature! This is ridiculous!"

"Ridiculous? She tried to take you away from me! How am I being ridiculous?"

"Khushi I've had enough of this nonsense! This bullshit stops right now-!"

"Oh sure! She's the innocent one so you can't stand to hear me hating on her!"

"Khushi-"

"You know what, I'm done with this Arnav! I'm tired, so good night to you," and she turned away on her heels to go to the bathroom.

Slamming the door shut behind her, she leaned against the door and began to cry. She couldn't believe that they were fighting. This was their first fight ever! They had never gotten into a fight while they were dating, forgetting all the unnecessary drama that had happened in their lives. It upset Khushi that even now, even though they were married, even though Arnav was her's, Sheetal still managed to come in between them.

*~*

Aryan and Dai Ma both noticed the distance between the couple. The morning after their fight, both avoided each other when they could. At breakfast, they didn't say a word to each other. Arnav left to work without a sound, and Khushi disappeared into the kitchen, busying herself. Aryan and Dai Ma tried to find out what was going on and why, but the couple dodged them every time.

For a while they were distant. But within three days, the anger was gone. They began to miss each other and didn't want to fight each other, but they didn't want the other to know because they wanted the other to apologize.

Stubborn, I know. But then again that's why they're perfect for each other ;D

*~*

Khushi was in the middle of folding her clothes when she noticed the calendar from the corner of her eyes. She went up to it and her eyes slightly widened.

Oh no, she thought. My period is in a couple of days!

Khushi sat down on the edge of the bed and nibbled on her fingernails.

This is my first period with Arnav being home! I was lucky that he was in the city last month! How am I supposed to get by this without Arnav finding out?

She looked down at her fingers and stopped biting them. I can get through this... I know I can.

Unfortunately for Khushi, before she could even prepare herself from hiding the Red Dot factor from Arnav, Mother Nature came for an early visit, ruining her plans.

*~*

One evening, Arnav arrived home from the office. As he seated himself in the living room, a worker came with his tea. Arnav looked at him confusedly as the worker placed the tea before him.

"Where's Khushi?"

"She said she wasn't feeling well, so she's been upstairs all day."

Arnav nodded and the worker went back to his duties.

Not feeling well? Is she okay, Arnav wondered.

Leaving his tea, he went upstairs to their room. Upon entering, he saw Khushi in bed, under a blanket even though it was hot, reading a magazine. Her eyes darted up to him when he entered and went shooting right back to the magazine, using the magazine to cover her flustered face. Arnav scrunched his eyebrows and made his way over to her. He went to her side and Khushi moved the magazine so that she couldn't see him.

Arnav tilted his head. "Are you okay?"

"O-okay? Of course I'm okay! W-why wouldn't I-I be?"

"Cause you stuttered."

Khushi mentally cursed at herself.

Arnav sat down beside her. "Why are you under a blanket? Its hot today."

Khushi put the magazine down and folded her hands in her lap.

"Well...?"

"It's nothing Arnav. I feel cold so I'm under the blanket. What? I can't feel cold?"

Arnav made a face and rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Getting up, he went to get his clothes and went into the bathroom. Once Arnav was inside, Khushi sighed in relief and looked down at her fingers entangled in her lap. She leaned and then shut her eyes to rest.

*~*

After a long, warm shower, Arnav came out, wearing nothing but his pjs, a towel in hand. When he came out, he glanced at Khushi and saw her sitting up, her hand at her tummy, eyes screwed shut and lips pursed, looking like she was in pain.

"Khushi?"

Arnav went over to Khushi and sat beside her. Khushi kept her eyes shut, biting her mouth shut.

"Khushi what's wrong," Arnav asked, cupping her cheeks in his hands.

But Khushi didn't reply and stayed in the same position.

"You mind telling me what's going on over here," Arnav asked, his voice louder than he meant it to be.

"It's just cramps," Khushi whispered.

"Cramps?"

"I'm on my period," Khushi whispered, having no time for embarrassment.

Arnav leaned back a little, astonished. He had never dealt with this kind of situation before. In some sort, it seemed kinda weird. But then again there was his cousin Lavanya and him, Akash, and NK used to tease her sometimes when she was on hers - it was just completely obvious to them because whenever she was on that time of the month, she would be grumpier and crankier than ever.

I wonder if Khushi also gets grumpy and cranky, Arnav wondered.

"Hold on a sec."

Arnav got up and headed out the room. Khushi scrunched her eyebrows and started at the door.

Where'd he go, she wondered.

A couple of minutes later, Arnav came back and Khushi's pain had lessened. She looked down at Arnav's hand and saw a water heat pack in his hand. He sat back down beside Khushi and she looked at him in surprise.

"Here, this should help," Arnav said softly.

Khushi just blinked, her confusion clear on her face.

"I remember NK complaining about how Lavanya once threw a tantrum because she couldn't find the water heat pack when she needed it for her cramps. He said that it helped her or something, so I thought...."

Khushi smiled softly. "Thank you."

Arnav nodded and looked down as Khushi placed the pack over her lower abdomen. She sighed and leaned back, shutting her eyes. Arnav turned to get up, when he felt Khushi reach out and grab his hand. He turned back to see her looking at him.

"Stay with me please," she asked.

Arnav nodded and moved beside her, wrapping his arm around her. Khushi snuggled into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. Both sat there, completely quiet. Moments passed, when Khushi finally spoke.

"I'm sorry."

Arnav scrunched his eyebrows and glanced down at her. "For what?"

Khushi picked her head up, but looked down at her hands. "I shouldn't have acted that way with you the other night. I don't normally act like that because I'm not like that, but I understand now why I did it - I felt insecure."

Arnav cupped her face in his hands and tilted it up so she would look at him. "Khushi, there is nothing to feel insecure about. Sheetal is Sheetal and she... she's whatever. But at the end of the day, you're mine, and I'm yours. I married you because I love you, not her."

She held his hands and nodded.

"And I'm sorry as well."

Khushi looked up at him.

"I shouldn't have reacted the way I had. It's understandable why you would hate her - she nearly broke us and got you in big trouble."

Khushi caressed Arnav's cheek. "It's okay."

Khushi tilted her head up and met her lips with Arnav's. It was a sweet, soft kiss, displaying their apologies. Khushi gave him a smile and put her head back on Arnav's shoulder, sighing in content. They were quiet again for a moment, when a question popped into Arnav's head.

"Did you get your period last month?"

Khushi gaped at him. "Arnav!"

"What," he asked innocently. "I have a right to know these things too!"

Khushi went read. "What?"

"I'm sure I would've caught you cramping like this as well. So tell me, did you bleed last month?

Khushi looked away, completely embarrassed. "Yes," she said, her voice barely audible.

"When?"

"You were away."

Arnav frowned. "Huh, is that so?" He mentally tracked back of his schedule last month. "Was it then? No, probably... or was it when I- no, I don't think so."

Khushi gaped at him. "Arnav!"

"What?"

"You're unbelievable!"

"What did I do-"

"You're discussing my period with yourself!"

Arnav frowned again. "Well when you put it that way, it does actually sound weird."

Khushi hit her forehead. "DM, please help this man!"

"What the?"

She looked at him. "You're crazy!"

Arnav gasped dramatically, faking his astonishment. "Mrs. Raizada, I am appalled."

"Yeah? I'll show you appalled."

Khushi reached for her pillow and hit Arnav with it.

"Ah! What the- Khushi!"

Khushi giggled hard as she continued to hit Arnav with the pillow. Arnav held his arms above him, defending himself. He quickly grabbed a pillow and used that as a shield, Khushi laughing even harder.

Outisde in the hall, Aryan was walking by, when he heard Khushi laughing.

"Khushi, stop," he heard Arnav yell. "I surrender, I surrender! Just stop hitting me with the pillow."

"No way," Khushi laughed, and Aryan heard the smacks of the pillow.

Aryan smiled softly and looked up. It's a good to hear them like this. Thank you Shalini for bringing her into our lives.