Warrior - Chapter Thirty Five

You're safe, Khushi.

My eyes spring open as I sit up and find myself alone in bed.

Wait, what...?

I spot my phone on the nightstand beside me and picked it up to see a text.

A: Good morning Khushi 🙂 hope you're feeling better this morning. Heading to the gym, I'll be home soon

The text was sent over an hour ago, so who knows if soon is actually that soon.

Not that I care about that. Instead, my mind focuses on the occurrences of last night. Yes, I had warned Arnav about my episodes but did I think one was going to happen on my second night married to him? Absolutely not! Last time it had only been a nightmare, which pretty much led to me agreeing to this marriage. But this nightmare....

It was so little, yet so impactful.

I remembered the way Arnav had consoled me, took care of me... how I had made him sleep next to me.

Glancing over to my right, the space beside me was empty. Arnav's pillow was there, nothing else. Crawling over to the end of the bed, I see that his makeshift-bed is also gone, the room tidy.

He slept beside me. I actually made him sleep beside me. I held his hand to me as I made him sleep beside me. And I don't know why, but... but for some reason, it comforted me.

It doesn't make any sense. In the past, when I've had these types of dreams, as soon as I would realize that I was alone in my room, for the most part I'd be fine, unless of course it escalated afterwards. This time, however.... Then again, I'm not in my room; I'm in my new room, the room that I share with my new husband.

Geez-us....

I run my hands over my face and bury them in my hair, giving it a squeeze, tugging at my scalp. Momentarily, it feels good, and then I let it go. With a sigh, I finally get up, make the bed, then go to get ready for the day. I took a rather long shower to get rid of that icky feeling I still felt from the nightmare. By the time I'm all dressed and taking care of my skin, Arnav returns. My eyes quickly darted to the door through the mirror and I find Arnav looking at me. Again, there's concern in his eyes, so I give a small smile.

I really have to get used to the fact that I share a room now.

"Hey," Arnav said softly.

"Good morning," I replied, and I turned my attention back to my moisturizer.

In between applying it, I catch Arnav placing his duffel bag down. He's about to open his mouth and say something, but I quickly cut him off.

"I don't want to talk about what happened last night."

Arnav shut his mouth and pinched his lips together. "I was only going to ask what you think we should take to your parents' place when we go there later."

Oh! "Oh! Um-"

"No worries, we'll figure it out," he smiled softly, and he headed to the closet.

I watched as his disappeared into it, then looked away.

He wasn't going to ask about that?

Arnav poked his head out from the closet, snapping my attention to him. "Khushi?"

"Hmm?"

"I'll never ask any questions if that's what you want," he said softly. "That's all your decision. But I want you to know that if you ever need an ear, I'm here for you," and he smiled that small, polite smile of his before heading back into the closet again.

I can't help but to stare at my reflection.

I wasn't expecting that at all.

*~*

Unlike yesterday, where little by little, members of the Raizada family flurried in, everyone came down to breakfast pretty much together. Everyone sat down at the table, Aryan Singh Raizada taking his place at the head, Shalini Singh Raizada taking the seat to his left. Arnav Singh Raizada took the seat to his right, so I ended up sitting besides him. Akash ended up sitting besides me, NK sitting besides him. The other elders ended up sitting on the other side with Shalini, dividing the table between the elder and the youngins. With everyone settled and the food already being laid out on the table, we all dug in.

"So Bhabi, excited to go home," Akash asked.

Before I could respond, I hear NK snort, so I arched my brow at him.

"I know Bhabi doesn't wanna leave her two new cool devars, so she can't be that excited," NK shrugged.

"Well, someone's cocky," I smirked, and the others chuckled around me.

"Oh stop it you," Shalini chuckled at NK. "She'll be spending more than enough time with us as it is, what's a week at her mother's place? She'll be back before you even know it."

Huh.... It's funny Shalini puts it like that. I mean am I really going to be spending that much time with this family? I was told that before as well, yet look at what happened.

I guess time will tell.

"Chote, you're going to your in-laws for the first time," Maira said. "Anything special in mind?"

"Oh yes! Do tell," Varsha beamed.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say that they were trolling. But one look at their eyes and you can see that the love and care is genuine.

"Tell them about the gifts," Shalini said.

Hold up - gifts?

"Well," Arnav began, "I already got a sari for my mother in-law, as well as for my sister in-law, and I got my father in-law a suit."

"All from Arani," Aryan said.

Say what now?

"Yeah," Arnav nodded, "from the new Arani launch-"

I suddenly start to choke on thin air and quickly grab my water to gulp it down as everyone starts expressing their concerns.

"Khushi, are you okay," Arnav asked, concerned.

"Did you say new Arani launch," I wheezed.

"Yes-"

"What the fuck?"

Seriously, what the fuck?!

Arnav only frowned in return, tilting his head while I finished my water. My lungs returned to normal but I still gaped at Arnav.

"What," Arnav said innocently.

"You're giving them pre-launch items as gifts?"

"Yes-"

"Why?"

Arnav frowned in return. "Why not? I think they make nice gifts."

"Well, no shit, anyone who gets anything from Arani thinks it's a nice gift, even if it's a purchase for themselves!"

"Really? Surely there must be something people don't like. After all not everyone has the same taste."

"True, but it's not like anyone's ever said they're ugly!"

"I'd beg to differ," Arnav grinned, and he resumed eating.

What the fuck? "What idiot has claimed that Arani sells ugly stuff?"

"Well, critics for some. A few fans here and there, shoppers as well. I'm sure there's others as well."

"What a bunch of idiots."

Arnav chuckled besides me, reaching for his water. "Everyone's entitled to their opinions."

"Clearly," and I resumed eating as well.

I realized that this entire time we've been conversing, the family had been watching us, but I pay no attention to them. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed the smiles, especially from my mother and father in-law. They all resume eating as well and normal conversation resumes. Everyone loves the gifts Arnav has chosen to give to my family, but Arnav feels that he should take something more since he is going to his in-laws for the first time.

"One can never go wrong with sweets," Madhav pointed out.

"He's right, you know," Firouz said.

"Yeah, I think I'll do that," Arnav smiled.

"Then it's settled," Aryan said. "What time are you guys heading out?"

"Well, I believe we're expected by the afternoon for lunch, but we can always head out early," and Arnav turned to me.

Early? But do I want to go early? Why am I feeling so confused about this matter? Not that long ago, I didn't even care about getting married a second time around and only wanted to stay in my home with my family! Now I'm suddenly feeling confused about going back to that home?

"I guess," I finally said.

"I'm sure your mother would love that," Shalini smiled. "In fact, since she's not expecting you guys till later, surprise her by going early! I'm sure she'd love that!"

Oh boy, will she!

"Sounds like a plan," Arnav smiled.

Sounds like a plan, indeed.