Warrior - Chapter Fifty Two

The stage for the auction was set up in another exhibit, which was full of many statues and busts.

And yes, some of these statues had tiny penises and balls on it - you know, the classics!

There were many round tables around the room and the Raizada clan and I took up one full table, giving no room to any others.

I suddenly feel like I'm at the VIP table.

Once everyone was settled in and had taken their seats, the auction began. Various items went up and it was insane how many hundreds of thousands of dollars were being spent like these people were at the dollar store. Sure, I've dealt with business transactions and have made several personal expensive purchases, but for art? Eh, not my cup of tea, really. 

But various large bids were made, even from my in-laws. Glancing over at Akash and NK, I find that they are bored out of their minds! When they catch me smirking at them, they both pretended like they were falling asleep and I have to stop myself from laughing. However, the two quickly straightened and I see that Arnav is shooting a glare at them.

Uh, why? They're not wrong, even I'm bored.

Finally the auction is over and it's time for dinner, so the whole hall goes into a buzz as the waiters come around to give us our menus to look over.

"Finally we're at the good part," NK sighed when the waiters left us.

Arnav frowned at him once more.

"Hey, he's not wrong," I defended.

"See," and NK gave a toothy smile.

"No, he's not," Arnav agreed with me. "But we don't need anyone catching them giving looks or looking like they're falling asleep."

"Uh... why?"

"Because it gives them an excuse to say something."

Huh?

The waiters started to make their return, which meant that we needed to make our choices quickly. Fortunately, the only thing we had to choose was what wanted for the main course and what we wanted for desert, the appetizer being only one option. Looking through the menu, the options for the main course was either vegetarian, seafood, chicken, or the steak.

I wonder if Arnav will go with the steak? Sure, he's eaten steak in front of me before, but given his comment just now about giving people an excuse to say something... hmm.

The waiter soon arrived to our table and the choices surprised me a little. Varsha Singh Raizada was the only one to choose the vegetarian option and of the two deserts - chocolate mousse or tiramisu - she chose tiramisu. Maira Singh Raizada, as well as NK, were the only ones to go with the seafood option, both choosing the chocolate mousse. Shalini Singh Raizada went with the chicken, as well as Firouz and Akash, mama in-law getting the tiramisu, the men getting the chocolate mousse. But to my surprise, not only did Arnav Singh Raizada choose the steak, but Aryan and Madhav got the steak as well, all three men getting the chocolate mousse.

Those Raizada ancestors must be screaming with rage right about now.

"And for you, madam," the waiter asked me.

Mm.... "I'll get the steak as well - medium rare, and tiramisu for desert."

The waiter penned it down then took my menu, and headed off. As I'm turning back to look at the others, I noticed that some people were glancing at me and whispering.

You want some smoke? Cause I'll give a fuck-ton.

"Don't mind them," I heard Shalini saying.

Turning back around, I frowned at her.

"People always judge," she shrugged.

Aryan let out a snort. "Ain't that the fucking truth."

Oh! Okay papa in-law!!

Shalini shot him a scowl, but Aryan flashed his teeth at her. The two started to go at it, but I brought my attention away from them, bringing it to Arnav.

"I'm surprised you went with this for your meal choice," I said loud enough for just us to hear.

"Why," Arnav frowned slightly.

"Because it gives them an excuse to say something."

Arnav's eyes slightly widened, but before he could say anything, NK interrupted.

"What are you two whispering about, hmm," he asked, wiggling his brows.

"Just work stuff," I said plainly.

"Mm hmm, sure," Akash grinned.

I couldn't help but to frown, being rather serious, and it did the trick, the boys backing off from their pokes and jokes, believing my lie.

Sometimes, it's just that easy.

"By the way, Khushi, I love your necklace," Maira smiled. "Where did you get it?"

I couldn't help but to glance at Arnav quickly before looking back at her. "Thanks, I got this for myself shortly after I started working at Gupta Enterprises."

"Ah! Well it's very beautiful."

"Not to mention a good way to reward yourself," mama in-law smiled.

Yup, that's pretty much the reason why I got it. I mean I busted my ass in college to prove that I was worthy of working at the family company, so it only felt right to reward myself with expensive jewelry.

Moments later, the waiters started to come out with everyone's food. One by one, every guest was served and eventually, everyone had their meals. For the appetizer, everyone got the same french onion soup with a caesar salad on the side. When that was complete, the main course was brought out. There were murmurs of talk filling the air as people ate, even at our table. However, as I ate, I noticed a few people shooting some looks at Arnav, Aryan, and Madhav, as well as myself. 

Oh get over your fucking selves, will ya?

Ignoring the motherfuckers, I decided to enjoy my steak, as well as the potatoes and greens, and it is all divine! I mean it's all melting into my mouth like perfection! 

Take that you hateful fuckers! Watch us enjoy ourselves bitches!

When dinner was complete, our plates were taken away, and soon our desert was served. To be honest, I was thinking that at desert was when they were going to be stingy, giving either a small cup of tiramisu or small cup of chocolate mousse. But its actually not, being quite bigger than what I had expected.

"Oh ma gah," NK groaned.

I couldn't help but to chuckle. "It's that good, huh?"

"Hell yeah," Akash groaned besides him, making me chuckle even more.

"Don't you just love cheat day," NK smiled.

Oh I bet these boys are loving their cheat day.

Arnav nodded besides me, smiling, then looked at me. "How's the tiramisu?"

"It's really good; I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it is, nor as big as it is."

"Same with mine," he chuckled lightly.

"You know what you guys should do," Akash said.

"What?"

Akash looked at NK and the two started smirking.

Oh no, what are these boys up to?

"You should feed each other," NK smiled innocently.

What?!

"Aww, that would be so sweet," Maira gushed.

Uh-?

"Feed her Bhai," Akash said. "Of course, if it's okay with you Bhabi."

I can't help but to look at them in all shock while they all smiled and looked at me with hopeful eyes.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Arnav said.

"Oh come on! Don't be a spoilsport Nanav," NK frowned.

Arnav scowled at him and was about to say something, when the host's voice filled up the room. He was asking for those who placed bids and/or auctioned off items to go into another exhibit to handle their affairs, and while that went on, the dance floor would open. The Raizada elders either had something they had bid on or something they had auctioned off, so they left us, many others starting to leave the room. When the elders were out of sight, Arnav smacked NK upside the head.

Oh boy.

"What did you do that for," NK exclaimed.

"Learn to keep your mouth shut," Arnav scowled.

"But all I did was-"

Arnav tilted his head, still scowling at him, making NK shut up.

"Well it's not like I proposed the idea, what about Akash?"

"I hear someone calling me," and Akash quickly escaped from the table.

"Hey," NK called out after him, but Akash was gone. "That's so not fair, bro!"

"Don't worry, he'll get his punishment," Arnav said.

NK muttered and mumbled under his breath, rubbing the back of his head, and left the table, leaving just the two of us.

"Sorry about that," Arnav said softly.

"It's fine."

The room around us had emptied quite a bit and the waiters were starting to clean up.

"I think it's time we left as well," I said.

Arnav looked around the room, then nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

So we both got up and exited the room, going into the other exhibit where music was playing. It wasn't anything that was a bop, but slow classical music being played by the orchestra. 

How fancy.

I can't help but to remember the old days when I would go with Babuji to his events as a little girl. Sometimes there would be an orchestra playing at these things, and Babuji would have me dance with him, having me put my feet on his boujee shoes with no care, as we would dance along with the music.

Sigh....

"You okay," Arnav asked softly, snapping me away from my thoughts.

"Yeah, I'm good."

But Arnav's expression told me he didn't buy it.

"Really, it's nothing... just a memory."

"Seems to me that it's an important one, given the flicker of emotions in your eyes."

I immediately looked up at him. How does this man catch this stuff? First the thing with the pani puris back at my parents place and now this?

What the fuck?

"Want to talk to me about it?"

Letting out a sigh, I looked back out at the dance floor, and to my surprise, there's an old man holding a little girl in his arms, dancing. The two looked very happy, especially the little girl. Moments later, an elderly woman goes up to them, whom the little girl resembles very much, and the little girl happily goes over to, who I'm assuming, is her grandmother, and the three walked off of the dance floor.

"...Khushi-?"

"Babuji used to dance with me like that. Except, he used to have me step on his toes and guide me around the floor. It wasn't anything fancy, but it helped me to not randomly stomp on his toes with my tiny heels."

"That sounds sweet," Arnav said softly.

I could only hum in return, still watching the three go over to a man and woman, the man taking hold of the girl, holding her in the air as he beamed at her, the little girl laughing.

"Babuji used to hold me like that as well. Amma would tell him that it was dangerous, but seeing my gummy smile, he couldn't help himself."

Arnav looked over at the family before looking back at me. "Have you spoken to him recently?"

"Yeah, he's away on a trip for a conference."

"I meant in general."

"No... no I haven't actually. Not even with Amma, now that I think about it."

It's like as if I've almost forgotten about them... and on purpose.

"Well, um... would you like to dance?"

Looking away from the family, I looked up at Arnav. Again, he looks a little surprised by his own words, but also like he shouldn't have said anything - I'm assuming that's because of what happened earlier.

"Yes, I'd like that," I heard myself saying.

Arnav looks even more surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, really."

"Oh, um... okay."

Arnav held his left hand out to me, and I'm briefly reminded of our moment at the park all those weeks ago. At that time, there was so much more ease. He hadn't hesitated to hold his hand out to me, and I hadn't hesitated to put mine in his. In fact, he had promised to protect me - even placing a kiss on my had! Yet here we are now, weeks later, where Arnav is hesitant to hold my hand because I reacted from an accidental graze of his fingers on my neck.

I placed my hand in his, gripping it securely, which surprises Arnav somewhat. We then walked over to the dance floor, and just like he had sought for my permission during our wedding, he sought for permission now, so I nodded lightly. He then placed his other hand at my waist while I placed my other hand on his shoulder, and we started to dance along with the music. As we danced along, I'm reminded more and more of our wedding, and for some reason, I become shockingly aware - despite having reminded myself earlier in the night - that Arnav and I had been married for a little over a month now. I mean we got married on April 30th, and yet here we are on June 1st.

Let's see if we can pass four months this time.

"Are you comfortable," Arnav asked.

"I'm okay," I said, looking up into his eyes.

"Okay. I just want to make sure you are."

For a moment, I just looked at him. "Arnav, you don't make me uncomfortable."

His eyes slightly widened. "I-"

"You don't make me uncomfortable. ...it was just feeling that random touch that made me...."

Arnav let out a small sigh. "I'm sorry-"

"You didn't do it on purpose, I know... I know.... It was just a gut reaction."

Neither of us said anything for a moment, just dancing along. I noticed a few people looking at us, but I ignored them because it's obvious that they all care about Arnav Singh Raizada and his new wife way more than necessary.

"Khushi, there's something I need to tell you."

"What," I asked, looking back at him.

Arnav glanced down at the space between us before letting out a sigh. "I had asked Aman to pull up information about... about what had happened between you and... and him."

My eyes immediately widened.

"I just... especially after you had your episode that night, I just- I couldn't- I needed to-"

Arnav let out a sigh, not able to get his words sorted, but all I could do was stare at him in shock.

He did what?

"I knew it couldn't be something easy for you to talk about, and you confirmed my suspicion when we were at your place and you spoke of the group therapy going wrong, and.... I just wanted to know all of the details so that I knew how to properly protect you."

He... Arnav....

"I don't have any negative intentions, I just-"

But before he could even finish, I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. It's been quite a while since I've hugged Arnav. Actually, I don't think I've hugged him since that whole... nyeh incident... the kiss dream to be precise. Actually, I had been at a bit of distance from him since that whole thing but now... this was just so necessary, so... so right.

I don't know any other way to explain it.

"Thank you," I muttered into him.

"I... there's no need to thank me Khushi. I made a promise to you that I intend to keep, forever."

"Hmm... I know. But still... thank you."

Arnav let out a sigh and warily placed his arms around me. When he saw that I wasn't reacting negatively, he let another sigh. "Thank you for trusting me."