Warrior - Chapter Sixty Eight

 The anti-social-ness continued and because I wanted to continue it further, I chose to not go down for dinner, making up the excuse that I wasn't hungry whatsoever, and drained out from working. Thankfully, I wasn't pestered on it and managed to get away with it.

After brushing my teeth and getting ready for bed, I made myself comfy under the covers and checked my phone. After the last text exchange with Arnav Singh Raizada, he had snapped me a few times, but I had purposely ignored them. Now that it's been long enough, I decided to not be a bitch anymore and played them. The first one was a picture of his food, no doubt from when he was with Max earlier in the day. His next snap was a picture of his drink, which judging by the look of it, must've been gin or something. The snap after that was only from about half an hour ago, showing his laptop and paperwork around him with the 😴emoji.

Same dude, same.

That was the last of it, so I placed my phone down and shut off the lights, fading into sleep.

*~*

No...

No...

NO!

Waking up with a loud gasp, I shot up in bed, panting. Nothing but darkness surrounded me as I looked around, though things were mostly a blur until details started to clear out - like the fact that there was no one else in bed but me.

Without a thought, I looked to the side table and picked up my phone, then called Arnav. He picked up the call pretty much instantly.

"Khushi, are you okay?"

What-? "How did you-?"

"It's past 3 over there, are you okay? Did you have a bad dream?"

It's only-? Hold up!

Frowning over at the alarm clock, I see that Arnav is right, the beady red lights showing that it was 3:28 AM.

Fucking hell....

Letting out a sigh, I leaned back against the headboard and ran my hand through my hair.

"Are you alright," Arnav asked softly.

I only hummed in return.

"Bad dream?"

I hummed once more. "But I don't remember it," I said, matching his tone.

Honestly, I can't remember a single detail, all of it now just a blur - almost as if it didn't happen.

"Do you have water next to you? Did you drink water?"

Looking back over at my bedside table, I spotted the jar of water and empty glass that I had started to keep near me, in case of nightmare-events like this. "Yeah I have but I didn't drink any yet."

"I think it'll comfort you if you do."

"Okay."

Reaching over, I poured myself some water and drank it, then placed the glass back down.

"Better?"

I let out a small hum. "Not really."

"Oh, umm... how about some hot cocoa?"

Arnav say what now?

"I'm sure that'll help," and I just know he's smiling that small, polite smile of his.

The small, polite smile I haven't seen- no, wait a minute! "How did you know?"

"What do you mean," and I know that he's frowning now.

"The cocoa - how did you know that would cheer me up?"

"Oh! Well, uh... that time that we stayed at your parents place- you know after we got married? During our stay there, Gomez mentioned it."

My eyes widened in shock.

Gomez did what? But that was just between us! ...then again, the old man must've been smart enough to realize that there were very high chances of Arnav seeing me go through an episode, so....

Way to be wise, old man. A ballsy move, given the threats I've given him in the past, but wisely done old man.

"I-I would've done it- I mean gotten you some last time but...."

The memory of him changing my clothes with his eyes closed played in my mind, and I found myself staring at the closet entrance. "It's okay."

This time Arnav hummed in return, then went quiet for a moment before speaking up. "Do you want to get some now? I can stay on the line with you while you head downstairs."

Wait, he'd do that? For me? "I don't want to disturb-"

"Trust me, you'd be doing me a favor as well," and again, I know that he's smiling that small, polite smile of his.

Mmm.... "Okay."

Moving the covers aside, I put on my slippers and headed downstairs. I quickly became aware of the fact that I've never walked through the halls of this museum during this hour with everyone being asleep. It wasn't exactly creepy or eerie but... definitely lonesome.

Heading down the stairs, I went to the kitchen. "I'm in the kitchen," I let him know.

"Okay; go into the pantry and on one of the shelves to your immediate right should have cocoa mix."

I did as he said, going into the pantry closet. Reaching for my right, I flipped on the light switch, and as soon as the room brightened, I found the boxes of hot cocoa mix in front of me.

"Well that was easy," I murmured as I took out a packet a box.

"Oh," and he let out a small, nervous chuckle.

Huh? "What's with the chuckle?"

Arnav didn't respond, which made me even more curious. "Arnav...?"

Again, no response.

"Arnav Singh Raizada, what are you hiding," I asked as I pulled the milk out of the fridge and set it aside.

"Uh... I'm not exactly hiding anything, per se."

A scowl immediately took over my face as I placed my hand on my hip - not that he'd see it to know.

"Okay, okay..."

Wait, how the hell did he-?

"When I bought the cocoa mix, I made sure to put it in sight where it was quickly and easily accessible should anything happen."

Oh! ...oh? Um... wow!

"Eliza wasn't particularly happy that I was messing up her pantry system, but she got over it."

Ah! Eliza is head chef here at Raizada mansion, so I'm not so surprised she has her strict method of organizing the pantry.

Don't be too surprised that she has control of the pantry in the way that she does, the Raizada women let her do it her way since they didn't really care for it.

But wait, hold on.... "You did that? But... but why?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I get your explanation, but still... why? Why have it easily accessible? Why buy it in the first place? Why even care for any of my issues-?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Excuse me?"

"Why shouldn't I care? Would you rather I act heartless?"

Um, he sounds kind of angry. "Chill out, no need to pick up a tone."

Arnav let out a quick sigh. "I'm not picking up a tone, I'm asking a genuine question."

"Well no need to sound bothered over it-"

"Well I am bothered over it."

Whoa, what?

"Before I say anything else, did you make the cocoa?"

I looked at the carton of milk and cocoa powder mix in front of me. "No."

"Could you please make it?"

I sucked on my teether with a scowl. "Fine, hold on while I put you on speakerphone."

Placing my phone down on the counter, I put it on speakerphone. The moving around the kitchen, I found a small pot and a mug, then filled the mug with milk to get the right amount, and then poured that into the pot to heat up.

"There should be tiny marshmallows in the pantry as well, next to the cocoa mix."

"It's fine, I don't want."

Arnav hummed in return and then went silent.

I can't help but to frown at my phone. Arnav's acting weird - and I mean weird. Heck, he's never used any tone like that towards me before. Double heck, he's always been kind to me, never raising his voice at me.

Then again, if for any reason he had, I would've punched him in the throat in 0.5 seconds and kneed his balls up till it reached his lungs.

Anyways, he's never used any tone towards me. 

So what was that about?

"Done being pissy," I asked.

"I'm not pissy," he sighed.

"No? Sounded like it. You're lucky you're not using that tone in front of me or I would've knocked you out."

A small scoff escaped from his lips. "Khushi, you and I both know I haven't used any tone of that sort for you to do that to me."

"Wise of you to understand that."

"So why the threat," and I know he's smirking.

"Because I'm a badass bitch," I said as if it were obvious.

Arnav let out another chuckle. "And she's back," he murmured.

Huh? "What do you mean?"

"Well, it's not like you to ask all those questions."

"Oh?"

He's not exactly wrong though. Good thing he can't hear my thoughts though, he would've been like what the fuck?

"Mm hmm, it's not like you at all."

"Then what am I like?"

"Well for one, a badass bitch."

I can't help but to scoff as a stupid grin took over my face.

"Second, you're the most confident, self-willed person I've ever known."

"Hmm, sure does sound like me."

"Exactly," and I just know that he's grinning. "So hearing those doubtful questions from you, doesn't suit you."

The milk has reached a boil, so I poured it into the mug. Reaching into a drawer, I pulled out a spoon, then grabbed my phone and the cocoa mix packet, and made my way to the kitchen island. Setting everything down, I made myself comfy on a stool, then ripped open the cocoa packet and poured its contents into the milk.

"The doubtful questions may not suit me," I began, "but I can't help but to question." Reaching for the spoon, I used it to mix the powder into the milk. "After all, they're genuine questions."

"Maybe, but the answers are obvious."

"Which are?"

"...that I care for you."

My hands instantly stilled as I stared at my phone.

What?

"It's because I care for you that I cared to do those things."

He... he cares for me?

"What kind of friend would I be if I didn't? ...what kind of husband would I be if I didn't?"

As soon as the words processed through my ears, the strangest thing happened.

My heart thumped.

The very same traumatized-heart within my body, thumped.

What the fuck-?

"Oh, before I forget, I'm getting my tattoo tomorrow," Arnav said.

"Oh! Uh... so that means you've decided on what you want to get."

No duh! Dumb bitch!

"Yeah. Max had a few good ideas, but I finally decided on one."

His snap from earlier comes to mind and I immediately scowled. "A few good ideas, huh? Sounds cool! Of course, it's not like I would know since a huge fucking emoji was covering it all up!"

Arnav let out a laugh but I was nowhere near entertained. "If had showed them to you, then it would mess up the surprise."

"Surprise-shmurprise, who the fuck cares!"

"Trust me, it'll be worth it."

A scoff escaped from my lips. "You do realize I have to wait at least two weeks before I can see it, right?"

"Again, it'll be worth it; I promise."

I only growled in return, Arnav laughing once more.

"Are you drinking your cocoa?"

I looked at the mug full of cocoa in front of me. "No."

"It'll get cold."

"Yeah, yeah," I huffed, and took a sip.

"Is it good?"

"Rich and chocolatey."

"Perfect," and again, I just know he's smiling that soft, polite smile of his.

Fucking hell, when will I see it again- what the fuck?

"NK mentioned you guys are going to the club tomorrow."

My eyes shot down to my phone. "Yeah, we are."

"I'm a little jealous."

Oh? "Says the one getting a tattoo; I'd rather be in your position."

Position you up in such a way and make you cum- whoa, whoa, whoa!!!

WHAT THE FUCK?!

"Should you ever get serious about getting one, sure, I'll help you out," Arnav said.

I think my brain is damaged! "I, uh... well that was a very formal invitation."

Just give me a formal invitation to fuck you senseless- STOP! STOP IT!!!

Arnav chuckled, making me flinch and think for a fraction of a second that somehow he had heard my thoughts.

Oh, calm down! Calm down! Calm the fuck down!!!

"Yeah, I guess it did sound that way, a little. But I mean it; if you ever come to a serious decision that you want to get a tattoo, I'd hook you up."

I'd like to hook you up and- WHAT THE FUCK?! WHA THE ACTUAL FUCK?!

Is there alcohol or drugs in this shit?

Bringing my mug to my nose, I tried to smell for any weird stuff, or anything that could smell like drugs or alcohol, but there was none of that shit!

So then what the genuine fuck is wrong with me?

"Sounds great," I forced out.

"Feeling tired?"

More like a loon!

"It's like 4 something, isn't it? It's... almost 8:30 here."

I glanced at the wall clock and saw that he was right. "Yeah."

"You should get some sleep. Why don't you take the cocoa upstairs with you?"

I hummed in return and took the mug of cocoa upstairs with me, going back to our room. With the door shut and locked, I made myself comfy in bed, the cocoa sitting on the table beside me.

"Comfy?"

I'd be more comfy with you- whoa!

Bitch, I am losing my shit!

A tiny hum escaped my lips as a response.

Arnav let out a sigh. "I'm sorry I'm not there to support you."

I turned to my side and placed the phone beside me. "It's not your fault. Besides, I used to handle these things on my own before."

"I know but... but you shouldn't have to. You don't deserve to go through torment alone."

Pursing my lips together, I looked at Arnav's pillow. Reaching out, I brought closer to me and placed my phone on it. "I'm not going through this alone; you're here with me."

"But-"

"You're here with me."

Arnav let out a sigh. "I guess.... You'll call me if anything else happens, right?"

"Mm hmm."

"Okay.... Well... good night, Khushi."

"Good night, Arnav."

My finger hovered over the screen for a moment, when finally, I ended the call. Silence surrounded the room until I let out a heavy sigh, turning onto my back.

I've got one fucked up mind - a tad bit sexual and hormonal, I'm noticing - but it sure is one fucking fucked up mind, indeed.