Warrior - Chapter Ninety

When I awoke the following morning, I found myself buried deep within Arnav's chest, his arm still wrapped around me as he slept. He looked so at peace, a small smile gracing his lips.

I wonder if he's dreaming? If so, what's he dreaming about?

Suddenly the alarm went off, making Arnav wake up. His face slightly wrinkled up as he frowned, then he moved his arm off of me and reached back to get the alarm.

Not that he could since we're on the other side of this massive bed.

Unable to reach it, it forced him to fully awaken, and he looked down at me. When he realized how close I was to him, his eyes slightly widened and his cheeks showed a hint of red as well.

I couldn't help but to lightly smile. "Good morning," I murmured.

"Good morning," he murmured back.

The alarm continued to yell from behind him, so Arnav quickly released himself and turned the maniacal thing off, then returned to me.

"Feeling better," he asked softly.

In all honesty? "Yeah."

Arnav smiled at me in return. "Well, better get the day started."

"Feel free to - I'm taking the day off."

Arnav frowned down at me. "I thought you said you were feeling better?"

"I am... but not enough to want to go to work. Plus I wanted to visit Amma."

He nodded with understanding. "I see.... So you'll be taking your car again."

Pursing my lips, I nodded.

"Okay," he sighed. "Go to my in-laws without me then," he smiled teasingly.

I couldn't help but to roll my eyes with a grin. "I'm sure they won't mind."

"In case you don't remember, I haven't been over since we last stayed over."

"Oh I remember alright. Especially the part where Amma was stuffing you up," I grinned.

Arnav immediately scowled and I couldn't help but to laugh. As the sound reached his ears, his scowl faded away and formed into a small smile.

"There she is," he murmured.

I felt my eyes slightly widen as I looked up at him. A bubbling feeling began to whirl within me, but this was different than the other times. No, this one was much more intense than the other bubbling feelings I've felt before.

But what am I bubbling up for?

"I better get going," Arnav said softly, and he got up to take on the day.

As soon as Arnav went away, the bubbling feeling had increased, then instantly died out.

What the fuck was that?

Honestly, I expected the voice to pipe up at this moment, but nothing. In fact, she's been kinda quiet.

Is she finally gone? In hibernation?

Whatever the case, it was nice not having to mentally strain myself with exhausting mental battles.

Hopefully, it'll stay this way.

*~*

Per schedule, Arnav returned not long later and headed straight into the shower while I stood in the closet in my knee-length robe, trying to pick out what to wear.

I'm sure it's no shocker why he rushed into the shower - so long as it's not the cold shoulder treatment, I could care less.

Anyways, what to wear, what to wear?

Nothing heavy, it's too hot!

Ah! She lives!

Duh! As your conscience that's trying to guide you, I'm not going anywhere until you and I are on the same boat.

Noted. Now then, what to wear... oh! A cute yellow romper, yes bitch!

Taking off my robe, I let it drop to the floor and I took the romper off of its hanger. Stepping into it, I placed my arms through the spaghetti straps, then picked up my robe and set it aside, and headed back into the room. There was string work going on in the back, so I tried to see what I was doing through the mirror to try and tie it up.

Unfortunately, no dice.

Well, fuck-

Arnav came stepping into the room and paused as he looked at me. I watched as his eyes followed up and down along me, and I found myself doing the same to him, only much quicker. Arnav was once again in a white button down shirt, however he was in navy slacks today.

You have to admit, there's just something really sexy about him in navy.

I don't know about sexy, but there sure is something.

Speaking of something...

Turning around, I faced my back to him as I brought my hair to the front. "I could use some help."

"Er, sure."

Looking into the mirror, I watched him move behind me and tentatively bring his hands up to the drawstrings.

If Dr. Leela is right about what she said, then there should be no fight or flight mode triggered.

I watched as Arnav tied up the strings and formed it into a bow, and as he went to finish the bow, his finger slightly grazed my back. Arnav instantly paused as his eyes widened, looking at me in shock, while a small gasp escaped my lips.

Fuck!

Fuck is right!

"Khushi-"

"Not a word."

"I-"

Tossing my hair off of my shoulder, I turned around to face him, finding Arnav with his face slightly turned away, his eyes scrunched.

"Oops, did I just hit you with my hair?"

"It's nothing," he said, shaking his head. "Khushi, I-"

"Change of pace with the navy, huh?"

Arnav immediately frowned at me and glanced down at himself. "I wear navy."

"Yeah, like rarely," and I playfully rolled my eyes.

"That's not true, I wear it from time to time," he continued to frown.

"Arnav, I live with you and share a closet with you - 99% of your stuff is black."

"That's way too high, I'd say more like 90."

I scoff escaped my lips as I crossed my arms. "That's way to low."

His cheeks slightly reddened as he looked away. "No it's not."

Huh?

Why is he-? Oh!!!

I glanced down at myself and realized that because my boobs were a little more smushed together due to me crossing my arms, my cleavage was way more obvious.

He can't be serious. "Arnav, are you seriously blushing over some cleavage?"

His slightly wide eyes met mine but the flush of his cheeks were still there.

"Honestly," I chuckled. 

"I'm not blushing," he huffed slightly.

"Aww," and I reached out and pinched his cheek lightly. "Of course the little boy isn't."

Arnav scowled at me and I couldn't help but to laugh, which made his scowl form into a small smile.

It's so much better than him ignoring us.

I must admit, I agree. "So, no plan to wear a tie today, huh?"

"Actually, I couldn't decide. I have a lunch meeting later-"

"Say no more, lead the way Mr. CEO."

His eyebrows slightly shot up. "Oh! Uh... sure."

Arnav went back into the closet and I followed after him. He opened up a drawer which contained many of his ties, all neatly rolled up in their compartments.

"I wasn't sure if I should do a solid navy blue or that with white stripes," he said, pointing at the two.

I picked up the two ties and held them up, looking at Arnav. Glancing between the two, I held each of them in front of him and made my decision. "Do the stripes."

"You sure?"

"The solid would've been a bit too plain and dull. Given all that's been happening, the pop is necessary, so yes, stripes."

"Okay then," he smiled softly, and I handed him the tie.

As I put the other one back, from the corner of my eye, I watched as Arnav moved in front of the mirror, popped up his collar, and moved the tie around his neck.

Fuck, why was that sexy too?

Excuse me-?

"Khushi?"

Huh-?

"I've been meaning to tell you but I kept getting side-tracked - I was at a business event that night."

Oh?

"The host is good friends with Dad and the uncles, so that's why we were late to come home."

Oh! "Oh... okay. ...was it fun?"

What kind of a question was-?

"If you consider the wives, aka vulture aunties, to be fun," he chuckled lightly.

Say what now?

Facts! "Vulture aunties?"

I thought they only attacked me.

Facts!

A small scoff mixed with a chuckle as he finished tying his tie. "You'd be amazed- well, then again, you've had your fair share," he frowned. "But it was amusing, to say the least, how many of these women have no shame."

Huh? 

Huh is right! "Huh?"

Arnav turned around to me. "They really thought that just because you weren't there that they could show off their daughters to me."

Excuse the fuck me?

Is that so? "Really?"

I slowly stepped forward, moving in front him, paying no attention to the scrunching of his brows. "What did they say?"

"Uh... some garbage that I paid no attention to-"

"Garbage, you say," I questioned, as I brought my hands up to his tie.

Arnav glanced down at it before looking back up at me. "Just nonsense about how great their daughters are."

"I see," and I tightened his tie.

Arnav slightly lifted his head, but his eyes remained on me. "They were useless desperate attempts."

I arched my brow at him.

"Nothing anyone will say could ever make me think of you differently."

"Damn right," I smirked, and I loosened his tie enough so that it wasn't going to choke him, and stepped away.

Oh? Possessive! I like-!

Don't get any wrong ideas.

Uh, says the one who got all in Arnav's face because he was approached by cockroach-aunties.

Whatever.

Turning to my bags, I picked up a cute crossbody, then grabbed some huge sunglasses and a floppy hat, and walked back into the room to get my phone. Arnav came into the room as well, with his navy suit jacket on. Once he grabbed his phone, we made our way downstairs and into the dining room. Other than the boys, everyone else was already settled in. As I sat down, I caught Mama in-law glancing at us, and when her eyes met mine, I knew that she understood that things were okay between Arnav and I.

And after the crazy experience yesterday, because I have no other idea how to explain it, I never want to go through that shit again.

Dr. Leela is going to have a trip over this one.

Now to that, I'll agree with.