Invisible Pull

Arnav groggily woke up from his deep slumber. He refused to open his eyes and welcome the harsh sunlight that was pouring in through the french doors. Languidly reaching behind his head, he stretched his arms and legs, letting a yawn erupt deep from his belly. He was absently scratching his chest when he felt something jostling the bed. He couldn’t say he was really surprised or alarmed though. Ever since he’d become a married man…..no no, correction…..ever since he’d married his Khushi, there were a lot of strange things he’d become accustomed to. He’d learned early on that his deceptively petite little wife was not only a bed hog, but tossed and turned into the oddest of positions at all times of her REM cycle. As usual, when he thought about her antics, he felt his face involuntarily contort into a smirk. Why the hell was his wife so damn cute? His face now stretching out into a full blown smile, he reached his arm across the bed, searching for her. He felt around for a moment when he realized all he was catching was cool sheets. Brows furrowing, he finally opened his eyes and glanced at the empty space next to him. Where was she? He sat up as he visually scanned the room. Realizing she might’ve gone downstairs, he tossed the sheet away, ready to go look. His eyes were suddenly thirsty to drink in the sight of her. When he moved to get off the bed, he felt it jostle again. “What the…? Khushi?” he asked tentatively. He could’ve sworn he heard a soft, muffled reply. He scratched his head. Was he hearing things? He peered over the edge of the bed, on her side, and was greeted by the glorious view of his wife’s pink salwaar clad rump, sticking up into the air. If that wasn’t an open invitation, he didn’t know what was. Well then, good morning indeed he thought to himself, smirk back in place.

He leaned over the edge of the bed, slowly reaching out, ready to grab a handful of his luscious wife and start this Diwali off with a kick. Inching closer, he could see her wiggling around, hear her mumbling to herself, as his eyes lasered in on the tantalizing target in front of him. His palm was already tingling from feeling the heat emanating off her body. Just before he could touch his finger down, she popped out from underneath the bed, like an ostrich resurfacing its head after burying it in the ground. He was about to let out a burst of laughter when he finally got a good look at her expression. All traces of his humor vanished and were replaced with concern. He took in the worry etched on her face. “Khushi, what’s the matter?”

“Arnavji, I can’t believe…..I can’t find..…I think…I think I may have lost it.” She was trying to keep her tears at bay. She scrambled up from the floor and began rummaging through their closet.

He quickly got off the bed and came to her side. “Khushi, what did you lose?” He had a feeling this was not one of her silly musings. She rushed past him, flipping the comforter around on the bed frantically. He approached her again, gently grabbing her arms and bending until he was eye level with her. “Khushi…..tell me.”

“Arnavji…. when I went to get out of bed this morning and put my slippers on…..” she was trying to control her hitching breaths. She drew in some strength from his gentle hold and genuinely concerned gaze. “….I noticed I was missing one of my Amma’s payals. I’ve been looking for it all morning and I can’t find it anywhere.” Her vision blurred as she felt tears brimming her eyes.

He quickly glanced down. One of her slender ankles was in fact bereft of the pretty heirloom anklet that always rested there. They were so intrinsic to her that he’d even gotten used to hearing the sweet tinkling of the bells as she moved about, often signaling that she was close by. Knowing they were the only item she had as a keepsake of her mother, he knew how much they meant to her. He looked back up in time to see a fat tear slowly trickling down her cheek. Wiping it away for her, he hugged her close. “Khushi, don’t worry. We’ll find it. When did you see it last?”

She held on as tight as she could, wanting to crawl into him and bask in the comfort he exuded. She spoke into his chest “I don’t know”. She felt ashamed at her own admission, fresh tears leaking out. “I just noticed it missing this morning. What if I….what if I lost it Arnavji? And that too on Diwali? It’s like a bad omen. What would Amma think of me?” she choked back a sob.

He could feel her tears seeping in through his shirt, and it was breaking his heart. They just had to find her payal. “Khushi, I’ll help you ok? It has to be in the house somewhere. We’ll tell everyone to keep a look out for it.” He kissed the top of her head and embraced her tightly before letting go and holding her hands. “Khushi, we’ll turn the house upside down. We’re going to find it. Do you understand?”

All she could do was nod. How could she not believe him? He was her rock. Feeling more resolute and gaining some hope from his determination, she wiped her eyes and allowed herself a small smile. “Amma, I promise I’ll find it” she silently thought. Immediately, he began searching with her, lifting furniture out of the way so she could have a closer look.

A few hours later, every drawer, pocket, nook and cranny had been exhausted, with no luck. He watched his defeated wife sink sadly onto the mattress, holding her face in her hands. He couldn’t bear to see her like this, especially on such a special day, and let this be the lingering memory of their first Diwali as husband and wife. He had to veer her thoughts off this for a while. Kneeling in front of her, he pried her hands away from her face. Her eyes flickered open, releasing more tears each time she blinked. It made his heart ache anew. “I’m so sorry sweetheart.”

Seeking his comfort, she burrowed into a tight ball against his chest. “Arnavji, it’s all my fault. I won’t be able to forgive myself.”

“Shhh. Don’t say that Khushi.” He gently ran his hand over her hair and down her back, trying to soothe her. “Everyone in the house is looking. We’re bound to find it.” Kissing her crown, he gently pulled her away to gaze at her face. Her nose and eyes had gone red, matching her tear stained cheeks. He cupped her face and stroked her tear tracks away with his thumbs. “Besides Khushi, do you think your Amma would want you celebrating your first Diwali as a newly married wife, sitting here all day crying?” He was pierced with her direct gaze and he knew he’d gotten her attention. “Do you think she wants to see the daughter she named Khushi, all melancholic and sad on such an auspicious day?” He really wanted to try and take her mind off it for a while, and although not wanting to resort to this, he knew Khushi’s traditions and respect for culture ran deep in her veins. Nothing would ever deter her from carrying on her self-imposed familial obligations and duties.

She sat up a little straighter, feeling like she had run out of tears for now. Her husband was right. She had a whole family and household that needed her help today. She couldn’t sit here and just ball her eyes out. She had to carry on. Her Amma knew she hadn’t done anything intentionally. And she might not forgive herself, but she would offer extra prasad to Devi Maiya and keep praying that she find the payal. Besides, she knew her Amma would frown upon her more if she let her in-laws down. “You’re right Arnavji.”

He might not have succeeded in finding her payal, but he’d do everything he could to put a smile on her face today. That much he could manage. “That’s my girl.” He kissed her forehead, before standing and offering his hand. Looking up at him with a small smile, she placed her delicate one in his and stood.

She quickly stepped up to her husband and hugged herself to him for a moment before letting go. “There are still so many preparations to do in the house Arnavji. I’m already so behind! I have to go get ready!”

He watched his wife go back into her usual scurrying mode. Once she’d left his sight, he silently shook his head. He had to, just had to put the dimples back in those cherub cheeks today.

Khushi had succeeded in keeping herself busy all morning. There was never a lack of work to be done at the Raizada house, especially during a holiday. But now, as she rolled yet another cotton wick for the diyas, losing count as to what number she was up to, her mind went into autopilot mode and started wandering back to this morning. She was trying to contain her sadness but it just kept creeping back, no matter how much she distracted herself.

"Khushi ji, are you ok?”

"Di....yes I'm ok. Did you need something?" Sometimes she wished she was as strong as her sister-in-law. That woman had lost so much and then somehow managed to reemerge, still able to smile radiantly at life.

"Ji, Chotte was calling for you upstairs."

"Thanks, Di." She put down the cotton and went upstairs in search of her husband. When she entered, he was stepping back into the room from the poolside. She took in his slightly disheveled appearance. His normally gel slick hair was now falling over onto his forehead in a soft coif. He had his sleeves rolled up and smatterings of random colors on his shirt, track pants and sneakers. "Arnavji, aap ne bulaya mujhe?" (“Arnavji, you called for me?”)

"Yes. I wanted to show you something." He took his wife's hand and brought her to the side of the pool where all his pots and plants resided.

Confused, she followed him out. She was searching his face for an answer until he indicated for her to look at the floor. When she looked down, she saw a big beautiful rangoli. A massive paisley with intricate loops and detailing, colored with the most vibrant hues of a rainbow. She smiled as the reds, oranges, yellows and pinks warmed her spirit. "Arnavji, kitna sundar hai! (Arnavji, it’s so pretty!) Di must've done this. She's so good at making them." She knelt down to get a closer look at the elaborate design.

Squatting down aside her, he stared at her profile for a moment, taking in the smile he’d been craving to see on her face all morning. When she turned to look at him, his heart skipped a beat. He forgot how simplistically beautiful she was sometimes, especially when she was happy. Her brow furrowed for a moment before she picked up the end of her dupatta and stroked it along his cheek.

“Arnavji, you must’ve been sitting too close when Di made this rangoli. You have some color on your face.” She continued to gently wipe away at the red tinted powder in his stubble until he enfolded her hand in his and brushed a kiss along her knuckles.

“Di didn’t make it….I did” he confessed in a mumble against her hand.

“Aap ne?” (“You did?”) To say she was surprised would’ve been an understatement. “But why?”

“Because I wanted to see this on your face.” He gestured towards her growing smile. Unable to resist, he leaned forward to kiss the upturned corner of her mouth.

Her Arnavji was so sweet. He’d made her this beautiful rangoli just to cheer her up. She cupped his face and stroked her thumb along his jaw where traces of the faded red powder still remained. Her eyes lingered on his boyish grin, before looking into his gaze. She leaned towards him, intending to kiss his cheek when she lost her balance and fell onto him.

Arnav quickly wrapped his arms around his wife, securing her to his chest as his back landed against the brick floor with a thud. “Khushi are you ok?” Her eyes were scrunched closed with her hands tightly fisted in his shirt.

Khushi slowly opened her eyes realizing he’d broken her fall. “Arnavji, I’m okay.” She leaned up to take a look at him. “Are you….OH MY GOD!” Khushi gasped in horror.

“Khushi, what happened?!” he asked bolting upright. She stared down at the floor wide eyed, her hands covering her mouth. He watched as her face crumpled and her eyes grew wet.

“Arnavji, your rangoli….”

Arnav followed her line of vision. His eyes settled onto what was now a big blob of mish-moshed colors. “Sweetheart, it’s alright.” He reached out to grasp her arm, wanting to reassure her, but she brushed him off as a tear spilled over, onto her cheek. She quickly stood.

“I’m such a mess. First this morning’s fiasco, now I ruined all your effort, and on top of that your clothes! I can’t do anything right today!” She couldn’t control the tears from leaking out on their own volition as she admonished herself.

“Khushi, seriously it’s ok. I’ll make another one…. just don’t cry. Please.” He couldn’t stand the distance between them and again tried to draw her into his embrace, but she resisted.

“Arnavji, I’m so sorry.” She cupped a hand over her mouth as she turned and ran away. She’d screwed up everything. He didn’t need to see her as a blubbering mess as well.

“Khushi!” Before he could protest, she was gone. He watched as her dupatta flailed wildly behind her. He thought about chasing after her, but she’d been so resistant to his consolation that he didn’t want to push her. Maybe she just needed a little space, he thought to himself as the nagging ache resettled in his heart. He had to think of something else.

He’d kept an eye on her throughout the afternoon from a small distance. Even though she’d continued on with all her pending tasks and preparations for the evening pooja and party, he knew she was masking her sadness. Now leaning against the door to their bedroom, he watched as she absently put her jewelry on.

The whole day had been one big cluster of chaos for her. She knew the second she’d lost her payal that today would not go over well. She desperately wished it to be different though. Her first Diwali with her husband, and absolutely nothing was going right. She couldn’t even muster the strength to politely smile. She just didn’t have the heart to do it. She let out an exasperated sigh as she struggled to close the back of her earring. Closing her eyes, she tried to concentrate on the task at hand when she felt warm, blunt fingers take over. She opened her eyes and looked in the mirror to find her Arnavji standing behind her. Her eyes traversed his length, taking in his sleek form in the fitted white sherwani. He looked so dapper, she thought with a sigh. They locked eyes in the mirror as he deftly clasped the earring for her and bent down to kiss the top of her head. She swiveled on the stool to look up at him as he took her hand in his.

“Khushi, come with me.”

She inched up her sari with her free hand, not wanting to trip on it as he led her out their room and down the stairs. His hold on her hand was gentle yet firm, giving her some much needed strength to get through the rest of the evening without falling apart. Before she realized it, he was buckling her belt, seated in his car. “Arnavji, where are we going? Pooja will start in about an hour. We have to be there!”

“Don’t worry. We won’t be too long.” He reassured her, dropping a kiss on the back of her hand before holding it against his thigh as he drove.

Khushi had no idea where he was taking her until they stopped in a seemingly familiar locale. He helped her out of the car and held her hand as he led her down a small pathway. She saw the neatly trimmed shrubbery, the small white picket fence and of course the gigantic tree that her husband had helped his mother plant when he was a child. He took her to a nearby bench and sat next to her.

“Khushi, the first time I brought you here was before we were married. And you promised me that we would come and get Ma’s blessings after the wedding. I’ve never come here for Diwali either.” He fully turned to face her, letting their knees touch as he held both of her hands in his. “This place always brings me peace, so I thought it might do the same for you.” Releasing one of her hands, he reached into his pocket. “Khushi, I know you’ve been upset over losing your Amma’s payal and these can’t ever replace that. I also realize they’re not from your Amma, but it was Ma’s wish for my wife to wear these. They belong to you.” He slipped his mother’s kangans onto her wrists. The first time he’d given them to her had been under unorthodox circumstances, and eventually, with good reason, she’d stopped wearing them. But now that she was his forever, it was time for his mother’s kangans to assume their rightful place again.

Khushi felt a mellow breeze pass by, caressing her arms and rustling the leaves of the huge tree that towered nearby, sending a few stray ones to shower upon them. She cupped his face in her palms. “Arnavji, these are from my Ma as well. I will always cherish them.” Feeling an ease she’d been missing all day, she pulled her husband into a tight hold. They sat like this for a while, sometimes talking, and sometimes silently conveying unspoken words before heading back to Shantivan. Just in time for pooja, she clasped her hands and closed her eyes in front of Devi Maiya, thanking her for all the blessings in her life, the biggest one being her Arnavji.

After all the guests had arrived, he’d watched Khushi go into hostess mode, fluttering about. She was every bit the butterfly her Bhua ji deemed her to be. But now, among the throng of people milling around, his wife stood alone, by the large living room window, looking up at the sky. He saw a faint smile touch her lips as she looked down at her wrists and traced a finger over the kangans he’d placed there a few hours ago. She looked into the sky again, her gaze seemingly fixed on another spot before her smile faltered to be replaced by rue. Not able to withstand her turmoil, and angry at himself for not being able to help her, he turned on his heel and trudged up the stairs.

As Khushi reigned in her sadness yet again, she saw her Amma’s star twinkle at her. Her thoughts drifted back to the garden when her husband had lovingly bestowed his mother’s kangans upon her. He’d been trying to cheer her up all day and she’d been so wrapped up in her own emotions that she hadn’t even thanked him. Instantly she turned, searching through the crowd of people, looking for that one face that always made her heart beat rapidly. “Kahan hai voh?” (“Where is he?”) she thought to herself. As she glanced upstairs, she noticed their bedroom door was slightly ajar. She quickly went up and came into their room, feeling an urgency to see him. After searching the room, she stopped short of stepping out poolside, her eyes finally landing on him. She watched as he crouched down and lit the diyas that rimmed the edge of their pool. A year ago, that had been her, decorating his pool. She gazed at all the fairy lights that were strung about and how they illuminated around him, creating the aura of a halo. He really was her angel wasn’t he? He always swooped in to save her, regardless of how big or small the conundrum, usually one she’d gotten herself into, was. How things had changed in a year. She didn’t love him any less, no. If anything, her feelings for him had grown infinitely as he’d opened up to her day after day. She clutched her heart as she watched him. Even now, she knew he was lighting those little votives just for her. Wanting to be near him, she blindly took a step forward. Abruptly her foot caught on the ledge of the french door, propelling her head first. She let out a shriek, bracing for her body to collide with the hard floor. But it never came. She felt herself hanging midair, suspended by warm strength. When she cautiously opened her eyes, there were dark cinnamon ones gazing back at her.

“Tum teekh ho?” (“Are you ok?”)

She shivered as his raspy voice stroked over her. Feeling the heat from the palm of his hands on the skin of her waist and back, her throat went dry. Taking a gulp, she nodded. “I think so…” As he carefully stood her upright, she felt pain shoot through her foot and let out a distressed gasp.

His eyes frantically searched her body for injuries as he froze her in his arms. “What is it?!?”

“Arnavji, my ankle…..” she hissed out in pain, keeping her foot from touching the ground.

He looked down at her foot and noticed how one of her shoes had been left behind on the ledge of the doorway. Swinging her arm around his neck, he scooped her up to seat her in the nearest poolside chair. Kneeling down, he gently placed her foot on his thigh, raising the end of her sari a few inches. “Let me see.” As he gingerly placed his hands on her foot again, she covered one with her own.

“Arnavji, it hurts….” She couldn’t keep from wincing.

“Shhhh. Just close your eyes.” She immediately did as he asked, while he examined her ankle. The second he moved his fingers to hold her heel, she leaned forward and gripped his shoulder, biting her lip, bracing herself for the pain. “I’m sorry sweetheart. It’ll be it quick, I promise.” He watched her face as she nodded, showing her full trust in him. Not wasting any more time, he gripped her foot and maneuvered it to alleviate the pain. He heard the breath she’d been holding in, whoosh out in relief.

She felt the pain immediately dissipate and eased her grip on his shoulder. “Arnavji this is déjà vu. I twisted my ankle last year during Diwali also.” When she looked up at him, she was scorched by his intense gaze. She squirmed under his fiery scrutiny and began to rise but was deterred by his steady hold on her foot.

“I remember Khushi. Maybe some things happen again for a reason.” He looked down at her delicate ankle, and placed a soft kiss atop her foot, before he pulled her missing payal out of his side pocket. When he’d come upstairs to light the diyas, knowing how much she loved them and determined to cheer her up, he’d caught a glint of silver sparkling in a small crevice on the floor beneath one of the poolside chairs, illuminated only by the stars in the sky. Pure relief had washed over him as he picked up the elusive anklet. When he’d looked up into the sky to silently thank her mother for letting him be the one to stumble upon it, yet again, he was positive the bright star had twinkled right back at him. He locked eyes with his wife as she stared intermittently between the payal and him. “Maybe things happen again so we get a second chance to fully understand things we didn’t the first time around.” He re-clasped the payal around her ankle.

Her eyes had pooled with tears, happy ones this time as she cupped his face. “Arnavji, you found it” she replied reverently.

He glanced at the payal before looking back at her. “It always has a way of coming into my possession somehow. Maybe it was your Amma’s wish for me to always be the one to return it to you.” He saw a tear escape from the corner of her eye and lifted his palm to catch it. “These are more precious than diamonds Khushi. Please don’t cry.” He pulled her into his embrace and rubbed light circles across her back as she held onto him tightly. Cupping her face, he placed a lingering kiss on the softness of her cheek. “Stay right here, I’ll go get the balm” he whispered before moving away. When he returned to the poolside he found Khushi standing by the wall, tinkering with a string of lights. “Khushi! Why are you standing!? I told you to stay seated!!”

“Arnavji….voh…the lights were flickering so I came to fix the plug for the wire…” she was hoping to be reseated by the time he came back, but sometimes her husband was just too quick for her. As she nervously glanced at him, she could see him approaching her, fully peeved.

“Will you ever just listen to me?”

She began to step back with every step he took forward. God, why did he look like an agile panther stalking its prey? Especially when he had that look in his eyes. Her heart was trying to hammer out of her chest. “Arnavji….it’s not a big deal.....I was just fixing…..umph.” Her back had effectively hit the wall and her devastatingly handsome husband was now looming over her. His expression suddenly changed, softening, as his eyes searched hers before cupping her face.

“Khushi, are you sure your ankle’s ok?”

His voice was smooth as butter as it floated over to her ears. “Ji. Thank you for alleviating it.” She tried a small smile even though her pulse was pounding at his close proximity.

He brushed her bangs away from her face as he stroked his thumbs across her jaw line. “I think there’s something else that was meant to happen a year ago as well….” he trailed off as he leaned in closer. He watched as those pretty pink lips quivered once again, almost begging to be kissed. Even though her hands were not fisted in her sari this time, her eyes still shyly averted his gaze, to stare at one of the buttons on his sherwani. She tentatively placed her hands on his chest and he instinctively knew it was not to push him away, but to draw him closer.

She slid her hands up his chest and wound them around his neck, letting her fingers tangle with the silky ends of his mane, touching the back collar of his top. He inched even closer, only a few scant millimeters separating them, when she let her eyelids fall shut. She tightened her fingers in his hair, unable to bear the anticipation when there was a loud peal from a cell phone. Her eyes flew open and took in his disbelieving frozen expression. She slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a bout of uncontrollable giggles. “Aman ji, na?”

He quickly reached in his pocket and chucked the still ringing phone over his shoulder, taking satisfaction in the plopping sound it made when it landed in the pool.

“Arnavji!” she couldn’t believe her husband had just done that.

“Khushi, I’ve gotten a second chance. To rectify and tell you… show you what should’ve happened a year ago! I was futilely trying to fight this invisible pull we have, but now I realize how right this is. I realize this was your Amma’s wish, for us to be together. It’s why I found your payal the first time, why I held onto it, and why I found it again today. There are unexplainable factors and forces drawing us together and I’d be a fool to let anything get in the way, especially a stupid phone call! You’re bound to me Khushi and I’m not letting the chance to show you I love you, slip by me this time.” He was a mere inch away from letting his lips brush over hers as he felt her rapid breaths fanning over his mouth. She’d already closed her eyes in anticipation of the kiss. Letting his nose nudge the tip of hers, he whispered “Khushi, you didn’t wish me a Happy Diwali yet”.

Her eyes flew open, staring intently at him. Even though she saw teasing humor dancing in his, he was right. She hadn’t wished him all day. Wrapping her arms around his neck again and pressing her body up against his, she stared at his mouth. “Happy Diwali Arna….”

He’d been teasing her, but the second he felt her press into him, all thought had fled his mind. Needing to feel her mouth under his, he sealed his lips to hers, not letting her finish her sentence. He gently cupped the back of her head and wound his other arm around her waist, drawing her closer. The desire to have her was beginning to consume him. His lips tingled from feeling the pliant give of her soft plump ones against his. He tried to keep the kiss tender and loving but was losing control when his wife had latched onto his bottom lip and given a soft suck.

She went on tip toe, wanting to be closer, and wanting him to consume her. Her heart was thundering as she tentatively darted her tongue out and traced his top lip, feeling his stubble tingle her taste buds, before she felt his tongue glide against hers. As his kiss took over her, she felt as if she were floating on a cloud. The heady scent and taste of her husband was giving her a high. This is what nasha must feel like, she thought to herself as he continued to plunder her mouth. When he broke away from the kiss, allowing her some air, he was scooping her up to carry her into their room.

He’d coyly maneuvered them to their bedroom, without breaking their kiss once. His lips had been hungry for hers, and she’d kissed back with equal fervor. Quickly sliding the door shut behind him, he pulled her in close to himself. Spanning his hands across her back, he untied her dori. “I really missed you today” he admitted against her lips. It truly gave him pleasure to know that she was happy again. She let out a moan before sealing her mouth over his.

She slid her hands down his chest, her fingers brushing the bare skin at the open V-neck, before nimbly attacking the tiny row of buttons. She felt his mouth kissing a path along her neck as he unpinned her pallu, letting it drop to the floor. When she glided her hands across his naked chest and shoulders, he released her for a moment, allowing her to slide his top off his arms. Her eyes drank him in. All that tan skin, sleek muscle and unleashed power…..all mine, she possessively thought as she wondered about where she wanted to touch him first.

As she eyed him down, her gaze singeing everywhere it lingered, he’d deftly removed her choli and bra. His mouth had watered at the sight of her plump breasts, peaked with rosy nipples and flushed with desire. He’d allowed her to caress her hands down his chest and torso to untie his pants. When he cupped her breasts and lightly massaged them, his clever wife didn’t waste any time as she removed both his bottoms and inner briefs with one hurried tug. Her hands inched inwardly on his hips, drawing dangerously close to his manhood as he stepped out of his pooled clothing, before he brushed her hands away and tugged at her hips. “You have some catching up to do Khushi.” He sat on the side edge of the chaise as she stood in front of him. She placed her hands on his shoulders as he quickly unraveled her pleats and following her suit, tugged her petticoat and panties off simultaneously. He closed his eyes as the scent of her arousal filled his senses. Leaning forward, he dropped wet kisses along her flat stomach, dipping the tip of his tongue into her navel. He nuzzled his way across to one hip bone before nipping at it and soothing it with his tongue. He chanced a look at his wife’s face and he could tell she was lost in total abandon. The only thing anchoring her was her hold on his shoulders. Wanting to drown her in pleasure, he hoisted her left leg over his shoulder and drew her closer to his face.

“Arnavjiiiii!!!”

Her shriek had died mid-sentence and turned into a moan as his tongue leisurely lapped down the damp valley of her femininity. Reaching the soft wet give of her entrance, tasting her arousal, he stiffened his tongue and drove it deeply into her. As he continued to stroke in and out of her, he felt her hands move to his head and tug roughly at his hair. Knowing that his usually gentle wife was losing control turned him on immeasurably. Drawing her even closer with one hand steady on her rump, the other at the back of her thigh, preventing her from buckling, he eased his tongue back up to wrap around her clitoris before giving it a soft suckle. He felt Khushi’s body stiffen before she began to push his head away.

“Arnavji, it’s too much, please.”

He continued to alternately suckle at her sensitive bundle of nerves and dart into her pulsing core until her hips began to move in rhythm with his mouth. When he felt her slide her hands across the back of his scalp and pull him even closer, he rapidly fluttered his tongue over her clitoris before enclosing it between his lips. He gave a soft, suctioned tug, sending her over the edge as she trembled uncontrollably in his hold. Losing her balance, she fell limply as he caught her in his lap. He held her close as she straddled him, burying his face in her fragrant hair. He moved the thick, silky black mass to one side, dropping a kiss on her neck before lightly blowing over the sheen of perspiration on her skin, cooling her off.

As she felt the cool air caress over her skin, she found the strength to wrap her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Her sensitive nipples were abraded by his chest as he reciprocated and roamed his hands up her back, bringing her closer. Tracing her cheek along his stubble-roughened one, she turned her face until they were forehead to forehead, nose against nose, their lips but a tiny breadth away.

He tilted his head to tenderly kiss her pouty lips. “Wrap your legs around me, sweetheart” he hoarsely whispered against her mouth.

She rearranged herself as he’d requested, desire hitting her hard as she felt herself opening up for him. Keeping their mouths connected in a soft brush, she felt him reach between their bodies and glide his erection up and down her slickness, refreshing her arousal all over again. When she felt him tenderly circle around her clitoris, spreading her wetness even more, sharp pleasure zinged through her, making her heart pound within her chest. “Arnavji…” she tightened her arms around him in fear of falling apart in his hold.

He circled his sensitive head around the perimeter of her dripping entrance, sweetly torturing himself in the process. He stroked his other hand down her hair and back, soothing her, dichotomous to his need to drive her wild. “Khushi, tell me what you want” he softly breathed into her ear.

When she felt him slowly swirl around her overly sensitive clitoris once again, she captured his bottom lip between her teeth and gently bit down. “Arnavji, I want you.” Locking her hazy eyes with his equally lustful ones, she admitted “The only thing I need is you”.

Upon hearing her sweet confession, he surged forward, finally entering her. As her slick heat enveloped his length, inch by inch, he could feel her clenching around him. He began his rhythm, thrusting in and out, elicited by the soft moans of encouragement escaping his wife’s lips. He could feel her swollen sex gripping him with each push and pull, trying to greedily hold onto him. Placing his hands on the base of her spine, he tilted her hips up and pulled her closer, driving himself deeper into her. He watched her suck in a breath as her pupils dilated. Catching her face in his trembling hands, he kissed her lush mouth, diving his tongue in to stroke languidly against hers, tasting her sweetness. He could tell she was straining against him. Leaning his forehead against hers, still cupping her face, he softly brushed his lips over hers. “Khushi, breathe with me sweetheart.”

She slid her hands down his chest, along his abdomen and rested them against his ribs. They were perfectly aligned, torso to torso, nose to nose, breaths intermingling. As he took a deep breath, she felt herself following him, completely sharing the small space between them, feeling his body expanding and relaxing. As she rose and fell with him, she marveled at all the power and life she felt beneath her palms.

He continued to lazily stroke in and out as their breaths continued to mingle, tantrically. She was the sole reason he existed today. She alone breathed life into him. She was his oxygen and all that he needed to stay alive. How had he survived without her presence in his life? He’d been a mere hollow shell before she’d come along and he knew she’d been the one to revive him. Grasping her curvy hips, he oscillated them, grinding her in a deep circle against himself, ensuring to brush along all her nerve endings as he penetrated deeply. He continued to swivel her body atop his as he saw her spiraling towards her release. He felt her digging her nails into his flesh as he relentlessly kept thrusting. When she threw her head back in abandon, bending herself over his arm, he leaned forward and captured an invitingly flushed, rigid nipple into his mouth, suckling as he bucked up inside her. On a high pitched keening cry, she found her release and continued to grind against him, leaving him helpless to her convulsing pulls and driving him to his own orgasm.

She held onto her husband fiercely as their melded bodies found a blissful calm. As she continued to breathe in sync with him, she felt his arms tighten around her, before he lifted her up with him as he stood, their bodies still intimately joined.

He gently lowered her to the mattress and lay her down, kissing her puffy, pink lips as he slowly pulled out. Lying next to her, he gathered her into his side and held her. As she shifted and snuggled even closer, he saw the reflection from the diyas outside lend a soft, incandescent glow to her already shimmering skin. He kissed her forehead as he stroked his open palm along the curve of her hip and up her slender arm.

As she lie next to her husband, feeling him beneath her hands and hearing his even pulse and breathing against her ear, she wondered if making love with him would always be like this. Always start off teasingly, build up into a frenzy, escalate into a tidal storm and then settle into an ethereal calm once they’d tumbled over the crest. Letting out a contented sigh and giving him a light squeeze, she secretly hoped that it would. When she peeked up at him, she saw that his eyes were closed. “And so, my dark angel sleeps” she thought silently as she traced a finger along his stubbly cheek, smiling to herself. As she leaned up on an elbow, she noticed her reflection in the glass door, a lot of the diyas having burnt out leaving a blanket of darkness outside. She carefully got up and slid out of bed, wrapping a sheet around herself, intending to close the curtain. As she looked out the door at the few lone diyas that still flickered, she had a thought to relight the rest. Just as she put her left hand on the door’s pane, she felt her husband’s heat behind her as his hand came to cover hers.

“Kya hua?” (“What happened?”) he asked softly, wrapping his right arm around her waist and dropping a kiss on her bare shoulder.

“Arnavji, most of the diyas died out. I was just going to light them again.”

Gently turning her around, he settled his arms around her waist, holding her against his body. “Sweetheart, we don’t need them.”

“But Arnavji, it got so dark…..”

He slowly shook his head and placed his forehead against hers. “When I’m with you, there is no darkness, ever. You light up my world, Khushi. Nothing else.”

She smiled as she traced her hands along his broad shoulders, stopping to frame his jaw and reach up on tip toe to kiss his soft lips. “Happy Diwali, Arnavji. I love you.”

Tightening his arms around her waist, he leaned his head down to meet her mouth, lips touching as he spoke “Happy Diwali sweetheart. I love you too”.

Invisible Pull (Preview)

Arnav groggily woke up from his deep slumber. He refused to open his eyes and welcome the harsh sunlight that was pouring in through the french doors. Languidly reaching behind his head, he stretched his arms and legs, letting a yawn erupt deep from his belly. He was absently scratching his chest when he felt something jostling the bed. He couldn’t say he was really surprised or alarmed though. Ever since he’d become a married man…..no no, correction…..ever since he’d married his Khushi, there were a lot of strange things he’d become accustomed to. He’d learned early on that his deceptively petite little wife was not only a bed hog, but tossed and turned into the oddest of positions at all times of her REM cycle. As usual, when he thought about her antics, he felt his face involuntarily contort into a smirk. Why the hell was his wife so damn cute? His face now stretching out into a full blown smile, he reached his arm across the bed, searching for her. He felt around for a moment when he realized all he was catching was cool sheets. Brows furrowing, he finally opened his eyes and glanced at the empty space next to him. Where was she? He sat up as he visually scanned the room. Realizing she might’ve gone downstairs, he tossed the sheet away, ready to go look. His eyes were suddenly thirsty to drink in the sight of her. When he moved to get off the bed, he felt it jostle again. “What the…? Khushi?” he asked tentatively. He could’ve sworn he heard a soft, muffled reply. He scratched his head. Was he hearing things? He peered over the edge of the bed, on her side, and was greeted by the glorious view of his wife’s pink salwaar clad rump, sticking up into the air. If that wasn’t an open invitation, he didn’t know what was. Well then, good morning indeed he thought to himself, smirk back in place.

Author's Note: Just a teaser. More to come.... perhaps! ;o)

Spellbound

“Sambhaliye…..”

“Hamesha sambhaltha rahoon ga…”

Khushi couldn’t control her breathing. She saw his lips coming closer to her as she teetered in his tight hold. Sometimes she swore her husband was not a business man, but a magician. She was entranced by him, by the feelings he evoked within her. Letting herself get lost in the magic he’d ensconced over her, she closed her eyes as he leaned even closer. She just couldn’t resist him anymore, fully under his spell. Her chest was heavily rising and falling as she felt his hands tighten around her waist. But the kiss she anticipated never came. She slowly drifted her eyes open to find her husband staring intently at her. “Arnavji?” her voice had come out in a broken whisper.

He carefully took the pooja thaali out of her hand and placed it on the table before righting her in his hold. The confusion in her searching eyes both endeared him and set him on fire. Leaning in close to her, letting her rapid breaths puff onto his jaw, he placed his lips on the soft, perfect pink roundness of her cheek. Letting his lips linger, he spoke to ebb her confusion. “Khushi, I can’t kiss you.”

“Kya?” (“What?”) she tried to pull back but he held her steadily in his tight hold.

He leaned in close to her ear, letting the coolness from the silver zanjeer of her earring brush his lips as he whispered “If I kiss you now, I won’t be able to stop”. He felt her freeze in his hands for a moment before she melted into his body even more. He slightly pulled his face back to look at her. “Besides, you haven’t let me break your fast yet and I need you well fed….” He saw her blink almost in slow motion before he continued, a deep baritone taking over his voice “….you’re going to need the energy later.”

Fully catching his innuendo, Khushi gasped and quickly pushed her husband away, her face aflame. There was only so much she could take. She’d been starving all day, and with the moon nowhere in sight, she didn’t know when she’d be able to eat. On top of everything Arnavji had spent the whole afternoon tempting her with food. And now he was gallivanting around, mercilessly teasing her, while wearing a kurta pajama?! Did he think she hadn’t noticed? She was having a very hard time keeping her eyes off him. Especially when he looked at her with that heated glare….and when he held her so close to his body..….and grazed his rough palms down her arms. She shivered. Devi Maiya, now she was hungry for something much more than just food. She tried not to rub her legs together. How was she going to ignore this ache?

“Khushi….” Arnav drawled as he approached his wife. He could tell she was pretending to busy herself by preparing the rest of her thaali. “I’d love to know what you’re thinking right now…”

“Noth....nothing.” she tried to be as nonchalant as possible. Why was he standing so close to her again? Was he trying to drive her crazy? She fidgeted with the pallu of her sari. Not wanting him to know where her thoughts had ended up, she mustered up all her strength to try and control her erratic heartbeat.

“Oh really? Nothing hmm?” He closed in on her, letting his heat diffuse into her space. “Phir tumari naak laal kyon ho gai?” (“Then why did your nose turn red?”) He couldn’t help but smirk as he flicked the tip of her nose. He ducked out of her reach when she tried to swat at him, gasping in outrage. Unable to stifle his laughter, he made a quick escape.

It hadn’t taken much longer for the moon to finally make its grand appearance. Khushi was adoringly looking at him through the sieve when he glanced back up into the night sky. Yup, he was definitely right. The moon had nothing on his wife’s beauty. He stepped forward, picking up the small copper chalice from her thaali and put it against her perfectly glossed lips. She opened up, taking a drink of water, finally letting him break her fast. When she bent forward to touch his feet, wanting his blessing, he immediately caught her upper arms to still her. He leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead and enveloped her petite form, holding her against his heart. “You accepted me as your husband the day you willingly ran into my arms, right? This is your place Khushi, where you belong. Not anywhere else.” He was almost blinded by the dazzling smile she flashed him. Feeding her a morsel of jalebi and putting her thaali aside, he whisked her up.

“Arnavji what are you doing?! Choriye! (Let me go!) The whole family’s waiting for me, I have to go eat with them!” she tried, in vain, to wriggle out of his hold.

He’d already started purposefully striding up the stairs, his wife in tote. She wasn’t going anywhere. “I told them you weren’t feeling well.”

“But Arnavji, I feel fine. I’m just starving!” Khushi protested.

He locked eyes with her for a moment as he huskily replied “Me too”. Setting her down once they’d reached the entrance to their bedroom, he guided her to turn around and face the closed doors. Before she had the chance to look back at him, he deftly placed a blindfold over her eyes.

Khushi’s hands immediately shot up to her face. “Arnavji! What are you up to now?” She had a quick flashback to the last time he’d blindfolded her. “You’re not going to draw on my face again are you?!” In reality she was trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. The last thing she remembered seeing was the fierce, passionate look in his eyes. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was kind of excited to see what her magician had up his sleeves.

“You’ll just have to trust me, Khushi.” Once he’d secured the blindfold, he took her inside and locked the doors behind them. Sitting her down on the chaise lounge he pulled over the tray of food he had waiting for her. He would never keep her from her second love, especially on a day when she hadn’t eaten at all. “Open your mouth, Khushi.” Without even uttering a single word, her lips parted slightly. He could see her breathing had accelerated, and he smirked. His wife was having some errant thoughts, and damned if that didn’t make him want her even more. There would be time for that later though, she really needed to eat something. Urging her to open up wider, he placed a gol gappa in her mouth.

When Khushi bit into the paper-thin fried shell and tasted the burst of sweet mixed with the perfect spice and salt, she couldn’t hold back her moan. “Arnavji! Gol gappay?!!” she squealed ecstatically, smiling ear to ear. Her husband knew her so well.

“Here have another.” He saw her eagerly open up again allowing him to place another gol gappa in her mouth. Even though he couldn’t see her eyes, her delight was written everywhere else, all over her face. His Khushi was so easy to please. The simplest things made her so happy, and he loved her all the more for it.

After he’d fed her the umpteenth gol gappa, it was beginning to get messy. She could feel the pani dribbling from the side of her mouth towards her chin. When she reached a hand to wipe it away, she felt something stop her.

“Wait. Let me.” Leaning forward he slowly licked at the corners of her mouth until all traces of the pani were gone. When he pulled back, he saw that her hands were fisted in the pleats of her sari, her knuckles turning stark white. He was so aware of her every subtle reaction, it was making his body burn for her.

She was beginning to feel like a heaping mass of trembling need. When she’d felt his tongue delicately licking at her mouth, she almost rejoiced over the fact that he was finally going to kiss her. She’d been craving the feel of his mouth on hers all day, but he’d done a great job of keeping it busy by stuffing it with food she couldn’t eat. “Arnavji? Are….Aren’t you going to…..”

“Khushi, tum ne hi to kaha ta na? Ke sabar ka phall meetha hotha hai?” (“Khushi, weren’t you the one who said the fruits of patience are very sweet?”)

“Haan Arnavji…. par….” (“Yes Arnavji…but…”)

“Shhh Khushi. I have more for you. Here, open again.” This time he held a bite of aloo puri by her mouth.

Reluctantly, she opened up, chewing with a little more vigor than necessary. If he knew her so well, feeding her all her favorite foods and such, why wouldn’t he just kiss her? She was getting slightly disgruntled. “Arnavji, why do I have to be blindfolded while I’m eating? I can feed myself you know…..”  She’d stayed hungry for him the whole day, in more ways than one. He was usually always so attuned to her, couldn’t he tell what she needed now?

He really wanted to kiss that pout off her face. “You fasted all day for my sake right? Your husband? Well now I’m not even letting you lift a finger.” He fed her a few more bites in between. “Let me take care of you….take care of my wife.” He saw the tension drain from her body before he continued, tracing his finger along the edge of the blind fold, brushing against her cheek. “And the blindfold is because I wanted to awaken all your senses, Khushi. Let them be heightened.” Her chewing had slowed down and he could tell she was getting full. Lastly, he picked up a jalebi and held it in front of her nose.

The fragrance of fried, honey goodness wafted over to her. “I hope you didn’t make them this time” she teased. She took a bite of the sweet confection and hummed with pleasure. Why did this jalebi taste better than any other she’d ever had?  Maybe he had a point with this whole blindfold thing. She did feel more aware. Even just sitting next to him had the little hairs on the back of her neck standing at attention.

He looked on avidly as she chewed away. It should have been comical, but he loved watching the pleasure that took over her face when she ate jalebis. “Khushi, did you know that the hands, lips, and tongue are among the body parts that receive the most sensation?”

Khushi stopped breathing for a moment. Maybe that’s why it felt so wonderful when they touched….and kissed … and tasted each other. Devi Maiya, he didn’t expect her to actually answer his question did he? She felt heat wash across her face and prayed it wasn’t turning tell-tale red. “Ar....Arnavji I’m full.”

Oh thank god. He was trying to be accommodating but honestly didn’t know how much longer he could hold it together. It had been such a long day for her, and she’d done so much for him, he really just wanted to make her feel special. But with every bite of food he’d placed in her mouth she had chipped away at his already slipping control. He’d watched the way she closed her lips around his fingers, her delicate little tongue flicking at the tips before drawing back with a soft suck, accepting the food. Her innocent actions had been sweetly torturing him. His wife seemed to be an expert at that. When she began to get up, he stilled her.

“Arnavji, I just need to clean up a little. The gol gappay were …..”

“I know. Stay here, don’t move….” he stood, immediately bending forward, close to her ear “…and don’t take your blindfold off either”. He knew Hari Prakash would come any minute now. He made quick work of disposing the tray outside the doors before relocking them, stopping by the bathroom, and returning to Khushi. He couldn’t help but smile as he saw her patiently waiting for him, her hands folded in her lap, twiddling her thumbs nervously. The prettiest blush was kissing her cheeks.

She felt something cool and wet touch the corner of her mouth, making her flinch at the initial contact. “Arnavji?” He didn’t answer her, but the gentle stroking motions continued around her mouth before it dabbed at her lips. That’s when she felt the little burrs of terrycloth and realized what he was doing. She reached up to grab the towel. “Arnavji you don’t have to do that.”

He gently placed her hand in her lap again. “I told you Khushi. You’re not lifting a finger for the rest of the night.”

“But Arnavji….”

“No buts Khushi. I don’t want to hear anything.”

She could still feel her lips tingling from the soft abrasion. Despite his warning, she opened her mouth to say something but stopped when she felt a light caress down her arm to hold her hand. She heard the tinkle of her bangles before she felt them being slipped off her wrists. Blindly, she reached out until his hand was under hers. “Ye aap kya….?” (“What are you….?”)

“Khushi relax. Just concentrate on what you feel.” He continued to remove her bangles and switched to her other wrist to do the same. “Concentrate on the sound of my voice. And on this.…” he kissed a path up the inside of her arm.

She could feel his stubble deliciously prickling her arm as he trailed his warm, soft lips across her skin. He’d hardly touched her yet and she was already trembling with anticipation. She felt his fingers skim her jaw and wrap around to the nape of her neck. A warm tingle ran through her, eliciting her to lean her head into his touch.

He found the clasp of her necklace and slowly unhooked it, letting his fingers contact as much skin as possible, brushing over her clavicles on the way back.

She felt him trace the shell of her ear pausing at her lobe before he slipped her earring off. Silent relief washed through her, those earrings had been weighing her down all day, leaving behind an uncomfortable throb. She was about to reach up to massage it when she felt a gentle warm, wet pull on her lobe. A suppressed whimper escaped from the back of her throat.

He heard her breath hitch as he soothed away the angry lines her earrings had left behind, with his tongue. Closing his lips around her other lobe, he moved his tongue back and forth before pulling away with a soft suck. Keeping his cheek against hers, he spoke in a soft rumble. “Khushi, why do you wear these things if they’re so uncomfortable?”

“Huh?” She couldn’t register his voice over the loud thumping of her own heartbeat. How did he expect her to think when she felt surrounded by him? His breath was warm as it caressed across her ear, fanning onto her neck. His voice had sent tickling vibrations to resonate down into her chest. She felt a puff of air as she heard him let out a soft laugh. Was he mocking her? “Arnavji, it was a special occasion, in case you didn’t know.”

“Trust me Khushi, I know.” He was fully aware of everything she’d ever done for him. He stared at her beautiful face for a moment, watching the way her lips quivered slightly, feeling their warmth radiating in the scant space separating them. Reaching up, he unhooked the tikka from her hair, setting it aside with the rest of the jewelry. When he returned his gaze to her face, not having had his fill yet, that little red mark in the middle edge of her hairline caught his attention. Her sindoor, the mark that signified she was his for the next seven generations to come. He leaned forward, and kissed the red line, cherishing the thought of forever with her.

Her mouth watered as she felt his close proximity. God, he smelled so good, like fresh linen with a woodsy undertone. She took another deep inhale and smiled. He also smelled like jalebis. When she felt his lips touch the top of her forehead, her hands searched for him, wanting to feel his warmth in her palms.

“I’m here, Khushi.” He took her hands and placed them on his chest. He felt one of her hands slowly move until it stopped right over his heart. She lightly tapped her hand there in a cadence that sounded just like his heartbeat.

She turned her head to the side to listen more acutely, a smile touching her lips as she mimicked the beat under her palm. She marveled at how strong her husband was, how strongly his heart beat.

He covered her hand with his own. “It’s yours Khushi.”

“Arnavji? What do you mean?”

“My heart. It’s yours. It doesn’t beat without you.”

“Arnavji, I love you.” She really couldn’t hold back the words.

Grabbing her hands, he made her stand with him, pulling her into a tight hug. “Khushi, I love you too. So damn much.” He felt her hands traversing across his back, holding him closer to herself. As he moved his hand over her head, holding her closer to his heart, he encountered a hair pin. Gently removing it, he dove his hands into her thick tresses. He removed her pins one by one, careful not to disturb her blindfold. His fingers sifted through the black velvet cloak of her hair, burying his face in it. He could spend an eternity trying to discover all its hidden secrets, trying to unveil the scent that always clung there and always drew him in.

Khushi let a soft moan escape her lips as she felt his massaging fingers on her scalp. She let the weight of her head fall into his palms as he continued on. She was complete putty in his hands, and she knew it.

When she’d exposed the column of her creamy throat, he couldn’t refuse the open invitation to drop kisses there. Nuzzling into her neck he let his hands roam back down until he found the strings to her dori. Twirling one string around his finger, he pulled, untying the knot there. He continued to hold her close as a hand came around her rib cage to caress the soft skin of her stomach with the back of his hand. Feeling her belly quiver at his touch, he slid his hand just inside the waist line to grab hold of the pleats there and untuck them.

She curled her fingers tighter into whatever she was holding, trying to control her breathing. She was so hyperaware of his every touch and caress, she could even feel the heat pouring off his body. The intensity of his gaze was making her skin tingle.

As he watched the pleats unravel, he slid his hands across her hips to undo her petticoat. He traversed back up, one-handedly unpinning her pallu, as he pulled at the ends of her choli. In one smooth motion, he caressed his hands down her shoulders, removing her top, and continued down her sides until every stitch of her clothing had pooled onto the floor. She was gorgeous, standing there wearing nothing but a blind fold, like a Greek goddess. His own Lady Justice. He let his gaze linger over her magnificent body when he realized she was missing something. “Khushi, stay right here. I’ll just be one second.”

Before she could protest, she knew he’d already stepped away. She’d instantly felt the warmth from his body leave her space, and she shivered. Feeling very self conscious, she felt the need to cover herself. She began taking slow steps, fumbling along the way, until her knees knocked into something soft. When she leaned forward and searched around, she realized it was the bed and pulled the sheet up, covering herself. A moment later, she felt a tickling touch around her neck and something cool and hard touching the base of her throat. When she reached up and traced her fingers over it, she knew exactly what it was right away. Her mangalsutra. Assuming he was standing in front her, she looked up at his sweet gesture.

“And you won’t be needing this tonight.” He pulled at the sheet shielding her body from him, before tossing it away and sweeping her up into his arms.

She could feel herself blushing profusely, just like a new bride would, as she wrapped her arms around his neck for balance. As her back gently met their soft mattress, she couldn’t help but wonder why this felt like their first time all over again. She was feeling extremely shy.

He’d promised himself that he would wear that pain-in-the-ass kurta pajama for as long as his wife would keep looking at him with those eyes. Like she wanted to eat him alive. But now he really wanted to feel her skin on his. Quickly removing his shirt and bottoms, he joined her on the bed, bringing his body close to hers. He could see the pulse in her throat fluttering rapidly, her breaths coming fast. She was nervous? Leaning over, he kissed her forehead, down the delicate slope of her nose and onto her cheeks. He continued to kiss the corners of her mouth before finally putting his lips squarely over hers.

Khushi melted every time his mouth had touched her face. When she moaned at finally feeling his lips on hers, she felt his tongue slip into her mouth. She eagerly darted out, joining his. Every soft wet stroke tickled her taste buds, sending sparks shooting down her spine. She reached out to hold onto him, unable to contain the intensity of pleasure running through her.

Khushi was fiercely gripping his biceps. When he pulled away from her mouth to catch his breath, he took in her form. Swollen, puffy pink lips were expelling air in huge ragged breaths. His eyes moved down to her chest and took in her puckered nipples. Unable to resist, he leaned down to capture one between his lips. Her body arched off the bed at the initial contact. He continued on to circle his tongue around the hard peak before suckling it into his mouth.

“Arnavji!” She tightened her grip even more at the sharp sensations running through her. She could feel the pulling tug all the way in her core. She felt him kissing a path across her chest, only to give the same sweet torture to her other nipple.

He began sliding his hand down the creamy expanse of her concave torso, feeling it quiver at his touch. Wanting to fully absorb her and feel her heat, his hand moved further south, stopping to cup her sex. He continued to kiss her breast, lightly holding her nipple between his teeth to gently nip, as he inserted two fingers into her. She was already wet and pulsing against his fingers as he held his hand still, inside her. Sucking her nipple into his mouth, he placed his thumb directly over her clitoris.

She cried out. She was drowning in his sensual assault. Not being able to see him made her hypersensitive to his every touch. She could feel him stroking in and out of her as he worked his magic over all her most sensitive spots. She tried to contain her moans and resisted the tidal wave trying to take over her as she felt him rubbing rhythmic circles over her clitoris.

Not having tasted enough of her, he closed his mouth over her breast more fully, taking in as much as he could. He felt her rigid nipple against his tongue and began to lave over it, back and forth, back and forth. His thumb mimicked the same rhythm over her clitoris as he felt her desire bathing his fingers with each push. She was digging her hands into his shoulders now, and he could feel her straining against him, trying to hold back. Releasing her breast, he leaned up to softly kiss her mouth. “Sweetheart, let go. I’ve got you.” He lowered his head to softly blow across her damp chest while hooking his fingers inside her to massage her g-spot.

Khushi was overwhelmed. She gripped down onto his fingers, grinding hard against him as he continued to rub at the delicious sweet spot inside her. She thrashed her legs as he insistently stimulated all her raw nerve endings, finally going over the edge when she felt a cool breeze wafting over her tight nipples.

Seeing her arch up and writhe against him just turned him on to no end. After her intense release, she lay there limp, her arms lying loosely by her head. As she caught her breath, he took the moment to remove his boxer-briefs, the last barrier between them. Quickly rejoining her, he finally removed her blindfold. He watched her eyes flicker open, her constricted pupils adjusting to the dim light as she tried to focus on him. He saw flashes of honey, amber, deep molasses and flecks of gold as he stared deeply into the eyes he’d playfully shielded a while ago. Now they stared right back at him, sparkling like the licking flames of a fire.

Finally able to see her husband, she reached up to cup his handsome face in her hands. He turned his head to kiss her palm, as she stared intently at him. She loved this man, unconditionally. Weaving her fingers into the unruly silky strands at the back of his head, she continued to wrap her arms around his neck.

He watched as she gazed deeply into him, with all her love. She’d welcomed him so patiently with her open body, inviting him closer. Not needing anymore encouragement, he slid into her warm, wet depth. He continued to stare as he stroked her beautiful face, at a loss for words. The love she gave him was so perfect that no words were needed between them, nor would they have been enough to convey what he felt for her in return. How had he gotten so lucky? Him, the man who didn’t believe in destiny or fate or Gods. The man who always thought he himself controlled everything. He had to admit, that day at Sheesh Mahal, it was someone else’s doing when she’d fallen right into his arms. When he’d had the privilege to have laid eyes on her, catch her, and hold her slight weight against his own body, feel her warmth. When she’d unearthed things from depths within him which he never even knew existed with her tumultuously shining doe-eyes. She’d come into his life, by no means of his own authority or power. Who did he have to thank for that? Who could he thank for this precious gift? For his Khushi? He brushed away the wayward tendrils of her hair, tucking them behind her ears, not wanting anything hindering her angelic face from his view. She hadn’t even moved, just waited for him until he began to gently rock into her. Overcome with emotion he leaned down to kiss her soft lips, trying to convey everything words just wouldn’t do justice to.

She was coming undone with the slow, gentle way he was sliding in and out of her. She tightened her arms around him, arching her back up at the feeling of him filling her. She didn’t know where he began and she ended, becoming wholly one with him. Unable to express everything swirling inside her, she slid her calves up the back of his thighs, opening up wider for him, urging him deeper, wanting..…needing everything he had to give.

Khushi was always so open with her love and it never ceased to humble him. It really broke down all his defenses and left him at her mercy. Even now, she cradled him so close, so tight to her luscious little body that he was lost in it. He caressed down the curve of her waist and around her hips to cup her behind. He pulled her closer until she was snug against his pelvis, as he penetrated as deep as he could, wanting to be completely joined with her. He watched her eyes widen before she let out a throaty moan. Her climax poured out of her like the constant cascade of a waterfall. The intensity of the waves made her whole body convulse beneath him, but the serene beauty of it radiated a glow within her. Unable to further control himself, he found his release as her orgasm continued to wash over her, surrendering to the way her insides pulsed around his length. As a calmness eventually overtook the both of them, he rolled to his side, pulling her into his chest.

She lay next to him, with her left leg thrown over his lap as she lazily drew random patterns on his muscled chest, listening to the lulling sound of his heart beat, beneath her ear. He was tenderly stroking her arm as he rested his other hand on her hip, holding her close. “Arnavji?” she spoke softly.

“Hmm?” He loved the way she was tucked in so close to him.

“Since I won the challenge, that means I can fast for karwa chauth every year, right?”

He was about to protest when he made the mistake of looking at her. He was met with a pair of eager hazel eyes, shining with love….for him. Even if he would never fully understand why women held such traditions for their husbands, he knew how much it meant to her. He just didn’t have the heart to deny her this right. “Yes Khushi, you won.”

“Promise me something?”

“Anything sweetheart.” He replied immediately not needing to think about it. She rarely ever requested anything of him.

“Promise me that every karwa chauth will always end just like this.” She smiled up at him with pure adoration.

Arnav tightened his hold on his wife and kissed her forehead before gazing lovingly into her eyes.  “Hamesha.”