A Ritual Rewritten

Arnav entered through the doors of Raizada mansion with his suit jacket casually draped over his left forearm. He reached up to loosen his tie then deftly undid the shirt button at his collar. He could hear a gaggle of feminine voices overlapping one another’s in loud enthusiasm and found that the women of the house had communally gathered in the family hall. His eyes took a quick scan around. All the women were there except one…his woman. “Khushi kahan hai?” (“Where’s Khushi?”) His one query had been effective in gaining everyone’s undivided attention. 

“Chotte, Khushi bitiya oopar araam karath hai.” (“Chotte, Khushi is resting upstairs.”) Devyani answered her grandson as she adjusted the pallu covering her head. 

“Oh, ok.” Arnav nodded in understanding. Before he could turn on his heel and make his way towards his wife, his ears registered silence. So much so that he could probably hear a pin drop. He noted that they had ceased all conversation upon his arrival and now looked at him expectantly, almost trying to convey innocent faces. But he didn’t buy it. Four women, sitting over tea, and yet there was silence? His suspicion rose as he detected something fishy. “Ok out with it. Yeh sabb kya chall raha hai? (What is all this going on?)”

Anjali jumped up from her seat and approached her brother to immediately cozy up to his arm. “Vo kya hai Chotte, hum Khushi ji ki godh bharai ki baat kar rahe te.” (“Well Chotte, we were talking about Khushi ji’s baby shower ceremony.”)

Manorama eagerly piped in, now that Anjali had broken the ice. “Bilkul correctwa! Kall sham ko hai na…Hum ne bahut saray ladeej ko abhi inbitewa karna hai. Excuje me paleej!” (“Correct! It’s tomorrow afternoon you see. I have to go and invite a lot of ladies right now. Excuse me please!”) 

“Bahut saray?? (A lot??) Absolutely not. I’m not having a hoard of people traipsing around my pregnant wife!”

“Arrey Chotte, aisun nahi hota…” (“Chotte, that’s not how it is…”) Devyani tried to explain.

“Nani, please. Just keep it small. Immediate family and friends only. Khushi’s Amma, Bhua ji, and her best friends from her gali (block). Payal can give me the names. I will personally see to it that all the pertinent people are there.” 

Anjali bit her bottom lip in worry. “Umm…Chotte you can’t be there…”

“Says who?” Arnav countered, firmly standing his ground.

“Chotte, aadmi wahan nahi ho saktay! Ee rasam ki param para hoti hai.” (“Chotte, men can not be there! This is part of the ritual’s tradition.”) Devyani explained. 

“Nani, you know I don’t follow any of that. Aakash, NK, and I will stay out of the way, but we will be there. And no extraneous people will be allowed to attend.” Arnav couldn’t help his thoughts from wandering to his Di’s godh bharai and the devastating events that had occurred. Regardless of how much he tried to bury the horrid memories into the back of his mind, they were too deeply ingrained, as if branded onto his brain with a hot iron. Arnav lightly shook his head trying to rid the flashbacks. He would not take any risks this time. Not when it came to his Khushi.

“Chotte…” Anjali worried at how he was possibly crossing the line with Nani ji. They seemed to be at an impasse. 

Devyani tried one more time to reason with her grandson. “Chotte think about Khushi bitiya. She’s very loving and social. She might want a lot of people in attendance….”

“Nani bass (enough)! There will only be a small gathering and THAT IS FINAL!” Arnav heard gasps escape from the women’s throats and saw the way his grandmother scowled at him, letting her disapproval be known. 

Devyani could feel her blood pressure rising. “Chotte! Aap…” (“Chotte! You…”)

“Hum bi yahee chahat te hai…” (“I want the same thing…”) 

Arnav immediately turned his gaze towards the stairs at the sound of that familiar voice and his heart began to beat rapidly. He watched as his wife strode over to stand in front of him, as if she were his shield. He was in awe of her selflessness. She was willingly facing off with the family in order to defend his actions. He often liked to think that he was the one who kept her safe and protected. But in instances like this, he no longer knew who was protecting whom. He had to admit though. His resilient wife was his ultimate supporter. 

Anjali reassured her Bhabi. “Khushi ji, don’t let my brother sway you. However big you want your baby shower to be…” 

“Nahi Di. It’s not like that. I too want a smaller gathering. Just the Gupta and Raizada parivaars (families). Perhaps one or two of my girlfriends and that way everyone knows each other. Kitna mazza aye ga na?? (It’ll be so fun, right??).” Khushi smiled at her Nanand while reaching behind her back, her fingers seeking out and grasping her Arnavji’s hand. She felt his warm digits immediately envelop her own. 

Arnav briefly looked down at their entwined hands. Their intimate solidarity was safely concealed from the family’s view behind the narrow expanse of his Khushi’s back. His wife was really something else. She’d arrived almost out of thin air and then proceeded to diffuse the situation within a matter of seconds. 

“Ok, phir teekh hai (Ok, then it’s fine). We’ll make it an intimate godh bharai as per the mother-to-be’s request.” Anjali announced with happiness. 

The next day…

Arnav flipped through a file as he walked down the upstairs corridor. He was about to stroll past his room but his feet instinctually stopped as the doors were open and he saw his wife. He watched for a moment as Payal held up a few different outfits against Khushi’s frame as she stood in front of the mirror. 

“Khushi, which do you want to wear? Your shaadi ka jorda (wedding outfit) was cream, pink and green…” Payal asked her sister.

Khushi had sensed her Arnavji’s presence long before he’d come into her peripheral vision. She always felt this cool fragrant breeze waft over her skin when he was nearby. This keen connection they shared never failed her. When she looked into the mirror, instead of looking at her reflection, her eyes locked with her husband’s as she replied to her sister. “No Jiji…I’ll wear the red.” 

Arnav felt fire burn through his blood. That color got him every single time…and she knew it. If his wife had been alone, he would’ve promptly gone inside and locked them in their bedroom for a few hours. But he kept his libido in check and suddenly felt very parched. He redirected himself out of trouble and into the kitchen to quench his thirst. 

“Chotte, can I get you anything?” Anjali asked as she stirred the daal. 

“Don’t worry Di I just came for some water.” Arnav strode over to the water cooler and filled his tumbler when he saw Payal walk into the kitchen as well.

“Payal ji, thank goodness you’re here. Would you mind just chopping those vegetables for me?”

“Of course not, Di.” Payal immediately picked up a knife and began cutting the cauliflower and potatoes that were on the counter.

Just then Arnav remembered he’d left his file upstairs and went to search for it. 

Meanwhile, back in her bedroom, Khushi began to get dressed. She measured out her pallu and set it on her shoulder so she could direct her focus onto the pleats. “Hey Devi Maiya, how come you never told me that I would have to sacrifice so much for the sake of being pregnant??” She continued to vent her disgruntlement to the sacred Goddess. “Weight gain? No problem. Can’t eat too many jalebis? Fine, I understand. But now I can’t even see my feet, let alone dress myself!” Khushi looked into the mirror and tried to begin her pleats even though she couldn’t really see what her hands were doing. “Haiii…hamari raksha karo!” She quickly clasped her hands together and raised them to Devi Maiya three times, praying for help. Just as she thought she’d gained a good grasp on the material, she made her first pleat and immediately felt it slipping out of her fingers. Giving up, she called out for one of her sisters. “Jijiiii??.....Diiii!!?!”

Arnav was at the top of the staircase when he heard his wife’s distressed calls. “But Payal and Di were just in the kitchen…” he thought. There was no way they would hear her. He immediately bolted to the bedroom and opened the doors to make sure she was ok. “Khushi, what happened?!” 

Khushi looked over her shoulder and the sari unraveled from her fingers, falling to the floor as she tried to hold her pallu against her shoulder. “Arnavji, aap?” 

Arnav entered the room and closed the doors behind himself. “Khushi are you ok? I heard you yelling for Di or Payal.”

She watched as her husband came closer. “Arnavji I’m ok. Vo bass…meri sari…. (Just…my sari…)” Khushi’s eyes skittered to the floor, her nerves kicking in when she realized that for all intents and purposes she was basically only wearing her choli and petticoat.

Arnav now stood behind his wife and eyed the pooled sari on the floor. He bent to pick up the flowy red material. 

“Arnavji ye mujhe de deejiye….” (Arnavji you can give this to me…”) But instead of handing her the material, her husband held it within his firm grip as his arms came to circle around her protruding belly. She then watched as his nimble hands began to pleat the material. Astonished, her mouth gaped open to form a perfect “o” as she met his gaze in the mirror. “Aap ko sari baan ni athi hai?!” (You know how to tie a sari?!”)

“Hmmm.” Arnav replied with a nod without looking up at his wife. His full concentration was on the pleats.

Khushi was used to her husband removing her clothing, and that was always secretly thrilling. But gosh, there was something so very intimate about him dressing her. She could feel her cheeks warming. “Kaise seekha?” (“How’d you learn?”) she asked in a small voice. Her real question was not how, but who??

“Ex-girlfriend taught me…” Arnav replied simply, without looking at her. He heard Khushi’s gasp and his eyes darted up to find his wife shooting daggers his way through beady, narrow slit eyes. He immediately ducked his head to hide his smirk.

Khushi was about to unleash her arsenal of a sharp tongue when she recalled how Sheetal hardly wore traditional clothing. There was no way she could’ve taught him. And then Lavanya…well she herself had been the one to teach Lavanya! Then her Arnavji was referring to a different ex-girlfriend?!! “Kya tha uss churdail ka naam?!!” (“What was that witch’s name?!!”) 

Arnav met his wife’s green monster gaze. “Khushi, I own a fashion house. And Di has been wearing these since she was sixteen. You really think I wouldn’t know how to tie a sari?”

Khushi’s cheeks warmed with chagrin and she averted his gaze from embarrassment. She’d overreacted without thinking it through. And then she realized something “But Arnavji, how come you didn’t just teach Lavanya ji how to tie a sari when she wanted to learn?”

“Because she wasn’t you” he replied into her hair. Arnav brought the crisp pleats against his wife’s robust belly and tucked them into her petticoat, enjoying the way she sucked in a breath at his intimate touch. He lowered his lips to the shell of her ear. “She wasn’t the one who occupied my thoughts, my mind, my heart.” His Khushi turned within his arms, staring up at him in wonderment. “Besides, she didn’t have this cute little laal naak (red nose)” he said, flicking the button tip with his index finger. His other hand traversed lower to cradle her belly.

Khushi thumped her husband on his chest with an open palm before resting her head there, listening to his strong heartbeat. When she closed her eyes, she could almost hear it saying her name. 

Arnav brought his arms up to embrace his wife closer when there was a knock at the door. 

“Khushi? Sorry I got busy helping Di in the kitchen. Mein andhar ajoonh? (Can I come in?)” Payal asked from outside.

Arnav cupped his wife’s head and placed a kiss on her downy temple before walking away and opening the doors for his sister-in-law. With a small nod her way, he began to walk out.

“Arnavji!” 

Arnav looked up at his wife’s call and met her gaze.

“Shukriya.” Khushi said resting a hand on her belly as her face broke into a warm smile. 

Arnav winked at his wife and smiled in return before strolling away. 

Soon after, the guests had arrived. Arnav stood leaning on the railing of the upstairs floor with an unimpeded view of the entire goings on below. He’d had every intention of keeping a close eye on his wife, and he was presently doing just that. Di was standing by her and she knelt to whisper something into his wife’s ear. Khushi met his sister’s gaze and watched as Di touched the tip of her ring finger to her bottom lash line before placing the smudge of black kohl behind her ear. Khushi smiled brightly as Di cupped her face and it warmed his heart to see the two most important women in his life bonding as they were. Arnav continued to watch as the women in attendance greeted his wife, taking turns to whisper their advice, and their blessings, into her ear. His Khushi would lower her gaze and smile shyly after each one, relaying the thoughts of her pending motherhood. Khushi’s Amma and Bhua ji approached her to bestow their blessings and happiness upon their daughter and growing grandchild, arms laden with gifts. He was amazed at how well his wife was handling everyone and everything, without showing an ounce of being overwhelmed. On top of all that she was covered head to toe in layers of silk and heavy jewelry. He pulled at the collar of his own stuffy sherwani, feeling suffocated for her. His Khushi happened to look up in that instant and catch his gaze, sending him a reassuring smile. She dazzled him like the bright sun. When Nani came to her with a glass of water and Payal with some food, Khushi broke her gaze from him. Arnav knew his wife was in good hands and decided to find the guys. He’d had Aakash and NK help him set up for the function, moving the furniture around and fix the lighting. They’d then stood at the door as everyone had arrived. They’d greeted and guarded at the same time. He was thankful for their help. 

“Waise Bhai, I was thinking…you’re absolutely right.” Aakash said after some deep thought. 

“Of course Nannav is right! Wait what is he right about??” NK asked in bafflement.

“As I was saying…” Aakash took a moment to pointedly glare at NK for interrupting him. “This whole godh bharai should be limited to immediate family members. There’s no need for the whole world to come. When Payal has her godh bharai in the future, I’m gonna do the same thing.” 

Arnav nodded his assent. His brother was a practical man.

“Aakash Bhai you have a point. I want my godh lardai to be small too!” NK retorted decidedly.

“BHARAI!” Arnav and Aakash corrected in unison.

NK grabbed his ear and apologized “Oh yah, wohi…. bharai…”

“NK I didn’t know you had a uterus and could carry children.” Aakash replied.

“Aakash Bhai, I meant meri biwi.” NK winked as he nudged his cousin with an elbow. “You know…my wife!”

“And I didn’t know you got married. Congrats.” Arnav said in a dry tone, rolling his eyes as he busied himself on his laptop. 

“Oh come on Nannav. I meant in the future! You know, when I have my own Khushi ji.” NK bobbed his eyebrows suggestively.

Arnav grabbed NK by the collar and pulled him close. “Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth.” He shoved him away, rising to his feet. “And call her Bhabi, like you do to Payal.” With that statement Arnav stormed out.

“But Nannav, mere Bhai! Wait…!” NK started to get out of his seat but Aakash held him back and shook his head.

“It’s best not to go there NK.” 

NK shrugged his shoulders, his easy going nature brushing off the incident and carrying on.

Much later in the evening, Arnav reentered his bedroom with a deep sigh. The baby shower had run smoothly and had been a success. When the guests had started saying their goodbyes, he’d promptly changed out of his stifling Indian formalwear into his preferred casuals. He’d then gone downstairs to help clean up and to see the happy mother-to-be, his Khushi. She’d been beaming with joy which gave his heart a satisfaction that he’d been craving. As long as his wife was content, he too was a happy man. He’d immediately sent her upstairs to rest while he commenced to tidy up with the rest of the family.

Khushi was lazing in one of the poolside chairs, enjoying the night breeze. She’d been holding a lengthy conversation with the baby and the twinkling stars when she heard the bedroom doors open. Her Arnavji had finally come upstairs. Butterflies began to flutter in her stomach. She thought back for a moment to when he’d come to her at the end of the function and ordered her to go rest, squashing all her ideas of wanting to help clean up. Before she could open her mouth to argue, he’d placed a brief, tender kiss on her lips…in front of the family! Not only had that one gesture stricken her mute, but it had made her blush profusely, probably a shade of red that was deeper than the crimson cloth she’d been clad in. With her heartfelt thank you, she’d scurried…more like waddled…upstairs, unable to look anyone in the eye. And now, as she stood at the poolside door, she had the pleasure of gawking at her husband as he removed his shirt, none the wiser of being watched. Khushi immediately went to him, wrapping her arms around her Arnavji from behind. She’d intended to press herself against him, but he’d turned around, bringing her head to rest against his chest. Khushi let out a deep, satisfied sigh. She’d been seeking his warmth all day. Even though he’d been in her vicinity the whole time, she’d missed him….missed this. She tightened her arms, snuggling herself closer.

Arnav stroked along his wife’s arms, sweeping her long black tresses to the side, and skimmed his fingers across the skin of her upper back, exposed from the scooping neckline of her pink night suit’s kameez. He heard her let out a hum of pleasure. He cupped the back of her head to tilt it up. His Khushi’s eyes slowly opened to look at him. The dim light caught and flickered in her deep hazel depths as her lashes swept up. Just like black velvet curtains rising to reveal a starlit Broadway stage. Bright…shining…awe-inspiring. He continued to get lost in her mesmerizing eyes. He could see his world revolving in them. Arnav lived for her, breathed, but for her. 

“Arnavji?” Khushi asked in a hushed tone.

"Khushi how can you be so beautiful?" 

Khushi lowered her eyes, averting her husband’s gaze. "You always say that...." she whispered shyly. Her cheeks felt suspiciously warm.

Arnav leaned down and placed his lips against her delicate jaw then her soft temple. “Ek (one) minute.” He reluctantly drew away from her warmth. 

Khushi heard soft music drift through the room before her husband brought her back into his arms. She wrapped herself around him as he began to sway their bodies together. “Arnavji, we haven’t slow danced since…”

“I know…I’m sorry….”

Khushi lifted her head off his chest. “Kyon (Why)??”

“You deserve slow dances every day Khushi. I put you through so much and yet you’ve stood by me as the ultimate devoted wife.” His hand caressed across her belly. “You’re carrying my child…our child. Words aren’t enough to express my gratitude. If I could, I would bring you the moon and stars since you….”

Khushi placed her fingers over his lips, shushing him. Silly man. Didn’t he know that she was already ecstatically happy and had everything she could ever want? The love of her life, and soon, a new little life to love and cherish as well. In that instant, she felt her husband’s lips against her ear. 

Arnav wasn’t exactly the most sentimental person, he knew it. But every time he heard this song, images of his Khushi invaded his mind. He lowered his head and whispered the words. “Kaise mujhe tum mil gayi? Kismat pe aaye naa yakeen. Utar aayi jheel mein, jaise chaand utarta hai kabhi, haule haule, dheere se…” (“How did I find you? I can’t believe my fate. You came into my life, like the moon descends into the lake sometimes, slowly slowly, gracefully…“) He slid his cheek along hers as they continued to slow dance, locking eyes with his wife, gazing deeply into hers. Time seemed to stop as their bodies ceased moving. They stood still, the sweet melodious tune ensconcing them in an embrace. Arnav cupped his Khushi’s face and whispered a few more words, as the soft voice sang. “…kyun pehle na aayi tum...?” (“…why didn’t you come before…?”)

Khushi was sure she was dreaming. Even though her eyes had glazed up, there was a huge lump in her throat, and even as her Arnavji wiped at her tears, she couldn’t believe this was him. He tugged her closer and leaned down, his soft lips approaching hers. She tilted her head back more to receive his kiss, wanting to be fully lost in this fantasy that was her reality, when her back protested and she felt a sharp pain, bringing her to the present. 

One moment he’d been about to kiss his wife and the next she’d let out a hiss and pushed him away slightly. “Khushi, kya hua (what happened)?” 

Khushi reached behind herself and rubbed at the uncomfortable throb. “Arnavji it’s nothing. My back is just a bit achy…and my feet….” 

Arnav looked down. Her feet were swollen. His wife was in pain and discomfort and here he was trying to foolishly romance her. He’d been so busy being a Casanova that he hadn’t even noticed. How could he be so careless? He immediately led his wife to sit on the bed and promptly shut the music off as he sat next to her. “Khushi, I’m so sorry…”

“Arnavji, phir (again) sorry?”

“Khushi I didn’t even detect a hint of your distress! How am I going to care for a little human being?? A kid…my kid!?” 

Khushi stood to take a seat on her husband’s thigh and loosely wrapped her arms around his neck, getting comfortable.

Arnav automatically wrapped an arm around his wife’s back to support her as she teetered in his lap. “Khushi…”

“Arnavji wait, I want to tell you a story. When I lived with Bhua ji, I knew of a man. He was ruthless, cut throat, cold….or so it seemed…with a heart that was locked, the key thrown away. And then one day I was at the mandhir, and I spotted that very same man, who, by the way, happened to be a self-proclaimed atheist. I had gone to a nearby stall to purchase a mannat ka kabootar, when I was told that all the wishing birds had already been sold. And then, when I turned, I saw all the pigeons flying about and an adorable little girl cheering and clapping in glee as she watched them being set free, her hopes and dreams coming to fruition. It brought me immense joy to see her like this. And next to the little girl…stood that man.” 

Arnav looked up at his Khushi. He couldn’t believe it. She’d been there that day??

Khushi brought a hand over to cup her Arnavji’s handsome face, her palm resting against his stubbly cheek. “The man who I had once thought was a heartless Rakshas, was actually, deep down, a caring Raj Kumar. He’d given that tiny little stranger all those wishes just to put a smile on her face. A child who he didn’t even know.” She watched as her husband gaped at her in astonishment. She took his hand and placed it on her belly, holding it there beneath her own as her other hand stroked along his chiseled jaw. “Arnavji, you are going to be an amazing father. It’s not something you have to learn. It’s already inside you. I know it is. This little one growing inside me knows it too.” Khushi found herself engulfed by her Arnavji’s strong arms as he embraced her close. She nuzzled her nose over his ear and into the side of his silky mane before puckering her lips and dropping reverent kisses along his temple. Her fingers raked through the short hairs at the nape of his neck. “You know Arnavji, the baby loves you....”

Arnav looked into his wife’s molten honey irises, hypnotized by the love he saw in them. “How do you know?” he asked, wanting reassurance. This was almost too good to be true. 

“Because every time it hears your voice it starts to move around like crazy…” Khushi pressed her Arnavji’s palm low on her belly so he could feel the baby. 

Arnav smiled, hugging his Khushi close again. As long as she was by his side, he could handle anything. He held his wife for long moments before carefully lowering her onto the bed. Now that he’d come to his senses, it was time he tended to her. He gathered a mound of pillows and stacked them under her legs, elevating her feet as he propped a few more behind her head and torso. He came to sit at her side as his hands slipped in between her and the mattress to pay attention to her aching back. 

Khushi’s eyelids fluttered with ecstasy as her husband hit all the right spots on her lower back. She reached up and grasped his strong forearms, curling her fingers into the corded muscles there. “Arnavji, you know what would really make me happy right now?” 

Judging by the look on his Khushi’s face, he had a pretty good idea. He leaned in closer to kiss her soft pink mouth. 

Khushi cupped her Arnavji’s face between her hands as she gazed into his eyes. “…If you go apologize to Nani ji…” 

Arnav closed the scant space between their faces to rest his forehead against hers, letting out a sigh. His Khushi was right. He hadn’t spoken to his grandmother properly since yesterday’s spat and yet she’d whole heartedly participated in all of the day’s rituals without holding back, even though it had been a smaller function of their choice. Arnav placed a kiss on the tip of his wife’s nose before getting up. “I’ll be right back.” Donning his t-shirt, he quietly left his wife. He found his grandmother in her room and before he could utter the words, she’d patted his head in that maternal way of hers and graced him with her aged smile. With her wise understanding and forgiving blessing, she sent him on his way so she could rest up. He felt lighter knowing everything was fine and came back into the bedroom to tell his wife the good news. He was greeted by a soft, incandescent glow and the light fragrance of lavender emitting from several candles that were lit across the room. Arnav was then met by the sight of his Khushi, standing a few feet away, sans salwaar. He raised his eyebrows in slight surprise at how quickly she’d set things up. “You move incredibly fast for an extremely pregnant woman…” 

Khushi smiled brightly at her husband’s quip as she approached into his space. “Now where were we…?” 

“Youuuuu were on the bed resting your aching back and feet.” Arnav bent to scoop his wife. 

Khushi evaded his arms so he couldn’t pick her up. “No, no. Before that.” She grabbed the hem of her husband’s black tee, inching it up, her knuckles freely skimming the skin along his torso. Her Arnavji finally lifted his arms so she could remove it completely. “I believe I was right here.” She stroked her palm across the heated skin of his pec before laying her head against it. Khushi wrapped her arms around his waist, as he did the same. They began to rock side to side, slow dancing in silence, swaying to the tune of that age old dhak-dhak, dhak-dhak.

Arnav wanted to feel the bare skin of his wife’s belly against his abdomen. His fingers reached up and unzipped her kameez, helping her out of it, before bringing her body to rest against his again. As he held her close, his other palm touched her belly, his fingers spreading out wide, brushing across, letting the baby know that he was there. He felt his Khushi curl her fingers into his biceps and he finally scooped her up. 

“Arrey, Arnavji…”

“Shhh.” Arnav shushed her complaints and gently rested her against the mountain of pillows that was on the bed, propping her up. He’d had the intention to finish tending to her aching back, but she’d leaned forward and placed her soft, lush lips upon his. Arnav urged his wife back down, his mouth kissing her in return, deep and wet. He savored her sweetness. When he heard her whimper, he immediately broke the kiss. “Khushi, are you ok? Comfortable?” he asked trying to fluff the pillows behind her. 

“Yes I’m fine. But Arnavji, aren’t you forgetting something?”

Arnav looked around the bed and then at his wife. “Yes. More pillows…”

Khushi held onto her husband before he could retreat. “I don’t need more pillows, I need you. My husband.”

Arnav felt unsure, concern for her wellbeing conflicting him. “Khushi, your back…”

“Arnavji, I’m fine, I promise. These pillows are actually helping.” Khushi smiled, unable to resist stroking her palm across her husband’s prickly cheek. She really wished he would come closer so she could feel it on her skin. Images of him rubbing across her sensitive areas ran through her mind, making her need sharper. 

Arnav had been about to protest again when he saw his wife’s bra strap slip off her shoulder as she’d reached up for his face. His eyes automatically traced over the exposed area of her clavicle and lower down to the creamy plumpness of her upper breast. His throat had suddenly gone dry. When he met his wife’s eyes again, he could see them sparkling as she pulled his head down for a kiss. He obliged, kissing her bottom lip, then top, the tip of his tongue tracing the seam of her lips, licking at the fleshy inner rims. When her mouth parted, his tongue swept in, melding with hers. His Khushi clutched him as she began to crane her neck. Arnav pulled his mouth away to warn her. “Khushi, I will never say no to you. I’ll always want you, probably more than you even know. But right now, you are not to lift a finger. I don’t want you to hurt your back more.” When his wife grabbed his head to bring it down towards her again, he resisted and resolutely met her eyes, waiting for her acquiescence.

Khushi was already liquid with want. This was no point of return or backing out! She quickly nodded, promising to do as her husband said. Didn’t he know that it just stoked her fire even more when he was wrought with care for her?? And when he put his foot down and got stern for the same reasons, it made her desire him thrice fold?? A shiver ran through her body. “Arnavji, I promise. Just please…” Khushi’s voice dwindled out. 

Arnav didn’t need his Khushi to finish her sentence to know that she was telling him to get on with it already. She was an impatient little thing. He smiled as he leaned down to seal their mouths together. His hands busied themselves by unsnapping the front closure of her bra and moved it out of the way. He trailed his mouth along the side of her neck, nipping on her earlobe before going further down, his tongue tracing along her clavicle then dipping into the hollow at the base of her throat. 

Khushi tunneled her fingers through her husband’s soft, sateen hair. She traversed a palm across his stubble roughened jaw the closer his mouth drew to her nipple, anticipating the sharp sensations to come. She marveled at how the hair on his head was so starkly different from the hair on his face. She sucked in a breath when she felt the warm wet pull of his raspy tongue against her sensitive peaks and tried her best not to arch her back in pleasure. 

Arnav removed his pants before fully climbing onto the bed and knelt over his Khushi as he divested the both of them of their underwear. He watched as Khushi reached her arms out to him and he instantly leaned down, kissing a whole new path down her voluptuous body. His hand caressed over her domed belly followed by his lips planting soft reverent kisses, where his most precious gift rested inside. 

“Arnavji…”

When his wife called his name, he took her mouth again as his hand found her femininity. His fingers delved slightly deeper to explore the warm, wet crevice, gliding slickly through her desire. He circled his moist finger around the tiny pertinacious pink bud that resided there as he circled the tip of his tongue around hers. 

Khushi broke away from the kiss, moaning as she climaxed. Her husband’s mouth kissed along her throat as she caught her breath. She felt her Arnavji’s delicious stubble scrape against the sensitive spot on her neck and her nerve endings woke up anew. She turned her head to meet his mouth.

As he kissed his Khushi, he braced himself on all fours, lowering himself just enough but keeping his heavy body off of his wife as he entered her. He felt her clutch at his biceps as he watched her eyes close in pleasure. Encased in her tight slickness, he remained still, pulsing in accordance with her heartbeat. “Sweetheart, open your eyes.”

Khushi did as she was asked and looked deeply into her husband’s rich toffee orbs as he began to thrust. She kept her eyes locked onto his as he moved, sliding languidly in and out of her body. She wanted to swim in the depths of those liquid amber pools that were darkening into hot chocolate. She wondered at how he effortlessly hovered over her, yet she felt her every fiber connected…joined intimately with his. Like he was levitating. It was ethereal, as if her soul had drifted out of her body, a third world experience. She could hear the moans, but wasn’t cognizant of the fact that they were coming out of her own throat. Was this magic? She curled her fingers into the muscles of his strong, sinewy biceps. “Arnavji… aap jadhoogar to nahi?” (“Arnavji, are you a magician?”)

Arnav stilled. “What the…?” A chuckle erupted deep from his belly, unchecked. 

Khushi felt a delicious rumble roll through her as the vibrations of her husband’s laughter traveled through her being. 

When his Khushi kept staring at him expectantly, he realized she was half serious. He couldn’t believe his wife was asking him such a question in the middle of him making love to her. His body vibrated with pent up release and he slid out of her only to slowly thrust back in, eliciting a breathless moan from her lips. 

“See. I feel you, but yet you’re floating above me….” 

His Khushi’s voice was dreamy, lost in a fantasy that sucked him in as well. He leaned down to silence her questions with his lips. She kissed him back, her hands clutching his nape, her fingers tickling across the short, sensitive hairs there as he felt her pulsate around his girth. He pulled his mouth away to gaze into her lust-hazed, hazel depths once again as he continued to thrust through her clenching core.

Khushi tugged the hair at the back of her husband’s head as her heart began to thunder. He tilted her pelvis and she could feel a tantalizing friction rubbing inside her upon every up stroke. She continued to get lost in her Arnavji’s stormy gaze as she stroked a thumb across his lush, pouty bottom lip. His tongue darted out and sucked the tip of her digit into his mouth as she felt him fill her body one last time, taking her over the brink of pleasure. She cried out as he sustained his thrusts, keeping her release buzzing with energy as he shallowly pumped in and out until finally bursting with his own release. She took satisfaction in the sound of his groan.

Arnav collapsed onto the bed, next to his Khushi. He watched as she turned onto her side and he rose up to help readjust all the pillows to support her.

Khushi felt her Arnavji fussing about, trying to ensure her comfort. She grabbed his arm and slung it around her waist, letting him know where she needed him. Taking the hint, he brought the warmth of his body against her back and she closed her eyes with content. Their hands conjointly caressed across her belly, communing with their little one. She felt her husband plant multiple soft kisses around her nape and shoulder. 

“Khushi I love you.”

“Hum bhi aap se pyaar karte hai. Hamesha.” (I love you too. Always.”) Her Arnavji cuddled her closer and dropped a light kiss on her ear before he rested his head close behind hers. As Khushi felt his gentle, warm breaths lulling her to sleep, she smiled to herself as something dawned on her. True to their history it had been done in their own unique way, but it was still one more rasam (ritual) complete.

Song Title: Kaise Mujhe

Full Song Credits & Lyrics