Khushi huffed in annoyance and
tossed her cell onto the bed.
Trying to distract her wayward
brain from the disturbing images flooding her mind she raced to the lounge where
the rest of the family members were bustling about.
She
walked to the kitchen, where she could here Anjali.
"Hari Prakash ji, make sure to
leave candles and a flashlight in every room." Anjali ordered, while she and
Payal stocked the cabinets with food and water bottles.
Since yesterday, announcements were
being made about a hurricane that was about to hit, warning everyone to prepare
for the worst. Schools were closed, offices were shut down yet her own
workaholic husband had run off to a meeting leaving her at home to
worry.
"Di, have you spoken to Arnavji?"
Khushi inquired trying to keep her anxiety disguised behind her strained
smile.
"Haan, Khushiji. Chote called an
hour ago. He said your phone was switched off so he couldn't reach you. He's
done with the meeting but I told him to stay in the office with Aman till the
storm passes. It's too dangerous to go out now."
"Oh!" Arnavji wasn't coming
home?!
Well Di was right, it was too
dangerous to try and come home.
But
she had wanted him here when the storm hit. It would have kept her at peace if
she had Arnavji with her. She couldn't even speak to him because the signal was
too weak and hence his phone wasn't working.
She
sighed defeatedly, knowing it was best he didn't try coming home.
Trying to keep herself distracted,
she busied herself helping Akash find sufficient amount of necessary supplies
for everyone.
Once everything was done and dinner
was completed everyone retired to their bedrooms hoping the hurricane would pass
quickly and smoothly without disturbing them.
Khushi walked into her empty
bedroom suddenly feeling lonely.
She
simply grabbed her pajamas and went off to prepare for bed.
Coming out of the bathroom, she
picked up her cell in hopes of reaching her husband only to have it go straight
to voicemail.
Disappointed and tensed, Khushi
quietly climbed into bed and curled up.
She
could hear the rain pelting against the closed poolside door and the heavy winds
whistling an eerie melody.
It
was strangely thrilling yet frightening.
Tossing and turning, she couldn't
manage to calm her anxiety enough to sleep.
Just then the electricity went out
and the bedside lamp she had kept on flickered out with a zap.
She
felt her heart jump up to the back of her throat and she quickly reached for the
flashlight.
The
winds seemed to pick up speed as it roughly crashed against the door causing the
frame of their bedroom to shake slightly.
Fear engulfed her and she quickly
raced to her dresser, grabbing the candles and matches. Lighting them all up she
tried to brighten the room as much as possible.
Once that was done she curled back
up into bed, silently praying to her Devi Maiyya, wishing her Arnavji was with
her.
So
caught up was she in attempting to keep her fears at bay, she was unaware of her
surroundings until she felt an arm snake around her waist.
Startled, she shrieked trying to
move away.
"Shh Khushi, relax its me!" A deep,
husky voice breathed into her ear.
"Arnavji!" She gasped out and
without even looking at him she leaped straight into his lap, tightly wrapping
her arms around his warm neck!
Khushi heard him chuckle into her
hair before he turned his head slightly, placing a soft kiss on the shell of her
ear.
"You okay, honey?" He asked,
pulling back to cradle her face in his hands.
Relief washed thru her in heavy
torrents and she couldn't stop a few errant tears that escaped her
eyes.
"Khushi?" Concern laced his
tone.
She
immediately shook her head in assurance as she quickly swiped the back of her
hand across her cheeks.
"How did you come home Arnavji? Di
told me you'd stay back at the office?" She immediately inquired.
He
smiled that heart stopping smile. Pulling her closer so that she sat straddling
him, he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist while her hands were tucked
between their chests.
The
incessant rains and rough winds continued outside but Khushi barely paid it any
attention. She simply absorbed the feel of the man she was wrapped around at the
moment.
"Well.." He started, tightening one
arm around her torso while his other hand traced invisible patterns on the side
of her neck. "I was missing my wife. She's scared of the dark and she hates
storms, you know, so I didn't want her to be alone." There was a teasing glint
in his eyes.
Khushi couldn't help the wide smile
that spread across her face as she hugged Arnav to herself, grateful that he was
safely in her arms!
"I
love you Arnavji" She whispered into his ear, nipping it before moving back to
face him.
Flipping them around on the bed so
that Khushi was flat on her back, Arnav lay over her smirking.
"I
love you too sweetheart." He whispered back before closing the gap between
them.
