She tried again but it would only move a bit and kept on getting stuck.
“Here, let me try,” he said taking her hand in his and trying to remove it. With one hand around her wrist, he used the other one to pry the ring off. After having it slide off to now the middle of her finger, she winced in pain.
“I’m sorry,” he replied immediately seeing the skin where the ring was turn red.
"Is there a problem," the voice of the manager interrupted them.
"I can't get this ring off, I think it was a bit small," she said extending her hand to show him. The manager gave her some lotion to apply it around the ring, so then it would slide off.
"This ring has an engraving on the inside," the manager said as she handed the ring back to him. He showed them the inside, and the word 'forever' was beveled out from the rest of the ring, which he said was probably why the ring had a difficult time coming off.He asked them if she still wanted it, and she said yes only that the size be increased a tad bit. Arnav asked her to chose a ring for him, just like she had asked him. Khushi selected a simple band that was platinum. The manager took his size and said he'd have the rings delivered to the Raizada house in a few days.
****
Arnav pulled up the car to his house. Nd two cars pulled in also affter him. When they had finished shopping, Anjali had received a call from Nani asking that they invite Payal and Khushi for lunch.
Khushi got out of the car and looked at the house, it was very big, and looked more like a mansion than house. When the car had pulled up into the driveway, to guards had stood infront to open the gates. There was a path of in the bring that led to the door, with earth stones lining the pavement. The other ones were walking towards the door, and Arnav motioned her to come also from where she was standing. Aditya knocked on the door and a few minutes later it was opened by the servants. He over aside to let them enter.
Once walking inside, she heard some small footsteps running towards them.
"Daddy!!" the little voice said as she ran into Aditya's arms and he picked her up.
"How's my baby doing?" he asked kissing her on her cheeks.
"Gooood. I.. I waz playin with Laxmiiii," she replied in her slurred voice.
"That's nice," he said as they all walked into the living room. Nani was already sitting there, so Khushi and Payal greeted her.
"How was the shopping beta?" Nani asked.
"It was great Nani, we even chose out the rings and they said they they would be delivered in a few days once they get adjusted," Anjali replied. They talked for a bit and the. Nani said she'd go check to see if lunch was set up. Just then Arnav's phone rang and be excused himself to take the call.
"Mommy, who are they?" the little girl questioned about Khuhsi and Payal to Anjali.
"They're joining our family," Anjali replied.
"But howw?" she asked.
"We'll both of your Mama's are getting married, and they will be your Mami's," Aditya added.
"Arna Mama and Kashu Mama are gonna get marrie?" she asked.
"Yes they are," Anjali said.
Rhea got off of Adiya's lap and went up to Payal and Khushi, "hi, my names Rhea," she said with a toothy grin.
"Hi Rhea, I'm Payal," Payal said extending her hand and shook it with Rhea.
"And I'm Khushi," Khushi said taking her hand afterwards.
"But you will be calling them Mami," Anjali added and Rhea nodded.
"Mami can I sit on you?" Rhea asked wanting to talk to them.
"Rhea just sit next to her," Anjali said.
"No Di, it's no problem," Khushi said lifting her and putting her on her lap.
"I like your dress, thisss my most favorite color," Rhea said pointing to the green leaves on the flowers.
"It is?" Khushi asked.
"Yeshh. Even my room at our house is painted green, and Arna Mama has lots and lots of green plants in his room. And he lets me help water them when I come over," she ranted off like most kids do.
"In his room?" Khushi asked.
"Yess, he has a whole garden full of them. There flowers, lots and lots of them. Red, yellow, blue, pink ones. even bigs ones and small ones," Rhea said.
"What's your favorite color Mami?" She asked.
"I like this color," Khushi said pointing to the bottom of her dress which was white.
"Is your room also white?" she asked.
"Yes it is," she replied.
"Your necklace is so gojush," she said taking the piece of metal that was around her and playing with it.
"Thank you sweetheart," she replied. Rhea continued her questions and talked with Khushi.
"Ma'am the food has been set," one of the servants came and told them.
Anjali led them to where the dining table was, and told them to sit where ever they'd like.
"Hari Prakash, can you to get Chotte and tell him that its time to come eat," Nani said once everyone was settled down. A few minutes later, Arnav walked in; Nani was sitting on the end, and on one side Aditya, Anjali, Rhea then Khushi. And on the other side his Mami, Payal then Akash. He was going to take the seat that was next to Khushi, but Akash's voice interrupted.
"Bhai come sit," Akash motioning to the chair next to him when he saw Arnav come in. Arnav nodded and took that seat instead, well at least it was the one that was across from Khushi's.
***
"Nani we have to leave now," Anjali said once lunch was done.
"Already?" she asked.
"Woh Nani, I have an online meeting with some clients in a few hours so its better if we set off now," Aditya added.
"Teek hai, we'll see you next week at the engagement then. And make sure to bring your parents," Nani said.
"Ji," he replied. They left and the servants came to clear off the table.
"Chotte and Akash, why don't you show Khushi and Payal around the house," Nani told them.
"Sure Nani," they replied.
"I'm going to go rest in my room," she said getting up and leaving. Manorama also left for her room saying that her serial was going to come on.
Akash took Payal to see the backyard first, and Arnav took Khushi around the bottom floor. She saw that the bottom had a kitchen, that was much bigger than the ones they had where she lived. There was a storage room next to it stored with dry materials. The living room, where they had sat earlier in, and then two study rooms. The entire house was very spacious, it gave a warm feeling,
there were pillars throughout the house, and maroon colored curtains that hung on the big windows. Outside they had a fountain in the center, with plants that surrounded it. Also they had an outhouse that was less than a mile away.
While walking towards the stairs, Khushi saw pictures. The first one was of an older married couple.
"That's Nani and Nana's picture," Arnav added seeing her taking a closer look at it.
After their picture, there were three more lined up.
"And this is my Mom and Dad's," he said to the next picture. Khushi noticed that he had some resemble lance with his mother, but otherwise he was a spitting image of his father. The next one was of his Mama and Mami, then a picture of Aditya and Anjali.
"It's just been in the family that we post pictures of the married couples," he said.
Arnav took a few steps up the stairs and realized that she wasn't following.
"Khushi what happened?" he asked.
"Woh... there ... isn't a railing here," she said diverting eyes to anywhere but looking at him.
Arnav looked and saw that she was right. But never before had he ever noticed, let alone him no one else in the family did either. Damn he thought, he would have to call Aman and ask him to get someone as soon as possible to get one added.
He went back to where she was standing, "I'll get one installed tomorrow so then it would be easier for you." She took her hand and helped her up the stairs slowly, his other hand hovering around her waist incase the hold on her hand wasn't strong enough.
Khushi's heart swelled with happiness, he was doing so much for her in order to make this work. At the mall today he had held her bags so it wouldn't be hard for her; when they were leaving he had brought the car around to the entrance so she wouldn't have to walk a long distance; at lunch Di was serving everyone and about to put some chicken kebab on her plate, but he had interrupted saying that she was a vegetarian; a few seconds back she had seen his face drown when he realized that there weren't any railings and that would make it hard for her and now he was helping her up.
Arnav led her through the upstairs part of the house. There was a total of about 6-8 bedrooms. Then also a study room. He took her to the room that was in the corner if the hallway and turned the knob. He walked in and she followed him.
"This is my... I mean it will be our room," he told her.
Khushi walked further into the room and looked around. A lot of his things were just black and white she noticed, from the furniture to the bed sheets and all. Then there was a green recliner with a coffee table next to it. The big window that took up an entire wall caught her attention, and she saw there was a garden with a pool on the other side.
"Can I go out?" she asked.
"Of course, I'll just be there in a few minutes," he said.
While she felt, Arnav made a quick call to Aman in order to get a railing installed in the house, and also in the backyard steps that led to the lawn; before all of it slipped his mind and he forgot about it.
Khushi stood outside and the view amazed her. The water in the pool glistened in the the sunlight, and there were so many plants and trees all around. The early spring breeze felt beautiful against her skin, she loved this kind of weather. Her thoughts went back to earlier when Rhea had told her that Arnav had a lot if plants, and now looking around it was confirmed that he did have a lot. Never would she have thought for Arnav to be someone who gardened.
She heard the screen door sliding behind her and looked over her shoulder to see him joining her. He came up and stood behind her, his white shirt brushing against the skin of her shoulders.
"Khushi I wanted to ask you something," Arnav said in a quiet voice. She turned around to face him and didn't realize they were standing with such proximity until he was literally towering over her, her face in line with his stubbled jaw. She look up, letting him know that she was listening.
"Are you happy with this marriage?" He asked.
Khushi was taken aback for a moment, why would he ask such a question. Did she do something to make him think otherwise?
"Of course I am, why are you asking?" she replied.
Arnav liked the nerve of her, people were always afraid to question him, even on the phone; and here she was standing in front of him.
"I just want to make sure you don't feel like you're being forced into any of this. I know I've mentioned that before but still," he added.
"No I don't at all. I would've gotten married someday eventually. We've only known each other for a week," Khushi told him and he thought about how he'd seen her for a much longer time than that but she didn't know. Would he ever tell her that after marriage? Or would it be something that he'd end up keeping to himself?
"I think we should start just by dating, and having that progress," Arnav said once she was done.
"Dating? We're getting engaged in less than a week," Khushi said a bit confused.
"Regardless of that, we can date and get to know each other," he said. He had wanted to ask her this, obviously he wanted for their relationship to progress, and going straight at it didn't seem like such a good idea. He wanted her to be comfortable and open around him. He had taken her out for dinner a few days back, but now wanted to make it better and more like a real date.
"I have to fly out for a conference in Pune on Wednesday afternoon, how about coffee before I leave?" he asked. Arnav didn't know why, but he felt like a teenager asking someone, even though those year had long passed.
"So are you like asking me out officially?" she asked smiling and raising an eyebrow.
"I sure am," he replied, “Khushi Kumari Gupta, will you go out on a date with me?”
“Of course, I don’t have any other choice do I?” she said with happiness in her voice and teasing him.
