Chapter Forty Two

All was well as the days passed. Arnav started to open up more and he'd share moments of his past. He even watched the old VHS tapes with Khushi down in the media room, his blanky by his side. Now and then, Arnav would get emotional, but Khushi was always there to support him.

A couple of days had passed and Khushi was putting away some of Arnav's clothes (after begging Etta to let her do some work) when her phone dinged. She took it out of her back pocket to see Arnav had texted her:

Thought of you all day

Can't wait to see you when I get home

;)

Khushi smiled shyly. Geez, I feel like newlywed-bride-! A bride?! Me?

Khushi thought for a moment, picturing herself in wedding attire, making pheras with Arnav.

Oh my... that would be....

Khushi shook the image away and continued to put Arnav's suits away.

My mind wanders off to much, Khushi blushed. Finish school and get a job - then think about marriage stupid, she scolded at herself.

She finished up with her work and glanced at the clock. In about ten minutes, Arnav would be home. He had a dinner conference with some company which Khushi had no idea about. As much as Arnav had wanted to cancel it, Khushi had told him that work came first and that it was okay if she ate alone now and then. Of course, Arnav got fussy like a little kid, but Khushi knew how to handle him.

Hmm... hope he doesn't act childish when he gets home. A small grin grew on her face. My baby.

Khushi glanced at the clock once more and then an idea came to her head.

I know!

*~*

"Angel, I'm home," Arnav called out.

He came walking through the gallery and into his room and rooted himself to the floor. His jaw dropped as he gaped at Khushi, who was in the corner, on her knees, legs spread, hands on her thighs, head bowed down, completely naked.

"Angel what are you..." but Arnav was too shocked.

Khushi looked up at him through her eyelashes. "I want to play," she said softly.

Arnav stayed quiet, pursing his lips.

"Please baby?"

But Arnav was unsure.

"I trust you."

Arnav shut his eyes, letting her words go through him.

"Please?"

Arnav opened his eyes and came down to the floor. "I... Angel, I'm not sure if I want to do this now."

"Why," Khushi asked, feeling somewhat sad.

"Right now... I just don't want to do it."

"I don't understand," Khushi said softly.

"Khushi, you're my girlfriend," Arnav said, cupping her face. "You're not my submissive - there's a difference."

"But there are so many people out there who have girlfriends that are their submissives. Even married couples! The wives are submissives!"

"I know-"

"Then why?"

Arnav looked down for a moment. "I don't trust myself."

Khushi gasped. "Arnav that's not good-"

"I know."

Both stayed quiet for a moment, staying in that position. After a moment, Arnav picked Khushi up and took her to bed. He placed her down and went into the bathroom to get her robe. He had her wear it and he tied the sash securely.

"Let's take things slow," Arnav said softly.

"But things have been going slow. We've crossed so many barriers."

"I know," Arnav said softly.

Khushi held his hands. "Don't be afraid Arnav. Everything will be fine between us."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I love you."

Arnav looked down.

"And I believe in you, baby. So what if we're not like everyone else and their lovey-dovey relationship - we're unique this way."

Arnav scoffed lightly. "We're unique with me putting you on display on my X-frame?"

"Yes," Khushi blushed, envisioning herself on the X-frame.

Arnav looked at her for a moment. "I would like that too."

Khushi smiled softly. "I've always wondered what it would be like to be on one of those."

Arnav's lips crooked up. "Angel, you're not so innocent."

Khushi grinned. "No, I'm not. Every girl has some inner desire within them. Once I learned of my wants, I felt shy and embarrassed by it, and never thought I could tell anyone. But now that I have you, the man that I love, why hide anything from you? This is my dirty, secret desire and I want you to fulfill it, especially when you have the ability to."

Arnav smiled softly and picked Khushi up onto his lap. "I love you, Angel."

"I love you, baby."

"We won't hide any secrets from each other," Arnav said, burying his face in her hair.

"We won't," Khushi said softly.

You're lying to him, and eerie voice whispered from inside.

I know, Khushi replied. And I don't know for how long.

*~*

Arnav and Khushi were happy, going on with their lives. Graduation was right around the corner and the couple couldn't wait!

The weekend arrived and they had decided that they would go to Khushi's apartment. Arnav decided to order takeout, so he got on his phone to use the grubhub app. Khushi was sorting through the mail and checked her messages on the land line. The first few were pointless messages, until she got to the last one. The last message began to play when Arnav entered the room.

"Angel I-"

"Khushi?"

Khushi looked down at the phone. It was her mother.

"Khushi?"

Khushi inhaled sharply. Papa, she said in her head.

"Sweetheart, we've missed you so much," her mother said. "It's been so many years. We miss you so much, darling."

"We want to see you," her father said. "We were wrong and we admit that. We just want to see you darling. We miss you so much."

Khushi bit her lip and Arnav looked at her.

"We all miss you," her mother continued. "Your father and I miss you so much dear! Please, call us back. Please? We miss you so much dear," she sobbed. "We-"

The message ended since it was only supposed to be a few seconds long. Khushi looked away, trying to control her emotions. Pursing her lips, she hit the "Delete" button and turned away. Arnav was surprised. He had never heard Khushi say a thing about her parents, let alone her family. Moving behind her, Arnav wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her shoulder, feeling her shudder.

"I haven't seen them in years," Khushi whispered, trying her best not to shed her tears.

Arnav had already known that because back when he had first met Khushi, he had gotten some background information on her. He had seen that she had lived alone for many years and she paid for all her utilities. Her outgoing calls from her land line were mostly to her friends or work, but never to her parents.

"What happened between you and your parents, Angel," Arnav asked softly.

Khushi didn't reply. She remained quiet, wondering what she should say. As for Arnav, he didn't like how she wasn't responding.

"Khushi, you know everything about me. Won't you tell me everything about you? I have the right to know," he said softly.

Khushi sighed and looked down. "A couple of years ago... my parents had wanted me to get married."

Arnav's eyebrows shot up.

"They felt that it wasn't necessary for me to go on with my education. So they had found some random guy and tried to get me to meet him, but instead I fought them and ran away. I left them and got help from the university. At the time I had only been accepted and was going to commute, but once I told them of my situation, they helped me go to court and gain my independence from my parents."

"And you lost all relations with them."

Khushi nodded. "Since I didn't have much income on my own, I ended up not having to pay for school at all, my financial aid covering it all for me."

Arnav nodded, already knowing this from some of the information he already had on her.

"Well I understand why you did it," Arnav said. "And I'm glad you did."

Khushi looked at him. "Really?"

Arnav nodded. "Otherwise I wouldn't have my angel," he smiled.

Khushi smiled and turned to face him. "How true," and she gave him a kiss.

The buzzer rang and the couple split.

"The takeout is here," Khushi whispered.

"The pad thai can wait," Arnav replied, and he took her towards the bedroom.

Khushi bit her lip. "You make that sound so hot," she moaned.

Arnav smirked and he sealed her lips, taking him and his angel to another world.

As for the takeout guy, well...

*Knock!*Knock!*Knock!*

"Anybody home," he hollered. "I've got two chicken pad thais, edammame, and two steak salads, as well as two thai iced teas for Arnav Singh Raizada!"

But all he got for a reply were grunting and moaning.

He blushed. "Oh, um, in that case, I'll just leave it here," and he left the bag hanging on the doorknob, and ran.