Chapter Fifty Eight

It's had been hours that Arnav had been gone. Khushi began to wonder where he was, when the hotel line rang.

She picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Good afternoon Ma'am. Sir has sent the car for you."

"The car?"

"Yes, it is waiting for you now to take you."

"Take me where?"

"That I do not know, he did not say."

"Oh... okay, thank you, I'll be down in a few."

"Yes Ma'am," and they hung up.

Khushi was confused. "Car? For what? Where am I going?"

Still very confused, Khushi wore another one of her rompers and headed down. One of the workers led her to the Audi and she got in. When the car pulled away, Khushi looked at the driver.

"Where are we going?"

"Mr. Raizada wishes for me to not to tell you."

Khushi's eyebrows met in the middle. "What the?"

The driver chuckled. "He said you'd say that."

Khushi frowned. What the? What is Arnav up to?

Khushi watched the city around her as they moved through it. Soon enough they arrived to their destination, a very posh store that clearly carried designer brands.

Expensive designer brands.

The driver held the door open for her and Khushi stepped out. Three ladies who were standing outside stepped forward.

"Welcome Ms. Gupta. Please, come this way," one of the ladies said.

Khushi, confused as she was, followed behind them. As she entered the store, Khushi saw numerous designer dresses throughout the store, as well as accessories.

"Mr. Raizada has asked us to help you pick out a dress," the woman said to her.

"A dress? Why would I need a dress?"

"He did not say. He just asked us to help you pick out something. He's already made a few selections himself and wants us to show them to you as well."

"He made selections?" What the? What is he up to?

As odd and confusing as Khushi found it all to be, Khushi looked at the dresses. She found quite a few that she liked, and the ladies held them for her as she chose more. Once she had gone through it all, the ladies took her into a big fitting room, walled with mirrors.

"Um, of the dresses I chose, could you separate the ones he had selected so I can see what he chose and how many I chose."

The ladies nodded and created two separate piles. Most of the dresses Khushi chose were ones that Arnav liked.

"Okay, I'll start trying them on now."

The ladies nodded and left, waiting outside for if she needed anything. Khushi picked up a dress from the Arnav-pile and tried it on. She stepped out and the ladies helped her to zip it up and commented while Khushi looked in the mirror. She continued to do this, going through every dress. In the end, the two piles she had created had split, each pile now having subcategories: reject, okay, and way too expensive. Although she had created this system, her eyes kept wandering to a dress she had in the Arnav: Way too expensive pile. It was red - as if it were on fire, red. It was sleeveless, made of silk and lace. A slit ran along the left leg, something she knew Arnav would love very much. The back was deep cut, another thing she knew Arnav would love for sure.

Khushi picked up the dress and looked and it. It's so beautiful... but it's so expensive! How could a dress be so expensive? It's ridiculous!

One of the ladies came in. "We should start doing hair and make up now."

Khushi's eyebrows scrunched. "Hair and make up?" What?

The ladies ushered her into another room, seating her in front of a table covered with more makeup than probably a makeup store owned. Two of the ladies stayed while the other left, coming up with ideas of what to do for hair and nails. Khushi had absolutely no idea what was going on, but as they began to pamper her, her mind cleared and emptied. They worked on her hair, makeup, manicure, and pedicure, the third woman soon rejoining them to help.

Sometime later, Khushi was done and prepped, her makeup and hair done, her nails done and dry.

"Now for the dress," one of the ladies beamed.

"But I haven't-"

One of the other ladies came in with the red number Khushi was in love with.

"But-"

"Mr. Raizada really loved this dress and wanted us to make sure the this dress came into consideration. When we saw that you couldn't stop looking at it, I notified him and he said to go with this one. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Khushi blinked. He wants me to have that dress?

"You will look absolutely stunning in this dress! And the shoes and jewelry he chose - he will be blown off of his feet!"

Khushi couldn't believe what she was hearing. He chose shoes and jewelry for me?

"He also picked a little racy number for you."

Khushi looked at her in confusion as the woman disappeared from the room then came back. In her hand was a red laced bustier with matching panties and garters. Khushi's eyes widened at the sight of it and how light the fabric was. You could see right through it!

Khushi gulped and took it as she handed it to her. She went into the dressing room and put it on, gasping at the sight of her when she finished. One look at her, and Arnav would probably destroy this expensive piece- er, scrap of clothing.

That cannot happen.

The ladies soon rejoined her and helped her to put her dress on. They helped place on her jewelry and Khushi slipped on her heels. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't believe she was really looking at her reflection.

Holy cow....

One of the ladies stepped forward with a clutch.

"Let me guess, he chose this too," she asked, taking the golden clutch.

The woman nodded.

Outside, the Audi pulled up. The ladies helped Khushi out and the driver held the door open. Khushi entered the car without flashing herself, and waved at the ladies as they waved at her. The driver took the bag with her belongings, put it in the trunk, then got back in the drivers seat and drove off.

Khushi looked at him. "Will you tell me now where we're going?"

"It's a surprise madam."

Khushi leaned back. "Of course it is."

She looked out to the evening sky, wondering where on earth Arnav was and what all of this was about.

He better have a good explanation, she grumbled.

Some time later, they pulled up by the bay, by a yacht.

What the?

The driver stepped out and held the door open. Khushi carefully stepped out and looked at the yacht. A man stood by the entry so Khushi went to him.

"Good evening Ms. Gupta. Mr. Raizada awaits."

I bet he does, cause I've been waiting patiently enough all day!

Khushi followed behind the man. He led her out to the deck and Khushi was shocked. There was a table for two, candles lit with flowers around - lilies to be specific, her favorite. But it was the man who stood by it that stunned her even more.

The man she loved, dressed and looking very handsome in his black tuxedo was gazing at her with a smile - her smile, the one that was only meant for her.

Arnav stepped forward and held his hand out. Khushi placed hers in his and he placed a kiss.

"You look so beautiful, absolutely stunning."

Khushi blushed. "Thank you. You look very handsome as well."

Arnav offered his arm and Khushi took it, letting him lead her to the table.

"I love your dress."

"Do you now? I didn't know."

Arnav lightly chuckled and held the chair out for Khushi. She sat down and Arnav tucked her in, then went around and sat across from her.

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you angel."

"Doesn't it?"

Their server came out with a bottle of wine and poured it into their glasses. When he went away, Arnav held his glass up.

"Mm, perhaps. Shall we toast to sarcasm then?"

"Probably not a bad idea," she said, unable to stop her smile.

"Then to sarcasm and humor - may it always bring a smile to your face."

Khushi chuckled lightly and and clinked their glasses together and sipped their wine.

Their server soon returned with their meal and Khushi recognized the second she saw it.

"Shrimp scampi," Khushi questioned as the server left them.

Arnav nodded.

Khushi couldn't help but to think of their first date. She could hardly believe that so much time had passed since the days she used to analyze every brand he wore, researched him, and would call him pothead.

The thought made Khushi giggle and Arnav cocked his eyebrow.

"Is something funny?"

Khushi pursed her lips. "We've come a long way, huh pothead?"

Arnav looked down, his lips curving. "We really have."

"I can't believe I said that to your face that day. I wanted to disappear! All I could think of was myeh!"

Arnav chuckled. "You always were an interesting one. Tell me, after the brief research you had done on me..."

Khushi blushed at that reminder.

"...what do you think of me now?"

Khushi gazed at him. "That research... it wasn't research at all. It told me nothing of the true man behind the shell he shows the world. It told me nothing about the man I fell head-over-heels in love with. But I'm glad that it made me want to know the real you."

Arnav smiled. They began their dinner, talking and laughing the night away, thinking back to some of their old memories. When dinner was complete, they took their wine and stood by the edge, looking out to the horizon.

"We did something like this on our first date."

Khushi nodded. "Only it was at your penthouse with a view of the city, and it was my first time ever drinking wine."

"And look at you now," he teased.

Both Khushi and Arnav chuckled.

Khushi looked down, a small blush creeping onto her cheeks. "It was also the night you first made love to me," she said softly.

She looked up at him to find him gazing at her.

"It was one of the best nights of my life," he admitted.

Arnav took her glass and placed both of theirs aside then held her to him.

"I knew you were different the moment I first met you. I may have not been so nice-"

"Not so nice," Khushi teased.

Arnav rolled his eyes and Khushi chuckled.

"Okay, yeah, maybe not. But that aside, I knew you were different - good different."

Khushi remembered him saying those same words to her on the terrace.

Arnav looked down at their connected hands. "Khushi, do you remember what I said to you after I first made love to you?"

"...it's okay. I'm glad I'm your first. And I hope to be the only one."

Khushi nodded.

"At the time, I myself didn't understand why I exactly said that. Maybe a part of me did understand why because I had already fallen in love with you and I just didn't realize it. But because that part of me did, it made me go into fear."

Khushi smiled sadly and cupped his face.

"I always believed that I wasn't capable of love. That if I did, I would only lose them. Loosing my mother... it was the worst thing to ever happen to me... until you left me."

Khushi took in a shaky deep breath.

"I don't think I've ever felt such pain in my life. Maybe close to, but nothing like that. You leaving me... I nearly lost myself. I stopped eating, stopped working - I just didn't know what to do. I found myself spending time with those home videos and then finally went home after all these years. It was also the first time in years that I broke down in front of my sister like that."

Khushi ran the back of her hand on his cheek.

"I realized then that I could no longer go back to the life I once lived. My life became incomplete without you. I wanted you - I needed you because I was so in love with you."

Khushi smiled, feeling tears threatening to pool in her eyes.

"When I got you back, I was the happiest man alive. Through everything I had been through, you had become my rock and gave the strength I needed. Seeing you smile brought me out of my darkness and into the light."

"You did that-"

"No. You did that, like the angel you are. My angel. I felt so blessed to have an angel like you, yet I feared of losing you again, because I worried that the pain I caused you would make you leave me again."

Khushi looked down.

"If I could take back what I did to you that night, I would do everything in my power, even more just to change it-"

Khushi placed her hand over his lips. "Hush, now. Don't think about that. Not now, not ever again. We've moved on and have come so far since then. I don't want you to ever think about it again, promise me."

Arnav just looked at her then kissed her hand. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"Mm, sneak around to smoke pot," she said, trying to lighten up the mood.

Arnav chuckled and Khushi was happy it worked.

"I guess in a way pot helped me get one thing right. Took some time to quit, but I'm glad it worked out alright because the only thing I need, is you."

Khushi smiled. "And all I need is you."

One of the men from security came into view. He looked at Arnav and Arnav nodded. The man walked away and Khushi looked at Arnav curiously.

"What was that about?"

"You'll see in a minute or two."

Khushi was confused. Arnav was looking up to the sky and she looked up as well. There were a few stars shining in the sky. However the stars would soon share it's space, as a flare blew up and fireworks erupted. Khushi gasped and marveled in the bright lights.

"Oh my gosh," Khushi exclaimed. She turned to Arnav. "Did you do this?"

Arnav nodded.

"Oh my gosh, you're the best," and she hugged him.

Firework after firework flew up into the sky and burst into multiple colors, filling the sky. The smile on Khushi's face had become plastered on, refusing to go away.

However there were other plans in mind that were about to occur.

Arnav took Khushi's hand and Khushi looked up at him.

"Like these fireworks bring colors to the dark sky, you brought colors into my dark world. Without you, I'd still be in the dark. I want to be in your colors forever just as I hope that you'll continue to color my world."

Tears once again threatened to fall.

"I love you Khushi, and I want you to be by my side forever..."

Arnav bent down at the knee and Khushi's eyes widened as he revealed a small black velvet box.

"...as I hope you'll want to be by my side forever, as well."

As Arnav opened the small box, Khushi's hand went to her mouth, hoping to stop her sobbing as she saw the beautiful diamond ring within it.

"Khushi Kumari Gupta, my angel..."

Oh my gosh!

"...will you marry me?"

Khushi could no longer hold back the tears and they escaped as she quietly sobbed. She really couldn't believe that this was happening! It was as if this were a dream and she was afraid that she would wake up any minute and find herself back on the day she first met him, only to have never met him in the first place. Yet as the booms of the fireworks went off, they were both still here. It wasn't a dream, and Arnav, her love, the man of her life, was truly asking her to marry him - he, the man who once believed he wasn't capable of love because his mama had been taken from him at a young age; because he never got to experience the love of a parent as a child because he had to abandon his childhood; because he had become the cold-hearted dominant who only cared for pleasure and control.

He, the man who was her controlling lover.

And she couldn't ask for it in any other way.

"Yes."

Arnav gasped asked his eyes widened. "What," he breathed.

Khushi nodded her head as crazily as a bobble head. "Yes, I'll marry you."

The look on Arnav's face took Khushi's breath away as his eyes lit up and his lips spread into a wide grin. Arnav took the ring out of the box and Khushi held out her left hand. He placed the ring on her finger and as he stood up, he picked up Khushi and swung her around, both laughing in joy as he did.

Arnav placed her down and rested his forehead on hers. Khushi placed her hands on his shoulders as they both tugged on the air between them.

"I love you so much, angel."

"I love you too, Arnav. Now, and forever."