Chapter Seventy Five

With a signature here and another signature there, Arnav and Khushi signed their marriage license and Arnav's lawyer took it with him, heading back to the States. Khushi watched as the boat sped away from the island and she sighed, Arnav wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Penny for your thoughts Mrs. Raizada?"

Khushi smiled. She laid her head back on Arnav's shoulder and sighed. "We're actually married."

"We really are."

Khushi turned to Arnav and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're my husband."

"And you're my wife."

Khushi felt her heart blossom at the sound of hearing him call her his wife. Caressing his face within her hands, Khushi kissed him.

"I love you," she smiled.

"I love you too angel."

Without another word, Arnav swooped Khushi up into his arms and took her up to their room. He placed her down at the foot of the bed and placed a kiss on her lips. "Time to ravish in you wife."

Khushi couldn't help her grin as Arnav brushed away the straps of her dress. "You know, there's going to be a few angry people back home."

"And I care because...?"

Khushi's dress dropped down to the floor and she stepped out of it. "Because they're our friends and family," she said as she began to unbutton his waistcoat and shirt.

"Okay, so?"

"So? Arnav, Di is going to flip out!"

Khushi brushed off his waistcoat and shirt.

"She can be mad all she wants, its too late, we're already married."

Khushi couldn't help her grin. "That we are," and she undid the button and zipper of his pants.

"Now enough on everyone else and let me focus on you, wife."

And with that, Arnav took his wife down onto the bed and made love to her, ravishing away hour after hour, Khushi loving and cherishing every moment of it.

*~*

"What are we going to tell everyone else?"

Khushi was sitting in between Arnav's legs, playing with his fingers.

"The truth."

Khushi looked up at Arnav with a grin. "Well duh, but I feel bad," she pouted.

"Why?"

Khushi turned back around and resumed toying with his fingers. "Di is gonna be pissed when she finds out that our witnesses was the cleaner and the maid."

"Well too bad for her."

Khushi rolled her eyes with a grin. "Sure, whatever. But what about Papa? He was looking forward to being at our wedding."

"He knows."

Khushi's eyes widened in shock. She turned back around and looked up at Arnav. "You told him?"

Arnav nodded. "I called him and asked for his blessings, and to not tell Di until we're back."

"You asked for his blessings," Khushi smiled softly.

Arnav nodded again.

Khushi was so proud of him. She turned around in his hold and gave him a hug, kissing him. "That was very sweet of you Arnav."

"Hmm.... He said I would only have his blessing if I kept you happy - looks I'll have his blessings forever," he smiled.

Khushi grinned, kissing him once more.

"But there is one thing," Arnav said when he broke away from her.

Khushi looked at him with his eyebrows scrunched.

"Your family will find out one way or another."

Khushi looked down - Arnav was right. Once they got home and told Anjali about their marriage, it was guaranteed that she would tell Shyam about this.

"I mean..."

Khushi looked back up at him, her eyes slightly widening. Wait, does Arnav know about the two?

"...they're bound to see it in the newspapers and magazines."

Oh? Oh! Of course!

"I mean once the news breaks out, these tabloids will be hounding us but you look relieved."

Khushi's eyes widened.

"Angel," he said in a cautious tone, looking her up and down, "what are you hiding from me?"

Khushi gulped, looking anywhere but at him.

"Well...?"

But Khushi didn't say anything.

"Angel...."

With a sigh, Khushi looked up at him. "Jaan, look, trust me, if I could, I would tell you. But it's not not my secret to tell," she quickly added when Arnav opened his mouth.

Arnav opened his mouth again but then shut it. He was clearly in a state of confusion and Khushi found it absolutely adorable.

"If it's not your secret to tell, then who's is it?"

Khushi's eyes slightly widened. Uh oh!

"Well?"

"Arnav stop, I'm not going to tell you. I already told you-"

"Angel, am I going to have to restrain you and torture you until you tell me?"

Khushi's eyes widened.

"Because you know I will."

Khushi's eyes widened. "What the-? You will not get this information about Di from me through-!"

Khushi instantly bit her lip, cringing."

"Information about Di?"

Crap! "I-"

Arnav got up, grabbing his shirt and boxers, and headed downstairs.

Double crap!

Khushi grabbed her dress, quickly putting it on as she followed after Arnav. Downstairs, there was a study with a computer, and Khushi knew that her husband - husband! - was definitely going to be making contact with the outside world - with his Di in specific.

"Arnav!"

Khushi entered the study, finding Arnav in front of the Mac.

Oh boy! "Arnav-!"

Just as Khushi came around the desk to Arnav, his call went through, showing Anjali's face.

"Chote! How are you? How's Khushi? Dad mentioned that you guys are in Rio, how is it?"

"That's not important right now," Arnav replied. "First you tell me what you and what you're having Khushi hide from me."

Anjali's eyes widened and she noticed Khushi behind Arnav.

"I'm so sorry, it just kind of slipped," Khushi said, looking down.

"It's okay Khushi, he was bound to find out at one point or another."

"Damn right, now tell me what it is," Arnav scowled.

"Uh well... Khushi, you should probably get a good hold on him."

Khushi nodded in agreement and sat down Arnav's lap, Arnav looking at them in confusion. "What the-?"

"Not now," Khushi said, cutting him off.

Anjali let out a heavy sigh. "I didn't want to tell you like this, in fact, I had a whole dinner thing planned out-"

"Just spit it out Di," Arnav huffed.

Anjali rolled his eyes. "Honestly, sometimes I wonder who really is the oldest, you or me?"

Arnav simply scowled at her.

"Okay, okay! For some time now, I've been meaning to tell you something."

"I know - what?"

Anjali gulped. "Um... that I'm dating someone?"

Arnav's eyes widened and so did Khushi's, her eyes darting to Anjali's.

"...and that someone would be Shyam."

Khushi couldn't believe it - her brother and sister in-law were now on official dating terms! Her eyes turned to Arnav, who she thought would be looking at the screen in shock, was actually looking in anger.

Oh no.

"You're dating Shyam," Arnav asked, his voice rather low.

"Yes-"

"Di do you have any idea how bad of a person he is?"

Anjali looked at him wide-eyed. "Chote-!"

"Do you have any idea what kind of pain he's put Khushi through?"

Khushi looked away, fiddling with the buttons of Arnav's shirt.

"Chote he hasn't done anything-"

"Are you kidding me? Di, he's brainwashing you!"

"Chote, enough! There are just some things you don't know!"

"Are you fucking shitting me?!"

"Chote!"

"Wait till we get back, I'm not going to spare that meathead!"

"Arnav!"

Arnav looked down at Khushi.

"He's still my brother," Khushi scowled. "Regardless of what's happened-"

"Khushi, he has hurt you and I have seen the effects myself, let's not forget that."

Khushi looked down.

"I don't like that fucker whatsoever!"

"Well deal with it," Anjali said, turning the couple's attention back on her. "I'm dating him, we're together, and I don't care if my little brother doesn't approve."

"Di-!"

Anjali hung up, ending the video call.

"What the!"

Arnav reached for the mouse to try and call her again, but Khushi stopped him.

"Arnav, don't. She's upset right now, give her a moment."

"Give her a moment to go calling your brother and run over to him? No thanks!"

Arnav tried again, but Khushi stopped him once more.

"Hey, my brother isn't all that bad!"

"Khushi, he gave your number to the person who harassed you and emotionally blackmailed you."

Khushi flinched at his words.

"Tell me how that makes him any good of a person?"

Khushi looked down, placing her hand in her lap. "He didn't know," she nearly whispered.

"Excuse me?"

"He didn't know about the harassment from Akash."

Arnav simply looked at her, thought he looked angry. "Explain."

Khushi glanced up at him and then looked back down at her lap. "At the time, Bhai was coping with his grief by doing drugs and drinking all day. He wasn't really in a state to know what was going on under our own roof."

"Are you fucking kidding me? That-!"

Arnav huffed and looked away, clenching his fist. He wanted to be angry - angry over the fact that Shyam had done an absolutely lousy job of coping with his sister's loss, but who was he to judge? He had turned to sex and weed himself to cope with his mother's loss, how could he say anything about Shyam?

Khushi looked up at him, watching him as his thoughts went through his head, his face scrunching up now and then. "Arnav?"

With a sigh, Arnav shut his eyes. "I understand that because we're married now, he is now my brother in-law... but that doesn't mean that I'm okay with him. Whether he knew the situation or not, he can't be that stupid nor oblivious. Whether he knew or not Khushi, there should have been some ounce of common sense in him that should've stopped him from giving Akash your number, especially after how that scoundrel played both of his sisters."

Khushi had to agree with him - even though Shyam didn't know about the way Akash had misbehaved with her, he still should've had the common sense to not give him her number after everything that had happened.

"If he doesn't have that much sense in him, then I don't care if he's got a degree in aerospace engineering or art, he's a complete idiot and I don't want my sister to be with a guy like that. And I'm sure that if the roles were in reverse, he wouldn't want for you to be involved with a guy like that."

Khushi simply nodded and nuzzled into Arnav. She didn't like the feeling of discomfort this topic was giving her. As if it were a physical thing, Arnav felt it too and didn't like that it was upsetting his wife. They had just gotten married a couple of hours ago, his angel shouldn't be upset.

Without a word, Arnav picked Khushi up and carried her in his arms. He took Khushi back upstairs and laid her in their bed, Arnav laying down beside her.

"It's our wedding day and I'm upsetting you."

Khushi looked up at him. "No, it's not that, just...."

Arnav sighed, taking Khushi's hand in his. "Khushi we're married now, and I don't want anymore secrets between us - at all. So whatever it is that's on your mind, just say it straight out."

Khushi nodded, looking at their joined hands. "Um... I'm just wondering what's gonna happen when we get back home. After what just happened downstairs, things aren't exactly going to play out well when it comes to Di and Bhai."

"Your brother already hates me as it is, not that I care. Although he does seem to think I control you-"

"Arnav..."

Arnav looked down at her.

"Don't. We've been through this already - don't."

Arnav smiled at her softly, melting Khushi's heart. She caressed his cheek in her hand and kissed him.

"Well, it's like I said - I don't care how he feels about me nor what he thinks of me. Besides, it's too late, I've already married his sister anyways."

"That you have," and Khushi kissed him once more.

For a moment, they just laid there, until Khushi broke the silence.

"There's going to be a couple of obstacles to face when we get back, isn't there?"

Arnav sighed. "Yes angel, there will be."

Khushi looked up at him. "But we'll face them together."

Arnav looked down at her and smiled. He took her hand in his and placed a kiss on top of it. "Together, forever."