Non-erotic Hues of Love by Yagyaseni

[fasterboy]

Khushi looked at him with a mixture of admiration and apprehension. He knew that her fears were not unfounded and she was scared to trust him but he was determined to win her trust, after all, he had his whole lifetime ahead of him.


”And hopefully someday, you accept that my love for you is genuine and I am able to reinstate your trust on me and join the broken pieces of your love,” he added with angst twanging in his voice as his eyes looked on with hope.


”Hopefully indeed,” she replied, speaking for the first time to him since her outburst at the altar after Rati’s departure.




“Aunty, is it really required now? I don’t have any energy to even sit, forget indulge in these games as a part of rituals,” complained Khushi, with a sullen face and strained voice.

”Sometimes we just have to wear a facade and do things which we don’t want to do, Beta, with a hope that it makes our future easier. If you refuse to complete these rituals, all the relatives outside will again find something to point a finger at you; they would say that you are wrong and hence you are scared of facing them. You are a strong woman, Khushi, don’t let anyone think otherwise,” said Swathi, cupping Khushi’s cheeks affectionately with one hand as she brought in a glass of warm milk to her lips to improve her mood.


Khushi nodded thoughtfully and gulped the milk quickly as possible so that she can proceed with the rituals sooner and rest faster.


Irrespective of time and place, once Khushi had taken part in any competition, she had to put in her complete efforts and the ring game was no different. Her challenging spirit compelled Arnav to take the game seriously and legitimately try to win. Out of the three rounds, both had won one each and the last round was to be the deciding one.


”Khushi will win, I am sure!” cheered Vivek, hoping to lighten the atmosphere as the relatives and friends soon started taking sides. Their college mates and friends had taken Khushi’s side knowing that the relatives would take Arnav’s side and they could not afford to dampen Khushi’s spirits on her own wedding day.


”Who says? Arnav will win!” cheered a cousin of Arnav’s as the fight continued.


Finally when their hands came out, it was time for the friends to cheer since Khushi had landed her hands on the ring and was hence the winner.


”What is this, Bhai? You lost?” questioned the same cousin.


”So what if I lost the game, Subodh? I have won her hand and the one who already rules my heart has won the game so it is a win for me too,” answered Arnav, smiling at Khushi who involuntarily blushed under the gaze and dramatic sighs accompanying his words.