12/50 - Saffron

“Khushi!” she heard the voice calling her from upstairs but decided to ignore it and continue talking with the others.

“KHUSHI!!”, she heard it again but didn’t reply. A few seconds later a pair footsteps descended down the stairs and stopped near the couch area, “Khushi I’ve been calling you since so long can’t you hear me?!” Arnav gritted through his teeth trying not to lose his temper in front of the family. The others looked between the two knowing there must’ve been something wrong and it’s best if they don’t interfere.

“Khushi beta why don’t you go up with Chotte and see what he needs,” Nani told her, to which Arnav turned back around and headed up while Khushi nodded to Nani and followed him up.

“How can you talk to me like that in front of the family?” she asked once entering the room.

“Well you were the one that wasn’t listening the first time,” he retorted with his back towards her and walked to the cupboard to get something.

“What do you want from me?” she asked annoyed. He walked back to her and thrust a package in her hands.

“What’s this for?” she asked with a confused look and examined the wrapped box.

“It’s your birthday present,” he replied.

“I don’t want anything from you,” she bit back throwing the package on the bed and turned to leave, but he caught her hand and pulled her back, “I didn’t ask for your permission to accept it or not,” she struggled trying to get out of his hold but he just held her tighter. Picking up the box he gave it to her again, “At least open it,” he said letting her go.

Khushi looked back glaring at him, the nerve of this man, she ripped open the wrapping not caring about it getting ruined and he watched as she did so, her face filled with anger. Inside she found a beautiful sari, it was a burnt orange and red color, like saffron, but she wasn’t going to let him know that she liked it, “I don’t want it,” she told him.

“But I chose it for you!” he bit back running a hand through his hair. Why was she so adamant on always making him angry. He had chosen it himself hoping that maybe it would be able to make up for the bag scenario earlier, “And it’s red,” he added.

“So what should I do if it’s red?” she asked crossing her arms across her chest.

“It’s my favorite color,” he told her, not knowing why he even shared that with her.

“Then maybe you should be the one to wear it if you like it so much,” she answered back throwing it on the bed and stomping out.

11/50 - Fire

“Hariprakashji you can leave, I’ll clean up the place,” Khushi said walking into the kitchen.

“But Bhabiji--” he started off but she interrupted him, “I’ll handle it, and I’m waiting for Arnav Ji to come home, and have nothing to do till then, so I’ll be fine,” After refusing a few times they finally agreed and left. Khushi went and grabbed all the plates from the table to the sink and started washing them. Everyone had retired to their rooms for the night after dinner, and she would’ve done the same but he wasn’t back from work yet and she had decided to wait, just like she’d been doing for the past few weeks. He would leave before she would wake up, they exchanged a few calls during the day, and sometimes even that didn’t happen depending on his schedule. He would return home late at night, and she would wait to serve him dinner. If she was lucky he would come at the night he had told her and she would be able to catch a glimpse of him. Otherwise she would end up falling asleep waiting and find herself in their bed the next morning. They barely had time for each other anymore, he was always busy with work. And for the small times that she saw him, she could see how his health was deteriorating. His eyes would be droopy, his body always tired and he would speak in monosyllables. They were drifting apart, and that made her heart pain. They had made it through so much all these months together, and she couldn’t just let him go or let this happen to them.

Coming back to reality she warmed up the food, hoping he would be here any minute like he had promised. Khushi turned off the lights of the kitchen and placed the food on the table. She went and grabbed a candle from the storage closet, the entire lights on downstairs would probably bother the ones that were sleeping so she decided to light a candle. She sat down placing it in the middle of the table, the fire illuminating the table.

She looked up to check the time and it was a quarter past eleven.

He was late.

Once again.

10/50 - Pumpkin Spice

Khushi wiped the flour off the counter with the wipe and put the used utensils in the sink. All the food had been made and only the pie was left which she had just placed in the oven. She went over to think to wash the dishes when she felt him wrap his arms around her waist and placed his head on her shoulder, “Good morning,” he said placing a kiss behind her earlobe.
"Good morning," she replied as he moved her hair to the side and continued to nuzzle her neck, placing light kisses along her collarbone, "You smell nice," he said sliding his hand through the front of her shirt to touch her skin.
"Pumpkin spice," she replied, "I just put the pie in the oven," and tilted her head to look at him and he leaned closer to kiss her while she closed her eyes in pleasure. Once she opened her eyes she looked at completely and gasped, "Arnav out on some clothes!" she exclaimed.
"But I do have my boxers on," he said motioning down and took that chance to turn her around completely with her backed against the kitchen slab. This caused her to place her wet hands against his bare chest and he looked down with a mischievous grin, "Well someone’s gotta clean that up," he said looking back up at her as she had her eyes rounded.
"Arnav what if Arjun walks in?" She asked looking over towards the hallway and Arnav took this opportunity to slide his hands in her shirt from behind and tugged at her bra hook.
"He won’t wake for another two hours," he replied as she tried to move out his hold but he just pulled her closer, "And even if he does, he’ll just see how much Daddy loves his Mom," he whispered unclasping her bra.
"What are you doing?" she hissed back.
"I thought we’d work on Arjun’s christmas wish of wanting a brother or sister," he huskily said moving his hands to the front to her blouse t, "Maybe not this year, but hopefully by next year it will be here."

9/50 - Citrus

"No Aman I won’t be able to come tomorrow… yes I understand but could you handle it… that’s fine… just make sure that it gets finalized.. okay… I’ll call you later," he said cutting the call while stepping into the elevator. It had been only a few hours since they had reached the hotel and it was already turning out bad for him. He needed to be in Delhi for an important meeting with a supplier but instead he was at a hotel in Pune for a family party. His cousin… what was his name? Akshay? or was it Akash? He didn’t even remember, but apparently it was his wedding anniversary, more like a family gathering since it was held for a few days and Di insisted he accompany her as she didn’t want to go alone. But he didn’t know anyone here and family events were not his thing. When the elevator stopped on his floor, he proceeded to walk out while still looking down at his phone and didn’t notice the other figure that was walking in from the other side.

"Ouch!" he heard the voice yelp as their crash with each other caused her to trip on her sari but he caught her by the waist before she could fall. The scent of fruits filled his surroundings as she proceeded to stand with his help. Was it lemons or limes? He asked himself but was broken out of his thoughts when he felt her move away from him, losing the contact with her heated skin.
“Are you okay?” he asked her and she nodded uttering the quick thanks and into the elevator before it closed.  
************************
Arnav walked into a restaurant the next morning where the families and and friends were supposed to meet for breakfast. He would’ve preferred to have had it in his room by himself but agreed once Di had come knocking on his door continuously. Last night he had been bored and had nothing to do, he even tried to do some work but it wasn’t helping. Since the encounter with the girl at the elevator yesterday, he couldn’t get her out of his thoughts. Hell he didn’t even get to ask her name. Now standing in line he picked up a plate to get his breakfast.
“Could you pass me a bagel please,” he heard a voice from the other side of the serving table where someone had extended their hand, “Sure,” he replied picking up and handing one to the person and this was when he saw who it was. The same girl from yesterday.
“Oh hi,” she said and walked around the table, “I think we met yesterday, but I was in a hurry. I’m Khushi,” he heard her melodic voice.
“Arnav,” he replied back and heard some voices coming from a table and she looked back to see some people calling her back, “I’ll see you around,” she said with a smile and walked off.
***********************
Arnav stood at the bar looking through the crowd, it had been an hour since the party had started and he was already getting bored. Wanting to get away from all this he walked out of the venue from the side and looked out. The sun was setting in the far, and the cool breeze was in the air making the trees sway slightly. While he stood there, he felt a familiar scent overpower his mind for a few seconds, but he couldn’t pick out what it was.
Then he felt another figure come stand next to him, “Hi,” he heard her say as she looked up at him, “Bored?” she asked to which he nodded and looked over at her. She hadn’t been able to leave his mind the entire day, and he wasn’t able to understand why. She was just another girl he met, but there was something about her.
Dressed in a red wine dress that was strapless, a cut running along the side making it blow with the wind, she looked stunning. He watched as she bit her lip while looking out and that made him lose his last string of control as he groaned and hauled her body against his and slam his lips against her. At first he didn’t feel her respond, but then the tug of her fingers in his hair only made him kiss her with more hunger and pulled her even closer. He ran his nose along her jaw breathing in her scent,” Lemons?” he murmured against the base of her neck.
“No, citrus,” he heard her reply in rasped breaths.
“Hmmm, lovely,” he added placing a kiss under her earlobe, “Where are you from?”
“From here, you?” she asked.
“Delhi, but now I’ll have to start coming here more often,” he said claiming her lips again.

8/50 - Mangoes

“Arnav if I ask something from you will you get it for me?" Khushi asked plonking down on the bed. Her husband had just come home and had his back towards her as he was trying to find something in the cupboard.

He tilted his head back towards her, "Have I ever denied giving you anything?"

"No," she replied fiddling with the pally of her sari.

Arnav closed the cupboard door and approached her, kneeling down in front of her he held her hands.

"What's wrong Khushi?" he asked as she tried to avoid eye contact, "Did someone say something to you?"

"No nothing like that happened," she said.

"Then what's the problem?" he asked.

"I ... I wan...," Khushi tried to speak and he nodded telling her to continue, "Iwantmangoes!" she said in one go that Arnav wasn't sure if her had heard correctly.

"Mangoes?" he asked giving her a confused look.

"Yes mangoes," She replied.

"Where am I supposed to find mangoes from in this season?" he asked.

"But you said you'd get them," Khushi said pouting.

"I would but be reasonable Khushi, mangoes are out of season and there's no vendor that is still selling them," he told her. But out of all things why did she want mangoes? And that too now.

“But why mangoes?” he asked curious.

“You didn’t understand?” she asked, “I’m craving them.”

“Understand what?” he questioned. Khushi quickly stood up moving him away, “Laad governor kahi ke,” he heard her mutter under her breath, “He runs a multimillionaire company but can’t even understand this.”

Before he could ask her anything further, she had already left the room banging the door behind her. What had happened to her now? And what was this these mangoes?

His phone ringing broke him out of his thoughts, he looked and saw this it was Aman, “Hello,” he answered.

“Sir I need something from you,” Aman said.

“Why do you need mangoes also?!” a frustrated Arnav said from his side.

“I needed … wait what? Why would I need mangoes? I was calling to ask for the Singhania deal file, I forgot to add some papers to it,” he replied.

“Oh ..uhm yeah I will get that sent,” he told him and Aman was about to hang up, “Wait Aman, do you know anywhere I could get mangoes at this time of the year,” he asked awkwardly.

“Mangoes at this time? No sir, but why do you need mangoes?” he asked confused.

“Woh Khushi was asking for them, and then she got angry because apparently I didn’t understand something,” he said.

“You seriously don’t understand sir?” Aman asked, “You don’t know why a woman would want mangoes?”

“No how the hell am I supposed to know? I don’t work as a fruit vendor,” he said, “...but does that mean you know? What does it mean?”

“It’s best if you find out yourself sir,” Aman answered and hung up before Arnav could ask anything further. Arnav chucked his phone on the bed and pulled out his laptop. Why would a woman crave mangoes he typed into the search bar. The first link said “Am craving to eat a raw mango” then “What really causes pregnancy cravings?” and then a little bit down “What pregnant women crave.”

Arnav stopped at the word pregnancy. Pregnant. Could that be true. He ran a hand through his hair, was Khushi pregnant? And he remembered in the past 3-4 months she didn’t get as cranky as she used to when it would be her time of the month. But why didn’t she just tell him directly? Well of course his wife has a way of doing things differently. It was time to confront his wife and ask her about, he thought closing the laptop and walking out in search of her.

7/50 - Champagne

Khushi moved through the crowd and went to sit near the bar. Arnav had been talking to one of the associates so she had decided to excuse herself. Even after being together for over a year with him and having attended so many parties, she had never gotten used to the atmosphere of them; it just wasn’t her. She knew only a few people here, and they were busy socializing with others. But the good thing was that the party was in the banquet hall of the hotel they were staying at, so at least they wouldn’t have a long drive home. As she continued to observe the crowd, she felt someone come and take a seat next to hers.

“What is such a beautiful lady like you doing here at a party all by yourself?” the voice asked in a teasing voice.

“I’m here with someone,” she replied curtly and looked away.

“Doesn’t seem like you’re having a fun time,” he said.

“That’s none of your concern,” she answered.

“Everything you do is my concern sweetheart,” he replied, “How about I buy you a drink? Champagne?”

“No thanks, and why don’t you go back to talking with those associates of yours?” she told him.

“I have better plans, come lets leave,” he said taking her hand and walking out of the hall. As they stood in front of the hall, Khushi pulled her hand away from his grasp and folded her arms across her chest. When the elevator opened, he motioned her to go in and she did after giving him a glare. He stepped in after her and stood behind her, a few seconds later the elevator stopped at another floor and more people entered, causing them to move more towards the back against the wall. Khushi felt him snake his hands from behind around her waist and pull her flush against him, “Arnav … what are you doing?” she whispered while looking around to see if anyone had seen it but they were all engrossed in other things.  

“Hmm….,” was the reply she got from him as he rested his chin on her shoulder and then whispered in her ear, “I want you now,”

“What if someone heard?!” she asked her eyes shocked as she tilted her head towards him.

“Then let them hear,” he said and as if on cue, the elevator opened to their floor and they walked out. Arnav removed the keys from his pocket and quickly unlocked their room; they hadn’t made it even five steps in when Khushi felt herself pushed against the wall and he captured his lips on hers. She was supposed to be angry at him, but how could she do that now when she was losing control by the second. He nudged her legs up and wrapped them around his waist, with intentions of carrying her towards the bedroom, but ended up placing her on the kitchen slab. Arnav moved his onto her back, trying to find the zip of the dress but was having no luck, to which he groaned into her mouth. He moved back and looked at her disheveled appearance, her hair was a mess from his hands tugging at them and she was trying to catch her breath.

“I’m giving you have a minute to get out of that dress, or you’re going to regret its purchase,” he said untying his tie and tossing it somewhere.

“B..bu..t,” she said through her heavy breaths.

“Twenty left…,” he added now unbuttoning his shirt, giving her a clear view of his chest, “Fifteen….”

Khushi tugged at the zipper that was on the side and pulled it down, making the dress fall to fall around her waist, and she was sitting there in front of him without anything on.

He stared at her as his eyes darkened in desire, “Fuck. Are you saying that you haven’t been wearing anything under that all evening?!” he said and she hopped off the slab, making the dress fall off and puddle on the ground, “Guess not,” she said her finger trailing along his waist.

6/50 - Haldi

"Arre Titaliya why us me you put these boxes and plates away yet?!" Buaji yelled from the kitchen.

"I'm taking them Buaji," Khushi replied trying to pick them all up at once put it wasn't working. After she'd pick up a few, some of them would drop.

"Here let me bel you Khushiji," she heard from behind as she saw NK come forward and pick up some of the boxes that had dropped. But before she could lead him to where they. Essex to be kept, another voice thundered behind, "NK, Akash is calling you, you need to go do the haldi," Arnav said.

"But Nannav these boxes," he said motioning to his hands, "tell him I'll be there after I help Khushiji."

"Here I got them," he said roughly taking the boxes away from him.

"B.. but..," NK stammered.

"Go Akash is calling you. I already did the haldi on him, now it's your turn," he said and NK turned around to leave the room. Arnav turned back towards her and raised his eyebrow after seeing her mouth agape. He then heard her mutter a "laad governor kahinke" under mouth after he picked up the leftover haldi she asked him to and followed her towards her room.

Khuhsi went towards the cupboard and placed the boxes in there, she turned around to take to boxes from Armav but he wasn't behind her. She saw him locking the door then turning towards her, "Ye aap kya kar rahe hain?" she asked.

"What does it look like? I locked the door," he replied slowly walking towards her.

"But why?" she asked seeing him place the haldi plate on the near table.

"Do you really want me to explain that?" he said now standing completely in front of her, his breath fanning over her face.

"B.. bu... t," she whispered as he leaned over her shoulder and placed the boxes that he was carrying behind her.

"But what?" he asked softly in her ear, and without warning Khushi felt him wrap one arm around her face and pull her toward him so that her body was flush against his. He trailed his fingers along her bare waist, making her whimper and close her eyes.

"Bu... t what w..ill p... pe... ople thi.. ink," Khushi said as he ran his nose along her jaw and then back up to her ear, his breath causing her skin to heat up and she clutched his shoulder.

"Let them think what they want to think, Biwi ho tum meri,” he replied teasing his hand along her bare waist.

“Pa...par…,” she said in heavy breaths and then suddenly felt a cool sensation on her cheek. Arnav watched her open her eyes as she gasped at him, and she looked at his hand to see that it was covered in haldi.

“What are you doing,” she said and moved to wipe the haldi off but he caught her wrist.

“Let me,” Arnav said inching forward and Khushi moved back not knowing what his intentions were and she didn’t want to know either. What if someone came looking for them, and they saw them like this. He did lock the door but still. She was broken out of her thoughts as she felt prickles on her cheek, a warm breath fanning her neck, and he he rubbed his stubbled cheek along hers in an attempt to take off the haldi.