ArShi One Shots [compiled]

OS | Nine Years

originally written and shared for india-forums' Arnav & Khushi's 9th Wedding Anniversary Contest as entry #4 [ref link; https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/5251457]

*

Arnav yawned as he pushed away his chair from the desk to get up and leave. He was unsure how work kept piling itself up day after day despite him doing his best to wrap up everything during the generally accepted work hours. He got up, slammed the screen of his laptop shut, and stuffed the folders on his desk into his briefcase. After leaving a memo for Aman on his desk, along with sending a quick email, he slipped his phone into his pocket and hurried to get back home. It was nearing midnight and he was sure that Khushi wasn't going to be too happy with his late appearance to their bed.

He had made his way halfway down the spiral staircase from his office when he stopped in his tracks and rushed back up. He pulled open the drawer on the right side of the desk to pull out a flash drive, and a jewelry box. Slipping the box into his bag, he finally made his way out of the building.

The Delhi fall breeze caressed Khushi's face as she sat on the floor by the pool starting at the reflection of the waning moon. In few minutes it would be nine years since the fateful day of their wedding. The proper one with all the rasams and the phere. At times while recalling the day, she couldn't believe how lucky she had felt that day and throughout the past years. There were moments when she wanted to ask him about what would've happened if he didn't come but he had always said one thing, and one thing alone. To let the past remain what it was, their past. Her eyes went to the phone lying next to her to look at the time. 11:45pm.

"Laad Governor" she mumbled under her breath at her husband's absence. He had promised to be home early and here it was, almost pushing midnight. Just as she leaned against the pillar and closed her eyes, she felt the energy around her shift. She opened her eyes to see that him catching his breath whilst standing two steps away from her. He looked as if he had rushed up the stairs.

"Khushi!" He said, making her smile before looking away with a disgruntled look to show her displeasure.

He dropped his bag on the recliner alongside his coat, before walking out to sit next to her.

"Sorry!" He pulled her hands into his. "I ran a bit late." She refused to look at him.

"Khushi! I'm saying sorry!" He repeated. She blinked furiously to hide the corners of her mouth turning into a smile. He noticed the stiffness in her demeanor and sighed before dropping her hands. She frowned and turned to look at him.

"You're going to be angry with me today? Out of all the days?" he complained.

She glared at him, "Everyone is right when they say that husbands change after years of marriage. If it was our second or third anniversary, you would've been making jalebi for me after coming late. And now, you want a simple sorry to fix everything!" She lashed out.

"Khushi!" His tone was deeper and more stern.

"What Khushi?!" She mimicked his tone and pouted before looking away at the moon's reflection again. The breeze brushed past her face again as the trees around the house made a silent rustling noise. He took in a deep breath before inching closer to her.