Chapter Twelve

Khushi and Arnav walked into Victoria's Secret. Arnav decided that he would wait by the entrance while she shopped around. Khushi felt bad but Arnav didn't mind, knowing she still felt uncomfortable about all this.

Khushi went through the store and found some body sprays and lotions that smelled good to her. She did some undergarment shopping, bought some stuff from the PINK section, and then did some extra shopping, which she named for-Arnav shopping.

Once she was done, she paid for it and joined Arnav and they left. On the train, Arnav got curious.

"So what you buy," he asked.

"A: improper grammar."

Arnav smirked.

"B: you'll see."

"Oh? Surprises now, huh?"

She smiled. "You'll just have to wait and see."

They got off at their stop and walked to their building. They got inside the loft and Arnav froze. Khushi looked at him in confusion and then looked at what he was looking at - it was her in-laws.

"My, my, my! I see we're holding hands already," Arnav's mother said. She was smiling end to end and went over to Khushi and gave her a big hug. "So much in just a short time!" She caressed Arnav's cheek. "Always be happy."

Arnav and Khushi smiled.

"Well I'm just glad the two are close now, eh," Arnav's father said, walking over to Arnav and nudging him.

"Dad," Arnav said, slightly embarrassed.

"Anyways, come visit me at the office tomorrow - we have important matters to talk about."

"Uh, sure."

"And a little gift from us to you," his mother said, giving him little gift, all wrapped up in red.

"Mom, you didn't have to."

"How could I not?!"

Khushi got confused and Arnav's mother shook her head.

"He didn't tell you did he," she asked looking at Arnav.

"Uh… I was?" Arnav tried but his mother shook her head.

"It's his birthday tomorrow."

Khushi looked at Arnav in shock, surprised Arnav hadn't told her a thing. And he said that he loved her. Wow.

"Don't worry sweetheart. Its a thing that runs in the family."

"Oh great! Here we go," Arnav's father exclaimed.

"Well its true!" She looked at Khushi. "When I got married to your Papa, I didn't know until my mother in-law told me!"

"Really," Khushi asked.

"Haan! This started way back to my great grandfather in-law. ever since then, it's become a tradition," she chuckled.

Khushi couldn't help but chuckle too and the Raizada men rolled their eyes.

"Sweety, don't give me that look," Arnav's mother said, "or you'll be sleeping alone tonight."

"What?! Why-"

"Don't ask why mister. You know why."

"Oh stop it you two," Arnav said. "Sometimes you guys can be impossible!"

"They're just being couple," Khushi defended.

"Exactly," his mother said. "Oh, my bahu is just so understanding. Unlike you two men."

The men were taken aback.

"Mom-"

"Arnav, it's rude to talk back to your mom," Khushi said.

"But-"

"Dont talk back to her otherwise you'll be sleeping on the sofa."

Arnav stood quiet and confused. What the? What just happened, he thought.

"Oh, he has his "what the" face on," his mother said.

"Mom," Arnav said, embarrassed.

"Chote, I'm your mother. You've had that face since you were a baby. I tell you Khushi! When he was a baby-"

"OKAY mom, I think that's enough," he warned, embarrassed.

"Aww, he's getting embarrassed. Fine," she leaned towards Khushi and whispered "I'll tell you some other time."

Khushi giggled, as well as did her mother in-law and her father in-law shook his head. Arnav was going red from embarrassment and wanted to hide under a rock.

"We'll leave now then," his father said, and the two left.

Khushi couldn't help but giggle after the two left and Arnav was embarrassed. He tried to walk away but Khushi stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going," she asked.

"Upstairs to change."

"How come you didn't tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"About your birthday."

"Cause I don't really care. It's not a big deal-"

"Yeah it is. It's the day you came into this world!"

"So?"

Khushi just shook her head.

"Look, honestly, I don't care. Every year the day comes, I get you few phone calls, texts, presents, and thats it. Nothing special right?"

"But-"

"So why bother?" And with that, he went upstairs to change.

Khushi stood there and wondered. If I were to give him a really good present… could that change his opinion?

She looked down at the bags in her hand.

Maybe… just maybe it might.