Arranged Marriage (Completed)✔

Part 20

Neha's POV

After Arun and I finished eating our lunch, I took both our plates in the kitchen and washed my hands. I came back to the room to find that the windows to the balcony were fully opened. Arun was sitting on the balcony with the sleeves of his shirt rolled up. His jacket was lying on my bed. When he saw me, he just smiled and patted the space beside him on the floor. I switched off the lights of the room and went and sat beside him, carefully adjusting my lehenga.

"The view is beautiful from here," he said.

"Yes, it is," I agreed, my eyes taking in the lush greenery for the umpteenth time. The many trees and shrubs looked like a green carpet with a river flowing at one end.

"You know," I started, "When I first came here, I was first afraid about the remoteness of this area. Also, all these trees surrounding it made this place look more like a jungle or something to me," I smiled at the memory.

"But, after adjusting, turning the "house" to my "home", I was very happy. I started to appreciate nature here. It is rare in cities like these, to find such a vast expanse of trees. I just love this view of this blue sky with patches of white clouds. My mom says that these clouds look like balls of cotton," I said chuckling.

"That's a very apt description. They do look like white cotton balls, but floating in blue water," Arun said looking at the sky. "Nature is really a blessing if we take good care of her. I love the fact that the origin of colors is from all the natural things that surround us."

"True," I said smiling, "So, nature is what makes the world colorful, right?"

He nodded and said, "Yes"

"Hey, I forgot to say," he said suddenly.

I looked at him and asked, "What?"

"You are looking beautiful today," he replied smiling.

I didn't expect that! I just looked down and said thank you.

Suddenly I felt the band in my hair loosen. In reflex, my hand went to my hair only to find it freely spread on my back. I looked at Arun to see him holding my band. But, why did he open my hair?

"Now you are looking more beautiful," he said winking at me.

I just melted away with his compliment and started blushing. I was at a loss for words, so I just smiled.

We both sat there in the silence present around us, enjoying the rare cool breeze in the afternoon. But, what he said next caught me off guard!

"Do you believe in love?"