Chapter 11

Arnav padded along the edge of the forest he knew too well. It brought him peace and often he found himself relaxed in the soothing sounds of the river running nearby.

Arnav rested himself on his paws and closed his eyes. He still remembered everything as if it all happened yesterday. Why was he being punished for something he hadn't been responsible for. If anything, he had stood up for himself. 

But of course, Arpita had seen nothing beyond her daughter. For her, Sheetal had been everything. 

Arpita had only her daughter to call family. Her husband had left her for another woman. Back then it wasn't that big of a deal for a husband to cheat on his wife even though Arnav, himself, had disagreed with the practice. He was glad times had changed regarding that. 

However, in the past, a husband having an affair had always been thought to be the wife's fault. It was always considered the wife's responsibility to keep her husband's interest in her and not enough in other women for him to leave her. So when Arpita's husband abandoned her and Sheetal, the duo had been frowned upon. 

It was only because his mother, Nandini, had been good friends with Arpita that they were brought to a decent level in society. However, nonetheless, despite Sheetal's beauty, she hadn't received that many suitors. The ones that did come, she didn't like. 

It was then that Nandini had proposed marriage between the duo. 

Arnav scoffed. What a mother she was indeed that she couldn't even bother ask her son if he wanted to marry her in the first place. 

He got up and shook his little body off in an effort to release stress. Arnav had been trying to fight this curse for years but eventually he just gave up. Arpita had set him up for his doom. She just wanted him to suffer before his death. Make his life a misery.

Arnav couldn't help but look down at his furry paws. What could he have provided Khushi anyways? A cat at day and husband at night? She doesn't even know he's a vampire yet. That morning when she had asked him in his cat form whether there was a chance she could be pregnant was heartbreaking. It just reminded him he would never be able to hold his own child and have that picture perfect family.

He was beginning to wonder how Khushi would even take the news. There were only a couple more weeks left before the curse finally finished its job. How would he leave her behind? Especially from that sexually perverted uncle of hers. 

He closed his eyes. He had grown close to Khushi and cared for her deeply. Lavanya kept trying to give him hope that perhaps she would break his curse but he doubted it. In fact he didn't even want Khushi to say the words in fear that she might pay for her life if she wasn't sincere.

I'm done, Arnav thought to himself as he finally began walking out of the forest. Arpita wins. He had to find a way to separate Khushi from himself and keep her safe before he leaves.

****************************************

It was 6 o'clock sharp when Arnav arrived. He had a solemn look on his face as if he had come to terms with something but at that moment Khushi didn't care. She just wanted answers.

She stood up from the sofa and stormed towards him. Before he could even say a word, she raised her hand and slapped him.

Complete silence fell. 

Arnav looked at her, shocked, clearly confused but not angry.

Khushi threw the photos at his feet "Explain this" she said in a too calm voice.

Arnav slowly bent down and grabbed a photo. He examined it carefully, his eyes filling with disbelief. He picked them all up one by one. Then finally he got up and looked at her but didn't say anything.

Khushi gritted her teeth "Who is she?" 

He still kept quiet and only looked at her blankly. That only began wearing out Khushi's patience.

She threw the certificate and wedding card at him "She's your wife, isn't she?"

"Yes" he finally spoke. 

It was only one word but gave Khushi a heartbreak so bad she didn't think she could recover.

"Why didn't you tell me about her?" she demanded.

Suddenly Arnav's whole demeanour changed. His jaw was clenched and he didn't look too happy. Khushi had a bad feeling about this but she'd be damned before she backed down.

Arnav glanced at the photos and then her "I didn't find it necessary to tell you"

Khushi froze and then screamed "Didn't find it necessary? What am I to you then?"

"You're just someone I go to to get away from her" he hissed "You couldn't have possibly thought I'd be a one-woman man. Where else do you think I disappear off to during daylight"

Khushi slapped him. Again "You b*stard! How could you? I trusted you! I even almost..." she closed her eyes tightly, a tear managing to escape. She opened them "So I was, what? A mistress to you? How did you even get our marriage certificate approved?"

He shrugged "Look at this castle you're standing in. It's worth millions and so am I. You'd be amazed at what money can do"

Khushi grabbed Arnav's collar and pulled him towards her "So you never meant anything? It was all just a ploy to get me in bed with you?" she pushed him away before he could say anything "You're just like Shyam" she seethed.

"If you think he can treat you better then I suggest you go to him. I'm done with you anyways" he growled before storming out and slamming the door so hard she was surprised it hadn't broke.

I won't cry, I won't cry, she chanted. Yet one tear betrayed her before they all did...

She crumbled to her knees and sobbed. How could she have been so wrong about him? How could she have been so naive? Of course she had questioned him many times about his work but had never pushed far. 

Maybe it was her fault. She should have known a man that Arnav had portrayed himself as couldn't possibly exist. Someone who genuinely cared about her and her needs. Someone who would listen to her endless chatter and still want to hear more. Someone who wanted to help her explore the world she was held back from...

In the midst of her breakdown on the tiled floor, she didn't hear the door open and someone's footsteps coming closer and closer. Only when the person stood right in front of her did she notice their shoes. Her heart beating in fright, she didn't dare look up. 

The person tsked. He bent down to her level and used his index finger to lift her chin. She slowly lifted her lashes. Rohit? Was it bad that she had hoped it was Arnav?

"W-What are y-you doing h-here?" she stuttered, quickly wiping her tears away.

Rohit chuckled "Forget that. You're coming with me darling"

"W-What?" she frowned "No I am not"

His light brown eyes turned dark before turning red "Yes you are" he growled.

Khushi blinked, feeling confused all of a sudden "Huh?"

He grinned maliciously "You're coming with me sweetheart. Now sleep"

And then everything went black.

****************************************

After the fight with Khushi, Arnav decided to visit Lavanya. The night before, she had wanted to talk to him about something but after what happened with Rohit he just hadn't been in the mood.

He knocked on her door.

"You know you can just zap yourself in right?" he heard her voice from inside.

Arnav rolled his eyes "It's called etiquette. You should try it sometime"

Lavanya opened the door and frowned at him "What are you doing here?"

He raised an eyebrow "You're not even going to invite me inside?"

This time Lavanya rolled her eyes and gave him way "I seriously wonder how Khushi puts up with you"

Arnav froze midway to the living room "I..we..we're over"

Lavanya scowled "What the hell do you mean you're over? This isn't some boyfriend-girlfriend situation where you guys just break up and never see each other again. You're married"

"Khushi found out about Sheetal"

Lavanya widened her eyes "What? How?"

"Someone sent her pictures of our wedding day, the wedding card, and marriage certificate"

"I bet you it's Rohit" she gritted her teeth "He must have figured out that breaking you guys apart would be the only way to stop you from breaking the curse"

Arnav looked away in frustration "I'm done trying to fight it. Besides, there's not much time left anyways"

"But I'm sure if we tell Khushi everything, it'll be fine" she insisted.

He shook his head "I'm not going to force her to say the words. I'm not risking her life for me"

Lavanya put her hand on his shoulder "Be honest. Do you think you might have fallen in love with her?"

"I-I don't know" he moved away from her "Ever since I saw what love did to Akash, I just..."

"Got scared?"

"I don't want a weakness" he said "When Payal died, Akash became a shell of his former self. I could barely recognize him. He just got worse with each day until finally he gave up"

"What happened with Akash won't necessarily happen with you and Khushi" Lavanya defended "If you keep this fear going, you'll never get anywhere"

He chuckled "What kind of life do I even have? A cat during the day and a bloodsucker at night. Can't get any worse"

Lavanya forced him to look at her "I don't care what you say. We are going back to the castle. You are going to apologize to Khushi for whatever you said and come clean with her. Let her decide her feelings and we'll move from there"

"Lavanya-" Arnav started.

"I will tell her myself if you don't and you know how much I can exaggerate"

Well that much was true. She could make an ant walking by sound like an elephant trampling over a village.

Lavanya grabbed his hand "Now lets go"

****************************************

When they arrived at the castle, Khushi was nowhere to be seen. Her stuff was still there but she was missing. 

Lavanya frowned "Do you think she might have left?"

Arnav glanced at the cats. The black one was napping while the white one looked a bit frazzled. She kept running around.

"I don't think so. She would have at least tried to take one of the cats with her"

And then Princess began rubbing herself against her. He groaned. Wretch cat was still after him.

Lavanya laughed despite the situation "Such a ladies magnet you are"

"Just shut it" he hissed at her.

Arnav tried to shake the cat off him but she refused. It came to the point he literally had to grab her and pull her off. He brought the cat to eye level with a frown on his face. Thats when he noticed a piece of paper hanging off her collar. He took it out and let the cat down. She scurried away having accomplished her mission. 

Unfolding it, he read the familiar writing

Try finding her if you can

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khushiforever2019-07-20 19:01:10