Hey guys! Sorry for the really late update! I'm going back to college and it just all hit me with a storm. Anyways now that I've settled things out, I will only be updating once, max twice on the weekends. Hope you enjoy the update!
P.S. I know it's been a while since I updated so there's a chance you guys may have forgotten some bits of the story so I strongly encourage you to skim through the past updates to recall.
P.P.S. I, of course, read all your replies and let me tell you I'm going to finally answer the question on everybody's lips : How did Arnav become a vampire?
Part 17
Khushi looked at Arnav, feeling sad for him "That must have been terrible"
Arnav nodded "I had to find love as soon as possible. I was scared but full of hope. I was a big believer in karma. I knew I was a good person so I would definitely find a way out"
Khushi nodded "But wait. What happened when you were released from jail?"
Arnav winced "I went back home. My mother continued behaving as if nothing had ever happened. My sister, on the other hand, despised me. She shunned me and spread rumours about me"
Khushi widened her eyes "That's terrible!"
Arnav nodded "But sadly my bad luck didn't end just there"
Flashback
"Arnav my son" Ipshita called out.
"Yes mother?" he responded.
Arnav arrived to the living room where she was sitting with a priest. He looked at the priest confused why he was at their house.
Ipshita showed him a photo of a girl sitting on a white bench "What do you think of her?"
Arnav knew what those words meant. They were the exact same words she had used to make him marry Sheetal.
"I am not marrying anyone mother" he said firmly.
Ipshita frowned "I will not let my only son stay single. I want grandchildren"
"I still am not over with what happened with Sheetal" Arnav said, a heavy burning in his chest "I am not ready for marriage"
Ipshita gave a look to the priest. He seemed to have understood because he got up "I will take your leave" he said and then left.
Once the servant had closed the doors behind the priest, Ipshita got up "Look Arnav" she said firmly "Things may have not worked out with Sheetal but it doesn't matter anymore. She's gone. Time to start a new chapter. I want grandchildren or at the very least a grandson so I know our family line won't die out"
"I was just released from prison a month ago. Marriage is the last thing on my mind" Arnav explained, exasperated.
"You will marry this girl if you have any respect for me" she decided "I can't even marry off Anjali without marrying you off first. You don't want to see her a spinster forever. I have already invited Malaika and her family to stay at our home for the next few weeks before you two marry"
"You're planning to get us married so soon?" Arnav shouted.
"You have already disgraced our family enough by killing Sheetal and her mother. You will not disgrace us further by refusing to marry a Malaika who is ready to marry you despite your previous actions"
That shut Arnav up. He had had some hope that his mother would have believed him but now he knew. She had never trusted him. The only reason she was keeping him around was because he was the only one to give an heir to the family.
And that's when he lost his faith in his mother.
Flashback Ends
"So you were married twice?" Khushi asked.
Arnav shook his head "The marriage never happened"
Flashback
Arnav had grown to like Malaika. She was a sweet and kind girl. She never once pointed out his previous marriage or his sentence in jail. Despite Anjali trying to fill her ears with rumours, Malaika remained faithful to his side.
Or at least that was what he thought.
The day before the wedding, Arnav found a note in his bedroom on his nightstand. He unfolded it and read :
Dear Arnav,
I'm sorry I am betraying you. In the weeks we have come to know each other, I have faith that you didn't truly kill your wife. Nonetheless I still can't marry you. I am in love with someone else. He was kidnapped by my father's men because he didn't want me to marry someone not as rich as us. What my father doesn't know is that I have been keeping in contact with one of his men and he agreed to let my lover go if I give him a large sum of money. As you know, it's incredibly difficult for a woman to find a job. I'm sorry to say that I stole some money from your safe in your study room. I know you had trusted me enough to tell me the code and I'm sorry that I broke your trust. I pray you find a woman who can see the wonderful man that you are and give you the love you deserve. I hope you find it in your heart to ever forgive me.
Goodbye,
Malaika
Flashback Ends
Khushi gasped and covered her mouth "She stole your money and disappeared!"
Arnav closed his eyes and nodded "Nobody ever saw her again"
"How did your mother take the news?"
Arnav opened his eyes and gave a sarcastic laugh "My mother...
Flashback
"She ran away!" Ipshita screeched.
Malaika's parents looked at the letter in horror "We...well..."
Malaika's mother suddenly pointed at Arnav "She ran away because of him!" she accused "After all who would want to marry a murderer!"
Ipshita pursed her lips and glared at her son "You can never do anything right, can you"
"She ran away with her lover!" Arnav defended himself.
Ipshita shook her head "You didn't want to marry her like you didn't want to marry Sheetal. I know what you have done with her"
Dread filled Arnav's heart "Y-you think I...I killed her" he whispered in realization.
"That can be the only explanation" Ipshita said shaking her head "Only this time you made sure to get rid of her body before anybody found out" she sighed "You only had one job" she murmured "Give this family an heir and then continue to do as you wish"
Arnav looked at her in horror "What!" he cried.
She pointed to the door "Get out and come back when you're 'ready' to marry"
Arnav's eyes filled with tears but he didn't argue with her. Quickly gathering his items, he left the house with the promise to never return.
That was the day he lost faith in all women.
Flashback Ends
"My wife cheated on me, her mother didn't hear my side of the story and cursed me, my sister refused to believe me, my mother only wanted an heir out of me, and my fiancee stole my money and ran away with her lover" Arnav shook his head "I gave up looking for a way out of the curse. Besides my life back then wasn't so great anymore. I was a murderer in everyone's eyes. I didn't have many years left to live so I didn't bother move to a different country"
"When you left the house, where did you go?" Khushi asked.
"Akash took me in. He considered me a brother and looked out for me. I thought I knew him well but the day I was supposed to die..." he trailed off
Flashback
"Arnav!" Akash shouted, running to his friend lying on the ground.
There was blood coming from Arnav's mouth, staining the expensive carpet of Akash's home. He had lost a lot of colour. He looked at Akash weakly.
"I'm dying" he pushed through "The curse is finally coming to take me away"
Akash shook his head "You're going to be fine buddy" his trembling voice betrayed him.
Arnav weakly shook his head "I'm finally going to be free. Free from this life of treacherous women and the life of a cat. Free from betrayals and accusations"
"Arnav you're practically my brother" Akash cried "I can't let you die"
Arnav gave him a worn out smile "I've considered you my brother too. Which is why...you must tell me your secret of h-how...you've maintained your y-youth" he joked.
A tear fell from Akash's eyes. Only thing was it was red which made Arnav wonder if hallucinations were part of the dying process.
"I can't let you die Arnav" he said firmly "You're going to live even if you hate me for what I'm about to do to you"
Arnav frowned. His eyes were heavy but his mind was full of confusion. That's when he saw Akash open his mouth and fangs extend out. He wanted to ask him what was going on but before he could, his last breath gave out.
***************************************
The next he woke, he knew he wasn't the same...
Flashback Ends
For PMs please buddy me at KhushiPM
Khushiforever's Index : https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/3870424
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