Part 19
Arnav found NK in the garden sitting on a bench. He was looking at Khushi's garden very intently, probably lost in his thoughts. Arnav took a seat right beside him.
"How are you doing?" NK suddenly asked, without moving his eyes from the flowers.
"I'm fine, especially now that Khushi is awake and alright" he answered.
"I know that" NK said finally looking at Arnav "How do you feel about knowing that you have only about 24 hours left?"
Arnav swallowed. He had been avoiding thinking about that but now that it had finally come up, it was unavoidable. For many decades, Arnav had accepted his fate and never tried to fight it but ever since he met Khushi...
Arnav closed his eyes "I'm going to die. It's inevitable. There's nothing I can do"
"You're not even going to ask Khushi to try break the curse?"
Arnav shook his head "We had only been married for a few months. We didn't even know each other that long before we married. I don't even know if she really does truly love me. I have a feeling she may be unsure herself too. After all, saying the words is one thing but having a magical ocean determine that is another"
NK gestured to Khushi's flowers "Love is something like flowers. It starts off as a seed. In our case, we can say any sort of attraction. When the seed is cared for and nurtured, it blooms into something beautiful for anyone to see" he sighed "When I saw the look in your eyes when we found Khushi, it reminded me of myself when I found Lavanya dying"
Arnav frowned "Lavanya dying?"
A sad smile graced NK's lips "A story for another time, perhaps. Just know that you're lucky to have had that love til your last breath"
*****************************************
Arnav found Khushi lying awake on the bed. Lavanya was nowhere in sight so he assumed she had left.
"You're not asleep?" he asked gently as he approached the bed.
Khushi shook her head "How can I possibly sleep knowing I could become a widow in just a matter of 24 hours"
"So Lavanya told you, huh?" Arnav pursed his lips "You will find love Khushi. You're so young and so beautiful" he traced his hand along the side of her face "It would be difficult for anyone to not be in love with you"
He was met with her glassy eyes "What if I only want you?" she whispered, her voice trembling "What if I don't want anyone else?"
Arnav immediately pulled her into his arms. The next second she burst into sobs. He rubbed her back and tried hushing her "It's going to be alright" he whispered.
"No" she cried "It's not. I will lose you forever and spend my life alone"
Arnav pulled her back and wiped her tears "You will be fine my love. It might hurt for a little while but you will be fine. You will find love"
"I love you Arnav" There. Khushi finally said it and never felt so relieved "Let me jump into the ocean Arnav. I can break the curse"
"No!" Arnav growled "Just hearing those words is enough for me. I will not let you endanger your life for me"
"Do you not trust my love for you Arnav?"
He shook his head "No Khushi. I know you love me but I have absolutely no idea how that ocean will judge you. It may be looking for something else" he cupped her face "I am destined to die tomorrow. That does not mean I will take my wife down with me. Better me than you. Promise me that you will not willingly jump into that ocean"
"But Arnav-" Khushi protested.
"Promise me!"
She closed her eyes "I promise" she whispered.
Arnav's hands went from her face to her neck as he pulled her in for a deep kiss. Khushi grabbed his shoulders to bring him in as close as possible. He slowly pulled her down on to the bed where he made passionate love to her for the rest of the night...
*****************************************
The next morning, Khushi awoke to Arnav sleeping beside her on the bed. The cat...
She looked at him in a whole new light now that she knew that the cat was her husband. To think that at one point she had wanted kittens from him!
Khushi looked at the clock to discover that it was 10 AM. Arnav's curse would supposedly end at 10 PM since that was exactly the time Arpita had laid her curse. Khushi wanted to give her a curse so bad. How dare she! It wasn't Arnav's fault he hadn't loved Sheetal!
She glanced at her husband in his feline form. Oh how she loved him. What would she do when he was gone. Where would she go? Her eyes trickled with tears when she realized just how much she depended on him. He was her everything.
And she was about to lose him...
A loud meow caught her attention. Arnav was awake. He was staring at her with those beautifully wise eyes of his. With a cry, she grabbed his feline body and hugged him tightly, trying not to sob too loudly.
Arnav let out a few meows, probably telling her to not cry but she didn't care. She had so little time with him. Even worse part was that more than half that time would be spent in that cat form.
The doorbell broke her out of her thoughts. She put Arnav back on there bed and quickly threw on her clothes which were scattered all over the floor. Brushing away her tears, she went downstairs and opened the door with Arnav on her heels.
It was NK.
He smiled at her "Hello. May I come in?"
Unsurely, she nodded. She still didn't really know him but Arnav did and that was enough for her. NK entered the house and was led to the living room where they both sat on different couches. Arnav hopped on to Khushi's couch.
NK gestured to the file in his hand "This is for you"
Khushi hesitantly took it "What is this?"
"This is Arnav's will, stating that everything including his money, shares, and properties including this castle will belong to you after his death"
Khushi froze "W-What" she breathed. She looked at her husband who only looked back at her silently.
"Arnav named everything of his to you. When he dies, you will inherit everything" NK explained.
A tear slipped from Khushi's eye "Why Arnav..." she whispered to the cat.
He, however, looked away.
She looked at NK "Wait...how do you even have these papers"
"I'm a lawyer" he replied.
"A lawyer?" Khushi repeated confused.
NK grinned "You didn't think that being a witch earned me my money and paid my bills in this day and age, did you?"
Khushi shook her head "I apologize"
"No worries" NK stood up "I believe that's everything I had to say"
"W-would you like s-some tea or coffee or-"
NK shook his head "I don't wish to take much of both your time together" he said gesturing to Arnav.
Khushi's bottom lip trembled but she nodded, holding it in until he left and she closed the door. The very second, she turned the lock, she burst into tears, falling to the ground against the door.
Arnav meowed at her, rubbing his padded paw against her cheek, careful his claw wouldn't hurt her. However, that did nothing to sooth her heart. She would be losing her husband in just some hours. All to something that shouldn't have existed in the first place. It wasn't fair! They didn't even get to see their first anniversary, or have a child, if vampires could even have those.
She sobbed knowing that she was about to lose the love of her life and she couldn't do anything about it...
*****************************************
Another visitor came by at 4:45. It was Lavanya.
"Hey sweetie" she hushed as she brought a crying Khushi into her embrace.
"It's not fair!" she cried.
"I know" Lavanya whispered.
She glanced at Arnav who was still in his feline form. The sun wouldn't go down until 5 yet which meant he would be stuck in that form for another fifteen minutes.
Lavanya led Khushi back to the living room and sat with her on the couch "There there" she hushed, patting Khushi's back "It's going to be okay"
"No it's n-not" Khushi sobbed.
"You wouldn't want Arnav to remember you crying as he closes his eyes, do you?"
Khushi hiccuped "N-no" she wiped her tears and then looked at Lavanya "T-the sun hasn't g-gone down y-yet. I thought you c-couldn't come out til then"
Lavanya shook her head "The older the vampire, the longer they can stay awake. If Arnav wasn't cursed, he'd probably be able to stay awake just as long as me, maybe even a little longer"
Just the talk of his curse brought on another fresh set of tears to Khushi's already puffy eyes.
Lavanya sighed "Let me bring you a glass of water, alright?"
Khushi nodded and closed her eyes while Lavanya left. She must have used her vampire speed because she was back the very next second but without the glass "Come with me Khushi" she said.
Khushi frowned "H-huh?"
"Come with me. I want to show you something that may cheer you up" she put out her hand.
Khushi gave Lavanya her hand and began following her. Arnav was following too but then Lavanya stopped him "You stay here. We'll be back very soon"
With a huff, he sat down on the floor. Lavanya led Khushi outside away from Arnav's peering eyes.
And that's when it happened. Lavanya's face morphed into Rohit's.
He chuckled "Way too easy"
Before Khushi could scream, he hit her on the back of the head and everything went black.
*****************************************
"Okay here we are..." Lavanya frowned when she didn't see Khushi and found Arnav's wide eyes staring at her "Where's Khushi?"
Arnav suddenly began meowing rather loudly and repetitively. She frowned "I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about"
He ran to the closed door and began scratching it "She went outside?" Lavanya questioned.
Nonetheless she opened the door and Arnav scampered out. He seemed to look around. And then his shift came and so did his human form. He must have forced it though because he looked as if he was in tremendous pain. Lavanya glanced at the clock. There was still 5 minutes.
"Khushi's gone" he growled "I know just who took her and where"
*****************************************
Lavanya followed Arnav at vampire speed, surprised when he stopped at the cliff of the Ocean of Truth.
"Why are we here?" she asked.
Arnav pointed ahead "That's why"
She followed his gaze and looked horrified as she found Rohit holding Khushi captive on the edge of the cliff.
"Get the hell away from her Rohit!" Arnav roared.
Rohit's crazed eyes looked at Arnav "I knew you'd find her" he chuckled "I also knew you wouldn't let her jump into the ocean but I would never give you the satisfaction of knowing that your love is alive and well right before you die. You will suffer the same pain I did!"
"Sheetal never loved you goddamn it!" Arnav argued.
Rohit shook his head "Oh yeah? Then lets test Khushi's love for you!" he grinned at her "Any last words?"
Khushi glared at Rohit briefly before giving Arnav a longing look
"My love is like an ocean
It goes down so deep
My love is like a rose
Whose beauty you want to keep
My love is like a river
That will never end
My love is like a dove
With a beautiful message to send
My love is like a song
That goes on and on forever
My love is like a prisoner
It's to you that I surrender"
Rohit rolled his eyes and without waiting another second, he pushed her off the cliff...
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