Part 22
Rohit looked up at the starry sky with sorrow. Sheetal used to enjoy looking at the stars.
Flashback
"What are you looking at?"
Sheetal took her eyes away from the sky and looked at him "I'm looking at the stars"
"Why?" Rohit asked.
She smiled "When I was young my mother used to tell me that if you saw a star twinkling at you, that means someone you know that has passed away is watching over you"
"You still believe that?"
She shrugged "I've always wondered what happened to my father. My mother tells me he passed away but I have a feeling she has lied"
Rohit winced. Arnav had told him the story of Sheetal's father abandoning them and running off with another woman. Looks like Arpita decided not to tell her daughter.
He wrapped his arms around Sheetal from the back, not noticing her cringe "Are you trying to look for a twinkling star?"
"I suppose" she shook her head and gave him a fake smile "My mother-in-law is coming back in another hour. How about we take advantage of that?" she said sliding her hands up his chest.
"You do plan to tell Arnav when he comes back from the war about us right?" Rohit confirmed "I feel awful about betraying him this way and I would hate it if he discovered about us by himself"
Sheetal looked away "Oh u-um we-well-"
Rohit took grasp of her face and narrowed his eyes at her "You do plan to tell him about us right? I can't stand the thought of him touching you or sleeping next to you. You're mine"
Sheetal pulled back and looked away "I...I...I think w-"
"Are you scared of him Sheetal?" he interrupted. He ran his hand through his hair "How could I be such a fool? Of course you can't tell him about us by yourself. I will come with you"
Sheetal widened her eyes and immediately shook her head "No!" she said vehemently "I can handle this" she assured him "Just let him come and settle down for at least a few weeks before I tell him. I can't just tell him right after he comes back from the war tomorrow"
"Bu-"
"Rohit please! Trust me" she pleaded.
Rohit sighed and nodded "Of course" he pecked her lips "Now how about I take you on that offer of yours?"
Sheetal shook her head "I feel a bit tired now Rohit. Not now. I feel it's best you leave. After all Arnav is coming back tomorrow. I need to help my mother-in-law prepare for his arrival"
He scowled but didn't argue. Without another word, he left.
Flashback Ends
And then Arnav killed her.
Rohit rolled his hands into fists. One moment he was holding her in his arms and the next he knew, she was no longer in this world.
If only he had gone with Sheetal to tell Arnav about them. He could have protected her when Arnav had gotten violent. She would have been alive and so would have their baby. In fact, he probably wouldn't have even turned into a vampire in the first place.
Flashback
Rohit paced in a room, angry. Why hadn't Arnav died yet. The curse should have taken him by now.
A old man with salt and pepper hair walked in "How may I be of service again?"
Rohit grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket "Why hasn't Arnav died yet? You told me the curse would have killed him but he's still alive!"
The man frowned "He's still alive? That's impossible...unless..."
"Unless what you witch?" Rohit growled.
"That man Arnav had been living with. He's a vampire. He could have turned Arnav into one just like him"
"What nonsense!" Rohit scoffed "There is no such thing"
The witch raised a brow "Just like witches and curses?"
Rohit pursed his lips "What does this mean then?"
"It means Arnav now has an extended life. The curse has been postponed"
"NO!" Rohit roared "I will have my vengeance! I can't die in peace knowing Arnav will surpass me and maybe even break the curse one day" he turned towards the witch "Make me into a vampire!"
The witch looked at him shocked "You cannot be serious! It is too dangerous to be turned without an actual va-"
Rohit reached into his back pocket and pulled out a large sum of gold coins "Does this solve our little problem?"
The witch couldn't remove his eyes from the coins as he nodded and quickly gathered them into his arms "You can consider yourself one of the night creatures as of now" he assured.
Rohit smirked "That is what I thought"
Flashback Ends
Rohit took a deep breath in. It had been excruciating painful. He had been so sure he would have died during the process but at last he succeeded.
Rohit looked up at the starry sky and found a star twinkling at him.
He gave a sad smile "I will avenge you my love and I know just how"
************************************
The very next night, Arnav and Khushi threw a small gathering over the success of breaking Arnav's curse. The only people they invited were NK and Lavanya.
Lavanya had been the first to arrive "Hey guys!" she grinned "I brought a cake"
Arnav frowned "You and I can't eat that"
She rolled her eyes "Duhh. It's for Khushi"
Khushi grinned "Thanks Lavanya! NK and I can share it"
Lavanya froze "Y-You guys invited N-NK?"
Arnav frowned "Yes. I hope that isn't a big problem"
Lavanya immediately shook her head "O-Of course not" she licked her lips "I need some wine"
Khushi nodded, slightly concerned for her friend "I'll pour you some in the kitchen"
Lavanya nodded and followed her. Soon after the women had disappeared into the kitchen, there was another knock on the door. Arnav opened it.
"Arnav my man" NK greeted "Here. This is for you" he gave the bottle in his hand to Arnav "Fresh just like you vampire folk like it"
Arnav raised an eyebrow "You brought me blood?"
NK shrugged "It's O negative if it makes you feel better"
Arnav chuckled. He was about to put the bottle away when he noticed a red mark on NK's white shirt. He frowned "What's that?"
NK looked at him confused "What do you mean?"
Arnav gestured to his shirt "That red mark. Is that...is that lipstick?"
NK immediately pulled his jacket up "I went to the hospital to get you that blood. Some probably dripped on me"
Arnav shook his head "That doesn't look like blood"
"Oh? So now you're the lawyer?" NK argued back "Where is Khushi anyways?"
************************************
"Are you sure you're okay Lavanya?" Khushi asked again.
"Yes I'm fine" she reassured. Lavanya took the wine bottle from Khushi and poured herself a glass "I'm just a bit tired. That's all"
Khushi sighed "Alright. If you say s-" she stopped when she saw a dark mark on her friend "What's that on your neck?"
Lavanya frowned "My neck?" she pulled out her phone and turned on her camera. That's when she noticed the mark as well. She swore. Immediately bringing her hair in front to block the view, she shook her head "It's nothing. Just a mosquito bite"
"Mosquito bite?" Khushi repeated confused "It's still winter"
"My house is infested"
Khushi shook her head, not believing her "That looks like a hick-"
"NK's here" Arnav announced, coming into the kitchen with the newcomer in tow.
Lavanya stiffened. Her grip on the stem of her wine glass became so strong Khushi was sure that the glass would snap any second.
"Oh Lavanya? Is that you?" NK asked coyly "My goodness. It's been a while since I last saw you"
Arnav and Khushi frowned and looked at each other in confusion. Hadn't they met just a couple of nights ago? What was going on?
There was another knock on the door. Arnav scowled. Who could it be coming this late at night to his home?
He gave Khushi a look which she understood. She would continue entertaining the guests while he would go see who was at the door.
Arnav marched to the door, a bit annoyed at the intrusion. When he opened the door, he found two men standing, covered in complete black. One had a folder with him.
"Arnav Singh Raizada?" the man without the folder asked.
Arnav frowned. He crossed his arms against his chest "Yes and you are?"
"We are from the SPAV. The Society of Protection Against Vampires" the one with the folder said. He brought forward his gold badge with the letters shining brightly.
Arnav immediately recognized them. Every vampire had to be registered with them within a year of turning. Akash had gone with him to get his name registered. Those who did not were executed at their discretion. The SPAV were also the ones who made specific rules that vampires had to follow. Akash had broken one of them and now Arnav had a sinking feeling that he had been caught too in the same act.
"We have heard that you are married to a human. Is this correct?"
Arnav swallowed. He knew lying would get him nowhere. The SPAV always double-checked their facts and only then did they come forward.
"Yes" he admitted.
"You do realize that this is a law you have broken" the one without the file spoke again.
Arnav nodded "I do but I can control myself. I would never hurt her. I love her" he tried to justify.
The duo looked at each other before they nodded "The court will decide that" the one with the folder finally spoke. He handed Arnav the folder "You have been served. Two of our members will come to escort you tomorrow night. Say your goodbyes. They could be your final words"
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