Chapter 7

Chapter 7 : A little concern, a little love

After crying to her heart's content, Khushi dragged herself to the washroom. Supporting herself against the basin, she looked in the mirror.

Her eyes were red and puffy and it looked as though life had been drained out of her.

Standing there looking at her reflection, she recalled everything which had followed ever since Arnav had told her the reason of marrying her. She had continuously tried to make him see the truth and believe her, but all in vain.

She also recalled everything which transpired an hour back in the room. He had told her that he loved her. She told him that she loved him. But, even that could not change anything. She had done everything possible. She had said everything possible. Nothing could get through his self-made deductions.

So, she was done explaining herself. She was done telling him anything. In fact, she was done talking to him. If he wants to live in his self-made world where only his voice could reach him, she was going to let him. She had no place in his world.

So she would live her life for the people who did love her and trust her.

For her jeeji.

Khushi reminded herself that she married this man for her sister. And she would live here for her sister. Once this contract marriage was over, she will leave his world.

With that decision in her mind, Khushi splashed water on her face and left for downstairs.

She walked inside the kitchen where Payal was working with HP.

She joined and worked along, trying to immerse herself in various chores. She talked and laughed with her sister, the thought of Arnav pushed deep back in her mind.

~~***~~

It was late night when Arnav returned back. Payal served him the dinner. He was about to start when Payal told him

"Arnavji, I think Khushi is not well. Today she didn't take her food. Although she was trying to behave normal, I could see that something was bothering her. Is everything okay? I mean between you and.." Payal trailed off.

Hearing that, Arnav got up from the chair, leaving his food.

"Everything is good, Payal. I'll feed Khushi and talk to her. Is Akash back from the Manali conference?" He asked.

"Ji haan. He has returned a few hours ago" Payal answered.

"Okay. Tell him that no one should inform Di about Shyam being in jail. I am handling this matter. And, I will go talk to Khushi" He instructed and seeing Payal nod, he left for the kitchen.

There he prepared a plate for Khushi and took it to their room.

~~***~~

Arnav stepped in the room and it was completely dark, which left him wondering as he knew well that Khushi was afraid of darkness.

What he didn't know was that lately all her fears had been overridden by his mistrust in her. Khushi was still awake but she was pretending to sleep. She had no inclination to talk to him. Hearing his steps in the room, she closed her eyes tightly.

"Stop acting like a child, Khushi.I know you are not sleeping. Get up and eat your food" He said, placing the plate on the recliner.

She didn't budge and ignored his words. She was angry and fed up of him.

"Stop irritating me, Khushi and get up. I have more important things to do than forcing you to eat" He continued but earned no response from her. His temper had started to build up.

"If you don't get up this instant, I'll make sure you regret it, Khushi. Don't drive me to that limit because it's you who would suffer" He said in gritted words.

"Suffer? Is that what I heard?" She said in angered voice, getting up from the bed and coming to stand before him.

"How much more you think you can make me suffer? After everything that you have done and said to me, I don't think there are more possibilities left for me to suffer, Arnavji" She said,looking at him with shooting eyes. She had had it enough from him.

Arnav tried to not recall each hurtful word he had ever said to her but the memories were too many. He knew she was right. And that made him furious.

"Don't digress from the topic, Khushi. Eat this and then you can do whatever the hell you want to" He said, taking the plate from the recliner and handing it to her.

She placed the plate back onto the recliner and looked at him with defiance.

She could see he was getting angry. And somewhat concerned. What for? Why does he care if she doesn't eat?

"You don't have to care if I eat or die with starvation. You really don't have to care, Arnavji. All you should care about is your Di, yourself, your beliefs and your pain" She said, walking away from him.

Arnav felt her words prick him. So, now she was trying to play victim?

"Just eat the food, Khushi. That's all I care about as of now" He said, moving towards her.

"I am not eating this or anything at all" She replied and kept moving back until she was against the wall. Arnav kept walking until he reached her.

"We'll see that" He said, stepping all too close, looking at her intensely.

Khushi looked right back at him. For minutes, both of them stood there undisturbed by any thought, staring at each other.

After a few minutes, Arnav saw Khushi's eyes fluttering. He noticed the signs of fatigue on her face, her body turning limp. Apparently, she felt weaker than she was letting on.

Arnav moved to her as her body swayed and held her in his arms.

"Khushi...?" He said, not looking anxious. When she didn't respond, he carried her to the bed.

Cursing himself for making her life so stressful, he reached for the water from the glass and sprinkled some of it on her face.

The cold drops helped Khushi open her eyes and look at him.

"Didn't you eat your lunch too? You are so weak, Khushi. Please eat this" He said softly this time.

Khushi marveled at his mood shifts. One second he hates her and another second he becomes so caring and tender.

Khushi didn't struggle when Arnav helped her sit by arranging pillows against the headboard of the bed.

She watched as he lifted the plate again and taking a spoonful of the thick soup, fed her. She reluctantly opened her mouth.

She watched him watching her with a calm face. She wished all their moments could be this peaceful and caring.

After a few spoons, she took the plate in her hands and Arnav let her. She started eating by herself and Arnav got up.

Khushi didn't let him. She caught his hand and Arnav looked at her.

She watched his face shift emotions before he decided to sit.

She didn't know if he had eaten or not, but something told her maybe he hadn't. So, she took a spoonful and brought it to his mouth.

Her heart warmed when he opened his mouth without any objection or wait.

She fed him a few more spoons and then together both of them finished the food, looking at each other.

Arnav felt a sense of calm as Khushi placed the plate away. He wished all their moments could be so peaceful and caring.

He rearranged the pillows and made Khushi comfortably lie in.

After that he went to the bathroom and changed into his night sweatshirt. Khushi watched as he headed for the recliner. Ever since he had come back from Scotland, that's where he had been sleeping.

Maybe feeling emboldened by their shared moment, Khushi thought for a second and said, "You can sleep on the bed, Arnavji. It's big enough for both of us".

Hearing her, Arnav looked at her face. Khushi could see thoughts churning in his head. She was almost sure that he was going to refuse and the happy moment will end.

But, then he walked back to the bed and lay down on his side of it.

As Arnav got comfortable, he inhaled deeply. Khushi's smell filled his senses. She had been using the bed since the last few days.

He tried to focus on something else other than the woman lying beside him. His mind wandered to the men he had recently hired to find more details about Shyam. The men had said that it would take a few more days to come up with detailed update on Shyam's whereabouts of last one year. He had learned through his hired men that Shyam had been to Lucknow around the same time he was in Lucknow. Arnav didn't know what to make of that information. Did Shyam know Khushi from Lucknow? Was he and Khushi seeing each other much before he met Khushi? Arnav had decided that this time he would confront Khushi with solid proofs. So, that she cannot lie to him anymore.

Thinking about all the information his men were unearthing for him, Arnav looked at Khushi. She was asleep. She looked so innocent. Her words from today were still stuck in his mind. She had outright said that she loved him. So had he. Arnav had wanted to believe her. But, he needed more time. More time to put all the pieces together. And he felt the fear then. What if, even by a slight chance, what if Khushi came out to be innocent? What if she really had no relation with Shyam? He couldn't even think in that direction. He didn't want to.

There was no way that he was wrong. He had seen it all, heard it all. Not once, but twice now.

He just needed to gather his evidence. Because he would need all that to prove to his Di about what Shyam has been up to. He knew it would be hard to convince his Di that Shyam was a cheating son of a bit*h. He still found it hard to believe that Khushi had done this to him. Arnav couldn't help but think what his life would be after clearing all this before his Di. He would have proven Shyam wrong before his Di. He would have proven Khushi wrong.

And then after some time, this contract marriage would expire too. What would he do then? How would he make sure he keeps her in his life? What if she decides to openly live with Shyam after both of them are exposed before their family? What if she marries Shyam?

Arnav couldn't think beyond that. These thoughts were enough to make him terrified of what was coming.

Despite all the pain and the hate, he didn't want to lose her.

Looking one more time at her sleeping form, he moved his hand and held her palm in his. As his fingers connected with hers, he felt his mind easing.

He will deal with the tomorrow tomorrow.

For now, he wanted to cherish this stolen moment of peace. So, holding her hand in his, he allowed himself to drift into slumber.

________________________________________

Hello buddies, sorry for late posting.

To compensate my late posting, I posted two chapters. Hopefully youe njoyed reading.

Things are going to get better with coming chapters. Arnav would very soon realise the real truth and then we would get to see new twists in the story.

Also, as I had informed you guys earlier, my 2nd theory paper is on 3rd and then on 4th is my last theory paper.

So, no update would be possible till 4th. I would update Keep Loving Me, and this story on 5th. Or if I can manage, I would try to post the next chapter of this one on 2nd.

Thank You to all the lovely people who wished me good luck for my exam. Thank you very very much. I would try to do my best and share the news here. Just two more papers to go, and then I'd be wildly free with my winter vacations.

P.S.Please DO NOT send me buddy request until you have commented on any of my stories.

-Kiran

Pearl_Oyster2019-03-12 14:13:50