Chapter 12

3 years ago

chaoticmind2021

@chaoticmind2021

Khushi was standing on the balcony staring at the stars just like every night. Although the penthouse was beautiful, this was her favourite part of the house. She could openly talk to her Amma Babu ji and tell them what was in her heart. It comforted her. Today, it had felt cathartic to let out her feelings in front of her family. The accusation in her Jiji's eyes, the hurt in her Amma's voice and the horrible words Bua ji had spoken; it had broken her once again. But something had snapped inside her. For the first time, she had confronted them and it did feel good. The way Arnav ji and Preeto had stood by her, she was overjoyed to have someone to lean back on. Her thoughts were broken by a clearing of a throat behind her and she smiled to herself. 

'This is becoming our daily routine.' Khushi commented, biting her lip when Arnav came to stand beside her leaning on the railing with his arm grazing hers. From the past few days, they had started meeting here alone. They would gaze at the stars, talk about their days, and just bask in each other's presence. There was something magical about these stolen moments. 

'Are you complaining?' Arnav asked instead. After dropping Khushi and Preeto home and making sure she was okay, he had gone to the office to attend to the work that was piling on because of his absence. He had gone to Shantivan and even though planned to have dinner with Khushi, his Di had insisted that he eat with her. He had sent Khushi an apology text and asked her not to wait as he'll be late. But he felt thrilled to know that she waited. He looked at her standing with open hair in a simple white shalwar kameez and a serene smile on her face and his heart did a flip. She's so beautiful, his thought. 

'You okay?' Arnav asked for the umpteenth time. He had thought that nothing would surprise him after that fiasco but Khushi's family took the cake. They hadn't for once even asked how Khushi was doing and had instead put the entire blame on her for sabotaging Payal's wedding. Preeto was right, they didn't deserve Khushi. 

'Yes. Why does everyone keep asking me that?' Khushi asked with a hint of irritation. Everyone around her seemed to be fixated on the 'making-sure-Khushi's-okay' mission and she wasn't used to be treated like a glass doll. Yes, she had fallen weak when everyone was against her but she was stronger than that. She did love the care and concern these people showed her but she truly felt fine now. She saw Arnav raise an eyebrow at her with a smirk and shrugged. 

'That night when everyone was blaming me, I was numb. I was just so shocked at how things turned out that I lost my ability to react.' Khushi explained, staring ahead at nothing in particular. Sharing things like these with anyone was hard but she wanted to tell this to her Arnav ji. He had seen her at her lowest point and had been there for her through it all. 

'It's understandable.' Arnav grunted. He knew that Khushi felt a little stifled with all the hovering but she didn't know what he went through when he saw her battling with those nightmares. She had a habit of hiding her innermost feelings, not wanting to burden others. But how could he tell her that her pain tore him apart. For once, he felt helpless.  

'Yes but I'm fine now. You don't have to worry about me all the time. I've always stood up for myself and will continue to do so. Especially when I know I'm right.' Khushi declared with a proud smile on her face. 

'I thought that side of yours was specially reserved for me.' Arnav joked, instantly changing the mood. He loved this side of Khushi, the ability to bounce back from anything that life threw at her. Unlike everyone he knew, Khushi took everything in her stride and fought her battles with a smile. And he was in awe of that. 

'You just get on my nerves a lot more than others. And I'm not scared of you.' Khushi retorted and the next minute squealed feeling Arnav come up behind her and caging her in his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder. This was a new kind of scared, a giddy type of scared. She closed her eyes feeling the all familiar dhak-dhak. This close proximity created havoc in her mind, making her skin erupt into goosebumps all at once.

'You were saying.' Arnav teased. He knew the reactions Khushi had to his nearness, his own heart thudding in the same rhythm. He closed his eyes feeling the tendrils of her hair caressing his face with the wind and breathed in the jasmine scent that was so Khushi. He felt his heart miss a beat and then run a marathon when Khushi's hesitant hand covered his own resting on the railing. A mere touch from her had the ability to burn him. 

'Now tell me what's bothering you?' Khushi asked. She could see how conflicted he was. The last few days had been hard on all of them but she wasn't ignorant of the way his eyes always held this inner turmoil that he refused to share. He averted his eyes every time she looked at him, masking his emotions. He had grown a little more restless after his interaction with Anjali ji. She wasn't insensitive. He was going against his entire family, his Di. He had discovered that the man he trusted his sister with was a two-timing fraud. Despite that, he was here every night to ensure that she felt safe. She fell in love with him a little more each day. 

'Was that a trick to get me to share my feelings?' Arnav questioned. He knew that Khushi was worried about him. He refused to meet her eyes sometimes fearing she could see right through him. But he didn't want to burden her with anything else. Besides, he had never shared his feelings with anyone ever. 

'You better tell me, Mr. Raizada or I can just ask Preeto to do that. And we both know how that will go.' Khushi warned to which Arnav visibly shuddered. Preeto had no filter. She openly gushed at Arnav and although he was used to these fangirl moments, it felt a little awkward in front of everyone, especially Khushi. He had to physically restrain himself from blushing amidst everyone's amused glances. NK glared at him often and that made him feel a little better. Arnav was delighted that he could revenge NK for all the times that man had made him jealous with his closeness to Khushi. The tables were turned. Khushi pressed his hand gently and added, 'Tell me, please.' 

'Di knows everything. She wants to give her marriage a chance.' Arnav answered. He could feel Khushi's surprise. He himself was still coming to terms with the bomb his Di had thrown at him. For him, there was a difference between being in love and being stupid. He had chosen to believe Khushi without any proof too but he knew her character and the respect she had for marriage. His Di was willing to give a chance to a person who had already broken her belief. What was the guarantee that he wouldn't do it again? 

'There's something else.' Khushi stated. Although Anjali ji's decision had shocked Khushi, it wasn't entirely unpredictable. She knew that it would've led to an argument between the siblings but Arnav ji's tensed body told her it wasn't just that he was worried about. Arnav ji, I can see how much it's hurting you. You're not alone. Whatever it is, even if it hurts me, please talk to me.' Khushi asked again. 

'Di asked me to choose between you and her. I didn't tell you this because I know you. You'll blame yourself for coming between us and just be the self-sacrificing person that you are.' Arnav babbled. He didn't want to tell Khushi. Period. He knew she could take some drastic steps, given her nature. But he was tired. Tired of fighting alone so when Khushi had assured that he wasn't, he wanted to share it with her hoping that she would just listen and not do anything foolish. 

'What have you decided?' Khushi was calm. She had felt panic overtake her when Arnav told her Anjali's demand but when Arnav started explaining his reasoning behind not telling her, she had felt embarrassed. Because he was right. She instantly would've thought about the ways to distance herself from him. But she had felt something else in his voice too; fear. It wasn't about her anymore. The decision was his to make and she would accept it wholeheartedly, even if it killed her. 

Arnav turned Khushi around holding her shoulders. Her eyes were brimming with tears and uncertainty. He knew that these tears weren't for herself, it was from witnessing the turmoil that he was in. She didn't want to meet his eyes because she held herself responsible. He held her chin and lifted her downcasted eyes to urge her to look into his own. He looked at her with all the love shining in his eyes and said, 'Jab tak tumse mila nahin tha, tab aise lagta tha ke sab kuch adhoora sa hai, jaise koi kami hai.'

This, right here, was the most peaceful moment in his life; Khushi in his arms. His heart warmed at the peace he felt in that moment with her. He kept his forehead on hers before whispering, 'Staying away from you is not even an option, Khushi.'