Chapter 13
Arnav was smiling when he reached Shantivan late in the night. His life was a mess. His sister's home was on the verge of breaking and she didn't realize it, he could see the regret in Akash's eyes increasing day by day, and Nani just silently cried thinking about her broken family. But seeing Khushi made it all okay. He couldn't understand how he had managed alone all his life. His life had flashed before his eyes and he had felt so empty without Khushi in it. Even though these stolen moments with Khushi left him wanting more, he was content with where they stood. Khushi was truly his support system, someone with whom he could share things as well and unburden himself for once. He parked the car and was about to enter when he saw a sight of a certain someone that made his blood boil.
'Saale Sahab...' Shyam, who was returning from work quite late, was shocked to see Arnav. He had successfully dodged him after the wedding incident when he had learned that his cynical brother-in-law had declared his love and trust on HIS Khushi ji. On top of that, they were now living together and Arnav had even refused to bow down to his precious Di's demands. Before Shyam could even say a word more, Arnav grabbed his collar and punched him right on the nose. He felt a sadistic pleasure when Shyam groaned in pain and held his bleeding nose. 'Listen to me....' Shyam's plea was again interrupted by a stinging slap on his cheek.
'You cheated on your wife and conned an innocent woman, stalking and harassing her. And now you want to pin the blame on Khushi? How dare you?' Arnav bellowed.
'She came on to me.' It seemed like the more Shyam spoke, the more violent Arnav got. He was again awarded a punch that cut his upper lip. Shyam howled feeling the pain searing through his body and cursed his fate the umpteenth time. Arnav Singh Raizada was no fool like his family. The entire Raizada family had been so easy to convince that he had actually thought for a little while that maybe Arnav could be swayed too. But seeing the man's anger, Shyam was proven wrong.
'If I find that you harmed even a hair on Di's or Khushi's head, I'll make your life so miserable that you'd wish death.' Arnav warned pushing Shyam away at last. His tone was low, the dead serious look in his eyes told Shyam that the threat was very much real. With the last kick on his stomach, Arnav walked inside the house and ignored the gasp of surprise that escaped his sister's mouth when she saw her husband with bruises and crying out. He ignored Di's call to help and rushed to the confines of his room. He was not up for the ruckus Di was likely to create on seeing her so-called husband. He could kill Shyam if he stayed any longer. But no, he would wait for that private investigator's report and after proving him wrong in front of his family, make his life a living hell. He felt a satisfaction inside him when he turned to look at Shyam still moaning in pain. Served him right, he thought.
**********
'When I told you specifically that I forgave my husband, what gives you the right to hit him like that?' Anjali barged into Arnav's room demanding an explanation for the drama that he had created downstairs. First, he had hit her husband, ignored her call for help, and now had the audacity to sit relaxing on the bed acting like nothing out of the ordinary happened. She was so angry that she could break something right now.
'You might have forgiven him, I haven't.' Arnav shrugged. So much for asking for peace in his room, he thought.
'Then I want you to. Please do not make my life any more difficult, Chotte.' Anjali argued. She was taken aback seeing the laid back attitude of her little brother. She was aware of the underlying tension between all of them and had even subtly encouraged her husband to not be in the vicinity of Arnav for a few days before things calm down. This was what she was most afraid of. She wanted things to be normal but everyone around her was making it so darn difficult.
'I am making YOUR life difficult? You're choosing this. You can pretend that everything's normal but you know it's not. Open your eyes, Di.' Arnav spoke exasperatedly. He was so tired. Tired of fighting with his Di on everything. He wanted to go back to normal too but being delusional wasn't the way.
'I have my eyes opened. I can see what these late-night adventures are doing to you.' Anjali taunted. She wasn't exactly oblivious of why Arnav seemed so restless to leave the house these days and where did he come from smiling at late nights. She had thought that he would respect her wishes but that wasn't the case. She took a deep calming breath and added, 'That's why I asked you to choose. And it's clear what your decision is.'
'Don't. Please don't pretend that you gave me a choice. It's not a competition. I have a right to live my life too and if I'm not complaining about your decision to give a chance to your cheater husband..' Arnav hissed. Just because he loved his sister didn't mean that he would let her dictate his life. He sighed closing his eyes when he saw Anjali's eyes flashing with hurt. Keeping his budding anger in check, he looked at his Di and said with a finality in his tone, 'I won't ever leave Khushi. And I won't forget my duties as a brother as well. Think whatever you want to. That's my decision.'
**********
'Hey, Devi Maiyya! What happened to your hand?' Khushi exclaimed looking at Arnav's bruised knuckles. She was preparing breakfast when she had heard the doorbell and rushed to open it instinctively knowing who it was because of her rapid heartbeat. She smiled at him with her eyes twinkling but that soon turned into a frown when he gave her a fake smile and she looked down to see his hurt hand. She immediately pulled him inside and took him to the table.
Arnav looked at Khushi running to get the first aid box and shouted careful when she was about to bump her head onto the cabinet after closing it. She glared at him and he chuckled already feeling light. She carefully took his injured hand and started applying the ointment blowing on it. He hadn't even noticed the bruises.
'What happened?' Khushi softly asked again bandaging his hand. The sour mood Arnav was in, she was sure something big had happened.
'I saw Shyam.' It was all the explanation Khushi needed to understand what went on back at Shantivan. Although it did feel a little good because that man deserved it, she was more concerned about Arnav and the reactions that would've likely followed the 'incident'.
'This is nothing. You should see his face.' Arnav grinned. He revelled at the image of Shyam doubling over in pain. It gave him an unexplainable joy. He looked at Khushi narrowing her eyes at him, trying to hide her own smile. He raised an eyebrow at her and together they lost it, laughing after what seemed like ages. It wasn't even that funny but they laughed crazily like young teenagers forgetting everything.
Khushi tied the ends of the bandage and ran a thumb over his hand, understanding the rage Arnav must have felt. A memory, not so long ago, flashed before her eyes of Arnav beating that goon mercilessly just because he had dared to touch her. She had failed to understand then, but now it was as clear as the day. He was in love with her even back then but was scared of his own feelings. She didn't know what came over her when she leaned over and kissed his hand softly. When she looked back up, Arnav's stunned look made her blush profusely. She was about to withdraw when Arnav scooted closer and brought his face closer to her, making her breath hitch in anticipation. He skimmed his nose on her jaw and planted his lips on Khushi's cheek, lingering there for a moment. He pulled back to see Khushi's cheeks and nose turning red and she refused to meet his eyes. He gathered her into his arms, sighing happily.
He was a fool if he thought he could get some solace in a room, he thought shaking his head smiling looking down at the woman in his arms.
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