One Thing Right

Background: Arnav brings Anjali home after her suicide attempt. What if Arnav hadn't called Khushi the biggest mistake of his life?

Arnav Singh Raizada felt anger course through him. He turned his bloodshot eyes towards his sister's room to see her lying lifelessly on the bed. He wished to burn down this entire world. What use was his wealth and fame that he couldn't make his sister's life better? He shuddered when his mind went back to the scene that he had witnessed today. The woman who had always wanted to be a mother now was ready to kill her own child. The helplessness and the raw anguish that he had felt today, he couldn't even begin to describe. He could hear his mother's scream and a gunshot sound amidst the shehnai from the wedding and he started hyperventilating thinking what could have happened if he didn't reach the hospital on time today. He couldn't save his mother but he would have died if he couldn't save his Di. 

Nani reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, somewhere understanding the dilemma he was in. He stiffened and turned around with a poker face, not letting anyone see the turmoil that he was facing within himself. 

'What happened?' The question was asked in a low tone but the venom in his voice was not to be mistaken. He wouldn't spare the person responsible for this. Who would put such disgusting thoughts in a vulnerable and pregnant woman's mind? If Shyam had contacted and said anything, then he would kill that b*stard with his bare hands.

'Woh Phatti sari...' Mami's words were interrupted by Nani's glare but Arnav had heard what he wanted to. Nani squeezed his shoulder once again and retired to Anjali's room to sleep with her. Mami also left muttering under her breath something about speaking the truth and how that girl is the reason behind all this. 

No longer had Mami's words registered, he felt the familiar anger consume him. He took hurried steps towards Khushi who was leaving the kitchen and grabbed her hand in his forcefully dragging her along to their room. He didn't pay any heed to her confused questions and opened the poolside door to confront her. She stumbled and hissed feeling the pain of his grip.

He looked into her eyes and she immediately took a step back cowering away from him in fright. She clutched her kameez in the fist of her other hand that was free and her teary eyes lowered down towards the floor. Silent. Alone. Shivering. Vulnerable. Arnav let go of her hand as if seared. Khushi's surprised look made him loathe himself even more. What was he even thinking? Hadn't they come a long way from this? Why did he have to behave like an animal with her? The most painful part was when he saw Khushi throwing her head down trying to hide her tears as if she expected this. Was he so blind to her sufferings that he couldn't even behave like a human with her, let alone a husband?

A flashback of every time that they had fought or argued came back to him. She was always a fighter. She stood up for herself, for what she thought was right. He had broken her. This wasn't the girl that he knew. This was a shell of a woman that was battered because everyone had blamed her for their wrongdoings. She had made herself scarce just so everyone else could be at peace. But no one was to be blamed but him. He had ruined her. The woman he loves. 

He felt the moisture on his cheeks and realized that he was silently crying. Not for his mistakes, but the time that could not be reversed. The Arnav Singh Raizada that prided himself on writing his own destiny had failed. He had sealed her destiny as well, caged her. He had snatched her freedom and the right of choice. He was worse than his father and Shyam. At least, they had spoken sweet words to their wives, even if they were all lies. What had he done? Hurt her again and again. And in return, she had risked her life for him. She had given up everything for him. 

He took a step towards Khushi who was rubbing her wrist and refusing to look at him, probably wondering why he'd stop. She flinched and took a step back breaking his heart more than possible. Hadn't he told her that it was time to move forward together? Without any remorse or apology, he had expected her to move on with a monster like him. And she had agreed wholeheartedly, blushing at the prospect and probably dreaming about a perfect life now. He had broken her dreams again. He immediately went down to his knees and bowed his head in front of her. When he lifted his eyes towards her, she gasped. She immediately went on her own knees and hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder. 

'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Mujhe maaf kardo, Khushi. How can I do this to you?' Arnav kept on muttering his apology, not having the courage to look into her eyes. 

'Arnav ji, yeh aap... uthiye. Aapki tabyat...'  Khushi tried to make him get up but he felt no energy. He felt a noose around his neck that was tightening by the minute. Is that what she had felt like in all these times of their so-called marriage?

'I've been a monster to you, Khushi. I don't deserve you. You're the one thing right in my life and what have I done to you?' Khushi's silence only added to his fears. He took her hand in his and caressed the same spot that he had clutched hard enough to form his finger marks. A teardrop fell on their adjoined hands and he didn't know whose it was but soon both of their tears started falling freely. He let go of her hand and hugged her with all his might. Khushi tried to fight him off but soon she clutched his collar like she always did and cried harder than ever. Sobs raked through their bodies and he kept on mumbling words of apology and love to her. 

They didn't know for how long they'd stayed in each other's arms. Khushi lifted her head towards him and kept searching his eyes for answers. As usual, his eyes said it all. He was scared. His biggest support system was falling apart and he didn't know what to do. His beliefs were proving to be wrong. He didn't resemble an ounce to the powerful man he was. She didn't like it one bit. She loved him. He loved her. Everything else could wait. 

He looked down not being able to meet her eyes anymore and she suddenly pushed him. She felt a little satisfied seeing him astonished and fall on his behind. His confused and tear strained face somehow tickled her funny bones and the corners of her lips lifted. She lost it when he winced a little moving his butt. She laughed harder than she'd in these 6 months. She clutched her stomach and fell down laughing herself. Arnav seemed to be shocked at first but then gave in, laughing himself at the image his Khushi made. 

They looked at each other. She hadn't forgiven him. But she had given him a chance. And for now, that was enough.