Chapter 3

Part 3 - Humdard

Khushi grinned while Lavanya blabbered about how Arnav Singh Raizada was acting like a lover-boy. If a few years ago, someone had told the employees of AR Designs, that their arrogant boss would follow his secretary around, instead of the other way round... they would have laughed at the absurdity of the idea. However, the current situation was nothing short of a miracle. Arnav had organized a lunch get-together in the conference room, for all the senior team members.

Khushi blushed at how Arnav had gotten miffed with her, thwarting all of his lunch and dinner invitations. The duo of boss and assistant had gotten into an easy camaraderie in the last six months. It had been almost a year after her divorce, and her entire past seemed like a horrible nightmare. With the love and friendship showered on her by her colleagues, she had managed to stand strong, make career her priority and become independent.

Arnav Singh Raizada had played a major role in her liberation. Did he really think she wouldn't know? A few months ago, when Lavanya had enough of lying, she had revealed how Arnav had been the one to help her in escaping Shyam's clutches. His name and pressure on the authorities had gotten her an easy divorce and finally, forced the Jha family to leave the city. Not only that, he had been one of the reasons, why Lavanya had befriended her in the first place. That the two girls had hit it off instantly, was a different matter all together.

She had been shocked to know the truth and even more astonished about why a busy man like ASR would waste his time, solving his employee's domestic feuds. As days passed by, things became much clearer. It was not about his interest in her; about the way he would stare at her intently, which she had brushed off as mere infatuation. His support so far had been to help himself more than her. And this, she had come to know about, only when she had met Anjali Di.

The two women had met at one of AR Design's parties and it was surprising to see how easily they had bonded together. Anjali had gathered information from Lavanya about Khushi... who seemed to be the reason for the drastic good changes in Arnav lately. And when, she had met the woman in person, she had instantly known why. As the professional meetings turned to casual chatter, Khushi had come to know the history of Arnav's parents.

That was the first time, she had understood the impact of her happiness in his life. Di had told her about how Arnav felt relieved to have saved her, while years ago, that same child had crouched helplessly to see his mother being murdered. Khushi realized that life was cruel to all... the rich and the poor. At this juncture, Arnav Singh Raizada and Khushi Kumari Gupta were equals... not boss-employee, no status difference and no discrimination of sex.

After this realization, Khushi had befriended Arnav. Both of them worked like a team and talked like the best of friends. Anjali Di had finally found some hope for her brother and had promised Nani to get a beautiful daughter-in-law for the Raizadas soon. Khushi had finally moved out of Lavanya's house and rented an apartment of her own. She wanted to experience the freedom, the independence that she had always missed. She enjoyed the thrill of taking her own decisions and loved decorating her own house.

"Khushi, you come here and sit beside me," Arnav spoke softly, making heads turn in the conference room. Khushi glared at him, surprised at his audacity to embarrass her in front of her entire team. "Yeah Khushi, go sit there. ASR wants to discuss something about the Oberois meeting, which is to happen today evening. He has already given me the download," Lavanya tried her best to douse the fire that Arnav seemed to have spiked. Arnav gave her a meaningful nod to thank her.

It had been like this, for a whole month now, with Arnav trying to get close to Khushi. He had tried to gauge her emotional state first... to know if she had moved on completely from her broken relationship and only when she seemed to be ready, had he made a move to ask her out. She had at first, been hesitant, not really deeming herself worthy of his attention. Especially, when there were gorgeous women walking all over AR Designs, she wondered what he had seen in her.

But as the days passed by, she realized his efforts to woo her were sincere and earnest. He was a gentleman, taking care of her every need. Khushi wasn't used to such affection from any man. The only man she had gotten close to had splintered her heart, which she believed could never be mended again. However, with Arnav, something seemed to be right... as if their stories had been meant to lead them to each other, this way.

She had never experienced having a crush, or the feeling of happiness bubbling within. However, these days, when Arnav came a little close to her, she could not help feel flustered, with huge butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She was stunned at the havoc, these unfamiliar emotions were having on her fragile heart. How was she to deal with these sudden changes in her life?

As lunch came to an end, everyone quickly dispersed to get back to their workstations. Arnav kept Khushi busy, dragging her into an important briefing, not allowing her to move from her seat till everyone was out of sight. Khushi could feel the nervousness creeping up. She stood up, and before she could walk towards the exit, Arnav had cornered her against the wall.

His warm breath was fanning her face, making her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Arnavji, what are you doing?" she managed to ask softly. He raised his hand to brush his fingers lightly against her soft cheeks and she closed her eyes at the mere touch. Her heart fluttering like a humming bird, she held one hand against her heaving chest. What was he doing to her? What were these emotions that he was evoking in her and why had she been unfamiliar to them so far?

In spite of being married for two whole years, Shyam had never been so sensitive, so tender towards her. He had always demanded, not once thinking of what she wanted... what she felt... what she expected out of her lover? And here he was... "Arnav..." she said his name throatily, as all coherent thought ceased to exist. She felt his moist lips on her cheeks, brushing against her flaming skin.

It was a moment of realization... of what love really was. She had always let her sane mind, her circumstances and compromises lead her in relationships. This was the first time that she was letting her heart beat to its own melody. She was letting herself feel... each pulse of her beating heart, as well as his. At this moment, she did not care where this relationship was headed. All that mattered was that she had never been so happy in her life. She wanted to live ... breathe, be loved and love.

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"Khushi, come back to bed right now," Arnav drawled huskily, noticing the clock striking four in the morning. He saw her walk from the pool area into their room. The shimmering water was reflected on her glorious body. She looked enchanting in his white shirt as she walked carefully, through the clothes that lay scattered on the floor. She neared the bed and Arnav held out his hand into which she placed her slender fingers. The simple touch made him hungry for more, yet again.

Two blissful years of marriage had turned the mighty Arnav Singh Raizada into a homely husband. The fact that Khushi worked with him at AR, was the only reason he did not rush home every evening. He had loved each moment he had spent with Khushi, cherishing it like a treasure. A man parched for love, had finally found his oasis in Khushi. She had love to give in abundance, and he was surprised at the intensity of her feelings.

He still recollected their courtship period, where he had done everything possible to make her feel loved. When they had shared their pasts, the traumatic childhood to the years they spent growing up... he had been surprised to see the spirit of this woman. Their suffering had been different, yet the pain remained the same. In spite of the harshness of life, Khushi hadn't turned bitter towards anyone, unlike him. He had much to learn from her... and spending each new day with her, made him fall hopelessly in love with her, time and again.

He had officially introduced her to his crazy family. While Anjali Di had known everything, mama-mami, nani had been extremely thrilled to see a traditional girl as his girlfriend. They were used to those skimpily dressed models, whom the media generally paired him with. Khushi had earlier been hesitant about meeting them, wondering if they would be able to ignore her past. Her insecurities took a while to be cleared and he had finally forced her to meet his family.

However, she needn't have worried at all, because once the women in his family met her, they couldn't stop raving about her. In just a few interactions, she had become a daughter of the Raizada family, just like his Di had predicted. For these two years after marriage, his nani had been admonishing him, and ganging up with her beloved Khushi. Even though he pretended to be angry with nani for this bias, his heart always swelled with pride knowing that this beautiful woman... was his.

He had proposed marriage to her, in a not so romantic way. He just couldn't be cheesy with words, how much ever he tried. But his actions spoke volumes and he knew Khushi prized those rare moments, when he would say I love you' to her. To his relief, she had agreed to marry him, although to his surprise, she wanted to keep it extremely simple and private. He always dreaded those never-ending rituals, greeting the long list of guests and the suffocating traditional clothes. She had made everything simple for him, and he just wanted to know if she was happy that way.

He had asked her casually, if she really wanted a simple wedding, over a grand circus to which she had solemnly replied, "Arnav, I no more believe in these rituals that bind two people in matrimony. The grandest of weddings, turns irrelevant if the bride and groom are not compatible or in love. We love each other and that is all that matters to me... to live my life with you. I am only going through these rituals to get a complete acceptance in this society and in front of our family. I will agree to any kind of ceremony you want us to have... do you want a luxurious wedding?"

Her thoughts and her question had stumped him, then. He agreed to her completely, not believing in these customs himself. No marriage was perfect because of the matching of kundalis, or a shubh mahurat. Two people, had to make their marriage work... love, trust, faith, compromise, sharing and giving, all these things made marriage a success. He was ready to spend his entire life loving Khushi, and that is exactly what he did every moment he spent with her.

Immediately after marriage, Khushi had joined the design arm in his office as an intern. Her interests and inclination had always been on the creative side and he had managed to persuade her to take the risk. However, she wanted to be accepted for her talent and not because she was his wife. Hence, beginning as an intern was a better option. He was not one to crib either way, as long as he got to see her at work the entire day.

In the initial days after their wedding, breaking the physical barrier around Khushi had been a little difficult. The fading scars on her body had made his blood boil with fury. He wanted to rush to wherever that Jha was and shoot him in the head. How could he have tortured such an innocent soul? Khushi was worth treasuring and he would lay everything on line for her happiness.

He did not rush her into anything, and as her trust in him strengthened, the walls surrounding her began collapsing with his unconditional love. After their glorious union, where their souls merged into one, there was no turning back. Life shone upon them, as the laughter in their home never seemed to fade. Anjali Di had delivered a baby girl and her childish babbles now echoed across the halls of Shantivan. Khushi had healed his scarred heart and he had mended her soul, piece-by-piece, meshing them into one whole.

"Arnav, I feel like eating jalebis," Khushi's tinkling voice, broke through his musings. He looked at her radiant face, with all the love and tenderness he felt at the moment. He had tried to give her everything that she had always craved for. He had given her immeasurable love, endless happiness and an affectionate family whom she cherished with her life. And in return, she was giving him the exhilarating joy of fatherhood.

Arnav ran a loving hand over her six month swollen stomach. Loving the feel of his child kicking within. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the kitchen. Placing her gently on top of the kitchen platform, he pulled out the huge box of jalebis, that was always stocked in their refrigerator these days, owing to his wife's cravings. The sugary delicacy made his Khushi moan in pleasure... making him secretly wish; he was the reason for this ecstasy. He kissed the corner of her mouth, licking away some of the sugar syrup, filling his heart with so much sweetness that it spilled all over their beautiful love story.

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Song inspiration: Humdard

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bf_86-a0Hc[/YOUTUBE]

Pal, do pal, ki hi kyun hai zindagi
Iss, pyar, ko hai sadiyaan kaafi nahi
Toh khuda se maang lun
Mohalat main ik nayi
Rehna hai bas yahaan
Ab door tujhse jaana nahi
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Suhaana har dard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai

Teri muskurahatein hain taaqat meri
Mujhko inhi se ummeed mili
Chaahe kare koi sitam ye jahaan
Inme hi hai sadaa hifaazat meri
Zindagani badi khoobsurat hui
Jannat ab aur kya hogi kahin
Jo tu mera Humdard hai
Jo tu mera Humdard hai
Suhaana har dard hai
Jo tu mera Humdard hai

Teri dhadkano se hai zindagi meri
Khwahishein teri ab duaaein meri
Kitna anokha bandhan hai ye
Teri meri jaan jo ek hui
Lotunga yahaan tere paas main haan
Waada hai mera mar bhi jaaun kahin
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Suhaana har dard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai