Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Give it to me," A 16 year old Arnav offered to help the tiny girl who was struggling to keep her bag on the berth of the school bus.

"No. Thank you," Khushi gently denied, not wanting to burden her senior.

"Not only the bag, I can also hold your hand and never leave it."

Arnav smiled at her. Since the time he had seen her he had been a flirt. Only if he knew, the 13 year old Khushi was already crushing on him hard.

It was a daily routine, Arnav would offer help everyday and Khushi would politely refuse following Arnav to flirt which would make Khushi blush profusely.

It was another day when Khushi climbed the school bus but it was overloaded today. Luckily, she found a seat to sit but most of the senior and junior boys were standing, not giving her access to put her bag up. She looked around and her eyes fell on Arnav. Hesitated, she forwarded her bag towards him.

"Impressive!" he smirked in his flirting tone as he took the bag from her.

Trying to hide nervousness Khushi started, "Actually, I..."

"It's fine, Khushi. Boyfriends are meant to help their girlfriends," he said and winked at her.

Arnav Singh Raizada! The coolest guy of the school, who always show attitude towards girls, said he is her boyfriend?

"Khushi, teri to nikal padi!" she sighed.

Days passed and Khushi didn't realize when her crush for Arnav turned into love. But she couldn't express her feelings to him and he went abroad for further studies.

It's their 3rd marriage anniversary. Yes, of Khushi, and Arnav's. The cool dude Arnav was the one who she loved the most from the bottom of her heart, and her husband Arnav was the one who she hated from the bottom of her heart. She hated him to core.

Khushi belong to a middle class family, she had made adjustments and compromises in life but she never thought that one day she would be treated as a thing to be purchased or sold. But... She was! Her father sold her to her so-called husband, Arnav Singh Raizada. It was a deal for them, but marrying at the age of 18, was not a easy task for her. She wasn't asked, she wasn't even informed! She was just forced. She asked only one question to herself everyday, if Arnav really wanted to marry her, was this deal necessary? Couldn't he wait till she was ready? Couldn't he even propose her? 

No! Because she was just a part of his bloody business!

She answered herself as she sat in front of the dressing table. A knock at the door brought her to the present.

"Ma'am, the guests have arrived." the servant informed and left.

Getting up from the table, she moved towards the changing room.

___________

Arnav Singh Raizada stood under the shower and trying to calm down his overloaded mind. There were many things going on his mind but right now it was only Khushi.

She was his junior in school and everything to him. It was just impossible for him to spend the day without having one glimpse of her. Everyone in his class used to say that Khushi had a crush on him, but in reality he was madly, deeply in love with her. It was love at first sight for him. He always tried to draw her attention towards him and thus, ended up flirting with her all the time. He remembered every pulse of second spent with her.

One day in the school, he was climbing up the stairs and suddenly bumped to her. She widened her eyes in such a way, as if she was given an electric shock. Arnav chuckled and Khushi composed herself. Trying to ignore him, she started climbing down the stairs but to her surprise, he held her wrist. She tried to set herself free but Arnav was too strong for her. He suddenly pulled her closer. They were so close that Arnav could hear Khushi's heartbeat clearly. He moved closer but held his emotions back. He knew she liked him but she wasn't his girlfriend yet. He left her hand and let her go. She walked down the stairs in a hurry but stopped after two steps only. Looking back at him, a smile crept on her lips. After a few seconds, she rushed downstairs.

Khushi Kumari Gupta! The Diva, with who every guy in the school wanted to go to a date with, smiled at him!

"Arnav, tu toh gaya!" he said to himself.

Days passed and his love for Khushi grew stronger. At last it was the time to leave school. It was his last chance to propose her. But he was such a fattu in case of love! He tried many times but was unable to express his feelings.

3 years. Even after 3 years of their marriage, he failed everytime. School diva Khushi loved him the most in this universe, but now his wife, she hated him the most in this universe and he knew it. He had tried to win her heart many times but in vain. Perhaps her hatred for him was stronger then his love for her.

But he never blamed her for anything. Marrying at the age of 18 was like a shock to her. She thought he spoilt her life, but she didn't know, he have saved her life from being spoilt. Yes, he married her by giving money to her father, but she was never a deal. He couldn't wait longer, marriage was the only solution he could think at that moment. Khushi was Arnav's life. Not a part of his business.

Sighing, he turned off the shower. Entering the changing room, he saw her beautiful wife struggling with the strings of her blouse.

Unable to control himself, he marched towards her and held the string.

Khushi jumped at the touch of fingers on her back. She looked into the mirror and found Arnav staring at her. They looked at each other in the mirror. Arnav watched Khushi shiver as he grazed his finger from the tips of her fingers to the top of her shoulder. Khushi's breath hitched as his other hand slowly slid across her midriff.

Their eyes locked in the mirror again.

He picked up the strings on either side of her blouse, brought it to the middle, and tied it into a knot. He closed the clasp at the bottom of her blouse and rested his hands on her waist. Not once did his gaze falter.

Khushi had turned pink under his intense stare. She pushed him away and left the room.

"Since last 3 years, Iam dying to hear a word from you, to see you smile at least once. I hope all this ends soon."

He wiped his tears and opened the cupboard.

_________

Khushi walked down the stairs with a forced smile on her face.She was busy attending the guests when she stopped on her tracks hearing the guests ask Arnav about her. 

"Hello, Mr. Raizada," said a business associate. "When can we meet the Mrs.?'

"Ah, actually... I..." Arnav fumbled unable to decide what to say.

Suddenly he felt an arm wrapped around his own. He was surprised to see Khushi smiling at the colleagues.

"Hello, I am Khushi, Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada. His wife."

Arnav looked at her with mixed emotion. Somewhere he wanted to be the reality but he knew it was a facade, they were a happy couple for the world. Only if... 

Soon, the party was over. Arnav had a happy smile all the while and Khushi had a forced one.

"Khushi, thanks a lot for today." Arnav said as they entered the room while Khushi tried to move away.

"Khushi!"

He followed her and held her hand. She tried to let free and Arnav let her go. Khushi didn't say anything and moved away.

"Why can't I hold your hand?"

Khushi stopped on her tracks hearing him.

"Tell me Khushi, why can't I hold your hand?"

"Why not? Of course you can hold my hand. You have all the right. You can hold my hand, you can hug me, kiss me, do whatever you want to. Because I am nothing, just your bloody business deal!"

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That's all for today. I hope you guys like it :)