Chapter 3

"I wish I was there in your wedding Khushi," Payal said as they cooked dinner. "We would have rocked."

Khushi, who had a smile on her face all this while turned pale. That moments were still intact in her memories.

Pushing the door with all his force, he barged inside the room.

"What are you doing here?" She asked surprised as soon as she saw him.

He looked at her standing in a bridal wear as she packed her stuff, ready to leave the city, ready to leave him. Throwing the suitcase she was packing on the floor, he held her hand tightly and pulled her outside.

"What are you doing? Leave me!" She said trying to keep up with his pace. He had been pulling her with a tight and painful grip but stopped seeing her struggle.

"Ssh!" He said, pulling her closer to him. "Not another word Khushi Kumari Gupta." He hissed. Scooping her in his arms, he moved out of the house, with Khushi wriggling in his arms.

"Where are you taking me?" She questioned him confused. She had never seen him like this before.

Ignoring her question completely, he made her sit on the passenger seat and closed the door. He hopped inside the car and drove to his destination.

"Now will you please bother to answer me, Arnav? Where the hell are we going? You are scaring me now," Khushi was on verge of crying but Arnav chose to ignore her because he was sure if he looked into her hypnotizing brown eyes, he would lose himself in her.

Arnav stopped his car in front of a big house. He stepped out and pulled Khushi out. Holding her hand, he marched towards the gate.

Raizada Mansion, Khushi read the name plate. She was confused as to why he brought her to his house. Before she could understand anything, they were already inside.

"Arnav? Why did you bring me here?" Khushi asked politely.

Arnav looked at her for a moment but quickly averted his gaze. He knew what he was doing was not right, but he didn't have an option.

As Khushi gazed around, she saw a priest waiting with wedding arrangements. She looked at him with wide eyes, realising where this was leading to.

"What is happening here?" Khushi asked, terrified.

"We are getting married." Arnav said, making her sit on the dais and asked the priest to start the rituals. He did as he was told to.

"Have you gone mad, Arnav? Marriage is not a game," Khushi tried to leave but he held her wrist tightly.

"You're hurting me," She let the painful shriek escape from her lips, hearing which Arnav loosened his grip but didn't leave her.

"Remember Khushi? Once you told me, you wanted to become my wife, Mrs. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada? Today I am going to fulfil your dream. I'll make you mine, my wife. You are mine and no one can separate me from you," Arnav said in a voice that held possessiveness, love and obsession but somewhere she could feel fear too; the fear of losing her.

"You are not in your senses, Arnav. Please don't do this. Don't spoil everything," Khushi said in a calm voice. Yes, she had dreamt of becoming his wife but not like this.

"We are getting married right now and you have to accept me. Or else, I'll cancel the deal with your father and he would return back to his previous state -bankrupt and drowning in debt," Arnav announced, ignoring her pleads as he took vows with her around the holy fire. Her struggle died as they completed their seventh vow.

Arnav knew, he was doing injustice with her. He knew she was going to hate him after this. But he didn't have a choice. He just prayed, her hatred for him was not deeper than his love for her.

Forcefully, he filled her hair partings with vermilion and tied the mangalsutra around her neck.

Khushi sat numb. She couldn't believe it was happening to her. Yes, she loved Arnav and she knew he liked her too, but she never imagined he would do this to her without her consent.

She closed her eyes as tears rolled down when Arnav filled her hairline.

"Khushi!" Payal called making her coming back to the present. "Where are you lost?"

"Ah, nothing," She said and her eyes fell on the clock. "Oh god! It's 9:30 already. Arnav will be coming down soon. I need to keep his plate ready."

"Relax. Everything is done. We just need to serve," Payal said seeing her panic.

Khushi in a hurry rushed towards the dinning table and her heels tripped making her fall down.

"Khushi!" Payal screamed as she rushed towards her.

Arnav and Akash heard the scream and marched out in a hurry. Worry evident on their faces as they saw Payal helping a fallen Khushi to stand up. Rushing towards her, they help her sit on the sofa and realised that she has sprained her leg.

At Night

Khushi opened her eyes and saw Arnav sitting on the couch, working in his laptop. She tried to get off the bed gaining his attention.

"You need something?" he asked in concern.

"Ah..Washroom..." she said hesitated.

"I'll help you."

He helped her to stand up but she screamed in pain.

"Aaaahhhhh!!!!!!!! It's paining!!!! I can't walk!" Khushi said to Arnav.

"Relax Khushi, walk slowly okay?" he said trying to support her.

"I can't walk, Arnav!" She yelled. "Can't you see?"

Arnav thought for a second and then picked her up in his arms. Khushi was shocked by his sudden move. He went towards the washroom and put her down gently.

"Knock when you're done. I am waiting outside," he said in a simple tone and went outside the washroom closing the door behind him.

After a while he heard her knock. He stepped in, again picked her up put her on the bed. Khushi asked him to sleep promising she would wake him up if she needs something. Arnav took a pillow and lied on the couch.

"I can't understand what is the truth," Khushi thought in mind. "What you is doing today is your true self, or what you did 3 years ago.. If you loved me, then couldn't you wait till I was ready? Your one decision, spoilt everything. Only if you had bothered to wait, then the situation could have been something else today. Did you really ever love me? Or you are just doing all this , because you want to show Akash and Payal that you care for me and I don't?"

She closed her eyes. Arnav opened his.

"I know, Khushi. You don't trust me. You must be confused, if all this true, false, strange or weird. But.. it's all true! My care and my love for you. Nothing is fake. And trust me, I wanted to wait, but it would have been very late till then... I don't just want to be near you, but I want to be with you Khushi... but I can't tell you the truth, I know you still love me, and always will.. but you will never express... Because perhaps, you will never forgive!"

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That's all for today!