Chapter 18

Chapter 18: A Feeling Of Unrest

🤣🤣 This update is dedicated to all those readers who wanted Khushi to forgive Arnav immediately in spite of what he did. And to those who thought he was done torturing her. 🤣🤣

Khushi returned home to find Payal in her room. Her father was at the sweet shop and mom was out to the market. Khushi dropped her bag in her own room and walked over to Payal's room. But as soon as she entered Payal quickly made an excuse to whoever she was speaking over the phone and disconnected the call.

"H-Hi Khushi." Payal stammered.

Her tone made Khushi instantly suspicious. "Who were you speaking to Jiji?"

"Oh... No one particular... just Shweta, you know I told you she keeps calling me." Payal replied smiling a bit too broadly for Khushi's liking.

"Shweta? Then why did you disconnect the call?" Khushi wondered what Payal would want to talk to Shweta that she couldn't discuss in front of her.

"Oh just like that... you are back so I thought I should spend some time with you. You are so busy these days." Payal said in a complaining tone.

Khushi smiled at her uncertainly but still couldn't get rid of the uneasiness. Something was definitely wrong here. She had noticed on several occasions that Payal would be lost in her own world, sometimes even smiling alone. Most of the times when Khushi called her from work her phone would be busy. Talking to Shweta was the standard excuse which had become too hard to digest these days. Shweta seemed to be talking to Payal more often than to her fiance.

But of course she had no basis to her suspicions so she didn't confront Payal about it.

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Arnav soon realised that his plan of apologising to Khushi was easier said than done. True to her word, Khushi never met him alone. Rohan would always be present while discussing designs. Also Khushi would avoid talking to him directly during meetings and say whatever she had to addressing Rohan, pretending as if he was not even present in the same room.

Arnav couldn't help but pity Rohan. Poor guy would endure it all quietly occasionally throwing embarrassed and apologetic glances towards Arnav. One thing was sure that Khushi hadn't confided about the past to Rohan. Arnav had not once found Rohan looking at him with dislike or disgust, which would've been impossible had he known the truth.

It had been almost a month and every attempt that Arnav had made to get Khushi to talk to him had failed miserably. Arnav had keenly observed Khushi. He had tried to confront her at different parts of the day, before a meeting, after a meeting or even during breaks. She was never alone. He had also tried once to send Rohan away under the pretence of some work but she had kept herself surrounded by her assistants, not once looking at him.

She was very sincere when it came to her work though and didn't take it lightly. Whenever he forwarded any suggestions for the designs via Rohan, she didn't let their personal issues over shadow her work and even made changes in her designs as per his suggestions.

Another thing that Arnav had noticed and couldn't bear at all was the relationship between Rohan and Khushi. Their friendship was clear and pure as dew drop. They understood each other so well unlike he who had never tried to understand Khushi. Khushi and Rohan seemed to talk more through their eyes rather than words. He had also noticed that Khushi always came to work with Rohan and left with him too.

There were times when he felt really annoyed with Rohan for no reason at all. He knew it was stupid of him to think that way. Rohan was a really nice guy and was a much needed friend for Khushi. But somehow Arnav found it very disturbing to see Khushi with someone else. Especially when she was completely refusing to acknowledge his existence even. Whenever he saw her walking away with Rohan he had the urge to grab her and take her away with him. But he knew he had lost the right to touch her. His eyes would glow with unrestrained rage. Sometimes it would scare him, that if this continued he might once again lose control over his temper and do something rash and hurt her.

He would then decide that he would not see her. But it was starting to get difficult not being able to see her, not to hear her voice. Like an addict he would come back stalking, just to catch a glimpse of her, to drink in her beauty. As days passed Khushi showed no change in her attitude towards Arnav. His frustration was building up by the minute like lava bubbling up in a volcano.

Arnav had slowly begun to realise that the only thing he ever thought about was Khushi, Khushi and Khushi. She occupied every minute of his day, every cell of his brain, every beat of his heart, every drop of his blood. She was starting to become the obsession of his life. His world revolved around her. He needed her in his life and nothing else mattered. He needed her forgiveness to be able to breathe again. He needed her acceptance to be able live again. He didn't realise the reason behind it all but one thing he knew for sure... that she was essential for his existence... more than anything else in the world. And he wanted her in his life, by his side... at any cost... whether she liked it or not... And he would, he was Arnav Singh Raizada, he always got what he wanted. No matter what means he had to use...

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Khushi normally avoided even looking in Arnav's direction but she would constantly feel his piercing gaze burning her skin. Several times she had seen him staring at her with such intensity that it terrified her. Even Rohan had started to wonder why Arnav was paying so much personal attention to the bridal range when he had four other lines to take care of. He always wondered what was so wrong between Khushi and him for Khushi to give Arnav such a cold treatment and for Arnav to bear it all without complaint. But he respected Khushi's wish and never asked her about it.

There were just a few weeks remaining for the India Fashion Week and Khushi and Rohan were working on warfront with fittings and rehearsals. Khushi reached home late almost everyday and always found her family asleep by the time she returned. So it came as a surprise one day when she returned and found Payal waiting up for her.

"Jiji? Why are you awake so late?" Khushi asked a bit surprised.

"Oh nothing really, I couldn't sleep so I thought I'll wait for you." She smiled.

Khushi smiled too. Payal served food for Khushi and the two sisters sat chatting casually while Khushi ate. After clearing up the kitchen, Payal followed Khushi to her room instead of going back to her own room. Both of them sat on the bed, Khushi observing Payal closely.

"What is it Jiji? I have a feeling you want to say something. There's a reason why you stayed up for me tonight, right?" She asked.

Payal hesitated and then nodded.

"What is it Jiji? You know you can tell me anything." Khushi encouraged.

"You know Khushi, how you always complain about my phone being busy?" Payal said nervously.

"Yeah, you talk to Shweta a lot these days." Khushi replied.

"W-well it's not Shweta I talk to." Payal said not meeting her eyes.

"Really? Then who is it?" Khushi asked slightly confused and suspicious.

"I-it's someone else... Khushi, I... I l-l-love someone." Payal confessed.

Khushi was stunned for a moment. Payal Jiji? In love? And then she broke into a broad smile. "Jiji..." She squealed and hugged Payal. "That's great news. I'm so happy for you. Who's the guy?"

Payal looked as if she was hoping Khushi would ask anything but that.

"What Jiji? Why do you look so nervous?" Khushi asked worried.

"Khushi you know him." Payal answered.

"Really Jiji? Who's it?" Khushi asked with even more curiosity.

"Akashji... Akash Singh Raizada..." Payal answered slowly as Khushi's face went pale.

"Jiji... No..." Khushi barely whispered.

"Khushi please... help me... I love him. We want to get married." Payal pleaded holding her hand but Khushi brushed it off and stood up.

"When did all this start?" Khushi asked seriously with her back towards Payal.

"Oh we met at Pari and Karan's wedding for the second time and exchanged cell numbers and ever since..." Payal trailed off. "He is a nice guy Khushi."

"I know he is." Khushi replied stiffly. "But I'm afraid I can't say the same for his brother. And to imagine you under the same roof as him..." Khushi took in a breath with difficulty. "I'm sorry Jiji, I can't help you this time."

"Please Khushi, I won't be able to live without him." Payal began to sob.

Khushi turned back to look at her and melted seeing her tears. "Jiji, please don't cry. Try to understand. Arnav Singh Raizada is not... Safe... How can I let you..." She broke off.

"Please Khushi, at least come with me tomorrow and meet Akashji once. Let him explain his point of view. He does really love me a lot." Payal begged sobbing uncontrollably.

How Khushi wished to explain Payal that this was nothing to do with Akash's point of view. But how could she tell her sister that the real reason behind her not wanting to be involved with Akash was that she was dead scared at the prospect of her sister living in the same house as the person who had almost raped her. She had no other choice so she agreed to meet Akash "Fine Jiji. Anyways I don't have to work tomorrow morning, so we can meet Akashji. But I'm not promising anything." Khushi warned Payal.

"Khushi don't you love me at all?" Payal asked distraught.

Khushi's eyes were fiery, "Of course I love you Jiji. And that is exactly why I don't want you to marry the brother of the man who tried to ra... who insulted me so much." Khushi amended, glad that she had been able to control herself just in time, she had almost blurted out the truth of her dark past...

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Chapter 19: Unexpected Turn Of Events

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P.S. Thank you for all your lovely comments but as I said earlier the questions you guys are asking cannot be answered at this stage of the story...😉