Chapter 24

Chapter 24: The Nightmare

Ooh once again strong reactions after the SMS threat Arnav sent... Good I kept the helmet...😉 Ok now this is kind of a rush chapter but I didn't want to drag the wedding as it obviously wasn't a happy one...

It was the wedding Khushi had always dreamt of, since she was a little girl. The drapes, flower garlands and fairy lights adorning the mandap. The most exquisite lehenga a bride could wish for. Everything was as lavish as it could be. But she hardly registered what was going on around her. It was like she had turned into a machine these past few weeks. She did what she was told to do, smiled at all the right places and put up every appearance to convince her and Arnav's family that she was truly happy with the wedding.

Her tears during the Bidaai were much more than those shed by a daughter leaving her parents home, to start a new life. Payal was concerned for her but she too was getting married and it was all too overwhelming for her.

At the Grihapravesh when Anjali asked Arnav to pick up Khushi and enter, Khushi stared at her as if she had lost her mind and Arnav stared at Khushi's outraged expression. He knew she would never like that. In fact after accepting his proposal, she had not exactly avoided him like before but kept the interaction to a bare minimum. Never speaking to him but replying in monosyllables whenever he asked her something.

"Di, that's a rubbish tradition. I'm not doing that." He refused flatly.

"Chote, it's our family tradition." Anjali giggled thinking that he was just feeling embarrassed. "If you don't want to follow it then stay outside the house."

Nani too urged him to stop over reacting and do as he was told. He finally sighed and turned towards Khushi. Being a new bride and having no say in the matter Khushi just braced herself and looked away. Arnav quickly picked her up entered taking a couple of steps and immediately put her down. He heard her exhale in relief and looked to see that she was still looking away pretending to smoothen her dress.

"That's not fair Chote. You should have at least carried her to the living room." Anjali complained.

"You asked me to enter carrying her and I did. Now please no more stupid traditions." He said stiffly and walked away to his room.

Everyone stared after him. Anjali walked up to Khushi and put an arm around her. "I'm sorry dear. He just doesn't like so much attention and all."

Khushi just nodded.

"Okay now let's start with Payal's Grihapravesh." Nani said and Anjali took Khushi back towards the entrance.

Mami did the aarti and Akash carried Payal inside the house. Arnav refused to come down for any further games or rituals so after some basic rasams Anjali took Khushi to her new room. Arnav stood by the French doors lost in his thoughts when Anjali left Khushi at the doorstep and left. She entered the room and Arnav turned at the sound of her anklets.

Without looking at him she walked to the middle of the room while he closed the door. When he turned around Khushi was opening her bag taking out a simple Salwar Kameez to change into. She walked into the bathroom to get changed and he sighed.

After her, he too changed and saw that Khushi was sitting on the recliner deep in thought. The moonlight made her look ethereal. He walked to her and stood by her side running his fingers through her tresses. She brushed off his hand and stood up to move away.

He caught her wrist and pulled her against him, putting an arm around her waist.

"Khushi, I will never force myself on you but that doesn't mean I will not touch you." He said slowly. "You are my wife now and I have every right to do that." He said running his hand along her arm.

She clenched her fists and looked away, "Your touch..."

"Disgusts you." He completed her sentence. "You have already told me that and in return I have told you to get over it. Because you are not going to be able to help it." He promised. "Come let's sleep." He said taking her along with him to the bed.

"NO." She said loudly pushing him away but then softened her tone. "I mean, I'll be fine on the recliner."

"Don't even think about it." He warned and got into the bed along with her. Khushi lied down next to him and turned away, fear gripping her like never before. She felt him playing with her hair and shut her eyes tight. She waited but true to his word he didn't come any closer. Slowly she relaxed and extremely exhausted, fell into an uneasy sleep.

When he heard the sound of her even breathing, he sat up. Very gently he held her shoulder and turned her so that he could watch her as she slept. He stared at her face, so serene and beautiful. He could just sit there watching her sleep for hours. But a few minutes later, the calm expression on her face began to change and she started trembling and twisting.

"No... no please..." he could hear her say softly.

"Khushi?" He called out touching her shoulder.

"No... no... please don't..." Her voice was getting louder and stronger. "Please don't... Arnav Sir no."

He felt like someone had punched him in the gut and he withdrew his hand. Khushi had begun thrashing and pleading loudly.

"Please... Please listen to me... Arnav Sir..." she begged.

Helplessly he looked around thinking what to do. He gripped her shoulder and shook her desperately. "Khushi wake up."

"NO!!!" She yelled and sat up her terror filled eyes wide open as she breathed heavily.

It took a while for Khushi to realise where she was. She was still in shock and when she looked at her side and saw Arnav he eyes grew wider than ever. She clutched at her heart and stood up.

"No... please... I-I haven't done anything. Please, please let me go." She pleaded backing off.

Arnav felt like dying a thousand times looking at her trembling form. He got up too moving slowly towards her. "Khushi relax. I am not going to hurt you."

She backed off into a corner crying hysterically, shock not letting her think straight. "No... I beg you... please don't touch me... please..."

"Khushi, no I'm not going to do anything to you." He stepped forward to comfort her.

"NOOO..." She screamed as she saw his hand approaching towards her and felt the room spin around her. Arnav caught her before she could hit the ground. She had fainted

He looked at her limp form. He picked her up and laid her on the bed and walked straight out of the French doors. He sank down on one of the chairs and buried his face in his hands.

What have I done? He thought helplessly. Something so beautiful, so pure... how could I ruin it? He sat there for hours hating himself, cursing himself for one wrong that he had done, that was still haunting the girl who lay lifeless in the room behind him.

She had already told him that she had nightmares because of him but to see the actual thing had shocked him so much, he didn't know what to do.

After a long time he entered in the room again and saw that her face was calm again. He lied down on the recliner, not wanting to disturb her and fell asleep watching her.

Khushi woke up early and wondered where she was when her eyes fell on Arnav's sleeping form on the recliner. She remembered the events of the night. She quietly got up and went into the bathroom. When she came out she saw Arnav had woken up and sat waiting for her to come out.

She spoke without looking at him. "I'm sorry for last night. I... normally do have nightmares but what occurred last night was something that happened after months. Maybe because you were..." She stopped suddenly.

He stared at her shocked at how casually she talked about the nightmares as if they were a part of her routine life. He walked to her and slowly took her hand in his. She didn't protest, just let it rest limply in his hand.

"Khushi, I don't know how to apologise. I'm so sorry." He said. "I know I'm made you go through hell and I want to make it right. I WILL make it right." He said his eyes shining with determination.

She gently pulled her and out of his. "I have to go down. Di said I and Jiji have to cook for the first time today." She walked out of the room leaving him burning from within.

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Silent readers don't buddy me for PMs... It breaks my heart🥺 but I still reject the request...😈