Chapter 41

Chapter 41: The Divine Experience

I know I have been downright heartless and not updated. I was out of town and couldn't write or post.😕 Thanks to my phone I could at least read your wonderful comments and that kept me going through the bad week I was having... Thank you so much for the lovely response. 🤗

I'll update again this week to make it up...😳

A few people have said that everything is going too smooth right now and that means another twist by me...😉 Well yes, of course it does mean another twist however the worst has passed... that much I can assure...

Thank you one again...🤗

~~~~~~

As if it had its own mind, Khushi's other hand moved on top of their hands... just resting there... sealing their bond...

A while later Khushi looked away feeling a little conscious, though their hands were still entwined. She looked around nervously and her eyes fell on the large photo frame that was hanging on the wall behind their bed.

She saw the life size photo frame of the two of them and was once again lost in it. Arnav saw her looking at the frame and waited nervously for her reaction. When she didn't say anything for some time, he caressed her hand that he was holding.

"How did you manage to get it?" she asked finally.

"You remember the lady who spoke to us before I asked you for the dance?" he asked.

"Mrs. Dev..." Khushi said suddenly remembering her name.

"Yes" Arnav said a bit surprised that Khushi could still recall that. "It seems she was keenly observing us all evening and got the photographer to especially take this picture. She mailed it to me later on..."

"And you got it framed." Khushi completed.

"Hmmm..." Arnav nodded. "I just couldn't leave it like that."

"Sandhyaji said that you put it up long ago." Khushi said.

Arnav stared at their entwined hands, "After returning from Mumbai when you started avoiding me..."

"I never avoided you..." Khushi cut him off feeling a little offended, remembering how he had stopped even looking at her back then, "I thought you were avoiding me. I thought you didn't care for what happened between us." Khushi was looking at him surprised.

"How could I not care? You were all I thought about then... And now..." Khushi looked into his eyes, her eyes glistening with moisture, "So many misunderstandings Khushi. I wish we had talked to each other. I wish we hadn't hidden our feelings from each other."

Feelings? Khushi wondered. She then looked at the photo frame, their hands and then at him. She lowered her gaze suddenly, feeling conscious and flustered.

"I... I think you should sleep. It's getting late and you must be tired." She said disengaging her hands and started to get up.

As she was about to move away, he held her hand and stood up. He turned her to face him and cupped her face and looked deep into her hazel orbs. "I love you Khushi. But I can understand you have gone through a lot because of me. Take as much time as you want. I'll wait all my life for that one look of love in your eyes and if that doesn't happen... That's fine because it's all my fault in the end." Khushi stared back into his eyes a strange overwhelming feeling engulfing her. Arnav continued to pour his heart out. "Khushi I know I blackmailed you and married you against your wishes but trust me Khushi, I never wanted to hurt you. The mere thought of losing you grips my heart with a fear of such large magnitude that I can barely breathe and makes me forget all sense of right and wrong." Khushi could see that he was actually breathing hard now. "I'm sorry for what I did Khushi but you are like air to me, I can't survive without you." He leaned his forehead against hers and sighed heavily.

Khushi closed her eyes and before she could realise, two pearly tears rolled down her cheeks on his hands that were still cupping her face.

He looked at her shocked and quickly enveloped her in a gentle embrace. "Khushi please don't cry. I'm sorry. Everytime a tear falls from your eye, it makes me hate myself more and more. Everytime my actions hurt you I feel like dying a thousand deaths." Khushi listened to him stunned, her head resting on his chest. "The only thing I can't do is letting you go. I can't help it Khushi but I'll not be able to bear that... not again... Anything... anything else apart from that... just say it and I'll do it for you. But please don't cry. I can do anything for you to be happy again. I'll do anything to make your pain go away."

Khushi raised her head to look at him after a while, "Why can't you let me go?" She asked more out of curiosity.

But the pain that flashed across his face made her heart stop beating for a second. He took a long breath and answered her question. "When your father asked me not to meet you after you left AR... what I have gone through... not being able to see you... not being able to know if you are alright or not... you know every night I came to see you, I waited outside your house just to know whether you were alright." Khushi stared at him shocked by this new revelation. "But as if I was being punished, I never got even a glimpse of you in those six months. I..."

"You waited outside my house every night for SIX MONTHS, just so that you could see me?" Khushi cut him off and he nodded. She was beyond belief. Could anyone love someone so much? Could anyone love ME so much? She wondered. What else did I not know about Arnav? He had become obsessed, over possessive in love. I know he had given up on his health. He had nightmares. He couldn't touch me intimately. And now this... he had waited every night outside my house for six months just to know if I was alright. She was going dizzy with thoughts. It was good that he was still holding her because she was feeling weak now.

"I love you Khushi." He said again all of a sudden. "All I know is that I can't stay away from you anymore. I don't think I'll be able to handle the pain again. I'd prefer to die in your arms. That would be a better option than..."

"Arnav... Please stop..." Khushi said suddenly pulling out of his arms and turning away. Somehow she found it very unbearable and disturbing to hear what he had said.

"Khushi I..."

"STOP IT Arnav." She said a little loudly and walked to the bed and sat by its edge.

He saw how disturbed she was and went to sit next to her. "I'm sorry Khushi. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Please don't say such things ever again." She said not meeting his eyes.

"I won't." He promised wondering what was going on in her mind. Was she just upset because of everything that he had told her or was it that she didn't like to hear about him wanting to die rather than staying away from her? He waited for a long time but she seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.

Khushi had never imagined being at this stage in her life where she would feel for someone she was supposed to hate. Though she had never really managed to hate Arnav... Not that he didn't deserve it... But it was her own treacherous heart that had never let her mind over rule in this matter. Even now she was going through everything that she had come to know about Arnav ever since she had married him. His care, his concern, his repentance, the way he never broke his promises, his nightmares, his pain, his suffering... And most of all, though he apologised almost every opportunity he got, he never asked her to forgive him. He always said that he was sorry but never asked her to forgive him for anything. After thinking about it for a long time she closed her eyes feeling burdened and suffocated.

She opened her eyes to look at him and then sighed. "Arnav..." She started not sure if she even wanted to say what she was just about to say. But then she made up her mind and proceeded. "Arnav I forgive you."

Arnav stared at her numbly unable to comprehend what she had just said.

When he didn't respond and continued to stare at her with a dumbstruck expression, she continued, "I don't know if I'll be able to FORGET what has happened in the past but... it has been too long and I can't take it any more. So I don't want to continue with this bitterness any longer. It is not in my nature to be so resentful all the time."

Arnav could hardly believe what he was hearing. Whatever he had tried to guess; not in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Khushi would think about forgiving him. In fact he had never expected anything of that sort from her.

"Khushi... I thought you said... You don't have to..." He mumbled uncertainly.

"I know I don't have to. I know I said I'll never forgive you." She replied. "But... I think life is too short for holding grudges. Two years is a long time and to be honest after seeing how much you too have suffered after that incident..."

"I deserved it Khushi." He cut her off suddenly. "I have been a complete monster, not just that day but ever since I've met you."

"Yes you have been..." She agreed. "But as they say, everyone deserves a second chance. And I want to give you that second chance... for the sake of a peaceful future. So I have decided to forgive you and move on."

"Thank you." He said, his voice filled with gratitude and emotion. His eyes were moist as he looked at her gratefully. "You have no idea what this means to me Khushi. Thank you. Thank you so much."

All of a sudden Khushi didn't know what else to say. She got up, "I think we should sleep now." She said and started to move towards the bathroom.

"Khushi?" He called out from behind and she turned to look at him. He took in a deep breath and asked, "So where does this take us now?" He wanted her to decide the fate of their relationship now. He waited with bated breath for her reply as she stood thinking again.

"I don't know." She said after a while. "Maybe we can start with being friends."

"Friends?" He wondered more to himself, surprised by her answer.

"Hmmm... Why not?" She shrugged.

"Sure. Whatever you say." He replied and smiled.

~~~~~~

Khushi slept peacefully that night. As if some large burden had been taken off her chest. She felt good and relaxed. However Arnav took a long time to fall asleep. He hadn't felt so happy in a long time. He was feeling lighter than he had ever felt. Khushi had forgiven him. He didn't want anything else now. He felt like someone who had surfaced after staying underwater for a long time, like he was breathing air after ages. He felt calm yet excited. He rested his head on the pillow looking at her sleeping form.

Only You could forgive someone like me. You are truly a wonderful person. Khushi... My Khushi... I love you so much... He thought as he drifted into a deep slumber, something he hadn't experienced in ages. (Without the sleeping pills of course.)

~~~~~~

Khushi woke up next morning feeling quite different. She wondered why for a moment before remembering the events of the previous day. She recalled having forgiven Arnav for everything that he had done to her. For a moment she was uncertain and thought if she had done the right thing. But then she saw Arnav sleeping on her left. He was sleeping peacefully like a child, holding her hand. Ever since she had married him, she had never seen such a calm and peaceful expression on his face. In fact now that she thought about it, she had NEVER seen such an expression on his face. She smiled feeling nice from within. Yes life IS too short to live with grudges. She thought agreeing with her own words that she had spoken to him last night.

To completely forget the Past was not possible maybe but yes, she could forgive Arnav and have a pleasant future at least. She realised she was feeling light and fresh, like she used to feel during her college days. She smiled again. Yes I have done the right thing in forgiving Arnav. I feel so good already. It's true what people say. To Forgive Is Divine.

She slowly disengaged her hand from Arnav's clasp, taking care not to wake him up and moved into the bathroom to get ready for work.

Arnav continued to sleep. Today after a long, long time he was sleeping without any fears, worries or nightmares.

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

Chapter 42: The Shocking News

Hope you all liked it... 😊

Tell me what you think about it..😳

PMs are sent only from my PM account --aPMwithLove--

So send a buddy request to my PM account if you want PMs however note that I accept requests from only members who comment at least occasionally...😛

For my other works here's the link to my INDEX

Lots of Love...

Shradds...