Chapter 45

Chapter 45: The Realisation Of Freedom

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Going Crazy here... 41 Pages... Is that for real? And so many demands for a faster update... I had to write faster after that... So here we are with an ON DEMAND update...

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~~~~~~

Khushi I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything...

I still held on to you...

I couldn't live without you...

Without once thinking about YOUR happiness...

Yes Khushi, it was very selfish of me to do that to you...

I realise how tied up and suffocated you must be feeling with me...

But it's time I took responsibility of my deeds and take the punishment I deserve...

I love you Khushi. I really do and I want you to be happy always...

I have decided to set you free from my clutches...

You don't have to be tied down to a monster like me anymore...

I just want you to be free and happy Khushi. Always...

His words kept revolving in her mind as she sat numbly staring at the dark screen of her laptop which had long ago timed out. She didn't realise that Payal had knocked on her door several times before leaving, thinking that she was asleep. She didn't realise that her father had knocked to door to check if she was alright and then given up after a while. She just kept thinking about the words of her husband.

Free... She was free... no longer tied up to an unwanted relationship... free to make her own decisions... free to lead her life the way she wanted... without any fear... without any restrictions... without being answerable to Him...

She was free to choose to live her life as she wished... Slowly this realisation of freedom began to seep into her brain and heart. Her numbness started to fade away... her tears stopped... and a slow smile began spreading on her face. The glow of freedom made her feel light... made her dizzy... thrilled her...

"Thank you Arnav..." She spoke aloud in ecstasy. "You have given me my freedom. Thank you very much."

~~~~~~

Khushi had a new glow on her face as she entered the Mandir in a sunny yellow Saree with her mother for the Pooja next day. She smiled taking the blessings of her Devi Maiya feeling lighter and stronger than she had felt in days.

At work she busied herself with her daily routine. Arnav didn't turn up at Emerald. Khushi hadn't expected him to come either. She knew like always he would stick to his word and give her the freedom she deserved.

But as the day came to an end she got up from her seat. She had made a decision and she wanted to meet Arnav once before she acted upon it.

She called up Akash, "Jijaji? Where is Arnav?"

"Bhai is in office Khushi. But you know something is wrong. He cancelled all his meetings for today and has stayed in his cabin all day. I wonder if there has been a problem." Akash replied not wanting to ask directly if Khushi and Arnav had a fight or something.

"I'm coming there to see him." She simply replied.

Akash was stunned. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. "You... you will come to AR?" He asked shocked.

"Yes." She answered. "It's time."

Yes it was time. It was time to let go of the past and move on. So she had decided to go back to AR where it had all started and put an end to the miserable past once and for all.

~~~~~~

She felt a little nervous entering the place which had given her so many harsh memories. It had been over two years that she had last walked away from here. She entered and was surprised to see her surroundings. Everything had changed. She felt as if she had entered the wrong building except for the large trademark AR logo on the wall in front of which the receptionist sat.

"Good Evening Mrs. Raizada." The receptionist who recognised her instantly greeted her pleasantly.

Khushi didn't recognise her from the past, must be new but she knew a lot of AR staff had attended their wedding. "I want to see Mr. Raizada." She spoke unsure of where Arnav's cabin might be in this changed layout.

"Just go up the stairs on the left that lead to the glass cabin ma'am." The receptionist replied helpfully.

It was late in the evening and all the staff had left so Khushi didn't come across anyone she knew. She walked straight up to Arnav's cabin and entered without knocking just like she did at Emerald.

Arnav was sitting on his chair his head leaning back and eyes closed.

"Arnav?" She called him.

He opened his eyes wide, not sure if he had heard correctly. He straightened up and looked in the direction from which the most melodious voice in the world had floated to him. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Khushi... was she really there? Or was he dreaming? No... He must have gone mad he decided. Living without her had definitely driven him mad and now he had started seeing things. But if going mad meant that he could see Khushi... or even a mirage of her... then he would gladly embrace the madness.

Khushi saw the expression on his face and spoke. "There is no need to be so shocked Arnav. I am really here. I wanted to talk to you and what better place than this office."

He blinked his eyes a few times and then stood up. "Khushi... you are really here? Here in AR? How? What? I... I..."

"I have come to talk to you Arnav, about the mail that you sent me yesterday." She said seriously coming straight to the point.

He came forward and stood opposite her but keeping some distance. "Yes sure."

"Won't you ask me to sit?" She asked looking around at the changes.

"Of course." He said gesturing to the arm chairs on one side of his cabin with a coffee table in between.

She went ahead and sat on one of them and he took the seat opposite her nervously.

"Everything has changed." She commented casually.

"Yes..." He replied looking at her face. "I couldn't bear the surroundings after you were gone. So I got a complete makeover done."

There was silence for some time after that.

He looked at her. She was looking at him gravely. "Khushi... I... I mean what I... yesterday I..." He wasn't sure what to say.

"I completely agree with what you have written in the mail." Khushi spoke putting a stop to his stumbling and a sharp pain shot through Arnav's heart. "I know you didn't want to do this face to face but there are some things that you can't run away from. Finally Arnav you apologised for every thing, took responsibility, right? You are right Arnav, you mistreated me, tried to take advantage of me, forced me to marry you, threatened my family."

She sighed closing her eyes, "You have been very selfish Arnav. You kept me tied down. You are right. I did feel suffocated when you married me, I felt burdened. You are right. I don't have to be tied down to a monster like you. You never thought about MY happiness Arnav, never. So I'm glad that you have decided to set me free. Thank you Arnav. Thanks a lot. I have realised how good it feels to be free, how nice it feels to make my own decisions and lead my life as per my wishes. Thank you because now I can think of only MY happiness."

Arnav had closed his eyes unable to bear anymore. Though true, Khushi's every word had pierced his heart like a dagger making it bleed. She was still speaking but he hardly registered anything. After a long time he sensed silence around him and opened his eyes to see an empty chair in front of him.

She had left... without a good bye... without a single word... She hadn't even told him if he could see her ever again. She had just vanished leaving him in a vacuum with nothing but barren emptiness to keep him company. After who knows how long, he got up and walked to the door from where she had walked out of his life. He caressed the door knob that she must have touched to open the door. He walked down lifelessly to his car and drove aimlessly for a long time. After a while he realised that he had left his phone at the office and that his family might be worried for him. With a heavy heart he turned the car homewards.

He entered his house and everyone started asking him where he had been. He couldn't handle the noise. Why do they have to speak so loudly? He just kept walking without answering anyone. He didn't know what they were saying so answering them would have been difficult anyways.

He entered his room. It was empty... just like his life... everything was empty without Khushi. He changed and lied down on the bed. He felt tired suddenly. He had hardly slept the last whole week and not slept at all last night. He closed his eyes hoping to escape in the relaxing embrace of slumber. And sleep did embrace him but it was far from relaxing. Even in his sleep he could see only her face.

She looked like the epitome of beauty and love in a red saree. But the closer he got to her, the farther she seemed. He kept walking towards her but she always seemed distant. He tried to run towards her but his legs felt so heavy he couldn't move them. Finally he gathered all the strength that was left in him and took long strides and managed to catch hold of her pallu that was fluttering in the light wind. But when she turned to face him, she had tears in her eyes. He couldn't bear to see the pain in them. He immediately let go of her Pallu and stepped back looking at her unblinkingly. But then she started to fade. He panicked and raised one hand to touch her but when his hand was about to touch her she vanished completely, leaving back the cursed emptiness, which was going to be his companion for the rest of his life now.

He tossed and turned on the bed not finding solace even in sleep.

~~~~~~

Khushi went to the Mandir again to spend some time there and then returned back to her home. She entered her room feeling happier than she had felt in days, months, years. Finally she was free, free from the past... free from the darkness... free from everything. She was going to sleep very peacefully tonight. She smiled at the thought and changed in to her comfortable cotton night Salwar Kameez.

She walked to her bed and lied down feeling relaxed. She lay still thinking for a moment. But then she blushed and rolled over to the other side of the bed where her husband was tossing restlessly. He was about to turn to the other side when she held his arm to stop him.

His face clearly reflected the pain that he couldn't escape from even in sleep. It's alright. She thought. I'll never let any pain touch you again Arnav.

She caressed his face gently with her soft hands, which made him lean his face against the warmth of her palm. She moved closer, lifting his arm and placing it around her and hugged him snugly filling up all the emptiness of his life with her presence.

"Khu... Khushiii..." He whimpered in his sleep.

"Shhh... It's okay Arnav... I'm right here... Always with you..." She whispered soothingly in his ear while stroking his back gently. She closed her eyes trying to make him relax, feeling contented herself. Finally she had made a decision for herself, not for her family not for Arnav but solely for her own happiness. Now that she was free, it was easier to accept her feelings without any reservations, knowing that this was only because SHE wanted it and not because someone else forced her into it.

I'm finally Home. She thought. MY Home... With MY husband... who loves me beyond the realms of sanity... beyond right and wrong... beyond himself... MY Arnav... She moved closer to him, pressing her body against his as much as she could.

Slowly, the tensed muscles of his back relaxed, his arm tightened around her waist and she snuggled cosily into his chest, both slowly slipping into a peaceful slumber.

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

Chapter 46: Love Pain Reality

No, No, don't relax... Another twist will come up in a couple of chapters so stay tuned... 😈

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