Chapter 1

He was breaking every moment. How could she...? Why did she...? He had tried so hard to hate her... but he couldn't... He just wasn't capable of it. His heart revolted at the very idea of feeling anything remotely negative for her... let alone hatred. He loved her so much. Yes, he hadn't actually said it out loud but didn't he make it quite obvious.

Couldn't she see how worried he got every time she was in trouble? Couldn't she see how he cared for her? He had seen it in her eyes. The happiness when he told her that he had gifted her the bangles. The blush on her cheeks everytime he had touched her while dancing at the Sangeet. Was it a show? When he had kissed her... Of course she had been affected. She would have given him hell for doing that; had she been in love with someone else... But she had kissed him back... He had been so sure that she was partial with her attentions when it came to him.

But then what made her melt into another man's arms? No matter WHO he was... How could he believe that she loved another man? After six months of being her husband these questions still haunted him. Yes, he was breaking. Everytime he hurt her, a part of his heart broke. He was tired, exhausted. He didn't have the strength to hurt her anymore. Yes their contract marriage was ending tomorrow. She would leave him forever. And yes that would break him even more... Maybe beyond repair... But at least he wouldn't have to hurt her anymore.

Maybe once she left he could shut out all the unpleasant memories & drown himself into the happy one's of the innocent girl he had once thought she was... Of the girl he had fallen in love with... Maybe the unreality would be more beautiful than the reality...

His feet dragged as he walked towards his room. To see her for the last time in his room... in his life... as his wife...

The door to his room was wide open. He stopped dead at the doorstep as he heard Shyam's disgusting voice. He was standing in front of her.

"Khushiji, I'm so glad you are leaving this hell. Now we can be together. Our love will finally triumph." He said in his sickly voice.

Arnav closed his eyes unable to bear it.

"What are you talking about?" Khushi's voice rang in the room, "If I have told you once, I have told you a million times. I DON'T LOVE YOU... Never have. Come out of your delusions already. It doesn't matter whether my husband loves me or not. It doesn't matter whether you love your wife or not. It doesn't matter if I leave my husband or not. It doesn't matter whether you leave your wife or not. Though it will be a relief knowing that Anjali Di doesn't have to put up with a deceiving snake like YOU! But no matter what I will never be yours. I'll prefer death." She took in a ragged breath, "You cheated on your wife & you cheated me and my family. You got engaged to me when you were already married. And as if that was not repulsive enough you dare to interfere in my married life too!"

"But Khushiji do you even know why Arnav married you? He thinks you love me. He thinks you are trying to break his sister's marriage. He married you to punish you. He doesn't trust you. He told me so. And I... I love..." Shyam tried to say getting closer but she cut him off.

What Shyam had said had indeed hurt her. The question that had been eating her up for the past six months was finally answered. She now knew why Arnavji had married her. She now knew why her husband hated her. Her heart broke to realise how her husband didn't trust her one bit. But she wasn't ready to let Shyam get to her, she would never let his evil plans succeed.

"SHUT UP!" She yelled stepping back. "And don't you dare come closer to me again, it's disgusting. My husband may have married me for whatever reasons but he is the only one for me. Whether he throws me out of his life or not is HIS choice. He has every right to it. But NO ONE will ever be able to take his place in my life. My marriage means everything to me. And as far as you are concerned the only feelings I have for you are hatred & disgust." She said giving him a look of deepest loathing.

"ARGH... KHUSHIJI" Shyam growled pulling his hair. He turned around to look for something to smash in his fit of anger and froze.

Arnav was standing at the door his eyes filled with shock, mouth hanging open. Trying hard to digest what he had just heard. He stared wide eyed at his wife. So shocked was he that he didn't notice when Shyam crept out of his room making an escape. He just kept staring at Khushi.

She saw her husband standing at the door. The look on his face clearly indicated that he had heard everything. She suddenly felt completely drained. Her knees gave away & she abruptly sat down on the bed.

For god knows how long they stayed where they were staring at each other! After what seemed like eternity, Arnav moved forward to stand in front of her. "Khushi..." His voice was barely a whisper as he sank down on his knees in front of her. Thoughts were running wild in his mind... She did not love anyone else. His heart had been right about her. She did care. He did mean a lot to her. His broken heart was exploding with joy. But he was overwhelmed with the feelings within him. He was still exhausted due to the events of the past six months but there was also relief washing over him. He buried his face in her lap holding on to her.

"Khushi... Khushi, I love you... I love you so much... I'm so relieved. I... I thought you didn't love me. It was killing me. I thought you loved him. I couldn't bear it Khushi. I love you so much..." All his pent up feelings were flowing as if a dam had broken inside him... "I married you to protect Di... at least that was what I told myself. But deep down I was scared... scared that I would lose you. Ma left me when I was so young. I have still not gotten over it. I couldn't bear to lose you too. I love you Khushi." He had started sobbing, "You said as your husband I have every right but I don't want rights, I want you... just you. I want to love you for the rest of my life. I want to be loved by you forever. Don't ever leave me Khushi. I'll die if you do. I have already lost Ma, I can't lose you. I love you so much Khushi I love you..."

From the moment he had started to speak Khushi had turned into stone. She had expected him to shout at her for hiding the truth for so long. Maybe even regret for what he had made her go through, an apology even. But she was totally unprepared for what he was saying right now. He had turned her life into a waking nightmare for the past six months. But how could she push him away when he broke down on her lap like that? He had left no stone unturned in trying to hurt her in every way. But how could she hurt him back when he said that it killed him to think that she didn't love him. Her brain wanted to punish him for not trusting her. But how could she leave him when he was at her feet begging not to leave him like his Mother. Her dignity, her pride demanded her to detest him for what he had put her through. But how could she hate him when he said that he loved her so much.

She knew the decision was in her hands now. She knew she could walk away right now and be rid of all the pain. But would it really be painless to be away from him. Why was there an ache in her chest at the very thought of leaving him?

She had always believed that everyone deserved a second chance. She had even given Shyam a second chance then why not her husband. The relationship would anyways end then why not give it one genuine try. Maybe it would survive this time.

He hadn't trusted her. But that was no reason for her to do the same. "Arnavji..." She said softly, bending down to rest her cheek against his. "I'm right here. I'm not leaving you... Ever." She said running her fingers through his hair trying to soothe his shaking body...

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

~~~~~~

This is my first attempt at writing an OS... and also on the current track... I know its a sorry one. Writing on current track scares me...😲 and my thoughts are never short enough for a One Shot. So I hope I haven't disappointed you all.

Do like and comment it would encourage me a lot...😊

Buddy Me for PMs for my other works...

[MEMBERSONLY]

[NOCOPY]