Chapter 21

ArHi SS: A Thing Called Marriage

Chapter 19

He was in tatters, looking around anxious and hopeless. There was eerie darkness and silence around him. He could feel his parent's voice calling his name but he didn't know where they were.

Suddenly he saw a trace of light galloping in front of him and he ran. He ran not caring how his feet got bruised with all the thorns in his path. He tripped, he fell but he got up and ran.

The light was just few feet away from him...

He reached out to grab it when he tripped hard, falling flat on his face. He closed his eyes and just when he was starting to accept the darkness around him, he felt a sudden brightness against his closed eyelids.

Raising his head, he opened his eyes to see it was not dark around anymore. Everything was bright and beautiful.

He saw a hand in front of him to help him get up.

He looked up to see Khushi looking down at him, smiling. She nodded, encouraging him to take her hand.

He caught her hand, getting up when the whole scenario changed. It was HIM helping her, encouraging her to move ahead.

Arnav opened his eyes, startled. Dazed, he looked around not actually seeing anything. He focussed his eyes around, realizing that it was very early in morning.

Suddenly, he felt another body against his and looked down to see Khushi sleeping in his arms. Her head was resting against the crook of his neck as her hands fisted his shirt around his chest. His hands were wrapped around her body in a protective embrace.

His eyes widened, retreating his hands away from Khushi. Feeling wide awake now, he looked around and realized that he was sitting on the threshold of open French windows, leaning against the wall.

And then he remembered everything.

How he and Khushi ended up talking last night. How Khushi told him everything revealing the events of the horrendous day that had changed their lives and how she had broken down in his arms, mourning over the loss of the two people they both valued the most in their life.

He remembered how he had tried to calm her down and how he murmured soothing words to her in an attempt to heal her wounds. Last night that connected them beyond ways he could even recollect.

They both didn't know when they had fallen asleep, seeking warmth in each other's arms.

Arnav looked down at Khushi and smiled seeing her calm and angelic face. His smile vanished as he remembered how badly he had treated her after their marriage.

Now he was sure more than anything that he had been a fool to lash out on an innocent girl like this.

No one deserved such harsh treatment lest alone Khushi, who always wanted the best for him and his family.

His eyes snapped back to her face as she moved against him, trying to sleep more comfortably.

Sensing her discomfort, he picked her up in his arms and stood up before moving towards the bed. As he covered the distance to the bed with Khushi in his arms, he felt it more than that.

Like he is entering into a new phase. But what it was exactly, he didn't know.

He made her lie down on the bed comfortably, tucking the comforter around her carefully. He brushed her hairs back from her forehead and leaned involuntarily towards her face.

His eyes softened remembering the guilt and pain in her eyes. Closing his eyes, he softly pressed his lips against her forehead.

Silently promising to protect her, to heal all her wounds, fears and insecurities.

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After getting ready and dressed for work, Arnav left the room not before glancing at Khushi for the last time. As he descended downstairs engaged in a conversation with Aman on phone, he saw his Di and Dadi already on the dining table, waiting for him and Khushi.

Disconnecting the call, he joined them and quietly wished them good morning.' He was about to start his breakfast when Anjali spoke up "Arnav, where is Khushi? Atleast wait for her."

"Di, she is sleeping till now. She was awake till late last night." Arnav answered, looking at his sister silently gesturing her to understand.

"Oh. She must be tired after yesterday's events. Poor girl, she looked so stressed." Anjali replied her appetite already lost.

"Di, ask some servant to look after her today and make her eat something whenever she wakes up." Arnav said looking concerned for Khushi.

Anjali nodded immediately as Devyani questioned Arnav "Are you sure she is alright, Arnav?"

"Yeah Dadi. She just needs some rest." Arnav answered, digging into his breakfast. The rest of the breakfast was spent on talking about work, Anjali's classes and Devyani's religious gatherings.

Arnav was about to sit in his car when a hand closed around his wrist, stopping him. Feeling curious, he looked up to see Anjali holding his hand and staring at him with an unfathomable emotion in her eyes.

"She told you everything, right Arnav?" Anjali asked, not beating around the bush. Her doubts were confirmed as she saw Arnav looking down guilty before meeting her gaze and nodding.

"I was such a fool, Di. She is innocent." Arnav admitted sincerely.

Feeling sympathetic, Anjali hugged Arnav at once feeling sorry for him "I told you earlier to not do anything that you may repent later, Arnav. Still it's better late than never. You can start your married life with Khushi now, knowing she is innocent and such a loving and caring girl."

Anjali stared at Arnav, who was lost in thinking about what she has said right now. Cupping his cheek, she smiled at her brother affectionately "She deserves every happiness of life, Arnav and you are perfectly capable of giving her that."

Arnav nodded, smiling back at his sister. Feeling satisfied, Anjali bid him bye before leaving in another car for college.

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When Khushi woke up that day, it was already afternoon. As she looked around feeling a bit disoriented, a servant entered and asked what she would like to eat.

First requesting for a cup of tea, she pushed the comforter away from her body and looked at the bedside table watch. She panicked realizing it's already afternoon and was about to rush to get ready when her phone rang.

Picking up her phone, she read the caller id and panicked some more. It was Arnav. Thinking that he must have called her to scold her, she took the call rather gingerly.

"Hello." She said, sounding uncertain and apprehensive.

"How are you feeling Khushi?" She heard his question and blinked her eyes softly as if not believing its Arnav.

"I...I...am fine." She stuttered, wondering why was he asking this to her.

"Listen, you don't need to come to AR today. Just take rest at home." Arnav instructed, this time sounding a bit stern.

"What...but I need..." Khushi started protesting when Arnav spoke again, halting all her protests "Aman is taking care of everything. You stay at home and rest. No arguments."

The call was disconnected even before she could say something more. She stared at the phone in disbelief, scowling.

She wondered why Arnav was instructing her like she is ill or something when she remembered everything. How can she forget what had happened yesterday? The way she had opened her heart to Arnav, the way he assured her and tried to calm her down.

Most importantly, him admitting that he no longer holds her responsible for his parent's death. She smiled feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off her heart. The guilt of being the reason behind the death of two most important peoples in her life had always gnawed her heart, eating her sanity.

She closed her eyes remembering the smiling faces of Maa and Papa and murmured "Now, I know why you wanted me to marry Arnavji."

_________________________________________________________

Today, Arnav looked distracted and lost throughout the day as he tried to concentrate on his work. The words spoken by Khushi last night still rang in his ear. Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw Khushi's tears and pain-filled eyes.

In evening, he left for home still thinking about it. Yeah, last night Khushi had cleared all his doubts regarding the past and he had informed her of Vishal's death.

But still it was NOT the complete truth.

He hadn't told her how after that horrendous day, he had used all his father's resources to protect her.

He hadn't told her that how Vishal had attacked him once he failed to reach to Khushi, all due to the efforts of Arnav.

He hadn't told her how Vishal had managed to corner him with few men on the Diwali night, attacking him for the third time.

He hadn't told her how he managed to kill Vishal, before he could kill Arnav, how even after all Vishal did, he didn't had any intention to kill him.

Yes he wanted to take revenge from him and he did, putting the father-son duo behind bars in a fraud case a week later his parent's death though he wasn't able to stop them from getting out on a bail.

And what had happened after that wasn't what he had planned. He closed his eyes remembering the exact moment he had killed Vishal.

"You see all this decorations, lights." He whispered while looking down at the person lying on road, who was shaking uncontrollably with fear.

"My parents loved Diwali. I wanted to celebrate it with them but you ruined my chance." He said coldly wiping the blood trickling down his forehead, as the person started crying begging him to leave him and how sorry he was to kill his parents. He saw his eyes moving around to escape.

"Tch tch it's so sad that I can't let you leave. You ruined my chance and I will ruin yours."

"I ...I am sorry."

"You see, your sorry cannot bring my parent's back. Say your final good bye to the world." He said picking up the revolver and placing it against his temple.

He pulled the trigger, ignoring the person's pleas and saw him dying in front of him with a strange satisfaction glinting in his eyes.

He knew the whole incident made him feel like a cold, heartless person but he knew that if he would have left Vishal alive, he would have been dead by next morning.

The whole incident was kept hidden in the dark confines of his heart. He didn't wanted to reveal this to anyone.

As the car stopped in front of Shantivan, he stepped out and entered inside the house with a thoughtful look on his face.

With a sigh, he concluded that all that didn't matter to him at all now. The only thing that mattered to him is, he opened the door of his room and saw her, Khushi.

Do you guys want me to show Vishal's father after Arnav now? Please reply and answer this question okay.

I know I am not the best writer neither my narration is perfect, still those who read last chapter and liked it and left such lovely comments, thank you all!!!!!

And I wish those who still read my SS silently will open up someday...I am waiting !!!

The whole past included in this story, of anjali and khushi are based on two different real incidents

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Aditi