Chapter 35

ArHi SS: A Thing Called Marriage

Chapter 29

"I'll do it."

Arnav's head jerked towards the entrance to his cabin, his eyes resting on Khushi at once. Leaning against the glass door of his cabin, Khushi looked determined as she met his gaze.

Arnav's face was immediately pulled in a scowl the moment he realized what she has agreed to.

So much for being considerate to her. The only reason he was against this idea was to protect his wife from any harm. Being at the top of fashion industry, he knew how everything in here worked. It was a known truth that peoples in fashion were more like blood thirsty, flesh eating vultures waiting to pounce on their prey at every available opportunity.

Composing his thoughts, Arnav looked back at her narrowing his eyes as if assessing her. He groaned the moment Khushi thrust her chin upward as if challenging him to contradict her.

Damn, she wasn't going to listen to him now at any cost. Why, oh why does she have had to be a stubborn woman?

Looking away, he cleared his throat loudly and turned to look at Aman "Give us a moment, Aman."

As Aman gave him a winning smirk, Arnav glared following his movement. He watched in anger when Aman smiled at Khushi in relief on his way out while Khushi walked in. The moment Aman closed the door behind him, Arnav bolted to his feet at once.

"What the hell was that?"

Arnav roared making Khushi wince at the murderous look in his eyes. It was no hidden fact to her that her husband never liked her going against his words and she has just done that.

But how could she just sit and watch when her affirmation can solve the grave problem that her husband is trying to resolve? She has kept her silence yesterday but now it was too late given the fact that the show is a just a day away from taking place.

As much as touched she was over his wish to not let anything get to her, she wanted to take risk now. Because she knew now.

That her husband will always be there to catch her, protect her whenever she fell.

Gathering every ounce of courage, Khushi answered "Arnavji, we aren't able to get any model for the show. So when I heard Aman talking to you about making me the showstopper, I thought it's a perfect solution. Nothing bad is going to happen, trust me."

She waited patiently as Arnav pondered over what she has said. Judging by the look of conflict on his face, she knew what he was going to say when he opened his mouth.

"No Khushi, you aren't going to walk on the ramp." Arnav announced, looking grim determined to not succumb to her logical explanation.

Khushi sighed, knowing what she had to do. It was time to use the master card.

"Arnavji, you promised to let me handle this show all by myself. You said that you won't interfere to what'll be decided by me, remember?"

God, she hated to use this excuse every time but what could she do when her husband is acting like a five-year stubborn kid?

As he first looked at her suspiciously, she batted her eyelashes looking oh-so-innocent not letting him realize that she has just played him.

She was going to let him ruin this show over her dead body. Period.

Soon when a resigned look crept on his face, she felt bad. She knew that she has won. But it didn't look like victory at all to her.

Seeing him look so defeated, she said sympathetically "Arnavji, nothing is going to happen to me. I will be careful, I promise."

Arnav didn't say anything, looking down for a long moment. Feeling awful, Khushi turned to exit from his cabin when she heard him whisper "I don't want to lose you, Khushi."

Her hand stilled on the knob, her heart melting after hearing his voice, full of uncertainty and care for her.

She spun around stalking towards him, reaching to him in a blink. Her arms encircled his neck, pulling him in a bone-crushing hug, squeezing the air out of him.

She rubbed her nose against the curve of his neck, whispered "I know, Arnavji."

Her hands tightened her hold on his further the moment she heard him sigh, wrapping his hands around her waist tucking her head under his chin as if to shield her from the world.

Is it possible to love anyone more than you already do, giving your soul to it in devotion?

___________________________________________

Life can be so complicated, Payal mused standing in the balcony as the cool breeze ruffled her hairs, making her sigh in contentment.

As she watched the sunset, she wondered if she had done the right thing by confiding to Arnav about the complications relating to her pregnancy.

She exhaled slowly, rubbing her hand over her face in wariness. She shouldn't have done that. But what else was she supposed to do? Just die and leave her little sister alone again. She knew what had happened last time, didn't she.

Blinded in the grief of losing her parents, she left her sister alone and travelled abroad for her graduation. She left her on the mercy of Raizadas and what happened? She almost got killed.

It doesn't matter that while studying, she worked part time so that she can build a future together with her sister. It doesn't matter how much she despised herself for running like a coward. It doesn't matter how much she hated the fact that it was Raizada's who managed to take responsibility of her sister when it should have been her.

What ate her sanity, her peace was the fact that someone managed to harm her only family in a way that she can never forget.

In last four years, she saw fear and devastation in her sister's eyes every time she looked up.

And it KILLLED her.

Despite being married to Akash, whom she met and fell in love during her PhD, she condemned herself every living moment of her life.

She would have gone insane hadn't Akash been there for her. His love, care revived her very much.

And now everything was going to change.

She is positive that she will be able to survive this time as well along with her baby. But what if she didn't?

She had to make sure of her sister's happiness in that case. Yeah, she did right by telling Arnav about it. But what about Akash?

He will be heartbroken. He always loved her too much for his own good. God, please don't make me break his heart.

Her fingers rested on her throat as she tried to not cry. Hiding everything from him and Khushi was making her feel guilty but she didn't wanted to ruin their happiness by telling everything.

They both are so happy with the news of her pregnancy.

She wants to live the upcoming months of her pregnancy in happiness and her doctor told her that the chances of her survival are more. Then why worry them now?

If situations got worse then she will tell them. They deserve that atleast. She just hoped that Arnav won't tell Khushi anything. She wasn't ready for facing the reality. She didn't want Arnav to disappoint her the only time she placed her trust in him.

Still, she won't be angry if he told Khushi. Arnav is married to her and keeping a secret about her wife's sister won't do any good to their relationship even when she knows that Khushi won't hold a grudge against him.

Her little sister is in love with her husband. Payal smiled as she thought about it and then groaned.

If only nothing would have been wrong in her pregnancy, then this situation wouldn't have arisen.

God, it is so complicated. But she knew what she needs to do.

She jumped as she heard the door bell ringing. She turned to open the door with a smile, knowing that it's Akash.

Yes, she will wait for now.

__________________________________________

It's been a wonderful day, Anjali mused walking out of the college. A cheerful smile bloomed on her face the moment her face hit the cool, calm breeze of the evening.

Dressed in a bright yellow kurti and red salwar, she looked happy, vibrant just like she used to be. Unlike other days, her hairs were open cascading down her back smoothly.

Last night had been wonderful. After telling Shyam everything, she felt so light and relieved that astonished her. She hadn't ever realized that she was carrying a weight on her heart by keeping her emotions bottled up, drawing away from a person who wanted nothing more than just a place in her heart. He wanted to know her thoughts, her sufferings, everything and she did that only last night.

Their hearts have opened up to each other and the moment they cried in each other's arms, every awkward thought and moment wiped out.

And today when they woke up together entangled in each other's arms, their eyes held nothing but love.

There was no pain, baggage from their past. And they both were looking forward to a new start.

Anjali grinned as she realized that all along, it was what she wanted. All the confusions residing in her mind cleared, laying out a clear picture ahead of her.

A future with her husband by her side. She wished. And she was determined to do anything for it.

She isn't alone in this, she thought as she saw Shyam standing in front of her, leaning against his car.

As he looked up, she met his eyes and smiled genuinely before running in his open, waiting arms.

The moment she heard him chuckle at her obvious excitement, she blushed feeling like a love sick teenager. They had planned to go out for a long drive and then dine at their favorite restaurant.

It was definitely a new, cheerful, full of hope start for them.

___________________________________________

Arnav stared in the dark, lying wide awake in his bed as Khushi slept beside him peacefully. He couldn't sleep without pondering on everything.

The talk he had with Payal shook him to the core then his wife's decision to walk on the ramp didn't made him feel any better. What was happening around him? The two women he had dislike always, were the cause of his concern.

One, without doing anything, managed to rock his world by just being with him and showing him that he isn't alone anymore.

And other, shattered the peace of his mind by telling him her secret and then making him promise something he wasn't sure he would like to follow.

If Khushi got to know that he knew all about this, then she isn't going to like it. But he has spoken to Payal's doctor and she quite assured him that she is working her best on this case and everything will be fine eventually.

Then what's the need to tell anything to Khushi at all now? Payal has trusted him on this matter and breaking her trust won't be a nice thing.

As Khushi made a sound before snugging closer to him and hiding her face in the crook of his neck, Arnav smiled.

All he needs to worry right now will be seeing that Khushi walks on the ramp without tripping, falling and hurting herself.

And that how he manages to survive being close to her without actually touching every part of her body, kissing and devouring it.

Smiling to himself, Arnav raised his palm and moved it over Khushi's face without actually touching her. When she started moving her face in sync to the movement of his hand, he watched in astonishment as to how responsive she is to him.

As if she was demanding him to move ahead and touch her.

He couldn't hold back a chuckle when Khushi made an impatient noise, caught his hand and tucked it safely under her cheek before falling asleep again.

He couldn't be more happy to have her as his wife, he mused throwing his hand around her waist and pulling her closer.

He closed his eyes with a smile lingering on his lips.

Since my holi break from college will start from tomorrow, I would suggest you all to read the update and respond to it quickly so that I can post another after 2-3 days. In my break of 10 days, I will post the last 2 chapters and an epilogue as soon as I can.

Aditi