Chapter 1

Finding Solace

She could feel it, the pain penetrating her chest as she brought her arms together and clutched herself in a futile attempt to make the pain ebb away. She should have been used to it by now, but being here, so close to him revoked feelings she thought she had left behind not so long ago...

The next moment she sensed his presence and her eyes swept across the hall in their own accord, as if she knew where to find him.

As her soft and hopeful gaze met his hard and cold ones, time stood still for both of them. All those memories, buried deep within the confines of her heart emerged and flashed in front of her eyes. Images of his brown eyes shining with mischief, the echo of his laughter, his tenderness... everything reminded her of what she's lost - the gift of love.

There was a tinge of hope, which she still clung to as if holding on for her dear life. But that seemed to have vanished as well, because what she saw next, took her breath away.

There she stood, Lavanya Kashyap - the epitome of beauty. With her alluring curves and those long delectable legs, she looked nothing but perfect. But that's not what bothered Khushi, it never did. What caught her attention was the way she clung to his right arm while his left one roamed blatantly over her bare back.

A sense of pure betrayal and helplessness washed over her.

How could Arnav do this? After all that they had shared?

But she knew him better. He wants to hurt her and he knows exactly what will hurt her the most.

And he succeeded in what he was trying to do. A searing pain slashed through her heart - the pain of losing a loved one, the fear of being left alone. The pain intensified to a point when it became unbearable and she knew that she is falling apart. But then, there was nothing. She felt nothing. Not when she heard his familiar voice shouting her name, not when darkness finally enveloped her.

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He tore his gaze away from her and forced himself to concentrate on the beautiful lady in his arms as he deliberately moved his hand on her back. He should have been attracted to this wonderful woman he has as his date; a sane man would undoubtedly desire her. But all he could think about were a pair of hazel eyes glistening with tears of hurt and betrayal. Again, this should have made him happy and content. After all the whole purpose behind inviting her to this party was to hurt her, just the way she did when she left him all alone, without a reason.

But what surprised him was that hurting her, hurt him too. Her tears seeped into his soul and burned his heart.

Why he couldn't bear the sight of her leaving him? Why even after so many months he couldn't keep his mind off her, why every possible attempt to forget her made him crave for her even more? These were the questions haunting him, to which he had no answers. But today, he was sure that staying apart from his khushi will be the death of him.

He loved her.

And he was stupid enough to not have realized it for so long! But now that he did, he would be damned if he let her go, again.

With the newly found determination to set things right, he turned towards her. The urge to hold her close to him increased with every passing moment.

But then he saw her. There were varying emotions flirting across her face when suddenly her eyes went blank and a shiver ran down his spine.

Damn it! What did I do?

He loathed himself at the moment, for he was the reason behind that hollow look in those ever expressive, bright eyes.

All he wished to do was to comfort her, reach out to her, and apologize -

He saw her unfocused eyes as she swayed, unsteady on her feet. An involuntary cry escaped his lips as he ran - not sparing a look to the bewildered woman he left behind, uncaring about the bemused looks from the well-heeled guests, forgetting the fact that he was the host of this fund-raiser event

He sighed with relief when he caught her, safe in his arms, only to gather her limp form close to his chest as he walked out of the premises without a backward glance. For all he cared about was the woman in his arms, the woman who now owned his heart.

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My head pounds as I try to open my eyes, but my lids feel heavy, as if carrying the weight of the world. Suddenly I am aware of a warm hand enveloping mine in a firm grip and the feel of his gentle lips on my forehead. I know it's him even before I hear his husky whisper as he leans towards my ear.

"Wake up sleepy-head!"

I force my eyes open, dazed to see him so close to me with a soft smile adorning his lips. It's hard to believe he is here. It could be a dream, an illusion and I know it will hurt when I wake up. So I close my eyes as tight as possible, but that's when I hear him again.

"Open your eyes sweetheart, look at me."

And I dared to do what he asked.

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They were his eyes that had me captivated. They were brewing with the same tenderness and a slight hint of worry that I had missed so much! But there was something different, something more. Because the intensity of his gaze held something I have craved for since the time we have met. They held love - for me.

"There you got it, didn't you, mind-reader?"

He winked at me and I smiled. My first genuine smile in months.

"I love you khushi. I am right here and I am not leaving you, no matter what!"

And I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, sobbing and muttering sorry' under my breadth, while he held me tight and rocked both of us back and forth.

At the back of my mind, I knew that this man will not let go until I tell him the reason why I pushed him away. And I will, because he deserves to know. But as he buried his face in the crook of my neck, we both sighed. We finally found solace where we belong - in each other's arms.

Everything else could wait.

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