FF: 3 Years Later -(ArHi) Thread1 - Page 79

awesome updates

Acha ji... No rotten tomatoes, eggs or grenades for the very short update. 😆 I am unfortunately under the weather, and also swamped with Christmas madness. But, I will try and update again tomorrow morning. So till then, enjoy this little tidbit update.

CHAPTER 5 - END OF PART 7

She heard the doorbell chime, just as she finished putting on her earrings. 'They're here' she thought, turning towards the door, and then hesitating for a moment. The evening ahead was not going to be easy, she knew that, but she had invited them both to dinner weeks ago, and didn't feel it was right to cancel at the last minute. 'Forget about last night' she ordered herself, determined not to let their fight ruin the evening. She heard voices in the living room, then laughter, relieved that he also seemed to share her idea of putting their differences aside, so as to not give Angali or Tony cause for concern. But the fight was not over, she knew that, knew she had to stand firm. 'There has to be some meaning behind something at least.' She thought determinedly 'A small glimpse, anything. He can't expect this to just go on as if nothing else matters.' Taking a deep breath, determined to make her point the next chance she got, unwilling to focus on what he had said to her about needing a reason, she forced her usual bright smile into place, and opened the door.

"You OK?" Tony asked softly, placing a light kiss on her cheek, his eyes slightly narrowed as he searched her face. "Perfect!" She smiled at him, quickly looking over his shoulder at Angali, who was waiting to greet her. "If you say so" He said, moving away and joining Arnav at the other side of the room, where he was pouring drinks. "Khushiji, I have something for you." Angali said without a greeting, giving her a quick hug, then pushing her lightly towards the couch. She sat down automatically, laughing as Angali settled herself next to her, clearly excited about something. She had in her hands a plain cloth bag, covering something hard, which she placed her palms upon, then looked at Khushi, grinning widely. "What's going on Angaliji?" She asked, half laughing, a little bewildered. "This is for you." Angali said, slipping her hand into the bag, drawing out a dark velvet jewellery box, and snapping it open. Khushi gasped, looking down at the brilliant diamond and sapphire necklace nestled against a bed of black satin, the brilliant blue stones forming a fan at the bottom, perfectly complimenting the strings of sparkling diamonds, which wove into a fringe above them. "What..?" She asked, startled, looking up at Angali, then back down at the glittering necklace. "This belonged to my grandmother, from my father's side." She said softly, her fingers lightly brushing the precious stones. "It was a wedding gift to her from my grandfather, and she willed it to her future daughter-in-law, which was'" She hesitated, her eyes flicking briefly towards Arnav, then back to Khushi "But, for some reason it skipped my parents' generation, and came into my possession" She amended quickly, "And, so keeping with tradition, we' I mean, I think you should have it." She said in a rush, placing the box in Khushi's hands.

She stared down at it, her mind whirling with Angali's odd explanation, and stunned to have just been given what was clearly a family heirloom. 'And, a god awfully expensive one at that.' She thought, her eyes drifting over the countless stones, which by any measure were anything but small in size. "But Angaliji' I don't understand'" she said, unsure of why she had suddenly received such a gift which belonged to the family. "Don't be silly Khushiji" Angali smiling warmly, but standing up, indicating that the discussion was over "You're married to Arnav, this necklace rightfully belongs to you." She said, as if that settled everything. She stood up also, unable to tear her gaze away from the box, dazed, she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to make sense of it all, knowing deep down inside that this meant something, that it wasn't a coincidence that Angali had just happened to choose today to give her something so significant. "Let me know when you plan to wear that." Tony said, coming to stand near her, looking down into the open box. "It has to be worn with the right kind of dress." He said, grinning at her, before turning to talk to Angali.

She saw him make his way to the kitchen, an empty ice bucket in his hands. Snapping the box shut, she followed, stopping in front of him, just as he turned away from the refrigerator. Holding up the box, she looked at him questioningly. "It's pretty." He said, his voice non-committal, as he moved to the counter and started emptying ice cubes into the ice bucket. "Why was I given this?" She asked, forcing herself to remain calm. "Because it's rightfully yours." He said, his voice holding the same tone. "I don't want it. I don't understand any of this" She said flatly, putting the box on the counter. "What's to understand?" He asked suddenly turning to face her. "It was a gift from my grandfather to his wife, which was passed down over the years, and now it's reached you." Staring at him, she fought for control, completely unnerved by how perfectly casual he sounded, as if he were discussing the weather. "But, your mother never wore it?" She asked, disappointed to see that her question had absolutely no effect on him. "No, she didn't" He said simply, leaning back against the counter, perfectly at ease. "Why not?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing as she recalled Angali's earlier words 'But for some reason it skipped my parent's generation'' She noticed just the slightest change in his expression, an imperceptible tightening of his jaw, but his eyes remained just as calm, his voice just as non-committal. "When my grandmother gave my father the necklace for his future wife, she insisted he should only give it to a woman he was truly in love with." He said "But later when his relationship with'. With the other woman didn't work out, and he married my mother, he decided against giving it to her." He explained, his eyes steadily holding hers. She stared at him, her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh my God!" She gasped suddenly "But why did he do that?" She asked, feeling a deep sadness for her deceased mother in law, who she would never know. "Because he was never in love with my mother, he only loved her, very much, but never like what he already felt for someone else, so he didn't break tradition by giving her that." He said his mouth twisting in a sad smile. She nodded, still bewildered at how strange all this family history sounded 'What a complicated family' She thought, then stopped suddenly, staring at him. "Wait a second." She said, her eyes narrowing suspiciously "Are you telling me you approve of what he did?" She asked, her voice tinged with shock. He just stared back at her, not saying a word. Her eyes drifted to the box, widened slightly, then snapped back to his face "You agree with what he did." She whispered, rattled to the core, that this same man who had been shattered by the discovery of his father, being in love with a woman besides his own mother, all his life, had allowed that same hurt to manifest into hatred, now stood here calmly not only accepting his father's actions, the same father who he had loathed most of his young life,but actually condoning them.

"I have no choice but to agree." He said pushing himself away from the counter, and looking down into her face. Seconds ticked by, as she gazed up at him, still unable to read those eyes, always so mysterious and untelling. "Because, if I had married Lavanya, or anyone else besides you'" He continued softly "I would never have given them the necklace either." He said, touching her cheek, then picking up the ice bucket and walking into the living room.

Originally posted by: HeadOverHeels

"Because, if I had married Lavanya, or anyone else besides you'" He continued softly "I would never have given them the necklace either."