Arhi FF: Retribution (part 11 updated pg 55) - Page 11

Both are soo vulnerable at the moment.

Nice concept

Please update again soon...

that was too good n emotional also...

It's nice man!

Your stories interesting coz parts of it are hidden...that you haven't exposed it. Thus, it makes us stay intrigued xD

Keep it up!! xD

Really loved your writing. Very interesting story. Do continue soon :)

Part 4

Hey guys so here I am with part 4. I know nothing really goes on in this chapter but it kind of outlines their lingering feelings and sets up a premise-well at least I hope it does. I hope you enjoy reading it anyway. Sorry for the grammatical errors I realise have slipped into my posts, proofreading has never been my forte. Also for some reason whenever I copy my post into IF, the dots always seem to turn into apostrophes...hmmm😕 Anyways happy reading. Please do comment.

Khushi awoke to the sound of shallow breathing. She felt a kink in her neck and attempted to readjust herself into a more comfortable position. This was a far more difficult task than she would have thought it to be however. One look down the length of her body and she discovered why. She was restricted by a pair of muscular arms wound tightly around her waist. Khushi lifted her groggy eyes only to find her head level with the chest of the man to whom the arms belonged.

He was soundly asleep, she could tell from the gentle rhythmic rising and falling of his chest. The expanse of his broad chest was something to behold; it encompassed her small frame almost like a shield, protecting her from the world. Ironically, Khushi had always thought that, whenever she had woken up beside her husband, in their glory days. She had cherished those few moments of bliss in the morning before he woke and reverted back to being ASR. Khushi had always secretly admired his athletic form and serene features while he was asleep. While sleeping, his face was free of that perpetual scowl, forever plastered to his face, and she could appreciate his handsome features even more. They were so defined, so chiselled-particularly his jaw, Khushi noted- and begrudgingly she had to admit his side profile was outrageously sexy. Khushi literally had to clamp her hand down to stop herself from physically admiring his features.

"You idiot Khushi. What if he wakes up?" she murmured under her breath.

This was apparently enough to stir the man next to her. Khushi held her breath, absurdly nervous for whatever reason. He moaned some nonsensical mumblings before simply clutching her closer to himself. Khushi's eyebrows furrowed. She could feel his warm breath on her neck.

"Is he really asleep?", she mumbled to herself. She brought her hand up and waved it in front of his face, only to receive no response. She took this as a sign for her to try and struggle free, all the while making painstaking effort to not wake him. The dilemma was that if she yanked his arms away from her waist then he would surely wake up, and she may-and most likely would- have to bear the brunt of his rage or worse, Khushi feared she would have to face the reality of last night. That was something she definitely was not ready for-she felt exhausted and the last thing she needed was any more emotional baggage. Khushi sighed, giving up her efforts to escape.

She stared at the face of the man before her, scrutinising it more than ever. She had noticed that he had become thinner since she saw him last. But had his face always looked so jaded? He looked peaceful yet somehow still'apprehensive? Khushi couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. She saw his humungous dark circles, hardly surprising regarding the events of the past few days. What had she been expecting? She did not know but somehow Khushi thought that in the unlikely event she ever saw him again, he would look happier and healthier than he was now.

Arnav stirred again, "Khushi", came a barely audible whisper from his swollen lips. Her eyes welled up involuntarily. She protectively raised her hand to place it in his raven locks, comforting him as she imagined a child. Why she felt the need to do this for this man she did not know, but finally Khushi had come to the realisation that seeing him so broken affected her. In fact it affected her more than she liked to admit.

She shut her eyes and clenched her fists. "So what Khushi'you're just a nice person. You can't see anyone in pain!" her mind screamed. Her eyes opened again when she heard Arnav moan. His peaceful face was suddenly scrunched up, his eyebrows furrowed in what looked like worry. Khushi felt her chest squeeze.

"Khushi," came a soft strangled whisper.

Khushi reached out and poked a finger in between his eyebrows, in an effort to smooth out the worry lines. Arnav awoke with a start. Her eyes widened; blushing profusely with embarrassment at what she had just been caught doing, she started to withdraw her hand. Though as soon as she began to withdraw it, she felt another cold hand clasp it tightly. Her eyes widened even more if possible as she saw the mischievous glint in her husband's eyes.

She frantically stammered, "wh-wh-what are y-you doing? Choriye!"

All this seemed encouragement as Arnav beamed a pearly white smile. Khushi gazed, awestruck at how a simple smile could change one's face so gloriously.

"Morning" came a gruff, sleep-laden greeting yet it was so deep and husky that Khushi was taken aback at the ridiculous sensation it sent rippling through her body. Khushi did not say a word, no doubt shocked with the recent turn of events. He continued, "hmmm'you look beautiful." He smiled a devilish smile as he slowly let go of his grip on her waist, only to free his hand to tuck the invasive strand of hair that was denying him a full view of her beautiful face.

She felt her heart skip a beat and her breathing grow heavy. What in the world was this? "Khushi" he whispered huskily as he leaned in to smell her neck. Khushi's breath hitched as she felt his lips slightly brush her neck. Her mind in overdrive, she pushed his face back rather roughly and made a bid for escape.

"Ouch!" Arnav keeled over in pain.

She ran to the bathroom, slamming the door quickly, before she heard an angry "KHUSHI!". Only then did she allow herself to breathe.

***

Arnav reclined back in bed and turned off the television using the remote. He glanced in the direction of the bathroom and sighed. His eyes narrowed. What in the world was she doing in there?

"Khushi have you died in there?" No response came from the other end of the door.

He glanced at the clock on the bedside table for the hundredth time to find it had been a whole hour since she went in. Only an hour I swear it's been bloody ages!

Arnav heaved himself out of bed with immense difficulty. Last night had left him reeling, his head was hammering and he could barely keep the contents of his stomach down. He walked to the bathroom door and knocked. Still no response.

"Khushi are you ok?" he paused before smirking to himself. "Are you constipated? Do you want me to get you some medicine?"

He grinned wickedly when he heard an angry voice call out "Shut up! Just give me five minutes."

He shrugged his shoulders and remarked rather nonchalantly, "Well'if you're sure. But if you need any help you know where to find me." His grin grew even wider when he heard something slam against the door. Oh how he had missed the fiery Khushi!

Arnav breathed a sigh of relief as he scurried his way back to bed, feeling quite queasy. He had thought that perhaps the events of this morning had been a step too far, judging from her panicked reaction, but now that she still reacted to him-albeit in anger- he felt a little better. He reminisced about the events of last night. After so long he had finally managed a restful night, nested where he belonged, in the arms of the woman he loved. Arnav sighed and ran a hand through his unruly hair. Convincing Khushi of this love however was going to be no small feat. She still thought he was the man from a year ago, when she had left him.

Arnav sat back and closed his eyes. Ever since the day she had left he had felt empty, and try as he might, he could never find anything to make him contented. It had taken him all of one month to finally admit why he felt so unhappy and that too with his sister's help. The realisation had killed him even more, for he found that he had had his source of happiness in his hands but he had let it slip away, and he may never find it again. Even so, Arnav had decided to transform himself from ASR into Arnav, a man who he imagined Khushi would be happy to return to. He still kept one vice however, and that was drinking, but it was the only thing his brain could relate to in order to lessen the persistent dull ache in his chest- although he would find himself wake up the next morning with an even worse pain in his head and whole body. All the while, he never actually believed Khushi would be able to see her transformed husband. He knew she had gone far away from him. Somewhere, he had resigned himself to his punishment for not cherishing his most important possession. He had hoped though. Hope was the only thing keeping him going, kept him living. A small-minute-glimmer of hope that he may one day see his Khushi again'

And now God had thrown him a lifeline (did he mention he had become religious?) and he was to seize it with all he had. He would have to be careful in order to not push her away again, into the hands of that'.Arnav clenched his fist only to feel a stinging pain run the length of his forearm. He stared at his bandaged hand, fuming. Wait-why was it bandaged? Inspecting the bandage, Arnav smiled gleefully. He knew Khushi felt something for him-it may not be love, it may be anger, it may be fear, it may be something else but at least it was something. He was going to make Khushi Kumari Raizada realise there is nowhere else but here, in his arms. He was going to leave her begging for him.

***

Khushi stepped into the hotel room, towel-drying her hair and feeling refreshed from a hot and much needed shower.

"Arnavji you can use the bathroom now," she said, walking over to her suitcase. She received no response however.

"Arnavji'" she cocked her head up confused. Her eyes widened. The bed was empty and he was nowhere in sight. Where had he gone? She felt worry grip her momentarily before she shook it off.

"No I'm sure he'll be back soon'." she murmured under her breath unconvincingly, before returning to rummage through her suitcase absent-mindedly.

***

Arnav opened the door tentatively only to have Khushi launch at him. He fell backwards into the half-open door and felt a stabbing pain in the middle of his back.

"OW'."

"Where have you been?!" came the distraught voice of a woman. Arnav looked up, shocked to find Khushi's tear-stained flushed face with fresh tears threatening to spill down from her puffy eyes.

"Uh-" he began sheepishly, only to be cut off. She was obviously hysterical.

"Do you know I've been worried sick? Why didn't you tell me you were going out?"

Arnav's eyes narrowed. "You were worried'"

Khushi sniffed, "Of course I was-I thought you left me!" She pouted.

She looked so adorable that Arnav pulled her against himself, laughing manically.

"And now you're laughing!" she huffed. Arnav buried his face into her shoulder, in a futile attempt to suppress the hysteria. Khushi felt her stomach flip and her heart flutter. This was not good. She pulled back from his embrace instantly.

Arnav's laughter immediately stopped. He scrutinised her uncomfortable form for a few lingering seconds while she inspected either the carpet or his shoes, he wasn't sure. His eyes narrowed as he went through a hundred different possibilities of how he should say whatever it was he wanted to.

He breathed a deep breath. "Khushi let's go home."

yay the first one to comment...loved it... update soon dear 😊

Fantastic update.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

that was an awesomely awesomely awesome update lol.